Read Online Hunted by Jerry B. Jenkins - Free Book Online Page A

processing center instead of to the guillotine. The man at the front had asked their names and Sam and Mr. Stein gave them. There was no sense trying to fool the GC about their identities. Neither of them had Nicolae’s mark, which was punishable by death.
    â€œAre you Jewish?” the man said.
    Mr. Stein nodded. “Both of us.”
    The Peacekeeper had smirked and shook his head. “Two more for the transport in the morning.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Mr. Stein said. “You’re sending us—”
    The Peacekeeper had backhanded Mr. Stein so hard that Sam thought his friend would fall to the ground. Sam tried to steady him with his body.
    â€œTake them away,” the man said to a guard.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Sam whispered when Mr. Stein regained his balance. “Let’s go.”
    The guard had led them to a long line of cells, taken off their cuffs, and shoved them into the last room. Mr. Stein wiped blood from his lip. Sam tried to turn on water from a tiny faucet in the corner, but nothing came out. The toilet in the room smelled hideous.
    â€œWhat did he mean about the transport?” Sam said.
    Mr. Stein shrugged.
    A man across the hall slid to the front of his cell. “Are you a Jew?”
    â€œYes,” Sam said.
    â€œThey’re kicking all of us out of here. They said the guillotine was too good for us, so they’re shipping us off to camps.”
    â€œDo you know how long you can live without food and water?” another man said from a cell farther away.
    â€œNo,” Sam said innocently.
    â€œYou’re about to find out,” he said. “They want to torture us for not taking Carpathia’s mark. We’re traitors and enemies of the risen potentate. Others get a quick drop of the blade, but we get weeks, maybe months, of starvation and mistreatment.”
    â€œI knew this would happen,” Mr. Stein whispered, “but I never dreamed I would see it with my own eyes.”
    The main door opened, and a guard pushed Aron through. Aron fell face-first on the concrete floor. The Peacekeeper jerked him up and threw him into an empty cell at the front and locked the door.
    Sam counted seventeen others. A few with the mark of Carpathia who had no doubt broken some law, but most of them were Jews who had not taken the mark. He and Mr. Stein were the only believers.
    Mr. Stein called to Aron, but the man didn’t move. When Mr. Stein shouted louder, several others told him to be quiet.
    â€œHe’s either knocked out or dead, so shut up!” a man with Carpathia’s mark said.
    Mr. Stein and Sam sat on a cot and prayed quietly for Aron.

    Vicki and the others gathered in the main cabin in Wisconsin and prayed for Sam Goldberg and Mr. Stein. Though most in the group had never met them, they spoke as if they were close friends.
    â€œPlease don’t let the GC get to them,” Charlie prayed in his simple way. “And if they do, get them out of there. You know they were trying to help others come to know you, so please help them. Amen.”

    Sam watched for any sign of movement from Aron but saw none. He and Mr. Stein continued to pray, then sang a few choruses, even though some inmates seemed angered by their voices.
    Mr. Stein walked to the front of the cell. “Gentlemen, I know not all of you can understand me, but I have been sent here to tell you good news—”
    â€œWhy do you think we can’t understand you?” a graying old man said. “You’re speaking perfect Hebrew.”
    Mr. Stein turned and winked at Sam. “For those of you without the mark of Carpathia, I say this. On behalf of the true King of kings and Lord of lords, you have a chance to turn from your sin and your rejection of God and begin a relationship with him.”
    Most of the men turned over on their bunks, but a few seemed to listen. Mr. Stein was careful not to talk too loud and bring in the guards, but he