Read Online Judgment Day by James F. David - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James F. David
Ads: Link
of an incident from two years ago. A couple of teenage boys set fire to a haystack. The town had a meeting to decide on punishment The community decided the boys would work for the farmer until he was satisfied. After they paid off their debt the farmer ended up hiring one of the boys."
"It sounds like the 1950s," Janine said.
"Stepford town," Jackson said.
"The 1950s weren't like the 1950s," Goldwyn said. "They tell a good story, but just wait until we dig a little deeper."
Again Goldwyn pointed with his cigar and a reporter acknowledged his assignment with a nod.
"Something's not right about this," Goldwyn said. "No cult can build a satellite."
"No cult could put it into orbit either," Roland said. "I called contacts at NASA and Hughes, but they claim they had nothing to do with the satellite. They don't believe the cult did it either, they think it's some kind of hoax."
"Maybe the Russians sold it to them, they're short of cash," Jackson suggested.
"Did the Russians sell them the launch vehicle too?" Roland asked.
"Is that all?" Goldwyn asked.
"I have orbital information," Roland said. "It's in a synchronous orbit, just north of the equator. Depending on the power of the satellite it could broadcast to most of North and South America."
"That's all you have? That's no more work than an hour on the phone. Where have you been for the last six?"
"Working on the Proctor connection."
"George Proctor the gun nut?" Goldwyn asked.
"That's why I was there in the first place. A source put me onto him."
"Is he part of the cult?" Goldwyn asked.
"No one admits to it. In fact, most of the members of the Fellowship seem to have pacifist leanings, normally not Proctor's type."
Goldwyn took his cigar from his mouth and pointed it at Roland.
"Proctor's not the story here, the emergence of a fundamentalist cult as a space power is," Goldwyn said, his voice loud enough to carry through the glass into the newsroom. "Drop the Proctor thing." Then turning to Russ Jackson, "See what you can do with this picture. I want that spaceship on the front page of the sunrise edition. OK, we're done here."
Then he pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the cigar, signaling the formal end of the meeting. He puffed on the cigar waiting for the others to leave, pointing at Roland so he would stay behind.
"Give me an eyewitness account for the front page."
"How do you want me to play it? Amazing feat? It's the equivalent of someone cracking the law of gravity in a garage."
"True enough, but play the other side. The danger! A group of religious fanatics have a monopoly on the biggest technological breakthrough of the century."
Goldwyn stubbed out the cigar, signaling he was leaving. He never smoked anywhere but in the conference room and only after meetings. Pausing at the door he said, "I used to worry that the Muslims would get the bomb. I've got a sick feeling this is worse."
CHAPTER 9 TOUR
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead man to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
—DANIEL 12:3
CHRIST'S HOME, CALIFORNIA
T he squeal of air brakes and the rumble of a diesel engine woke Christy at three A.M. A truck stenciled with "ABC Television" was parked in front of the office. Christy cracked the window and listened as someone bargained for the empty motel rooms. The bargaining soon elevated to shouting and Christy heard: "Four hundred bucks a night for this dump?" Followed by a mix of cursing and blasphemy. Next she could hear the scolding voice of Evelyn, followed by the man shouting: "Five hundred!" Evelyn was making him pay for taking the Lord's name in vain. The arguing ended and soon the truck rumbled off down the street, returning a few minutes later. The Fellowship owned both motels.
Three more trucks woke her that night and in the morning the street was filled with rental cars and vans sporting satellite dishes. The feeding frenzy had begun. Christy turned on the
"It sounds like the 1950s," Janine said.
"Stepford town," Jackson said.
"The 1950s weren't like the 1950s," Goldwyn said. "They tell a good story, but just wait until we dig a little deeper."
Again Goldwyn pointed with his cigar and a reporter acknowledged his assignment with a nod.
"Something's not right about this," Goldwyn said. "No cult can build a satellite."
"No cult could put it into orbit either," Roland said. "I called contacts at NASA and Hughes, but they claim they had nothing to do with the satellite. They don't believe the cult did it either, they think it's some kind of hoax."
"Maybe the Russians sold it to them, they're short of cash," Jackson suggested.
"Did the Russians sell them the launch vehicle too?" Roland asked.
"Is that all?" Goldwyn asked.
"I have orbital information," Roland said. "It's in a synchronous orbit, just north of the equator. Depending on the power of the satellite it could broadcast to most of North and South America."
"That's all you have? That's no more work than an hour on the phone. Where have you been for the last six?"
"Working on the Proctor connection."
"George Proctor the gun nut?" Goldwyn asked.
"That's why I was there in the first place. A source put me onto him."
"Is he part of the cult?" Goldwyn asked.
"No one admits to it. In fact, most of the members of the Fellowship seem to have pacifist leanings, normally not Proctor's type."
Goldwyn took his cigar from his mouth and pointed it at Roland.
"Proctor's not the story here, the emergence of a fundamentalist cult as a space power is," Goldwyn said, his voice loud enough to carry through the glass into the newsroom. "Drop the Proctor thing." Then turning to Russ Jackson, "See what you can do with this picture. I want that spaceship on the front page of the sunrise edition. OK, we're done here."
Then he pulled a lighter from his pocket and lit the cigar, signaling the formal end of the meeting. He puffed on the cigar waiting for the others to leave, pointing at Roland so he would stay behind.
"Give me an eyewitness account for the front page."
"How do you want me to play it? Amazing feat? It's the equivalent of someone cracking the law of gravity in a garage."
"True enough, but play the other side. The danger! A group of religious fanatics have a monopoly on the biggest technological breakthrough of the century."
Goldwyn stubbed out the cigar, signaling he was leaving. He never smoked anywhere but in the conference room and only after meetings. Pausing at the door he said, "I used to worry that the Muslims would get the bomb. I've got a sick feeling this is worse."
CHAPTER 9 TOUR
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead man to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
—DANIEL 12:3
CHRIST'S HOME, CALIFORNIA
T he squeal of air brakes and the rumble of a diesel engine woke Christy at three A.M. A truck stenciled with "ABC Television" was parked in front of the office. Christy cracked the window and listened as someone bargained for the empty motel rooms. The bargaining soon elevated to shouting and Christy heard: "Four hundred bucks a night for this dump?" Followed by a mix of cursing and blasphemy. Next she could hear the scolding voice of Evelyn, followed by the man shouting: "Five hundred!" Evelyn was making him pay for taking the Lord's name in vain. The arguing ended and soon the truck rumbled off down the street, returning a few minutes later. The Fellowship owned both motels.
Three more trucks woke her that night and in the morning the street was filled with rental cars and vans sporting satellite dishes. The feeding frenzy had begun. Christy turned on the
Similar Books
