long-sleeved beige blouse with a high collar and black slacks, standing on the roof of the white van surrounded by five burly guards. A wireless microphone in hand carried her pleasant voice to the gathering crowd through large speakers atop metal poles attached to the four corners of the vehicle.
Her anti-organized religion message was basically the same as it had been during the past year since she had caught the interest of local media in California, which had fueled the aggressive response of practically every religious denomination in the country.
An agitated group of protesters, including several men wearing Roman collars and clutching bibles, heckled the woman with angry epithets, waving handwritten signs denouncing her message, the most aggressive antagonists held in check by laconic plant security guards and local police.
Andy and Steve left the parking lot in their hired car before the Preacher Lady had finished speaking, getting back to their room in time to see the white van pull up under the motel portico, and her bodyguards rush Hannah into the motel. The battered yellow school bus that followed immediately began disgorging placard-bearing men and women chanting, “Anti-Christ, anti-Christ, blasphemy and sin advice!”
Their advance toward the lobby entrance, however, was prevented by two uniformed policemen who swerved their black and white with flashing roof lights around the bus. Several minutes later Andy heard the Preacher Lady’s entourage entering their rooms across the hall and peered through the sight hole in her door to determine which one the woman would occupy.
Steve watched the evening news after dinner in her room while Andy stretched out on her double bed reflecting on her discouraging phone conversation with Corporal Davidson at Fort Campbell who was fortuitously available on TAD in his company headquarters.
“ I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Davidson said after Andy explained the reason for her call.
“ Did you see my broadcast last week?” she asked him.
“ I heard about it.”
“ Had you known about the artifact theft before that?”
“ You hear lots of stuff in the army. Ninety percent’s bull... baloney.”
“ What makes you think this is?”
The ex-trooper answered with his own question. “You got this from a bunch of Ay-rabs, right?”
“ Along with specific details that reinforce their contention.”
“ They’re pretty good liars,” Davidson said. “Besides, I don’t think a few ordinary grunts like me could pull it off.”
“ Not smart enough?”
“ Got nothin’ to do with it. The army watches for stuff like that, they ain’t stupid.”
“ Did you have any interaction with Lt. Frank Mitchell’s second platoon? Hear or see anything that might suggest the Bedouin allegation is true?”
“ Hey, lady, I could make it up, you wanna put me on TV.”
At nine o’clock that night Andrea knocked softly on the door of Hannah Ogie’s room so as not to alert her guards. The Preacher inspected Andrea through the peephole, then waited several moments before opening the door six inches that the fastened safety chain would allow.
“ The reporter who is searching for the stolen artifact,” Hannah exclaimed.
“ Now attempting to enlighten the American people with a more interesting story.”
“ There is no story other than my message.”
“ That may be true,” Andrea agreed, “but people are asking ‘why’ and ‘who.’ Your message would have much more appeal if your listeners could understand your purpose, your rationale, your background.”
“ I have considered that argument before.” She started closing the door. “My message must not become secondary to the messenger.”
Andrea instinctively jammed her cane onto the threshold. “You’re making people angry. Not just your premise, your high-handed tactics, your bodyguards, your inaccessibility. Is that your purpose?”
Hannah’s posture slackened. “That does
Her anti-organized religion message was basically the same as it had been during the past year since she had caught the interest of local media in California, which had fueled the aggressive response of practically every religious denomination in the country.
An agitated group of protesters, including several men wearing Roman collars and clutching bibles, heckled the woman with angry epithets, waving handwritten signs denouncing her message, the most aggressive antagonists held in check by laconic plant security guards and local police.
Andy and Steve left the parking lot in their hired car before the Preacher Lady had finished speaking, getting back to their room in time to see the white van pull up under the motel portico, and her bodyguards rush Hannah into the motel. The battered yellow school bus that followed immediately began disgorging placard-bearing men and women chanting, “Anti-Christ, anti-Christ, blasphemy and sin advice!”
Their advance toward the lobby entrance, however, was prevented by two uniformed policemen who swerved their black and white with flashing roof lights around the bus. Several minutes later Andy heard the Preacher Lady’s entourage entering their rooms across the hall and peered through the sight hole in her door to determine which one the woman would occupy.
Steve watched the evening news after dinner in her room while Andy stretched out on her double bed reflecting on her discouraging phone conversation with Corporal Davidson at Fort Campbell who was fortuitously available on TAD in his company headquarters.
“ I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Davidson said after Andy explained the reason for her call.
“ Did you see my broadcast last week?” she asked him.
“ I heard about it.”
“ Had you known about the artifact theft before that?”
“ You hear lots of stuff in the army. Ninety percent’s bull... baloney.”
“ What makes you think this is?”
The ex-trooper answered with his own question. “You got this from a bunch of Ay-rabs, right?”
“ Along with specific details that reinforce their contention.”
“ They’re pretty good liars,” Davidson said. “Besides, I don’t think a few ordinary grunts like me could pull it off.”
“ Not smart enough?”
“ Got nothin’ to do with it. The army watches for stuff like that, they ain’t stupid.”
“ Did you have any interaction with Lt. Frank Mitchell’s second platoon? Hear or see anything that might suggest the Bedouin allegation is true?”
“ Hey, lady, I could make it up, you wanna put me on TV.”
At nine o’clock that night Andrea knocked softly on the door of Hannah Ogie’s room so as not to alert her guards. The Preacher inspected Andrea through the peephole, then waited several moments before opening the door six inches that the fastened safety chain would allow.
“ The reporter who is searching for the stolen artifact,” Hannah exclaimed.
“ Now attempting to enlighten the American people with a more interesting story.”
“ There is no story other than my message.”
“ That may be true,” Andrea agreed, “but people are asking ‘why’ and ‘who.’ Your message would have much more appeal if your listeners could understand your purpose, your rationale, your background.”
“ I have considered that argument before.” She started closing the door. “My message must not become secondary to the messenger.”
Andrea instinctively jammed her cane onto the threshold. “You’re making people angry. Not just your premise, your high-handed tactics, your bodyguards, your inaccessibility. Is that your purpose?”
Hannah’s posture slackened. “That does
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