Chapter Ten: Have We Decided?

  

~/*\~ Nomi ~/*\~

Nomi couldn't believe this was happening to her.

Even after days of walking, it seemed like a nightmare that wouldn't end. Almost forty women in all had been captured. The men who had been taken prisoner were under much heavier guard. The women were all kept together.

The male prisoners had been captured during the battle. If they'd been routed in a lost battle, or beaten unconscious and taken from the battlefield, Nomi had no idea. They kept the warriors apart from the women. But from the looks on their faces, the fight did not go well.

With her hands manacled, and linked to the other prisoners by a long metal chain that couldn't be broken by hand, or chewed through like a rope, Nomi knew there was no chance of running away. With them all chained together, they had to move together.

The men were all bound in a similar way, kept apart from the women. The prisoners were marched in turns. The men were taken ahead, while the women were allowed to rest. When the men rested, the women followed, until the two groups met, and the men sent on again.

During one such rest, Nomi's mother had nearly collapsed. Nomi, exhausted, overwhelmed, wrung out, sat in the dust beside her, her fine clothes ruined by the trek. Her feet were already raw and bloodied. "Mother." Nomi rasped.

"They'll come." Nuria mumbled, half aware.

"They'll come." Nomi agreed. "They'll save us."

Everyone in their prisoner chain nodded in agreement. It was something to hang hope on. But Nomi wondered if anyone believed it. She didn't. Not really. She'd seen battle begin, and the whole attack was just to drive potential prisoners in the opposite direction. She couldn't shake the Warlord's words. 'Let the boys have their fun.'

He didn't send reinforcements. Nomi shuddered. He didn't ask for a report on the battle. He was so sure it would end so easily in their favor.

The warriors from the City of Enoch were huge. Yes, Nomi had seen Godsons before, but these men were somehow stronger, more powerful and savage. With their heavy metal swords that gleamed in the sunlight, and their helmets and armor wrapped around their arms and legs, they seemed almost otherworldly.

Their stride was long, even when they weren't on horseback, and Nomi had to nearly jog to keep up with them, as did the other women. Some couldn't keep up and were carried. Others were too old, and were left to die on the way.

Nomi knew the other women were all looking to her for guidance, or at least for a little reassurance, but right now she had none to offer. She forced herself not to break down in despair, but the best she could offer was an unreadable expression.

No horses? Nomi found herself thinking. Why do we have animals, but these people don't? The answer came to her quickly. The warriors were too big, their armor and weapons heavy. There was no horse in the world that could carry them. The thought made her shiver inside. Kainan can ride a large, specially bred horse. These men are too mighty by his standards, let alone mine.

She glanced at her mother, and saw she was thinking the same thing.

~/*\~

After days of walking, they reached the City of Enoch. It was huge, compared to their own community. Nomi had never been here before, never gone beyond her home. The prisoners got a look at it long before they reached it. In the middle of a blanket of wide open fields, all of them growing crops, there was a city. Its walls were stone, built high and strong, and wide enough for guards and watchmen to patrol along the top, giving them a full range of vision. The gates were thick lumber, currently open, and each of them more than twice Nomi's height. There were iron hinges, strong enough to hold them up in the stone walls. Something they never could have achieved in their own community.

Not even the Ark has doors like that! Nomi felt like she was being swallowed up by some enormous maw as she and the others were marched into the City in chains. The walls were at least four cubits thick, maybe more. The structures within were made of lumber. Nomi watched with her jaw hanging open. In her town, only the Hunter's Lodge and the Chieftain's Hut were made of strong lumber. Even the Mills and Granaries were made less… solid.

Every home… Nomi thought in jaded awe. Even the lowliest farmer in Enoch has a more luxurious and sturdy home than our own Chieftain's sons.

~/*\~

From the inside, Nomi started to get a sense of how much bigger The City of Enoch was. It wasn't limited to the surface area within the walls. There were levels that went down into the ground, and structures that went several levels high. The stone made it possible to support larger buildings, for things that Nomi couldn't guess at. But the lower levels were immediately identifiable. It was a pit for executions. There was dried blood on the ground, with plenty of room for people to watch from a safe height. The Pit wasn't that big, but it was all the prisoners could see. The cages lined the interior of the City Walls, in a semi-circle around the Pit.

The rest of the city wasn't unlike their own, with places for people to eat, or trade. The carpenters were putting together furniture, and the food stores were being doled out to the women. The local Godsons had their pick of everything, laughing at the smaller humans as they scurried out of the giants' reach.

Even the clothing was different. Woven from different material, or just made better? Nomi wondered. Everything about this place is a more advanced, more powerful version of our lives.

(Author's Note: On the subject of 'Cain', the Insight Book says: "Following the birth of his son Enoch, Cain "engaged in building a city," naming it for his son. Such a city may have been but a fortified village by present standards, and the record does not state when it was completed. His descendants are listed in part and include men who distinguished themselves in nomadic stock raising, the playing of musical instruments, and the forging of metal tools as well as those who were known for their practice of polygamy and their violence."

The 'city' should not be considered overly large, but I wanted to give Nomi a sudden change in worldview, after all the moral compromises she had made to get where she was. Also, there's nothing to suggest some Giants were any bigger than others. That too, is part of the story, meant to make Nomi's world suddenly feel small in comparison. Since I'd written the story to say that different villages rarely interacted, it stood to reason that the village with metalworkers would have the lead, technologically. Of course, this is mostly my own invention.)

She didn't have too long to observe, before the huge Warlord came to their cages. "You are now the property of the City. Tribute to the descendants of Cain." He declared. "You need only concern yourselves with how best to make yourselves of use. Work well, and you will be treated well. Disobey, and you won't have long to regret it."

"My lord." Nuria offered suddenly. "You can ransom us back to our people."

"What do your people have that we care about?" The Warlord scoffed. "Is there anything that we haven't taken already?"

"Right now, probably little." Nuria admitted. "But there is fine grazing land between our two communities. If the battle is lost, then our town is yours now. There's good farming land all around it, and you need not empty your City to tend the farms." She gestured around. "For all your obvious wealth and skill, you can't make farms produce any faster."

Nomi stood, realizing she should be making the case for her people. "Whatever you decide to do, if our people have fallen to you, then we are under your command now. You're responsible for us, as you are for your own."

The Warlord smiled cruelly. "Well. It took less than a day for your loyalties to show." He laughed, a big booming sound. "We don't intend to conquer your lands, woman. We aren't low on food, or short of workers. You're here for the Games."

Nomi felt a thrill of horror go through her. "The Games?"

Nuria had already turned back to the pit, with seats around it, understanding swiftly. "You want us to fight?"

"The men are here to fight." The Warlord said plainly. "Anyone who wins against one of our men gets to take his place in our militia. When our man wins, he will require a prize."

That would be us. Nomi thought bleakly, looking at the other women in the cage with her.

The Warlord smiled. "The first challenge is tonight. Choose from among your men who will be the first to go into the Arena. Choose among your women who will be the Tribute. Decide well, and you will be treated well." He looked over the women in the cage. "Also, there will be a celebration to give thanks to the blessings of The Creator in two days; and we will need servant girls for the Altar."

As attendants, or sacrifices? Nomi thought immediately. Looking around, she saw the question on several faces. She could see the Altar at the top of the walls. Unlike their own Icon, made of woven husks and parts of their harvest, this one was made of stone, wrapped with furs and armor of its own. It was made to look like a man; but still larger than the Godsons. In one hand it held a large piece of fruit, in the other hand a slain serpent. The altar was covered in tributes, with flower wreaths and offerings of food and wealth. Nomi shivered to look at it. Their icons were made and burned up in the festivals. That statue would outlive her by a century or more.

Everything here was so… solid. Like it would never change, never be broken, never be taken down.

"They want us to choose." Temira moaned like a trapped animal. "They want us to choose someone they can entertain themselves with."

"They aren't even looking for workers." Yuval moaned from the men's cages. "If we took prisoners from some other town, we'd put them to work somewhere… They took us for amusement."

Temira reached through the bars towards the man's cage. "Hold on, Yuval." She whispered seriously. "Don't give in to it."

"There are dozens of us!" Yuval insisted. "Even if they have multiple games every day, it'd be weeks! They'd have to feed us. They can spare food for us? Are they so heavy with extra food that they can amuse themselves all day?"

Nuria spoke, putting herself in the middle of them, even with the bars in the way. "Enough." She barked. "We have a problem. That warlord is going to be back soon, and he'll expect our answer."

"We can't do as he says." Temira scorned. "We aren't his people. If we give in to him, we're fighting our own at their order. We can't do it."

"If we don't, he'll pick someone." Nuria said grimly. "It won't save our numbers."

"He could pick anyone he wants, regardless of whatever we say." Temira scorned. "He's not giving us a choice, he's just making us turn on each other."

Nomi saw everyone nodding at that, admitting it to be true. Nuria was hesitating. The others might not fall for the illusion of choice, but Nuria would cling to any form of control she could keep. Nomi heard herself speaking almost immediately. "It's hard to give up the appearance of control over your life. But right now, appearance is all we have. We will have lost nothing by refusing to obey."

Nuria hesitated, using her 'ever so reasonable' voice again. "Nomi, they want someone for their arena. Isn't it wise to choose the strongest, bravest fighter here?"

"The strongest bravest fighters were all doing battle back at the village, and they caught us before the battle was over." Temira scoffed. "The Games have already begun, here in this cage. Do we turn on each other, or let the sin be theirs entirely?"

Yuval nodded. "We can't serve our own people up to them. Whatever they do, they'll do it anyway."

Nomi bit her lip. "We're all agreed about that, then? That we won't pick anyone, no matter what they do?"

All of them nodded. Some were convinced that it was right, others were just scared. But they were all in agreement, and that was more than Nomi expected to get out of a pack of terrified prisoners. It was good, a feeling of alliance. They were helpless, but they were united, at least.

~/*\~

The Warlord returned an hour later, after he'd eaten. In his hand, he had a large, shiny apple. "So. Have we decided?" He rumbled to them with a grin.

The prisoners all looked back, giving him nothing.

The Warlord smiled, as if he was hoping for this. "If you don't choose, I'll have to." He reminded them, eyes on Nomi.

Nomi felt a spike of panic go through her. She knew instantly that their defiance meant nothing to him. He'd take whoever he wanted, and that put her at the top of the list, unless-

"Vered!" Nomi blurted, pointing to him immediately, ignoring the surprised look from the others. "Take Vered."

"Now, I directed you to pick two." The Warlord drawled slowly, drawing it out.

Nomi felt herself caving in, like her skeleton wasn't working properly anymore. "He has a sister." She heard her voice whisper. "If he wins your challenge, he can save her too."

Their jailer grinned, and signaled his men to take them both. Nomi shrank back against the bars as the cage door swung open and the guards dragged them out. The other prisoners didn't fight back, completely outmatched by the enemies… and too shocked by Nomi's sudden betrayal to do anything but stare daggers at her.

The Warlord chuckled, amused at how quickly she'd given in. "Well done." The giant praised Nomi, just a little patronizing; and he tossed her the apple. She caught it automatically. Even in the cage, she could smell how fresh and crisp it was in her hand. It was better than the apples they grew at home.

She looked around the cage as everyone glared hard at her. Their guards moved off, Vered cussing and kicking at them as he was dragged away. Nomi looked around at their hateful looks, and dug her fingernails into the apple, pulling it into slices with difficulty. She held it out to them, offering to share the only food that any of them had seen in days.

They made no move to come closer, hungry as they were.

Finally, Nuria sighed and took it from her, forcing the portions on them anyway. Even with their anger, they all ate, the apple vanishing instantly. Nomi found she hated all of them for a moment. They all wanted to eat, but none of them wanted to be the first to accept scraps from her.

That feeling cooled quickly. The other emotions did not. Nomi settled back against her cage, feeling her legs shake. The relief she felt at having dodged the axe was almost strong enough to drown out the guilt entirely. But as she got her breath back, she saw everyone in the cage still staring balefully at her.

Nomi had broken their trust to save herself first.

~/*\~

The Games were the chief source of amusement in Enoch. From the cages, they could see the Pit where the fights went on. Most of them were little more than boxing matches. The Godson's were dueling each other for dominance, and enjoying it. Every match ended with someone bruised, but still laughing as they made their way to the tables of food and strong drink. The audience cheered and wagered on each fight, but they were smiling too, knowing it was 'all in fun' to see them beating each other.

(Author's Note: This section is modeled on Ancient Rome, which is admittedly thousands of years after Noah's Day. The idea being that Satan's tactics don't change, only the style. Noah's world was described as being 'filled with violence'. The same can be said of today, with violent entertainment being the most popular. Our era is the first where violent entertainment can be realistically simulated. Ancient cultures had to actually throw humans into a lion's pit.

There's nothing in scripture to specifically confirm that any of Noah's contemporaries had gladiatorial fights or even boxing matches, but there's nothing to say they didn't. Many ancient cultures were as eager for bloodsports as the modern age is for violent movies. Why not a world so consumed with badness that God Himself destroyed it?)

Other fights were taken much more seriously. There were several challenges fought between ordinary humans. Even from a distance, Nomi could see there was real anger in these fights.

"The duels are open to anyone." A small voice said to Nomi from just outside the cage. There was a woman, stooped in a permanent hunch, who brought a jug of water, passing it between the bars. "Drink. There will be food later, when the Arena is finished for the night. The battles will work up an appetite, even for the audience."

Nomi took the water and passed it on immediately, letting others drink first. "These duels are voluntary?"

"Some of them. Two people with a dispute can settle it this way. A long-held grudge can grow to include many people on both sides." The woman explained. "So they let them beat it out of each other, before it can spread to a real division." She sighed. "Of course, that's only entertaining for a short time."

Nuria had risen from her spot and came hurrying to the bars. "Rach?!"

"Nuria!" The woman breathed her name in disbelief, looking between them. "This can't be Nomi." She smiled, despite herself. "Ohh, you've grown."

"Rach?" Nomi repeated, looking closer. "You're Shari's mother!"

"You remember." Rach's smile turned sad. "You were so small when you played with my daughter. Better days."

"They were." Nuria agreed quietly.

"Shari made it back to our village." Nomi said swiftly, glancing around to see if anyone had heard. "She wasn't there when the attack came. She's safe."

Rach heard that and burst into tears. "Thank you! Thank you, God!" By this time the water jug had made its way around the whole cage and returned to them. Rach took it back. "They'll feed you soon enough. Just keep your head down until the Games are over. If you get their notice now, while their blood is up…"

"Look!" Someone hissed morosely, and they turned back to the Arena, where Vered was walking slowly into view.

He was dressed in leathers. No real armor, but it was better than the torn cloth he'd worn when brought in. He had a copper sword in his hand; and he looked so awkward that when a Godson strode in from the opposite side, playing up to the crowd, he seemed like a child in comparison.

"I can't watch this." Temira said morosely, but her eyes were glued to the Pit, as was everyone else's. Nuria checked to make sure everyone was watching the Games, and then spoke privately with her daughter, gesturing at Vered with her eyes. "Nomi, you picked him and his sister. You didn't choose them randomly."

Nomi winced, sick to her stomach at the truth. "Natu doesn't like me. And it's mutual. He was terrible to me, before I married Kainan. To several of us, in fact." She closed her eyes for a moment. "I had to pick someone, and…" She didn't say the next part out loud. They came to mind so quickly because I dislike their father, and part of me had already decided who to sacrifice first.

"Don't judge yourself too harshly, Nomi." Rach put in quietly. "He only gave you the choice to amuse himself. If he cared who it was, he would have ignored you and done as he pleased."

The crowd roared with delight, and they looked back at the Arena. Vered was already down. The fight had been over before they could finish talking about it. The crowd was laughing, amused at the ease of it.

Someone who was whipping up the crowd said something that Nomi didn't hear, and the crowd roared as they sent in a huge wild boar, with tusks as long as Nomi's arms. The beast pawed at the ground as it faced the Godson that had slain Vered, who looked thrilled at the new challenge.

Nomi looked away. Those animals were highly prized in the Hunter's Lodge, and every year there were at least a few who fell trying to hunt such an aggressive animal. Here, they were sport.

"I should go." Rach said softly. "That boar will be the main attraction at tonight's feast. The winners are richly rewarded if they can make it entertaining." She glanced back at them. "Thank you, for telling me about Shari. If she's safe, I fear nothing."

Nuria nodded. "Sometimes I wonder if our husbands were right. About the strong being meant to protect the weak, instead of holding dominion."

"It's not 'protecting people' that the Chief objected to." Rach offered grimly. "It's that there was nobody in the world stronger than the Godsons. If they decided to protect people like us, what next? Looking after animals? Looking after nature? They're conquerors, Nuria. They'd never be satisfied without a kingdom."

Rach shuffled off, and Nomi turned to her mother. "I forget sometimes, that father's wish for the world wasn't just his own."

"The dream wasn't a bad one, Nomi." Nuria said, too exhausted to be hard. "It just wasn't one that would ever happen. Look around. The Mighty squash us for the same reason little kids stomp on ants. Because they can. What a tender world it would be, if the giants considered it a joyful duty to help everyone smaller than them." She sniffed. "Deep down, I always thought the world could be wide enough for everyone, but it's not. Everything good your father tried to make… Even if they'd listened, the other communities would have struck him down."

"They would have." Nomi admitted. "But being 'strong' and violent didn't save us. Not even for a day. Dominion means we're all prey to someone else." She looked up at the moon. "I wonder if there's even one group of people out there that succeeded. Being kind and peaceful to each other, never going hungry, but still totally safe."

~/*\~

Miles away, Shari lay on her back on the roof of the Ark, gazing up at the moon. With the torches doused for the night, the sky lit up with a blanket of stars. Dinner was over, and she had no fear of sleeping out in the open, even with so many animals about. The certainty that came from seeing them all sleeping calmly next to each other was certain, and the cacophony of gentle breathing and purring among them was soothing.

Shem joined her after a while, bringing the blankets with him. It was never exactly quiet. Some of the animals were nocturnal, and even those that were sleeping were audible in such numbers. Shari had come to like it; having them around while she slept.

Shem spread the blanket over her without a word, and lay beside her, looking up at the sky. They didn't say anything for a while. She broke the silence. "Back in Enoch, they have big, solid walls. The sky is almost like a roof, just… on top of the walls they made. You never really look that high. Out here, far from walls? It's like the sky is bigger." She slid a hand out from under her blanket to point upwards, and then lowered it to clasp his hand. "What do you think they are? The stars?"

"I never really thought about it." Shem admitted. "But they are beautiful."

"I tried to count them when I was a girl. I didn't know numbers big enough." Shari said in wonder. "Some say that every sunset, the sun goes far away to be with the stars. Others think that the stars are the souls of everyone we've lost."

Shem shook his head. "They aren't souls. According to my father, the stars were there for Adam and Eve. If the First Ones saw them, then they can't be souls that have died. And they can't be the sun leaving us over and over. The Story of Creation says the sun came before the Earth. The Light was the first thing that came to be."

Shari let it go, and shifted over to be closer to her husband. "The Ark is finished." She murmured. "If something's going to happen, it must be coming soon. We've made a little place here where nobody is hungry, and everyone is safe… I know I'm the newest, but the only thing that makes me sad about our project is that there are only eight of us." She sighed hard. "When it's over, do you think there will still be stars?"

"I hope so." Shem admitted. "I don't know what the sky looks like once enough water to drown the world falls out of it." His head tilted a bit. "Maybe that's what the stars are? Water? I've seen the sun shining off dewdrops in the mornings, like a blanket of little stars."

"Oh, I hope not." She said reverently. "The whole world will be different. I hope the sky stays the same."

"We'll find out soon enough." Shem told her. "My father says the Creator has spoken to him." He let out a breath. "We are to start loading the Ark first thing in the morning. The flood begins in seven days."

"It could take that long to load the Ark." Shari took in the news with a slow, deep breath. "In that case, let's stay up here?" She asked softly. "We may not have another chance to watch the stars all night. Maybe not for a long time."

Shem settled in beside her, pulling the blanket over them both. "As you wish." He said, and started to pray softly. She settled in closer beside him, listening to her husband pray as the stars shone brightly over them both.

~/*\~ Eleanor ~/*\~

Elizabeth was the first one to greet them, when they got to the Hall. She was thrilled to see Eleanor there. During the meeting, Del's head was on a swivel. He'd never been to any kind of religious meeting where the audience interacted, and shared their own studies.

Eleanor watched him out of the corner of her eye. She could see the way he fixated on the windows. The stage. The podium. The man who was giving the talk, the seats they were sitting in.

The last time Eleanor had been in a Church was at the funeral of Del's grandmother. She'd made all these comparisons too. No robes, no candles, no clergymen, no stained glass, no icons, no pews...

After the meeting was over, everyone broke up into conversations. Longer than usually happened at other churches. Several people came over to talk to them. More than the ones Eleanor already knew.

Benedict came over next, and he could tell Del was feeling a little surrounded, so he showed them into another room, where shelves of reference books lined one wall. Eleanor knew him through Martine, and it was enough to make small talk. "How's Martine?"

Benedict nodded. "Responding well to treatment, last I heard." He smiled at her. "And you? How's the baby?"

Del was surprised that he knew. "H-He's pretty amazing, thank you."

Benedict smiled warmly. "And you, Del? Your first meeting, I believe? Any thoughts?"

"It's nothing like what I grew up with." Del admitted. "My grandmother was very 'old school' about God. My mom went to Church in front of the TV." He gestured around the Hall. "Neither of them had any 'question and answer'."

Benedict nodded. "It's good for education. Mainstream Churches talk up the 'thousands of years of history', modern religions have huge concerts. But whether you're there for grand theater or a light show, it doesn't matter if you don't learn anything from it."

Del nodded. "I admit, this felt more like 'school' than any religion I've ever heard of. I just haven't made up my mind about what you're teaching yet."

"I understand." Benedict nodded. "That choice may take more than one meeting."

Del's face changed. It was their first night off since the baby was born, and Del was still uncertain about letting any of this happen at all.

Eleanor tried to get them moving, the way Martine used to do. "When I studied with Martine, we spent a lot of time on 'prophecy'. More so than any other topic in any of your books. The future is… scary, to me. Martine started our conversations talking about prophecies of a Paradise, and I laughed at her. So we started talking about all the times the Bible predicted something that actually happened." She smothered a grin. "Turned out to be a longer list than I expected."

Benedict nodded. "Martine came to me a few times, looking for help. The reference material is all there, but breaking it down for a new study can be a challenge. Remember, none of our people are trained as theologians or teachers. Everything we know about preaching, we learn here at these meetings."

"It's a clever strategy." Del admitted. "You teach all your people how to teach others. It's literally a church made of missionaries. I've never heard of any other religion that does that."

"Neither have I." Benedict agreed. "That, and a few other reasons, was what originally convinced me I had found the 'right' Religion." He glanced back at Eleanor. "From what Martine said, you wanted evidence that you could check against secular history books."

"I was a research assistant before I got married." Eleanor nodded. "I wanted to cite my sources. The more reputable sources I could find, the better. I could tell I was asking questions Martine had never heard before, so we started looking up the answers together on your websites."

"Any conclusions?" Benedict smiled at her.

Eleanor nodded. "The thing that got my attention wasn't the hundred or so prophecies that played out in Bible times. It was the two or three times you were predicting something in the modern day, in advance, and it turned out to be right."

"There are dozens of warnings about present day conditions." Benedict said, as if to remind her.

"Yeah, but I mean specific things." Eleanor nodded. "Prophecies about increased wars and famines and plagues? These things are explainable with growing populations and modern technology. Specific prophetic passages are like fortune cookies. They read like riddles and metaphors; and only later you find 'signs' in them, if they happen to fit the history books." She licked her lips. "You guys looked at the same 'fortune cookies' as every other religion that had a Bible, but you were the ones warning something would happen in 1914 before the War started."

"Which raises a question." Del raised a finger. "How do you account for that? I know you think that you're the only 'real' faith. But is there any scripture to account for that, or is that just your own belief?"

"If you mean: Why do we think we're the 'right' religion…" Benedict began. "The easiest way to tell is that we're the only ones to even use God's name. Scripture says that 'everyone who calls on the name of'-"

"Actually, I meant: How do you account for no other churches getting the same result when they examine scripture?" Del asked swiftly. "I mean, you're all using the same Bible. If it's clear to you, why is it totally different to others? Is there anything in your Bible about that?"

"Actually, Jesus addressed that very matter when his apostles asked why he used metaphors and illustrations." Benedict nodded. "He said in Matthew 13:11: 'In reply he said: "To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not granted'."

Eleanor spoke. "It's worth adding that Martine spent months showing me how God revealed things progressively to his servants, from Eden to Modern Day. I can't really claim the Witnesses are hoarding 'sacred secrets' when they literally go door to door offering them to anyone who will listen."

Del took this in. "Well, it sounds good, but it's only accurate if you're right about any of this. Other churches would claim the same about themselves, and have different interpretations. Except that the only way to know who's right is to see which prediction comes true, and according to you it's too late by then."

Long silence. It felt like something of a stalemate.

Eleanor spoke again, this time to Benedict. "Del is concerned on the subject of the future, too. A regular diet of the evening news has seen to that." She glanced between them. "But he's concerned that the Witnesses are a Doomsday Cult. A perception that is partly my fault. Most of my studies were about prophecies for the modern future, and the End Times are pretty much the only set of predictions yet to happen."

"Ah." Benedict nodded, understanding. "You prefer 'good news'?"

"Doesn't everyone?" Del challenged. "There's a reason your study guides open with promises of Paradise, and save Judgment Day for a later chapter." He shrugged. "Ellie's been taking me through her notes; and I trust her when she says something checks out. But I have my doubts about any organized group who says the end of the world is coming, and that they're the only ones who'll be saved." He gestured at the Hall. "Think about that for a second. That's billions of people you're writing off. Billions."

"You think Armageddon is proof that God is cruel?" Benedict challenged.

"I've seen the pictures in your literature." Del nodded. "It sure looks like an outright extermination to me."

Benedict nodded agreeably, not offended. "You were an atheist, long before you started studying. You mind if I ask why?"

Del shrugged. "I figured if God exists, then the world shouldn't be like this."

"So, if you had all God's power, would you use it to stop wickedness?" Benedict said seriously. "To intervene in every sickness that ever caused grief, to undo the death of loved ones, and ultimately to fix all the world's problems?" He snapped his fingers to make the point. "You would just wipe out all badness, all greed, all prejudice? Just like that?"

"You bet I would."

"And you'd do it all at once, right?" Benedict added. "Because why drag out the evil in the world one second longer than absolutely necessary?"

Del froze. "I'm describing Judgment Day, aren't I?"

"You are." Eleanor nodded helpfully, unable to hide her grin. "And just think, if you'd been able to 'snap your fingers' a year ago, we never would have had Jacen."

"And you wouldn't be here." Benedict put in. "Now for the real question: If you could wipe out all the 'problems', then who would you save? Who would you grant eternal life to? If you were God, who would you 'bless'?"

Del pointed at Eleanor. "My wife and kid."

"That's sweet." Benedict blew right past that. "But think bigger."

Del sighed. "Well, the good people, I guess. The best ones."

"There's an old joke…" Benedict grinned. "Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic."

Del blinked. "Okay. I don't get the relevance."

"I think what he means is that the last time God destroyed the world, He gave instructions on how to survive." Eleanor put in. "Noah told them where to find the lifeboat, but only Noah's family used it."

"In fact, there are several examples of that in the Bible, if on a smaller scale. I don't know who the most moral, most generous person alive in Noah's Day was, but doing good deeds didn't help if they didn't board the Ark." Benedict agreed. "We don't think we're better than other people, Del. We don't claim to be more righteous, or more pure than anyone else in the world. We just believe we found instructions on how to survive what's coming." He hefted his Bible into view, thumbing the pages. "And we found them by doing something no other religion in the world seems to do: We looked." He held out the Bible to Del. "We can tell you where to look. That's all. That's all we're offering. No charge." Benedict took measure of them both with a practiced look, and stood up, heading back out to the rest of the Hall. "What you do with that information is a choice that even God will leave up to you."

He left them alone with each other then, letting them talk. Except neither of them said anything for a while. "I don't really know what to do next." Del admitted softly to his wife.

"I have one idea." Eleanor admitted, before she took both her hands in his, and bowed her head. "Jehovah God," She said softly. "We want to know You. We want to understand why the world is the way it is. And we want to feel safe. Not because we're cowards, or because we think we deserve better, but because we're parents now; and we've recently been reminded that the world doesn't really offer security or safety to anyone. Not really. Del doesn't know for certain if we're in the right place. There are a dozen churches within twenty minutes drive from here, all of them different religions. But if this is the right choice, and if You care about us getting to know You at all, then we hope You'll make that clear to us."

"And if we're way off base here, if the Witnesses are just flat wrong about what comes next, we hope that a God who cares would make it clear to us that we're in the wrong church right now." Del added. "Amen?"

"Amen." Eleanor agreed, looking at him sideways. "I'm convinced about that last part, actually."

"So was my mom." Del said quietly. "I'm sure these people are all quite sincere, but that's not the same thing as being right. And it doesn't mean they're right about what comes next."

Eleanor's phone rang. She checked it automatically. It was Martine. She smiled at Del, who nodded for her to answer it. She did so. "Hi."

"Eleanor, dear. We were right after all." Martine said promptly, unable to see the way Eleanor's face changed at the choice of words. "Have you seen the news? I just emailed you the link."

"I'm not actually at home right now." Eleanor said. "I'm at the Hall, at a meeting… with Del."

"Really?!" Martine was thrilled.

"Can you believe it? Elizabeth's been studying with us both for a while; we've both been going through the research guides, and of course all the material on Watchtower Online. You always said: Search engines make all the difference." Eleanor chirped. "In fact, Del's here. Let me put you on speaker."

"Hello, Martine." Del called into the phone. "I'm sure you'll find this hysterical, but this is our first night away from Jacen. We finally found a sitter we trust, and we came here instead of going to dinner, or… y'know, taking a nap."

Eleanor giggled at that. "Anyway, if there's news, you'll have to-"

"I'm texting you the link right now." Martine said promptly, just as she broke down coughing. It was a pretty bad cough.

Eleanor paled, the smile vanishing from her face instantly. "Are you… okay?"

Martine got her breathing under control. "I'm fine." She said presently. "Eleanor, this was a while ago, so I'm not sure if you remember, but we studied Daniel 11 once; almost line for line."

Eleanor frowned and tapped at her phone, following the link as it arrived. "I remember."

"What you said, about how only a few specific events in modern history could be pointed to as the fulfillment of Biblical warnings. Well, now you've got another big one. You're seeing it happen in real time."

Del looked over her shoulder. "What's she talking about?"

Eleanor looked at the screen. "Russia just declared JW's illegal."

"A major world empire, making an attack out of nowhere. Even the news commentators can't make sense of why." Martine summed up. "Eleanor, you get where I'm going with this, right?"

"I do." Eleanor nodded, though her friend couldn't see it. "Assuming they don't backflip or change their minds just as fast… That's the last piece. All the 'elements' required before…" She met Del's eyes. "...before 'what comes next' are now in place."

Dead silence.

Del let out a breath between his teeth. "Well." He said finally, a little shaken. "You ever been a direct answer to a prayer before, Martine?"

~/*\~ Nomi ~/*\~

They had been given no blankets, and the cages were far from the bonfires. The torches that kept them lit were more than enough to provide a little heat in the mild evening. And the other prisoners had each other to keep warm. Something that Nomi was denied, in the only show of disapproval they could really offer.

(Author's Note: Scientific studies have stated that 'in prehistoric times', the Earth had a uniformly tropical or subtropical climate. Even Antarctica was considered to be lush and green. A sudden 'ice age' towards much colder temperatures is scientifically proven. The 7/15/1968 Watchtower says: "How consistent, therefore, is the Bible's explanation that there was a suspended mass of water above the earth in man's early history! This water vapor would have created the uniformly warm climate that is known to have once existed earth wide. And it was the unleashing of this tremendous reservoir of water, and not simply a severe rainfall, that caused the global deluge.")

A day after the Games had finished their first lethal tournaments, the other prisoners were still glaring at Nomi. She stared them all down, daring them to do something more than look at her. She suddenly realized that she wore an expression just like her mother. The hooded glare had been pointed at her for years, and now she was pointing it right back at them. They'd all agreed to take their chances. They'd all agreed to let the evil be on their captors' heads rather than their own. Nomi had surrendered immediately.

Nuria was the only one sympathetic to her. "You did what you had to do. If you hadn't picked someone, they would have."

"That's why they're angry at me." Nomi said softly. "If we had refused, they would have picked someone. But that would have made it their evil. Instead, I made it my own. The only thing I did was make sure it wasn't me."

"Right." Her mother nodded, unconcerned. "Like I said: What you had to do. It's not like you brought us here. Surviving is the only thing left to do, until..."

"Until what? Until someone comes to save us?" Nomi scorned. "Are you not seeing this place?"

Nuria deflated. "I know. The metalworkers that came to our village, to teach us about Copper? They were spies."

"These people didn't need spies. We have no copper ore in our village. We can make the metal into shapes, but we can't do it without metal to begin with." Nomi scorned. "They gave us better weapons, and our Hunters used them. They still couldn't put a scratch on those iron shields. The walls around this City are thick slabs of stone. They couldn't have stronger walls if they had an actual mountain range. Their weapons cut some of our Hunters in half with one swing. It doesn't matter what they knew before they attacked. We're a snack to them." She gestured at the 'Arena'. They're not even using us for work, or for slaves. Natu's son was… entertainment. We're an amusing diversion to them. They took us because they could, and they're not planning to keep us for long."

Nuria looked out at the City around them. "So much wealth. So much protection. So much power." She said, and her tone was blatantly mournful. "So much wasted time."

Nomi scoffed. "Wasted time? You mean your own? After all that effort you put into getting me with Kainan, all that groveling." She shook her head in disdain. "We've been taken prisoner, mother. Our lives are at an end here, and the only thing you can think is that you picked the wrong town to conquer."

Nuria gave a bitter, crooked smile. "I admit it. I would have brought you here years ago, if I'd known how much they had to offe-"

"If you finish that sentence, I'll slap you." Nomi warned.

Nuria looked around the City of Enoch again. "They have us totally outmatched in every way." She admitted. "Our whole world was so small, compared to what was really going on out there." She shook her head. "We could have lived our whole lives and never looked further than our own homes."

From beyond the cages came a cheer, savage and bloodthirsty. Apparently the games were getting exciting again.

"Almost makes me wish I believed in Noah's Ark." Nomi said faintly. "I finally get the point of it now. Whether I'm on board or not, this world has to stop." She was fading, head drooping. "It just has to stop, mother."

"Shh." Nuria sighed, letting her daughter rest her head on her shoulder. "Just get some sleep, Nomi. You'll need your strength."

For what? Nomi wanted to ask, numb. We are lost. Nobody will help us.

~/*\~ Eleanor ~/*\~

"This world drums it into you every second. The idea that you are lost, and that nobody can help you." Benedict said warmly from the stage. "But this step you're making today is your act of defiance of a world that belongs to evil powers. Every time the world tells you there's no hope, you can point to this moment and say 'yes, there is'."

The talk was being given in front of thousands of people, but the Speaker was looking at the front row, where Eleanor was sitting.

"Our hope is based on the most reliable foundation there is: The Promises of Jehovah God. Scripture says that He cannot lie; and history has proven those words to be truthful without reservation." Benedict said grandly. And for a few minutes, it felt like he was speaking directly to her. "I know that you've spent a great deal of time examining Jehovah's pledges to His people, and must surely be convinced by now that they are reliable. But let's take a moment and consider what that means."

Eleanor smiled a bit.

"For example, when Jesus came to Earth, he faced opposition. Many people who were interested, or hoping that he was the foretold Messiah stumbled, because he didn't fit their viewpoint; or because he challenged them to think critically about their moral and spiritual priorities." Benedict said. "But should they have been stumbled by his views, or even by his death? After all, every detail of Jesus' life was included in the Hebrew Scriptures, proof positive at every step, for those that made the effort to look." Benedict lifted his Bible. "Turn with me to Romans 15:4."

Eleanor felt a spike as everyone turned to the page in question. Martine had read her this verse several times during their studies. She would have loved to be here...

"For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." Benedict read the scripture, and looked up. "Like the hopeful listeners of Jesus day, we too have a full list of scriptures provided to prepare us for what comes next. When you face opposition, do not be alarmed; because you were warned that it would happen. When they come at you with ridicule, do not be intimidated, because Jesus himself promised that this would happen. When the world suddenly turns violent, do not be fearful, because these things were made known to us well in advance."

Despite herself, Eleanor felt a little nervous for Del. This kind of dire prediction had put him off in the past, though less and less as the studies went on.

"And why should this be a comfort to us?" Benedict asked. "Because it means that every move, every challenge, every act of opposition put forward by Satan's world has already been taken into account by Jehovah. Even the death of Christ was foretold, long before he ever started preaching." Benedict let that thought linger. "Turn to 2nd Peter 1:19."

Eleanor did so, and read along with Benedict as he spoke. "So we have the prophetic word made more sure, and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place (until day dawns and a daystar rises) in your hearts."

Benedict set his Bible down and smiled at the baptismal candidates. "By taking this step, you've shown that despite everything the world has done to break down your hope, you keep that lamp shining brightly in your hearts… until Christ, our lord and daystar, shines on the Earth; and all the world sees the fulfillment of those promises." He took a breath. "At this time, would our baptism candidates please stand?"

Eleanor couldn't stop smiling as she did so. Del was in the row behind her, still seated, Jacen in his lap.

~/*\~

It had been quite a marathon for a few months. Between the baby, and a full-time job, Del had little free time. Eleanor had turned in her notice at the Shelter, and studied with Elizabeth twice a week. Her progress was swift; and she started studying with Del.

Del had been harder to convince. He'd accepted the Bible lessons at face value, and decided the Witnesses were right in their interpretations. Convincing him to actually do something about it was harder, given his history with religion. Baby Jacen was able to make Del confront his morals and habits, just by looking up at his father; more than any method Eleanor might try.

During the lunch break, Del looked for things to make conversation about. They'd been talking about her baptism for weeks. "They gave Ioan the VP spot." Del confided to Eleanor. "He's already making… changes."

"Bad?" Eleanor murmured, cradling Jacen close.

"Not good." Del admitted. "All the site managers are being asked to 'fix' things. Nothing big, and it's not hard to believe he's got Darrel's approval. The job is changing for me, Ellie."

Eleanor nodded. "I hear you, and I understand wanting to keep your head down. It's what we've done most of our lives. But if you think stopping a Bible study is going to make your conscience go to sleep… Well, you may be right."

Del scoffed, despite himself. "Yeah. But that's not a good thing, is it?" He bit his lip. "I've already given in on this once. They haven't asked me again. My guess is… Ioan figures I'm 'trustworthy' now."

"Sooner or later, they're going to ask you to do something else you're not comfortable with, babe." Eleanor reminded him. "It's never 'just once'."

"I know." Del sighed. "Have to think about that one. But here's the thing: If I'm honest, it's an issue that I'll find anywhere else I might work."

"I know." Eleanor nodded, no judgment.

Just then, they were interrupted. Three total strangers, who happened to recognize Eleanor as one of the people who had stepped into the pool. They were so happy for her. One of them was enthusiastic enough to take Eleanor in a tight hug. "Congratulations!" The young woman enthused.

"Thank you." Eleanor said, laughing.

Del thanked them too, a little bewildered as they moved on. "Do you know those people?"

"Nope." Eleanor admitted.

Del looked around the auditorium. Everywhere, there were some people having reunions of their own, smiling at each other. Del assumed they were all old friends catching up at the convention, but now that total strangers were celebrating his wife's choice, he had to wonder. "Y'know, most people would be a little unsettled by a total stranger running up to hug them."

"But they aren't strangers anymore. Not in the ways that matter." A familiar voice said, and they both turned to see Benedict come over. "Sorry to interrupt."

"No, please." Eleanor waved him over to sit in the row behind them, both turning to include him in the congregation. "That was a great talk."

Benedict smiled warmly, looking back and forth between them. "My first Baptism talk. It was a special pleasure to be giving it to a candidate that I knew personally." He nodded to Del. "They say that when you bring someone to a meeting or a convention for the first time, you hear the program with whole new ears."

Del was still looking after the group of strangers that had come over and hugged his wife. "I can't understand it. They don't know us. How can it mean so much?"

Benedict laughed a little. "Del, all of these people have a story. No two will be exactly the same. Most of them will have similarities, and a few will be surprising wildcards. But we're all here because we all took a… a very personal journey, looking hard at the world, and ourselves. None of these people are here for a paycheck, or to impress someone. Even the people raised in the Truth can only show up because their parents expect it for so long. Sooner or later, the only reason to be here is because you want to be." He met Del's gaze seriously. "Including you and Jacen."

Del froze, looking at the baby. "He's a bit young for that, isn't he?"

"Too young to learn? Every time that kid opens his eyes, he's seeing something new in the world. Sooner or later, he's going to have questions." Benedict chuckled. "Questions about where babies come from are hard to answer. Questions about where the universe came from are something else entirely."

Del laughed, despite himself.

Benedict smiled and gestured around. "So, to answer your question: They care so much about a total stranger getting baptized, because they all understand what it took to get there. Eleanor is part of the club now. Someone that shares this important common thing. Some people get a brotherhood by putting on a uniform. Us? We see the most important part of ourselves in everyone here. The thing we're most proud of. The thing that gives us hope." He gave Del a look. "If you were surrounded by thousands of people who had the same reason to be hopeful, courageous, and happy… Wouldn't you be glad to see them, even if you'd never met them before?"

Del was notably not saying anything.

Eleanor, knowing him better than anyone else, finally spoke up. "And more importantly, all those individual stories? It means they found the way to being unified. No divisions between brothers here." She pulled out her phone. "In fact, it was one of the points Martine brought out when we were talking about the Last Days." She read the verse she pulled up. "Yeah, here it is: Zephaniah 3:9. For then I will change the language of the peoples to a pure language, so that all of them may call on the name of Jehovah, to serve him shoulder to shoulder."

"Unity in the congregation is a major part of being a Witness." Benedict agreed, not realizing it was such a serious point for Del, more than anything else. "Politics, nationality, economics, race… All those things could start a riot in any other group. Even other religions. Here, those things matter far less than what we have in common."

"I remember my first convention with Martine." Eleanor added. "When we left the stadium, I felt like the rest of the world was hitting me in the face. Thousands of people, keeping the crazy out."

Del's eyes flashed when she said that. He looked to his wife, who looked as radiant as she had the night Jacen was born. He looked to Jacen, who was awake, and gazing around with bright curious eyes, taking in all these new people, all these new sights and sounds.

"Benedict…" Del said finally. "I know it's too late for today, but… How do I go about getting baptized too?"

~/*\~

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