As the faceless captain dragged the massive anchor along the ocean floor the demon hornets clashed with the government drones above. In horror the believers looked on at another David and Goliath situation. It appeared the smaller hornets didn't stand a chance against the larger manufactured murder hornets.

While Bell dropped to her knees, with Grace and Tommy on either side of her, the rest of the believers crept closer to the shoreline to watch the madness unfold. Marina prayed bold prayers aloud while Alfred stood beside her agreeing silently.

Izzy clung to Leon. It felt so nice to have someone to cling to. She blushed thinking, "I hope the world doesn't end. I wanna have time with my boyfriend." Never in a million years did Izzy think she'd have a boyfriend.  As she tightly held to Leon's arm he flexed his bicep muscle. Leon loved showing off--especially for Izzy.

---

Ella moaned as the ship began moving. She felt queasy and dizzy. She called out for the captain. She didn't want to die alone. With her remaining strength she sat up.  After the room stopped spinning she swung her legs over the side of the compartment bed kicking the end table. The water picture fell over soaking the bottom half of her butter-colored nightgown. Groping for the wet rag she pressed it to her eyes and prayed, "O might King let me see. I believe you can make me see." When Ella pulled down the rag a stream of golden light poured through the portal. Ella gasped then blinked her eyes a few times. She thanked the invisible Author then asked him for strength to make it to the Captain's Bridge.

With Ella's eyes still swollen and blurry she felt her way along the stairs. She held onto the cold metal railing and willed herself up one step at a time. Her legs quivered like jelly and her arms ached as if she'd been lifting weights. She refused to give up. When she finally made it to the landing she collapsed.  In a weak voice she called again for the captain. He couldn't hear her small voice amongst the ship's engine. She had to climb to the bridge but what little strength remained seeped from her body and she passed out.

---

The killer drones and the demon hornets collided as the SS Salvation slipped out from underneath them. As the thousands of organic bees swirled around the drones their sites were compromised and the metallic monsters began crashing into one another. As they mingled together the living hornets were churned into gooey bits. A fireworks display of bloody bug guts and explosions followed. Afterward all of the hornets dropped like flies.

As the believers looked on Alfred and Marina were reminded of Fourth of July fireworks displays which had long since past. Some of the younger children clapped with glee not  understanding the magnitude of what was happening, They'd never seen such a spectacle before and were enjoying it immensely.

Still in the dark, Bell asked, "What's happening? Why are the children laughing and clapping?

Speed answered, "There are bug guts raining from the sky."

X lumbered over and added, "And pretty lights and fire. X likes!"

Grace explained, "The hornets have interfered with the drones Miss. It's the strangest answer to a prayer."

Bell smiled and said, "Answers to prayers rarely come in the way you think.'

Bell held onto Speed's collar as he led her closer to shore. Everyone followed.

274 men, women and beasts stood along the seashore. They grabbed hands and silently thanked the Author and King.

The captain hoisted a square flag for the onlookers to see. It had five stripes. The top and bottom stripe were blue in the center was a red stripe sandwiched between two white stripes.

Marina asked Alfred, "What does that flag signify?"

Alfred replied, "It means 'yes' or 'affirmative.' I think he's letting us know he's safe.

After the captain raised the Charlie Flag he went to check on Ella. When he found her collapsed in the stairwell he picked her up and carried her to the observation deck. When the cool ocean breeze caressed her face she opened her eyes looked up at the captain and said, "It's you."

---

SOD sniveled in the sappy pine tree. "Prayer, faith and brotherly love make me sick" He spat. "Look at those wretched idiots! Are they gonna break out into song? Sing Kumbaya? Or maybe a round of 'Welcome Christmas' like the insipid Whos in Whoville?" He mock-sang the song, "Fahoo Fores Dahoo Dores! Disgusting! It cannot end like this. It will not end like this."

SOD began bloating with rage and toxic gas. He blew up like a devilish Macy's Day parade float and drifted above the beachcombers. His inflated body blocked the sun causing an eerie redness to overshadow the sand. The believers shaded their eyes and looked up.

The Captain noticed the satanic hot air balloon and placed Ella gently in a deck lounge-chair. He crossed to the horn and sounded five short blasts signifying danger.

Marina clung to Alfred. "The horn must mean danger. What's that thing in the sky?"

Alfred answered, "It resembles a menacing weather balloon.'

Again the captain sounded the horn in five short blasts. Somehow he needed to warn the people that the thing floating above them is not an ordinary weather balloon.

Alfred continued, "But that's no ordinary weather balloon. It's alive!"

The invisible Author spoke, "Get into the water."

Izzy heard him first. "We need to get into the water!"

Leon looked at her like she'd lost her mind. "I don't swim. Living underground I've never had the time or opportunity to learn."

The invisible Author spoke again, "Get into the water."

Izzy shouted, "Did you guys hear that? We must obey!" She ran to her sister and pleaded, "Come on Bell we need to lead them."

Bell replied, "But I'm scared Izzy. I'm blind."

"Hold my hand Bell. I've got you." Together Izzy and Bell walked toward the ocean. The rest tentatively followed.

Tommy yelled, "But the children! How can we possibly help all these children?"

Bell turned her head toward Tommy's voice and said, "We walk by faith not by sight."

In faith Izzy and Bell stepped into the water, as they did the ocean parted leaving a narrow path of dry land leading to the ship. On either side of the path were walls of suspended ocean water. Sea life could be seen swimming about. As the believers walked through the magical place they looked in awe at the fish, stingrays, eels and jellyfish galore.

SOD saw his prey getting away but in his present bloated state he couldn't move quickly. He floated through the narrow path ungracefully bumping into the ocean walls like a clunky red rubber ball inside a pinball machine.

When the captain saw the hundreds of people heading toward the ship he lowered the ladder.

When they reached the ladder Izzy and Bell stood to the side as the Sergeant, Tommy, Leon and older Unity campers began helping the younger children up. The Captain of the ship pulled up each child one by one. The men followed behind the children making sure none of them fell. When all of the children had reached the top the men stepped aboard.

Lonely bear cowered at the base of the ladder and cried, "I'm too big to climb that ladder."

Speed the German Shepherd taunted him, "Too big or too scared? Ya baby?"

Insulted, Lonely scampered up the ladder followed by both dogs and their large pal X.

Finally Marina made her way up the ladder. She was used to tunneling so climbing seemed easy in comparison. Alfred looked on in awe as the love of his life ascended the ladder like a champion.

Izzy, Bell and Alfred were the last to climb the ladder. The three of them hugged at its base. Alfred marveled at how far they'd come.

As SOD floated closer Alfred yelled for the girls to get going. He instructed Bell to begin climbing with Izzy behind her for safekeeping.

Leon and Tommy both stood at the top of the ladder beckoning their girls to hurry.

As Izzy, Bell and Alfred made it safely over the side of the ship the ocean walls began quivering.

The captain raced to the controls to lift the ladder. As he did the water gently folded together barely rocking the ship.

SOD got caught in the midst of the water as a stingray sliced through his bloated being. Pieces of the red balloon floated to the ocean's surface.

There was happy chaos on the ship's deck. Children meandered about oohing and ahhing. Most of them had never seen a ship let alone stepped foot on one.  Lonely Bear and the dogs went exploring. Lonely thought,  "Certainly on a boat this size there must be a forest." The Sarge and the Unity Camp leaders reported to the Captain for duties and to offer him their thanks.

Once the crowd had dispersed Bell heard moaning. "Izzy, do you hear that? It sounds like a lady is hurt." Leading Izzy by the hand Bell inched her way toward the women.

When Bell reached the lady she asked, "Are you alright Miss?"

When Izzy saw her she gasped.

Alarmed Bell asked, "What is it Izzy? Is she badly injured?"

Ella spoke in a hoarse whisper. "It's me Bell.''

Bell recoiled. Izzy instinctively stepped in front of her sister and asked suspiciously, "Mother, what under the earth are you doing here?"

Ella reached out a shaky hand toward her daughters and said, "The Captain, he saved me... No, the Author is the one..."

Bell stepped out from behind her twin sister. "Mother, are you saying you've been saved?"

The Captain walked over to the trio and added, "We've all been saved."

Izzy sucked in her breath and asked, "Father?" Izzy turned around and noticed her long-lost father who'd been missing for over a year. Her mother told them he'd run away and had probably died but Izzy refused to believed it.

Ella sat up a bit higher in her chair and added, "Peter? Peter is that really you? Has it been you all along?" As she saw her husband's familiar face her cloudy vision became crystal clear.

Hearing his son's name Alfred came running over and grabbed ahold of his only son. "Peter it's really you! You're alive!" Alfred embraced him and sobbed.

Although Bell couldn't see her father's face she recognized his voice. "Father?" She held out her arms. "Father is it really you?"

Peter rushed over to his girls. He gathered them into his arms and hugged them tightly to his chest. He cried, "It's really me, my beauties, and it's really you!"

Ella stood up on wobbly legs and tentatively crossed to her family. She wondered if they'd accept her. She wondered if they'd ever forgive her.

The invisible Author spoke to her heart, "You have not because you ask not."

Ella took the King at his word and so she asked, "Family, I'm truly sorry. Will you forgive me?"

The family of four melded into one and wept aloud.

Ella heard the Author's voice a second time, "You have not because you ask not."

Ella understood. Placing her hand on top of Bell's head she spoke in full belief, "Bell be healed in the name of the King."

Suddenly Bell's sight returned. Ironically Ella had been given the gift of healing.

On the SS Salvation all 276 believers had each been given unique gifts. They would learn to use these gifts and together they would change the world.

The End