Page 53, THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART TWO: DECEPTION

CHAPTER-FIVE

REPORT

©2017, Olan L. Smith

In the end days, the nations shall rally to crush the follower of the Voice. Among them will be a woman of great power who will lead the dragons to conquer the world. She will trample the leader of the few and crown herself with pageantry, the son of he who has defied the Lord, from the beginning of time, will place the crown on her head.

The Voice of Prophecy, Chapter 31 verse 5, Levi Jackson

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An hour after the news conference McDowell still felt furious toward Smithson. All her work, all the careful preparations by the Security Council was gone in one swell swoop. Suffering from jet-lag and a terrible headache she headed for her office to make more phone calls and prepare for her report to the Security Council in the morning. Hopefully, she prayed, she could head off a horrendous storm. Calling Bill Wright gave her hope that someone felt the same way about the press conference, the two of them built a response strategy to help quell the coming tempest, because of the universal appeal of the new religious sect in India, where there was a large contingency of Followers of The Voice.

The SDL belief system tended to have strong-arm tactics, active recruitment and a disrespect of human life. This they justified as a way to help usher in the End of Days. Human life to them existed on an eternal plane of birth, death, and rebirth that freed their conscience to think of this life as disposable in pursuit of a cause, much as Islamic extremists felt and still feel. The terror they wrought upon the world however had been small and often suppressed due to their lack of a leader – namely, it was Levi Jackson refusal to lead. What the Secretary of State worried about more than anything was creating a sacrificial lamb for them and raising a reluctant leader who would unite them.

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As Greta walked away from the lab she felt different, Dr. Burton's mind seemed easy to read, her motive now clear. They debriefed her to see if Levi had recruited her for his cause. They did not trust her anymore. Burton's mind seemed very limited and narrow-minded in nature to her own, now. Levi awoke in her a feeling of power in every sense she possessed, everything she sense made her feel invincible. She looked at the people who walked pass her and their lives became an open book. The flood of information no longer overwhelmed her. Her brain absorbed all and she kept everything well organized for ready access and recall. God, she thought, I can do anything. At that moment, Stanislaus came to her as a person standing next to her. He said, "Remember your mission, Greta. Do not allow your mind's power to make you selfish. Your life for this point forward is about a revolution. You are to help unite the followers of the Voice that they may arise against the leaders of this world. You must be strong so you may accomplish this mission. In the end, you must fight the One who opposes Levi. This struggle will be until the death. Remember, I am with you always and in the end our souls will be united. Greta stood completely still, as though someone had seized her where she stood, and a woman walking by her asked, "Are you alright?"

She shook her head and responded, "I am fine, just thinking about what to do next."

She continued to the lobby and went toward the waiting Casteel. He was reading or looking at the latest swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated. It was easy to read his mind. He was trying to figure a way into her pants during this assignment. He stood up as she approached. He said, "Are you OK? You look like you have just seen a ghost."

She replied, "Yeah, you could say that." He wondered what she meant by that. He had learned long ago that he could not figure out women. "Well are you ready to go?"

"Reuben, I have never been more ready."

"What did she do to you in there?"

"She tried to screw with my mind."

"Sounds like a normal shrink to me."

Reuben's mind opened up to her after she stopped thinking of Stanislaus. It became crystal clear and she knew Reuben's assignment was her. She said, to herself, well, we will see about that. A few smiles, a caress or two, and I will have him eating out of my hand.  Perhaps later I may let him get to home plate, and then he would be hers." When they arrived at the parking lot, he suggested they ride back in one car and leave her car in long term parking. She nodded her consent as she continued to walk to his car. In the car she asked, "What do you think this assignment is about?"

He replied, "I have no idea, other than I am to work with you."

He was telling the truth; at least about this part he was clueless. She on the other hand had already accessed the minds of Director Morgan and Secretary Alderman. They appeared to her as two clueless leaders following absurd orders. Assistant Chief Detective Greta started up some small talk as they drove. "Reuben, are you married?'

His face lit up, thinking that she had an interest in him. "No, not anymore. My ex and me ended it two years ago. We both changed over time. The things she wanted were no longer the things I wanted and we met an impasse. The break-up was the best thing for both of us, and the children. The constant fighting was not good for them. Our oldest daughter finally told us one night that we should get a divorce, and that she and her brother were sick of their home life."

"Sorry to hear that. How old are your children?"

"We have two, a boy and a girl. She is now seventeen and he is fifteen."