we have refined the plan. We now believe we need a minimum of a 1,000 weapons and an equal number of trained warriors dispersed across the infidels’ land for a coordinated attack at night. Since the target of this part of the effort is economic destruction, and not killing people, a night attack offers a better opportunity for operational success and for mass terror as they will awake to the destruction of industries necessary for their continued economic survival. We are going to put Americans on foot, living in the dark. It will be a great victory.”
“The warriors have been recruited. That was the easy part. Training has been ongoing in our camp located in the Kerman Province of our brothers in Iran. Once trained, the warriors are being transported to a gathering point in Oaxaca, Mexico where they are equipped, assigned a location for their mission and prepared for the border crossing. We have a coordination unit located in Carmen, Arizona, a small town down Interstate 19 not far from the border. Thus far we have been able to get warriors across without detection by sending them in groups of one or two. Patience is the key to success as discovery with equipment could be disastrous. We have tried to limit the possible damage by not telling the warriors anything about their targets or timing.”
“Our brothers in Saudi Arabia have provided richly the resources need to purchase the businesses that own and operate the weapons. We will not have to commandeer a single unit. They will be owned by operatives through American or Mexican shells. We will employ Americans and pay American taxes until the warriors are in position and ready to use the units for our purposes. We will give the American workers a paid holiday, substitute operators and complete our mission of destruction. How glorious it is to take the money the foreign infidels spend to purchase our oil and use it to finance their destruction.”
“Yes, but what of the plans to kill millions of these infidels,” asked the Sheik. “I will not rest until they beg to sit at my feet and cry out for peace. Then we will drive them from Muslim land and prepare for the final assault that will demand they convert or die.”
“Mighty one, we continue to work with our Iranian brothers hoping to develop and obtain atomic weapons to clean from the earth the Jewish curse and bomb parts of America into the stone age, killing millions. We have tested new chemical weapons and are directing our efforts on a way to attack their food supplies and to poison the water supplies of major cities. This is the focus of their investigation, which makes it more difficult and dangerous. It is also harder because of the technology we don’t yet fully understand. We will not be ready for this before we launch the economic strike.”
“What about the execution units? We cannot let these Americans send their troops to kill our brothers and not feel pain,” the Sheik cried in a loud and passionate voice, pounding the table in front of him. “I have had to endure years of threats and all the attempts to hunt me down like an animal and kill me. They killed bin Laden in his own home, but they have failed to kill me because I was protected and wise enough to retreat to the caves. They too must be driven by fear to seek safety deep within the earth.”
“We continue to guide our people across the border,” El Ahab responded, “and they are being housed with college students around the country. A test is being prepared in Williams, Illinois. We have two teams there in the final planning stages for their first strikes. One will hit open enemies of the faith and the other will strike at the heart of fear so prevalent in these Americans. We are using this test to confirm tactics and gage response. We want this to be a continuing effort over a long period of time, so we need to be sure what works before we unleash the total assault.”
“If you have followed Williams recently, mighty one, you can see the fear our teams will be able to inflict. A single shooter has had the whole town living in terror for months now. They cannot catch him and the people are a step away from rebellion. Many are leaving the city. What a great model. When we unleash our assault across the country, there will be no safe place for them to hide. Eventually, the people will force the American president to beg you for peace on his knees.”
“What a great day that will be,” the Sheik said with joy and expectancy. “It will happen. What the Russians learned in Afghanistan, the Americans will learn in their hometowns. We cannot be defeated and we will not surrender. Kill us and we only multiply. Victory will be ours.”
The discussion closed by El-Ahab advising the Sheik, “Messengers have been sent throughout the Muslim world to gather selected Jihad leaders together to finalize plans. It won’t be long now.”
“Good. It cannot happen too soon,” was the Sheik’s only response.
A Discovery, But of What
On the other side of the world, in the Washington office of the director of Homeland Security, the head of the CIA, the head of Military Intelligence, the director of the FBI and the president’s National Security advisor had gathered at the urgent request of Director Hollister. “Something is definitely afoot. We not only have detected increased chatter out of the Middle East, but numerous messengers have been sent to known operatives which would indicate that a centralized plan of some nature is nearing the operational stage. We have no clue regarding the details of the plan but believe that it is directed at a major assault on the nation as a whole based on some of the intercepts. They are frankly terrifying, and if true, indicate that whatever is planned has been being put in place over a period of years and is almost ready to be launched. The enemy is among us preparing to strike. The information is credible and cannot be ignored. Somehow we have to ascertain the details and prepare a defense.”
As the group struggled with how to respond to the limited information they now had, the forces of light and darkness gathered to advance their competing agendas through those who were now players on what had unknowingly become an eternal stage.
Contrasting Consultations
Two other meetings of significance were being held in Williams. They were different in that only one person was visibly attending each. In a garage apartment close to the campus, a young woman shut down her computer, having gathered the bus schedule for the park and ride in a neighboring city. She was ready to continue the game tomorrow, but it was getting a little boring. It was too easy now. She was searching for something more challenging and dealing for the first time with an internal conflict. She was troubled and didn’t know why. Beyond her sight, in the invisible, a Keeper and a Guardian were in conflict. The Holy Spirit had begun to open her eyes so that she may see herself what she was doing.29 She would have choices to make.
The other meeting was being held in a room in a converted warehouse beside the railroad tracks, down a couple of blocks from College Church, and within two blocks of Kingdom Day Care. There, the Bookseller prayed alone – or so it appeared. In reality, the forces of light in Williams were centered there. Argon feared this old man more than any other in the City of Williams. The Dark Master had told him that the Bookseller was one of the five most dangerous people in America. They had been trying to inspire the shooter to kill him, but this man lived under the protection of the Enemy. Argon sent Zaccur back to the Dark Master. This time, he sought instructions. The message was simple, “How can I neutralize the Bookseller before he interferes with your plan?”
Samantha is Stirred
Samantha had not been able to shake Paul’s dream from her consciousness. It was as if someone or something had burned a desire deep within her to know what the dream meant.30 What were these creatures? Were they after her too? Did they already have her?
The dream was real to Paul and it was increasingly becoming real to her. She was glad that they would be going out in a few hours. Perhaps he would have some answers after his discussion with Professor Thompson. She had to know. It was important, although she didn’t know why. It seemed as if the search was drawing her closer to Paul.
