03Rise of the Beast, page 36
“I’m not here to upset you, Krissie,” said Claire, stepping back. “No, I don’t want to do that. You’re going to wake up in just another minute, I promise you. But God sent me from Heaven to tell you something important. You mustn’t go to Lusan’s island. Bad things happen there, very bad things. If you go there, bad things will happen to you. Make up an excuse not to go.”
“You can’t be Claire; she’s dead,” said Krissie. “Please, leave me alone.”
Claire seemed sad. “OK, Krissie, I’ll go away. You’re going to wake up right now.”
The scenery seemed to fade around her. In an instant, Krissie found herself back home. The light of the early morning sun was shining through the window. Leland was still sound asleep. Krissie stumbled to her feet and headed for the kitchen. She just had to have a cup of coffee. She was still trembling as she poured the first cup. She thought about telling Leland about what had just happened. No, it would only upset him. She had been looking forward to this trip for almost two weeks. She’d spent so many hours preparing for it. What she’d just experienced was a dream; that was all. People didn’t come back from the dead in your dreams.
“I’ll be sure to call you when I get there,” promised Krissie, as Leland pulled up to the departures drop off point at JFK International. “You don’t need to stay with me; I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” asked Leland.
“I’m sure,” confirmed Krissie. “It’s going to be a while before my flight leaves. There is no point in your waiting around. Anyway, they don’t allow nonpassengers in the boarding area.”
A quick kiss saw Krissie out the door, bags in hand. Leland hesitated; he clearly hated to leave her. After a moment he pulled out, leaving Krissie to get her bags checked in and get on the plane to Los Angeles. She had over two hours, more than enough time. From there she’d be catching the international flight to Fiji via Auckland, New Zealand. It was going to be a long flight. Thank heavens that Lusan had insisted that she fly first class all of the way. The last leg of the journey would be made using one of the organization’s twin engine turboprops that transported supplies and personnel to and from the island. It promised to be an adventure and, since she’d be traveling westward all the way, the longest day of her life. From JFK to her destination would be better than 24 hours. Even with the amenities associated with the first-class passage, it was likely to be a grueling flight.
She’d traveled by air with Leland several times in the past. She’d traveled with Lusan and his ever-present entourage as well. However, this was the first time she’d traveled alone by air and was a bit nervous.
She checked her bags in, got her boarding pass, and headed on through the security checkpoint. It all went without incident. She had plenty of time, maybe too much. She thought back to the dream she’d had two nights ago. She hadn’t been able to get it out of her head since. It seemed so real. Maybe making this trip was not such a good idea after all.
No, now she was just being foolish. The call came for the first-class passengers to board. She was on her way. She would put that silly dream behind her and enjoy the adventure.
CHAPTER 21
It was an indeed weary Krissie who stepped off the plane in Nadi, Fiji. It was just before seven in the morning, and she’d managed only a few hours of sleep during the past 24. She was happy when she saw the woman in the airport concourse holding a sign with her name on it.
Actually, Krissie recognized the woman. Her name was Lielani Lorenz, the young, bright-eyed executive secretary of Aldo Karr, chief administrator of the Katafanga Island facility. With the assistance of her escort, one of Karr’s security guards, they picked up Krissie’s luggage and made their way to a golf cart that took them to the small turboprop air freighter that would take them to the island.
“It’s really not a long flight,” noted Lielani as they got buckled in. “It usually takes less than an hour. And it’s a gorgeous flight; you’ll see.”
A few minutes saw the last of the cargo on board and they were off down the runway. It was a bit of a bumpy ride, but the view out the window was everything that Lielani said it would be. Below them was a crystal-clear sea that ranged from very light to very dark blue. It was dotted with what seemed like thousands of green islands with golden beaches that stretched out to the horizons. Some were many miles across; others occupied but a few acres, little more than green dots in the vast Pacific.
Eventually, Katafanga appeared before them. It was not as large as Krissie had imagined. Most of the length of the island was taken up by a single runway. Across its longest dimension, it was barely three quarters of a mile from beach to beach. The entire island was enclosed by a calm, clear lagoon. It looked like paradise.
The pilot circled the island allowing Krissie to see the Faith Compound as well as the research facility. They were such different realms squeezed together on this small archipelago.
“You’ll be staying in the resort,” said Lielani, pointing to the two-story structure on a hill near the research facility. “At least, that’s what we call it. It has very nice accommodations. It is where our scientists and engineers live. It will give you a chance to interact with them, get a sense of what is going right and wrong there.”
Lielani then pointed to a series of smaller buildings gathered about a large central building. By comparison, they seemed to be little more than shacks.
“We call that the village,” she explained. “It’s where those who want to become ministers of the faith live and study. As you know, we get tons of applicants for this program, thousands of men and women are touched by Lusan’s message and want to spread the good news, but few are actually selected. We are looking for very special people indeed. For those few who come here, it’s pretty Spartan. Mr. Lusan insisted on it. He said that in order to become truly holy, truly one with the spirit, one must put away the more lavish things of the world.”
“I can see that,” said Krissie, gazing out at the island over a thousand feet below them. “The apostles gave up an awful lot to follow Jesus.”
“Yes,” said Lielani. “Our modern-day apostles work here as well as study, and it’s a rigorous program, 12 to 16 hours per day of labor and study. Lots of people can’t cut it. But for those strong and dedicated enough to see it through, a whole new world opens up. You’ll get a chance to meet some of our aspiring apostles, too.”
“How long does it take for one to become a minister of the word?” asked Krissie.
“It depends,” replied Lielani. “Some complete the program in as little as six weeks. Others take six months or more. And at the end of it all is a holy rite we call the union, where they become one with the spirit.”
“Sounds interesting,” said Krissie.
“Oh, it is,” assured Lielani. “It’s not like baptism or confirmation. No, it is more than just a ritual. They receive an infilling of the same spirit that flows from our master, Lusan.
“I think you’ll find that he prefers the title founder, not master,” corrected Krissie. “He really doesn’t like being put up on some kind of pedestal.”
Lielani smiled, though slightly. “Of course. However, my point was that we gain true knowledge and real power in the process. Krissie, after the union you are never the same; you see things in a whole new light.”
“Sounds like you’ve learned a lot about it,” observed Krissie.
“Yes, I have,” replied Lielani. “You see, I’ve been through the program myself, climaxing with the rite of union. Now my eyes have been truly opened.”
“I didn’t know that. I’m happy for you,” said Krissie.
“Be sure you have your seatbelts buckled for landing,” announced the pilot over the PA system.
“We’ll talk later,” promised Lielani. “You’ve got to be exhausted after your flight. I’ll get you set up in the guest quarters at the resort. Get a few hours sleep. I’ll introduce you to our science and engineering staff this afternoon. Dr. Geiger, one of our chief researchers, will give you a personal tour of the labs and the instruments. He’s been instructed to answer all of your questions. You’ve been given our highest security clearance.”
“I’m really looking forward to it all,” replied Krissie, “but a few hours of sleep sounds wonderful. I want to be alert when I see all of these science wonders I’ve heard about.”
Their approach brought them around the fusion generating station, over a white, sandy beach, and down unto the wide, concrete runway. It seemed to Krissie that they decelerated rather rapidly. It was a fairly short runway for a cargo plane of this size, and it took a bit of finesse to put this aircraft down safely. When the plane finally came to a stop and turned off the runway, they had but a few hundred feet to spare.
As she stepped from the plane, she couldn’t help but notice the couple dozen young people working in the fields about a hundred yards away, beyond the fence that surrounded the airfield. They didn’t as much as look up from their labors.
“We grow a lot of our own food,” explained Lielani, “tomatoes, corn, peppers, all sorts of vegetables; we grow them all here. Working with the earth builds character and an appreciation for the wonders of life.”
The women stepped into a golf cart as the security guard placed Krissie’s luggage in the back. They were off. They passed a sentry that guarded the airfield fence and headed toward the resort, which sat upon the rise to the north. It became immediately clear to Krissie that the island was divided into two very different societies by a fence. The fence separated the realm of science from the realm of faith. In the natural, it was only an eight-foot fence, hardly an impassable barrier, but in human terms it was a mighty wall, and the style of life found on either side was very different.
Krissie also noticed that the fence was patrolled by guards. That seemed odd to her.
Lielani helped Krissie carry her bags into the guest quarters on the second floor of the resort. This place was as nice as any five-star hotel Krissie had ever seen.
“We tend to pamper our technical staff,” noted Lielani. “They work very hard, and when the day is through, we want them to be able to relax in luxury. We have a large pool, a recreation room, and a tennis court where they can unwind and recreate themselves. One day, the things they accomplish here are going to change the world.”
“I can imagine,” said Krissie, yawning.
“Oh, where are my manners?” said Lielani. “It’s almost nine. You need to get some rest. I’ll call you about one this afternoon. That will give you some time to rest and still give you time for the tour of the science facility. Tomorrow, you’ll have time to interview some of the scientists, but now, rest.”
This place was easy to relax in. Within ten minutes Krissie was sound asleep.
The afternoon saw Krissie touring this most wondrous of laboratories. The high point was watching a test of the teleportation ring. Krissie watched in wonder as several ball like probes were tossed into its depths, into what looked like some holographic projection of a seascape. It was almost magical. Yet she realized that this was no magician’s illusion; it was real.
On the following day she talked one-on-one to a number of the researchers and technicians. She couldn’t help but notice a certain tenseness that went beyond that associated with what some of them considered a performance interview. It was later that evening that she sat down to dinner with Les Geiger and Nabuko Yamura in Dr. Geiger’s quarters.
“It was so nice to meet with someone who has taken such an interest in our work,” noted Nabuko as they adjourned to the balcony and the warm tropical air. “I had not imagined that you would be so knowledgeable about physics or the nature of our research.”
Krissie smiled broadly. She could not imagine a nicer comment. “Thank you. I spent a lot of time studying.” There was a pause. “Nabuko, why is everyone here so tense? I hope it’s not me.”
“Oh no, of course not,” replied Nabuko. “You’ve been a breath of fresh air, so friendly and open.” She glanced over at Les, who seemed deep in thought.
“There have been some problems here,” admitted Les. “Quite honestly, we’ve not known who to turn to. We don’t know who to trust.” He looked over at Nabuko.
“Doctor, I assure you, I’m here to listen,” assured Krissie. “If there is a problem, we need to get to the bottom of it. I’ll be honest with you. I’ve sensed some friction here ever since I arrived. I’m in a position to make recommendations at the highest level. Talk to me; let me help.”
Les and Nabuko exchanged glances once more. They seemed hesitant. It was Les who finally told Krissie about the incident of the woman at the fence better than two months ago. They also spoke of some of the things they had overheard without referring to their modified radio. Through it all, Krissie listened intently.
“We knew we were taking a risk talking to you about it,” said Nabuko, “but we had to tell somebody. We’ve considered quitting the project, but where would we go?”
“I’m glad you talked to me,” said Krissie. “And I believe you. I will discover what is going on, and your names will not be mentioned, I assure you. If there is something going on at the compound, if people are being taken advantage of, it’s going to stop. This organization won’t condone that sort of thing. Mr. Lusan won’t condone it.”
“Be careful,” warned Les.
“I promise you, I will,” said Krissie. “My tour of inspection of the compound and its people starts tomorrow. Let me see what I can find out.”
“But be careful,” said Nabuko. “We’ve become rather fond of you. You’re coming here has given us hope.”
Krissie smiled. This trip was turning out to be so much more than she’d imagined. Perhaps she could make a real difference here, change things for the better.
Before retiring for the night, she spoke of what she’d discovered over the phone to Leland. She didn’t mention any names, but indicated that there was a problem. Like Les and Nabuko, he too advised caution. As Krissie turned in for the night, she wondered what tomorrow might bring.
Krissie walked into one of the village dormitories accompanied by Lielani. The first thing that struck her was just how austere it was. It reminded her of a marine barracks—all spit and polish, but incredibly uninviting. Each of the villagers, as they were called, had a cot and a footlocker that fit under the bed for their personal belongings. On the far wall was a huge poster of Lusan behind a podium in a large stadium. Krissie recognized it as the Stade Vélodrome, the site of the first great miracle. Below it were the words, “Ushering in a new age of peace.” Right now the dormitory was deserted.
“This is a woman’s dormitory,” explained Lielani. “There are four dormitories for the men and four for the women. Right now all of the villagers are working in the fields. They had breakfast and headed out at sunrise. In about two hours they will be heading to the chapel to begin their midday studies and prayers. They will be there for four hours. Then after lunch, they will be out in the fields again for about two hours. They conclude their day in service in the chapel.”
“Sounds like a rough schedule,” noted Krissie.
“But it builds character,” interjected Lielani. “Actually, tonight most of the villagers will be getting some free time here in the dormitory. It will give them time to write to loved ones at home. We don’t allow them to use phones or email. Isolation from the world is an important part of the experience here. Tonight we are going to have a union ceremony. Normally, only initiates and those who have already experienced the union will be in attendance. I’ve arranged for you to be there to see the entire thing for yourself. It will give you a better appreciation of what this whole thing is about. Prepare to be amazed.”
“Sounds cool,” replied Krissie. “I was hoping I’d get to see one of those.”
“I guarantee you, it will be a life-changing experience,” promised Lielani.
They next visited the chapel. Again, it was sort of an underwhelming experience. It reminded Krissie of a small country church. There were rows of wooden pews set before a slightly elevated pulpit. Off to the sides of the main sanctuary were a series of smaller classrooms and prayer rooms. What captured Krissie’s interest the most was a large double door, apparently made of metal, behind the pulpit. It had the color and luster of gold and was engraved with symbols that Krissie couldn’t identify. Upon each door was a keyhole of a size far greater than those used today. Krissie wondered just how large the key that fit it might be.
“That door leads to the holy of holies,” said Lielani. “It is there that the ritual of union is conducted.”
“May I see what it looks like?” asked Krissie.
“You’ll see it this evening,” promised Lielani. “It is a very special place for us. We can’t just go barging in anytime. You’ll understand why tonight.”
Krissie only nodded. She would eagerly await tonight’s festivities.
The afternoon was spent talking with the villagers. They were indeed a strange lot. Some were very animated, excited to be a part of the program, while others seemed exceptionally restrained. Still others were more troubling. They were like the walking dead, hardly acknowledging Krissie’s presence. Krissie could easily see why these people and the scientists on the far side of the island had little in common.
Later that evening, Krissie again met with Les and Nabuko. She spoke of what she had seen in the village. The more she thought of it, the more troubling it all seemed.
“Perhaps you should back out on this ritual you speak of,” suggested Nabuko. “It does not sound good to me.”
“This is a fact-finding mission,” replied Krissie. “I was sent here by Andre Lusan himself. They wouldn’t hurt me. Mr. Lusan listens to what I have to say. He respects my opinions. That’s why I’m here. If heads are going to roll, mine won’t be one of them.”
“I hope you’re right,” said Les.
Krissie looked out from the balcony. She saw a vehicle coming up the road from the village compound. She glanced at her watch. “That’s probably my ride,” she announced. “I’ll tell you all about this ritual when I get back. At least I’ll tell you what I can. I’m sure it’s not as sinister as it all sounds.”
