"Aye, sir," Delroy agreed. "I did that."

"Would you have gone through his sergeant?"

Delroy hesitated only a moment. Stay with the truth, Son, Josiah Harte had said so many times while Delroy had been growing up. Always stay with the truth. You'll be judged in God's eyes anyway, and He will know what was in your heart. Hiding the truth from others serves no purpose and sometimes conflicts the works God is trying to do through you.

"Aye, sir," Delroy answered. "I would have tried. I don't know if I could have. The sergeant is a big man."

Falkirk nodded. "And he's half your age. I would think you'd know better than that."

"Aye, sir." Delroy took a short breath. "But it was imperative that I speak to you and the colonel, Captain. I know the idea of the Rapture is hard to accept, but it's all in here." He held up his father's Bible.

"Oh, spare me," Donaldson growled. "Captain, we're wasting time here."

"Colonel, is there anything else you can be doing right now?" Falkirk's voice was crisp and clear. "Anything for those men over there along the border, or to get the troops here more ready?"

Donaldson folded his arms over his chest. His fists knotted. "No. You know that, Captain."

"I do know that." Falkirk rested his elbows on the neat desk and pressed his fingertips and palms together.

Like a man praying, Delroy couldn't help but observe. The signs are always there. His father had always told him that. A man who teams to walk with God will always find his course charted for him. He just has to pay attention. The chaplain was paying attention now.

"In addition to putting together relief and help for those Marines stranded along the Turkish-Syrian border, in addition to arranging for medevac ships to get the more critically wounded here when Captain Remington pulls his troops out of the area, I'm trying very hard to understand what happened to a third of my crew and a corresponding number of your Marines," Falkirk said. "Maybe I'm not an imaginative man. I've exhausted everything I can think of, and I can tell you that the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon haven't come up with an answer either."

"We don't need this God poppycock running rampant through our men," Donaldson stressed.

Delroy took a deep breath, about to reply to that, but he maintained his silence when Falkirk waved him off.

"Do you know what will happen to the morale aboard Wasp if the crew starts speculating like this?" Donaldson continued.

"The morale of this crew has already been damaged," Falkirk stated. "It was damaged when our birds went down in flames over there, and it was damaged when so many of their shipmates vanished without explanation."

"Then it's our job to take that morale and build it back up," Donaldson said.

Anger flickered though Falkirk's eyes for just an instant, then the emotion was gone. "Do you think that you pulling your sidearm and shoving it into Chaplain Harte's face is going to shore up the morale aboard this vessel, Colonel Donaldson?"

"The man simply wouldn't shut up," Donaldson roared.

"And if he had?"

"I wouldn't have drawn my sidearm and threatened him."

"So coming to me and requesting the three of us meet to discuss this would have made you happier?"

Donaldson blinked in confusion.

Delroy was also aware that Falkirk had framed the option as a mild rebuke of his actions-that was typical of the way he handled things. Point taken, Captain. He breathed out and made himself calm down.

"Because I would have called that meeting at Chaplain Harte's insistence," Falkirk continued. "Chaplain Harte is one of my most valued and trusted officers. I would afford him the same respect I show you."

"You can't believe what the man is saying," Donaldson objected.

"You're right," Falkirk agreed. "If I had been a true believer, I probably wouldn't be sitting here in command of this ship right now. I'd be gone with the others."

Donaldson stepped back as though in disbelief.

For the first time, Delroy noticed the Bible lying on the corner of the captain's desk. The cloth bookmark was near the end of the Bible, probably somewhere in Revelation. Just look for the signs, Son. God will always put them there to guide you.

"The chaplain is crazy," Donaldson said. "Even if he's not certifiable, he's not in his right mind. He's been up all night. One of his best friends died in medical last night. Sleep deprivation. Emotional turmoil. All the confusion of what has taken place over in Turkey these past few hours. Those things have obviously taken their toll on him. He's lost it."

"The disappearances haven't just been in Turkey or aboard this ship," Delroy said as patiently as he could. "They've happened around the world."

"So what?" Donaldson challenged.

"Seems hard to believe that a weapon could be unleashed that would strike around the globe all at the same time. We don't have anything like that. I don't believe that any foreign power has such a weapon either."

Donaldson breathed heavily, obviously on the edge of losing control. He turned back to Delroy. "How are you going to prove what you're saying?"

"Prove that this was the Rapture?" Delroy spread his arms. "Look around you. The proof is right here. If you want confirmation, read your Bible. Read 1 Corinthians. God states there that He will come for His church." He flipped open his father's Bible to 1 Corinthians 15:51 and began reading in a clear, strong voice. "'Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." The chaplain looked up from the book. "That's how fast it happens, Colonel. In the twinkling of an eye. Just the way those personnel disappeared from Wasp. "

"You're insane," Donaldson said, shaking his head. "That book was written back when high technology was getting your household fire stoked by slave labor. The people who wrote it could never have foreseen what's going on today. Crazy talk. That's what this is. Just crazy talk."

"Did you know that Chief Petty Officer Mellencamp's body disappeared in front of me?" Delroy asked. "I was watching when it happened. Have you heard that? Even the dead believers have left this ship. Do you have a better answer for what happened here? What kind of unknown weapon of mass destruction that we agree we don't know about would cause the disappearance of a dead man from inside a body bag without opening the closures or leaving a mark on that bag or on his clothing?"

Donaldson cursed. "I don't need to hear this."

"You do," Delroy said. "You just won't admit to it yet." He opened the Bible again and began reading once more. "'For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality."'

"Captain," Donaldson said, "are you listening to this load of bull?"

"I am," Falkirk answered quietly. "To every word."

"Then make him stop."

"It's not the Rapture you need to fear, Colonel," Delroy said, drawing the Marine officer's attention immediately.

"I'm not afraid," Donaldson said.

"You're afraid." Delroy felt the strength of conviction flowing through him. Reading God's words, remembering how his father had pounded the pulpit in his pursuit of the salvation of souls, washed away the fatigue and confusion that had filled his heart and his head for so long. He knew those feelings would attempt to return and that he would have to find the strength to stand against them, but he trusted God that he would find the means to do so.

Without warning, Donaldson launched a strong right fist at Delroy's head.

Quickly, faster than he'd ever been before, faster than he'd thought humanly possible, Delroy reached up with his free hand and caught Donaldson's fist with a loud, meaty smack. The blow halted only inches from the chaplain's cheek.

Donaldson's eyes widened in astonishment.

"You're afraid, Colonel," Delroy said. "But that's all right because your fear may cause you to seek comfort in God. You should be afraid, because your immortal soul is going to be the cost of your disbelief."

Donaldson tried to yank his fist back.

Delroy held on to Donaldson with a fierce strength he'd never known. "After the Rapture, God will leave this earth in place for seven years. That time will be called the Tribulation. All those who have not come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior before the Rapture will be given one last chance to make their peace with him and their acceptance of his dominion over their lives. But those seven years won't be easy. The Antichrist will rise up and weave a tapestry of the sweetest lies a man has ever known, and the world as we know it will be changed in ways we never expected."

Donaldson yanked his fist back, and this time Delroy let it go.

"You can't prove a single thing you're saying," Donaldson said.

"You're right, Colonel," Delroy said. "I can't prove it. I'm not supposed to prove it. God isn't empirical. You can't weigh and measure His works against any kind of criteria human beings have ever evolved." He paused, feeling the swell of emotions breaking within him. "That's why they call it faith. God is love and trust and acceptance and belief."

Donaldson stepped back, and for a moment Delroy thought the man might reach for his sidearm again. Evidently Falkirk thought so, too, because the captain stood in a quick, fluid motion.

"You're crazy, preacher. Bedbug nuts, if you ask me," Donaldson said.

"If you want a fight, Colonel, it's coming," Delroy said. His voice deepened, and he knew instinctively that he spoke in the measured cadence of Josiah Harte bringing home a fiery invitation. "These next seven years are going to be fraught with peril and dangers beyond man's wildest imaginings. Brother shall be turned against brother, and father against son. And no person will emerge through the Tribulation untouched." He paused. "You won't have a choice about that fight, but you will have to decide which side you're going to be on."

Donaldson trembled in anger, barely restraining himself. From a safe distance away, he leveled a finger at Delroy. "Captain, with all due respect, I request that you issue orders that that man should not be on this ship at this time."

"You're right," Falkirk said. Then he met Delroy's gaze. "Chaplain Harte, go pack your bags. You're leaving in ten minutes."

"Captain-" Delroy protested. He knew there was so much he could do here now that he knew and understood. And there were so many things that he had to work on, to prepare, to research.

Falkirk cut him off. "That's an order, mister, and you're dismissed."

Stiffly, Delroy saluted. "Aye, Captain." He turned a sharp aboutface and left the room. Confusion shook him. God, I thought I understood You. Why are You allowing this? He couldn't help feeling that maybe he didn't understand at all.

United States of America Fort Benning, Georgia Local Time 2:56 A.M.

"Would you say that you've had an adversarial relationship with Private Boyd Fletcher?"

Megan looked in disbelief at the young lieutenant who had been appointed her legal counsel. The silence after his question hung in the stark emptiness of the provost marshal's interview room like an echo of her thoughts. Her mind still hadn't gotten around the fact that the lieutenant believed she was going to be arraigned on charges of kidnapping Gerry Fletcher.

"You've read my files, Lieutenant Benbow," Megan said. "What would you say about my contact with Boyd Fletcher?"

"Actually," the lieutenant said, "I've only looked the files over a little. I didn't want to invade the Fletchers' privacy-or yours-unless it became necessary."

"I see." Megan remained calm with effort. She wanted out of the room and to be back home with Joey and Chris. She wanted to know her boys were all right-all of her boys. She wanted to know that Goose was all right despite everything that was going on in Turkey. That isn't too much to ask, is it, God? Especially not after the night I've been through. "Even from a cursory view of those files, I'd think that you'd get a sense that Boyd Fletcher didn't care much for my meddling in his family."

Benbow looked at her, his pen poised over the yellow legal tablet. "Is that how you view what you were doing with the Fletchers? Meddling?"

The frustration inside Megan continued to build. "Lieutenant Benbow, how long have you been assigned to your present AOC?" She used military terminology for the area of concentration, basically a job description, to impress on him that she was familiar with army protocol.

"I finished law school last summer, Mrs. Gander," Benbow said, "but I don't see what that has to do with my question."

"Not with your question," Megan pointed out. "The question is all mine. Maybe you finished law school, Lieutenant, but you appear a little naive."

Benbow colored bright red on his cheeks and ears. He blinked rapidly.

"Let me sum it up for you," Megan said. "Yes, I had an adversarial relationship with Private Fletcher regarding his abuse of his son." "Alleged abuse," Benbow said.

"You're talking like we're in a court of law," Megan said. "Private Fletcher was abusing his son. I knew it. He knew it. Gerry knew it. Helen Cordell at the base hospital knew it. And Dr. Carson was going to file a report with the provost marshal's office tonight-this morning. It's possible that Dr. Carson already did, given Boyd Fletcher's arrest at the hospital. Maybe you should check with the MPs and get a copy of the report."

Benbow scratched the back of his neck with his pencil. "Ma'am, I'm not the enemy here."

"Then act like you're on my side."

After a brief hesitation, Benbow said, "I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot."

"Yes," Megan said. "In fact, I think there are two wrong feet involved here." And neither one is mine.

Benbow deliberated a moment, then reached over and switched the tape recorder off. "Let's start over again." He stood and offered his hand. "I'm Lieutenant Doug Benbow, Mrs. Gander."

Too surprised to speak, Megan shook the man's hand again.

Taking his hand back, the young lieutenant said, "There's an awful lot of confusion going on around the base tonight. I'm probably not at my best, and I want to apologize for that. I will get up to speed fairly quickly, but I am new to my AOC and the criminal justice court and to Fort Benning. I hope you don't hold that against me for long and that I prove to be a competent representative for you in this matter."

Megan's head spun. "Lieutenant Benbow."

"Ma'am?"

"Sit down."

Lieutenant Benbow paused for a moment, then sat neatly, his knees together and his hands on either side of the legal pad. Megan began to wonder what the mother of this boy was like.

"You'll have to excuse me, Lieutenant," Megan said, offering no apology. "I'm afraid some of my husband's take-charge tendencies have rubbed off on me." That wasn't quite the truth because she had been self-sufficient as a single mom long before Goose came into her life. "Goose is a first sergeant with C Company."

"Yes, ma'am," Benbow replied. "I knew that. I was also told you were a very competent woman. That's why the allegations about you concerning the kidnapping of the Fletcher boy surprised me. Then again, when I thought about it, I wasn't surprised at all." He caught himself, realizing what he had said, and hurried on. "I mean, I could see how you would want to protect the Fletcher boy because everyone says you're that kind of person. A caretaker. A giver. I suppose if you thought hiding Gerry from his father was the only way you could protect him you would do that."

"Lieutenant," Megan said.

Benbow looked acutely attentive. "Ma'am?"

"I did not kidnap Gerry Fletcher."

Benbow turned his palms up. "Then where is Gerry?"

"I don't know."

"He was up there on the building with you?"

"Yes." Megan settled into the familiar question-and-answer mode she had been in for the last hour. "Surely by now you've found witnesses who have corroborated that. There were a dozen or more people there."

"Yes, ma'am, I have. And the provost marshal's office has been very helpful in pointing me to them. I intend to interview them all before this investigation is finished."

"But you haven't found anyone who saw Gerry fall from the building?"

"No, ma'am. I had a few say they weren't certain if the boy fell. In fact, several thought they did see the boy on the rooftop and thought he had fallen."

"But now they say they didn't see Gerry fall?"

Benbow nodded. "That's right, ma'am. They said they knew the boy hadn't fallen or jumped when his clothes hit the ground."