The Valley of Dry Bones Read online

  But Doc finally rose, arms rigid at his sides, as Katashi sat. “Yes,” he said quietly, unlike his usual, confident self. “Thanks. I, uh, I wanted, I had wanted, I had said that, ah, here’s what I’d like to suggest. I just have a motion that I want to make, if I could just ask Elaine, or Mrs. Meeks, excuse me. Mrs. Meeks, if you could just tell me the votes, then I’ll make the motion, move the motion.”

  “I’m sorry?” Elaine said. “What is it you want, Doc?”

  “Pardon me,” Doc said. “I wanted to know the number.”

  “Oh!” she said. “I was under the impression that we weren’t going to announce—”

  Zeke looked sharply at Katashi and shook his head. Katashi rose. “Yeah, Doc, ah, it was just either a tie or a majority was all we were gonna say, so apparently it was a majority, right, Elaine?”

  “That’s right.”

  “So, Doc, if you want to make a motion, like you said . . .”

  “So,” Doc said, gathering himself and finding his voice, “you’re saying it was a simple majority, a five-to-four thing?”

  Elaine looked stricken. Katashi looked helpless.

  Zeke stood. “Doc, there’s no need to do this.”

  “Yes, there is! Now I’m a grown man, and I want to know. I’m going to make my motion, but I want to know what the vote was. If it doesn’t bother me, it shouldn’t bother anyone else. Now, Elaine, if you don’t want to tell me, just let me count them.”

  Elaine looked to Zeke. He shrugged. She said, “Doc, if you must know, it was a clear majority.”

  “Clear? What does that mean?”

  “The vote was seven to two,” she said.

  He looked as if he might topple. “Seven to two,” he said. “Seven to two, Zeke. And you and I know who the two were, don’t we?”

  “Don’t do this, Doc.”

  “Well, I said I would and so I do. I pledge my full support to the clear winner, Mr. Ezekiel Thorppe. And I move that we make it unanimous! I hereby change my vote from Doc to Zeke and ask that all my followers—all one of you—do the same. Will you do that? Will you, Zeke?”

  “Thanks for your support, Doc,” Zeke said. “Everybody here loves and appreciates you. You know that.”

  “Oh, I do! I do! Now can I get a second to my motion so we can vote? Gabi! Honey, do you want to second my motion?”

  “Adam, don’t,” she said, tears streaming.

  “You voted for him! Second the motion!” But Gabrielle was out of her chair, pulling the children from the room. “Welcome to the pastorate, Zeke,” Doc added, and staggered from the room.

  Elaine, face flushed, busied herself tidying up the pencils and ballots and the tally sheet, putting everything in the tin.

  Katashi sprawled in his chair as if he’d just lost a prizefight.

  Alexis stared at Zeke, hands folded before her as if still willing to pray.

  Zeke turned to Bob Gill, who simply appeared sympathetic.

  Lord, I’m lost. This is chaos, and I’m supposed to be in charge.

  “The truth shall set you free.”

  I don’t know what that means.

  “Yes, you do.”

  Zeke stood and felt every eye on him, as if he were to make sense of this awful embarrassment.

  “My role from the beginning of this radical endeavor has been practical, largely physical. Now I’ve been thrust into a role not of my choosing and for which I don’t feel qualified but which—with God’s help—I accept as His will. I hope it’s been clear that I have always been transparent. You’ve always known when we faced a threat or had to tighten our belts. I never sugarcoated anything or tried to cover my own mistakes. A little later I’m going to own up to some serious mistakes I made within the last twenty-four hours.

  “But now my role has become a spiritual one, and in the spirit of full disclosure, you deserve to know that the truth is I don’t have a clue what to do. All I know is that we are the body of Christ, brothers and sisters in the Lord, and one of our members—along with his family—is hurting. When one is in pain, we’re all in pain, and until we’re all healthy, none of us is healthy.

  “So in my weakness, here’s what I’m going to do. Our former pastor was going to pray for me in my new position, and I still want him to do that, but not just yet. I’m going to refer to you as Pastor Bob one more time and request that while we here all covenant to pray as one for our brother Doc and his family, you go minister to him. Let him know we love him and want him and his family back here with us. Tell him we’ll not finish this meeting without him. Would you do that for me?”

  “You bet I would,” Bob said, rising.

  As he left, Jennie raised a hand. “I have an idea,” she said, clearing her throat. “I think it would be good if we all moved close to Cristelle to pray. Bob has a way of succeeding in situations like this—or I should say the Lord does, through him. God’s going to bring Doc and his family back in here, and we’re going to want to lay hands on him and forgive him and restore him, so we’ll all want to be closer together to do that. If you agree, I’ll need a little help moving.”

  “Works for me,” Zeke said, as people headed that way. But what was he to do with Mahir? For now, he would leave Raoul with him in the back.

  When he and the others had settled near Cristelle, Zeke put a hand on hers and said, “How are you doing? I haven’t had a chance to check in on you.”

  “Pretty good, sir,” she said shyly in her engaging lilt. “I didn’t sleep so good until Danley was home, but then I worried about you.”

  “Yeah, sorry. I’ll tell more about that later. But do you feel you’re making progress?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been hurt this bad before. Doc’s been very good to me, and I know he cares. Can I pray first?”

  The question so surprised Zeke that he didn’t respond immediately and noticed that even Danley looked twice at her. It struck Zeke that he had never heard her pray. “Absolutely,” he said. “And then others, as you wish.”

  Cristelle began. “Dear God, thank You for saving me from my sins. Thank You for dying on the cross for me. Thank You for bringing me to these people, my friends. And thank You for Dr. Xavier. Please help him not feel bad or angry or hurt. He’s so smart and we love him and we know You love him too. Forgive him and bring him back to us so we can tell him we forgive him too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  Zeke was stunned. Cristelle was so new in the faith, yet she seemed to understand its simplicity. How long had it been since he had enjoyed that “first love” of Christ? And what could Willard have meant when he said he had “cause” to run her down? That made Zeke wonder if Mahir had somehow changed his mind about her after having been the one who discovered the couple and brought them into the group. None of it was making sense.

  Several others prayed, including Alexis, and Zeke had the sense that she was as staggered as he to realize that Gabrielle had apparently voted for him instead of her own husband. Who knew Doc would insist on knowing the count and it would be revealed that his and Zeke’s were Doc’s only votes? Zeke could only imagine how things were going with the family and Pastor Bob.

  Elaine Meeks was praying when Zeke’s walkie-talkie crackled to life and he jumped. He hurried out the nearest door, Alexis on his heels. “Sasha, that you? This is Dad, over.”

  “Daddy, I’m comin’ in! I’m seeing something I’ve never seen before!”

  “What is it?”

  “Helicopters!”

  “Zeke!” Alexis said. “Get her in here!”

  “Copters, plural? How many?”

  “Six, maybe more.”

  “Get inside!”

  PART 6

  OPERATION DRY BONES

  26

  MENACE

  “SORRY TO INTERRUPT,” Zeke said, returning to the Commons. “No need to be alarmed, but Sasha’s spotted choppers. Unless they saw her, which is unlikely, they don’t know we’re here, so they should pass us by. Just wanted you to be aware that we’re on it.
”

  Naturally that changed the tone of the prayer meeting, though it still largely centered on Doc. And as soon as Sasha appeared, Zeke and Alexis pulled her into a corridor.

  “Start at the top,” Zeke said. “Sight or sound first?”

  “Sight.”

  “Great. They see you?”

  “Not unless they’ve got some crazy technology. I got to the decline and into the shadows pretty fast.”

  “Smart!” Alexis said.

  Zeke grabbed Sasha by the shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes. She was shuddering. “Sash, you did well, but I need you to focus. This is crucial.”

  “Okay, so they’re not flying real fast, and they’re staying in formation even though they’re changing direction. So unless they’re searching the ground, they probably haven’t seen me. I get down the decline far enough that I’m in the shadows where I can see them and they shouldn’t be able to see me even if they come straight over the top. And pretty soon they’re close enough I can hear ’em.”

  “That’s when you called me?”

  “Yeah. And I’m guessing there’s six or eight of them. And they’re big.”

  “This is important, Sash. Were they close enough that you could see what color they were?”

  She nodded. “Green.”

  “Dark, olive drab?”

  She nodded again.

  “No kidding.”

  “What?” Alexis said.

  “I’m guessing US military and carrying troops. But why? There’s been nothing on the news about any threat to the US in California. If Doc ordering embalming fluid and us offending the religious sensibilities of the Nuwuwu are the first things to get the feds’ attention in all the years we’ve been here, these choppers have to be lost, because they flew right over the top of us and apparently didn’t know it. Lexi, let me get back in there. Why don’t you and Sasha take a peek through the southeast scope, just three to six inches every ten minutes, otherwise totally dark.”

  “What are we looking for? More choppers?”

  “And anything on the ground. Just give it a half hour. I hope to wrap up this meeting by lunchtime, then I’ll monitor the news until dark before deciding if any of us should go to Gaho’s burial service.”

  “Seriously, Z? That’s still on the table?”

  “Only if God gives me peace about it.”

  “Well, I have no peace about Sasha going, and I won’t go without her.”

  “I understand.”

  Back in the Commons, Benita was praying as Zeke sat next to Jennie Gill. Jennie touched his arm and whispered, “Everyone else has prayed, so when she finishes you ought to bring everyone up to speed.”

  Benita was always emotional in her prayers and had a habit of finishing in Spanish. She said, “So God, we’re askin’ You to work in the heart of our brother to show him Your love through us, and we ask this en el nombre de Jesús.”

  “Thank you, Benita,” Zeke said. “Now if we could just get you to develop a little enthusiasm . . .”

  “Don’t tease me,” she said.

  “I just hope the Lord has translators up there.”

  She waved him off. “You’re gonna find out Spanish is the language of heaven. What’s the deal with the choppers?”

  Zeke told them everything Sasha had reported, which led to more questions. “I know no more than you do,” he said. “I can’t imagine it has anything to do with us. If it does, it’s overkill, but when we’re all back together, we’ll talk strategy and monitor the news feeds and see if we can determine what’s got the military so interested in California.”

  “There must be some real threat,” Katashi said. “Otherwise why bother? Half a dozen choppers alone—”

  “Maybe more,” Zeke said.

  “That’s a lot of money and manpower, especially if they’re as big as you say. Where are they putting all that personnel, how are they feeding them, supplying them water, all that?”

  Zeke’s walkie-talkie crackled. He turned away from the group. “Zeke, go.”

  “Z,” Alexis said, “get where you can hear me alone.”

  “Roger.”

  He jogged into the corridor. “Go, Lexi.”

  “I’m seeing tanks.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. How many?”

  “A dozen. Accompanied by at least two covered trucks. Sasha confirms.”

  “Direction?”

  “Coming from the northeast. They’re going to come right past us, maybe right over us. We fortified for that?”

  “Roger, but it’s not ideal. How close?”

  “Guessing half a mile.”

  “ETA?”

  “Wish I knew, Z. Not a huge dust cloud, so maybe thirty miles an hour, so—”

  “Maybe a minute. We’re gonna feel it and hear it. I’ll tell ’em here. Stay dark, send Sasha here. You run and tell Bob and the Xaviers.”

  “Roger.”

  In the Commons the news caused most to stand and mill about. Raoul, still hovering behind Mahir, said, “What’s goin’ on, man? They fightin’ some kinda invasion? Terrorists or somebody comin’ from the Pacific? What else could it be?”

  “All we can do is hunker down,” Katashi said.

  About ninety seconds later the vibrations began, and then at least one of the monsters rumbled directly overhead. Lights flickered and ceiling tiles separated. Someone whispered a question about load-bearing capacity and others fiercely shushed them.

  Alexis had arrived by then, and Zeke saw more terrified faces than he’d seen in all the time they’d been in the desert.

  “Everyone sit again, please,” he said.

  As he sat before them he again felt every eye and knew they would have accepted anything from him just then, even a lie. If he even pretended to know this was some training exercise or a false alarm, that it was already over and the soldiers were heading home and no more were coming, the people in his charge would swear to believe him on the lives of their sainted grandparents.

  Instead he turned the attention to Alexis. “Did you get to Pastor Bob and the Xaviers in time to give them a heads-up?”

  “I did,” she said. “And I was able to reassure them. I’m also happy to say it appears they’ve made some real progress. Gabi wanted me to tell you that the kids didn’t really understand what happened, except that their dad lost the vote, so she’d appreciate it if no one talked to them about it. I’ve sent Sasha down there to keep them occupied in another room, so she’s asking if we would not involve the kids in all this.”

  “We can do that, can’t we?” Zeke said. “That sounds positive and easily accomplished—something we can do for Doc and Gabi. Should we break awhile? I don’t want Jennie to speak without them here, especially without Bob.”

  “Good idea,” Alexis said. “Cristelle, you look like you could use a nap, and—”

  “No, I’m okay.”

  “Elaine, we could start thinking about lunch, which should be in about ninety minutes, and I could take Jennie back to her quar—oh, hold that thought!”

  Pastor Bob stood at the door with Gabrielle, beckoning Alexis. She hurried over and the three of them spoke quietly. Bob left and Alexis brought an obviously shaken Gabi back to the group. She sat in the midst of them, Alexis holding her hand.

  Zeke started to say something, but Jennie Gill squeezed his arm and said, “Gabrielle, you are among friends who love you.”

  Gabi broke down. Those within reach touched her and let her cry. Finally she wiped her face and took a breath. “I don’t need to tell you Adam’s qualities.”

  Several spoke at once: “No, you don’t.”

  “He’s brilliant.”

  “Smart.”

  “A great doctor.”

  “He’s deeply embarrassed,” she said. “Terribly sorry. Humiliated. He feels he’s disqualified himself as an elder.”

  Many protested. “No, no. Not if he’s sorry, and—”

  She held up a hand. “Adam is also, I don’t have to tell y
ou, extremely proud. That’s no secret. What made him the brilliant doctor he is was confidence that grew into a cocky self-assurance that makes him difficult to live with.”

  The protests became less enthusiastic, and Gabi said, “You can’t argue. Everyone knows it, me most of all. I was taught as a child that people were supposed to be humble, to not talk about themselves, that you were supposed to let others praise you. I was an honor student just as he was, but I learned early who was the star of our home.

  “I put him through school and took care of two babies by myself so he could finish his residency and make a name for himself. I never questioned his faith or his morals, but imagine having no say, no opinion, never winning an argument even when you’re right. I never stopped loving him or admiring his mind or his talent, but I was jealous of the patients he treated and wondered if I had to be sick to get the attention I was starved for.

  “Adam had many qualities required of an elder, but pastor? No. That’s why, when I consulted my conscience, I voted for Zeke. But let me tell you the good news. Pastor Bob has been walking us—actually, Adam—through this, and Bob is not so much a peacekeeper as a truth teller. Is that fair to say, Jennie?”

  Jennie smiled. “That hits the nail right on the head.”

  “He’s been speaking some hard truth to a hard man, and I believe Adam is sorry not just for having been caught, but also because he realizes what he has become. Bob gave him both barrels and from the Scripture, a basic ‘Who do you think you are? And how could you possibly think God would allow you in a servanthood role when the last thing you want is to be subservient?’ By the time Bob, the Word, and the Lord were finished with Adam, I believe he had come to the end of himself.”

  “Had he?” Jennie said. “Or was he sorry he’d been exposed?”

  “Both.”

  The word came from Doc himself, next to Pastor Bob in the doorway. His voice was strong and clear, the tone Zeke knew so well, but the man looked different. As he approached his wife, all but Cristelle and Jennie rose, but this was no hero’s welcome, and there was no strut to his step.