I'd been incommunicado for some time, sort of isolated and insulated from the reality of this present world. No tv, no news or papers, no mags, no radio no telephone, no cell phone, no computer and specifically no communication with the outside. The project I have been working on took care of that. It's crazy how the world gets along without you, hain' it. Figured it was time to ask the boss for vacation.  It's been so long since I've been away.  Just so happened my responsibilities ended not by my own choosing but a different way.  I was set to just take off, ready for the high sign, I know it would come any minute, so I packed my troubles away.  As I thought of my troubles, pretty serious to me, I thought about others and the way they be.  After that thought was through all I wanted was equality for everyone in view.  How could I pray for everyone, only the ones who came to mind, I thought and said anyway that's the grand design.  I hit the few clothes I had, socks, jeans, pullovers, sneaks, grabbed some essential clean up stuff, knowing no matter how careful I was, the things I forgot were in plain sane view.  I tossed the stuff in the car and headed north to the summer land, open country, wild geese, birds of life singing without any strife.  I crossed the border and was in earth heaven, I didn't have a long time but maybe I could straighten some things in my mind that were like half baked stew.  I drove and drove which I enjoy any way and saw in the rearview, something abrew.  I looked too long in the mirror behind and started drifting off the road so kind.  What I saw I did not care but there were tremendous flashes way back there, puffs of smoke that looked so close but were more than my eye could ever see.  Just in time before my mind I saw nature look like it was scared.  Did something happen I knew nothing about or was it my active brain getting prepared.  I still drove north and the sun and the temp grew like weeds, then all of a sudden a figure appeared with arm extended waving me off or on I couldn't tell. Not being the one to pick up hikers, I changed my mind when this one came into view, a most wonderful spirit with the face of an angel, my heart stood still.  I rolled down the window of my car door locked and asked her where she was going, she said north.  Thinking for a second, she carried nothing so my fear of everything disappeared.  She got in with an uncomfortable look and I asked her name to break the nook.  She said Sharia and then shut up to not be a bother to anybody.  I asked her where she was going, and she said anyplace but here.  I asked if she had a problem because she looked so sad, then she asked where are you.  I told her I had a full tank of gas and just kept driving so it's been hours and hours since I had stopped.  She said get ready for what I'm about to tell but an accident happened and it didn't quell.  I wanted to ask what was going on but before I did, she said there had been some trouble in the middle east and Russia was involved.  She said China and Russia launched an attack toward her home of Israel.  Jerusalem had no choice but to retaliate and launched some nukes to prevail.  The Russians and Chinese were pushed back to gather forces for another day, only 750,000 million died that way.  The sad part was that some warheads went wild and good part of where I had just come was gone.  I started moaning for it had begun, much closer than I thought.  Politicos' set everything straight, after all it was a mistake.  We all have something left so let's inebriate.  They just don't realize how close to the end the whole thing is and Sharia said, "that's right."

Chapter Two

I cried unto to LORD all evening into the night and sobbed into the ground tears of sorrow.  I kissed the earth where he might have walked.  As I arose from my position on the hill overlooking the valley, I felt scorched by the sun.  Early morning, I scratched my dirt encrusted face, a combination of tears and mud.  Sharia was gone but the imprint of her was carved in the dirt, a shadow of such that reminded me of the pictures of Hiroshima. She must have gone out of the large cove a little earlier and caught a blast of something unimaginable, it was a perfect picture of her. I hope she loved Jesus. At least she was pure while with me.  I had always prayed that I would be at ground zero when the mistake happened.  Instantly vaporized before all that were somewhat protected perished.  That did not happen.  I looked up from my prone position and saw a most beautiful sky, aglow with pastel colors I had never seen before.  In the upper right Eastern sky, I saw two crimson streaks, the top one slightly ahead of the other, the bottom one slightly behind the other, they did not move, they were separated, the two of them in perfect order.  The distance and size I could not imagine.  I laid my head back in the dirt and praised and worshipped Jesus Christ, the one who everyone will need at one time or another.  I felt at peace, laid my head back down in the earth and cried extreme tears of joy. I wondered what the true scope of things were at this point, neuro, bio, neutron, the possibilities were endless.

  Chapter Three

One last vacation before I had to make some decisions. I went back home and decided I would never return. The people were very few but strange. Dazed. All the buildings looked intact and even the park benches, the swings but something drastic happened that I missed. I rented a nice car, actually the agent gave it to me and decided to go to a place that has drawn me for years, the Pacific Coast.  I loved it there.  There is nothing like the waves and surf and peace for me that it provides.  I took care of the animal boarding.  Ming, my dog who was so old and smelly was the hardest one.  No one seemed to want to take this flea bitten, one eyed, dandruff infested mean dog in their homes.  Why, I don't know.  Puddy, the cat was different, she was a sweetheart, I took her with me. Not much of a car cat but I hoped she'd get use to it.  So I packed up the car, very minimally as I had since I was a young rock and roller.  I had a credo, never have more than you can pack in your car and leave.  It worked great.  I had only not followed this rule once in Orlando, Florida. I had a new sports car and a Fender Rhodes, fortunately, I had some friends who quit the band the same time I did and they took it up and delivered it to my Mom's house in NY.  Packed and ready to go I started off.  I had all the stuff I needed for anything that would come along because of my early y2k prep work. I'm not much of site seer and my idea was always to conquer the road.  As I was headed west, the traffic started thinning and about 45 hours into the trip, I was close to Nevada.  I know I had a long way to go so I thought I'd pull over and investigate the "mountains of faces" I had known so well from the many trips I had taken out here, going west young man.  It was a beautiful day.  I was not really an adventurer so I stayed close to the car.  I caught a glint of light coming from what seemed like a cave.  I'm not fond of caves either so I had everything going for me.  I got as close as I dared and pulled out my pocket flashlight.  Feeling an adrenal rush of fright, I went in.  There were some great colored rocks in there and I guess I got too far in and the batteries started failing so I got a bit shall we say, scared.  I heard a loud bang-crack, like the one I use to hear when I was a kid before they outlawed blowing the sound barrier in town.  I ran out as fast as I could but before I got to the mouth of the cave the car looked like it was glowing.  The glow subsided and it must have been coming out of the dark to the light so I got in and drove away rapidly.  I turned on the radio and nothing, even am was silent.  Odd.  At this point I had always wanted to tour the "Death Mountain" where we track and launch our missiles.  I figured I was close so I looked at the map, most unusual occurrence, and plotted my course.  No traffic on the road so it was great, I even sped. Mr. 55, ya know. Lots of cars but no people.  I arrived at I believe was Cheyenne Mountain, followed the signs through all sorts of restricted areas with gates wide open.  I approached the blow out tunnel, the big thick steel doors which were wide open.  I grew excited but still no people.  I entered the thick doors and went inside.  The lights and horns were blowing, an automated voice kept repeating "last man standing launch, launch but still no people.  At this time I was in violation of every federal and state law in the US but I thought I could plead ignorance when stopped, I got lost, where's the rest of the bus tour.  Big brilliant maps of dots were all over the walls with streamers coming from over there to here.  I saw a lot of movies so I put it together.  This is it.  They wanted the country in perfect shape but did not want the people.  They must have used neutron bombs or new tech that I had never heard of all over the country, in the air, in all critical military installs, white house, pentagon without warning.  They had certainly plenty of time to plant them all in the last few years of US foolhardiness and top secret sharing and here I was, should I launch the dirty ones and ace the rest of the world or not?????

Chapter Four

The horns and sirens and the lovely lady's voice are getting more and more intense with a lot less space between the warnings, launch, launch, last man standing auto launch.  All the blinking lights and arrows seem to point to a specific area on the main floor before all the screens with those circles and long blue trails coming from gog or magog to the United States.  It looks like the last one left standing could launch without a manual, which was good because as a musician, I always hated reading the books,  I just stuck the keyboard on stage the same day I bought it and hoped for the best as I went along.  I can't believe how much this control room looks like the exact one portrayed in the movies I saw on tv, I think it was the one with the WOPR computer that played games with that kid Matt Brodbecker, and was defeated by a game of checkers, talk about giving away the house, man, everybody on earth knows where the launch point is, the look of it, the big case hardened, steel, titanium, concrete blast proof doors, the shuttles, the buses, even the weight of the doors.  What fools we were to give it all away.  The Christians saw every move and believed because it was prophesied in the Bible but Russia had never changed their thinking since that old Russian madman said, "we will bury you", using his old shoes with holes in them to bang on the beautiful black walnut UN desks, I knew that was a sham even as a kid.  Nowadays, I always believed that while we were helping them disassemble their junk missiles, and were giving them money for food and medicine, repair of their infrastructure for their people instead of being used to build more accurate, bigger, more lethal bombs, draining our expert boneheads' brains with loose talk, while they inaccurately believed the "cold" war was over.  Wow, dumb.......well, time had come to let em' go or not, but not by me, I've got to make it to the doors before this place hit dumbcon 5.  After all, it's always better to be at ground zero, remember that.  I ran and got there just like in the movs, just out the second door before it closed.  Bugga, bugga, boo.  I see the blue sky just like you.  You won't believe this but just outside the cave entrance this old truck with a Joe's Towing sign was waiting for the crown prince of nuclear war.  He reminded me of an old guy that owned a junk car yard that we used to play in as a kid.  He had a wooden leg from an old war no one remembers and boy did he drive funny.  It was standard shift.  He said, my name's Joe, I couldn't believe it Joe's trucking with Joe driving.  Things were sure lookin' up.  Joe said hi, I'm Joe, I said hi, I'm Charlie, what's goin' on here.  Joe said, it's been rainin' this week but today is nice.  I said, no, I mean what goin' on with the world.  Joe said, I don't know but I got to stop by the gas station.  OK, boy am I in for a treat.  Believe it or not it was a short distance from missile control complex.  It looked just like the place I used to play around as a child, I had enough.  He said c'mon' in.  I got out and did.  That's where things changed, inside was absolutely clean with beautiful furniture and not a sign of oil or grease.  I moved a table while his back was turned just to make sure it was real, it was, yikes.  Enough, I gots to move out.  I said hey Joe, I gotta go, he said ok.  I hopped back in the truck, he pointed out his home where his wife used to live, he said she didn't make it.  Seems she was vaporized by the same crack I heard in the caves in Nevada.  I asked how'd you make it, he said make what, I said, live, oh he said I don't know but the only thing different about the house and gas station is I lead lined the whole outside top, bottom and sides with surplus I got from the army for grins.  He had something in his hand, I saw a flash from the sun which caught my eye, he held it up and it was a syringe, he squeezed the air out and popped himself in the forehead.  I went, that's cool Joe, what did you do that for?  To live he said, I have to do it four times a day or more if I want cool dreams.....He took it and grazed my head with it, we hit a pothole and I shoved his arm aside, narrowly missing my temple.  He went into the ozone and I said Joe, I got to get out.  He said ok. I noticed the needle and box had UN markings on them.  I asked him where I could get a ride, he said take your pick, there's no one here, anywhere that I've seen.  There was a bike by the side of the road, looked like a Japanese racer, stop, I'll grab that one and said thanks for the help.  He took off singing some bubble gum song out the 70's, Shady Rosy, something, something.  I started the bike and it was a screamer, sounded like an Indy car.  I thought I'd hit the coast again before going back east.  The high dessert was great, all flat, and all straight, I had a full tank and by the looks of it I wouldn't need any money for gas.  Far, far ahead I thought I saw a mirage I got so used to.  As I got closer, it was no mirage.  It was one of the biggest buildings I had ever seen.  I pulled up and was greeted by people of all kinds.  Since all was in such abundance there, no one seemed to care about any possessions.  No one looked or acted high, drunk or crazy so I relaxed a bit.  I went into doors that were at least 30 feet high.  A girl who wanted to be a sort of guide went a little ahead of me.  I looked into rooms as we went along a huge corridor.  Each room had varying types of people with the usual banter going on but the rooms were so big I amazed even myself, after all, I could have let all our missiles go, I wonder what these people would think of me if they knew that.  This went on for a while, my guide having patience, watching the look of interest on my face to say the least.  It was no use asking questions, I was too confused myself so we went on.  I heard some sound a long way off, the closer we got the better it sounded.  We entered a room with a huge stage, I recognized two of the musicians, Larry a long time friend, playing a keyboard which rounded him like a glove and a guy from church named Dennis playing an unusual sound controller with many wheels, pads, a few hand grips and control wheels which had no center position.  The sound came from pinpoints, the heck with 7.1 sound.  This was the real thing.  How did they get here?  I recorded the tune in my brain and got to a piano as soon as I could to record the notes and basics of the tune.  It was the tune that dreams were made of.  I was whipped and had to find a safe place to stay for the time being so I slipped off alone.  I found a safe place, put my head down asked the LORD to forgive and protect me this night or day or whatever it was and went out.

Chapter Five

Here I lie in a dream state, in those weird times in life when the dreams are so real that you linger between the subconscious and conscious.  I try to move my limbs or any other part of my body and I want out, bad.....  The dream is that we have reached the projected 6 billion people on earth in the year 2000.  If you believe in the 6 day theory, this all comes together.  I'm sure I'm sleeping but I don't get scared when I'm sleeping, I must be having another one of those old man dreams, you know, in the end times, young men will have visions, old men will dream, dreams.  I'm terrified, the pestilence of all pestilence has hit, the final pestilence of the mind.  A dread disease passed on by thought, no escape, anywhere, no escape, people all over the world are dying within seconds of each other just by mere thought, there is nothing faster.  It is over in a few minutes, all are horribly disfigured, murdered, maimed by every imagination anyone has ever seen on TV or movies or read in books.  All the directors and producers dreams have finally come through in living non-breathing color, I lapse back into sleep.  Hopefully I'm still at Cheyenne.  If I am alive, I am still horrified, when will I awake.

Man, I hate these, here I am trying to fight my way out of this whack dream and I know I'm in another.  Double, I hate these.  These have been the three or four in my entire life and worst of all, I'm aware of them.  I see all these people getting killed by some adult male and female with venomous weapons, in school no less, randomly.  I struggle and struggle to lift my arm but I'm caught in the first dream, I still can't move anything.  I'd love to wipe them both out because they're shooting their sons and daughters in some sort of assembly, a sort of whiplash that happened in the late 90's when kids were going around killing their innocent classmates.  A kind of, kids, I hate you, love Mom and Dad.  Well, these dreams last only for a while even though they seem to be a lifetime.  Fortunately, I learned a long time ago how to go back in after getting up and going to the bathroom and setting things straight so I didn't have to live with it for the rest of the day.  The only thing is I hope this isn't real.

Chapter Seven

"Leaving Cheyenne"

Chapter Eight

I walk out the door of the shower building and there she is.  She doesn't see me cause I'm quiet out of long learned habit.  I have to watch her.  Her hair is starting to wave because of the humidity.  Somehow, I know she just hates it.  I'll bet she'd like it straight.  Just a guess.  It's so cute.  She's sitting on one of the one piece molded wooden benches.  There must be some great carpenters around here.  I just have to watch that beautiful profile for just another minute, she's smelling a bouquet of flowers.  Isn't she lovely.  Well, here goes.  I walk over to the bench, (run, ahh, trot).  She didn't see me and I might have startled her as I said hi Leeza.  She said, oh hi, how do you feel.  Much better I said, mind if I have a seat.  She said sit.  I said, ruff.  She was wearing a beautiful full length top to bottom of the ankle dress, just like I like.  If she wore any makeup I didn't notice, she surely didn't need it anyway.  She asked who do you love more than anybody in the whole world?  Wow, direct.  Easy question, Jesus.  I said who do you love more than anyone else, she said Jesus.  Cool.  Great start.  So I guess you want a marriage that will be a honeymoon for the rest of your life.  She said, where'd that come from.  Cause, that's what I believe.  When Jesus is head of the family, the honeymoon lasts till we're the bride of Christ.  You know something Charlie, you're cool too.  Charlie, what about your life, what have you done.  I said, do you want my full testimony or just a part of it.  A little would do for now.  OK.  My wife left me three times.  I had a bad divorce, I loved my children and my ex-wife gradually separated us, moved somebody else in the girls house and that was it for me.  I couldn't cover for her anymore.  Sin is sin, ya know.  Even though I had court papers, I decided to do as she suggested and not call, not write, not see or not talk to them.  They needed what little childhood they had left.  I think the new boy had some bucks she could get, so I figured they were better off, I still cry a lot cause they are the only thing I was living for.  The older one found an excuse to get angry at me, cognitive dissonance is the term, I believe, and the little one couldn't keep up the pace of two lives anymore so that faded too.  I could give you her side of it brutally honest against me.  Leeza said no, I already know her side.  What?  I looked into some weird jobs that wouldn't compromise my life in Jesus and believe it or not I found it in Soldier of Fortune magazine.  I loved the ad, $5,000,000. paid in US currency in a numbered Swiss bank account, no chance to get in alive, no chance to complete the mission and no chance to get out alive, no KILLING.  It was an email address, I applied with nothing else going for me except good looks, she laughs hysterically. I said what a way to treat your future husband, (I knew) in your dreams, she said.  I got an email from an anonymous email address, it told where to wait, a black van picked me up, I was blindfolded, taken somewhere and given a black weapon.  What a piece of work it you appreciate that kind of thing. It was a McMillan M88 using .50 cal exploding rounds.  They set up a cantaloupe about 1000 feet away, I took one shot from my hip, it had some kind of explosive charge in the biz end of the bullet and blew the fruit so high it never came down.  They took the rifle, blindfolded me and took me back where they picked me up.  What the pro shooters say about hip shots and the like is bull, you either got it or you don't.  I found out very early in my life that I never missed what I shot at, it was just like the ammo came from my hands, it scared me and I never kept guns around me and grew to hate them.  Anyway, the job was get into the Gulf, find our guy and get this, blow a hole in a crease in his pants to scare the do do out of him, but don't kill him, all at just a 1500 to 2000 yards.  My return email came from another anonymous email address, they never wanted him dead, they just wanted to scare him.  Why replace one nut when one more crazy than the previous was waiting in the wings, besides we have the psycho profiles on all the leaders in the wor profiles on all the leaders in the world.  The email was untraceable, I got in, made the shot in the crease of the back of his pants, actually I blew the whole bottom end out of his trousers.  Trousers?, Charlie, Leeza giggled.  Yeh, trousers, doesn't that name for guys pants crack you up.  It was a term that the some old guys used and salesmen in men's stores.  I always laugh when I hear trousers, I use it when I want to get a snicker.  Anyway, through the scope on the rifle you should have seen the look on his face.  They picked the right guy cause I could never kill anyone anyway.  The paid help with me were wildly disappointed with the best America had to offer, apparently they weren't told the whole story.  They grabbed my weapon and started firing their own, getting us enormous attention.  My weapon was completely silent, you could not even hear the slide, theirs were a different story.  No one got a scratch except my main man's bottom and maybe their pride.  After we were safe, relatively speaking, they talked, there was a boy that kind of took a liking to me who understood English, so he quietly mentioned in my ear, wet leather, stakes, desert, scorpions, red ants, no water, and slow death.  At length, they decided I did the best I could with the wind, heat, distance and decided to let me go, "on my own".  I got home.  I later found out our government had a neural infrared character slice satellite profile on "the beloved leader" and could have taken him out at will, hiding places, RV's, 57 to 900 palaces and still can anytime they want.  They didn't want to.  Crazy in love with him.  So I'm a rich man, but it doesn't look like there's much of world left or anything to spend it on, or get to it, all communications are down with the exception of the submarine underground long wave deal as far as I know.   I bet you know a lot more than I do so it's your turn Leez. Well I can't tell you much...... oooohhhhh why did I expect that, by the way, why did they send a 118 pound female to take down a 155 mass of muscle, (more hysterical laughter from Leez)  Cause I know 60 forms of martial arts, boxing, and kick boxing, full degree black belts in all of them where applicable.  Well, I know them too.  Which, she said.  Children's Tae Kwon Do exercise forms and street fighting.  She fell on the floor with that one and couldn't stop laughing.  OK, ok, ok, enough.  When did you get saved?  Three years old.  So, you were an enemy of Jesus Christ for almost three years.  She got this weird look on her face, smiled and whacked me.  I think that's going to be a great button to push in the future.  Well, Mr. Smarty Pants, when did you get saved?  1989.  But, I've been a believer all my life.  I knew that.  How?  You would be surprised how much we know about you.  Not another clandestine organization?  Well, Chuck, you weren't exactly careful what or where you wrote, talked or gave your testimony about your belief in Jesus Christ being your one and only Saviour, besides that, our group prayed you here for a specific purpose.  Wait a minute, I came on my own at random.  Do you really believe that?  Nah I don't.  Leeza said, you more than anyone else should know the power of prayer. Yup, I sure do.  So what's the gig.  I'll give you more info as required, you've got to rest, besides it's almost time for devotions.

Chapter Nine

"Devotions"

This is great I was wondering if there were any other people here?  Leez said, yes there are many, all of the same belief.  We came together as a group.  We were all working in government jobs, CIA, DEA, NSA, all the letters.  Over the years we got to talking via email to one another.  As you know, we know things that you don't know.  As we communicated, Petric, one of the worlds top encrypt, developed an unbreakable encryption scheme to allow us to talk freely over the net via e.  He was convinced it would not be broken until we were ready.  He was right.  Leeza, what was up.  Well, we found out about a bug or disease that was transmitted by thought, kills instantly, none of the rolling around on the floor TV stuff, just instant termination.  We decided to do the best we could to avoid it.  Leeza, what was the glue that held you together and how did you know the bad from the good.  The glue was you know who.  The bad from the good I'll tell you at a later time.  Ok, boss.  We were walking down and up a little curvy path which was very well groomed, nature was a good part of this place and although I didn't plan on staying there was something telling me, I would be here again.  We came upon another beautiful clearing with another handcrafted building.  The workmanship was incredible.  As we approached the aroma of many different kinds of flowers permeated the air.  I finally saw people, lots of people, many different kinds of people.  It looked like a mix you would find at any other church in America.  It felt good.  By the way Charlie, before we go into the sanctuary, you sound like you know a lot more than I thought.  No kidding, I'm amazed coming from Ms. Intel herself.  Very funny.  We entered the doors, the inside was breathtaking, truly built by hand as a house unto the LORD.  I wasn't much good at wood but I had a great appreciation for it, now I have a great interest in how and who the craftsmen were. Leeza, question, rapture?  Yes. Why are we still here then, thinning the herd?  I don't know, man's meddling in places he doesn't belong.  Devotions went great.  Praise and worship was wonderful, the short but uplifting sermon out of John by Pastor Adaggio was thought provoking and the Holy Spirit settled in and the LORD filled the sanctuary.  After benediction, I noticed all the instruments were hand made, including the piano, nicest I ever heard, I wanted to look at it but Leeza kind of hustled me out the door.

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

We started going faster and faster as if Leez was trying to show off or something.  I distinctly thought I heard giggling from the back of the canoe.  The dock was very close and unfortunately for me I didn't do a proper hold off and the canoe banged the dock.  She made like she didn't notice but I'm sure she stored it away for future use.  Leeza tied it down and said let's go, we have to hustle, she took off on a dead run.  Not wanting to spend a night in the woods in the dark, I took off as fast as I could.  She hid behind a tree, stepped out and went boo, scared me to an almost girlish scream, I'll deny that forever.  Just kidding, we're not really in a big rush, I just wanted to see what kind of shape you were in, not bad, Chas.  Thanks a lot, Leeza. What happened with this think bug Leeza, I named it the neualbug, I figured something like this would happen when they put human dna in cpu's.  Old hitler must have had his bones hidden all over the world by his buds waiting for that day.  I think the test stuff got out of control and decided on it's own there were no more use for humans for any purpose.  As has been written there will be disease and pestilences in the end times.  Charlie, I can't tell you anything right now, I think you know that.  I do and I understand.  We approached some lights in the distance, the sun wasn't down yet so it was dim, but clear.  We got closer and a structure resembling a cabin came into view.  Well, here it is, here's your keys, if you find them necessary, go in and check out your home away from home and I'll wait here.  Ok, I said, I opened the door and it was gleaming, nice large room with nice comfortable furniture, of course, hand made.  I checked out the other rooms, a bathroom, small but perfect size for a single, small study, a laptop, a loft bedroom with skylight, fireplace, baseboard heating, large tinted windows with a great view east, south and north.  I loved it.  I always had something like this pictured in my mind.  I went outside, it's perfect Leeza. All the men and women work here so it's included, along with food.  Three meals 8, 12:30 and 6:00, buffet style.  Get a whole bunch of sleep tonight, we've got a lot to do tomorrow.  What? I said.  You'll find out.  By the way, you want to spar sometime around mid-morning?  You got any guys my size?  Guys, are you kidding?.  You'll be sparring me, and I took the liberty of ordering extra heavy duty padding for you.  There's a map inside on the desk, you can follow a map, can't you Chasbo.  You know Leez, if you weren't so pretty I could dislike you.  Ahh, said Leeza, Love thy neighbor as yourself, second greatest, remember.  Uh, huh.  I'll be by to pick you up in the morning, about 7:50 for breakfast, sleep tight and God bless you.  I said, thank you Leeza, I'll see you tomorrow, God bless you too, may the LORD encamp His angels about you.  I watched her walk down the path, and out of sight, boy is she beautiful, what a great spirit about her, such a gentleness.  Well, time for bed, I'm beat.  Dear LORD, thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed on me this day and the protection you have given me.  Thank you for the new friend, bless her LORD, at first meeting, I believe she has done your work for her whole life.  Please allow me to adjust to this circumstance I seemed to have fallen into.  I love you LORD with my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole mind and my whole strength.  Amen.  So be it......I ate carpet for about an hour and praised and worshipped my God, through Jesus......

Chapter Twelve

As soon as I got far away enough from his cabin I ran.  I started crying just as soon as I knew he wouldn't hear.  I hope I held it back long enough.  I would not want to show any signs of weakness now.  I went to the track and ran until I had some control.  I ran back to my cabin, avoiding the paths that might have some walkers on them.  I got in the door, closed it and fell to my knees.  I sobbed, wept, and groaned before the LORD.  I called out to Jesus and asked why?  Why at almost 41 years of serving you, I meet someone who I am finally attracted to and I have to ask him soon to do something for people here, he has never met, that is more dangerous than anything he has ever done in his life.  Dear LORD Almighty, this is the only man I have ever met that I have been the least bit interested in.  He makes me laugh.  I have served you faithfully oh LORD and now we have prayed someone here to help us who just happens to be the only man I even remotely had fun with in my whole life.  With your grace and mercy I've been able to keep myself clean from drugs, alcohol, sex and anything else that would make you weep, waiting for that special one to come along, he does, and I draw him as an assignment, that's great, I just called Charlie an assignment.  I know I'm not making any sense.  Help me.  Abba Father, you have blessed me with a spirit filled clear mind, wonderful physical beauty which has given me an easy time of it when others had to struggle, excellent health, parents who taught me in the ways of the LORD, why now LORD did you send him, this particular one, is this the one you meant for me from my conception, am I Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed?  I know nothing happens by coincidence, we serve a Sovereign God who knows the beginning from the end.  Father, I put this situation in your hands now at this moment, and I believe that you have taken control of it in Jesus name but I still feel sad.  Leeza cried and prayed until she fell asleep on the floor.

Chapter Thirteen

"End Of The Day, Beginning Of The New"

A great nights sleep, thank you LORD, forgive my sins, good morning, thank you for all the blessings you have given me, in Jesus name.  Praise you LORD.  Well, it's five o'clock in the morning, the sun is starting to come up over the mountains and what a beautiful sight, all made by God for our utter enjoyment.  I haven't gotten up with such a positive attitude in years.  This cabin feels more like home than home.  Breakfast with the "norad" people, I'm a bit nervous about that but calm me sweet Holy Spirit.  Leeza said she would be by to take me to breakfast, so I better get a move on.  I can't wait to see her and look into those eyes, this is going to be a long couple of hours, but patience is a virtue.  Just thinking back over my life, I've realized over the last couple of days, I was a believer ever since I was a child, I believed in and on God since my first memory.  Although I drifted heavily, his grace and mercy saved me.  He protected me and saved my life so many times I know about, I always wondered how many times he has saved my life from certain death that I don't even know about, you know, like missing a car accident by a millisecond and never knew it and stuff like that, 1000's, millions, billions.  When I accepted Jesus as my one and only Saviour, I've come to the point where I can virtually not think of anyone else, indeed someday I will be the bride of Christ.  A piece of dirt like me, can you imagine, Praise God.  Just look at this view, beauty on all three sides through the large one piece windows.  I looked around and admired the workmanship of the inside of the cabin.  They must have planned for every sort of craft as they put this whole project together.  I wonder how they cleared everyone?  I've got to think there are many, many people here, carpenters, workmen, designers, and they thought of every part of living a normal life with normal services, all of one like faith, all in one accord, absolutely amazing.  I'm really drifting today, I can't help thinking about Leeza, she is so beautiful.  I wonder how old she is?  I looked at her hands and they are rough looking but not by age, that could come from all the martial arts she does, oh no, martial arts, she wants to spar this morning.  Since I got hit by that car a long time ago, nothing has ever been the same for me, I've been able to compensate by working on my strong body parts so I'll have to do the best I can.  How embarrassing if she puts me down right away, maybe she'll forget but she's so sharp, I doubt it.  I wonder what the story is here, it's puzzling at the very least and I'm so interested in knowing about things, especially when I'm think I'm involved but I've try to learn to keep my mouth shut, boy, is that hard, someday maybe I will get more control over my tongue. My mind drifts back to old days, when I had so many chances to make it to the "big time".  All my life I let principle get in the way, I guess it's the way I was built.  I could not stand injustice or bullies or people saying what they would do and not doing it.  Money always did the talking and I found the cheapest people were the ones with the most money.  I gradually cleared myself of the world as much as I could where I could finally say I had chosen to serve God and not mammon.  I can say that having nothing is better than being tied constantly to possessions.  Whoa, too much drift.  Leeza is going to be here soon and I'm thinking about some past stuff, yuck.

Chapter Fourteen

"Break-Fast With Leeza"

Knock, knock, oops back to reality, I say, who is it?  Chuck, you've got a short memory, and after all we've had together.  Leez, you're early, it's 7:58.  Actually, it's 8:00:09, had you answered quicker you would be on time.  Leeza, little testy this morning aren't you?  No!!!!!  We run atomic time here, you'll get use to it.  I like people who are on time, I was just bustin'.  ? Bustin', you sure have command of the English language.  Leeza, by the way, you look better than you did yesterday, plenty of beauty sleep, ehh...ready to marry me yet.  Charlie, I like you even after this short amount of time....like me, Oh, no, not a boyfriend...nope, I never found anyone I liked.  I don't want you to get too close, you might hate me after a few days because I have to ask you do something for us.  Well, Leez, no pain...da, da.  Leeza said, we better get rollin' or we'll miss breakfast.  OK, I'm all yours.  I'll bet, she said. It was about a five minute walk to the dining hall.  Leeza, everything around here seems to be made or done just as good as good can get.  Yes, said Leeza, we all pitch in.  Obviously, there are people here that are qualified in every area in life, the one big difference is that from picking up a gum wrapper to the highest of high tech everyone here works unto the LORD, therefore all are happy to occupy themselves until our Saviour returns for us, which is what the Bible instructs us to do.  Leeza, I love this place.  (Leeza thinks, oh, I'm starting to hate myself).  We get to the dining hall entrance and open the doors, Leez says, watch out for the bump...I trip and fall on my face,...bump in the concrete they're working on, she finishes.  By the way Charles, any more tricks you'd like to show the crowd, maybe some break dancing or something, Leeza said loudly?  I looked up and about 150 people were staring at me, I started laughing and the whole place broke out in hysterics.  Charlie, if I didn't know better, through that dark tan of yours, you seem to be blushing.  Leeza, you just wait till I get you in that ring, oooo, I forgot, big mouth again.  Oh, the sparring, I almost forgot about it.  Thanks for reminding me, I'll need a light workout after breakfast.  Oh, man, calm my tongue, she doesn't seem the type to me that forgets anything, maybe the fall will get me out of it. I said Leeza, how many people are usually in the gym.  She said it's as big as an arena, people work out and spar all the time and ya' know, it seems the new person always attracts the most attention, in fact, they all sometimes just stop and watch the spar, especially when it's a big strong man against a weak shy little woman.  Oh, boy.....  Then I noticed the size of the dining hall, it was huge, I can't see any limit to the amount of people they could feed at one time.  Leeza helped me up, she said if you don't mind I'm going to keep you to myself until you get used to the place and people, that's normal procedure here.  Oh, I thought you were going to accept my marriage proposal.  Knock it off Chasy.  Let's eat.  OK, I knew she was falling for me, ha, ha. We served ourselves buffet style, just like she explained and she took me to a table we could occupy alone.  The food looked real, real good. We said grace, took our time and talked.  I had so many questions about this place and organization that is would take a long time to satisfy my curiosity.  Leeza, why do call me all the nicknames, she said, remember a guy named Bucky, yeh, he was one of my best friends from the old days.  Hey, how do you know about Bucky?  Bucky has got such a big file it would take years to get through but when you know what you're looking for....    Remember the story about "big brother", well try a starting time of about 1920, besides I took a special interest in knowing you before you got here.  Man, am I confused.  Do you know Cheyenne Mountain?  Like the back of my hand.  You know then, the computer there was requesting me to launch, the trails of the launched ICBM's were impossible to count, I did consider pushing the button, with the launch horns, and computer voices telling me to, but I didn't.  

Leeza said, very, very few have made the decision to launch.  What do you mean by that, they actually pushed the big one.  Yup, but the first thing we did when we got here, is to disable the whole mountain, all the hardware is there, with the klaxon horns and all, but you couldn't launch a tinker toy with it. It's like the bridge of the Enterprise, all show, no go.  Wow, that is so cool, what a study in human rationale.  You know, Charlie, you're so unusual, 99.987% of the people that find that out are ticked off beyond belief that their launch was aborted a long time ago.  Leeza asked do you want more coffee?  No, I'm all set.  So, what's next?  I think you know what's next, once ring time is booked, it's not polite to cancel.  Ok, do you have personal injury lawyers here, yeh she said, they're all in the Bible.  Ok, a man's got to do what a man's got to do.  Yes, Charlie and a good man has got to know his limitations.  Dirty Harry was right!  Yes.  Shame on you for watching that stuff.  Must have been during the time before you were three, when you were still an enemy of Jesus.  Ooo, an elbow to the ribs.  Leeza, you've injured me.  She said, tell it to the judge or grow up baby.  Boy, she's tough, I love it.

   Chapter Fifteen

We left the dining hall and I felt just right.  I was really beginning to like it here but that was really a dangerous thought for me.  Where to now, Leeza, (still trying to circumvent the spar).  Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, shame on you she said, you are sniveling.  Am not, are too, am not, are too.  All right Leez, let's get this over with, by the way why did your parents name you Leeza, (I was using a little bit of razzle-dazzle).  That, I will tell you later, and stop with trying to distract me from the match.  Wait a minute, now it's a match, Leeza, I think there is something going on here.  Charles, you are astute!  (I'll tell you I have so many things I want to ask about what's going on around here that it's driving me crazy.)  So, we walk yet another beautiful path, then this huge building appears. Everything seems to hidden until you're on top of it, then a clearing opens and bam! Wow, can you get the building any bigger? Yes, she said, the labs are fierce. Fierce,? large, she said. It that Indianaesque? Very funny. Well, we're here, though the doors and an arena sized gym with about every hand man exercise machine you could ask for, so many boxing rings in one place, outrageous, light bags, heavy bags,...the works. Charlie, are you still with us. Yes, I'm just amazed. OK, see that door over there with m-e-n on it, that's where you'll be changing. Lee, you're trying to psych me, aren't you? In this gym, everything counts. Ohhh, boy, I said under my breath, What's that, she said, I said, a lot of toys. OK, slugger, you better get going, it's almost match time. Well, here goes, I went into the locker room and there was lying in wait some of the heaviest protection gear I've ever seen. The padding was ridiculous. I've got to say that I don't want to wear it but I've been injured so many times in my life, they are uncountable. Bad knees, bad neck, bad spine, bad back coming from about forty years of blows, accidents, fights, etc. I really did not feel like doing this but I also felt that there was some kind of reason for it so I pushed myself to get ready and put on the armor. I have practiced throughout the years to use the best of what I had left. My legs and feet were pinpoint accurate and I had kept them that way for emergency purposes. The only problem I had with it was no control, all my blows were full, I never learned how to hold back. (I failed the physical when the draft was in order.  I drove up to Syracuse, didn't take the bus, I didn't know that when you passed, you took the oath and you were gone.  That's the last I remember.  I remember meeting with a guy, ugly dude, by the name of JLB.  He had a little boy beside him.  He said, son, you're going to be a hero and serve your country some day.  Fade to black.  As my later years came on I started remembering things I didn't know, how to kill in five seconds, intense training, sparring where the loser is double tapped center mass with one in the head.  I'm getting thoughts ahead or way behind myself. I lost time, my friends asked me where I'd been?)  The gloves are pretty thick anyway as I looked in the mirror, in my full combat dress to fight a girl, I got embarrassed. My legs looked like toothpicks, oh well, in all confidence, I might as well be a man about it and go out and take my beating. I emerged from the dressing room to an uproarious crowd of men and women. When they saw me, they let out a great big yell together accompanied with deafening applause. I climbed the steps to the ring and started climbing between the ropes. I got hung up a bit but no one noticed, uhh, huh. I was introduced and the applause started again. Then, Leeza emerged to the sounds of incredible booing, what a set up this was. She had this great smile on her face, and was warming up as she made her way to the ring. I was astounded, she was in perfect shape, not an ounce of body fat. I was mesmerized, I knew as I looked at her approaching the ring, the quiet gentle voice of my Saviour saying, it was worth the wait, wasn't it, ... Chuck. She mounted the steps like a warrior and went over the top rope in one lithe move. I almost lost lunch. The announcer brought us into the center of the ring, stated the rules and his expectations, none of which I heard because I was still staring at Leez. He said ok, touch gloves and come out fighting. Praise GOD. Back to our corners, then the bell rang, I froze and watched her come into the center. Boy, she looked like she meant business, I said, Lee smile a little, will ya!, she said, later! I looked upon her radiant beauty, a life spent with the LORD, it really showed in the harsh lights of the gym. No make up, she did not need it. With that, I crouched and caught her with a right ground sweep to the back of her feet. I figured, go first and hope for the best, the crowd went wild. She went down hard on her bottom and did not really look happy. I said, I'm sorry I really didn't mean to do that, it was just luck..., really, by the way are you on good terms with these people?!!! She got up and went to work, she gave me a kick to left rib cage, in the same move, she double kicked my head, owwhh, even though the padded helmet I felt that one. I've been hit there one to many times, she did the same sweep I did to her and knocked the wind out of me. I stayed down, I really couldn't fight her anyway, I think I was going to learn to love her. This part of my journey is really hard to write about because my violence factor has gone to about nil these days. She came over and extended her hand. She helped me up to my feet and another wild cheer went up. Maybe this was some kind of initiation. She whispered in my ear, get showered up and we'll got boating with your choice of water craft. We are going to toughen you up in the next couple of months, you will be a con-ten-da!! Every body part I have is usually in pain, that should be in "her files" but I didn't whine. Leeza, yes...I think I'm fa... Charlie, stop, you might change your mind, but you didn't let me finish, Lee said, I know what you were going to say and I think it's mutual at least for now. So thus went the pomp and circumstance of this gathering. (Oh, the loathing I've had in the past for my life. A beautiful gift from GOD which I misused in every way. Car accidents, trouble with the man, drugs, alcohol, fights. The LORD should have cancelled me long ago but His abiding Mercy and Grace kept pouring out over me. I had become so bitter upon the death of my Dad, long ago, when I was a child but I never blamed GOD, just myself. It wasn't a real good start to my life. So I built that wall, that no one could get through. I know now that I vowed, in child like terms that I would never be hurt again. I would never get close enough to anyone, for I feared. I found later, it was not that at all, I had a brain injury, when one of my aunts, lost her balance and rammed me into while pushing my tricycle, at two years old.  That was the real reason I never felt like anyone else.  Except, one important thing, most of the people who get these injuries were psychopaths.  Fortunately, I didn't get that one.  One day, it happened. By trying to be faithful in the eyes of the LORD on November 22nd, the HOLY SPIRIT burst forth upon me. I was up for about three days after that, listening to GOD, in a sweet and tender way speak to my heart. I was so tired, service on Saturday nights, up at 5 am on Sundays to about 9 pm, I was in beautiful wonder on that Sunday night, Reverend Fred Washington spoke a message on Blind Bartimaeus and how he yelled and screamed for Jesus, called HIM by His Messianic Name, Jesus, thou Son of David, while everyone told him to shut up, he screamed all the louder and threw his cloak in the air. He had the faith to be healed, I had that faith, that night, called out for the Jesus, the Son of David, threw up my cloak, (coat) and I have not been the same since.) BOOOOMMMM!!! I ducked and flinched being totally lost in thought of that night, even forgetting about Leeza, if that were possible, what was that??!!! Leeza didn't even move an eyebrow. Well, as close as we can figure, with the instruments we have, those booms are the sign that another nuclear plant did the "locomotion dance" called the China Syndrome and has gone up in a cloud of dust somewhere on the planet. With the air packed so close together in the atmosphere, you can hear large bangs like that all around the world. No telling where it was. Leeza said, why don't you shower up and we'll go to the dock. OK, Leez, but, no kidding, I've got to ask you some questions. Leeza said, all right, you will get your wish, I believe the time is right. I just hope you won't hate me. OK, I'll see you in a few. Wow, this must be something bad. It's great though, with the LORD by my side, I'm indestructible until he calls my name, Charlie, it's time. I received permanent comfort a long time ago, when I realized that. I hit the door to the locker room. Nobody was around. I continued on in prayer. My whole life has been a prayer. I eventually ended up with all Christian friends, attended some sort of service five or six times a week, as well as messed about with Christian buds. I was as close to being totally removed from the world and yet living in it as you can get. How good the LORD has been to me. How HE has blessed me and watched out for my well being in every way. I'm not saying that my life was perfect when I accepted JESUS as my one and only SAVIOUR, I still had the same trials and fights as everyone else but when I finally faced the fact there is nothing but JESUS and I counted on HIM for each breath and heartbeat, life became easy. I just kept myself positionally correct in front of the Father's eyes, knowing that my seat was reserved at the Lamb's table, paid for by HIS blood and no one was going to take my seat away. I found myself as regular intervals further committing myself to Jesus. I remember a long time ago that a musician I had a casual acquaintance with through playing the same clubs said he was making a deeper commitment to Jesus and as a Roman Catholic, fallen away I might add, I had no idea what he was talking about. I thing his name was Rick Cua or Kua or something like that. I'd better hit the shower.

Chapter Sixteen

"The Boat House And My Choice Of Watercraft"

Leeza went in the locker and almost knocked two of the women out. Leeza said, I apologize, I didn't see you. They said, that would be pretty hard through the door. Then, they said, Lee, who the "new guy", giggling. Leeza said, he's just my new assignment. They said sing songy, we can see it in your eyes that he's much more than that Lee, Lee. They said bye and still squealing, left the locker room. Leeza dropped to her knees and started crying and praying. Dear Abba Father, just make him the most selfish, abusive person I have ever met so I can just look at him as another assignment, then she said, Whoa, LORD, what am I saying, I must be nuts. I bow to your wishes and let your will be done. Leeza went about cleaning up, I don't think she even broke a sweat, meanwhile I had a bit of arguing to do my own self. Having seemed like forever in the locker room, I sort of put a little speed to it and hustled on out. Lee was no where in sight. I guess I had less to deal with than her. Just then, she came out of the women's locker room, smiling like crazy. I thought it was because of the humiliation I received but I was so far away from that thought, it was funny, as I later found out. I said, hi Leeza, she said, hi Chuck, long time, no see. Lee, I haven't heard that one in a while. She said, are you making sport of me. Who me??..???!!! Leeza, I must begin the questioning. You mean the inquisition? Well, ok, if you want to put it that way. First, I'd like some kind of laptop so I can start writing this story, it's starting to get jumbled. Leez said, so you're going to write a story, are you?, matey. Yes, I am, it's kind of a privilege to see the end times and for my own entertainment, I'd like to put it down on something. Lee said, yup, I'll arrange it right away. Next Question? What is your name? I just assumed it was L-E-E-Z-A. Well, you're close but no cigar. It's Lee, but in all reality, my parents named me Lasea Paula Francia. You mean Lasea Paula as in the story of Paul's shipwreck. Yes, she said, at least they didn't go to Woodstock, it would have been something like Stoney Apple Tree. I laughed, yah, the names that came from that debacle were something. Lasea is a beautiful name, I fell in love with it from that scripture. Lasea, yes, you are beautiful in every sense of word, inside and out. Charlie, stop, please, let's go to the dock. OK, didn't like that compliment, oh yes, I did. We meandered down the path, the scenery was pristine, almost like the LORD had worked it over already. Lee, ya know that boom, yeh, how could it be possible to here that from around the world. Lee said, the software guys wrote some programs, taking in account, the mountains, valleys and the shapes and sizes. It turns out that the as a whole, it's like, simply put, a microphone. Just like some of the places built by accident where you could hear a whispered conversation from across a large room. It's basically, acoustically perfect. Liza, I'd like to know what you need me for. She said, I sort of knew that was coming. You have been more than less chosen to do a specific task that you alone are suited for. I said before, I have followed your dossier for a long time. All of it? Yes, she said. I grew embarrassed. Don't worry about it, she said, every one has sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of GOD, that includes me and all the rest of the people here, as well as those left on the planet. Ok, go on. I won't get into why you were chosen or why we prayed that the LORD would bring you here but it is a mission to obtain or destroy a device called the Priovac. Literally spoken, prying and evacuating cellular tissue at a rate so fast, people drop in mid sentence. It is powered by a hydrogen cell and needless to say, the inventor has a tamper default that turns it into a large yield, clean nuclear device. Another nicety, the "disease" remains active for a while and a corpse keeps breathing with no brain waves except it transmits on a high band frequency and spreads the think bug. Wow, I think I've got enough to think about now. Charlie, all I would do now is seek the Face of GOD, you are not required to do this and can live here with us until JESUS returns, I would like that. What Liza ?, you heard me pretty clear fella. Well, we're here. I hadn't even noticed the we were on the dock. Tied up to the pier, were all sorts of water ve-hic-cles. Amazed, I asked Leez, which one is mine? She said, whichever one you want. OK, I'm gonna grab that monster single seater jet ski. That one, she said, I said, yes, ok, but that is a real JET ski, you mean, yes, it has a jet engine in it. How cool, I replied. Shall we go yachting, yes Charles, that would be pippy. How do you start this bad boy, Leez. There's a button, it says start and hold on it, it's the one on the right bar. Ummm, ahaa, here we go. I pushed the button, there was a big bang, and that beautiful sound wind up of a jet engine, it just seems like it will never stop winding, what a motor head I am. Hey, you ready to go yet Chuck? Just about Lasea, watch my water plume.

Chapter Seventeen

"Proposal To My One And Only"

I watched Lee take off, I was still getting my Ski started.  She got about a quarter mile from the dock, and she smiled back at me.  I heard a high pitched noise, and Lee was gone, completely gone as the ski silently slowed to a stop.

This novel is fictional. Any similarities between people living or dead is purely co-incidental and is not suggested or implied. All rights reserved, may not be copied, gleaned from or used in any way without permission.  © 1998 Charlie Solak, all rights reserved.

This Book Becomes The Most Action Filled Novel In History After This Point.  I Can't Give It All Away.  Thanks For Reading.  It May Be A Movie Before It's A Book.

© 1998

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