Babylon, Iraq
Brett sat at his desk reviewing the plans for the new Argryos Airport. His back was to the windows and he noticed that light shining in the was abruptly cut off. Turning his head he saw that black ominous clouds had covered the sun. He shook his head and turned back to the plans, reaching to switch on the lamp that sat on the corner of his desk. With a audible click the lamp came on and Brett began perusing the changes that had been made by the architect.
He quickly became engrossed as he made small notations here and there on the plans, so much so that at first the small pinging against the window didn’t register. Finally the pinging had grown loud enough that Brett was distracted and turned to look out the windows.
He stood and walked to the window to see that pea sized hail was falling. His mouth dropped open as he looked down at the street several floors below. The ground was covered with hail sending cars skidding around on the icy balls. As Brett continued to watch the light pinging against the windows became a pounding as the hail grew in size.
He jumped back as a quarter size hail began pelting the window followed by golf ball sized. He stepped even further back as the ice continued to get bigger.
He heard his secretary give a scream and then heard a window break. He lurched across his office and opened his door to see his secretary lying on the floor with shards of glass from the broken window surrounding her, and several shards embedded in her arms as she tried to protect her face and head from the softball sized hail that was pounding down on her.
He turned at the sound of more breaking glass and saw that the windows of his office shattered by balls of hail the size of cantaloupes. Pandemonium reigned as people began running to escape the shattering glass as the hail broke windows and poured into the outer offices. Brett took off running for the corridor his arms up to protect his head as the hail continued to pound windows shattering them. Reaching the relative safety of the corridor he turned to see the carnage as hail the size of basketballs pounded everything and anyone in it’s path. He saw a young man from the mail room trying to run across the room toward the corridor, but a hailstone the size of beach ball hit him in the legs. The young man let out a scream of pain and went down his hands lowering instinctively to his broken legs. A hail stone slammed into his head and Brett saw blood spray from the mans nose before he collapsed dead.
Suddenly the hail stopped and the black clouds disappeared leaving the late day sun shining brightly, flashing off the hail stones sending prisms of color dancing.
Brett sat at his desk reviewing the plans for the new Argryos Airport. His back was to the windows and he noticed that light shining in the was abruptly cut off. Turning his head he saw that black ominous clouds had covered the sun. He shook his head and turned back to the plans, reaching to switch on the lamp that sat on the corner of his desk. With a audible click the lamp came on and Brett began perusing the changes that had been made by the architect.
He quickly became engrossed as he made small notations here and there on the plans, so much so that at first the small pinging against the window didn’t register. Finally the pinging had grown loud enough that Brett was distracted and turned to look out the windows.
He stood and walked to the window to see that pea sized hail was falling. His mouth dropped open as he looked down at the street several floors below. The ground was covered with hail sending cars skidding around on the icy balls. As Brett continued to watch the light pinging against the windows became a pounding as the hail grew in size.
He jumped back as a quarter size hail began pelting the window followed by golf ball sized. He stepped even further back as the ice continued to get bigger.
He heard his secretary give a scream and then heard a window break. He lurched across his office and opened his door to see his secretary lying on the floor with shards of glass from the broken window surrounding her, and several shards embedded in her arms as she tried to protect her face and head from the softball sized hail that was pounding down on her.
He turned at the sound of more breaking glass and saw that the windows of his office shattered by balls of hail the size of cantaloupes. Pandemonium reigned as people began running to escape the shattering glass as the hail broke windows and poured into the outer offices. Brett took off running for the corridor his arms up to protect his head as the hail continued to pound windows shattering them. Reaching the relative safety of the corridor he turned to see the carnage as hail the size of basketballs pounded everything and anyone in it’s path. He saw a young man from the mail room trying to run across the room toward the corridor, but a hailstone the size of beach ball hit him in the legs. The young man let out a scream of pain and went down his hands lowering instinctively to his broken legs. A hail stone slammed into his head and Brett saw blood spray from the mans nose before he collapsed dead.
Suddenly the hail stopped and the black clouds disappeared leaving the late day sun shining brightly, flashing off the hail stones sending prisms of color dancing.
- Zags
________________________________________________________________
Boise City, Oklahoma
Frank was pouring himself a cup of coffee when he heard the hail hitting the windows. He stepped over the window and looked into the early morning darkness.
“Did the weather say anything about storms this morning?” He asked Tansy.
“No. It’s supposed to be sunny and in the mid fifties today. Typical early fall weather.” She answered as she placed a plate of toast on the table.
Frank shrugged and walked over the table. He had just finished saying grace when the hail began to pound the windows. He looked at Tansy, “Get into the basement.”
They both rushed for the basement door when the kitchen window burst under the weight of the soccer ball sized hail stone that hit it. Slamming the door behind him Frank quickly followed Tansy down the steps. No sooner that they reached the basement than the electricity went out.
Frank quickly felt along the shelf for the battery operated lamp. Switching it on he wrapped his free arm around Tansy as the both stood silently listening to the sound of breaking glass and thumping as hail pounded inside the house.
After several minutes the sound stopped and Frank slowly went up the stairs. He cautiously opened the door and peeked into the kitchen to see hail a hail stone the size of a small boulder lying in the midst of what used to be the kitchen table. He could see through the broken window the sun just beginning to peek over the eastern sky. Looking up at the ceiling he could see holes where hail had pounded its way through the roof, and then through the sheetrock.
Tansy peeked around Frank and she let out a gasp as she saw the hailstone that lay on what was left of the kitchen table. She quickly perused the damage. “Oh my.” She breathed. Frank reached out and caught Tansy’s hand. He could feel her trembling and he pulled her into his arms. “It’s ok. It’s ok.” He said over and over his eyes again tracking to the biggest hole in the roof, the hole that was right above where Tansy had been sitting.
Frank was pouring himself a cup of coffee when he heard the hail hitting the windows. He stepped over the window and looked into the early morning darkness.
“Did the weather say anything about storms this morning?” He asked Tansy.
“No. It’s supposed to be sunny and in the mid fifties today. Typical early fall weather.” She answered as she placed a plate of toast on the table.
Frank shrugged and walked over the table. He had just finished saying grace when the hail began to pound the windows. He looked at Tansy, “Get into the basement.”
They both rushed for the basement door when the kitchen window burst under the weight of the soccer ball sized hail stone that hit it. Slamming the door behind him Frank quickly followed Tansy down the steps. No sooner that they reached the basement than the electricity went out.
Frank quickly felt along the shelf for the battery operated lamp. Switching it on he wrapped his free arm around Tansy as the both stood silently listening to the sound of breaking glass and thumping as hail pounded inside the house.
After several minutes the sound stopped and Frank slowly went up the stairs. He cautiously opened the door and peeked into the kitchen to see hail a hail stone the size of a small boulder lying in the midst of what used to be the kitchen table. He could see through the broken window the sun just beginning to peek over the eastern sky. Looking up at the ceiling he could see holes where hail had pounded its way through the roof, and then through the sheetrock.
Tansy peeked around Frank and she let out a gasp as she saw the hailstone that lay on what was left of the kitchen table. She quickly perused the damage. “Oh my.” She breathed. Frank reached out and caught Tansy’s hand. He could feel her trembling and he pulled her into his arms. “It’s ok. It’s ok.” He said over and over his eyes again tracking to the biggest hole in the roof, the hole that was right above where Tansy had been sitting.
- Zags
______________________________________________________________
Black Mesa, Oklahoma
Matt sat in the pickup driving slowly as Trevor, Nathan and Shade tossed bails of hay off the trailer. Cattle followed the pickup their mooing loud in the early morning silence. He heard the pinging of hail begin hitting the roof of the pickup and stopped. He leaned forward and peeked up at the sky.
The passenger door opened and Nathan quickly threw the latch to open the back door. Sliding across the seat he was quickly followed by Trevor, who slammed the door. Shade got in the passenger seat. “Where did that come from?” He asked.
Matt ever, the smart aleck, pointed toward the sky as he arched an eyebrow at his dad.
“Shut up.” Shade said as he softly thumped Matt on the back of the head.
“I didn’t say anything.” Matt said innocently.
“You know what I mean.” Shade said shaking his head in exasperation.
“It’s getting bigger.” Trevor pointed at the golf ball sized hail as it was illuminated in the headlights.
Shade craned his head to look at the sky. It was pitch black, with no stars in sight. “It’s not supposed to storm today.” His tone confused.
The sound of the hail hitting the pickup roof drown out the comment and Shade felt a hail stone slam into his door.
“Get out of the truck and under it!!” Shade shouted.
“Are you nuts?” Matt shouted at his dad.
“This isn’t some regular hail storm Matt!! Do as I say!!” Shade shouted back throwing open his door. He felt a piece of the frozen ice slam into his arm and ground his teeth to keep from shouting in pain. He knew his arm was broken as he dropped to the ground and crawled under the pickup. He felt another one slam into the back of his thigh as he shimmied his way lengthways under the pickup.
With a quick glance he saw that Trevor was sliding his way under the pickup and he looked to his right to see Matt’s wide eyes meet his. He saw Nathan’s pale face in the light of the flashlight he had though to grab out of the console.
All four men could feel the pickup bouncing into their backs at the weight and speed of the hailstones pounding into it. Shade saw a cow go down under a hailstone that was easily the size of a medicine ball and probably weighing as much.
Over the sound of the hail he could barely hear the cows sounds of distress as it lay helplessly under the onslaught of hail.
“She’s getting killed!!” Matt shouted.
Shade reached and caught Matt by the shoulder to prevent him from trying to go to the injured cow.
Matt turned tear filled eyes to his dad. “She’s dying!!”
“I know.” Shade mouthed, his mouth pinched against the pain in his broken arm and the sight of the cow being beaten by the deadly hail.
He could feel Trevor flinch and tremble as the hail continued to pound the pickup above them. He looked to see that Trevor had tucked his head into his elbow so that he couldn’t see the poor cow.
He looked to his left over Matt and saw Nathan, his teeth gritted and tears streaming down his face. He wished he could do something to keep Nathan from watching the heart wrenching scene, but knew that Nathan wouldn’t be able to hear him over the pounding hail.
After what seemed to be the longest time the hail abruptly ceased. The sudden quiet after the relentless hail seemed eerie in the early morning light.
Trevor slowly worked himself out from under the pickup, shoving and rolling hailstones out of his way.
Shade reached over and nudged Nathan to get him moving and watched at Nathan slowly began making his way from under the pickup. He waited until Matt had made his way free and then started scooting his way free. He slowly stood up and tested his leg. It was sore and surely had a bruise, but it held his weight.
His mouth dropped open when he saw the pickup. The windshield had been smashed and cab pounded until it was almost touching the top of the seats. There were icy balls size of Christmas hams sitting in the seats where they had ripped through the roof of the cab.
In the bed of the pickup was a hailstone that was sitting on top of the flattened spare tire. It was almost as big as the tire, and Shade shuddered at the thought of it hitting someone.
He saw Matt and Nathan in the corner of his vision and turned. On the ground the cattle lay, all of them bloody beaten messes. He saw that a few had made their way to an overhang several yards away. He called to Matt to get the rifles and made his way to the cattle lying on the ground. Two were still alive their bawls of pain echoing. Shade sent Matt and Nathan to check the cattle under the overhang and handed Trevor one of the rifles.
“We need to put the ones beyond help out of their misery.” Shade said his voice rough.
Trevor nodded, turned and walked to the cow he had seen being beaten by the hail. He could hear her breathing heavily blood pouring out of her nose and mouth as he aimed the rifle, his eyes filling with tears as he pulled the trigger.
Matt sat in the pickup driving slowly as Trevor, Nathan and Shade tossed bails of hay off the trailer. Cattle followed the pickup their mooing loud in the early morning silence. He heard the pinging of hail begin hitting the roof of the pickup and stopped. He leaned forward and peeked up at the sky.
The passenger door opened and Nathan quickly threw the latch to open the back door. Sliding across the seat he was quickly followed by Trevor, who slammed the door. Shade got in the passenger seat. “Where did that come from?” He asked.
Matt ever, the smart aleck, pointed toward the sky as he arched an eyebrow at his dad.
“Shut up.” Shade said as he softly thumped Matt on the back of the head.
“I didn’t say anything.” Matt said innocently.
“You know what I mean.” Shade said shaking his head in exasperation.
“It’s getting bigger.” Trevor pointed at the golf ball sized hail as it was illuminated in the headlights.
Shade craned his head to look at the sky. It was pitch black, with no stars in sight. “It’s not supposed to storm today.” His tone confused.
The sound of the hail hitting the pickup roof drown out the comment and Shade felt a hail stone slam into his door.
“Get out of the truck and under it!!” Shade shouted.
“Are you nuts?” Matt shouted at his dad.
“This isn’t some regular hail storm Matt!! Do as I say!!” Shade shouted back throwing open his door. He felt a piece of the frozen ice slam into his arm and ground his teeth to keep from shouting in pain. He knew his arm was broken as he dropped to the ground and crawled under the pickup. He felt another one slam into the back of his thigh as he shimmied his way lengthways under the pickup.
With a quick glance he saw that Trevor was sliding his way under the pickup and he looked to his right to see Matt’s wide eyes meet his. He saw Nathan’s pale face in the light of the flashlight he had though to grab out of the console.
All four men could feel the pickup bouncing into their backs at the weight and speed of the hailstones pounding into it. Shade saw a cow go down under a hailstone that was easily the size of a medicine ball and probably weighing as much.
Over the sound of the hail he could barely hear the cows sounds of distress as it lay helplessly under the onslaught of hail.
“She’s getting killed!!” Matt shouted.
Shade reached and caught Matt by the shoulder to prevent him from trying to go to the injured cow.
Matt turned tear filled eyes to his dad. “She’s dying!!”
“I know.” Shade mouthed, his mouth pinched against the pain in his broken arm and the sight of the cow being beaten by the deadly hail.
He could feel Trevor flinch and tremble as the hail continued to pound the pickup above them. He looked to see that Trevor had tucked his head into his elbow so that he couldn’t see the poor cow.
He looked to his left over Matt and saw Nathan, his teeth gritted and tears streaming down his face. He wished he could do something to keep Nathan from watching the heart wrenching scene, but knew that Nathan wouldn’t be able to hear him over the pounding hail.
After what seemed to be the longest time the hail abruptly ceased. The sudden quiet after the relentless hail seemed eerie in the early morning light.
Trevor slowly worked himself out from under the pickup, shoving and rolling hailstones out of his way.
Shade reached over and nudged Nathan to get him moving and watched at Nathan slowly began making his way from under the pickup. He waited until Matt had made his way free and then started scooting his way free. He slowly stood up and tested his leg. It was sore and surely had a bruise, but it held his weight.
His mouth dropped open when he saw the pickup. The windshield had been smashed and cab pounded until it was almost touching the top of the seats. There were icy balls size of Christmas hams sitting in the seats where they had ripped through the roof of the cab.
In the bed of the pickup was a hailstone that was sitting on top of the flattened spare tire. It was almost as big as the tire, and Shade shuddered at the thought of it hitting someone.
He saw Matt and Nathan in the corner of his vision and turned. On the ground the cattle lay, all of them bloody beaten messes. He saw that a few had made their way to an overhang several yards away. He called to Matt to get the rifles and made his way to the cattle lying on the ground. Two were still alive their bawls of pain echoing. Shade sent Matt and Nathan to check the cattle under the overhang and handed Trevor one of the rifles.
“We need to put the ones beyond help out of their misery.” Shade said his voice rough.
Trevor nodded, turned and walked to the cow he had seen being beaten by the hail. He could hear her breathing heavily blood pouring out of her nose and mouth as he aimed the rifle, his eyes filling with tears as he pulled the trigger.
- Zags
________________________________________________________________
Black Mesa, Oklahoma
Maddie began placing pieces of bacon in the frying pan, while Zoe and Renee cracked eggs into a big bowl. Kristen stirred the pancake batter, while Leon set the table.
Grumpy paced around the common room his cast tapping on the rock floor of the cave. Raul and Mo were arguing about how much coffee to put in the pot while Skunk made the orange juice.
Suddenly Grumpy let out a sharp bark. Everyone stopped and looked at the dog as his pacing got even more agitated. Little growls and whimpers erupted from deep in the dogs chest.
“What’s wrong boy?” Kristen asked setting the bowl of pancake batter on the counter. She walked over to the dog and gently patted him on the head. “You ok boy?”
Grumpy just whined and bumped his head against Kristen’s thigh.
“Do you think his leg hurts?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t know.” Maddie said walking over to the dog. “I think if it hurt he wouldn’t be walking around on it.”
“What’s wrong Grumpy?” Maddie asked as she knelt next to the dog.
Grumpy let out another sharp bark as dirt drifted down from the cave ceiling.
“Do you hear that?” Raul asked he head cocked to the side as he listened intently.
Renee reached and pulled the bacon off the stove as she strained to hear.
“It sounds like a stamped.” Maddie said.
“I’m gonna go check it out.” Mo said.
“I’m coming with you.” Skunk said.
Both men headed toward tunnel that lead to the exit.
Reaching the entrance Mo punched in the code to the smaller door and it opened letting both men into the parking area.
The sounds were much louder closer to the surface and the men watched as dust and small rocks fell from the ceiling to bounce across the hoods and cabs of the cars and pickups parked there.
Crossing the room Skunk punched in the code to open the big bay door. As the door slowly rose a hailstone the size and weight of a bowling ball rolled into the cave.
Another the size of a volley ball hit the ground and bounced into his shin. Hopping on one leg Skunk moved back.
He and Mo stood their mouths hanging open in shock as the saw the great hailstones falling from the sky. “Shade, Matt, Nathan and Trevor are out in this!!” Mo shouted over the noise of the hail.
“I know!!”
“Go tell everyone what’s going on.” Mo shouted. “I’m gonna get one of the SUV’s ready to go out and find them as soon as this stuff ends.”
Skunk nodded and took off running.
In the time it took Mo to get the keys to one of the cars and get it started and moved around the hail had stopped. He drove out of the cave and quickly got out to close the bay door. After moving several hail stones out of the way so that the door would close all the way he got back in the car and took off for the small section of land that Shade had moved the cattle to.
It took him a bit longer than he thought it would to drive the ten miles to the plot of land, but the hail made driving tricky. The hail was icy and slick and some of the stones were the size of beach balls so he had to drive around them.
As he approached he could see cattle lying dead and the pickup that the men had been in. He held his breath as he saw the damage. He began to pray that they had not been in the wreckage when he saw Shade limping toward him.
Slowing to a stop Mo put the SUV in park and got out. “Is everyone ok?”
“Yeah. We hid out under the pickup.” Shade said with a grimace. “None of the boys were hurt, but I’m pretty sure my arm’s broken from getting slammed by a hail stone and the back of my thigh is surely bruised.”
“How many cattle did we lose?” Mo said as he took in the sight of the broken, beaten bodies of the dead cattle.
“Thirteen. Seven managed to get under that overhang.” Shade said.
Mo nodded as he watched Nathan and Matt approach.
“So what do we do with them. We can’t just leave them out in the open to rot.” Trevor asked as he walked up.
Mo could see that Trevor was still shook up from the ordeal and clapped him on the shoulder.
Nathan and Matt both looked out over the bodies of the dead cows, their expressions telling without words how terrible the ordeal had been.
Shade gritted his teeth. “We’ll go ahead and butcher them and get what meat we can. There are brothers and sisters in Christ out there who are probably in need or soon will be. Nathan, Matt take the car and go back to the cave and let everyone know we’re ok. Tell Maddie we have some butchering to do and get everyone out here. We don’t have alot of time. We need to clean up as best as we can so that no one detects where we are.”
Maddie began placing pieces of bacon in the frying pan, while Zoe and Renee cracked eggs into a big bowl. Kristen stirred the pancake batter, while Leon set the table.
Grumpy paced around the common room his cast tapping on the rock floor of the cave. Raul and Mo were arguing about how much coffee to put in the pot while Skunk made the orange juice.
Suddenly Grumpy let out a sharp bark. Everyone stopped and looked at the dog as his pacing got even more agitated. Little growls and whimpers erupted from deep in the dogs chest.
“What’s wrong boy?” Kristen asked setting the bowl of pancake batter on the counter. She walked over to the dog and gently patted him on the head. “You ok boy?”
Grumpy just whined and bumped his head against Kristen’s thigh.
“Do you think his leg hurts?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t know.” Maddie said walking over to the dog. “I think if it hurt he wouldn’t be walking around on it.”
“What’s wrong Grumpy?” Maddie asked as she knelt next to the dog.
Grumpy let out another sharp bark as dirt drifted down from the cave ceiling.
“Do you hear that?” Raul asked he head cocked to the side as he listened intently.
Renee reached and pulled the bacon off the stove as she strained to hear.
“It sounds like a stamped.” Maddie said.
“I’m gonna go check it out.” Mo said.
“I’m coming with you.” Skunk said.
Both men headed toward tunnel that lead to the exit.
Reaching the entrance Mo punched in the code to the smaller door and it opened letting both men into the parking area.
The sounds were much louder closer to the surface and the men watched as dust and small rocks fell from the ceiling to bounce across the hoods and cabs of the cars and pickups parked there.
Crossing the room Skunk punched in the code to open the big bay door. As the door slowly rose a hailstone the size and weight of a bowling ball rolled into the cave.
Another the size of a volley ball hit the ground and bounced into his shin. Hopping on one leg Skunk moved back.
He and Mo stood their mouths hanging open in shock as the saw the great hailstones falling from the sky. “Shade, Matt, Nathan and Trevor are out in this!!” Mo shouted over the noise of the hail.
“I know!!”
“Go tell everyone what’s going on.” Mo shouted. “I’m gonna get one of the SUV’s ready to go out and find them as soon as this stuff ends.”
Skunk nodded and took off running.
In the time it took Mo to get the keys to one of the cars and get it started and moved around the hail had stopped. He drove out of the cave and quickly got out to close the bay door. After moving several hail stones out of the way so that the door would close all the way he got back in the car and took off for the small section of land that Shade had moved the cattle to.
It took him a bit longer than he thought it would to drive the ten miles to the plot of land, but the hail made driving tricky. The hail was icy and slick and some of the stones were the size of beach balls so he had to drive around them.
As he approached he could see cattle lying dead and the pickup that the men had been in. He held his breath as he saw the damage. He began to pray that they had not been in the wreckage when he saw Shade limping toward him.
Slowing to a stop Mo put the SUV in park and got out. “Is everyone ok?”
“Yeah. We hid out under the pickup.” Shade said with a grimace. “None of the boys were hurt, but I’m pretty sure my arm’s broken from getting slammed by a hail stone and the back of my thigh is surely bruised.”
“How many cattle did we lose?” Mo said as he took in the sight of the broken, beaten bodies of the dead cattle.
“Thirteen. Seven managed to get under that overhang.” Shade said.
Mo nodded as he watched Nathan and Matt approach.
“So what do we do with them. We can’t just leave them out in the open to rot.” Trevor asked as he walked up.
Mo could see that Trevor was still shook up from the ordeal and clapped him on the shoulder.
Nathan and Matt both looked out over the bodies of the dead cows, their expressions telling without words how terrible the ordeal had been.
Shade gritted his teeth. “We’ll go ahead and butcher them and get what meat we can. There are brothers and sisters in Christ out there who are probably in need or soon will be. Nathan, Matt take the car and go back to the cave and let everyone know we’re ok. Tell Maddie we have some butchering to do and get everyone out here. We don’t have alot of time. We need to clean up as best as we can so that no one detects where we are.”
- Zags
_________________________________________________________________
George watched Wormwood as its speed had begun to increase. It appeared as a fireball in space as it smashed into space debris, breaking it up and sending pieces flying through the hemisphere. George had his TV on watching the national weather service as it reported strange weather with hailstones the size of beachballs falling so far in various places across the world. The weather service was reporting strange weather patterns forming above the planet which was likely the cause of the giant hailstones now occuring all over the world.
George shook his head. “Hey Professor. Whats up?” George turned to see Eli, one of his students enter the observatory. Until the rapture, Eli had been an unbeliever. His parents had been so excited that he had been accepted at the observatory to continue his education to become an astronomer. His Dad always teased him that he had his head in the clouds all the time. That had been the standing joke between them. Sadly though on the night of the disappearances they had all been together driving home from the celebration dinner when they had vanished right in front of him, leaving the car in motion at a speed of 55 miles on hour with him in the back seat in a state of shock. The car had slowed down but not before it ran off the interstate and ended up in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. The next thing he had remembered was waking up in the hospital with a concusion to his head. He knew what had happened because of the way his parents had raised him and he had thought he would go with them when ever the time came but he now realized he had never accepted Jesus as his savior until now.
George explained to him what the weather service was saying but they both knew the truth. They glanced up as tiny hailstones started to hit the upper obervatory glass. They grew larger and larger as the rained down. They could see students outside running for the safety of a shelter. The observatory windows were shatter proof but not sound proof as the hail got bigger and bigger. They could hear glass shattering in the other classrooms as George ran to his door to close it. Power lines had fallen and sparks flew off them igniting the trees at the border. Several students had run for the trees only to be struck down and wounded on the lawn. Without phone lines security on campus ran out to try and help the ones who had been injured.
George heard knocking on his class room door and opened it to let his students enter. His mouth dropped as he stared at each one of them. “Professor we have something to tell you.” One of them spoke. “ We all have been seeing this mark of the cross on our foreheads that no one else can see but us and we see it on you too.”
George smiled at them even during this crisis that was taking place. “Praise His Holy name for each of you.” He spoke. “We have so much to do and get ready before He returns for us. “Shall we get started?” he asked. The hail storm had stopped by now. “We need to go see who needs help.” He said.
George shook his head. “Hey Professor. Whats up?” George turned to see Eli, one of his students enter the observatory. Until the rapture, Eli had been an unbeliever. His parents had been so excited that he had been accepted at the observatory to continue his education to become an astronomer. His Dad always teased him that he had his head in the clouds all the time. That had been the standing joke between them. Sadly though on the night of the disappearances they had all been together driving home from the celebration dinner when they had vanished right in front of him, leaving the car in motion at a speed of 55 miles on hour with him in the back seat in a state of shock. The car had slowed down but not before it ran off the interstate and ended up in the lobby of the Holiday Inn. The next thing he had remembered was waking up in the hospital with a concusion to his head. He knew what had happened because of the way his parents had raised him and he had thought he would go with them when ever the time came but he now realized he had never accepted Jesus as his savior until now.
George explained to him what the weather service was saying but they both knew the truth. They glanced up as tiny hailstones started to hit the upper obervatory glass. They grew larger and larger as the rained down. They could see students outside running for the safety of a shelter. The observatory windows were shatter proof but not sound proof as the hail got bigger and bigger. They could hear glass shattering in the other classrooms as George ran to his door to close it. Power lines had fallen and sparks flew off them igniting the trees at the border. Several students had run for the trees only to be struck down and wounded on the lawn. Without phone lines security on campus ran out to try and help the ones who had been injured.
George heard knocking on his class room door and opened it to let his students enter. His mouth dropped as he stared at each one of them. “Professor we have something to tell you.” One of them spoke. “ We all have been seeing this mark of the cross on our foreheads that no one else can see but us and we see it on you too.”
George smiled at them even during this crisis that was taking place. “Praise His Holy name for each of you.” He spoke. “We have so much to do and get ready before He returns for us. “Shall we get started?” he asked. The hail storm had stopped by now. “We need to go see who needs help.” He said.
- Renee
________________________________________________________________
Black Mesa, Oklahoma
“Oops.” Renee said as she slipped in the mud.
The hail had melted off and the ground had turned into a sloppy mess. Renee shifted her footing and began cutting the chunk of meat from the cow she was working on. She finished slicing it off and tossed it onto the pile. Sweeping the back of her hand across her forehead she left a smear of blood.
She looked to see Maddie and Zoe finishing up with the cow they had been working on and with a sigh looked around. She saw Trevor and Raul working on another cow, and Shade trying to help Nathan and Matt with another. With his arm in a makeshift sling Shade’s movements were awkward as he tried to hold the meat up out of the mud.
Her gaze strayed to Mo as he carried pieces of meat to the back of one pickup and wrap it in strips of wetted down sheet. He then tossed them in the back of another pickup where Leon and Skunk were stacking them amidst the rapidly melting hail that they were using to keep the meat cool.
Kristen sat in the back of a pickup cutting strips of material to wrap the meat in and then putting them in a cooler of water.
The efficiency of the system was surprising with everyone just doing what needed to be done. Renee stretched her shoulders and bent to slicing another hunk of meat from the cow as Mo approached.
“Need some help?”
“Yes. Could you hold this up?” Renee hefted the hunk of meat she was trying to slice cleanly off the bone.
Mo knelt in the mud and lifted the meat so Renee could see what she was doing.
They had been working together in silence for several minutes when Nathan approached.
“How’s it going?” He asked.
“I think I’m doing pretty good beings that I’ve never butchered a cow before.” Renee said with a shy smile. “Although someone is probably gonna have to pry this knife out of my hand when I’m done.”
Nathan nodded in approval. “You’re doing great. Want me to cut for awhile to give your hand a rest?”
“Yes, please.” Renee laughed. She carefully handed Nathan the knife. “Want me to hold it out of your way when you’re ready?”
Nathan smiled and nodded.
“Well, I think I’ll get back to packing the meat up.” Mo said. He got up and walked away with a big grin on his face.
“Real subtle, Mo” Nathan muttered.
Renee laughed, causing Nathan to blush. “Well it wasn’t.” Nathan said.
“No it wasn’t, but I’m not complaining.”
Nathan couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face. “Neither am I.” And I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth either, he thought to himself.
“Oops.” Renee said as she slipped in the mud.
The hail had melted off and the ground had turned into a sloppy mess. Renee shifted her footing and began cutting the chunk of meat from the cow she was working on. She finished slicing it off and tossed it onto the pile. Sweeping the back of her hand across her forehead she left a smear of blood.
She looked to see Maddie and Zoe finishing up with the cow they had been working on and with a sigh looked around. She saw Trevor and Raul working on another cow, and Shade trying to help Nathan and Matt with another. With his arm in a makeshift sling Shade’s movements were awkward as he tried to hold the meat up out of the mud.
Her gaze strayed to Mo as he carried pieces of meat to the back of one pickup and wrap it in strips of wetted down sheet. He then tossed them in the back of another pickup where Leon and Skunk were stacking them amidst the rapidly melting hail that they were using to keep the meat cool.
Kristen sat in the back of a pickup cutting strips of material to wrap the meat in and then putting them in a cooler of water.
The efficiency of the system was surprising with everyone just doing what needed to be done. Renee stretched her shoulders and bent to slicing another hunk of meat from the cow as Mo approached.
“Need some help?”
“Yes. Could you hold this up?” Renee hefted the hunk of meat she was trying to slice cleanly off the bone.
Mo knelt in the mud and lifted the meat so Renee could see what she was doing.
They had been working together in silence for several minutes when Nathan approached.
“How’s it going?” He asked.
“I think I’m doing pretty good beings that I’ve never butchered a cow before.” Renee said with a shy smile. “Although someone is probably gonna have to pry this knife out of my hand when I’m done.”
Nathan nodded in approval. “You’re doing great. Want me to cut for awhile to give your hand a rest?”
“Yes, please.” Renee laughed. She carefully handed Nathan the knife. “Want me to hold it out of your way when you’re ready?”
Nathan smiled and nodded.
“Well, I think I’ll get back to packing the meat up.” Mo said. He got up and walked away with a big grin on his face.
“Real subtle, Mo” Nathan muttered.
Renee laughed, causing Nathan to blush. “Well it wasn’t.” Nathan said.
“No it wasn’t, but I’m not complaining.”
Nathan couldn’t help the smile that spread over his face. “Neither am I.” And I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth either, he thought to himself.
- Zags
_________________________________________________________________
Lieutenant Maskovy hurried down the hallway, his patent leather boots squeaking on the polished floor. He glanced down at a paper in his hand. It was an e-mail from the General telling his Lieutenant officer to come to Room 231 for a special assignment. Room 231. Should be right around this corner. I wonder what the General wants me to do, murmered L. Maskovy to himself. Ah, there it is. He stood before the door, straightened his uniform, and knocked.
"Come in!" L. Maskovy swung the door open and was astonished to see General Akman facing a computer screen on which was the face of Mr. Brett Reed. The General was clear and got right to the point of this special assignment.
"Lieutenant Maskovy, you have shown exemplary character and courage. Based on your record, I recommended you to Mr. Reed for a very special mission of great importance. The whole of the future of the Global Family rests on your shoulders. Will you accept this assignment?"
"Well, General, I still do not know what this assignment - well - yes. I would like it very much indeed," blurted out the Lieutenant.
"Good! I hoped you would. And now, Mr. Reed, please inform the Lieutenant of what his assignment entails."
"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Maskovy. Have you heard about the rebel fleet that raised their emblem of defiance over the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? We are asking you to pick a two helpers and fly a helicopter over the statue and replace the defiance with something more suitable. Your General will show you what you are to replace the defiance with. Thank you very much for your service to the Potentate! He will ever thank you for whatever sacrifices you make in service of your country." Mr. Reed clicked a button on his computer and the computer screen went black in Room 231.
The General rose to his feet and unfurled a gigantic banner with a picture of the Potentate on it and the words emblazoned across it, "Teodor always saves." Just then, the office door burst open, and two men swaggered into the room.
"Lieutenant, these are to be your helpers on this mission. I expect it to get underway within the next twenty four hours. Y'all are dismissed." General Akman said as a grin twitched at his lips and threatened to break into a smile. "By the way, you will have perfectly clear weather for the next three days. Now is the perfect time to accomplish this mission."
"Come in!" L. Maskovy swung the door open and was astonished to see General Akman facing a computer screen on which was the face of Mr. Brett Reed. The General was clear and got right to the point of this special assignment.
"Lieutenant Maskovy, you have shown exemplary character and courage. Based on your record, I recommended you to Mr. Reed for a very special mission of great importance. The whole of the future of the Global Family rests on your shoulders. Will you accept this assignment?"
"Well, General, I still do not know what this assignment - well - yes. I would like it very much indeed," blurted out the Lieutenant.
"Good! I hoped you would. And now, Mr. Reed, please inform the Lieutenant of what his assignment entails."
"Good afternoon, Lieutenant Maskovy. Have you heard about the rebel fleet that raised their emblem of defiance over the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island? We are asking you to pick a two helpers and fly a helicopter over the statue and replace the defiance with something more suitable. Your General will show you what you are to replace the defiance with. Thank you very much for your service to the Potentate! He will ever thank you for whatever sacrifices you make in service of your country." Mr. Reed clicked a button on his computer and the computer screen went black in Room 231.
The General rose to his feet and unfurled a gigantic banner with a picture of the Potentate on it and the words emblazoned across it, "Teodor always saves." Just then, the office door burst open, and two men swaggered into the room.
"Lieutenant, these are to be your helpers on this mission. I expect it to get underway within the next twenty four hours. Y'all are dismissed." General Akman said as a grin twitched at his lips and threatened to break into a smile. "By the way, you will have perfectly clear weather for the next three days. Now is the perfect time to accomplish this mission."
- KBR
_________________________________________________________________
The chopper banked sharply to the right. "There she is!" L. Maskovy yelled into his headset to his companions. "Man! That symbol is humongous."
"And so is the statue," remarked the silent, morose Fletcher. "Just don't wreck this rig, whatever you do."
"I'm doing nothing of the kind. As if I'd go to all the trouble just to get up here and then wreck the whole mission!" Maskovy shot back at him.
"It'd be just like you to do some innane stunt like that," groused Fletcher. The Lieutenant's hand shot out to slap Fletcher, but the taller man intercepted it.
"Hey, calm down, both of you," he barked. "Have your harness on? Get your tacks and rope ready. Exit the door before I do, and try to get this done as quick as we possibly can. Okay. We're ready." L. Maskovy toggled a button, and the choppers doors shot back. The two men slid down the safety rope and proceeded to hurl the symbol of defiance to the ground. The sky changed from sunny to grey then to a dark threatening hue. Little ice crystals began to rain from the sky and pinged off the windshield of the chopper.
L. Maskovy bellowed, "We gotta land, men! Get in here now. Never mind the banner." But Fletcher just tied the last knot securely in place. They scrambled back into the plane just as the crystals changed into pea size hail. The copter began it's rapid descent to the ground. Just as it touched the ground, golf ball size hail plummeted out of the sky. Fletcher wrenched the chopper's door open and made a dash for the base of the statue. The other men were close on his heels as the golf balls turned into cannon balls. L. Maskovy stumbled as a ball ricocheted off his leg. But the three kept running. Running for dear life to the shelter of the stairwell inside the statue.
"And so is the statue," remarked the silent, morose Fletcher. "Just don't wreck this rig, whatever you do."
"I'm doing nothing of the kind. As if I'd go to all the trouble just to get up here and then wreck the whole mission!" Maskovy shot back at him.
"It'd be just like you to do some innane stunt like that," groused Fletcher. The Lieutenant's hand shot out to slap Fletcher, but the taller man intercepted it.
"Hey, calm down, both of you," he barked. "Have your harness on? Get your tacks and rope ready. Exit the door before I do, and try to get this done as quick as we possibly can. Okay. We're ready." L. Maskovy toggled a button, and the choppers doors shot back. The two men slid down the safety rope and proceeded to hurl the symbol of defiance to the ground. The sky changed from sunny to grey then to a dark threatening hue. Little ice crystals began to rain from the sky and pinged off the windshield of the chopper.
L. Maskovy bellowed, "We gotta land, men! Get in here now. Never mind the banner." But Fletcher just tied the last knot securely in place. They scrambled back into the plane just as the crystals changed into pea size hail. The copter began it's rapid descent to the ground. Just as it touched the ground, golf ball size hail plummeted out of the sky. Fletcher wrenched the chopper's door open and made a dash for the base of the statue. The other men were close on his heels as the golf balls turned into cannon balls. L. Maskovy stumbled as a ball ricocheted off his leg. But the three kept running. Running for dear life to the shelter of the stairwell inside the statue.
- KBR
_________________________________________________________________
Black Mesa, Oklahoma
Nathan was driving back to the hideout with Renee. He smiled softly in the darkness as he listened to her talk, her west Texas accent soothing him after the grim work of the day.
“What are you smiling about?” Renee asked. “I’m talking too much aren’t I?”
“No. I was just smiling at your accent. It’s very soothing.” Nathan rushed to explain.
“Oh.” Renee couldn’t think of anything to say. “I never thought about it.”
“Go on.” Nathan prompted.
“What?” Renee asked confused. “Oh yeah. Anyway once Ryan and I realized that Mom, Dad and Claire had all disappeared we knew it was the rapture.”
“Claire was your older sister right.”
“Yes. She had just started her first year as an intern as North West Texas Hospital in Amarillo.” Renee nodded in the dark. “Ryan was really freaked out because he saw it happen. He called me at school and told me that Dad just disappeared right in front of him. He said he started screaming expecting Mom to come running but she never did. He said all he could do was stare at the pile of clothes lying on the floor. Then he went to the kitchen to see if Mom was still in there and she wasn’t, so he searched the whole house. It was on his second trip through the kitchen when he saw her clothes lying in the doorway of the laundry room. He fainted then. He had the biggest knot on his forehead when I finally made it to the house.” She let out a giggle. “Don’t tell him I told you that.”
“Scouts honor.” Nathan replied with a small salute. “So what about you? Where were you when it happened?”
Renee let out a sigh. “At a frat party.” She shook her head. “I was drunk....playing drinking games when what my parents and older sister had been telling me was gonna happen happened.”
Nathan reached across the seat and caught Renee’s hand in his.
Renee squeezed his hand and continued. “By the time the party wound down and I made it back to my dorm room Ryan had left at least ten messages, and was calling when I walked in the door. I answered and it took several minutes for what he was saying to penetrate. I asked him if he had tried Claire and he said that there was no answer at her house, and she wasn’t at the hospital. I did something really stupid then. I got in my car and drove across town to the house. I was drunk and I got in my car and drove. Looking back I realize that I could have been killed. With all the wrecks on the highways and the chaos with people looking for loved ones and friends, it’s a miracle that I didn’t kill someone or myself.”
Nathan squeezed her hand again and Renee continued. “Ryan was livid. He started screaming at me the second I walked in the door. He was so angry that I had done something so stupid, and I don’t blame him for being mad. If something had happened to me he would have been alone.”
“So how did you end up with your grandpa?”
“The next day, once I had sobered up, Ryan and I drove over to my sisters house. We had to break a window to get in. She must have been in the shower when the rapture happened because the water was running. Her roommate was gone too. Her clothes were on the couch like she had just disappeared out of them. I guess she did.” Renee said with a sad laugh.
“After a few days they finally got the phone lines all repaired from the wrecks and fires and we called Grandpa. I was praying the whole time that he was still here, but at the same time that he wasn’t. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah.” Nathan said softly.
“Anyway Grandpa told us to wait until he got there to pick us up. He was worried about us traveling alone, and to tell you the truth, I was worried about traveling alone with Ryan. It was then that Becca showed up on our doorstep. She had driven from OU all by herself and was so relieved to find us still here. If she had shown up a day later we would have been gone.”
“I’m glad you called your Grandpa. If you had just stayed in Amarillo we would have never met.” Nathan said giving Renee’s hand another squeeze.
“Me too.” She said squeezing back.
- Zags
__________________________________________________________________
Missouri Ozarks
Bud came running into the cave with Christina fast on his heels both covered in blood. Linda ran to them screaming, “What happened to you?”
Bud’s eyes were wide with excitement, “Hail as big as baseballs……you will never believe it. Can’t you hear it hitting the roof of the cave?”
Shannon ran to get the first aide kit while Linda gathered towels and wrapped Bud’s arm tightly to stop the bleeding. She looked over at Christina and could see the blood flowing down her face from a huge gash in her head. Kerry grabbed more towels and was trying to help Christina. Shannon appeared with the first aide kit and Linda bandaged Bud’s arm and Shannon started working on the gash in Christina’s head.
“Do you think it was hail or something else? Did it just come up all of a sudden or what happened that you both got caught in this storm?” Linda asked.
Christina answered weakly, “I was on my way back from the meadow when the sky suddenly changed colors and it began to get dark, but I didn’t hurry because I figured I had plenty of time to get back. There was a flash in the sky and at first they were pea size, but they quickly got bigger and bigger and there was no escaping.”
Bud wiped his face with the cool cloth and shook his head in disbelief, “It was as sudden as a bolt of lightening. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t paid any attention to the sky or weather changing. Christina’s right, it was upon us just too quickly to get to safety.”
“I wish Alexis was here because she could log into the weather bureau and see what’s happening and if this taking place in a few areas or all over the world. I am going to email Andrew and see what they can tell us,” Shannon said.
Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri
Andrew could hear something that sounded like a bomb hitting the building. He looked out the window and could see soldiers running for shelter as the hail hit the ground. He watched as the size of the hail grew larger and larger as the storm pelted the earth. The door to the office swung open with Mark and Jonathan rushing in as though someone was chasing them. “What on earth is happening? You guys are soaked to the bone and you have cuts on your arms and face. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Andrew said.
Mark bent over trying to catch his breath, “It hurts, too. It’s utter chaos outside. They were trying to cover some of the equipment and getting pummeled in the process. It’s just awful.”
Sam asked, “How far are your quarters from here? If we could get Alexis over here safely, she could find out if this storm is widespread or just affecting us. I would imagine she and Amy are scared out of their minds right now.”
“We would have to drive to our house. It’s on base, but it’s the commander’s quarters and separated from the rest of the housing. I will call and check on them and tell them to stay put until this storm passes,” Andrew told him.
Andrew called the house, but no one answered the phone. He heard the message machine click on and he left a message for the two women. He looked out the window again at the darkness that covered everything. He thought to himself, “This is only just the beginning.”
Bud came running into the cave with Christina fast on his heels both covered in blood. Linda ran to them screaming, “What happened to you?”
Bud’s eyes were wide with excitement, “Hail as big as baseballs……you will never believe it. Can’t you hear it hitting the roof of the cave?”
Shannon ran to get the first aide kit while Linda gathered towels and wrapped Bud’s arm tightly to stop the bleeding. She looked over at Christina and could see the blood flowing down her face from a huge gash in her head. Kerry grabbed more towels and was trying to help Christina. Shannon appeared with the first aide kit and Linda bandaged Bud’s arm and Shannon started working on the gash in Christina’s head.
“Do you think it was hail or something else? Did it just come up all of a sudden or what happened that you both got caught in this storm?” Linda asked.
Christina answered weakly, “I was on my way back from the meadow when the sky suddenly changed colors and it began to get dark, but I didn’t hurry because I figured I had plenty of time to get back. There was a flash in the sky and at first they were pea size, but they quickly got bigger and bigger and there was no escaping.”
Bud wiped his face with the cool cloth and shook his head in disbelief, “It was as sudden as a bolt of lightening. I was so deep in thought that I hadn’t paid any attention to the sky or weather changing. Christina’s right, it was upon us just too quickly to get to safety.”
“I wish Alexis was here because she could log into the weather bureau and see what’s happening and if this taking place in a few areas or all over the world. I am going to email Andrew and see what they can tell us,” Shannon said.
Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri
Andrew could hear something that sounded like a bomb hitting the building. He looked out the window and could see soldiers running for shelter as the hail hit the ground. He watched as the size of the hail grew larger and larger as the storm pelted the earth. The door to the office swung open with Mark and Jonathan rushing in as though someone was chasing them. “What on earth is happening? You guys are soaked to the bone and you have cuts on your arms and face. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Andrew said.
Mark bent over trying to catch his breath, “It hurts, too. It’s utter chaos outside. They were trying to cover some of the equipment and getting pummeled in the process. It’s just awful.”
Sam asked, “How far are your quarters from here? If we could get Alexis over here safely, she could find out if this storm is widespread or just affecting us. I would imagine she and Amy are scared out of their minds right now.”
“We would have to drive to our house. It’s on base, but it’s the commander’s quarters and separated from the rest of the housing. I will call and check on them and tell them to stay put until this storm passes,” Andrew told him.
Andrew called the house, but no one answered the phone. He heard the message machine click on and he left a message for the two women. He looked out the window again at the darkness that covered everything. He thought to himself, “This is only just the beginning.”
- P4H
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