Into the Storm Read Free Page B

seven seals.”
    Lionel leaned against the wall as some people crowded by, eager to get back into the service before Rayford began again.
    “I talked with Chaya yesterday,” Lionel said.
    “She’s got it down. The four horsemen are the first four judgments from God. The red horse is the start of the war, then the rest of them—famine, plague, and death—happen right after. Bruce thinks we’re right in line for numbers five, six, and seven.”
    “And then Jesus comes back?” Vicki said.
    “No,” Lionel said.
    “There are two more seven-part judgments after this one.” Lionel frowned.
    “I guess that’s why they call it the Tribulation. There’s a lot of trouble ahead.”
    Vicki held up a hand.
    “Speaking of trouble,” she said.
    “What is it?”
    Vicki nodded toward the stairs. Coming towards them was the principal of Nicolae High, Mrs. Jenness.
    Before Taylor Graham could speak again, Judd took over.
    “You sold us out,” Judd said.
    “You were going to give us over to the Global Community.”
    “Is that why you took off?” Graham said.
    “Darrion tipped you off on the phone?”
    Judd didn’t answer.
    “I thought I could trust you guys,” Graham said.
    “That whole thing with Ryan being sick was a big act.”
    “You thought you could trust ms?! “ Judd yelled.
    “If we’d stayed with you, the GC would have been all over us.”
    “You don’t understand. If you’d stayed with me, I could have pointed them away from you. It’s too late for that now.”
    “I thought you were working with the GC,” Judd said.
    “They’re after us.”
    “No, they’re after you,” Graham said.
    “They’re interested in Ryan, but only because he can lead them to you.”
    “We shouldn’t be seen together,” Lionel said.

    Vicki was thinking the same thing, but it was too late now.
    Mrs. Jenness spotted Vicki and Lionel and came directly toward them. She pursed her lips and looked down.
    “I know we’ve had our differences,” Mrs. Jenness said, “but I’m genuinely sorry for your loss.”
    “Thank you,” Vicki said.
    “My guess was that the people who wrote the Underground newspaper would be here today,” Mrs.
    Jenness said, looking suspiciously at Vicki.
    “Could be,” Vicki said.
    “But there are an awful lot of people from the school here.”
    Mrs. Jenness frowned.
    “I have to go,” she said.
    “The memorial service was very ... enlightening.” She fixed her stare on Lionel.
    “You’re Lionel Washington, aren’t you?”
    Vicki didn’t know Mrs. Jenness even knew Lionel’s name, and it startled her.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Lionel said.
    “I need to see you in my office, first thing in the morning,” she said.
    “What is it?” Vicki said.
    “That’s between Lionel and me,” Mrs. Jenness said, “and his family.”
    Mrs. Jenness walked out the front door.
    “You think she knows I’m involved with the Underground?”
    Lionel said.
    “I can’t think what else it would be,” Vicki said, “but what does your family have to do with it?”
    “I don’t have any family,” Lionel said, “except you guys.”
    Vicki saw Rayford Steele head toward the podium. She and Lionel hurried back into the service.
    Judd watched Taylor Graham closely. The pilot ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
    “I don’t know what else to do other than tell you,” he said.

    “Tell me what?” Judd said.
    “First of all, you kids really showed me something inIsrael.”
    “We’re not kids,” Judd said.
    “I didn’t mean it like that,” Graham said.
    “Gimme a break.”
    “I’m listening,” Judd said.
    “I’m not with the GC like you think,” Graham said.
    “They gave me an order, and the best thing I could do”—“If you’re not with the GC, why are you taking orders from them?” Judd said.
    “I worked for the GC just like Mr. Stahley did,” Graham said.
    “But you don’t always agree with your bosses. Mr.
    Stahley uncovered a lot of shady information about them. I helped