The Gathering: A Christian Novel Book Two

By William Creed

Critics and readers alike gave rave reviews to the best-selling first book, COMES THE END. Now THE GATHERING, second book in the series, is here to again challenge and inspire readers. This action packed page-turner is a must for lovers of Christian fiction.

Andy Moore and his companion Stephanie plunge into a new and amazing adventure that tests their faith. This is a powerful story of awesome biblical miracles reappearing in the End Times with manifestations of God grace and power coming to the fore again.

God's powerful spirit is upon His own as they do battle with Evil forces arrayed against them in a desperate struggle for the souls of men and women. Critics are raving over the insightful viewpoints expressed in the book and the debates they are generating. Don't miss your opportunity to discover and weigh in with your own opinions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William Creed
• Release date: Nov 20, 2009
• ISBN: 9780972289146

William Creed

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, WILLIAM CREED By Sue Collier William Creed was born in Detroit, Michigan. His family moved to Normal, Illinois when he was eight, then returned to Michigan five years later the small town of Romeo, Michigan, where his parents operated a children’s shoppe. While a student at Romeo High, Bill started his literary career by approaching a local newspaper about writing a weekly column for teens. The editor liked the idea and he soon began writing a column entitled, “Viewing The Teens”. In one of his columns, Bill proposed the idea of forming a Teen United Nations as a way to encourage teenagers to put aside national politics and reach out to those in other countries. Bill’s journey into national politics brought him national media coverage, as well as many letters, including a letter from the Soviet Embassy in New York expressing interest in the idea. After graduation from high school, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was initially stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida. In 1961, he was assigned to the Air Force Security Service and stationed in Darmstadt, Germany. Here he wrote a guide to living in Germany for the serviceman and his family titled, “G.I. In Germany.” The manuscript received endorsements from the Comander of European Forces, the Chancellor of Germany, and Mayors of Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich among others. After discharge from the Air Force, Bill attended Wayne State University, but did not go into the writing field. Instead, he ended up in the entertainment industry. He spent the next twenty years producing and promoting concerts and other entertainment events for Encore, CRG, and Parthenon Productions. He produced these events throughout the eastern U.S. with such entertainers as Dottie West, Little Jimmy Dickens, Box Car Willie and many others who were popular at the time. Bill, a talented singer, also ventured into the performing side of the industry recording in Nashville his own songs in the mid-1980’s Creed’s life changed dramatically when, at the age of 39, he contracted encephalitis from a mosquito bite he received in Florida. As a result of this bite, he lost the ability to count to ten, write, read or understand much of the English language. Though he was told that he would remain like this, Bill a long-time Christian, sought healing through his faith. Bill received a promise from God that he would be healed – and he was. Over the years, through prayer, and with the help of family and friends, he now has regained what he lost. In 1998, Bill decided to return to the activity he enjoyed most, writing. Subsequently, he wrote COMES THE END which received rave reviews from critics and readers alike. He followed with his second book, “THE GATHERING”, which also has received an outstanding reception. Creed’s third book, THE PROMISE, was released in April 2009 to the delight of his many fans. Bill lives in Romeo, Michigan with his wife, Sharon. Together they have five children and two spoiled dogs. His wife is a nurse manager in the Emergency Room at a local hospital and has been her husband’s chief supporter and fan. Bill spends a great deal of time traveling around the country doing book signings at book stores as well as military installations. His book has been taken overseas for distribution to servicemen in Iraq and Afghanistan by the Army.

Book preview

THE GATHERING

BOOK 2 OF SERIES

William S. Creed

Copyright 2006 by William Creed

Smashwords Edition

Bible Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, taken from King James Version ©1976

Other books by author:

Comes The End

The Gathering

Faith: God’s Gift

Visit: www.williamcreed.com

**********

THE STORY CONTINUES….

This book continues the adventures of Andy Moore and Stephanie Collins during the days approaching the rapture. In the first book, COMES THE END, Satan cleverly deceived the world by portraying his demons as friendly visitors, His lead demon, Abdon, calls them Ancestral Brothers from some utopia planet where life was forever. The Brothers claim that in the far past humans were actually placed here by the Ancestral Brothers, that humans themselves are aliens and he has come to take them home. He promises eternal life to all through scientific application of logic, except to Christians and Jews who, he says, will never deny their religions as the Ancestral Brothers require. The sentence for those who will not deny God’s word is death.

In Book One, many Christians flee to safe havens around the world. One such place was in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains in a camp run by Sarah, a prophet. There Andy Moore and Stephanie Collins meet and are told by Sarah, she has had a vision and they will be together in the future and should leave the camp now because the inhabitants will be slain by the Brothers and their henchmen, the Goonies

Sarah informed Andy that God has special plans for he and Stephanie. She says God will help him fulfill these plans. Obedient to Sarah’s pleas, Andy and Stephanie flee the camp just as the Goonies come and crucify the inhabitants.

The Gathering begins as they are in this flight several hours after witnessing the crucifixions.

**********

He that dwelleth in the secret place of

The most High shall abide under the

Shadow of the Almighty

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge

And my fortress: my God; in his will I trust.

Psalm 91:1,2

**********

CHAPTER 1

Slowly the cross rose in the night air; two figures, one nailed on either side, were writhing in pain. Through his binoculars, Andy watched as the soldiers, illuminated by the flames from the burning buildings, repositioned under the cross for a final push. The cross resumed rising until, reaching the edge of the hole, it dropped, slamming to the bottom of the pit, evoking obvious, though silent, screams of pain from its unwilling passengers.

For a few moments, no one in the gathered crowd moved as they watched in astonishment. Through his glasses, Andy could see the crucified men twisting in agony.

Suddenly, pandemonium broke out as soldiers rushed the group, grabbing men, women, and children. Andy watched in horror as crosses rose with squirming bodies nailed to them, watching their silhouetted agonies. More and more crosses rose, until all of the camp inhabitants were nailed and raised. The memory of that scene pounded within his head. He should have gone back, but all he did was watch.

His eyes filled with tears at the memory. Pulling the Jeep over to the shoulder of the road and lowering his head, he felt burning tears fill his eyes, and begin running down his craggy cheeks. Leaning forward and resting his head on the steering wheel, he began to weep. At first his tears were silent, then they grew into the deep, shuddering sobs of a child.

Stephanie, reaching for him, began shedding her own tears. The two embraced, spilling their grief on each other’s shoulder.

After a few minutes, Andy straightened up and kissed Stephanie on her forehead. He took a few deep breaths and grabbed a tissue from the Jeep’s console. He wiped his eyes, then from habit, used his fingers to smooth the mustache that ran across his upper lip and dripped off the edges. It gave him a tough look his fifty-three years didn’t feel right now. Are you all right? he asked.

Stephanie blew her nose and nodded. I don’t get it. If God is love and mercy, why would He allow such a thing to happen? He’s God isn’t He? Why doesn’t He just make a miracle and stop it? The bible is full of miracles; why wouldn’t He do another one and save those people, those children?

Andy leaned his head back on the headrest and closed his eyes. I hear you. he said flatly. I feel the same way He leaned forward and shifted into drive. I guess that’s where faith comes in. We just aren’t able to understand because we don’t know all the facts. Andy took a deep breath. I’m thinking about retiring from the figuring-it-out business and getting into the faith business. How about this for a motto: ‘I’ll just try my best and let God figure out the rest’?

Stephanie grunted

Not impressed? Don’t agree?

Stephanie shrugged. Oh, I know you’re right, but sometimes it just sucks to be a Christian.

Sometimes that’s true; but I promise you this, Steph: no one is going to do that to us without a fight. If they try, those guns in the back are going to get a lot of use, he said, motioning to the assortment of firearms they’d loaded in the back of the Jeep before leaving camp. That’s the last time in my life I stand by and see such a thing happen. I wish we had gone back and tried to save those people

Stephanie shook her head. We would never have made it in time. Leaning back against the seat, she sighed deeply. She was emotionally exhausted. Where’re we going? What are we gonna do? What’s the point? she asked with a weary voice.

Don’t give up on us now, Steph.

Andy, said Stephanie with an edge to her voice. How many times I gotta tell you! Don’t call me Steph; the name is Steph-a-nee!

Sorry, answered Andy, with a slight smile. He knew it was a sure way to rouse spirit in Stephanie. She always rose to the bait. Reach in the back and pull out that book of state maps. Get the North Carolina page and let’s see where we’re at.

Thumbing through the pages, Stephanie stopped at North Carolina and opened the colored, double-page map. Okay, I figure we are about here, she said, pointing to Hendersonville. I guess that means we’re in the Appalachian Mountains. We should keep off the main roads, though. Maybe we could take 64 past Brevard and then—

Did you say Brevard? Andy interrupted.

Stephanie looked at the map again. Yes, Brevard. Does that mean something?

Well, I just remembered being here once before, when I was about eight years old. I remember my dad driving by a town called Brevard. It stuck out ’cause it’s the same name as the place in Florida where we used to go for vacations in the winter when I was a kid. When we came to the sign here, that said ‘Brevard,’ I laughed and told my dad he was in the wrong state.

Fascinating, said Stephanie, yawning.

"The thing that’s interesting is there’s a camp near here; that’s where my dad was headed. My parents brought me to this camp—it was a church camp—for a week. I hated it, but it was really beautiful. It was on top of a kind of mountain that just stuck up outta nowhere. I remember there was a cloud that sorta hung around the top of the mountain all the time.

Why did you hate it?

Oh, it was Jimmy Cornahan. He was twelve, and for some reason I was his project to make miserable that year. He succeeded. I was never so depressed. Believe me, I was very happy to see my parents at the end of that week. I made them promise never to take me there again.

Well, that’s nice to know, but I’m gonna take a little nap. She yawned again. Wake me when you want me to take a turn at the wheel.

Sure. You know, I wonder if we might be able to stay at that camp; it was a Christian camp, after all. We might be safe there for a day or two, sorta figure out what we wanna do.

Do you know where the camp is?

No clue.

Then maybe you can come up with plan B while I take forty winks.

Yeah, I suppose, said Andy with some resignation. He was about to pull out onto the road, when he felt Stephanie squeeze his shoulder.

Andy, she said in a muted voice, pointing back along the road. See that black van just off the road about two hundred yards in back? You can just make out the front of it.

Andy narrowed his eyes for a moment, before nodding. I see it—sorta off the road behind some bushes, by the telephone pole.

That’s it. I’ve seen it before.

Really?

I’m beginning to think it’s following us.

Okay, let’s find out. I’ll pull out; you keep an eye on it, see what it does.

Slowly, Andy eased onto the road and brought the Jeep up to an easy fifty while stealing glances in his rearview mirror. At first the van did not move, then it slowly emerged from behind the bushes entering the highway behind them.

See them pull out? asked Stephanie.

Andy nodded. Yeah. Let’s keep an eye on them and decide if they are really following us or it’s just a coincidence.

Andy made a left turn off 280 onto a narrow gravel road. The dust in back made it difficult to see if anyone was following, but as the road snaked to the right he could see a second dust cloud behind them.

I think we have trouble, he said quietly.

Yes.

Get out that map again, and let’s try to keep track of where we are. If I recall, up here should be Highway 64 and that comes close to the French River. Am I right?

Stephanie opened the map and found their location on it. Yep, 64 closes with the river about twenty miles east of where we got on 191. But do we want to go east? We were headed west.

I just wanna get rid of these guys, no matter what direction we go. I’m thinking there might be a place where we can get down to the river and maybe run with it for awhile, off road. They have a van and can’t follow where this Jeep can go. Keep your eyes open while I try to put some distance between us.

Andy punched the accelerator and the Jeep jumped ahead. Soon he was doing eighty down the gravel road and not at all comfortable with his control. Glancing back now and then in the mirror, it was difficult to see through the dust whether they were gaining ground on them or not. Finally, reaching the blacktop Highway 64 intersection, Andy turned left. Glancing back, he saw the cloud from the pursuing van approaching the blacktop. They had gained enough ground to lose them, if it were done right. There was no doubt in Andy’s mind they were the quarry, and the dog was hunting.

Glancing down, he saw their speed was approaching ninety. Tell me when they reach of blacktop, barked Andy.

Just now! Andy, their cloud stopped, they musta made the turn.

How far back?

Stephanie tried to estimate, I’d say about a mile, maybe a little more.

The backtop road made slight turns to the left and right as it wound its way next to the winding river. Suddenly Andy slammed on the brakes. The Jeep fishtailed to the right, then left, as Andy fought to keep control, feeling the top-heavy Jeep lean one way, then the other. Finally, bringing it to a stop, he made a sharp left turn off the road toward the river, below the highway. He fought his desire to punch the accelerator, instead easing the Jeep through the bushes. He didn’t want to tear up the greenery leaving a noticeable footprint. The Jeep rocked back and forth as it found potholes. Andy engaged the four-wheel drive as the ground began a downward slope toward the river. Initially it was an easy grade, then suddenly dropped steeply toward the riverbank.

Keeping his left foot on the brake, he was able to control their descent by gripping the steering wheel tightly preventing any sudden turns to either the right or left. Ahead he could see the river—more a creek here than anything. Finally, the grade evened out for a few yards before taking another precipitous plunge to the river. Andy went down the steep embankment, then eased the Jeep a final three feet into the shallow creek. Carefully he began driving in the creek bed toward the southwest. The further they drove, the greater was their separation from the highway. Both seemed to go in a southwest course but on diverging paths. After a half-hour, Andy stopped the Jeep while still in the creek, but to the western side under an overhanging willow tree.

We’ll stay here and see what happens. What time do you have?

Stephanie checked her watch. Half past ten.

Okay. Let’s stay here the rest of the day. I don’t think anyone will bother us. We’ll make a fresh start in the morning.

Andy, do you think they followed us from the camp?

I can’t think of any other explanation. I’m guessing they went through some papers in camp and found we were missing. Maybe they found our tracks leading out the back of the camp and sent these bozo’s after us. Beats me.

Stephanie did not make a sound, but pursed her lips in thought.

You don’t agree?

Oh, I think you’re probably right, but it seems strange.

I think we have to remember, there are forces at work here far beyond our understanding. I don’t think these guys had the brains to put all that together so fast. I think they were led.

Stephanie nodded. Yes, but thank God, so are we.

Exactly. I believe we have to keep in mind that, while the forces against us are powerful, and we should never underestimate them, the strength of Christ is with us, and His will shall prevail.

Stephanie nodded. I just wish I knew what that will was.

Andy smiled, while mumbling an agreement. Surveying the area around them, showed it was absent any development. Perhaps this was part of a national forest the map indicated occupied much of the surrounding country. The creek showed some evidence that it occasionally exceeded its banks. On either side of the creek were flat areas some ten feet wide about three to four feet above the riverbed carved out some time in the past by floodwaters. From there, a steep embankment ran up ten feet, leveled off again, then made the final climb to the top where the road was. Andy estimated that they were now some forty feet below the road. With the willow tree over them, he was confident they would not be seen.

I think I’ll make us a little campsite on the bank here under our tree. Give us a chance to stretch our legs. Might get a little chilly tonight, but we’ve got enough blankets, announced Andy.

As the day wore on, Andy became bored and began walking west, exploring the river, and found it took a turn toward the north. Nowhere along its banks did he see any sign of buildings or fences. He was convinced they were in a state or national park, and excluding the highway, there was no other human habitation for quite a distance.

Returning to their makeshift camp, Andy inventoried the Jeep carefully. There were a number of guns and plenty of ammunition. Two boxes full of dry food and a third had flour, sugar, shortening, seasonings, and utensils. Both he and Stephanie repacked the supplies and securely fastened them down. Their recent experience with the riverbank taught them to be prepared for anything.

Finally, the sun began dipping in the west behind the mountains giving them a premature dusk. Andy arranged his blanket beneath the willow tree. Andy gave some thought to building a fire but decided that would be pushing their luck. Stephanie went back to the Jeep, emerging a few moments later with two cans of soup and a homemade loaf of bread given to them at Sarah’s camp.

Soup, she said, holding up the cans.

Andy wasn’t a fan of cold soup, but he was too hungry and tired to argue. By the time they finished the soup and made a good dent in the bread, darkness had crept upon them. While Andy packed the Jeep while Stephanie spread out her blanket under the willow and, using her jacket, made a makeshift pillow then laid down, pulling two blankets up to her chin.

They lay there in silence watching distant flashes of a thunderstorm in the mountains to the East. The clouds hid the light from the orbiting spacecraft. All Christians had come to despise that light. It was an affront all that was holy to them. Their claim that they were the messiahs and that Christ was not. Surely God would not allow this to continue much longer.

How could He continue to allow them to blaspheme Him with their claims that it was they who had created life on earth. It was they who ruled the universe. It was they would could give eternal life. Blasphemies.

It felt good to have the clouds shield them from the ever-present glow of the so-called space ship. The darkness was beautiful as were the streaks of lightening that tore across it.

Beautiful isn’t it? asked Stephanie.

Andy nodded. I love thunderstorms. They’re so majestic.

A flash of lighting tore across the sky as he spoke, followed within a few seconds by a thunderclap that rolled over them, fading toward the horizon.

I used to grab a chair and go out on the porch just to watch them.

I never was into them. My mother was afraid of them, and I guess that sorta rubbed off on me. I’m not as afraid of them as she was, but I’m not a fan either.

Andy sank down into his blanket. Both were quiet as they drifted into their private thoughts. He wanted to think about the day, what it meant, and where they might be going and why, but before he could form his thoughts, sleep grabbed and held him tight.

An hour later, Andy awoke with a start, a hard ball of fear in his stomach and a sense of impending doom. In the distance, he could still see the lightning flashing across the sky and hear the rolling thunderclaps merging into a seemingly endless angry pounding.

Stephanie! he said with some urgency. But whether she did not hear him or simply chose to ignore the voice, rolled over in sleep.

Stephanie! he shouted, while shaking her shoulder. We gotta get going!

As if to add urgency to his voice, raindrops began falling. The first few were gentle, but within moments, increased to pounding the Jeep while others cascaded through the tree onto them.

Stephanie bolted up. Rain! I’m soaked!

We have to get out of here! yelled Andy as he scooped up the blankets and ran to the Jeep.

Why?

Never mind, just get in. We gotta get outta here!

Stephanie quickly opened the passenger-side door, and was about to get in, when she felt a rush of water almost taking her feet from beneath her.

Andy started the Jeep and slammed the shift into drive. Giving the Jeep all the gas it could take, he felt it begin to dig into the gravel bottom but a wave of water hit the back end of the Jeep, lifting it off the bottom. The rear wheel began spinning. Finally, the wave passed and the Jeep came down, grabbing hold of the gravel once more, and the vehicle began moving ahead, slowly at first, then gaining speed.

We gotta get out of this creek bed! shouted Andy, as much to himself as Stephanie.

In the headlights, he saw a spot in the creek where the embankment dipped toward the creek and headed for it. The embankment was steep, and worse, wet. The tires, locked into four-wheel drive, began spinning, when another two-foot wave hit the rear of the truck and thrust it up enough for the wheels to grab. Quickly the tires climbed the embankment out of the water, but Andy sensed their safety was only temporary.

We gotta get farther up; we’re still in the flood plain. I think the water is gonna get here soon. Look, if the water catches us, stay with the car; I think it will have some buoyancy to it.

From behind them they could hear the roar of a new wall of water rushing down the river. Looking back, Stephanie saw the wall of water was at least ten feet high, and pushing in front of it an assortment of cracking, and groaning trees, limbs and other debris. As it rushed by, the water level rose, level with the ridge they now traveled.

It’s rising really fast, Andy.

Andy turned right into the rising slope toward the high ground.

Hang on! he shouted.

For a second the Jeep hesitated, then the four wheels grabbed the ground and powered up the side of the hill. The incline was steep, and Andy worried they might slip backward, or even tumble; but the vehicle’s engine was equal to the task and slowly they climbed up.

Reaching the level ground of the bluff, Andy brought the Jeep to a halt and watched as another wave of water came down the raging river spilling over the ridge below. For a few moments neither could speak, as they listened to the rain hammer the Jeep and the roar of the water below.

Finally. Stephanie broke the silence. Andy, how did you know?

I can’t explain it. I just woke up and there was this fear in me saying we had to get out of there. Now that I think of it, it was really stupid of me to have us camp there.

Well, that makes two of us. It never occurred to me that we were in any danger. I just watched the lightning show in the mountains and didn’t think anything of it.

Exactly. I was more concerned about the black van and keeping out of sight.

I think God woke you up.

Andy nodded. I think you’re right. I must drive Him nuts with all the stupid things I do. There will never be an unemployment problem among angels as long as I’m running around. I can’t believe I could have been so stupid.

So now what? asked Stephanie.

It’s almost dawn, and I can’t sleep, so I’ll take a turn at the wheel. Why don’t you get some shuteye?

Stephanie nodded. If I can. I’m too excited to sleep myself!

Andy pulled out of the field onto Route 64. He would have to find his way back to Route 191, but he wasn’t concerned. He was just thankful they had the chance to do that.

Despite her misgivings, in a few minutes Stephanie’s breathing deepened into steady,