The Road to Philadelphia

By Shad Watters

The First Dwellers had reaped a harvest of annihilation for their bankrupt ideals. A new world has arisen from the ashes. Pockets of civilization have grown in a post-apocalyptic sword and bow culture as the Second Dwellers recover information from the former world.

Will this new people rise to the challenge of pioneering a better society or will they reap the same harvest at an intensified pace? One group of men and women will rise to the challenge; to strive and conquer their own inner battles and those that rage around them in this allegory of paradise lost and found. The journey begins on the Road to Philadelphia!

"The Road to Philadelphia is a novel presentation of the greatest story ever told. The writer's great respect for the characters and the original story is always evident as he moves them into an apocalyptic setting. This is the best kind of entertainment-a fascinating narrative which still respects the basic truth. It works. I read it in one sitting."
-Al Taylor, Church of God Stewardship Director and author of Proving God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 10, 2003
• ISBN: 9781469725253

Shad Watters

Shad Watters is a graduate of Logos Christian College with a B.A. in Christian Education. He is currently Youth Pastor at Covenant Community Church in Washington, North Carolina. He resides in Bath, N.C. with his wife, Barbara and their three sons, Christian, Hunter and Micah.

Book preview

Prologue

Perilous, perilous they grew in their greed items of luxury mistaken for need. Merciless, merciless swords drawn against living quarter not asked, nor quarter given. Death from the air Death with each breath The great kingdoms wrestled

until none were left. Spoiled again, spoiled again the deceiver had won. His power undispersed and given to none. Dark malaks fought in humanity’s guise The light bearers strove to protect human lives. An ageless battle waged the Great War was lost The Second Dwellers born at the First Dwellers’ cost. For stewardship given

is duty required and the First Dwellers paid for listening to liars.

Heavy, heavy is the task now at hand

to redeem our cause and learn once again. Sufficient, sufficient is the Sovereign’s grace to uphold His cause for the new human race.

The not too distant future:

Red smiled at her. More than just a casual smile, it spoke unblushingly of their love for one another. He never knew that love could be so pure and so fitting. Fears and inadequacies seemed to melt away when they were together. Questions of self-worth and purpose retired from sight. If ever there was a ‘perfect match’, he thought, we’re it.

They had lived most of their lives together, their thoughts and routines intertwined like braids. Yet, they had never made love. That fullest expression of oneness was to be saved for that particular day. Their wedding day.

There was no assembly, no parents or siblings. Neither of them knew their parents or knew if they even had siblings. That world was gone now and she and this was all that mattered to Red now. The intensity of the moment was almost palpable.

As they walked hand in hand to the center of the biosphere, the general stood waiting for them. He was a mysterious man, the only other person Red could ever recollect knowing. Not that that bothered him. With the general as his role model and Evelyn by his side, he knew no discontent. How could he feel less fulfilled?

They stopped together in front of the general. A smile creased all their faces. In the general’s hand was the book that was always with him. He merely referred to it as the word. Rather simplistic, Red thought, but not a thought to be pondered now. All he could think of was the matter at hand, his marriage to Evelyn.

The ceremony began and seemed to fly by as Red traded glances with his soon-to-be bride and the general. Evelyn’s beauty was astounding. Red became lost in it, as usual. A tiny vessel in an unfathomable sea.

Red, do you hear me? asked the general. His given name was James, but the general and Evelyn had nicknamed him ‘Red’ because of his reddish-brown skin.

Yes sir, Red replied, looking back toward Evelyn. You know I will! Evelyn smiled and then reciprocated the promise.

A giant, hearty smile split the general’s face as he proclaimed, James and Evelyn, I now pronounce you man and wife! Red, you may now kiss your bride.

Barely had the words escaped his lips when Red took Evelyn into his arms and kissed her deeply. Her lips crushed into his and the enigma of their oneness intensified. They turned and ran toward their bridal suite. The general and he had just finished it yesterday. They entered its grass and wood-framed door and anticipation gave way to desire. Pure desire that is satiated with the seal of legitimacy and fearlessness of rebuke.

Many months had passed and Red’s love grew deeper for Evelyn every day. They worked together daily, tending the garden, feeding the animals, making love. Time passed and Evelyn began talking about having a child. Red’s heart leaped at the thought.

Sure, the general and Evelyn provided plenty of company, but he wanted a son and he knew that desire was good and right. Indeed, it was the general’s plan.

Outside the biosphere the general had built before they were born, lay the remains of a different world. A world inhabited by a race the general referred to as the First Dwellers. A world that had rebelled against its Maker. A world that had paid the price for its rebellion by reaping the terrible harvest of nuclear war. That was many years ago, the general had said. Red and Evelyn were to be the beginning of something new. He never doubted the general; he had never had a reason to. What could be any greater than his love for him and Evelyn? Red didn’t think he wanted to know.

Then.. .something happened. The shock of it all lost in the moment, and only afterwards did it truly haunt and overwhelm his soul.

A man came to Evelyn one day. A man they had never seen before. He was dressed to immaculate perfection, his hair and goatee, black. And though Red considered himself a man’s man, he had to admit the visitor seemed every bit the epitome of manhood. He stirred something in Red. Something he discovered later, that wasn’t right, but at the time, appealing and provocative.

The handsome stranger promised Evelyn the world while Red stood in the distance. A world greater than the biosphere. A world with no boundaries and no generals. Why didn’t that anger me? he pondered later. The general, as enigmatic as he was, was a good man. Red lacked nothing. Yet, he had to admit later, the offer of autonomy was appealing. An apathetic disregard for all that Red held dear began to wash over him. Almost imperceptibly. He felt as if he had been missing out on something. Duty gave way to entitlement.

But the general said we must never leave the biosphere. He said there were diseases out there that will kill us. We’ve always lived in here, we wouldn’t be immune! Evelyn responded to the visitor. Her anger was slight, but Red knew that her curiosity was piqued.

In retrospect, Red realized that he should have told him to leave; he should have called for the general. But, he didn’t. And though he tried later to justify his actions and to fathom the reasons for his complacency, he could not deduce it. He simply made the choice. Logical thought and conviction were disengaged. Autonomy persevered.

Come on, the man said, all you have to do is release the hatch to the biosphere. It’s a great, big world out there and it’s yours for the taking. And, hey, if you don’t like it, you can always come back here, later! You won’t die!

He seemed convincing enough. Where was the general? Surely, he would come and expel this man if he were an enemy.

The only way we can open the hatch is for both of us to enter our password on different modules simultaneously, Evelyn replied, looking first to him, then to me. Her eyes begged for approval.

Without hesitation, Red was by her side and they entered their passwords and the hermetically sealed hatch opened. Cautious, but expectantly, they stepped outside. The sky was an effluent blue; birds flew everywhere and a grand mountain range lay in the distance. They smiled at one another, unsure of themselves, hoping they had made the right decision. Red’s hands trembled, as did his heart, as he tried to convince himself of the legitimacy of their decision.

As they stepped away from the biosphere he heard the hatch close behind them. They both inhaled deeply and breathed in the air of their new world. Immediately, both felt something pierce their soul. Red and Evelyn knew that something foreign had taken hold of them. Something alien to them, something vile. A dreadful disease.

Consequence dawned.

They both turned to go back inside the biosphere but it was sealed tight and, to their surprise, there were no re-entry modules on the outside.

For a moment, the door’s window shutter opened and Red and Evelyn could see the general standing there. Jealous anger burned in his eyes. Red had never seen the general angry, but he realized then, too late, that before, his pleasure had always been to do the general’s will. Now, I can do my own, he thought. Somehow, that prospect brought little comfort. It was at that moment that the lament was conceived in him that later became a bitter song of his people;

Visions of deity have enveloped our homes, our sovereignty acquired, we place the wreath upon our heads.

Our omnipotence reigns until the consequences dawn, that our reckless autonomy has rendered us dead.

Red realized the vociferous stranger was gone. He had never felt so alone.

Before they turned to leave, Red looked back at the biosphere. The general was poised inside at the hatch window and bathed in righteous indignation. He looked pleadingly into the general’s eyes for the last time.

The fury remained but Red was certain he saw love in the tear on his cheek.

Chapter 1

250 years later:

As the sun rose from the east it sent a cascade ofcolors shooting across the mountain-scaped horizon. In the west, fog still hovered over the trees and dew dripped off the leaves onto the damp grass below. The creeping rays burst suddenly through the paned window of my utilitarian, two-roomed tree house, its sanctity and security bought with many hours and much sweat.

As I stirred, breathing in the new morning, the woman next to me awoke. Realizing that she was still naked she reached quickly for her leather tunic, as if the light of day brought shame to our nocturnal activities. I laughed to myself as I tried to recall her name.

Thomas, what are you doing? she asked, as she pulled her mane of auburn hair from underneath the back of her top. She stood and let the one-piece tunic fall over her hips. She is beautiful, I thought. The disease must still be in its infant stages. No outward manifestations of it yet. I began to wonder when it would begin to affect me, for it seemed to follow no predictable pattern, but I shook off the thought. No need worrying about the inevitable. I arose and dressed quickly, moving on to my combination kitchen, dining and living area.

I’m leaving, I replied while preparing to grill a piece of venison for breakfast. I rummaged through my shelves for salt.

Why? she asked. Didn’t I make you happy?

I looked at her briefly and then back to my chore. Annie, recollecting her name, I’ve got some stuff to do today, maybe I’ll be back later. It seemed so easy to lie to her. I knew I was never coming back.

That day was the day I was going to begin the search for my brother. It’d been fifteen long years since I’d seen him and I needed to look for him.

After eating my venison I grabbed my gear; a pack of essential goods, my bow and quiver, a short sword, and various strapped-on knives. I planted a quick kiss on Annie’s head and, without word, dove off the deck of my tree house to the smaller trees below. I grabbed a sturdy branch and quickly dropped to the ground. A lung full of the cool morning air invigorated me. I felt alive and ready for the task before me.

I ran to the hunting grounds of my people, or rather, my former people. They were all killed years ago by a group of the mutants. Everyone had the disease. Some had it worse than others. It seemed to get worse with age, but sometimes other factors aggravated it. It wasn’t that the disease was very debilitating. It affected a person’s mind, mainly, but also in advanced stages, the individual mutated, developing horn-like protrusions on the forehead, and sometimes they grew tails. Their minds, eventually, became consumed and distorted.

Usually the severely mutated traveled alone, but on that day, fifteen years ago, they were well organized. Their organization continued to build while I sat idly by. Not completely idle though. My anger burned at the murderers of my family and I had given myself to my training and study of the enemy’s movements and tactics until I felt I was ready for my revenge.

Meanwhile, though, to my dismay, the mutants had grown into a great army. I couldn’t beat them by myself. I needed my brother. Then, together, we could find the source of their unification and destroy it.

I guess I was lucky. My brother and I were on a hunting trip when the mutants attacked our village. His name was Peter James, and we were more than brothers, we were best friends. But, after returning to our village from hunting and finding our family dead, he left. Our dad was on the verge of death when we arrived. He told us of their well-planned attack. We both vowed vengeance over our parent’s graves. But, like I said, Peter left. Yeah, I looked