Millennium: SWORD OF EXPULSION SAGA, #5

By D.A. Galante

Millennium

Volume Five in the Sword of Expulsion Saga

An Adam Thorn Adventure

 

            Adam Thorn is nearing retirement age, yet it's no rocking chair for this time surfing paladin of God. He must train a younger protégé to one day replace him. Selected by his guardian angel, the rowdy student has much potential but is undisciplined.

 

            Will Thorn be able to transform him into a worthy soldier, capable of battling the demonic forces that threaten the existence of mankind?

 

            If he succeeds, together they must brave the early stages of the Millennium, just after an apocalyptic war of Armageddon and a brutal nuclear winter, in a fierce struggle for survival against the hordes of godless ravagers and the quest for life-saving supplies.

 

           Will civilization rebuild with their aid, and will the search for Bibles help save lost souls, or will Satan have his day once again?

 

           Enjoy the catastrophic thrills and chills of this exciting Christian-based speculative fiction adventure.

 

 

          And so, one night in a dream, I saw an Angel holding a Flaming Sword. She spoke to me and said, "One day, Adam Thorn, you will be lifted up by the hand of God to wield the fiery Saber of Truth, serving as his trusted paladin in the eternal battle of good versus evil and become A Thorn in the Side of Satan!!

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.A. Galante
• Release date: Oct 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393418924

Book preview

1-Fate 

It was a failed robbery attempt. This bungled holdup occurred at dusk inside a small-town liquor store in the state of Colorado. A male wearing a ski mask had burst thru the front door, then headed directly toward the cash register. Before the middle-aged shopkeeper could react, he found himself facing the sharp blade of a long shiny knife. The menacing point tip dangled just inches from his frightened face.

The masked robber shouted, Okay mister! Open the cash register and hand me the bills! And no tricks or I’ll paint the floor with your blood!

As the startled shopkeeper opened the register his hands shook, but he managed to withdraw all the bills. Fumbling nervously, he hastily stacked them together then handed them over to the dagger wielding bandit. The impatient robber forcefully grabbed the greenbacks out of his hand then turned to flee out the front door.

But before the crook could make a clean escape the proprietor had managed to compose himself enough to draw out a small caliber handgun from under the counter. Raising the pistol, he began shooting blindly at random. Fortunately for the robber the man was no marksman. He missed the moving target with each pull of the trigger, and as the inaccurate bullets struck, they shattered assorted liquor bottles that lined the shelves.

Amid bullets flying in his direction, the felon attempted to exit in haste. But as he did so his elbow accidentally hit the door frame and the painful impact forced him to drop the untidy wad of heisted bills. Dodging bullets while knowing it was not a good time to retrieve the cash which fell loosely across the floor, he darted out the entrance then went racing down the street.

A short distance away from where the foiled robbery occurred the bandit had parked his getaway motorcycle. Hopping on board he quickly starting the engine, revved it, then wasted no time in motoring down the street in search of safer ground. He was lucky to escape with his life, but was disgruntled over the fact that he did not depart with the money.

The worst was yet to come as a successful escape was simply not in his favor. Someone overheard the shooting then promptly phoned the police. A patrol car happened to be in the vicinity. Soon a siren blared, a red light flashed, and a heated chase was then on. The cyclist had no desire to be captured as he raised the throttle to reckless speed and hurriedly sought to depart the city limits of that small town.

Racing thru the dark and barely visible winding roads of the outlying countryside were the two vehicles. During this speedy chase the bike approached a sharp corner near the edge of a cliff. The situation was complicated by the fact that it had rained recently and thus left puddles of water which created slippery roads. Skidding out of control on the slick surface, the motorcycle and rider tumbled over the bluff and rolled nearly a hundred feet downward toward the bottom of the rough and rocky hill.

When the two officers arrived on the scene, they hastily exited their vehicle. With a flashlight beaming in one hand and drawn pistols held at the ready in the other they marched down the hill in pursuit of the felon. What happened next was rather strange. They managed to locate the disabled cycle, but the rider had mysteriously vanished! A thorough search of the area turned up nothing. Not even footprints were in sight! That was especially bizarre, for if the rider had fled the scene on foot then shoe prints should have been quite evident. This missing clue was obvious, based on the fact that the officer’s own sets of prints were very visible in the mushy dirt which had been softened by the recent rain.

Puzzled, the two policemen would later write up a crime report. While doing so they jested about feeling like they were in an episode of Rod Sterling’s classic science fiction television show from the 1960's ‘The Twilight Zone’.

As the officers returned to the site of the robbery, the shop owner could not identify the suspect because the thief wore a ski mask during the heist. He even wore gloves which prevented finger prints on the money he handled. Based on the voice pattern of the thief, the proprietor assumed it might have been a male in his twenties. He wore a brown leather flight jacket and blue jean trousers, and added that the robber appeared to be of average height and weight.

The police ran a check on the motorcycle and discovered it had been stolen.  Such a dilemma. With absolutely no clues to go on, the police were at a total loss over his true identity. It would be like chasing a ghost. Even a masterful detective like Sherlock Holmes might have a difficult time solving this crime.

2-Destiny 

The young man slowly opened his eyes and had no idea where he was, or even how he got there. After slowly recalling events of his ordeal, he was surprised by the fact that he was still alive after a failed robbery attempt of a liquor store which involved being shot at by an angry shopkeeper, an escape on a motorcycle, a high-speed chase by police, then an abrasive tumble down a sloping hill which knocked him unconscious. It was the last thing he could recall about that torrid event.

Now, upon awakening, this fugitive was surprised that he did find not himself in custody of the police. Instead of confinement of a jail cell this long haired, scruffy bearded male found himself lying on a bed inside of what appeared to be a modest motel room. While attempting to sit up he soon discovered that various aches and pains from an assortment of body bruises made certain movement painfully difficult.

As he lay on the bed groaning in pain, he saw that he was alone in the room. Then, the door opened and a tall trim stranger dressed in dark clothing walked in and approached the foot of the bed. The broad-shouldered gent moved with authority and stood as a statuesque individual who projected an air of confidence. Sporting groomed dark hair, a slight amount of greying at the temples suggested his age. A modest mustache and bronze sun tan rounded out his facial appearance. He was clad in a dark trench coat and walked with a stout cane. Since the man did not limp as he walked it appeared as the though the item was more of a prop rather than a crutch.

His steel grey eyes deeply penetrated the youth in serious observation, eyeing him up and down as he lay on the bed. Approaching closer, he said nothing at first, simply stood and stared intensely at the young man who lay dormant. The reclining individual had no idea who this stranger was, yet was obviously taken in by his stately appearance. Then his curiosity about the man forced him to speak first.

Who are you?

My name is Thorn. Adam Thorn.

Where am I?

Is your name Gordon Dupree? Also known as Kitt?

Are you a cop? Am I under arrest?

No.

I don’t know you, man. How do you know my name?

Do you remember the robbery or the accident?

A little. Where the heck am I?

A motel room in Colorado.

How did I get here?

You were knocked unconscious during the fall. Then brought here by forces which you may not comprehend.

Huh?

Angelic beings saved your life.

What?

They whisked you away from the accident just before the police arrived. That rescue by divine intervention kept you from being arrested.

Are you talking about flying angels with wings and harps?

Something like that.

Is this some kind of a practical joke?

No joke. Let me get to the point. God would like to recruit you.

For what? Who exactly are you and what’s going on here?

I’m facing retirement. So, I must train a replacement to carry on for me as a crusader in the service of God in the eternal battle of good versus evil.

You’re a real nut case, pal. I’m getting out of here.

I warn you. The spirits won’t let you leave.

Oh yeah? I’ll see about that!

The young man attempted to get out of the bed and motioned toward the door. But before he could reach that goal an unseen force struck like a potent gust of wind which flung his body backwards and onto the bed.

The astounded man shrieked in puzzled awe, Hey! What’s up with that!

That was my guardian angel. I warned you. She won’t let you leave. So please don’t try that again.

This is crazy! I want out of this freak show!, he exclaimed in a disturbed and panicky manner.

Not until you hear my speech.

Whatever you’re selling pal I am not buying.

You are about to be offered an extremely unique opportunity. I hope you will hear me out.

Why are you picking on me, pal? Go haunt a house you freaky creep!

I’ll explain why were you selected if you sit back, relax, and shut your loud trap for a while. If you refuse to hear me out you will force me to turn you over to the police. Remember, you will be facing charges of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest.

That comment alarmed Kitt, enough to contemplate the idea of fighting his way out. But Thorn anticipated his thoughts thru his facial expressions and boldly held up his stout cane like a club. With that motion of intent to use force the young man yielded and agreed to hear what the man had to say.

I know a few things about you. Your name is Gordon Dupree, but people call you by your nickname, Kitt. As a teen you showed exceptional promise as both a student and athlete. You were even offered an academic scholarship by several colleges, and you were named one of the top hockey prospects in the U.S. by the National Hockey League.

How do you know all that about me? You must be a cop.

I told you, I’m not a cop.

Then why are you spying on me, man?

Permit me to continue. After high school graduation you attended a motor cycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota which stirred your imagination. From there you got hooked on that lifestyle. You bought a motorcycle, and settled in with the wrong crowd by joining an outlaw biker gang instead of attending college or pursuing a professional career in athletics. You ran afoul with the law.

So what? It sounded like a good idea at the time.

Thorn shook his head. Such a shameful waste of God-given talent!

Hey. It’s my life and my choice, Jack!

My name is Adam, not Jack. And the road to hell is also a free choice. Yet God has the supernatural ability to change a person’s heart. To reform people and become ‘Born Again’ to serve mankind on the side of good rather than evil.

Kitt remained skeptical and even somewhat rebellious in his speech. However, he remained curious, stunned by the fact that Thorn knew so much about him.

With an expression of wonder he asked, Tell me the truth. Who the heck are you?

Thorn replied, I’ll get to that when I’m done with my speech. Now, once you accept Christ into your heart things will change. Your eyes will open and you will gain heavenly knowledge, a wisdom that cannot be explained by the common man. Even the Bible will become clear to you. I mention that in case you tried to read it and it did not make sense to you.

Yeah, I found that to be true way back in Sunday school. And all this religious stuff is fine and dandy, man. But currently I’m an agnostic. Not sure if there really is a God. Look, pal. Tell you what. One day I’ll get right with the big dude in the sky before I die. Okay? Until then I got some living to do.

Not okay. Others mistakenly think the way you do. What if you don’t live that long? Let me inform you of some details concerning the robbery shooting and motorcycle accident. You are extremely lucky to be alive. Those bullets did not miss you by accident. When that shopkeeper fired his gun at you it was angels who deflected his aim and forced him to miss. And if the angels did not save you by providing a soft landing when your bike went over that cliff, then right now you might be dead or else in a body cast. Plus, if you did manage to survive both the shooting and the accident, and if the angels didn’t whisk you away from the scene, then the cops certainly would have nabbed you and right now you’d be locked in the slammer behind bars.

Kitt appeared befuddled and had no immediate response.

Adam continued. Now, is that the kind of life you want? You are headed down a road of certain destruction. At the rate you are going you will either die from drug and alcohol addiction, lung cancer from cigarettes, get shot during another robbery attempt, or end up in prison. Worse, you would spend an eternity in Hell. Ever think about how long an eternity is?

Kitt held his tongue momentarily and paused while thinking. This speech made him think and realize that perhaps he wouldn’t live to see old age.

Then the young man replied, Yeah. You might be right, big shot. But what’s done is done. It’s too late to change anything. So, I messed up my life. It’s my problem. Can I go now?

Perhaps this demonstration will convince you to change your mind. I suggest you brace yourself and prepare for a real shocker.

3-Supernatural

Unexpectedly, the motel room became bright as it lit up with an intense pearly light that was nearly blinding. Awed and petrified, Kitt just stared in complete amazement and disbelief over what was about to appear. Materializing before his astonished eyes was the glorious presence of an authentic angel!

Surrounded by the dazzling light of an aura, the spirit was unlike anything he ever saw, or could possibly imagine. Adorned in a glossy white robe, it was her features that especially captivated attention. Diamond luster eyes that penetrated down to the soul, ruby lips, silver tinted face, and a head highlighted by radiant golden crown with striking amber hair. Her presence suggested awesome power within, yet her smile was comforting.

Thorn pointed at her with his cane and proudly declared, Kitt, meet my guardian angel. I call her Gladys. That’s a nickname I gave her awhile back.

Gladys spoke to Kitt in a soothing yet commanding voice. Mister Thorn can offer you a chance to reform yourself and become someone useful in the eyes of God. An opportunity to help others as a gallant champion fighting on the side of good rather than evil. During this process you will learn that it is far better to give than to receive. When it’s all over you will wear a crown in heaven. I advise you to listen to Thorn and take his lessons to heart. Consider it a rare opportunity that God has granted you.

After that short speech she disappeared from sight just as marvelously as she appeared. As the illumination in the room returned to normal Kitt felt like he awoke from a dream, slowly recovering from being stunned and paralyzed over what he saw and heard. He even shook his head as if wondering what he had just witnessed was real.   

Thorn looked at Kitt, smiling boldly and laughing internally, as he predicted the reaction to witnessing a real live angel for the first time could be a rather shocking one. Kitt’s jaw dropped wide open, his protruding eyes were fixated straight ahead. He was now in dreadful fear over thoughts of being well on the road to hell and damnation which faced him in the eternity. It soon became obvious that he would agree on the spot to do whatever God wanted, or whatever Adam instructed for him.

Thorn inquired. So, lad. Are you willing to give the plan a shot?

Speechless and confounded at first, Kitt then inquired with a stutter. Uh, well, what must I do?

First, you must become a Christian. That simply means believing in Jesus and accepting him as your lord and savior. Can you do that?

Kitt nodded in agreement. How could I not do so after seeing a real angel materialize before my very eyes?

Good. Now ask God to forgive you for all your sins.

Okay, I’m sorry I made a big mess of my life. Is that good enough?

Make sure you mean it. God judges us by our sincerity and by our heart. You can’t fool the Almighty because he knows us all too well. He should know us since he created all life.

Kitt nodded again.

Next, you must repent of your carnal ways. That means change your behavior and cease hanging out with the wrong crowd.

My cycle gang? Well, okay. I guess I can do that.

We’re not finished yet. Not by a long shot. You must also get off the liquor, drugs and cigarettes, and give up listening to Satan’s music. That means the heavy metal rock and roll.

Well, I’ll try.

There’s more. Straighten up your appearance by agreeing to cut that shaggy long mop on your head which you might call hair, and shave off that ragged beard. And while we are on the subject of looking more presentable, quit wearing earrings, and get rid of those t-shirts branded with things like skulls and crossbones. Those images represent death.

Man, that’s a tall order!, Kitt complains.

Something else. Quit marking up your body with tattoos. That’s a heathen practice which God frowns upon. The human body is the temple of God and should be treated with respect.

You’re really picky, and asking a lot.

If you need help in the matter the Holy Spirit will aid you in this quest to quit these habits, provided you invite God in and ask for help in reforming your life.

Okay. But if I manage to do all that, what happens next?

The details of your appointment will be explained later on. Right now, I’m curious. How did you get the nickname Kitt?

I thought you knew everything about me, Thorn.

Not everything. Just what my guardian angel revealed to me.

Well, when I was younger, I enjoyed building things, much of them from kits. Tinkering with toy models like cars, planes and ships. Later I got into radios and chemistry sets, plus anything else that I thought was cool. I spent a lot of time in hobby shops and browsing thru mail order catalogs, looking for neat stuff to build. It was far more challenging than just buying the finished product. So, I discovered that I was mechanically inclined. Plus, it kept my hands busy.

A good rule to live by. Idle hands are the workshop of the devil.

Thorn went toward the night stand and examined the sheath knife that Kitt used during the robbery. After the inspection he said, I can tell this knife is handmade rather than commercially manufactured. I assume you made it, along with the leather sheath?

Yeah. Sure did. I copied the design from some outdoor magazine.

Nice work. It’s sturdy, balanced and sharp. It shows me you have creative potential. Too bad you utilize your skills to rob liquor stores.

Hey man, I was desperate and needed the dough.

For what? To feed a marijuana habit?

"Didn’t you do bad things when you were younger?

Yes. Some things I’m not too proud of. But God changed my heart and gave me a better life. We all make mistakes, but God is a deity of second chances.

Thorn flipped the knife in his hand and twirled it with his fingers several times. Kitt observed him then remarked, You flip that blade like you know something about knives.

I used them a lot back in my days with the military. Later on, I’ll teach you how to throw one if you are interested.

Say, wait a minute. You were a soldier?

Yes. You sound surprised.

Heck, I thought by the way you spoke about religion that you were a pastor or something.

At one time I was an army ranger. In case you didn’t know, they are infantry troops with special commando training. After my military duty, I served as a field agent with a classified government agency before God recruited me.

You mean like a spy or secret agent?

Sort of. My assignments were classified. Mostly cloak and dagger stuff. I might share a few details later on.

Man, you might be cooler than I thought. I assumed that you were just going to teach me a lot of holy joe religious stuff. So, let me get this straight. There’s more to all this assignment than being an altar boy who sings somber hymns, lights candles, and sprinkles holy water on things?

Much more. If you accept my training program it will be very intense. You will be tested to the limits of your potential. Mentally, physically, and emotionally. Before it’s all over I will teach you how to survive thru some pretty tough predicaments. One who is not afraid to face daring risks and challenges on a regular basis. That is, provided you can pass my training course.

Kitt smiled and exclaimed, Say, this might be better than I thought. You know, it actually sounds kind of neat. Heck, I don’t mind certain challenges. In fact, I might even surprise you at how talented I am.

I honestly hope you do. That’s why you were chosen. After all, I would hate for you fail my lessons and end up wasting my time.

You know Thorn. Maybe you’re not just some old fuddy duddy like I first suspected.

Keep in mind there is some spiritual training involved. Or ‘holy Joe’ stuff as you discourteously called it. You will be required to read the Holy Bible. The inspired word of the Almighty. That is so you will understand how God operates on the side of righteousness, and how Satan and his horde of demons are constantly at work on the side of evil.

Okay. I guess I can handle some of that religious stuff.

Stick with me kid and make a solid effort. Then I promise that when it’s all over you will be a changed person for the better on many levels. You’ll learn a lot of things you never dreamed of in your wildest imagination.

4-Destination

After Thorn and Kitt departed the motel room they headed toward the front desk to check out and settle the bill. Adam pulled out a thick wad of twenty-dollar bills from his coat pocket to settle the fee. As they exited the lobby Kit remarked. Man, I haven’t seen that much greenback moolah in a while, except when it was used by drug dealers. Nowadays I thought most everybody uses credit cards instead of real dough.

Seldom do I use plastic. Pay cash for most everything. You will learn over time that we will operate as covertly as possible, without being traced. We must even be discreet about cell phone usage. That’s because I tend to make a lot of enemies in my line of work. Criminals and other evil people would love to see me dead. In fact, the devil has a big target on my back. And if you are working alongside me your life could be in danger as well. Does that thought frighten you?

Not really. I’ve been avoiding the cops for several years now. I even had to be on the lookout for rival gang members who looked at me and my biker buddies as intruders on their territory. So, I know what it’s like to be on the run, and have the desire to be scarce.

Together they strolled around the block and took some time to converse. Yet Thorn wasn’t quite ready to break the news to Kitt that he is a time traveler, one who gallops thru the centuries as a paladin of the Almighty. The reason being that if Kitt failed the training sessions which Adam had planned for him he would be released from future obligations. That meant they would part ways and thus there would be no need for him to know anything more. Yes, Kitt did know about Thorn’s guardian angel. But Thorn wasn’t overly concerned, knowing he would have an unusually hard time trying to convince anyone he saw one without them replying, So what are you smoking, dude?

Thorn did, however, stress the fact that from now on everything they did together should be held as confidential. No bragging to others about their activities. No keeping a diary, writing books or granting television interviews about their assignments. Kitt understood the importance of secrecy and seemed to accept this request without protest.

Thorn also held back the complicated subject of surfing through the barriers of time because it usually meant much in the way of time-consuming detailed explanations. That was simply because they are so unbelievable. This not only applied to the