The Crucible

By Glen Robinson

A prisoner of the powerful Anais Singleton, Harris Borden is bound for San Francisco when their plane crashes in the snowy mountains of Idaho. A head-on collision on a dark Nevada highway brings disastrous consequences for Josh, Pee-Wee, and Bobby. On the run from the Veritas Corporation with limited resources, Connie and Taupe try to make their way home from Montana. And power couple Ruth and Douglas aren’t speaking to each other.

So far, Arch-witch Selah White’s plan to destroy the Heretics is working. But that’s just the beginning. When her Church of Truth is launched and evil raises its ugly head, the world will shudder in fear. And that’s when it will need the Heretics most of all.

Can they stick together for one last mission? Join the team for the pulse-pounding final chapter of the Heretics saga.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glen Robinson
• Release date: Nov 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005040802

Glen Robinson

Glen Robinson is the author of 24 books. He lives in north Texas, where he is a retired professor of communication. He writes in several genres, including Christian suspense, historical fiction, nonfiction, science fiction and fantasy.

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By Glen Robinson

Prevail Publications

Copyright © 2022 by Glendal P. Robinson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.

Prevail Publications

321 CR 805A

Cleburne, TX 76031

Except for God, of course, all characters, names, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are a product of the author’s overworked imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real people, places, or things, living or dead, is a product of yours.

Heretic Series, Volume 4, First Edition

Cover art and design by Peter Hernandez, http://www.hernandezimaging.net

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version. Public domain.

This Little Light of Mine, written by Harry Dixon Loes (1920). Public domain.

CONTENTS

Dramatis Personae

Chapter 1: Cleaning House

Chapter 2: Bluebird

Chapter 3: Popsicles

Chapter 4: The New Boss

Chapter 5: The Church of Truth

Chapter 6: Scalawag

Chapter 7: Mountain Men

Chapter 8: Headed West

Chapter 9: Columbia Forever

Chapter 10: Facie Dei

Chapter 11: The Bridge

Chapter 12: I Am Spartacus

Chapter 13: Lord Athlon

Chapter 14: The Evil Eye

Chapter 15: Beans

Chapter 16: Fall From Grace

Chapter 17: Confrontation

Chapter 18: The Night of Broken Glass

Chapter 19: Stairway to Heaven

Chapter 20: Closing the Book

Chapter 21: Sweet Surrender

Other Books by the Author

Dramatis Personae

The Heretics

Harris Borden, ordained minister, founder of The Heretics. Known for fighting demons and evil Universal Corporation/Brotherhood of the Altar for more than 22 years. Officially lives in Saint Petersburg, Russia, but spends time in U.S. training new Heretics members.

Taupe, former drug addict and gang member in South Chicago. Now a Heretic specializing in martial arts and close-quarters fighting. Victim of brain surgery experimentation in Veritas lab in Montana.

Joshua Brown, (Edgar Berkowitz), brother of Ruth Washington, member of Heretics since he was 12, now 34. Owns bookstore in Austin. Has facial burns from ship explosion in San Pedro Harbor fourteen years before.

Pee-wee Afua, Samoan RV driver and protector for Bobby. Longtime member of Heretics.

Bobby Whitehall, close friends with Joshua and Ruth, paraplegic from ship explosion in San Pedro Harbor. Technical wizard and communication hub for Heretics.

Ruth Washington, (Melanie Berkowitz), married to Douglas Washington, second in command to Harris Borden, for a long time in charge of Heretics while Harris was imprisoned. Now heads the Hollis Foundation that bankrolls Heretics business (estimated $800+ million).

Douglas Washington, former adjunct professor of history at University of Texas, former U.S. congressman, now lobbyist in Congress. Married to Ruth Washington, tied to the Heretics, but not a member.

Connie Simesçu, 20-year-old college student at UT Austin, recently joined Heretics. Has gift of languages, currently fluent in twenty-five.

Adam Target, son of billionaire Ian Target. Occasional boyfriend and friend of Connie. Fledgling member of the Heretics.

Heretics Allies

Sgt. Steven Stevie Swanson, former Army Ranger, now living in Austin, Texas. Lived on the street as homeless veteran suffering from PTSD until helped by Connie; now helps others.

Crash, teenage sidekick for Stevie. Also rescued by Connie. Lives in Austin.

The Messenger, angel who appears occasionally to deliver messages and assist Heretics. Instrumental in guiding Harris Borden on path toward foundation of Heretics.

Dr. Wallace Agee, physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Bradley Young, intern on flight to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Veritas

Dr. Anais Singleton, refers to himself as Veritas, which is also the term for his organization. A former biochemist for the SAS.

Dr. Selah White, sister of Ian Target, former UT professor, arch witch. Founder of The Church of Truth and Facie Dei, terrorist organization.

Dr. Lee Ye-Jun, (Kim Seo-Jun), North Korean scientist/spy, formerly at Veritas lab. Dosed herself with Veritas pheromone and is currently running from authorities somewhere in North America.

Bella, office assistant for Selah White.

Roger Straight, Christian pastor who has ties to Selah White.

Lord Athlon, powerful demon lieutenant assigned to work with Selah White and serve as commander of demonic forces associated with Facie Dei.

Roger Abrams, head of security for Veritas and Church of Truth.

Ali Shimeer, director of intelligence for Veritas Corporation.

Dr. Henry Blanding, researcher, and Strategic Planning Committee member for Veritas.

Connie’s Family

Dr. Madelyn Maddie Simms (Simesçu), Connie’s older sister, professor at Chisholm Tech University in Dallas. Also gifted in ancient and modern languages.

Alina Simesçu, mother of Connie and Maddie.

Ezra Huddleston, boyfriend of Connie’s sister, Madelyn Simms. Investigative reporter. Responsible for saving Connie from kidnapping, and for her closer relationship with God.

Kenya

Fatima Shirdon, resident of Kakuma Refugee Camp, informal administrator of camp.

Washington D.C.

Prodyat Paddy Maytrovinishi, assistant to Senator Harvey Bullard, formerly intern to Congressman Douglas Washington.

Franklin Hawthorne, assistant director of the National Security Agency.

Scalawag, aka Aryat Mindalat, investigative reporter/source who provides information on Veritas to Ezra Huddleston.

Sheldon L. Jordan, attorney general of the United States.

Spartacus Club

Bogie, manager of Spartacus gay club.

Apollo Princeton, gay roommate of Adam from UT Austin, now a bass guitarist at Spartacus.

Monique, drag queen at Spartacus. Sings arias from Madame Butterfly.

Pedro, former intelligence operative in Cuba, now in charge of security at Spartacus.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Renate Simader for her help with Japanese and Tony Zbaraschuk with his correction of my Latin.

A big thank you also to my friends at TheNextBigWriter.com for their editing advice, especially Lauren and Terry. You are sincerely appreciated!

Finally, thank you to Peter Hernandez for his dependable great work on the cover. I appreciate your dedication to the craft.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

—Luke 19:10 NIV

The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.

—Jack London

1

Cleaning House

Veritas Tower, San Francisco

Day One, 11:00 a.m. PST

In what used to be one of the most exclusive executive penthouses in San Francisco, a dozen men and women looked out over a sunlit landscape. The glass tables that usually took up the space there had been replaced by straight-backed chairs on either side of a table featuring a massive brass trough. The gutter took the shape of the letter V, with a lectern at the center top of the V and a large brass basin at the bottom. At its base, the V was opened so whatever was inside the trough could spill out into the basin.

At the sound of a gong, the invited dozen returned to the room, which had been darkened with red curtains. Each of the select men and women, all dressed in black and red robes, took their seats in chairs on either side of the V and grew silent.

Friends, a stately woman standing in front said. I will be leaving you in a few minutes. We each have our roles to play in the next hour. But if things proceed the way our Master intends, the Plan will move forward, and we will be where he needs us to be. Let us remember our tasks and our goal. And as always…we live to serve!

We live to serve! the others chanted in response.

Selah White, the attractive woman in front with striking white hair, nodded in recognition, then turned and walked out the door. A moment later, they began chanting in a monotone voice. They were words from The Key of Solomon:

"Adiuro vos propere ac sine ulla mora ad nos venire quare non tardetis, sed appareatis pulchre et amoena forma et figura per haec nomina sancta: Adonai, Tzabaoth, El, Elohi, Elohim, Shaddai, et per Eheieh, Yod. Ipse Vau, quod est Nomen Dei magnum…."

Conjure ye to come unto us promptly and without any delay, wherefore tarry not, but appear in a beautiful and agreeable form and figure, by these Holy Names: Adonai, Tzabaoth, El, Elohi, Elohim, Shaddai; and by Eheieh, Yod He Vau He, which is the Great Name of God….

As they chanted, one by one, they slashed their wrists and spilled blood into the trough in front of them to trickle down into the brass basin below.

* * *

High Above the Montana-Idaho Border

12:22 p.m. MST

The Gulfstream jet fluttered like a leaf in the blizzard, fighting its way westward. At first, Dr. Anais Singleton was glib and cheerful about the rocky flight, promising everyone in the cabin the turbulence would end as soon as they climbed above the weather. But as they climbed to 20,000 feet, then 30,000 feet, then kept climbing, and still the lurching and jerking continued, he became more somber.

In shackles, his prisoner Harris Borden remained locked in place in the back of the cabin. Finally, Singleton caught the co-pilot as he hustled down the main aisle toward the cockpit.

How’s it going up there? Singleton whispered harshly at the co-pilot.

Sir, you’ve got the best pilot money can buy. But if you ask me, it was suicide for us to come up in this storm.

Well, do something about it! hissed Singleton. We have to get to San Francisco, and we don’t want to crash, do we?

No sir, just hold on. Believe me, we’re doing our best.

As he spoke, an alarm clanged overhead.

What’s that alarm? Singleton barked at the co-pilot. Are we crashing?

I’m sure it’s nothing. Now just remain in your seat please. The co-pilot jerked his arm away from Singleton’s grip and rushed back to the cockpit doors. When he opened the door, Harris Borden could hear frantic voices on the other side.

Lord, it doesn’t look good, Harris prayed quietly. If it’s my time to come home, you know I’m ready. But if you don’t mind, I’d like an opportunity to try to save some of these people. They’re your children, after all.

He looked at the panicking people ahead of them, all of them looking to Singleton for guidance, and getting none. Finally, Harris spoke up.

If you know how to pray, now is the time to do it, he said loudly. If you have never prayed, I will teach you how. Just come back here if you want.

The ride became rougher. The plane felt like it slammed into one heavy obstacle after another driving down a country road. A moment later, the oxygen masks fell from the compartments above their seats.

One or two people looked at Harris, then at Singleton, trying to decide where their loyalties lay. A minute later Harris felt the floor drop beneath him.

Everyone began to scream, and the plane began to spiral out of control. Harris realized it was too late for some of them.

There was a roar. The floor became the ceiling, and the ceiling, the floor. Harris glanced out the side window and saw only white. Was he looking at the falling snow? The sky? Or was it the nearby mountain?

The plane slammed into something and the seat he was chained to pulled free. Like a rag doll, his body crashed into the tail of the plane, and everything went black.

The Gulfstream jet was traveling six hundred miles an hour when it struck the top of the Sawtooth Mountain Range. Only the angle of the impact and the fact that the ridge was heavy with snow softened the blow. The back third of the jet broke off, with the tail crashing into the east side of the mountain and the rest of the jet continuing down the west side. The jet traveled another quarter mile before crashing into a ravine west of Borah Peak, the highest point in Idaho, and exploding in a ball of fire. The tail, on the other hand, embedded itself in the snow on the east side.

* * *

Nevada

10:05 p.m. PST

After rescuing Josh off the side of the road in Washington state, Bobby and Pee-Wee headed southeast. They were currently an hour south of the Nevada border headed for Winnemucca. The forty-foot motor home made a hulking silhouette across the desert night terrain like some ancient ship heading toward port. Pee-Wee took a sip from his Big Gulp and glanced over his shoulder as Josh climbed forward into the front passenger seat.

Hey, Josh said.

Hey yourself, Pee-Wee said. Welcome aboard.

Josh looked over at the very large driver and grinned, then punched him on the shoulder.

Look at us, the Three Amigos again. How long has it been since me, you, and Bobby have been on a road trip?

Pee-Wee shrugged. In an RV this cherry? Like, never. The closest was when you had that rusty Dodge van. Remember that? Back in San Pedro. Back before we got old.

Believe it or not, I still have that van in Austin, Josh said. At least I think I do. I left it with Adam. He hesitated. Tell me he’s okay.

Far as I know. He and another dude—some reporter—drove out to join Ruth and D.J. in Maryland a couple weeks ago. Last I heard, he was doing fine.

That’s good. Josh paused again. You know, I’d be more than happy to drive for a while, Josh said, nodding toward the steering wheel. I do have a driver’s license.

Pee-Wee chuckled. And what do you do when the next state trooper stops you? You know you’re still wanted.

Aww, they’re not likely to pull me over, Josh said. I’m a safe driver.

Pee-Wee shook his head slightly. I’m good. Been doing this a long time. Besides, you wouldn’t want me to lose my job, would you?

We couldn’t have that, shouted a voice from the back. It was Bobby.

I thought you were asleep, Pee-Wee shouted back at him.

You guys woke me up, Bobby said. You talk too loud. Hey, Josh, some help here?

Sure, what’s wrong? Josh said, jumping up.

Clumsy me, Bobby said. I spilled water all over myself here. Grab a towel from the bathroom.

Sure, Josh said, walking toward the back.

Do you need me to pull over? Pee-Wee asked. I think there’s a rest area coming up. He flipped on the dash light and started looking at the paper atlas he had on the floor between the seats.

Hey, be careful there! Josh said, looking back at Pee-Wee.

Pee-Wee glanced back at Josh, then at the road. Headlights filled the windshield. His eyes grew large as he jerked the steering wheel to the right.

The brakes on the oncoming tractor-trailer rig locked up about three seconds before the two vehicles collided, giving the truck trailer enough time to fishtail to the right of the cab. The trailer carrying