The Genesis Trust

By Wayne Runde

In the three centuries since Galileo, science steadily advanced. In the early twentieth century, science and technology were the undisputed champions of everyday life. Now the pride of scientists was causing science to fail. Clemens Gerhardt, a distinguished scientist and member of the National Academy of Sciences, saw where this pride led. As science failed, it would lead to worsening conditions--and eventually to another Dark Age. Untold millions would die of starvation and disease. Like Galileo before him, he was ostracized by the elitist scientists as a heretic.

To preserve science and continue its advance, Gerhardt and the American president gathered like-minded scientists to preserve and promote science. They were hidden away on the island of Atlantis where the Genesis Trust was established as a rebirth of the scientific method. No explanations of nature were discarded, even if it went contrary to scientists in the rest of the world.

Soon the Trust found itself embroiled in events in the rest of the world. The nascent Atlantans aided the United States in its darkest hour. But a short time later, the Trust was pitted against the prideful scientists in America as well as a rebellion at home. Their challenge was to defeat the US military abroad and quell unrest at home--all without unnecessary violence and without revealing their existence to the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639036493

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The Genesis Trust

Wayne Runde

ISBN 978-1-63903-648-6 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-649-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Wayne Runde

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 publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

About the Author

For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore, the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea disappear… My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of My people and direct their desire toward their iniquity.

—Hosea 4:1–3, 6–8

Part 1

Genesis

Chapter 1

Clemens Gerhardt—born on New Year's Day 1900 to middle-class parents in Leipzig, Germany (where rumor has it his parents assisted the American air raids in the First World War); died August 20, 2015 Anno Domini. He demonstrated remarkable abilities in languages, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology… He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with AB and AM degrees in these sciences by the age of 22 and PhDs in physical chemistry and physiology by age 25… Some historians believe these are exaggerations, but records from that time seem to support these achievements. Undoubtedly his greatest contributions were in the integration of science truths with the truths found in the Holy Bible. (Compendium of Science¹)

Washington, DC. How amazing! A gentle bump of the plane, and Les Young arrived in the heart of the world. Here, the center of American greatness was symbolized. Here was the National Academy of Sciences and here was the center of the greatest nation on earth. The top scientists of the world came here, and in 1955, General Eisenhower was president. The president was set on winning against the Soviets, like he did the Nazis.

On top of that, flying was such a treat for a country boy like Les. All was right in the world!

Enough of the reverie, Les mumbled to himself. The stewardess gave the okay to disembark, and he made his way into the Washington National Airport terminal. He took in the sight of a hundred well-dressed people as he waited for his baggage. After tipping the skycap, he went in search of a pay phone.

He found the phone in a poorly lit area of the baggage claim section. He pulled out a crisp-folded paper from his breast pocket and lifted the receiver. I would like to make a collect call, please, he told the operator. As he gave the number, he noticed a businessman in a fedora nearby. The man seemed aloof but tense. Les lost interest in the man when the call was accepted. Hello, sir, this is Dr. Young.

Welcome to Washington, Doctor. How was your flight?

Very nice, thank you. It was a bit rough as we crossed the Appalachians, but this is an experience I shall never forget.

The voice on the phone chuckled. You can take a cab to your hotel and rest up. We'll send a driver for you at 1:00 p.m. sharp tomorrow.

After putting the phone back into the cradle, he grabbed up his luggage and headed toward the airport exit. He found a taxi and gave the cabbie his destination. He then settled into the back seat for the drive to his hotel. He would have drifted into a half-sleep if not for the excitement of being in the capital city. He would likely never be back here, so he would definitely have to take advantage of the opportunity to see the sights. If he was lucky, he might even visit the White House.

The image of the man in the fedora came to mind, and Les wondered what was bothering him. He's probably a businessman late getting home, Les thought. He felt the cab slowing, and his thoughts returned to his own reason for a trip.

Bellhops arrived as soon as the cab stopped. He paid the driver. When he got out, one of the bellhops lifted his luggage out of the trunk. They walked up a few steps to the registration desk to check in.

Reservation for Leslie Young, he spoke to the clerk.

Upon finding his reservation, the clerk gave him a bemused grin—almost a smirk—and gave him his room key. Les was used to that. He too knew girls named Leslie, but it was irritating because it was a good solid man's name too! That's why he chose to use the diminutive. Sometimes people thought his name was really Lester, though. He found it a chore to correct that notion, so he usually let it ride.

He turned and headed for his room. As he left the desk, he thought he heard the clerk whisper something about Mickey Mouse. The bellhop accompanied him through the large hotel lobby. Many men his age were in business suits and fedoras. Some of them were chatting with women just as smartly dressed in summery swing skirts and gloves. None of the hotel's guests noticed as Les and the bellhop walked to the elevators.

A formally dressed man greeted them at the elevator, What floor?

Les looked at his key and room information. Third floor, please.

Watch yo' toes! Les stepped back, and the gate was closed.

He heard a faint, rhythmic thumping as the elevator climbed. Finally, the operator slowed the elevator to a stop. He opened the doors. Watch yo' step, he said with his gloved hand casually stretched out, palm up.

Initially confused, Les put a quarter in his hand. Impressed how perfectly the operator aligned the elevator and the floor, he gave him another quarter. He couldn't help but wonder, though, why he didn't just carry his own luggage.

At the end of the hallway, they arrived at room 302 and, without being asked, tipped the bellhop a half dollar for his effort. Although Les was dressed like the men in the lobby, he really didn't have much money to be lavishing around. He was consoled by the knowledge that his hotel and air flight were already paid for.

His room was not large. Who was he kidding? The room was exquisite, and it was almost as large as his apartment! The sheer white curtains undulated slowly in the gentle breeze. Behind the curtains, he had a great view of the city. On the desk, he had an electric lamp—and a telephone. Of course, there was a telephone; this was a great city. Stationery and a pen were also in the drawers. Entombed in the drawer was a Bible from the Gideon's. He was cheered to see it, but he knew he wouldn't be using it. He always brought his own Bible to keep up on his readings.

As he put away his carefully packed clothes, the sight of the Bible caused Les to think about how he and the president had something in common. Both had a religious upbringing, and both became Bible believers later. He became a Christian in graduate school, and Eisenhower had become a Christian after becoming president. Okay, they weren't the same, but they had that in common.

He put his Bible on the left side of the desk, and he put his other papers on the right. He flopped back onto the bed, exhausted, but too excited to sleep. After a couple of minutes, he got up and decided to do some sightseeing.

Stairs to the first floor were at both ends of the hallway. He wasn't lazy, and he needed the stretch after the plane ride. He also wanted to spare another fifty cents. The guests in the lobby had thinned out some. He heard a couple in discussion across the room. Their discussion was a bit loud but indistinct. He didn't stay around to eavesdrop. A man in the chair with oversized cushions was still reading his paper. He glanced over the paper as Les walked by. There were a lot of people outside. Some were dressed smartly, others more casually. They all seemed to walk with purpose. He walked for about ten minutes and then followed a sign to the Smithsonian Zoo. He was particularly fond of the large cats, so he made his way there.

At the cheetah enclosure, he let his mind wander. He thought of Washington, DC, as the heart of the world, and eventually his thoughts settled on what he was doing here. He was a simple man. Yes, he was blessed with a keen mind, and he loved studying sciences. But why him? Sure, he distinguished himself in college. Sure, it was impressive that he worked as a lab assistant for Dr. Watson while the latter was in graduate school. Throughout his career, he continued to impress his professors, and he was envied by his peers. But why was he chosen to interview with Dr. Clemens for this unique opportunity?

He noticed someone out of the corner of his eye. The man stood about ten feet to his left, and he too was leaning on the railing to the enclosure. When Les noticed him, the man turned with a grin.

Good afternoon, the man spoke. My name is Fred.

I'm Les.

I come here after work when the weather is good. I've never seen you before. First time to the zoo?

Ha! This is my first time to DC.

Welcome to DC then. Are you a politician, lobbyist, or do you just like animals?

No, I'm not a politician. I can't stand politics really. Les winced immediately, hoping Fred was not a politician or lobbyist. Sorry, I'm just a scientist. Not very good with casual conversation, I guess.

No problem. Most of the business of DC is related to politics and tourism, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Are you here by yourself? On business or pleasure?

I'm here on business, but I am very much hoping I can enjoy the history and mystery of this city. In that sense, I'm here for both…but predominantly for business.

What kind of business would bring a scientist to DC? The man was asking a lot of questions. Is this how everyone acts here? Or was this guy some kind of mountebank?

His visage changed subtly. I'm just here for a job interview.

Fred seemed to notice his caution. He looked out at the cheetahs for a moment before turning fully toward Les. He looked at him with what seemed to be compassion. Hey, I'm sorry for being so nosy. He looked at his watch—a Rolex Submariner, if Les was correct—and sighed. Well, Les, the ball-and-chain is waiting for me. I probably ought to be heading out. Before I leave, though, I would like to invite you and your wife over after you are finished with your business here in DC. We could give you a tour.

Les relaxed a little. He blushed a little before responding, I'm still single.

Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. One last thing, if I might…what kind of job interview do you have? I mean, as far as I know, the Smithsonian and the NAS aren't hiring.

Some of his tension returned, but he thought this guy was probably cool. I'm meeting with Dr. Clemens Gerhardt. He's been a bit hush-hush about a project he is working on, but he sent me an invitation to interview for a spot in the project.

Ah, Dr. Mickey Mouse, he snickered.

Les blushed again, but this time out of a mild irritation. The hotel clerk had muttered something about Mickey Mouse and chuckled just before that. There seemed to be a connection.

What's that? he asked, sounding more irritated than he intended.

Oh, sorry. Dr. Gerhardt is a brilliant scientist. He's almost a homegrown Einstein. He is also a religious nut. Fred sensed rising indignation, so he continued, Don't get me wrong, I'm as good a Christian as anyone, but he seems to blur some lines between science and religion. I believe in God and church and all that, but Darwin, Haldane, and other scientists have shown that science is more adequate than the Bible on physical things. He looked at his watch again. Pardon me for such an outburst. I really ought to be getting back home. I do hope you enjoy your stay here. If you want a tour, you know where and when to find me.

Les nodded and turned back toward the cheetah enclosure. As Fred strolled away whistling a faintly familiar tune, Les periodically glanced that direction. As a molecular biologist, geneticist, and part-time zoologist, he knew about the scientists Fred seemed to hold in high regard. Sure, there was an allure to a purely scientific rationalization on the origins of things. But in the end, that was all it was—rationalizing. That road led to more questions without ever answering the one about origins.

He pulled a licorice Chuckles out of his breast pocket and sucked on it to make it last. How ironic is that? He chuckled to himself. The shear impossibility of evolving everything from a lifeless primordial soup was so obvious. Yet it seemed the more people grew accustomed to believing that myth, the less they believed in God.

He glanced once more in the direction Fred had gone and realized the sun was hanging low in the sky. He decided it was a good time to head back to his room. Great city or not, this was a city, and it would probably be a bad idea to be out and about alone when it got dark.

Chapter 2

Creation Science—simply put, creation science is the study of the knowledge of all creation. It was misunderstood during most of the 20th and 21st centuries. When many scientists refused to see that the supernatural was actually science that we don't understand yet, they rejected the Creator for the Creation. Although many scientific discoveries were still made, that rejection caused many other opportunities for scientific advancement to be missed. (Compendium of Science)

Brrr-rrring-brrr-rrring-brrr-rrring. With a grumble and gritting of teeth, Les hit the alarm clock to shut it off. Nope, this wasn't a vacation. Gotta get up. It was always difficult to get up, but it was more so given the luxurious bed and the dark room afforded by the heavy drapes in the window. The barest of rays were shining around the edges of the tapestry, giving proof that the alarm clock was accurate. It was seven-thirty all right.

He felt a bit out of place. The trip had been exhilarating thus far, but it seemed a bit unreal that he would be meeting the famous Dr. Gerhardt and that said doctor had invited him here!

He was giddy, but he was still hungry. He had eaten the last piece of his candy last night walking back from the zoo. The hotel had a dining area on the first floor, and he was hungry. He took a leisurely shower. The warmth of the water splashing over him gently caressed him awake. He dressed in a business suit again, ready for the day ahead. He found the stairs and went to the first floor. He followed the smells of breakfast to the dining room. There were not many people in the dining room. Most likely, he was the last of the patrons to dine; the others had already been up and eaten.

What'll you have? the waiter asked.

Do you have a menu?

The waiter pointed at the menu near the partition on his left. I'll check back in a couple of minutes to give you time to decide what you want. He then walked away.

Les looked over the menu. It was fairly routine, but everything had fancy names. Why can't they just call it bacon and eggs with a side of hash browns? And the prices were exorbitant too. It was highway robbery to charge $5 for that!

He decided he would just order toast and jelly when the waiter returned. Will this be a room charge? the waiter asked. He really was hungry. Surely, Dr. Gerhardt wouldn't mind—he could take it out of his first check if needed. He went ahead and ordered the bacon and eggs.

When the food arrived, he felt better to see that it included orange juice, coffee (a bottomless cup!), and toast. With as much self-control as he could muster, he carefully gulped down the breakfast. It was as delicious as the room was sumptuous.

As he returned to his room, he noticed a guy in the chair with oversized cushions reading his paper. He glanced over the paper as Les went upstairs. That was weird.

He brushed his teeth and washed his face. As was his custom, he took time to read from his Bible, making notes from time to time in his journal. After that, he looked over the papers he brought. Those were notes from his recent work, and he wanted to be prepared if they would be the subject of his interview today.

As twelve-thirty passed, he prepared for the meeting. He combed his hair, which didn't take long with his crew-cut. He made sure the rumples in his clothing were smoothed. Then he headed downstairs. He sure would have liked to eat lunch, but there was no time for that. Besides, he didn't feel like spending so much for lunch as he did for breakfast, and he didn't want to overspend on the hotel tab.

As he entered the lobby, he saw the loudmouth couple from yesterday leaving. The man with the paper was still there. Doesn't he have a job? he thought to himself.

Looking out the front doors, he read the time. It was twelve-fifty-five. A black sedan pulled up in front of the hotel, and the driver looked up at him. His watch must have been off, he thought as he tentatively stepped outside. As he did, the man with the newspaper rose and approached him.

Dr. Young, right this way, if you please, the newspaper man whisked Les into the sedan. He was barely in the seat when the man closed the door behind him. The man ran to the other side and jumped in, slamming the door on the driver's side.

What's the meaning of this? Who are you?

You are Dr. Leslie Young, are you not?

Mm, hmm.

All will be made clear shortly, the man stated simply. Please accept my apologies. I am not at liberty to say anything at this time. Relax and enjoy the ride. The man was quite stoic, but there was a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

Les was troubled. It seemed he had been mistaken for a mobster or something, except this man knew his name. Why all the cloak and dagger? Finally, he had a touch of anticipation as they approached the White House. Then a slight sinking sensation as they passed by it.

The sedan stopped outside the Treasury Building and the man got out. Les, still somewhat dazed, realized it was time to get out, and he reached into his pocket in search of a quarter to tip the driver. As he fumbled for the coin, his door was opened and his right elbow was gently grasped, encouraging him out of the car. He was escorted into the Treasury Building.

I hoped to see the White House and other sights, he thought, but not like this…this whirlwind frenzy!

Another fedora-wearing man appeared inside the building. The two of them guided him to a nearby door that was flanked by other men. They were firm but polite as they took him down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs were two more men flanking the doors. Les caught enough of a glimpse of