Left Behind Series - The Remnant Part 65

"Where do they believe it extends?"

"To the east."

"And how deep?"

"They are not able to tell from this kind of technology, but if a missile could tap into it in Petra, surely we could drill or even use another missile east of there. " "Use a missile to tap into a spring? Suhail, have you heard of using too much equipment for a job?"

"Begging your pardon, sir, but two daisy cutter bombs and a Lance missile produced only drinking water for a million of our enemies.".

Mac had called Abdullah to tell him of the news of the finis.h.i.+ng of a new Co op airstrip, "beautifully hidden" just east of Ta'izz, north of the Gulf of Aden in southern Yemen. "Albie's got a s.h.i.+pment he'd like to deliver to Petra, if you could run it down there sometime in the next day or so."

"Me?" Abdullah said. "By myself?"

"Need me to hold your hand there, Smitty?"

"No. It is not that. It is just that such errands are so much more fun with company."

"Yeah, I'm a barrel o' laughs, but that's a quick oneman run you can do with one of the lighter planes."

"One of Mr. Whalum's people left a Lear here. Can the new strip take a Lear?"

"Sure. A or smaller. Anyway, watch for us around noon. When do you think you'd do this?"

"Probably today. If I finish with my hair and nail appointments in time. I was going to have my face done too, but "

"What in heaven's name are you goin' on about?"

Abdullah laughed. "I finally got you, Mr. Mac! I was doing a joke on you!" "Very funny, Smitty. " "I got you, didn't I, cowboy?"

Abdullah was checking the weather at the communications center when Naomi called out to him. "Mr. Smith,

t

could you tell me what you make of this?"

He hurried over.

"What does that look like to you?" she said.

Abdullah's stomach dropped. Dare he say it? Dare he not? "That looks like incoming."

"That's what I thought! What do I do?"

"Get Tsion and Chaim. Code red."

"May I tell them you said that, sir?"

"Tell them whatever you need to, but quickly."

She pushed a b.u.t.ton and spoke into a microphone. "Communications central to leaders.h.i.+p."

"Leaders.h.i.+p here. Morning, Naomi."

"I need Drs. Ben Judah and Rosenzweig here ASAP on a code red, authorized by Mr. Smith."

"I will not ask you to repeat that if you can confirm what I thought you said."

"That's affirmative, Leaders.h.i.+p. Code red."

Abdullah met Tsion and Chaim at the entrance. Several grave looking elders accompanied them. "Abdullah," Chaim said, "code reds are reserved for threats to the well being of the whole."

"Follow me."

He took them to Naomi, where they formed a half circle behind her and stared at the screen. " A missile? "Looks like it," Abdullah said.

"Headed for the city?"

"Actually no, but close."

"From ? "

"Probably Amman."

"Time? "

"Minutes."

"Target? "

"Looks east."

"Where they have been drilling?"

Abdullah nodded.

Tsion said, "They have been drilling for weeks, and

we have seen nothing. No oil, no water, no blood. Now

they are going to bomb the place? It is not like Carpathia

to take up arms against his own forces, depleted as they

are. Do we have time to watch? Would it be prudent?"

Abdullah studied the screen. "I was at ground zero for

two bombs and a missile two years ago. I would not fear

another missile at least a mile from here. We have field