A story based on Biblical truth.
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11
Robert Jones mulled through his thoughts as he, along with the rest of the group who hid away at St John the Baptist Church in Egham, settled in the military van that would escort them all to an interrogation unit somewhere in London.
He was the eldest of four siblings. The other two brothers and a sister were still at school when they vanished with their parents. To me, the whole family was similar to the Padula family. With them, both the parents and their only child, Roger, were taken to Heaven. But with the Joneses, Robert wasn't committed to believing in Jesus Christ by the time he entered Oxford University to study Marine Biology. Instead, he took a gap year after leaving school with a stack of A* Levels that made him eligible for a place at Oxford. Like the rest of us, Robert, whose family home was in the neighbouring town of Staines, was welcomed into our group a couple of weeks after the Rapture.
As I sat directly opposite him, I could almost read his thoughts. Most likely, he was reminiscing about his gap year. This was the topic of his testimony before he finally believed in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to take away his sins, after listening to the three Jewish witnesses of the 144,000 who stayed with us for a short while.
He always insisted on being addressed by his proper name, as he hated the name Bob. Apparently, he has Asperger's Syndrome, nowadays known as "on the spectrum". This high-end form of autism is often found among those with a high IQ and who hold high educational qualifications. I knew him to be a loner, and before joining us, he had very few friends, if any.
But he told us all about his travels as a lone backpacker long before the Rapture. He visited only one country, Australia, and volunteered on the Great Barrier Reef. This tied in well with his academic career at Oxford. He was enthusiastic about coral conservation, as ocean warming has caused many corals to bleach and die, and the Great Barrier Reef has been affected.
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| Robert Jones loved the Great Barrier Reef. |
I tried to reassure him. Robert, hang on to your faith. We need to endure. But if we win the victory through faith in Christ, we will be in a much better place than even the healthiest coral reef. You will be reunited with the rest of your family. Their joy will be beyond words!
Robert looked up, but his eyes didn't meet mine. How did you know what I was thinking? He asked.
I know you well enough. I answered.
I looked around the van. I was among good people, all of them believers in Christ. Although we were all handcuffed, the army guards weren't. Instead, each displayed a clover-leaf-shaped mark on their foreheads. However, some were puffed up and sore, and I could see how uncomfortable they felt. This made me wonder whether they were really devoted to Gaius Caligula, or whether they took the Mark merely to save their own skins.
As for Robert Jones, I felt that it was unfair to lump Asperger's with Autism; many of the latter often have learning disabilities. During my studies of genetics, I have found that Asperger's is quite different to autism in the more severe sense. Asperger's affects mostly men; many are highly intelligent and well-educated. Some, like Robert here, know how to communicate to the outside world like any student with brains. But they tend to remain silent in a social setting, such as in a pub or restaurant, unless the group conversation turns to a subject of his special interest. In Robert's case, it's marine life, with coral reefs a speciality. If someone mentions coral reefs, he would talk for hours if left unchecked.
But as the van journeyed on, I saw that the most infuriating person on this trip was Phil Banks, a former college mate, and one with whom we shared many things. He was the modern-day Judas Iscariot who mixed freely with us at Egham, even letting us use his laptop, while all along, he was sucking up to his paymasters, Caligula's officials.
However, he didn't celebrate his betrayal. Instead, there was a level of reluctance. There was even a hint that his full-hearted devotion to the world leader was beginning to waver. But there was no turning back, and he knew it. The Mark on his right hand, covered by an antiseptic glove, sealed his fate.
Once in town, the van drew up outside a police station. The whole group was then assigned a cell. But to some relief, no single occupancy. Instead, in a row of eight, there were three remaining vacant cells, each ready to accommodate four inmates. I will be sharing ours with Peter, Emily, and Robert. However, the voices I was hearing indicated that our group weren't alone in the station. There were more prisoners, most likely Christian believers who also refused to take the Mark.
Robert's autism was confirmed not by any confession but by rocking back and forth while he was sitting on the bench. He began to recite, Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. Caligula is not God, over and over again. I was astonished at how this highly intelligent, well-educated person could be reduced to such a state when under distress. I felt my heart go out to him, and I watched Emily approach to sit next to him and try to calm him.
An official peered through the door's viewing slot and, seeing Robert in that state, walked away laughing to himself. Peter then pulled out a mobile phone tablet, which he had charged at the church shortly before his arrest. A text displayed the latest news. It read,
Two massive meteors, possibly asteroids, crashed onto our planet. One fell into the Indian Ocean, and it looks like all marine life was wiped out by the impact. The other fell into the River Euphrates, making all the freshwater across Asia undrinkable. This will cause a worldwide panic. Not only will people die of thirst but of hunger too. Without drinking water, cooking food will become an impossibility. Reports are coming in that the impact has caused the water to taste a burning bitterness. Furthermore, the bitter taste in our freshwater sources appears to spread outside Asia into Europe, and America is also concerned.
Peter read the news aloud, and when Robert heard about the destruction of all marine life, his face began to crumple as tears were shed.
Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, he recited as he rocked back and forth. Emily placed her arm around him, and he rested his head on her chest.
We weren't the only ones who read about the two judgments. The news spread like wildfire through the station. In the boardroom, panic was felt among the suited officers. One of them got up and began to pace back and forth along the length of the room.
These disasters are caused by those who refuse to bow to Caligula and take his mark! He said loudly.
All agreed. Then another said, Indeed, these are so-called 'Christians', better known as Haters for not accepting Caligula's world peace program. These haters must no longer impede progress! We will give each one here a choice. Take the Mark or be killed on the spot. There will be no middle ground. Look! The earth is being destroyed by one catastrophe after another. If these haters of World Peace survive, then the rest of us won't.
Who will be the first? Another asked.
Another replied, A short while ago, while I was checking each cell, in cell 8, there was this lad, rocking back and forth. I think he was weeping over the demise of marine life. I'm pretty sure he's autistic. He looks to be the easiest one to persuade. Let's do him first. If he accepts the Mark, he will go free. If not...
Three of the officers made their way to cell 8, where Robert, Peter, Emily and I were confined. The door opened, and Robert was seized. They led him into the interrogation room. In it was a table with some chairs. On the table, as if deliberately placed in full view, was a shotgun and a pair of pliers.
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| The group were led into police cells. |
The officer then spoke. Mr Robert Jones, autistic but with a sound, intelligent mind and body. Will you now accept the Clover Leaf, the symbol of loyalty to our God and saviour, Gaius Caligula, who has promised world peace and prosperity, and who will deliver our planet from the catastrophes inflicting it?
NO, NEVER! Robert exclaimed. Jesus Christ, who was crucified for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day, is the only one who will give eternal life. Jesus Christ is the true God, the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity who created the heavens, the earth and all life. To Jesus I will believe. No! Caligula is not God, and I will never, never be loyal to him!
In a panic, Robert began to run around the room like a frightened domestic cat before one of the officers caught him and held him under restraint.
While Robert was held under restraint, the officer replied, Listen, if you take the Mark, either on your forehead or right hand, we will set you free. You will walk out of here, and every scanner at the door of every shop will pass you through, and you can buy and eat to your heart's content. What do you think? Be wise, take the Mark, and walk free.
No, never! Robert insisted.
Are you sure you don't want the Mark and your freedom? The interrogator asked.
Absolutely sure! Robert answered as his face began to look angelic. This startled the officer, who picked up the pliers and crushed one of Robert's fingers.
AARGH! Robert yelled.
Will you take the Mark of Gaius Caligula and go free?
(Gasp) No, not ever!
This is your last chance! Take the Mark! The officer ordered.
No, I won't!
Well, you've asked for it. The officer said. This is your final, last chance.
Jesus is my Saviour, Lord and King! He lives forever! Just wait and see. Caligula will get his comeuppance from the Lord himself when he returns. I'll never take Caligula's Mark.
The interrogator shook his head with some regret. He then turned to his companion and whispered something. His companion nodded. The interrogator picked up the shotgun and held it in front of Robert's eyes.
Will you take the Mark?
Shoot me dead if you want. I'll go to be with the Lord and my family. But you will never change my mind. The student stood firm.
The officer placed the barrel of the shotgun on Robert's temple and fired. His head exploded as the bullet passed through, and his body slumped.
Among the twelve who hid away at the Church of John the Baptist in Egham for the last 3.5 years, the system has claimed its first martyr.
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To be Continued.
