Read The Camouflaged Cross: Tales Of Christian Preppers In The End Times (Just Run Book 1) for Free Online Page B

Mark?”
     
    “Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.” Gasps could be heard from the women. David continued, “And they killed Kirk because he wouldn’t take the Mark. They beheaded him.”
     
    “I can’t believe it. That is horrible,” Peter said. “I just can’t believe it. Where is Jackie now?”
     
    “She walked back with everyone else,” David said. “You know, I didn’t sign up for this.”
     
    Jesse re-approached David, looking angry. “You didn’t sign up for this? What a stupid thing to say! Of course you didn’t sign up for this! None of us signed up for this!”
     
    One of the men snapped at Jesse. “Give him a break. He just saw Kirk get killed.”
     
    “Hey Jesse, back off,” David said. “You weren’t there.”
     
    “A dumb comment,” Jesse said, shaking his head. “Really, really dumb.”
     
    “Give it a rest, Jesse,” Peter said, almost sounding angry.
     
    “OK, OK, sorry.”
     
    Peter looked at David. “David, did the men take Kirk’s body? He was a friend of mine. I worked with him in his shop a few years ago before I enlisted.”
     
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
    A lean, muscular, fair-skinned woman with short brown hair approached David. She looked angry. “David, is it true that someone killed Kirk?”
     
    “Yes, Kathy, I saw --”
     
    “Who did it?” Kathy insisted.
     
    “Well, there were several of them, with guns.”
     
    “Was there anyone in charge? Who was he? Or was it a she?”
     
    “It was a ‘he,’” David answered. “They looked like Muslims. They don’t include women, except for maybe blowing themselves up once in a while. You know that.”
     
    “Alright, what did he look like?”
     
    “I don’t know, a middle-eastern guy, about 5-5, wearing fatigues, black hair and a beard, and he wore one of those weird scarfs they all wear.”
     
    “Oh great,” Kathy said. “That narrows it down.”
     
    “What, are we talking revenge here, Kathy?” Jesse asked.
     
    “Yes,” Kathy said coldly. “I’ll kill the guy if I get a chance.”
     
    “Look, Kathy, we leave revenge to God,” Jesse warned Kathy. “Whoever did this will be rotting in Hell soon.”
     
    “Yeah, and I just want to help him get there,” Kathy blurted out, then walked back to her tent.
     
    “Kathy, we’re not about revenge,” Jesse said, his voice trailing off as Kathy left. He held up his hands as if to ask what was going on.
     
    Gloria, David’s wife, ran towards David. Gloria was short, slightly-heavy woman with dark blond hair. “David, are you OK?” David stood up and they hugged. David’s eyes teared up again. “Honey, I guess I’m not a good Christian soldier.” Peter stood up and backed away.
     
    Peter looked back at David. “David, do you mind if I ask one more thing? What did those guys do with, you know, what was left of Kirk’s body?”
     
    “They threw the body onto the roadblock.”
     
    “The head too?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
     
    ****
     
     
     

CHAPTER 5
     
     
     
    Peter looked around. The people were all talking about what had happened, and expressed shock and horror. Peter approached Jesse.
     
    “Jesse, we have to go get the body. We have to bury Kirk. Right now the vultures out there are probably starting to eat him. I don’t want to leave him behind. He was a friend of mine.”
     
    “Peter,” Jesse answered. “Man, I’m just the owner of this property. I’m not some kind of military commander. That’s your thing, not mine.” He paused. “This sounds crazy. Kind of dumb. But I know you guys were close. I don’t know. Do whatever you want. It’s up to you.”
     
    Peter left the crowd and walked to Kathy’s tent, and stopped by the front flap that had been zipped close. “Knock, knock,” he announced.
     
    Kathy said, “Who is that, Jesse? I’m OK. I’ve calmed down a little.”
     
    “No, it’s me, Peter.”
     
    “Come on in.” Peter opened the flap and walked into the tent. Kathy rushed to hug Peter.