Operation Rock of Ages: Exodus

ORA: Exodus Chapters 27 - End

CHAPTER 27

"Hey, honey, what's going on?" Mariam asked. Jayson didn't respond at first so she put on a pot of coffee to give him some time. As the coffee was brewing, she snuggled up to his side and just held him while he was processing whatever he was processing. The coffee finished before he started talking. She got up and made a cup for herself and for him. "Jayson, communication," she said softly. "What's going on in your brain?"

"Jonathan and I kind of had some words, mostly he had words and I listened. He hates Christians. Absolutely hates them. He wants to leave for the Jordan site or off this project. He won't talk to Sasha to help resolve this because she is 'one of you' as he put it. This is ridiculous, Mariam. I am the same me, just with a new faith in Christ. He said such vile things to me, and I am his friend." He shook his head and lapsed back into silence.

"That makes no sense; this project is about saving Christians, how is he going to escape them when he is underground with them?" Mariam asked, surprised at Jonathan. He hadn't acted differently at lunch. Something had to have triggered him somehow. "What were you talking about before he went off?"

"We were talking about the honeymoon and laughing and so forth. I mentioned the Bible studies with Omar and how much I learned about history of the people we were going to be living among. He just went off on me when I mentioned that. Yelled at me for proselytizing in the workplace and completely went off the deep end."

"Wow! Ok, do some free style writing; get it off your mind so you can think straight. Try to remember everything you said and he said. I am going to go see Mr. Sterling for a moment," Mariam said. Mariam marched to his door determinedly. He wasn't in but Claire was. She asked Mariam to come in for a moment.

"Those pictures were so thoughtful, Mariam. Duncan had been looking for them for years. They were painted by his brother before he died as a tribute to his father and Duncan. Somehow Duncan's sister took two of them and sold them to support the habit which killed her. You have made a wound heal and didn't even know it," Claire said and hugged her tightly.

"Come look at the puppies and tell me why you are looking for my husband. You look extremely upset ... I have never seen you so fit to be tied." Mariam explained the situation to Claire, trying not to tell who the offending parties were. "Ok, I get it. It sounds like the person talking about it was sharing a memory and not trying to share his faith but the other person took it personally; maybe had a personal hang up about faith sharing. It's sad but it happens." She thought for a minute. "I think this needs attention, I just really hate to ruin his good mood. He is in the hangar."

Mariam thanked her and walked to the hanger. Some of her anger at the situation had been spent in talking it out with Claire, but she knew this was still important, it could interfere with the project and that could not be allowed to happen. She found Mr. Sterling touring the inside of a chopper with Michele. "Sorry to steal him, Michele, but I need to talk to Mr. Sterling really quick. I promise to give him back," Mariam smiled.

"No hurry," Michele joked, "I think I was finished with him anyway." They chuckled at the look on Mr. Sterling's face.

"Mr. Sterling, I do really need to speak to you, I feel it is very important," Mariam said a bit more seriously. He nodded and they went to sit in the closest empty office. She told him the story that Jayson had given her. She related that they had a Bible study earlier today after lunch; which is how Jonathan knew that Sasha was a believer as well. She also said that Jonathan had been fine with Sasha and herself at lunch, so it was something triggered against Jayson which then put Sasha in his sights when Jayson mentioned going and talking it out. Mariam discussed her concerns for the project as well.