The Teacher

The Teacher: Part II Testament, Chapter 40

CHAPTER 40

JUST TO BE SAFE, PASTOR BEN TOOK a different set of trails back to Manistique. Several intense storms forced him to hold up and take shelter including an EF6 tornado that ripped a path of destruction right through the forest he was in. Tornadoes were no longer rare in Canada and because of the effects of global warming, China, Africa, and India, Europe, South America, and Russia were now also plagued with the terrible twisters, many now stronger than the EF5 range which used to mark their maximum intensity.

Because of a series of storms, including the remnants of an Atlantic hurricane that remained dangerous on a path from the Gulf, up through the Midwest, and on into Central Canada, it was difficult for Pastor to hunt or fish, so he had to rely on foraging for nuts, berries, and other plants to eat. One night while huddled in an abandoned black bear den, about to get some sleep, Pastor heard a strange roar overhead.

A battalion of GLSF storm troopers was heading west, each riding on an attack aircraft—looking more like helicopters than planes. Without propellers or jet engines, they were driven by some unconventional, but powerful and effective form of propulsion.

Pastor thought to himself with a shudder...It has begun.

THE GUARDIAN'S LEGION HIGH COMMAND had ordered all wilderness areas swept and all bands of dissidents as well as solitary rebels located and either converted, turned into drone slaves, or condemned to feeding stations. Specialized Disciple telepaths using the Cloud 10.0 app, Track 'n Sack, had already pinpointed the location of all rebels and were monitoring their movements.

The GLSF forces had just been waiting for all major urban centers around the globe to be consolidated and secured before the order finally came to move on the wilderness zones. Canada, known for months to be a favorite haven for dissidents, was chosen first because of its proximity to the United States.

Pastor Ben knew this day was coming; he just didn't expect the invasion so soon. He was two-months walking distance from the Jasper clan so there was no way he could warn them of the impending danger. On the other hand, God had armed the rebels with an assortment of powers that could also double as formidable weapons.

Before leaving, Pastor suggested to Running Bear and the elder of the Jasper clan that they continue baptizing willing believers in the hope of adding to their arsenal of Holy-Spirit-powered armaments. After a prayer placing the matter in God's Hands, Pastor closed his eyes and drifted off.

THE WARRIOR IN RUNNING BEAR understood the significance of Pastor's warning that now armed with weapons, an assault might be imminent and he decided to take reasonable precautions. The believer with the gift to see at a great distance and in any direction was assigned to look for any signs of danger from man or beast that might be encroaching on the clan's position.

Understanding the principle of strength in numbers, Running Bear knew it would be best if they joined forces with the Jasper Christians, realizing that all the baptism gifts could be used to repel an enemy. At their last joint clan ceremony during a full moon, he proposed that the Indians move to the Maligne Valley so they could begin jointly planning their defenses when the assault came. The Jasper clan agreed.

A kind of Fort Hood boot camp was set up and the rebels were taught how to adapt their particular gift from the Holy Spirit into an offensive or defensive weapon. Under Running Bear's direction, the Indians put the Christians through a demanding series of physical fitness exercises to build up their strength and stamina. Based on what was known about the GLSF forces and their weapons and tactics, a series of war games was organized with each clan taking turns as the enemy.