Through Hell and Into Heaven

Chapter 25

     Israel did not know how much longer he could keep the men passive. They were becoming antsy and shuffling around and murmuring to each other suspiciously. He shouldered his backpack and eyed the henchmen carefully. "What's keeping us from jumping you," one man sneered. Israel frowned and shook the pistol at him. "This," Israel reminded him, "and the Lord." The man snorted and replied, "Your pathetic religion means nothing. If you didn't have that thing, you'd be dead." Israel blinked and stared at the weapon in his hands. He is kinda right, Israel mused, I shouldn't trust in earthly things. He looked up to see the restless men giving him dark glares. "Fine." Israel dropped the gun as the henchmen stared back in surprise.

     "Go ahead," Israel insisted, "pick it up. My God will protect me." The men stared at each other for a few moments until one stepped forward and snatched up the gun. He laughed and shook the nozzle of the weapon at Israel. "You crazy fool." Israel was beginning to have his regrets when the henchman began to squeeze the trigger.

Click.

     The man blinked and spammed the trigger.

Click click click.

     Israel grinned and shrugged as the shocked henchman dropped the pistol into the sand. "Was he really threatening us with an empty gun this whole time?" one man asked. "I guess we know who's mightier," Israel laughed. Another man shot daggers at him and began to march up to him. "Luck." he snorted, "Besides, we don't need that thing to take you." Gradually, the small group of men began to close in on Israel, evil looks in their eyes. Immediately, an explosion sounded through the site and the henchmen jumped back. The authorities were here. Men outfitted in beige shirts and pants with black belts full of ammunition and topped with black caps on their heads rushed into the site and pointed fully loaded guns at the criminals. Shouts of "tanazul" ("stand down" in Arabic) rang through the night as the soldiers gathered the men up and marched them out of the site and into a few jeeps. Israel helpfully told the authorities with the little Arabic he possessed that Jeff was lying unconscious in the cellar below the main tent.

     Once all the men had gone, their was one person left standing with Israel. It was Jim. Israel looked at his stepdad for a few moments and then embraced him in a loving hug, crying as he did so. The weight was gone. The oppression had left. He did not have to lie anymore. He was free.