Hereafter

Hereafter: Part II Graduation Day, Chapter 34

34

EVERYONE WAS UPSET THAT the authorities were moving so quickly, not that they had any kind of plan or strategy to rescue me from the certain fate of a rigged kangaroo court and an excruciatingly painful death sentence. Whatever happened, my friends wanted to be there, no matter the risk.

“Look, I think we can all go, there will be thousands of people milling around in the Square, so just wear hats or hoods and don’t overreact to anything that goes on and we should be fine,” Liza recommended, shaking her head for the lack of any way around what now seemed an inevitable tragedy.

“Are you sure there’s nothing we can do? If Madison is going to give up her life for our cause, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same? We’re close to a hundred strong, and in a mass assault we might even overwhelm them!” Daniel proposed, his belief in the afterlife masking the fear of certain death that made his suggestion a suicide pact.

Elizabeth was the voice of reason.

“It’s not that dying would be so terrible, but we all know nothing would be accomplished. I suppose being martyrs to our cause might amount to some kind of a worthy sacrifice, but I’m not sure that’s what the Creator wants from us right now. Anyway, let’s each pray about it, sleep on it, and we’ll make the decision in the morning.”

EVERYONE WAS EXHAUSTED, SO SLEEP came quickly. Just before dawn, like a thief in the night, the high-decibel roaring echo of transport engines came barreling through the caves tunnels. Startled into consciousness, there was no time to evade capture. Somehow the authorities found the caves and connect those hiding there to the rebels, the demonstration in Raftalgar Square, and the underground movement to spread the Sacred Words.

A few brave Creationists resisted and were summarily executed on the spot. The rest were led away in handcuffs and chains to a series of waiting transports positioned at the wells that served as entrances to the caves. They all were subjected to the torture of a grueling interrogation. The ones who survived were thrown into the same detention area I was in so I got to hear about the raid on the caves. My trial was going to begin in one hour. A small group approached me, including Elizabeth and Daniel, clearly upset.

“Look, they’re forcing us to testify against you . . . it’s either that or immediate execution. I can’t speak for the others, but I’m seriously considering checking out rather than end up in one of their forced labor camps. We just wanted you to know that probably more than a few will give testimony to support the government’s accusations,” Daniel explained, the grave choice he would soon have to make weighing down his soul.

“Say, did you find out anything about Birkhoff? Is he alive?” Liza was desperate to know.

“Good news on that front, I heard Birkhoff survived being tortured and is being held in another detention area with the other captured Raftalgar Square demonstrators. And Daniel, about testifying, yah, well, they need their public spectacle to deter others from taking any action that might upset things. I want everyone to know that you have my permission to follow your conscience. Whatever you decide, I won’t hold it against you and neither will the Creator. If you survive, you’ll live on to perhaps fight again another day. My fate is sealed, so either way these are my last few hours on Calidari, but please don’t be upset . . . for me, for all believers, to die is to enter a world that brings us closer to the Creator. Now, if you all wouldn’t mind, these last few minutes I’d rather be alone, so thank you for everything we’ve accomplished together. In time we will all be reunited on the other side. Peace be with you.”

I WALKED TO AN ISOLATED CORNER of the compound while the others broke up into small groups to further discuss their options and search their troubled souls for the answer to vexing question of how to testify during my trial. Deep in prayerful meditation, the time passed quickly. I didn’t see them coming when four SMP guards approached me from behind, slapped on some handcuffs, and lifted me right off the ground before marching me in official lockstep to the outdoor court chambers set up in Raftalgar Square.