“Amen,” a woman’s voice said behind Delroy.
United States of America
Fort Benning, Georgia
Local Time 1019 Hours
Once outside the schoolroom in the bright morning sunlight, Penny Gillespie led Megan to a gray Lincoln Continental parked beside a van bearing the logo of a white dove on a field of blue—the registered trademark belonging to Dove TV.
Using the remote clicker, Penny unlocked the doors. “Please seat yourself inside, Mrs. Gander. I truly would like to talk to you.”
Megan was torn. As they’d walked outside, she noticed that a crowd numbering five or six dozen—men women, and young people—was beginning to gather around the elementary school. She stood outside the car and gazed in bewilderment.
On the other side of the car, Penny paused. “Mrs. Gander.”
“What are they doing here?” Megan asked.
“They heard about your class this morning,” Penny said. “Probably the same way I heard about it. Evidently some of the young people who walked out on you this morning talked to other young people. They, in turn, talked to their parents and other adults. I assure you, had not Captain Stashower interrupted your class, it might have turned out to be quite the event. I think more than a few people were very interested in listening to what you have to say.”
Megan couldn’t believe it.
“Mrs. Gander, I know a little restaurant in Columbus, Rosemary’s Bushel Basket. Maybe you’ve heard of it? I found the restaurant yesterday when my team and I arrived. I believe you might find the atmosphere and the menu to your liking. If I may, I’d like very much to treat you. You’ll probably get more peace there than you will at home or work right now. And you look like you could use a breather.”
In a daze, Megan opened the car door and got in.
Penny slid behind the wheel, started the engine, and smoothly backed out of the parking area.
Megan was startled when someone knocked on her window.
A heavyset man in a sports coat loped alongside the car. “Mrs. Gander, I’m Chuck Deighton. With CNN News. I need to speak with you.”
Thumbing the electric window button down to lower the passenger window a few inches, Penny said succinctly, “Mr. Deighton, I’m afraid Mrs. Gander has pressing business and is otherwise engaged at the moment, as I’m sure you can see perfectly fine for yourself. Now, unless you’d like to become a hood ornament on this vehicle, I do advise you to step away.”
The man grimaced and stopped running, letting the car slide away.
“I don’t understand,” Megan said.
Penny put the car in drive and drove toward the nearest street. “Mrs. Gander, over the last few days you have become something of a celebrity. Many people outside Fort Benning have heard of you and the things you have been involved with here.”
Megan digested that, not believing it.
“You are one of the reasons I drove over to Columbus,” Penny went on. “The other being that Fort Benning is the largest military infantry installation around. I’m afraid I do multitasking. In this day and age, you can hardly get away from it, though it does not bode well for social niceties. My father and I are convinced that in light of all the tragedies and problems around the globe, the military will be relentlessly called upon to handle civilian unrest, effect rescues, and set up supply stations and possibly an infrastructure to keep transportation moving throughout the country to make certain food and other things we take for granted continue to get where they are needed.”
“I’m no celebrity,” Megan protested.
“Meaning no disrespect, Mrs. Gander, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with that naïve vision of your present circumstances. I do beg your indulgence—or your forgiveness, as the case may be—as I try to explain my thinking.” Penny drove with amazing efficiency. “You have lost a son to this mysterious occurrence—which, by the way, I also believe was the Rapture—have a husband currently fighting for his life in that mess in Turkey, are being tried for dereliction of duty by the United States Army during a time of martial law, have a civil suit pending against you that could have far-reaching consequences, tried to save a child from what I gather are abusive parents—”
“An abusive father,” Megan corrected. “Gerry’s mother is just … self-involved.”
“—during a dramatic suicide attempt,” Penny went on.
“Gerry didn’t jump. He fell.”
“We’re splitting hairs here, Mrs. Gander. The boy did indeed climb up on that rooftop with the possible intention of throwing himself off.” Penny looked at her.
“Yes,” Megan answered.
“You have decided to fight the military in the dereliction of duty case instead of knuckling under to the military’s demands and risk so much of your personal freedom. Only two days ago, you were in the bedroom of another young person who tried to take her own life, and now you stand accused of convincing her that suicide was a viable option to living, though I have been told you were only trying to get that poor girl to lie down and relax. Very probably, you will be brought up on charges regarding that matter as well.”
As the litany of problems rolled from the other woman’s mouth, Megan started to feel overwhelmed.
“Instead of staying close to ground as many other people would have done, you undertook a personal crusade against the ranking base chaplain to get his office to start teaching the youths you have taken responsibility for about the coming Tribulation. Then, when Major Augustus Trimble would not aid you, you took it upon yourself to start teaching that information as best you could.” Penny looked at Megan. “Did I leave anything out?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Good.” Penny smiled. “I
