The Dead

Gary nodded.

“All right then,” Max said. “Get on down there.”

Leaving him with Dennis, they went.

In the shelter an hour later, after it became clear that there was little to listen to on the shortwave except static, Mr. MacAleer announced solemnly, without any prodding:

“It’s the end of the world.”

“What?” Steve asked.

“Unless the world’s already ended,” MacAleer went on.

“Oh, really?”

“That’s what those dreams were,” MacAleer said. “Judgment Day. The judgment came as a dream. But it was real anyway. Jesus spoke to us, pronounced his verdict…”

“I didn’t hear any verdict,” Gary said.

“What dreams is he talking about?” Steve asked.

“You see that article in the paper the other day?” Gary asked.

Steve snapped his fingers. “Shared dreams, right. Did you have one?”

“Yeah,” Gary said.

“So did I,” Linda said.

“What about the rest of you?” Steve asked.

Everyone nodded except Buddy.

“I didn’t,” he said.

“Neither did I,” Steve said.

“Steve,” Sally said. “You told me…”

“Different dream, honey,” Steve answered.

Gary eyed him, unsure if he believed him.

“You’re lying,” MacAleer said.

“So you’re a mind reader as well as a nut, huh?” Steve asked.

MacAleer ignored the insult. “The end of the world has come. And the Earth belongs to the dead.”

Steve just grinned.

“Scripture clearly testifies to the Resurrection of the Flesh,” MacAleer continued.

“I’m afraid I must correct you,” Father Chuck said. “Your interpretation is hopelessly outdated. The Resurrection’s only a metaphor-”

Linda laughed. “When was the last time you were chased out of a cemetery by a metaphor, Father?”

Father Chuck’s mouth clicked shut.

“Linda,” Gary said, “Are you saying you believe that crap MacAleer’s dishing out?”

“Some of it sounds pretty crazy,” Linda admitted. “But not the part about resurrection. For God’s sake, Gary, one of them had me by the ankle!” She pointed. “That ankle right there. See the runs in my stocking?”

“But does that mean we have to accept the first naive explanation that comes along?” Father Chuck asked.

“No,” Linda answered. “But I’m not too inclined to listen to someone who rules out literal resurrection, either. Not when he’s seen it happen right in front of his face.”

“There’s got to be an explanation,” Buddy said.

“There is!” MacAleer insisted. “The power of Almighty God.”

“He means a logical explanation,” Steve sneered.

“That is a logical explanation,” Linda said. “It’s also the only theory I’ve heard so far. Of any sort.”

“But there’s this big problem with it,” Steve said. “There isn’t any Almighty God.”

“Now hold on there-” Father Chuck began.

“Hold on yourself,” Mr. MacAleer broke in. “Why don’t you leave the unbelievers to those of us who do believe?”

“Where do you get the gall to say something like that?” Father Chuck retorted. “I’m a Roman Catholic priest.”

“You’re a pimp for the Whore of Babylon,” MacAleer answered.

No master of the controversial arts, Father Chuck completely lost his cool. “Why, you slicked-back redneck goon…”

Buddy nudged his wife with an elbow. “Just listen to those two idiots go at it.”

“Pimp for the Whore of Babylon,” Steve chuckled. “I love it.”

“That’s it,” MacAleer said. “Mock me. Mock God. You’ll get yours.”

“And who’s going to give it to me?”

“Christ, the Judge of All Mankind. You’ll find yourself like those things in the graveyard. The Elect have already been taken up; there’s a new Heaven, a new Earth. A new Hell-and you’re going to rot in it. All you atheists.”

“But what about you?” Steve asked. “What are you still doing here?”

That seemed to take MacAleer aback.

“If you’re saved,” Steve pressed, “Why weren’t you raptured off to Heaven?”

MacAleer stared at him, obviously trying to think of an answer; Gary could practically see the wheels turning under that patent-leather scalp.

“We’re waiting,” Steve said.

“I… I was left here to preach,” MacAleer said at last. “Not everyone heard their sentence. Some might yet come to the Lord.”

“Even after the end of the world?” Steve jeered.

“His mercy is infinite,” MacAleer answered. “He could save a soul in Hell, if He chose to.”

“Could He save me?” Steve asked.

“Even you,” MacAleer said, but in a tone that clearly implied he didn’t think it likely.

“Don’t listen to him,” Father Chuck told Steve. “You mustn’t think all Christians are like him.”

“What do you mean ‘like him?’” MacAleer demanded. “Do you mean I’m unashamed of my Christianity? Well, you’re right. I’m born again, and I don’t care who knows it. But what are you? A Christian pretending to be an atheist? Or an atheist pretending to be a Christian?”

“I’m not a self-appointed preacher who peddles soft-core porn,” Father Chuck shot back.

MacAleer raised his hands. “I’m a sinner, I admit it,” he answered. “But I’m washed in the Blood of the Lamb. I don’t have to justify my works because I’m not justified by them. I’m saved by my faith in Christ Jesus, and I’m not going to die like you and your atheist friend there.” He nodded toward Steve.

“So we’re both going to die, huh?” Steve asked.

“Unless you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, yes. You will die and rise to living death.”

“Now let me get this straight,” Steve said, laughing. “You think the Last Judgment’s come, and all the good people…”

“Saved people,” MacAleer said.

“Whatever. All the saved people have been taken up to Heaven?”

“Yes.”

“And the Earth’s become Hell? And those walking corpses are people being punished for their sins?”

“Yes.”

“And the rest of us are poor slobs trying to find salvation in the meantime, like we’re stuck in some kind of divine afterthought?”

“Yes.”

“Shit, you’re a sickie,” Steve laughed.

“So what’s your guess?” Linda asked.

“I don’t have one,” Steve replied.

“But you’re sure there’s some kind of natural explanation?”