BEWARE THE COUNTERFEIT RAPTURE!. Sandra Ghost

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СКАЧАТЬ and water sourcing for the town of Front Royal would place the town in a radical state of emergency were large grids to cascade and shut down servicing to this destination. The town had its own electric company, which bought electric from Blue Ridge Power in bulk and re-sold as a supplier.

      While Horace might have waved aside sewers overflowing into homes in town, since he lived in the county and had a septic system, the power would ultimately affect Lee's bank. This was where all his money was deposited, including his monthly automatic social security deposit--and Marianne's.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      California now sustained massive raging forest fires surpassing any former by historic proportions. Thousands of people lost their homes, some lost their lives.. The state of Texas had suffered temperatures of over 100 degrees for three straight weeks, then storms with torrential rains stalled over the area causing many deaths and flooding. Two hurricanes back-to-back struck the east coast of the United States. There was flooding in China and It was estimated at least 5,000 were dead and missing. Tornadoes ripping through the center of the U.S and terrorist bombings had the world on edge--where would they strike next? But what seemed to stoke fear more than world-wide terrorism and the savage attacks of nature was the now blatant display of UFO's in so many countries.

      Horace watched CNN, wincing with each new disaster. The weather had upstaged much talk of a prospective EMP attack; however, Lance continued to prepare. He bought gray metal shelving at Wal-Mart, and lined the perimeter of the basement walls. Canned goods were stacked alphabetically. One entire unit was stacked with vitamins, over-the-counter drugs, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and bandages. He stocked up on batteries, candles, sterno and lamp oil in case the generator should fail. Two shelves held gallon jugs of bleach to treat the well should there be flooding.

      Lance bought two identical chainsaws. Should one break, the other could be cannibalized for parts. Each newscast he saw served to light another fire under him. Demian watched all the feverish activity, and wondered why his master didn't play with him much anymore. Something was happening to Lance, as though he were being drawn toward some destiny he didn't even understand. Something seemed to be pulling, tugging at him. Could it just be that he felt the responsibility to be the custodian of his family, he wondered?

      He began to put up cyclone fencing, with concertina wire on top, to solidly secure the property. The day after the second earthquake in California, Lance called the National Earthquake Center to find out just how safe the Front Royal area was. He was told it was on a "blue crystalline base", one of the safest places to be should earthquakes be occurring. It wasn't until he made that call that he had a sudden realization . Apparently, what Jesse had said that day at Sunday dinner had taken root in him. The roots apparently had been growing--branching out within him. It was going to get "hairy". It was the "beginning of sorrows", the prelude to the return of Jesus.

      The realization broke over him like a brilliant sunrise, illuminating everything in sight with a warm, golden glow of curiosity, a new excitement and expectation. Was this really the cause of the tugging he had felt? What in the world was happening to him? He vowed to get some quality time alone with Jesse, and straighten out some of his thinking.

      The hurricane which had lashed the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia sent heavy bands of rain deluging those states. It stalled over the state of Virginia for days, causing turmoil and havoc. At first, the creeks and streams began to rise, then bloated and overflowed their banks. Walls of water and mud washed away campgrounds on Route 340, in a snarl of tumbling travel trailers, propane tanks, lawn chairs and picnic tables. Fortunately, the Warren County Sheriff's Department and local volunteer fire companies were able to get everyone evacuated in time. Then, as the overflow from the creeks and other tributaries reached the Shenandoah River, it too began to rise rapidly.

      The residents of Shenandoah River Estates were accustomed to flooding. It was taken in stride as one of the small deficits to be endured in order to be able to enjoy the wonderful life on the deep water. Usually there was plenty of time to evacuate. Everybody knew the drill. They had weather radios which remained tuned to the weather service, and understood the gauge readings taken from the bridges at Front Royal, broadcast every twenty minutes--17 feet above flood stage would impact their subdivision. The evacuation plan was always the same: when it got to 15 feet above, they would help each other load trucks and cars; tie down oil and propane tanks; shut off the power.

      Kelly Norton had just finished scrubbing the kitchen floor when the telephone rang. It was Brian calling from the store. He was on his morning break. "How bad's the river up, hon?"

      She leaned against the dining room table, and saw a spot on the floor she'd missed. "It was over the dock the last time I looked. We've seen it that high plenty of times."

      "Have any of the neighbors started to evacuate?"

      "Really, Brian! I have better things to do than to keep tabs on the neighbors."

      "Don't get mad, baby. Have you got the weather radio on?

      "Yes, but they're saying its just twelve feet above flood stage."

      "Okay...check with you later, baby. I love you."

      "Love you too." She attacked the spot she'd missed on the kitchen floor, then laid down on the couch with a copy of the SUN, a tabloid newspaper. There was a big article warning of "End Time Events" about to happen. She'd been meaning to read it. Kelly looked around the living room, and put a pillow behind her head. Her mother had helped her decorate. Red chintz country curtains, overlaid with crisp white ruffles were hung at the casement windows. Matching chintz pillows marched along the back of the long, brown couch. Their wedding gifts had been practical: tall, matching brass lamps; a VCR; a small Sony television set; dishes and a toaster. Brian's elaborate stereo system dominated one wall. They had filled in with yard sale items for everything else they needed, but it was cozy and cute.

      She looked at their senior prom picture in a silver frame on the maple end table. Why in the world had she picked a pink gown? It clashed with her auburn hair. At the time, she had thought it was "chic". Brian looked uncomfortable, but tall and handsome in his tux. My tall, dark and handsome husband, Kelly thought. They had only been married for a year. NOAA weather radio continued to broadcast that the Shenandoah River gauges at the bridges in Front Royal were still reading twelve feet above flood stage. Kelly had worked at the restaurant until closing at 1:00 AM the night before; soon, she dozed off.

      Even as she had situated herself on the couch, had she looked, she would have seen the water was rapidly creeping into the yard toward the house.

      No one would know until it was too late--but the river gauges were broken. The weather radio was broadcasting erroneous information. The Shenandoah flows from south to north. To compound the problem, Page County--the county below Warren--opened its floodgates...without notifying Warren.

      Sergeant Mike Terry had spent all morning helping to evacuate the campgrounds. He had just driven to Morgan's Ford, a low water bridge, and reported by radio to the county that it was covered. He'd never seen it come up so fast before. He instructed the county to notify the highway department to close the road. Mud was caked on his uniform and he headed for town to change clothes, but as he passed the sign to Shenandoah River Estates, he felt a strange urge to go down there--see if they needed help in the subdivision so close to the river. He started down the long dirt road, which had turned to a sea of mud in the last few days. "What a mess"...he said aloud almost hanging it up, but picked up the mike instead.

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