“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” Charles Schultz “What do you mean there is a dark side?” “Let’s take a pit stop first,” Walker said as he flipped on the turn signal and the Bronco began to slow down. They reached the end of the exit ramp and turned left toward an open Shell Mini-mart. “Besides, I need to make a phone call.” “I thought we couldn’t use the phone?” “I can use it all I want. You, on the other hand, can’t call Th e Washington Post, or any of your friends and family, since I know their lines are being monitored.” “How do you know that?” Walker just smiled and winked. “Sorry,” Penelope answered with a sigh. “What was I thinking?” Walker pulled into the pumps so that only the front license plate, which had a Confederate flag on it, was visible to the station’s video cameras. Walker filled up the Bronco’s tank while Penelope freshened up. He paid cash for the gas, bought a prepaid phone card, and was standing at the pay phone in front of the building chatting with someone when Penelope joined him. Anticipating her question, Walker put his hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, “Senator Horn has stabilized but the next few hours will 156 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin tell the tale.” Penelope nodded that she understood as Walker turned his full attention back to the person he was talking to on the phone. “Yes. She’s standing right next to me… she got in the car around 12:30.” Walker laughed. It was that deep, full-bodied laugh which caused all within earshot to smile, and that Penelope had grown to want to hear more often. “You guys never learn.” Walker covered the mouthpiece and spoke to Penelope. “Mark Hatchet has your article for tomorrow. We want to send him a heads up that he will be getting a visit from Homeland Security in the morning, and let him know you’re okay. Is there some kind of code word or something we can use to let him know it’s from you?” He held the phone in her direction. Penelope thought for a moment. “Yeah. Tell him it’s from Nellie 2204. Oh, and ask him to call Joey and tell her I’m okay.” Walker nodded. “Got that?” Penelope could make out a man’s voice confirming he had heard her correctly. “Great.” Walker hung up the phone and motioned toward the Bronco. “As I suspected, the order to bug your house came directly from Noah Shepherd without notifying Robert Smith.” “What does that mean?” “That means we need to get you to the compound as quickly as possible because Shepherd is upping the stakes.” “Should I be worried?” “No. But if you do get caught somehow, offer no resistance of any kind and don’t say a word until your attorney arrives.” “What are the odds I’ll get caught?” “Unless something happens at the airport, almost zero.” “Airport? Do you have a plane stashed somewhere?” “Yes. At the Delta terminal in Cincinnati.” “Isn’t that a pretty big risk, flying on public transportation? What if we get seen?” “Trust me,” Walker answered with a smile. “What are you planning?” Penelope demanded. Walker continued to smile and shrugged. “I give up,” Penelope said with exasperation in her voice. “How am I supposed to get on an airplane without any identifi cation?” “It will be waiting for us in Cincinnati.” “I smell like a wet goat. And, I’m not sure I want to be seen on a plane with you and that shirt.” 157 The Fourth Awakening “We’ll both get a chance to change before we go.” “Okay.” Once Walker and Penelope were safely back on the interstate, she had to ask. “What were you laughing at?” He laughed again. “Stu won the pool. You would think they would learn.” “What pool?” “Some of the people at the compound had a pool on the date and time you would decide to come with me, and a guy named Stu Levy won.” “You had a betting pool on when I would come?” Steam started building under Penelope’s collar. “Yes,” Walker said cheerfully as he focused his attention on a slow moving 18 wheeler that had them pinned in the right lane. “We started it up a couple of months ago. Stu not only had today, he had been getting 20-1 that it would be between noon and one. Everyone thought he was nuts…” “You and your merry band of New Age freaks were betting on me?” It finally dawned on Walker that Penelope didn’t seem to be enjoying the joke as much as he was. “I never personally get involved, but it’s perfectly harmless; they do it all the time. It’s good practice, really.” “Oh, really? So why was this Stu guy winning so funny?” Walker’s voice got smaller and his eyes focused harder on the road. “Why would you bet with a guy that is possibly the most gift ed psychic in the world?” “Hmm.” Penelope folded her arms across her chest and they rode in silence. After about ten miles, she had to admit that was pretty amusing. After twenty, she had trouble keeping the smile off her face. “So how good a psychic is this Levy character?” “He went to the Bellagio once and called fi fteen out of twenty turns of the roulette wheel correctly.” “The casinos must hate to see him coming.” “No, he doesn’t gamble.” “Really? With that kind of skill?” “Stu is a bit, how should I put this, diff erent.” “Pots and kettles calling each other names again?” It took Walker a moment to get the joke. “Noooo. You’ll just have to meet him.” 158 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin “And when will that be?” “Unless we run into a problem, we should be at compound by this time tomorrow.” “Where exactly is the compound?” “I can’t tell you that yet. There is still a chance you might get caught.” “Fair enough…” she said, as she covered her mouth with her hand to catch a yawn. “So tell me about the dark side of these awakenings.” “Whenever there are dramatic changes there are winners and losers. Often the group that prospered in a previous Awakening becomes less important or in some cases completely obsolete as the new one unfolds.” “Let me guess,” Penelope said as she stretched and flexed in a vain attempt to find a more comfortable spot in the lumpy bucket seat. “Th ey do not go gentle into that good night.” “That’s putting it mildly. The entire history of mankind is littered with the victims of war and suppression by groups unable to change with the times but also unwilling to give up their perks.” “I’m guessing here,” Penelope said with a laugh, “that Cro-Magnons, Kings and Popes don’t think too highly of these Awakenings.” “Exactly,” Walker answered. “The real danger today, thanks to modern science, is that the carnage could be massive.” “So you’re expecting a protracted period of wars because of this Awakening?” “No, quite the opposite. The change will be over much more quickly this time.” “I don’t understand.” “The people today who have the most to lose also have most of the weapons, and have shown a willingness to use them. In the fi rst three Awakenings the killing was pretty much done on a one-on-one basis. Modern weapons don’t have that limitation.” “What are you saying?” “Today, someone can push a button and an hour later more people are dead than died in World War II. Unless we can make as many people as possible aware of this someone, somewhere is going to do something desperate to try and stop this Awakening.” “You’re serious?” “That’s why we wanted you. You’ve already started Awakening but you still have your skepticism. You were the perfect choice. You’ll be able to 159 The Fourth Awakening explain it very effectively since you’re going through it yourself.” “Why is it whenever I start talking to you I feel like my head is about to explode?” “Raw animal magnetism?” Walker off ered. Penelope ignored Walker’s answer and shifted as far as her seat belt would allow as she tried to face him. “What do you think will happen?” “Unless we can get in front of this Awakening and let the world know what is going on, I don’t see those in power taking any options off the table.” “You actually think a government would launch weapons of mass destruction to stop an Awakening? You can’t be serious.” “They’re not the ones I’m worried about. Most major governments with these kinds of weapons have all sorts of checks and balances built in. My biggest concern is that a fringe group that cuts across cultural and political borders will emerge and somehow gain access to them.” “What kind of group?” “I don’t know. They haven’t shown themselves yet. But let’s hope they aren’t willing to kill for their beliefs,” Walker hesitated. “Or worse, die for them.” “What are the odds of this happening?” “A lot of that will depend on you.” “Me?” “Yes. The more people we make aware of the Awakening the better.” “What if that is not enough?” “Then millions of people could die.” “What?” “Suppose a war breaks out between two high population nuclear powers such as Pakistan and India, then spreads to China? Even the countries that are not involved will feel the environmental and economic damage for decades…” “Pull the car over.” Penelope demand. “What? Why?” “Pull the damn car over NOW!” Walker steered the Bronco onto the berm of the Interstate but left the engine idling. “Look at me,” Spence demanded, her eyes blazing. A bemused smile was on Walker’s face as he turned to face her. “Are you telling me you think 160 Rod Pennington & Jeffery A. Martin this story I’m suppose to write for you could save millions of lives?!” “Possible billions,” Walker answered calmly. Penelope’s mouth moved but no words came out. Walker leaned back against the car door, propped his elbow on the steering wheel and rested his chin on the palm of his han............