Arrived by Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

permanent,” Judd said. “What happened?”
    â€œI arrived here in the afternoon, and Naomi Tiberius gave me a quick tour, including the computer center,” Chang said. “It’s amazing what Mr. Hassid set up. It’s just like being in New Babylon without the danger.”
    â€œEveryone treating you okay?”
    â€œLike royalty. But I’m so ashamed. I wanted to take off my baseball cap and bow every time I met someone new, but with that thing on my forehead, I could not.”
    â€œDid you meet Tsion and Chaim?”
    â€œYes, but not right away. They were meeting about Chloe’s disappearance, and then came the news of another Tribulation Force member’s death.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œAlbie. A man Captain Steele and the others know well. The GC reported that Chloe gave up information about him, but no one believes that. And they say he committed suicide, which, again, no one believes.”
    Judd hadn’t heard of this Albie, but if he was a member of the Trib Force, Judd knew he would be missed. “I want to hear more about your mark, but how’s Captain Steele?”
    â€œAs well as can be expected. He left here not long after we arrived. He received a call from Chloe from a GC cell phone, and she gave him a coded message. I don’t know all the particulars, but Captain Steele believes she was trying to tell him to get everyone in San Diego to Petra, and that’s what he’s trying to work out.”
    â€œSeems like the safest place to be,” Judd said.
    Chang described his new home. Again, Judd felt a stirring in his heart, wishing he were in Petra talking with Chang and eating manna or quail.
    â€œHow did you like the manna?” Judd said.
    â€œIt was like being fed from the table of a king. That’s how a friend described it and he was right. Naomi gave me a tour on one of the ATVs. The city is so spread out that it would take days to see everything.”
    â€œIs something going on between you and Naomi?”
    Chang paused. “We have a good relationship. I knew we would have to work together closely since she has become the technical leader here, but I didn’t want to complicate things with …”
    â€œYou’re falling for her, aren’t you?”
    â€œJudd, she is stunning—”
    â€œI know. I’ve met her. Friendly, beautiful, and smarter than both of us.”
    â€œI’ve never even had a girlfriend. There were girls in high school I was interested in, but I never dared let them know.”
    â€œDo you think she feels anything for you?”
    Chang chuckled. “I think so. We were drinking at the spring of water when the sun set and the skies opened and seemed to snow bits of soft bread.”
    Judd closed his eyes and pictured the scene. It was one of the most amazing things he had witnessed in Petra, the daily food that fell from the sky, as if God were tearing off pieces of bread and sending them floating to his children.
    â€œTalking with Naomi is like speaking with someone I’ve known my whole life, but I’ve never met her in person. Do you understand?”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œAnyway, I met her father, which was quite an experience, and then I met with Tsion and Chaim. We are all heartbroken about Chloe.”
    â€œThey must be trying to help her escape,” Judd said.
    â€œI don’t know. That will be up to Captain Steele and Mr. Williams.”
    â€œI can’t imagine what Buck is going through right now. Tell me about the mark.”
    â€œYes. I met Dr. Rosenzweig, who looks more like his old self now than the famous Micah who stood up to the potentate. His hair’s grown back and he was excited to see me. He called me ‘the genius mole.’
    â€œThen Dr. Ben-Judah approached with all kinds of people around him. I was honored he would eat a short breakfast with me. When he prayed over our meal, I thought my heart was going to burst.