First, there had been Aunt Marion. Her voice echoed in his memory. Damien's a terrible influence, can't you see it? she had said. Do you want to ruin Mark, destroy him?

And then that reporter, Joan Hart. A horrible horrible death she had apparently suffered, from the brief newspaper account. And so needlessly. You're in grave danger! she had warned. Put your faith in Christ!

And Atherton. Another unbelievably gruesome death. But where did he fit in? Thorn wasn't sure. Pasarian's death made no sense either.

Thorn read on:

And through his policy also shall he cause craft to prosper in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many...

Thorn thought of his company, one of the largest multinational corporations in the world, and how Damien would someday inherit it. And more things began to make sense. Atherton had resisted Buher's plan to move into the production and distribution of food, and Atherton had died. Buher became president, and his plan was being put into effect. But not without troubles. Pasarian found out about those troubles, and Pasarian had died.

Someday, if things went according to plan, Damien would inherit an industry that controlled the feeding of the world population.

Thorn remembered the funeral that afternoon and the odd triangular connection between Damien and Buher and Neff. But where did Neff fit in? Thorn turned back to the Bugenhagen's notes to try to find a clue:

And all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power to the beast. And they worshipped the beast, saying, 'Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with Him?'

The dragon.

Perhaps Neff was the dragon, a military strategist, there to teach and to train...

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues, and notions... And he shall also stand up against the Prince of Princes...

Thorn couldn't read anymore. His eyes were beginning to ache and his thoughts were becoming fuzzy. He simply wasn't capable of clear thinking any longer. He needed some rest, just a few hours' sleep.

He was haunted by what Warren had said the night he showed them the slides from the dig: There is a great deal of evidence that the end of the world is near. Ann had laughed, but Warren had gone on to mention some of the biblical prophecies that were only now beginning to come true—all at once. Floods, famine, darkness, wars...

Thorn thought about some of the alarming events that had happened in the world recently. The situation in the Middle East could still erupt into an all-out war that would probably involve the rest of the world, precipitating what would later be known as World War III, if anyone lived to call it that.