John Edwards brushed tears from his eyes. He turned the page of his yellow pad, then wrote, “We know that as dawn was breaking on the Sunday we call Easter, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Could that not also be part of the pattern? Could there not also be a resurrection for Planet Earth? Jesus Christ promised His disciples, ‘When you see these things come to pass, lift up your heads . . . for your redemption draws near.’ Surely there will have to be redemption for us now, after all that has happened.”

He leaned back in the big leather chair and breathed in the crisp morning air as the first rays of the sun began to filter in through the windows of his study. “Redemption will come, indeed,” he said aloud, “and soon. But not until this planet, which has at long last tasted the very wrath of God, first tastes the wrath of Satan.”

Part Two

PART TWO

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BENJAMIN BENARES PULLED into his driveway about nine o’clock Sunday morning. He unlocked the front door to his row house on Nineteenth Street near Connecticut Avenue and let himself in. He jumped with fright as he caught sight of a man in a dark suit sitting in the corner of his living room.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw that it was his old friend, Tauriq Haddad. Haddad wasted no words. “Benjamin, my son. I heard of the breakdown of the president again last night. I fear he is so unstable that he is no longer of any use to us. Since tomorrow is his birthday, I have brought a special present that I would like you to give him. It is tightly wrapped now. Under no circumstance—and this is very important—under no circumstance whatsoever are you to untie it.”

“I understand,” said Benares.

“Just before you present the package to him,” Tauriq continued, “pour the substance in this small bottle onto the ribbon on top of the box. Will you do that?”

“Yes, Tauriq.” He asked nothing further. He knew questions would have been out of place.

“And, Benjamin, tell the president it is a very special gift that must be opened by him personally when he is alone. If you will, please, leave the gift on his desk, then ask for a White House driver to bring you here to your home to pick up some work papers. Then you can send the car back to the White House. After he has gone, go out the back of your house. One of my drivers will be in the alley, waiting for you. You will then disappear from the United States.”

“So soon?” Benjamin asked.

“Yes,” said Tauriq. “It is for the best. But remember, do not untie the ribbon that holds the top on the box.”

At that, Tauriq Haddad stood, walked toward the kitchen, and out the back door.