So, as the difference between her own condition and that of her husband grew more and more pronounced, she began to hate her husband. While she suffered, he was totally without pain. He was always well-rested and content while she was on the brink of insanity. He kept talking to her about Jesus until she couldn’t stand it anymore. One night she exploded in rage, “You smug little Chinaman! My family told me not to marry you! I hate the very sight of you! I want you out of my sight!”

Later, she apologized. She tried to explain that she was blinded with pain. James forgave her for her words, but the wound remained. Whatever love they had once shared was gone. The real Joyce Cumberland had burst through, and James Wong knew that when the time came to make a stand, his wife would choose possessions, power, and lifestyle—she would not choose him.

Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

AFTER ABOUT THREE WEEKS, the volcanic ash had either settled to the ground or entered the upper atmosphere. This meant that jet travel between twenty thousand and twenty-nine thousand feet, though still dangerous and ill-advised, was marginally possible. Given the opportunity to begin taking their program to the world, Mark Beaulieu and Tauriq Haddad boarded the expensively equipped presidential 747 with its specially constructed engine filters and began a string of whirlwind meetings with leaders around the world.

For the people at El Refugio, it seemed ironic that the man who was to become the Antichrist had to choose a Christian flight crew, Christian security detail, and a Christian advance team. Because of the demonic assault, no other trained specialists were available to fill these key posts.

At every stop on their itinerary, the crew found that airports were open for very limited periods of time due to the limited number of torment-free specialists available to work air traffic control.

Beaulieu and Haddad found each of the world leaders they met desperate for solutions. Everywhere, the message was much the same. The president of Germany echoed the sentiments of all the world leaders when he said, “Mr. President, you are the most gifted leader in the world today. We are desperate people. Our economy is in shambles. The mood of the country is ominous. The torment, the cold, the darkness, the lack of basic necessities will bring on revolution and bloodshed. We want you to formulate a plan to restore peace and economic stability to the world.”