“I believe what you’re telling me,” Al Augustus answered. “My troops need to hear this. Would you consider coming down to Albuquerque to speak to them? We’d also like you to come up to Pueblo where so many of our fighting men are quartered. These are brave men and women, but they’re also smart enough to know that one day their supplies will run out and, without some kind of intervention, they’ll be helpless. Without God and these angels,” he said, looking up, “their end is certain. Will you help us?”

“You and General Gladstone have helped us,” John Edwards answered, “and we’ll help you. We know that it’s your presence that has kept the UP troops away from here and allowed us to do our job. Now we will pray that God will permit His angels to fight along with your forces.”

Al stood to go and the two men shook hands. As they walked down the broad natural-stone steps that led from the house to the driveway, John Edwards put his hand on Al’s shoulder and said, “By the way, Al, this may encourage you. About twenty-seven hundred years ago, a great prophet named Isaiah foretold the destruction of ancient Babylon. He said that Babylon would never be built again. Despite the marvelous spectacles you’ve seen over there in the desert, the work still isn’t finished. I believe the Word of God. It will never be finished. Whether or not either of us lives to see it, one day it will be utterly destroyed—and Mark Beaulieu and his henchman along with it!”

As they walked the half-mile to the helicopter pad, the two men agreed to work and to fight together. They paused just beyond the tarmac, and John Edwards reached out and took both of Al Augustus’s hands in his own, then he bowed his head. “Father God,” he said, “I am here by Your command. You have given me ten thousand to care for and feed. I pray for each of them, and I pray for these brave men and women in the resistance all over the world.

“And, Father, please accept my special thanks for my new friend, Al Augustus. Give him supernatural wisdom to withstand his enemies. Strengthen him and his forces. Send the angels, dear Father, to fight for him. Give us victory over the evil one. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

As they looked up into each other’s eyes, both men knew that God had heard and answered their prayer. They embraced as if they had been friends for years, and Al turned and walked the short distance to his waiting helicopter with new optimism and enthusiasm.