“You see,” he said, “I was the one who wrote that pamphlet that helped turn your life around. Sure, I’ve been writing ad copy all my life. I’m an old copywriter, and I can sling it with the best of them. But Jesus grabbed hold of my wife, Lori, and me one day and set us both off on a new path. He pulled us out of the way of the meteor that hit Los Angeles, and He’s put us in the path of many blessings since then.

You’re the hard evidence I’ve needed that . . . well, that it was the right thing to do.”

Nicole gave Carl a warm embrace, then said, “I’m so glad it means that much to you. You found that God has given you a calling, and through it, you’ve been able to touch millions of hearts all over the world. You’ve helped people keep up their spirits who are living under the terrors of the UP. But the real gratitude should be all mine, Mr. Throneberry. You expressed from your heart the only words that could have changed my mind and given me back my life. If I’ve helped you get a sense of perspective, I’m glad, but you’ve given me the joy of knowing Christ for myself. In that sense, you’re really the one who saved my life.”

As they talked, Carl tried to persuade Nicole to come back with him to El Refugio. “We can use a strong leader like you, Nicole,” he said. “And chances are pretty good that you’re going to be a wanted woman around here for a while, so you’d be much safer on our side of the fence.”

Nicole agreed. She needed to get away, and she was willing to help out any way she could. So they worked out a timetable and decided to make their way back to El Refugio shortly after nightfall. In the meantime, Carl would spend most of the day napping and resting while

Nicole slipped out, transmitted the gold Carl had brought in his money belt, and completed the business transactions for the supplies.

Finally, after sunset, the two-person UP patrol mounted the motorcycles and made their way carefully out of Dallas traveling westward toward Albuquerque. They arrived at the Western Defense Zone just as the sun was coming up over the mountains the following morning. They passed through the sentries on both sides with no delays and walked into Sergeant O’Reilly’s office dead tired and covered with dust, but delighted to have survived the journey.

“Sergeant,” Carl said. “I made it safely, thank the Lord. And I brought you back your motorcycle with a hundred percent interest!”