A Covenant with Death: The Peacock Trilogy - Book 3 Read Online Free Page B

ten-contact personal communication device completed the Realm’s citizen access. “Spreading the word to believers could happen instantly through the Global Communications Center’s Nano 7 technology.”
    She couldn’t explain why those words came out of her mouth. She had little idea of what Nano 7 was. Duh. She glanced to see if an angel had appeared. There was none.
    “Dangerous,” Arthur replied. “Too much chance of being labeled a loony. A call for testing could occur in a fortnight. If the results were close, I might be deposed.”
    “We could visit the predominately Christian cities and make direct appeals to the Christian leadership.” She leaned in close, reached beneath the covers to rub his thigh, and whispered, “Give the idea some thought.”
    Arthur squeezed her gently. “You’re a temptress. Now let’s get to sleep. Tomorrow we go ‘round the world.”
    Tomorrow. Yes. Her people were ready, but she wanted confirmation about her vision. After Arthur fell asleep, she dialed the team’s dorm. Bruegman answered with a gruff, “What? It’s midnight.”
    “Sorry to bother you, Klaus, but I need to speak to Cher.” Bruegman pounded on a door, and she heard Cher grab the phone.
    “I am here.” A typical response from her best friend save for Felicia Van Meer.
    “Sorry to wake you. I needed to talk.”
    “I was doing yoga. I’ll sleep later.”
    “I had another vision.” Laverna sighed. “Arthur doesn’t believe I have them. But I do. I even mentioned Nano 7, and I don’t remember why I know what it is.”
    Cher chuckled. “What else is new? Men never listen. My family never listened to women until I beat the crap out of my brothers. As to your visions, my Christian faith and former Buddhist upbringing tell me to judge the outcome. If God is behind them, you will always be right.”
    “Thanks. I needed that.”
    “Well, don’t get mushy. I’m not going to hug you.”
    Laverna relaxed. “Go back to your yoga. Thanks for the reassurance.”
    A glance at the clock said she had to get to sleep. Where she was going the next day escaped her.
    #
    Walking a thin line between belief and doubt, Pendleton formulated a plan to test both. He rolled out of bed at 2 a.m. Physicians knew their work had no time limits. He rang up Laverna’s doctor.
    “First Citizen,” the doctor mumbled. “To what do I owe this untimely call?”
    “Another hallucination. Now she thinks Jesus is coming back soon, and I’m to drop everything to prepare a welcome or something. How is the work coming along on restoring her memory and curing her cancer?”
    “My word, Arthur. You can’t rush science.” His chuckle irritated Pendleton. “My opinion, a child born today will live 100 years. Your wife will not. Genomic advances work miracles, but they can’t create areas that have been eradicated. Kolb’s to blame for that. The short-term memory will never be restored in your wife. The cancer is slowed, but inoperable. One more year will verify my opinion.”
    “You’re no bloody help.” Pendleton’s jaw tightened. “Are you telling me she’ll be dead in a year?”
    “Ah, shoot the messenger, and do it at 2:15 a.m.” A yawn accompanied the words. “In a year, Laverna will either be dead or mimic severe Alzheimer’s.”
    “What do you think of these visions she has?”
    “Four visions—four direct hits. She’s remarkable. I don’t try to speculate on where she obtains her inspiration. The divine, however, I’d put last on the list. But go with the facts. She hits the target.”
    Pendleton hung up and pounded his fists on his armchair. He’d done everything medically possible to save her life. The least he could do was act like he believed her. After the trip to the Bering Strait, he’d call for a conference of Christian pastors. He’d suggest we live as though God was coming tomorrow. He’d set God’s plan in motion. How hard could it be to pull Christian leaders from 30,000 Complexes of the