Shaken Read Online Free Page A

Conrad pulled himself free and pushed the front passenger door open. The three crawled out and hit the ground just as the truck skidded to a stop in front of them.

    Judd prayed as he watched Mr. Stein walk toward the Jerusalem Global Community headquarters. The man seemed fearless.
    Sam stared at his father and stood. Lionel and Judd grabbed him and pulled him into his chair.
    â€œWe don’t need anybody else getting arrested,” Lionel said.
    Mr. Stein walked into the street, his face turned toward the steps of the station. A car passed him and honked, but Mr. Stein continued, staring at the deputy commander and Sam’s father. Mr. Stein stopped in the middle of the street and raised his voice. “You who walk in darkness, behold, you will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow.”
    Deputy Commander Woodruff and Mr. Goldberg turned and glared.
    â€œThis is what the Lord Almighty says,” Mr. Stein continued. “ ‘Every word that was written, every promise given, will be fulfilled.’”
    Deputy Commander Woodruff walked down a few steps and yelled back, “And this is what I say; you are under the arrest of the Global Community!”
    Judd looked at Lionel. “What’s he doing?”
    Lionel shrugged. “Looks like he wants them to take him away.”
    Mr. Stein stood his ground as GC officers walked outside to see what was going on. The deputy commander pointed and ordered them to arrest Mr. Stein.
    â€œThe captives will be released and the prisoners will be freed!” Mr. Stein shouted.
    â€œAnd you will be behind bars where you belong, you stupid fool,” Woodruff said. “No more of your lies after today.”
    The officers reached the bottom of the steps and moved into the street. Sam shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
    Suddenly, officers coughed and gasped for air. One pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and put it over his face. The two near Mr. Stein fell to their knees, sputtering and panting.
    â€œWhat’s that smell?” the deputy commander said. Everyone in front of the GC station coughed and waved their arms.
    The waiter at the restaurant ran inside. “Sulfur! It’s sulfur!” He closed the door behind him and collapsed in a heap.
    A woman ran by them on the sidewalk shouting, “We’re going to die! It’s poison!”
    â€œI don’t smell anything,” Sam said.
    Then Judd saw them. The huge beasts rode over a building in front of them. Judd pointed. Lionel and Sam couldn’t speak.
    The horses approached the street where Mr. Stein stood. They hovered as if walking on air. These were not ordinary sized horses. These were monsters. Judd had seen Clydesdales close up, but these were enormous, at least twice the size of any he had ever seen.
    Lionel gasped. “Look at their faces!”
    Judd couldn’t keep his eyes off them. Their heads looked like lions with flowing manes and huge teeth. Flames and thick yellow smoke shot out of their mouths and nostrils, but Judd didn’t hear anything. No hoofbeats or snorting or any sound.
    The horses were so frightening, Judd almost didn’t notice the riders. They were every bit as large as the animals. They looked human, but each one was at least ten feet tall and five hundred pounds. Every horseman wore a shimmering breastplate. Their biceps and forearms rippled with muscles as they worked to control the enormous horses. Judd thought they might stampede at any moment.
    Judd jumped out of his chair. “Come on!”
    â€œI’m not going out there,” Sam said.
    â€œThese have to be the horses from Revelation 9. Tsion teaches that they won’t hurt believers.”
    â€œHow can we be sure? They look pretty mean.”
    Judd raced into the street. Lionel and Sam followed. Mr. Stein put up a hand as the three came near. One of the horses was only a few