T Minus 9 Hours 19 Minutes and Counting: (11:11 p.m. EDT)
Ever since the crisis began, the Chapel was a place of unscheduled entrances and exits and entrances again of human traffic. It was a chapel unlike any other place of worship. Behind the altar was a row of painted sculptures: Moses holding the Ten Commandments; Jesus on the crucifix; a crowned Mohammed on his prayer rug; a sitting golden Buddha; a first incarnation of the Hindu God, Vishnu; and a standing Confucius, his hands clasped below his chest. On the walls were two huge murals of religious figures of Taoism, Zoroastrianism, and Bahai faiths, and depictions of religions most Americans didn’t recognize. Only atheists would not be comfortable in this place of worship but they wouldn’t be in the Chapel anyway.
There was a Chaplain who had a slight Irish brogue and that in itself was a comfort to some of those who would talk to him. Beyond standing at the altar he would often walk among the seated and ever-changing congregation and he would sit with one and then another and then another. He talked with some, held hands with some, and prayed with those who wanted his voice or just his silent presence beside them.
At this time of night Chaplain Ryan wasn’t there because if he was he would almost be by himself in the Chapel. But Traci was there, sitting in the second row of pews surrounded by no one. Maybe it was the best time for her to come to the Chapel because the loneliness of its interior at this hour made her feel closer to the Recipient of her prayer.
“God, please make our people safe. Please. Please make us win this war. And God, I know you have a lot to do right now, and a lot of prayers to listen to, and I don’t want to bother you, so just one quick question that’s personal if you have time. If you don’t, then don’t listen to the rest of this. As I’m sure you know, Eli Jared is Acting President of the United States—our country. I don’t want to give him any difficulty. But I’m very fond—I mean very fond—I love Admiral Kaylin who is so important to President Jared. You probably know that Admiral Kaylin and I have been together and that life may be going away from both of us. I’m not so sure President Jared would like us seeing each other. So my question to you is this: Do you want me to stop seeing Admiral Kaylin? I mean I work for him so I can’t actually stop seeing him, but should I stop seeing him in that way? Or, God, should I stay with him no matter what? If the world should end, I want to die with him. What do you think? I don’t want to add to President Jared’s problems. He is now the most important man in the whole world. And more important than anything I’m saying, is to please help him and make sure our nation survives and our people are made safe and happy again. And that we win. And that all the good people in the world are out of danger, please. I know that’s what you’re trying to do. But if you have time, going back to what I was saying originally about things here with Admiral Kaylin and what I should do—these may be our last days of life here on Earth, God. Can you please tell me what to do, if you have the time? Don’t go through any trouble. I mean it. Can you tell me? Do you think you can tell me by giving me a sign? Wait. Wait, please. There’s something else you should know. President Jared is such a great man, and as you know, he’s old. And he teases me, just in fun about me being pretty. It’s all just teasing and fun—but I think he might feel something for me. You know you made me in a way that I can tell those things. Maybe he doesn’t; maybe he’s just flattering me; he’s a big flatterer of people at times, but if he does feel something for me, then it increases my—my dilemma. And maybe your dilemma, too. Now, if you can, can you please give me a sign so I know what to do? Any sign will do.” Then she added, “and would be appreciated.”
If God was a man He would probably have fallen in love with her, Himself. And He was even older than Eli Jared.
Traci sat there for a while, hoping to get a sign while she was still there. ‘No matter,’ she thought. ‘I have to give God time.’ She got up slowly and walked to the end of the line of empty pews in which she had sat and then she walked up the aisle to the exit. As she got to the door she saw she was not alone in the Chapel. There was a man in the last row of pews. His head was bent. He was in prayer. He was an old man. He did not look up, but even though it was dark and his head was bent down quite far, she recognized him easily as he was the most important man in the world.
“What does that sign mean, God?” she asked as she left the Chapel. “Could you please give me another one?”