The Illumination by Karen Tintori Read Free Book Online

a father. So throughout the travails of Barnabas’s youth, Mundy had continuously reassured him that God would provide.
    Just as God had provided for Mundy. Now, in Barnabas, He had provided a tireless disciple whose commitment to the Church was as strong as his body.
    â€œBarnabas could have his hands on the Light any time now,” the Sentinel said.
    Mundy didn’t answer. He was transfixed by his own thoughts, by the excitement churning through his blood. Within a matter of days he, too, might be holding the Light in his hands, God’s creative power at his fingertips. Mundy stared at his palms. He never would have imagined that one day he, a poor, humble boy from Tennessee, would hold the light of creation, wielding it in the name of the saved.
    The discovery of the Scroll of Daniel among the ancient scrolls found at Qumran had provided a miraculous glimpse into the biblical past. Daniel, the prophet who served in Balshazzar’s court and interpreted the king’s dreams, had been privileged to see the Light. Experts were still deciphering parts of the Scroll, but had already uncovered Daniel’s meticulous description of the unique Light created by the word of God at thedawn of time. Daniel had written that God’s Light would reappear in the world when it was most needed, in the darkest of days. It would resurface to illuminate the path of the Messiah.
    For Jesus.
    And he, the Reverend Ken Mundy, founder of the Radiant Light of Heaven Church, creator of the secret Sons of Babylon, scorned by the mainstream Christian community, a man who walked a lonely path like his Savior had, would be the one to hold it aloft.
    The Sentinel guessed at the thoughts simmering in Mundy’s mind. How many hours had the two of them worked, planned, and prayed together for this moment? For a goal that none of Mundy’s devoted congregants yet knew anything about—just as they remained in the dark about how much of their weekly offerings their pastor regularly diverted to fund this glorious mission.
    Even the wives and children of the Sons of Babylon knew nothing about the task for which Mundy had handpicked these men—to raise the Third Temple in Jerusalem, to rebuild the Jews’ holy edifice that was destroyed for the second time in the year A.D . 70. To deliver the predestined place where Jesus would unite the world in the one true faith.
    â€œThe Light is almost home.” The Sentinel snapped his briefcase closed and met Mundy’s hope-filled eyes. “Pray that no one else realizes it has surfaced.”
    Mundy tucked the photograph deep into the left breast pocket of his suit as they started together for the door. “I’ll spend the rest of the night speaking to the Lord, asking him to guide Barnabas’s hand.”

8
New York
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    â€œI’m sorry, Mr. —” Lita Smith glanced again at the security badge clipped to Rusty Sutherland’s shirt pocket and offered a rueful smile. “Mr. Sutherland. But Dr. Landau left for lunch not five minutes ago. You must have crossed paths at the elevator.”
    Rusty cocked his forearm to check his watch. He’d been on the go for more than sixteen hours and was falling off his feet. Not to mention the fact that he had a family waiting, a family he hadn’t seen in months.
    â€œCan I leave something for her, then? I just got back from Iraq, and I’m dropping off a gift from her sister.”
    The young assistant, who sported spiky red hair and rings on every finger, glanced down at the pouch he pushed across the reception desk. “Oh! From Dana?” A warmer smile. “I know Dr. Landau is counting the days until her sister gets back.”
    She stood up and reached for the pouch. “Sure, I’ll put it right on her desk.”
    Rusty thanked her wearily and trudged back toward the elevator. The Simon and Garfunkel refrain, “Home . . . homeward bound . . .” circled in