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PROLOGUE
Bill squirmed in his chair, sticky sweat dripping down his back as he
adjusted his lanky six-foot-four frame in the small hard chair next
to the video production console. The countdown had begun. TV cameras
were focused and the satellite feed from the Oval Office in Washington
was tracking. The President began speaking.
Bill’s
engineer, Tex, and his team were tense but capable of handling any emergency.
Well, most any, Bill thought. He hadn’t realized how much extra
time would be eaten up by all the security measures for both equipment
and crew, and his stomach was in knots. Live TV always raised his blood
pressure. No re-takes, no editing. The damn power hits didn’t help
any, either.
He wondered what this “big announcement” was all about. Obviously
it was important. Anything that pre-empted the almighty sitcoms had
to be. Even more important at the moment was how things would go when
Washington threw it to them in L.A. Bill’s venue was filled with,
in his opinion, a bunch of egghead scientists padding their egos with
big words, each one “knowing” the answers but all the answers
were different.
Bill took a deep breath to calm down, stretched his neck in all directions,
and uttered a curse when he banged his knee re-crossing his legs in
the cramped quarters. The President’s voice penetrated his thoughts.
“…experiencing phenomena that, although measured scientifically,
cannot be explained easily and is causing widespread concern. We do
know that what has been and is now occurring— the geographic upheavals,
massive storms, changing weather patterns—will continue to affect
us throughout the world. Earth, and the space around it, is undergoing
severe unrest. So in order to prepare you for the possible ramifications
and to alleviate anxieties, I’ve asked a team of scientists to
present information on this subject. Time is of the essence. We will
go now to Los Angeles and the Chairman of the …”
“Here they come,” Bill hissed at his production team. The
director’s voice boomed over the headset. “Stand by, audio.
Ready, camera one. In four, three, two, one. Take it—cue him!”
They were up. It looked okay, Bill thought, wiping his forehead on his
sleeve.
“…difficult to admit we don’t have all the answers. Our
first speaker, Dr. Roy Donahue, will present some background information
on …”
Bill’s throat felt like it was closing when he saw a glitch on
the screen caused by another power hit. “Jesus Christ,” he
muttered and glared at the engineer, who merely shrugged. Some things
just couldn’t be explained.
Bill had to ignore the speech and focus his attention on the monitors
and his own responsibilities. The next introduction caught his attention
and he tuned back in.
“…internationally known author and lecturer, Dr. Dwight Atwood
has had professional careers in the earth sciences, aerospace, and computer
industries, and has integrated his knowledge into the—ah—spiritual
realm. He has been called a psychic. In this time of crisis, the administration
will remain open to all possible avenues of enlightenment. We are hoping
Dr. Atwood can shed some light on what appears to be a universe going
haywire. Dr. Atwood?” A slight smirk tweaked the corner of Donahue’s
mouth as polite applause accompanied Atwood to the podium.
Interesting intro, Bill thought. The poor guy faced an uphill battle
for credibility, at least in present company, but the name was familiar.
In fact, he was sure his mother, Julie, had given him some of Atwood’s
books to read.
What really drew Bill’s attention to Atwood was his face. Deep
lines ran from his nose to the corners of his mouth, reminding Bill
of a Native American. His shoulder-length gray hair added to the image.
The timbre in Atwood’s voice had the sound engineer making a few
hasty adjustments on the audio board.
“Mr. President. Ladies and gentlemen. I am honored to be asked
to discuss the photon phenomenon occurring at this time in history.
There are no known precedents for the recent events. Our Earth is nearing
the completion of a cycle initiated nearly two hundred thousand years
ago. The ancient ones called it “The Shift of the Ages.” I
will present my theories in laymen’s terms and urge you to be aware
of the seriousness and time frame of the possible—and probable—result
of Earth’s changing vibrations.”
Power hits interrupted the signal more frequently and the air turned
blue with four-letter words blasting through headsets. “We can’t
find the damn problem!” Bill said to the Washington producer, who
didn’t buy it. “We’ve triple checked everything. There’s
no logical reason for this to be happening.” Bill wished to hell
he were somewhere, anywhere, else.
“… intensity of the planet’s magnetic field, a forerunner
of polar reversals, has decreased due to the slowing of Earth’s
rotation. At the same time, the rate of fundamental vibration, the Earth’s
heartbeat, has increased from the standard eight hertz to thirteen.
This fluctuation is significant in that Earth’s vibration rate
affects our own. Each holographically tuned cell within our bodies is
attempting to match this vibration. In other words, we and our Earth
are being transformed.”
The audience erupted with questions as Atwood paused to scan audience
reaction with an intensity that made Bill’s heart beat faster.
“We are spiritual beings living in physical bodies. As such, those
people who are ready spiritually will shift to a higher frequency. It
will be accomplished through awakening to unconditional love and compassion.
We must let go of fear! I ask—no, I pray—that you keep an
open mind. It is imperative. The Zero Point of the Shift is upon us—perhaps
a month away, or a week. Possibly hours. For the sake of mankind, I
implore you to become aware.” Atwood’s knuckles whitened as
he gripped the sides of the podium.
Bill shivered. This was the kind of stuff his mother talked about. Atwood
was passionate, yes, but what made him think all this stuff was imminent?
What’s he know that he’s not telling, Bill wondered.
He glanced at the monitors and swore under his breath at the unsteady
waves drifting across the screen. He glared at Tex, who was frantically
pushing buttons and turning dials, his face sweaty. What the hell is
going on, he thought.
“… only those materials that resonate with the Earth will
survive the coming disruption. Is plastic resonant? Rubber? We’ve
already experienced severe power failures. Will fuels survive the Shift?
I ask you to consider what the future holds….”
Everyone’s attention was riveted on Atwood. Bill heard, “Oh,
my God!” and “That’s bullshit!” through his headset.
The audience peppered Atwood with questions as phrases from his lecture
caught and stuck in Bill’s mind. We’re in something called
Photon energy—it’s getting very close to a peak—the potential
magnitude could be—will be— overwhelming. Bill felt hot and
cold, wanting to not believe, but knowing deep down that he was hearing
the truth.
Bill thought of Kathy, his wife, and their two children. Joey and Erica
were growing up while he was on the damn road. He knew the traveling
put a strain on his marriage but what the hell could he do about it?
It took money to eat and this was the best way he knew to make it. His
eyes stung with unshed tears as a wave of longing swept through him.
He wondered if Kathy was watching the broadcast and, if so, how she
felt about it.
Atwood leaned forward and, taking a deep breath, lowered his voice and
spoke with intensity. “Ladies and gentlemen. To the degree that
you can trust in a Higher Power, release fear and judgment, and love
unconditionally; to that degree you will be prepared to survive the
coming Shift emotionally, physically, and spiritually.”
Bill clenched his fists as he struggled to comprehend the warning, “…
broadcast technologies will be unable to function….”
Bill and Tex glanced at each other, then at the wall of electroni video
equipment. It was impossible to imagine the chaotic ramification if
Atwood was speaking the truth.
Atwood spoke of physical sensations many people had been experiencing
for the past year. “… flu-like symptoms, including aches and
nausea, forgetfulness, fatigue, tension and unreasonable anxiety, vivid
and meaningful dreams. Time seems to pass more quickly than it used
to. Events seem to be speeding up due to the body’s attempt to
match the rapid pulsations of Earth’s vibration. This and more
will …”
All heads were nodding, including the President’s. At the moment,
Bill’s symptoms were worse than ever. He knew exactly what Atwood
was talking about.
“What will it be like after this so-called Shift?” someone
asked, voicing everyone’s thoughts.
“I can only speculate. Some people will remain in the dense Third
Dimension until—and if—they’re ready to ascend to the
Fifth Dimension. Those who have grown spiritually will shift to a higher
frequency. Those who have developed a complete trust in the God Force
will ascend. They will experience a different kind of life, one filled
with peace and love. It will not include those left behind.”
Bill recalled that for the past few years, every other movie had seemed
to be about shifts in consciousness or dimensions. The same for sci-fi
television programs. We’re being prepared for something, Bill thought.
Some people will go and others will stay. What if Kathy and the kids
do this thing and I don’t? Or what if none of us—what—ascend?
What if we’re left in a world filled with war and fear and disease?
A wave of panic swept through Bill.
At that moment the furniture, the lights—the entire building—began
to shake. Screams of “Earthquake!” filled the room as glass
shattered and cameras fell to the floor. People dove
under the large conference table or headed for doorways, falling over
chairs and each other. The noise was horrendous. Blackness filled the
room.
Bill watched in terror as the equipment console fell to the floor tearing
out cables and power lines.
“Oh God, it’s happening. It’s really happening!”
PART
ONE
WINDS OF CHANGE
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And
the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of
the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And
God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. And
the evening and morning were the first day.
And God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” And God
made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under
the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament:
and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and
the morning were the second day. And God said, “Let the waters
under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the
dry land appear,” and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together
of the waters called He Seas: and God saw that it was
good.
From the Book of Genesis
Chapter One
The telephone jarred Julie out of her visionary journey.She quickly
unwound her long legs from her yoga position, feet tripping on the faded
cushion tucked into her warm niche on the deck, and raced to answer
it. The effort made her dizzy but she was getting used to that.
“I got your message about the Shift,” Kathy said when Julie
answered the phone. Her voice was unsteady. “I feel it, too, Julie.
My whole body seems to be vibrating. The car’s packed, the kids
are ready, and we’re coming to stay with you in Takoma Springs.
Bill’s in L.A. again, working on some damn TV special, but I left
a message on his voice mail that I’m leaving for Colorado right
now.”
“Kathy, slow down for heaven’s sake. Take a deep breath and
relax. You won’t do Joey and Erica any good if you’re out
of control. You’ll scare them half to death.”
Kathy was intuitive. She didn’t need anyone to tell her it was
time to leave Phoenix. “Yes, yes, I know.” She took a deep
breath.
“I’m okay now. You know what’s kind of strange, Julie?
It’s Joey. He’s so quiet. That’s weird in itself, but
he keeps patting me on the back, saying everything will be okay. He
doesn’t even know what’s happening.”
“He’s clairvoyant, Kathy. Amazingly so for a five-year-old.
You’ve known that since he first started talking. In many respects,
I’ll bet he knows more than we do. Whatever his destiny is for
this lifetime, I’m sure it’s important. His angels are watching
over him, as well as Erica and you and Bill. None of us are alone on
this journey, honey.”
“Oh, I know, Julie,” Kathy sighed. “Thanks. Thanks for
being there for us.”
The sincerity in her daughter-in-law’s voice brought tears to Julie’s
eyes. They had come a long way, she and Kathy, and she was grateful
for the close and honest friendship they had shared throughout the years.
Tall, blonde and beautiful, Kathy had the patience of Job when it came
to her children, and she needed every ounce of it. She’d had a
career as a model before she was married but had put aside her own aspirations
to be a full-time mother. Most of the time, she loved it. But then,
none of us are saints, Julie thought. Their friendship was more than
an in-law relationship. Kathy was adopted and never knew her birth family’s
background. Her adoptive parents, while warm and loving, had died young,
and her lonely struggle made her doubly appreciative of Julie and Dave’s
family. Julie was grateful for this woman she loved as her own.
“My prayers will be with you and the kids every inch of the way,”
Julie reassured her. “Who knows what it’s really going to
be like. I’ll feel better with you guys here, where I can see you
and touch you. Be sure to carry plenty of water and blankets. And don’t
forget the cell phone, okay?”
“Got it. We’re out the door even as we speak. And, please,
don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. We love you.”
“I love you all, too. Drive carefully. I’ll be waiting.”
Julie hung up the phone and a tremor of apprehension swept through her.
She broke out in a cold sweat. Was it knowing that Kathy faced a long
trip alone with two small children, and time was short? Or was something
else wrong? Julie shivered.
Beautiful blue-eyed Joey, with his bone-straight honey-colored hair,
irrepressible good nature and boundless energy, would be okay. But she
wondered whether little Erica, just a year old, had the ability to sit
still in a car seat for more than half an hour.
Erica was a charmer, an angel with a button-nose, sparkly blue eyes,
and soft brown curls framing delicate features. She already knew how
to twist her daddy around her tiny finger. Thank God they were coming.
Julie supposed it could be called a shift in realities, a major one.
The changes in the universe that had begun a couple of years ago were
now affecting everyone on planet Earth—and probably some who weren’t.
The Photon energy. The Zero Point. It defies human understanding and
challenges the very ground we walk on, she thought. Besides, we’ve
already faced so many challenges, dealt with so many lost loved ones.
Why do we need to go through another major change, for Pete’s sake?
A Photon phenomenon had enveloped the universe 26,000 years ago, with
devastating results. It would turn the world upsid down once again,
although she hoped not literally, as some prophets predicted. It was
hailed as Armageddon, the Tribulation and the Ascension. Quotes from
Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce and The Book of Revelation were used to try
to explain it. God was playing with Mother Earth’s heartbeat, raising
her vibration, changing her magnetic field. Who knew what the results
would be? Speculation only succeeded in feeding overwhelming fear, but
Julie was certain that love, awareness, and trust were the keys to survival.
She put a kettle of water on for tea and gazed out the window, looking
at but not seeing the fields and forest. Personal shifts could be just
as life changing. She remembered her first traumatic life change based
on very earthly experiences, her life during her first 40 years, the
loneliness, and life following her divorce from Ray. Despite the pain,
the separation had been a glorious awakening, the first major step on
her spiritual growth path. Julie had come alive. She discovered her
creative talents and received credit and kudos for her work as a writer.
And, much to her delight, she found she was still attractive to the
opposite sex. Life was good and everything that had happened to her
since then had been a build up, a preparation, for the events that would,
she felt, culminate within a matter of days. Her heart skipped a beat
but she vowed not to go into fear.
She wondered if those without a clue about cataclysmic events in motion
were better off. They’ll handle it or not, she decided, or maybe
just leave the planet. It was their choice. For some reason she’d
been forewarned and, hopefully, forearmed. As much to reassure herself
as anything else, she took a deep breath, raised her head toward the
heavens, and said, “Okay, God, I’m ready when you are.”
Biting her lip she added, “Almost.”
The kettle’s high-pitched whistle drew her out of her reverie.
A cup of hot cinnamon and apple tea warming her hands, she went out
to the deck. The sun had risen an hour ago but itwas still cold in the
shadows. She sat cross-legged on the old comfortable cushion, resting
her back against the warm cedar siding.
The old fleece sweatshirt, well-worn jeans, and the sun on her face
felt warm and soothing. She brushed her slightly graying hair off her
face, leaned her head against the wall, and took in the beauty of the
pines and aspens. Hard-earned wrinkles softened. Julie breathed deeply.
Early morning forest and meadow flowers perfumed the air. A meadowlark
broke the stillness with his song and a hawk circled high above. In
the distance she heard the crunch of tires on the dirt road and watched
a small cloud of dust slowly dissipate in the gentle breeze.
Wind Dancer Ranch, Dave’s and her dream come true, was situated
in the majestic Colorado Rockies. The cedar mountain home was nestled
against the dark green pines and looked out on rich pasture land. Their
choice of deep teal green carpeting, cranberry red accents, and rich
plaids made their open and spacious home warm and welcoming. Large windows
filled the A-frame prow and brought the outdoors in, providing fantastic
views of the jagged mountains.
She met Dave two years after her divorce and both knew right away that
they were soulmates. Her husband was tall and handsome; his ruddy complexion,
chiseled features and graying hair gave him a distinguished look. His
soft brown eyes could melt her heart in a flash, and his hugs were warm
and given freely.
They had found Takoma Springs by accident and had fallen in love with
it immediately. It was peaceful and friendly, a small town with a big
heart. They soon realized it was not accidental. It was karmic. This
was where they needed to be to carry out their soul contract. The piece
of land that called to them was familiar on a deep level. Psychics later
told them that Julie had lived there eons ago and had been responsible
for taking her soul group through an ascension. Apparently she had made
a commitment to do it again.
And then there was Crystal Mountain, her firm anchor in this unstable
world. It literally glowed in the distance, its warm golden aura and
magnificent pyramid shape setting it apart from
the others. She often wondered what secrets it held, for it seemed to
radiate mysterious vibrations for those who tuned in. Its powerful protection
wrapped itself around Julie. It was inconceivable that anything could
disrupt the perfection of this day, her life, her world, her universe.
But “it” was coming—and soon. She shuddered at the thought
and acknowledged the need to ground herself, get centered, regroup,
and reflect on what had brought her to this point in her life. It might
be her last chance for a long time. A relaxing meditation would help
her enormously.
Taking three deep breaths, she sank deeper and deeper intoher consciousness.
Slowly counting from ten down to one, focusing on her breath, she visualized
roots growing from her feet deep into and blending with the golden warmth
of Mother Earth’s womb. She felt herself let go, releasing tension
in mind and body.
Filling herself with white light, she offered a prayer of thank for
the blessings in her life and asked for divine protection and guidance.
Incessant mind chatter, distracting repetition of the same thoughts
over and over again, slowly ceased and she entered the Silence.
Julie found herself walking through a beautiful meadow, a gentle breeze
caressing her face. She smelled the wild flowers and heard birds singing
as if they were real. A tall handsome young man with warm blue eyes
materialized in the path ahead, a beautiful smile spreading across his
face as he stepped closer.
“Hello, Mom.”
“What—who are you?”
“You knew me twenty-five years ago—when I was a baby.”
“Oh, my God,” Julie said, barely able to breathe. “Danny.
My beautiful baby, Danny.”
“Yes, Mom, it’s me. I chose to appear to you as you see me
now rather than as a baby, since babies have a somewhat limited vocabulary,”
he smiled.
“Oh, Danny, how I’ve missed you. It was so hard when you left.
The Spina Bifida made you so sick and you were in such pain. I know
now it was meant to be, but I didn’t know it then.”
“It was our agreement, our contract. I wasn’t in anywhere
near as much pain as you were. I had to help you open up to your emotions,
to face what was missing in your life. And you helped me fulfill past-life
karma, too.”
“Well, you certainly succeeded and gave me a strength I didn’t
know I had.”
“That’s why I’ve come to you today. You do have incredible strength.
Remember that because you’ll need it. Our time together is not
over, Mom. We still have much to teach each other.”
Julie’s child began to fade. He raised his hand in farewell. His
smile lingered as he disappeared in a soft cloud.
“Danny! Don’t go,” she said, longing in her voice. It
had been so many years since she’d been in touch with him. An immense
love filled her heart.
Julie returned from her deep meditation, slowly becoming aware of her
surroundings. “Thank you, dearest Danny, for everything,”
she whispered. He had brought her the gift of life, his and hers, and
she would be eternally grateful.
Chapter Two
Julie had warned her family about the coming Shift, but Kathy was the
only one she’d heard from. Julie could enlighten them but they
had to make their own decision on how to deal with it. Dave understood
her. He even understood her when her words came out backwards and upside
down. During their fifteen years of marriage they had both learned to
take her premonitions seriously.
She called him on his cell phone in Los Angeles. Voices hummed in the
background.
“Dave, it’s coming. The Shift is really going to happen and
soon. I know it. I sense it. You’ve got to get home right away.
I want to be with you—and the family.”
“I have to finish up in L.A.,” he said. “We’re wrapping
up the meeting now. I’ll catch the flight to Albuquerque right
after. It’ll take five hours to drive from there. Hang in there,
babe. I’ll be there before you know it. Please don’t worry,
Julie.”
“Hurry, Dave. I need you. I love you.”
“Me, too, babe.”
Damn it, why couldn’t he leave immediately? What if there weren’t
any flights out of L.A.? What if the planes were full? What if, what
if, what if? Julie had to face the fact that she was scared— anticipating
the future, but human and scared.
|
She gave Max, their German shepard, a loving scratch behind his ears
and went to the basement to check the water supply. She had stored enough
survival water to last several people for a few weeks. She trusted the
universe to provide, but her own efforts gave her a sense of control
and security.
Julie added a few drops of colloidal silver to each bottle of water,
checked the supply of candles and matches, the shelves of canned and
dried foods, the wool and cotton blankets, toilet paper, soap and first
aid supplies.
Looking at the stored goods, she recalled the first time she had collected
survival items. In the sixties the atom bomb scare had taken hold and
bomb shelters appeared in back yards. She had prepared a corner of the
basement with food and water but fortunately fears eased and shelters
disappeared. She had jumped through even bigger hoops in California,
anticipating The Big One. That had been an enormous fear for her, irrational
and out of proportion to reality, or so she thought. She and Dave moved
to Colorado and missed the 8.5 quake and the resulting damage and loss
of life.
Now she had to prepare once again. It would be different this time.
Much, much different. The phone startled her. She ran up the basement
stairs, dropped the receiver on the counter and finally gasped, “Hello?”
“Mom, are you okay?” Blessed Jon. Her son had been her emotional
glue from the time he could talk. Such an old soul.
“I’m fine. Really, I am,” she said, catching her breath.
“I just forget I’m not twenty-five anymore with the legs of
a gazelle. I’m so glad you called. How are you, Jon?”
“Doing great,” he laughed. “And you will never be old,
Mom. But fill me in. I got your message and have been feeling real strange
myself. Is it what I think it is?”
“Yeah. That’s what I’m getting. And soon. Where are you?”
“At home. Just got back from the lecture tour. I had planned on
getting some shut-eye. Maybe this isn’t the time.”
Julie’s heart pounded. Home meant San Francisco. “Maybe not.
Oh, Jon, I just don’t know. Your angels will be with you wherever
you are but if there’s any way you can get here, I think they’d
be overjoyed. But not nearly as much as I would be.” She paused.
“There may not be much time.”
“I hear ya, Mom. But, hey, hang loose, okay? You know I’ll
be with you whether I’m there or not. You’ll do great and
so will I. Mom, the other line’s ringing. I gotta go.”
“Okay, honey. Stay in touch, okay?”
“Of course I will. Talk to you later. Love ya.” The line went
dead.
Julie sighed. Jon never planned more than half an hour ahead. That was
part of his charm. Tall, with deep-set blue eyes and a gorgeous smile,
he was a Brad Pitt look-alike. He loved the opposite sex and they loved
him. His off-the-wall sense of humor had pulled her through difficult
times more than once, making her laugh even when she didn’t want
to. He was a good writer and an even better speaker. He used his innate
sense of humor to get his point across. At age of thirty, Jon had a
mind of his own. All she could offer was information. She couldn’t
direct his life.
Her body prickled suddenly. She sat down as a dizzy spelland a slight
wave of nausea swept over her. Vibrational changeswere taking place
in her body with a lot more frequency lately. It would pass. The spells
didn’t frighten her anymore; they merely made her temporarily uncomfortable.
Her body tingled and she felt slightly out of control, certainly one
of the more difficult feelings for her to accept. After she’d discovered
what it was, she relaxed a little. Trust. That’s what it was all
about.
The dizziness passed and Julie went to the mudroom. She tugged on old
work boots, grabbed a warm jacket and her worn leather gloves, and started
down the path to the barn. Faithful and devoted Max and the forever-smiling
golden retriever, Sandy who, much to Max’s chagrin, had joined
them six months before, jumped at Julie’s heels. Sometimes their
boundless energy and single-minded desire to please was close to claustrophobic.
But she appreciated their companionship, especially on those long, lonely
evenings when Dave was gone. “Okay, okay! I love you, too,”
she laughed, reassuring them with quick hugs.
The path was muddy, thanks to a sprinkler head gone amuck, but she didn’t
mind. Her boots could come off at the back door. She’d never gotten
around to getting some for her canine companions. Julie smiled at the
thought of eight little boots lined up beside hers.
The barn was warm and rich with animal smells and sounds. Misty, her
beautiful bay, 15 hands high and proud of it, snorted and whinnied as
Julie approached with a bucket of oats. The sweet-tempered horse gave
her a soft, velvety kiss on the hand. Misty could run like the wind.
Racing across the fields had always been an exhilarating experience
for both of them.
Julie fed Dave’s pinto, Orion—a magnificent animal of 16 hands
and more horse than she could handle—and opened the stall doors
so they could run through the tall grass in the fresh air, muscles rippling
as they stretched their long legs.
The goats jammed up at the door, eager to chomp their way through as
much grass as they could find. Daisy Mae’s baby struggled on wobbly
legs to keep up. The old barn cats were as mellow as ever, stretched
out in their lazy fashion, but always on alert for any unlucky critters
scurrying in the hay.
She scattered feed for the chickens and was rewarded with a couple of
fresh eggs. After cleaning the stalls, Julie closed the big barn door,
and trudged back to the house, revived by the activity.
The wind was stronger and the sun wasn’t as warm as it had been
earlier. It didn’t feel right. Her heart beat faster. Beads of
sweat broke out on her forehead in spite of the cold.Julie’s pine-paneled
office with its extensive bookshelves was her lifeline to the world.
She couldn’t imagine life without her computer. How else would
she be able to write, send e-mail, keep records, surf the Net? It was
a necessary part of her career as a writer, but it was made of plastic.
Would it soon be a pile of dust with whatever metal parts it held sitting
on top of it?
Logging on, she found several e-mail messages, two from friends with
premonitions like hers. She sensed fear in their words, so she replied
with confirmation and encouragement. There was also an email from her
stepson, Chris. He and his wife, Ellen, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina,
but they remained close. They were young and vulnerable. But 28 wasn’t
young anymore; children had to grow up fast to survive these days.
Chris was in law enforcement. He was involved in investigations for
the most part, but was called back to active duty when needed. He was
good at it, compassionate and respected by his co-workers. Ellen had
her own growing legal practice and dreaded every time Chris went on
“hard core” duty as she called it. They respected Julie’s
predictions but buying into the Photon energy was too much for them.
His note said they both had a touch of the flu but that they felt snug
and safe in their home. Julie doubted if the flu was responsible for
their discomfort. Lately there had been a strange energy around Ellen
that really worried Julie. It was discomforting but Spirit hadn’t
allowed her to check it out. When a karmic lesson is involved, it needed
to be learned without outside help. All Julie could do was send her
love.
She stood up and the unpleasant dizziness swept over he again. The waves
were coming faster and faster.
Time. Now there was a concept that had been shattered. She didn’t
need to be told that time was speeding up. Days and weeks flew by and
she sometimes felt she was hanging on by her teeth. The list of uncompleted
tasks grew. Time was folding in on itself. And yet the anomaly was that,
because of so-called wrinkles in time, a drive that would have taken
seven hours years ago still took seven hours. It was crazy-making. She
had to admit the whole space/time continuum confused the hell out of
her.
Julie absent-mindedly wandered from bookshelf to table, rearranging
books and photographs. She picked up a photo of Dave smiling at her
as only he could, and her heart skipped a beat. He could still do that
to her after all these years. She slowly replaced it.
There had been a lot of speculation about this Zero Point, even in the
Book of Revelation. Julie refused to buy into the doom and gloom prophecies.
The transformation would be enough of a challenge.
Out of curiosity Julie turned on the TV. Enough new things would soon
be happening in the atmosphere that scientists—and, no doubt, politicians—would
be thrown into an absolute tizzy. The devastating disasters of the last
few years made end-of-the- world tabloid headlines commonplace. It had
been the same with UFO reports until their existence could no longer
be denied. The government had done some fast talking to maintain a reasonable
semblance of credibility in the face of major cover-up scandals.
Reception was poor and static filled the airwaves. “… in Los
Angeles at ten twenty-three Pacific Standard Time. All communication
has been cut off … more information as we receive … Repeat:
a seven point five earthquake rocked the…”
“Oh, my God! Oh, no!” Julie cried. “Not now! This can’t
be happening! Dave! Bill! Where are you? Oh please, God, let them be
all right!” Her heart raced and she gasped for breath as the
news anchor plowed through the bad news.
“New York City … enormous power outage … investigating
the cause and we’ll … as long as our generators can handle
the load. Now to Travis Cutler at Times Square … Can you hear me,
Travis?”
Not well, based on Travis’s reaction. The noise was deafening and
people were running in all directions. The chaos would escalate. Interference
on every channel was no doubt related to wild fluctuations in Earth’s
electromagnetic field. Radio would be in trouble, too. She had to know
if her loved ones were okay, where they were, and whether there was
any possible way to escape L.A.
Julie grabbed her cell phone and tried unsuccessfully to reach Dave.
Frantic, she dialed her son, Steve, in Boulder. During military training
a few years ago, he’d faced survival situations in the mountains
fairly well. She had jokingly called him the Harrison Ford of the family.
He looked a little like him, too. He answered on the fourth ring.
“Mom! I got your message but I couldn’t get through to you.
How are things in Takoma Springs?”
“Oh, Steve, there’s been an earthquake in L.A. and both Dave
and Bill are there! I’m so scared!”
“Calm down, Mom. They’ll be fine. They both have a way of
being in the right place at the right time.”
br
“I know, but there’s so much else happening right now.”
“How bad was it?”
“A seven point five, from what I heard. The TV is full of static.
What if they’re hurt, Steve? What if they can’t get out?”
“They’re big boys, Mom. Survivors. I know you’ll hear
from them as soon as they can get through. How about Kathy? Does she
know?”
“I don’t know. She might have heard it on the car radio. Oh,
Lord, I hope she didn’t! She’s heading here with the kids
and that would really send her into a tailspin.” Julie took a deep
breath. There was absolutely nothing she could do about any of it. Better
to change the subject.
“How are you guys doing? Are the boys okay?”
“I’m in the middle of preparing for our annual audit at work.
I’m beginning to get dizzy just looking at figures. Megan’s
up to her ears between the boys and work. Jesse and Mike are fine but
she’s stressed to the max.”
Steve and Megan were so conscientious and took life so seriously, Julie
thought. When they’d been blessed with twins, she’d wondered
if they would have the stamina to deal with them. They did, but what
a learning experience it had been. The Shift was serious business, too,
but given Steve’s comments, she wasn’t about to push her advice
any further.
“I don’t want to scare the family,” Steve said, “so,
you know, we’re okay. I’ve got some extra food and water.
The kids really miss you guys, so maybe we can get together soon.”
“We miss all of you, too, Steve.”
“We’re going camping in the morning so don’t worry about
us. In fact, we might even get a head start and leave tonight.”
“Camping?” Julie bit her lower lip. “That __sounds like
fun. Just be careful. You know you’re in my prayers and I love
you very much. Don’t ever forget that, ever. And give Mike and
Jesse an extra big hug from Grandma.”
“You bet, Mom. I love you, too. Let me know if you hear anything.
And don’t worry, okay?”
When Julie hung up the phone, she didn’t know if the lump in her
throat was for Dave and Bill or for Steve. He was so vulnerable. The
ultimate peacemaker. He was still suffering from emotional fallout with
his father. Julie was confident that Steve and his family were capable
of handling themselves in the high country. They loved the wilderness;
in fact, that could be a good place for them to be, close and well grounded
to Mother Earth. It just wouldn’t have been Julie’s first
choice.
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