Annie watched in awe as helicopter load after helicopter load of people were airlifted into Petra.

"These are new believers who are arriving from Masada," David told her. "Micah, formerly known as Dr. Chaim Rosenzweig, is their leader. They have been promised safety here."

"But there are so many of them!" Annie exclaimed. "How will there be room for them all?"

"God will provide," David assured her.

The throngs of new arrivals seemed jubilant at first, but their happiness soon turned to anxiety, and Annie quickly realized why. Three huge clouds of dust moved toward them.

"GC ground forces," David said dolefully.

"But I thought everyone was safe here!" Annie cried.

"There are still some outside the entrance," David told her. "We may have to take up arms in their defense."

'Oh, no, David," Annie groaned. The thought that her new husband may have narrowly escaped death once only to meet it shortly afterwards in battle was horrific to her.

Suddenly a tall man appeared at the front of the crowd of people who were still pouring into Petra. He wore a white robe and seemed to 'glow.' Annie couldn't think of any other way to describe it.

"An angel," she whispered to David. He nodded.

The angel began to speak. "Fear not, children of Abraham. God has heard you and will come and save you." As the angel began to quote passages of comfort from the Bible, he began to walk amongst the masses of people he'd come to save.

"Fear not! Fear not!" he began to chant. He turned to face the pursuing armies, head held high in defiance, and the crowd assumed his pose.

Annie suddenly heard a deafening noise. It was by far the loudest sound she'd ever heard in her life. Scared out of her wits, she dropped to the ground. David did the same, shielding his wife's body with his own the best he could.

David, Annie, and the others all covered their ears with their hands as the air suddenly became very smoky and the ground began to rock so violently that Annie almost became seasick.

In minutes, the air was clear and the ground unmoving once more. Annie and the others lifted their heads and gazed about themselves in wonder. The advancing GC troops had disappeared. The ground had literally opened and swallowed them up.

"Oh, David..." Annie felt as if she might pass out.

"It's all right, sweetheart. Everything's all right now. It's all over with," David comforted his wife.

"Let us all give thanks to the Lord for his deliverance," boomed Micah's voice. The mass of people did so, humbly and in deep gratitude.


That evening, a great flock of quails flew into Petra, and the residents roasted them over open fires.

"It's almost like a huge camp-out, isn't it?" Annie remarked.

David laughed. "I suppose this makes up for never having been in the Boy Scouts," he joked.

"It tastes rather like chicken breast, doesn't it?" Annie hadn't tasted quail since childhood.

"It's quite tasty," David agreed.

"You know, it's amazing to me how swiftly life seems to have returned to normal after what happened earlier," said Annie. She couldn't stop thinking of all those men who'd been alive only a few hours earlier yet now were buried deep beneath the earth's surface. They'd been evil men intent on killing innocent people, it was true, yet when Annie thought of their present situation, she couldn't help but shudder.

David seemed to read her mind. "They made their choice, Annie," he said, gently touching her arm.

"I know, and yet..." Annie hugged herself, as the air suddenly felt chilly. "Will you love me again tonight, David? I really need to feel close to you."

"Of course I will, my love." He touched her cheek ever so softly, and she suddenly felt much better.