Fourth Reich

Robert Van Kampen

Description

Combining international intrigue and romance with close adherence to biblical prophecy, The Fourth Reich gives an intense, fast-paced, and dramatic portrayal of the end-times.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 1997
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441239563
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

© 1997 by Robert D. Van Kampen
Published by Revell a division of Baker Publishing Group P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516–6287 www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2012
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owners. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-3956-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
To my wife, Judy
For her love for me, our family, and for Christ.
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C ONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Part 1 The Beginning of the End
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Part 2 The Covenant with Death
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Part 3 Holocaust II
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Part 4 The Sign in the Sun, Moon, and Stars
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Part 5 The Day of the Lord
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Part 6 Death and Life
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Part 7 The Final Wrath of God
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Epilogue
An Important Afterword
About the Author
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A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank my wife, Judy, and my three daughters, Kristen Wisen, Karla Van Kampen-Pierre, and Kim Van Kampen, for all the help they were in writing The Fourth Reich . All four have sat patiently through many of my prophecy classes, and their thorough knowledge of the sequence and timing of endtime events was critical in plotting this novel, as their gifted, creative minds helped me develop the characters and storyline.
In addition, my wife, bless her heart, had to put up with a husband who has been consumed with this project for over a year and a half. She covered for me when I was writing, and must have read the manuscript through ten times before letting me send it off to the professional editors.
And last, but certainly not least, I must thank Frank Simon and Judith Markham; Frank for his incredible, creative flair and Judith for her rewrite skills that let me say the same thing in 30 percent fewer words! Without their giftedness, this novel would probably sound more like an instruction manual for the military! For being so patient with me, and for your creative writing and rewriting, thank you!
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P ROLOGUE
T he weak red orb of the sun hovered low over the eastern horizon, as if it hadn’t the strength to rise any higher. A wintry blast of arctic wind rocked the black limousine as the driver skidded the vehicle onto the road leading to a delivery gate at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo I Airport.
In the broad back seat, separated from the driver by a glass panel, a woman sat huddled beside her husband. Feeling her shiver, Georgi Belov patted his wife’s hand.
“Your hands are freezing, my dear.”
“I am worried, Georgi. Are we doing the right thing?”
Belov closed his eyes momentarily, struggling to hide his irritation. “We’ve been through this many times, Olga. We both want children, but the doctors tell us you cannot conceive. Fortunately, there are things that can be done.”
“Yes, I know. I only wish I didn’t have to leave Russia. What if something goes wrong?”
“This is the only way, Olga. This particular in-vitro process is new. None of our Russian doctors do it yet.” He did not add that the DNA fertilization procedure was also still experimental in Germany.
“I wish you were coming with me.”
“If I could, I would, darling, but you know my duties will not permit it. I will be along in two weeks.” He patted her knee. “Although the procedure is new, the father must still provide his contribution.” His attempt at humor brought no smile to her face. “Olga, you must be brave. Will you for me?”
She nodded, but continued to look down at her hands, clasped tightly together in black leather gloves.
“Now cheer up, Olga. Think of our future son or daughter.”
The driver pulled up at the gate and rolled down his window. Belov watched through the glass partition as the man held out the security papers to the Federal Security Bureau guard. The guard examined them under the feeble glow of the single light bulb over his tiny shack, then glanced quickly toward the passengers. As he shoved the papers back through the window, the guard stiffened into the stance of a salute. Belov gave him a stern nod as they drove through the gate and onto the tarmac.
Mechanics and other personnel moved among the parked aircraft, service vehicles, and refueling trucks as the busy airport prepared for the day’s flights to domestic destinations. The driver stopped the limousine at the stairs leading up to the Antonov 24V’s doors and stepped out to open the rear door for his passengers.
“Time for you to go, my dear,” Belov said. He kissed Olga lightly on the lips.
“I will miss you.”
“I will miss you, too, but you have nothing to worry about. I have arranged for everything.”
“Yes, I know. Thank you, Georgi.”
He squeezed her hand, then stepped out onto the tarmac. He helped her from the limousine and escorted her to the bottom of the stairs that led up to the aircraft door. Above, in the doorway of the plane, a uniformed flight attendant waited, a bored expression on his face.
Belov watched as his wife made her way up the stairs, clutching her black cloth coat around her against the cold. As soon as she entered the cabin, the ground crew pulled the stairs away while the flight attendant closed the door of the aircraft. Belov settled himself once more in the limousine and leaned into the leather comfort of the seat as his driver turned the vehicle and headed back to the city.
* * *
Dr. Karl Fischer pushed his black-rimmed glasses back up the bridge of his nose and nervously checked the microscope once more. Then he straightened up, rubbed the back of his tired neck, and exhaled an impatient breath into the sterile surgical mask. It was well past midnight and he had not moved from this spot in several hours.
Fischer had been introduced to the project the preceding year. The research project had been interesting when it began, but it soon took on the distinctly unpleasant odor of political intrigue when a Dr. Otto Heine arrived at Fischer’s genetics lab, bearing frozen samples of skull fragments in a box with Russian lettering. Inside, he found a small tag attached to the lip of the sample bags; it read, “Berlin, 4 May 1945.”
Much about Dr. Heine disturbed Fischer, but the man’s offer proved irresistible: In exchange for the successful extraction of viable cell nuclei from the bone fragments, Fischer would be provided with a significant stipend, a blank check for equipment as well as personnel. Fischer’s only restriction was an absolute prohibition of any discussion of the experiment, including publication of the results. The project had been classified as high-security government research. Still, Karl figured that what he learned he would remember.
Weary, but not ready to go home for the day, he again leaned over his microscope. His concentration was interrupted, however, when the lab door suddenly swung open. A small, intense figure entered with an air of authority. Dr. Otto Heine was a man totally devoid of patience or tact.
“Are we alone?” Heine barked.
“We are.” Fischer barely refrained from rolling his eyes at the man’s paranoia.
“Good. You have something to report, I understand.”
“Yes. The extraction from the skull fragment was successful. I have examined the nuclei myself. They are viable.” Fischer nodded at the microscope.
“Good,” Heine said and leaned over to peer through the lens.
“Very good,” he said a few moments later. “Stay here.” Heine turned abruptly and, without formalities, made his exit.
Dr. Karl Fischer fumed. Blank-check grants or not, there were some things a research scientist should not have to endure from a glorified government worker. Heine’s arrogance was beyond belief, even in these heady circles. Within minutes, Heine returned. In his hand he carried a petri dish, which he gingerly placed beside the microscope. Fischer noticed the label attached beneath the clear laboratory dish.
“What is that?” Fischer asked. “Is it from the in-vitro lab? Why are my samples going to the in-vitro lab?” he asked.
Almost before the words left his lips, Heine whirled on him. Fischer made an involuntary step back when he saw the cold black eyes above the white surgical mask.
“I can see that you never leave this building,” Heine said, threateningly. “Remember the papers you signed when the project began? You are to ask no questions nothing! Do I make myself clear?”
Karl nodded.
“Very well. I will not warn you again!”
With that, Heine turned back to the table and as Fischer watched, initially in astonishment and then in chilling fear, the dark room began to be illuminated as an eerie purple glow surrounded the man standing in front of him. As the hue grew in intensity, Heine’s features seemed to bulge and melt. His lab coat and mask disappeared, revealing a figure that only remotely resembled a human being.
Karl backed farther and farther away toward the corner of the lab, wide-eyed and shaking, as the darkness revealed a humanoid face, with only the cruel eyes recognizable as those of the former man