Chapter 3: Matters of Religion

"Just who is this Texas preacher? Where did he come from? What's his religious affiliation and how many followers does he have? Is he the least bit credible? Does he have any credentials?"

The White House Chief of Staff stormed back and forth across his office, his cell phone clutched tightly to his ear, his other hand waving wildly in the air to punctuate his questions. Behind him, a wall-mounted flat-screen television showed the Texas preacher standing tall on an outdoor stage before an audience of what appeared to be several thousand people.

After a few moments of intense conversation, he turned to the small gathering of staffers in his office.

"Completely unknown until a few weeks ago, then he exploded onto the scene with a televised tent meeting that seems to have gone viral. He's the hottest thing in Texas, with thousands of people driving hundreds of miles to attend his meetings. He's scaring the crap out of them, preaching that our space visitors are a threat to Christianity and humanity. People are eating it up; he's already outgrown the largest tents. My source says he's going to book the Astrodome for a series of meetings ... all to be televised, of course.

"Apparently he's already gotten a lock on two Christian cable channels to carry his Astrodome appearances. It seems that rivers of cash have begun flowing to this preacher, but we can't get a handle on how much. He's a registered religious entity so he isn't required to report his church donations. My source had a chat with an insider, and the word is that he's got more than enough cash on hand to buy all of the arena space and air time he wants.

"Jenny, get me an updated copy of our religious friends list. Bill, I'd like you to follow up with my contact—I've jotted down his number—and I'd like twice-a-day updates from him. Let's see if we can get a better idea. How much money is flowing to this preacher? And get crowd estimates, with a focus on how widespread this movement is becoming. Is it spreading outside of Texas yet? Randy, I want you to get onto that Astrodome thing, and the television angle. Confirm that he's got the bookings, and what the dates are. Also, if he's got the 'dome, will he fill the seats? ... and if so, how fast? We want to know just how hot this guy is, people! Is he a seven-day wonder, or is this the start of a wildfire that could spread across the nation? The President needs to know, so let's hop to it!"

The television cameras extended in a semi-circle around the ruggedly-handsome man in his late thirties, and the attractive late-middle-aged woman sitting beside him. They faced a regionally popular interviewer, Chess Barker, who enjoyed a high-ratings following in the KSL-TV Intermountain West coverage area.

"We are here this evening with Rhys Jacobs and his mother, Martha Jacobs. As most of our viewers know by this time, the Jacobs are closely connected with Michael Hawthorne. We're told by the Jacobs family that Michael is considered one of them ... a brother, and a son.

"Mr. Jacobs, is it true that Michael Hawthorne not only volunteered, but that he actually demanded to be taken aboard the alien ship, and that he left with them when the Masi'shen departed from our planet? And he has gone, presumably, to their home planet?"

"Yes, that is true. Michael had strong personal reasons for requesting that he join the Masi'shen on their ship. He and Dee'rah, who appeared with her parents on the rescue ship off the coast of Siple Island, had a very close association. Michael chose to accompany her when they left."

"Does that imply a romantic interest between them? Between a human and an alien being?" Chess asked.

"No, it does not imply that. But over the course of the year that we worked to rescue the Masi'shen from Antarctica, Michael and Dee'rah, and her family, grew close in friendship. I'm sure that is the reason for his request to accompany them. People should not presume or jump to conclusions beyond that," Rhys answered.

"My son nearly died on Siple Island," Martha added. "It was Dee'rah and her people who were first to call for his rescue after our government abandoned him there to perish! Michael later told me that it was Dee'rah's unique ability to communicate with him that gave him hope, and a reason to live, during his darkest, most desperate hours. Michael then risked everything, he risked his life, to save her and her people. It's little wonder that he feels so attached to them, and they to him," she replied.

"But how can he exist with them? They are so different ... how is it possible?" Chess insisted.