"Though no one heard it, they assume it was loud... and big." "Bang!" "All that flowed from it then was inevitable." "But inevitable does not mean planned." "Think of it as an enormous game of tic-tac-toe" " If no one wins... if you keep expanding the board, endless random patterns... and mathematical equations will unfold." "From snowflakes to dandelions, grasshoppers to giraffes." "It's as probable for a tornado traveling through a junkyard... to produce Buckingham Palace... than for life to emerge from the big bang." "But emerge it did into the hands of man." "Iraqi insurgents clashed with state militiamen outside the city of Kufa." "Hopes of peace were shattered by a missile attack in Gaza." "An Israeli missile" "The people of Rwanda suffered one of the worst genocides in the 20th century." "This continent is rife with acts ofbarbarism." "Once again struck by terrorism, a suicide bombing at a preschool, taking the lives of 30..." "close to five dead and at least 14 wounded." "In breaking news, a Satanist has been brought to justice." "The personal mission of Harvard astrophysicist Richard Massey... to find his daughter's killer has ended on the streets of Santiago de Chile." "That's where cult leader Isaiah Haden fled... after the abduction and brutal murder of 12-year-old Lucinda Massey." "Her heart was allegedly used in a ritual Satanic sacrifice." "We're experiencing some turbulence." "Please keep your seat belts fastened." "It'd be sad to go down now, wouldn't it, Richard?" "You going to heaven and me going to hell... before we really got to know each other?" "I've been looking forward to that." "If this plane goes down, it's because you're on it, and God doesn't wanna take any chances." "Really?" "One, two, three." "Coincidence?" "You'll never know." "And today, from Chiapas Province in Chapulta, Mexico, comes stories of a milagro de la montaña- the "miracle of the mountain,"" "drawing the attention of religious scholar SisterJosepha Montafiore, who has come to document it." "Stories of such miracles are being widely reported in recent days" "This is the final boarding call for Flight 1711 to Miami at Gate 12." "Hey!" "I got a statement to make!" " I demand to be heard!" " Get in." "There he is!" "Dr. Massey!" "Dr. Massey, I'm Mark Rubio." "The chancellor sent me to come and get you." " Can we just go?" " Yeah, definitely." "Storm fronts continue to pound the Mediterranean, where a passenger vessel is believed lost in the Aegean Sea." "It looks like a shadow, but there's nothing to create a shadow." "The sky is perfectly clear." "The head of Christ turns." "His head- His head is turning towards us." "And creation will end as it began... with a noise that no one will hear." "The approaching sun, having scorched the planet clean, the last sound on Earth will be the roar... of the oceans boiling." "Sir." "Dr. Lampley, you talk of science creating and destroying the world." "Is there no room for God in this equation?" "I think there's room in science for everything and everyone, even God." "If only he would make himself known." "Livvie!" "You miss that bus this morning, you're out ofluck." "The lines are down on I-5." "I gotta hustle." " What did you make me today?" " Last night's dinner." "Don't you have any pants that come up to your waist?" "Do you?" "What the hell is that?" "It's not permanent." "Sticking out of your pants, it better not be." "You cover it up or wash it off." "I'll miss my bus!" " Then you'll walk." " Jesus Christ." "Just for that, you're goin' to church Sunday!" "You must be tired, huh?" "I shopped for you today." "I didn't" " I didn't know what you liked." "Somebody said Oreos." "I hope they weren't kidding." "Um, can I just say that it is a great honor to meet you, sir?" "I got an advance copy of your book." "And, uh, they wanna do a book-signing at the campus bookstore when you get back up to speed." "So" " I" "I bet it's great to be back home, huh?" "Get to sleep in your own bed tonight." "I know that's what I like when I get back home." "I guess that's why they say "No place like home. '"" "Her life on Earth was brief." "It was a life complete, filled with love andjoy and commitment to God." "But no one who knew her could disagree..." "Lucinda was one of his most beautiful creations." "As we take her to her final rest, let the cry of pain dissolve into the universe." "For she watches over us." "...so we cleared it and we wrote down all the messages." "And, uh, there were a couple of crank calls, so you might wanna get your number changed." "And, uh, the campus security, made them aware of it, and they said they're gonna keep an eye on your house at night." "Jordan Crull put up the sign." "We're incredibly proud to be your interns, sir." "Even my folks are proud, and that's not easy to do." "I'll get those." "No, no, I got 'em." "I got 'em." "I got 'em." "Uh, sir?" "I'm sorry about what happened." "I mean, I know sorry doesn't do it, but I don't" " I don't know what to say." "Tell your folks I'm glad to have you on the team." "Richard, it's Nora." "I'm glad you're home." "Maybe we can all find some peace now." "Home, the conquering hero." "My star pupil has been missed." "That's my favorite fish." "Father Ambrose." "Thanks for coming." "She was a good girl." "She's gonna get to heaven, right?" "I'm so sorry." "You're gonna see to that?" "Is she conscious?" "No, she's-They say brain-dead." "They say there's no hope." "And in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, take Olivia Beaudrey, who stands before thee without sin, into thy loving embrace." "Somethin' wrong?" "Maybe the lightning." "I thought her mouth moved." "She's talking!" "That's impossible." "They said she was brain-dead." "It's Latin." ""The mystery of lawlessness..." ""is already at work." ""The time is short." "The world will pass away. "" "She's quoting Scripture!" "Child killer!" "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." "Father Ambrose?" "SisterJosepha Montafiore of the Eklind Foundation." "Mother Francine May called me." "Thank you." "We're hoping you can help." " She's very cold." " Dead, technically." "That's how they'rejustifying unplugging her - to harvest her organs." " Any advocates?" " Just us." "The mother is deceased." "The father has been offered money by the parents of a child needing a kidney." " And has he accepted?" " Not yet, but he's drinking a great deal." "They have no insurance, and if the state has to pay for this life support, it's up to the courts." "Religious training?" "Occasional church on Sunday as a consequence of bad behavior." "So, um, these recitations, they wouldn't be from memory." "If she had any memory, this wouldn't be in it." "When did she last speak?" "It comes and goes." "Sometimes it stops for so long, we think she's finished." "That's what they're waiting for." "They're watching us?" "They could come at any time." "I need to be alone." "My contract with the Eklind Foundation stipulates... that I need to observe these phenomena undisturbed with my own eyes and ears." "If you'll excuse me." "I'll be just outside." "Oh, Father Ambrose?" "What Scriptures?" "Old Testament?" "New?" "Revelation." "Timely choice." "The end of days." "Do you think so?" "That's what brought me here." "Quickly!" "Get Father Ambrose immediately!" "Dr. Hite, there's something going on." "Yes." "I have orders to clear her room." "Ma'am, I can't let you go in there." "Get out of my way!" "Ma'am, I can't let you go in there." "Get out of my way!" "Security!" "Security!" "What is that?" "See, I'm thinking, you take little kids" "If you take little kids, even little babies, they're naturally curious about the stars." "Watch out, 'cause the glass" "Sorry." "The glass falls out." "I'm sorry." "I think I saw a broom." "Dr. Massey?" "Uh" "Sorry." "He's not available right now." " Do you know where I might find him?" " Golf course somewhere." "He looks a lot like you." "Yeah." "I'm sorry." "I'm not really conducting business right now." " Could I see you alone?" " I'll go get the broom." " No, no." " SisterJosepha Montafiore from the Eklind Foundation in New York." "These are my credentials." "Look, if you're looking for a contribution, I don't" " Don't what?" " Donate." "Well, to religion, anyway." "That's just" "That's something that I don't do." "I do need to speak to you alone." "Sister, if you know who I am, then you should know that I've had these threats against me" "I have no idea who you are, only that I've been sent here by this." "It's a map written with archaic symbols from Galileo's time... drawn by a child in a comatose state... who has tapped into some sort ofhigher consciousness." "She's speaking the word of God." "I know." "It sounds preposterous." "But as a fellow scholar, I can tell you that... all the signs and symbols set forth in the Bible... are currently in place for the end of days." ""End of days"?" "I don't think I can help you, Sister." "You know, I- I think you're mistaken." "In fact, I'm certain of it." "I'm not easily fooled." "I wish I could say the same." "If you could excuse us, we've gotta get back to work, so" "Yes." "May I ask why you were being threatened, and by whom?" "I will read up on you extensively, find out everything there is to know." " Satanists." " Satanists." "I've tangled with the opposing team." "I see." "We will be seeing more of each other, Dr. Massey." "In the meantime, might I be so bold as to make a suggestion?" "That you reconsider your position on donating to religion." "Like all biblical tales, the 10 plagues of Moses'time... easily yields to a scientific explanation." "In the Book of Exodus, the river was turned into blood." "And there followed the plagues of frogs, bugs, boils... and the death of the firstborn." "What we have evidence of is a volcanic eruption, which poured mud into the Nile, turning it red with silt, driving the frogs to the land, where they rotted in the sun, which drew bugs by the billions." "And they carried typhus- boils- and that swept death through the firstborn- the eldest children whose exposure was the greatest... because they were the ones who labored in the fields." "Science." "Well, I suggest now that we all proceed into the library and do some book-signing." "Anyone of you that has not yet purchased this masterpiece should do so now." "Into the library, folks!" "This-a-way!" "Literacy rules!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Come on!" "Follow me." "Why solitary?" "Security." "We let him into the population, they'd tear him apart." "Is he aware that I'm coming?" "By law, we had to inform him." "But he already signed a consent form, put your name on it." "Wait, wait." "He knew I was coming?" "Said he'd been informed by higher powers." "This guy is out there." "He can control his heartbeat, so the polygraph can't tell whether he's telling the truth or a lie." "Told the chaplain he only had to breathe once per minute... when he goes into a trance." "The guard stays posted." "Knock when you want out." "I just knew a friend was coming." "I sensed it." "Hmm." "Hearts." "I so love hearts, don't you?" "Do you know why so many songs have been written about the human heart, Richard?" "Because we all long for goodness... and hope and innocence." "How could one not hunger for it?" "Do you wanna play?" "What do you want, Richard?" "To talk." "Like you said, get to know each other." "Someday, you're gonna go to hell." "Lord willing." "I'm gonna go to heaven." "The angels'll wanna know, what was he like?" "The angels." "I like this." "What was he thinking, that piece of filth, when he choked the life out of a child?" "Well, let's start with, "What was he like?"" "And then we can move on to, "What was he thinking, this piece of filth?" Et cetera." "Ten minutes." "He was deep." "Yeah, that's what he was like." "And he was fun." "If we'd met under different circumstances, you'd like me, Richard." "When I get out, we can hang." "I think you're gonna hang by yourself, 'cause you're never gettin' out of here." "That's fine." "These are my people." "This is my parish where I'll preach the word of my Lord." "You may have to preach to yourself." "You step out there, they're gonna tear you apart." "And then what, Richard?" "You think that's the end of it?" "Look around you." "We're everywhere, maybe even in your own neighborhood." "The family next door." "Hey, what about the cop who drives by your house every half hour?" "Who knows?" "Or the man who stole your wife away." "Tom." "How is Nora, by the way, and her new stepson "Little Hawk'"?" "You know, it's such a shame that he's failing math." "Did you know that he plays soccer for the Davenport Devils?" "Kids are so sweet." "I should have killed you when I had the chance." "There's nowhere to run, Richard." "Your god has deserted you." "The evidence abounds." "I'll see you when they pull the switch." "That's what he was thinking, this piece of filth, when he choked the life from your child- that you have all made your deals with the devil, and he has come to be paid!" "So hear me now, for I am come to ready his bed!" "He who will not die and he who does not bleed, for I do not die... because I do not bleed!" "Nora, it's Richard." "I gotta talk to you." "Please call me." "And keep an eye on Hawk." "Know where he is every minute." "Yeah, right." "Somebody call?" "Uh, no." "They hung up." "No game today?" "Henry?" "Dr. Massey, this is SisterJosepha." "I had planned to wait for your call, but things have changed here." "You're very much in need." "The child has stopped talking, and they're going to take her if she doesn't start again soon." "The number to reach me on is" "I have no idea who you are." "I've been sent here by this." "It's a map." "You have reached the offices of the Eklind Foundation, presently closed." "If you have an emergency" "Is this gonna be something that I can frame?" "Don't look." "It's a surprise." "Dr. Massey, welcome." "Do you have anything else?" "No." "It's this way." "You look tired." "Did you sleep?" "I must have." "I had bad dreams." ""When I think my bed will comfort me and sleep relieve my pain, thou dost terrify me with dreams and affright me with visions. '"" "Job 7:13." "Job." "Is that me- born to suffer?" ""The birth of man is the birth of sorrow. " Chuang Tzu." "Can you speak without doing that?" "I don't know." "Most people find it comforting." "I doubt that." "Doubt is healthy." "I believe in doubt." "Good, because I brought plenty with me." "I wanna look at the brain scans." "I wanna meet with the doctors, view the X-rays, and then I wanna see her do that talking-writing trick." "As we all would." "I'm hoping that your presence here may help to revive her." "Fortunately, we've found a judge who's sympathetic to our cause... and has enforced a 72-hour restraining order... on the harvesting of any organs until there's been a complete medical review." "Good." "I'd like to attend." "Well, we're just buying time really." "It's an exercise." "We're trying to get her out of there." "Miami Memorial, Biscayne Bay." "Why are you moving her?" "Because there's a certain atmosphere at the hospital." "Adversarial." "I can understand that." "Are you, Dr. Massey, adversarial?" "Is that why you've come?" "Forgive me." "It's my training." "I'm a scientist." "So you've come as a scientist?" "A realist." "Devil's advocate, you mean?" "In a manner of speaking, yes." "We have enough of those." "I was hoping for some help." "So she is literally brain-dead?" "It's called a "persistent vegetative state. '"" "Which falls into an unfortunate area of debate." "Right-to-lifers would claim consciousness in the brain waves of a night crawler." "The fact is, the lightning fried her cerebral cortex- the center for consciousness, memory and thought, all things human." "Excuse me." "What are these?" "Dr. Massey is a friend of the family." "We thought they were bullets at first until we realized they're fillings from her teeth... that shot up into her brain when the lightning struck." "But this part of the brain is the medulla, isn't it?" "The fuse box for involuntary motor control." "So what about the claim that she writes?" "Highly suspect." "Our surveillance camera shows... some kind of seizure activity when the nun was taping her." "It looks like the nun is writing for her." "The talking - you have video on that too?" "Involuntary reflex, as far as we can tell." "Like gagging." "The voice, if you can call it that, is unintelligible, mostly covered by thunder." "She only animated during electrical storms." "Whatever it was has stopped." "She's now completely comatose." "It doesn't help anyone to drag this out, certainly not the child." "I'll file an affidavit, hopefully before they can mount a legal defense." "The nun's got money behind her- the Eklind Foundation, a religious fundamentalist who's financing her attempt to prove... the prophecies of the Bible are coming to pass." "Prophecies- The end of the world." "She's mounting an expedition to find Jesus." "I was taught that every drop of water on Earth at the time of creation is still here, absorbed and falling to be reabsorbed into the clouds again." "Is that true?" "For millions of years, before ozone holes." "How can God's work be so easily undone?" "You knew her, didn't you?" "Lucy?" "Yeah." "You must have from school or church" " No." " Then how did you know?" " The name?" "I told you I'd look you up." "No, not her name." "The donkey." "You can't look that up." "The donkey?" "The drawing of the animal on the so-called map." "It was something she used to draw." "The same exact figure." "How did you know that?" "I didn't." "Nobody should've known." "It was just her and me." "I read her the story of Don Quixote." "She thought I said "donkey. " It became my nickname - "Donkey Hotey. "" "She put it on her notes to me." "How did you know that?" "I didn't." "But that's what she's doing now through this child." "Do you know what a delok is?" "In the Tibetan Himalayas, on special days of the Buddhist calendar, young women die for several hours to act as messengers between the living and the dead." " That's not what's going on here." " Well, how could you possibly know that?" "It's silver alloys that are picking up electrical signals and radio frequencies." "That's why antennae are made out of them and lightning rods." "What does that have to do with" "She has two fillings in her head, embedded in the autonomic center of her brain... being stimulated by lightning during electrical storms." ""As lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so does the word of God. "" "Matthew 24:27." "Believe whatever you want to then." "Or deny whatever you want to!" "I saw it!" "I heard it!" "Look, is it significant that that's what you're being paid to hear and see?" "Religious phenomena that confirms the Bible's predictions of the end of the world." "Right?" "You are making a living off this, are you not?" "Or maybe it's just you're honestly delusional." "It is they who are making a living out of this by cutting out her organs!" "Because she can't recover." "She's speaking the word of God." "I know what happened to your daughter." "And now that you've confirmed that she's summoning you, if you don't help me stop them, they'll cut her heart out all over again!" "Stop." "Just... stay away from me." "Stay away from me." ""As fire flashes from heaven, so will the son of man be heard on this day!"" "Sister Josepha!" "Please come." "Her heart is failing." "What?" "We're losing her." "We're ready to move on the flatline." "I want a transplant team in motion." "What's going on?" "What is that?" "A respirator, so when her heart stops her organs won't deteriorate." " No, no, no." "We need a crash team." " Excuse me!" " We need to start her heart." " We make that call, Sister!" "Please, step outside." "Where is the crash team?" "Get the crash cart!" "Where are the paddles?" "Lfher heart stops, we are not restarting." "There will be no heroic measures" " There will be heroic measures taken if she's code blue!" "You have no authority in here." "This is a medical emergency." "Get him!"