You just love sinning, you dirty, dirty sinner, you

Well, for those who didn't cheat and browse Wikipedia to find out the answer to last week's cliffhanger, it turns out Nada was the one that was shot and she promptly dies after saying a few words to Judd. Frankly, I have to commend whoever wrote this passage: the stuff dealing with the aftermath of her death is actually quite moving, mostly because the writer eases off the narrative gas and lets Judd actually feel something. I can't help but note that it's far better written than Ryan's death scene mostly because again, the writer lets the character feel something rather than hustling them onto the next disaster. I'm going to assume that this is all the ghostwriter's doing because I can't picture either Jerry Jenkins or Tim LaHaye showing this much compassion towards a character's feelings.

Also, Daddy Goldberg is dead and of course, there's no mention about how he's roasting on a spit at the hands of a merciful god. The YTF carry both him and Nada out of the jail and bury them outside.

But before you guys get the idea that I've sipped the flavor-aid and become a fan of this series, there is still a part where the characters demonstrate the trademark Ellanjay inhumanity that characterizes all the characters in this series.

They walked through streets littered with the dead. Some buildings were on fire, but there was no one to put them out. The massacre got worse as they neared Yitzhak’s home. Those who hadn’t been killed ran into the streets, wailing and crying over the dead.

That's all that's devoted to the aftermath of the lion-headed snake-tailed flying people killers. Once again, you shake your head sadly and wonder what a gifted writer like Cormac McCarthy would do with this.

Can't help but be disappointed that Nada's dead; she demonstrated more personality than Judd's eventual love interest, Vicki.

Second chapter, Vicki's driving. They stop in Iowa City and for those of you who were missing the bad writing and inhumanity that comes standard with Ellanjay's works, don't worry: it's back. :rolls up sleeves: We've got some work to do.

VICKI listened closely to the reports about the deadly horses as they drove east. Through Nebraska they saw the effects of the latest judgment. Houses in Lincoln were charred. The kids drove through billowing yellow and black smoke that floated through the area. They spotted herds of horses and riders in Omaha.
“I hope I never see those horses again,” Shelly said.
Conrad turned the news down. “I don’t get it. Those beasts are evil. They must want to hurt believers.”
“God’s using those killing machines for his own purpose. Somehow he’s put a hedge around those who are his, and those beings know it.”

I feel a need to reiterate: God is the one doing all this. According to Ellanjay, God is the Good Guy in all this and the Anti-Christ is the evil one. Yet remember, God is the one slaying millions via horrific disasters. :headdesk: I would say Zod's like something out of Lovecraft, except Lovecraft had the brains to know that the eldritch horrors in his works, while fearsome, were also not loving and kind and certainly not good. There's a reason I keep using my "Strawman always has a point" tag and that's because so far, the Strawman are the only ones making any logical sense.

Vicki and Shelly decide to stock up on junk food and watch the news. Naturally they snigger the entire time.

“Scientists are still speculating on the cause of this worldwide death plague,” one news anchor said. “Hundreds of thousands are reported dead; millions have been sickened by the mysterious smoke that seemingly came out of nowhere.”
“They can’t see the horses,” Shelly said.
Vicki shook her head. “Somehow God made them visible to us but blinded unbelievers.”

I highlighted this passage mostly for the clumsiness of the dialogue. Worldwide death plague? Oh and you need not specify that it seemingly came out of nowhere; you already said it was mysterious. But is there any reason why Zod would choose to blind unbelievers to the horses? He didn't with the demonic locusts. Needless to say I'm confused and am hoping aunursa can shed some light on this.

After watching the news for a bit, they change channels and we see more of the horrors of the NWO.

Those that weren’t showing the news were disgusting. One program featured a man in a desperate search for a family member who had been buried alive. A ticking clock was positioned at the bottom of the screen. At first, Vicki thought it was a movie.
“This is real,” Shelly said in disbelief.
“Turn to something else.”
Shelly switched to the next channel. A man in black robes and a mask stood inside a five-pointed star. It looked like he was praying.

Okay so being buried alive would be pretty horrifying and in the evil satanic NWO, it would make sense that it would take delight in that kind of suffering (even though Zod buried who-knows-how many in the Great Earthquake) but how is a guy in robes praying? Also, I thought the only faith allowed was the EBOWF or is this another case of "all other religions are satanic!" And here I thought that Ellanjay just considered all other religions to be a case of "La-la-la Can't hear you!" denial of Christ.

“Exactly what Tsion Ben-Judah predicted. People love themselves and their sin too much. Tsion said we’d see more drug use, murder, gross sexual stuff, and…”
“And what?”
“I think that guy was leading people in a prayer, but it wasn’t to God. I think he was praying to demons.”

I really don't need to say much about this quote except that it's nice to know that apparently drug addicts just love to sin and there's no such thing as being chemically addicted to something.

Next section is another Judd section and again, it's actually well-written with Judd talking with Nada's mother (whose finally given a name, Lina, if you're wondering) about Nada. It's enough to make me wonder what it is about Judd that's attracting the good writing right now. Maybe it's because writing about some characters mourning the loss of a friend, naturally lends itself to good, introspective prose or at least competent prose.

But quickly we're back at the next section...Nothing much happens except that Vicki finally returns to the schoolhouse. Oh and Token Jew has released yet another epistle. :massages temples: Oh what joys we have to look forward to...But it'll have to wait until next week. I just read that chapter and oh boy, do we have a lot to snark and I don't wanna stretch these posts out too long. So happy Easter and I'll see you then!