The Waco Siege series
by Jane Hoffman
Jedda Diah Whitter had a Black oil-skinned scalloped band Aussie hat given to him by a foreign agent in Alaska while investigating an illegal oil rig operation. The rich black earth mixed with moose and caribou was his dream assignment. Jedda Diah Whitter hands were clean now but the sweat that travailed his body was mounting even though it was a mild 75 degrees with toxic humidity in September in a late mid afternoon in Waco, Texas. He tipped his hat to the waitress as a positive affirmation that he wanted one more cup of coffee with a side of ice. The climatic change felt like an embraced inferno and his air conditioned quarters at the Dust Bowl Inn, federally sanctioned domicile, only provided temporary relief. Jedda Diah was sent here on special assignment. He had to find the inside connections of the Branch Davidians and a possibility of a crime committed by them on their compound. A former Davidian had informed the feds that there was a meth lab but it was far from the truth and it had been destroyed by “the leader” when he took over. Two days earlier, Jedda Diah had been in the Wal-Mart aisle of hardware when a man with shoulder length dark curly hair and large wire rimmed glasses approached him, asking him if he knew if Wal-Mart carried bunson burners. He looked like a morphed version of a Steely Dan band member but his presence gave off more confidence than angst. He had a square tin of kerosene oil in his hand, distilled water in the other and lighter fluid tucked in his arm below the shoulder. He was warm with a glow about him somewhat muttering to himself inbetween conversation. Jedda Diah said, “The last time I saw a burner like that was in 10th grade chemistry lab.” The man retreated, once looking back. Their eyes locked for only seconds. “Welcome to Waco,” Koresh said and then turned away. Jedda Diah did not miss the opportunity to tip his new Aussie hat once again, a friendly gesture in these parts. He was confused about the presumption he was a visitor. Was it because he was not wearing a Stetson hat? At the checkout, Beverly Parsons, wife of the local Southern Baptist Pastor, whispered “That was David Koresh.” Jedda Diah knew her as he attended some local churches to get the general feel of tolerance of religious denominations in the area. On a sliding scale, the Baptists even felt the Catholics were a cult with their use of idols and exalting of the Virgin Mary. Beverly Parsons, whose eyes displayed fear and also laughter, reminded him of the attitude of all Texans. That this land somehow belonged to “them” even though the Branch Davidians had been in the area since the 1930s. While pondering that trip two days ago, Mr. Whitter got up in his booth and dropped a .40 cent tip on the red checkered tablecloth for one cup of coffee which included one smile from the waitress but a minor deduction for not refilling his cup of ice. He sauntered to his car and noticed a small postal outlet with a high standing Texas flag above the U.S. flag. Jedda Diah crossed the street and entered the small brick enclave. Robert Rodriguez was there with a full name tag and badge of friendliness. “Do you want to open a P.O. box today?” “No, I get my mail directly where I am staying and usually by phone call or fax.” “You new in this town?” Mr. Rodriguez asked. “I am just a temporary businessman with just a little bit of curiosity and a little too much time. Time enough to decide.” He left the answer open ended. Jedda Diah ordered two pre stamped envelopes and went over to the counter to write. He picked up a pamphlet that didn’t seem to belong to anyone. It had an introduction followed by a paragraph signed by a man titled prophet in signature style. “But in the beginning it was not so, in the beginning all the heavens beheld the word of God. And God, who said let there be light, manifested the power of the invisible world, the power of the unseen, the power of the prophet, the power given unto men that they might declare what is to be. We, the children of the prophets, are to know our signs. We are to know the authenticity and the power of the word of the fathers, the family of God, the children of light.” It was slightly wrinkled and Jedda Diah brought it back to the clerk. “Someone left this here. Should I throw it out?” The clerk shook his head. “Naw, we keep those there. That’s the last one. You can have it.” Jedda said “This is a federal post office, you can’t leave witness tracts in a federal building.” Robert replied “There are 3 concepts in Texas and few unmistakable laws. God, free will and our own authority. Yeah, we follow the laws but we subscribe to higher laws, the unseen. Read the pamphlet and you might get the drift.” Mr. Whitter left the store with the crumpled tract in his hand. While opening the door, the sun glared in and he lost his temper and turned his head directly so Mr. Rodriguez could hear him. “There ain’t no ghosts of the Alamo here. You are a public servant of the U.S. government. Now start acting like one.” He walked to his rental car at the end of the second block. He wasn’t thrilled about the unseen. He wasn’t even sure of his assignment. He was used to manuals not a battle of wits. When he got back to his hotel room, he turned the cool fan on. The phone rang. “Special Agent Whitter. Don’t piss off the locals. Robert Rodriguez is the brother in law of David Koresh.” The dial tone returned. Maybe there were three sets of eyes watching him.
Waco Siege Series - Part Two
by Jane Hoffman
The amber light of the late afternoon sun pierced the inside of the hotel room window exposing a hand print and a reminder of casual inattentiveness of the Dust Bowl Inn. Jedda Diah was laying down and remembered he had to call the front desk about the high humming refrigerator. He also had to call the local police department and ask for Judson Harrell, the chief, for any pending charges on Branch Davidian members. He was prompted to track down George Roden, Koresh’s nemesis, at Big Spring State Hospital in the middle part of the state near Midland, a good four hour drive. Roden had done gone crazy in his years exiled as an outcast of the cult. There was also rumored to be a buried treasure trove of some sort in Palestine, Texas where Koresh hid out two years. After freshening up and dressing, Jedda Diah slipped on his new Black jeans with 2 rivet silver studs flanking each pocket. A wallet with a cut leash coil chain was attached to his belt. Jedda wasn’t a man of great material desires but the idea of wearing Western style clothing suited him. He went to the front desk to check for mail. Cadija, the manager, gave him a wide eyed greeting: “What did the Alaskan air blow in this time? Mmm hmm, sporting more rodeo clothes.” A gum chewing peroxide blonde stepped to the counter from the back. “Here’s your mail. Oh and you have two messages, too. These preachers keep callin’ for you. Are you having some sort of revival?” Jedda Diah said, “No, just questions and research.” Cadija piped in “Jimmy Swaggert once stayed here in room 14B. He was a hit in these parts with his sullen piano playing and melancholy hymns.” Jedda didn’t say anything, just walked away. Cadija’s voice trailed. “He made a name for himself.” Jedda yelled back, “If Swaggert was so smart, why did he drive on the wrong side of the road to pick up a hooker? That’s how he was caught.” Jedda pondered at the paradox of it all. Koresh fathered 20 children by simple consent, but a mainstream preacher felt he had to go to a prostitute to fulfill a taboo then never even slept with her. Jedda Diah then looked down at the messages. One was from a professor at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, another from local minister at the mainstream 7th Day Adventist Church. He went back to him room to call the professor. Jedda dialed the number, “Professor Daven Hallstrom” please. A voice came on quivering, “This is Daven.” “Hello, Daven this is Jedda Diah Whitter, federal agent from the Department of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco, the ATF. Was it my superior who prompted you to call me about this offshoot 7th Day Adventist leader?” Hallstrom confirmed, “Yes, his name was Lucas Transmoore. He wanted me to introduce you to the conception of the Davidians, the reason they exist in that part of Texas and what their future ministry is.” Jedda replied, “I don’t need a prophecy. Just a strong hint of what might be comin’ round, what to expect. I got a few leads myself.” Daven said “Have you ever heard of the Book of Nahum? It’s a small book in the Bible with only 4 chapters. David Koresh believes he is Cyrus, the re-established King of Persia. Ninevah is where the modern day Mosul, Iraq is. It was a city that had angered God. Koresh also believes he is a descendent of David. The original member of the Branch Davidians, Victor Houteff, picked Mt. Carmel, Texas in the 1930s to go along with that prophecy. Houteff separated his members from the regular church and built Mt. Carmel in the wilderness. Now David Koresh, years later, believes he has to protect the land from an impending enemy. Nahum 2:1 says “He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.” Chapter 3 says “Behold, I am against thee… and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard. And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her?” Koresh and his followers are expecting an earthly confrontation where their symbolic glory will be manifested. A remnant of believers mentioned in Revelations was interpreted by Houteff, the founding member, that 144,000 were to be gathered into the Rod, move to the Waco, Texas, headquartered as an assembling point-and then, from there, all would go together to Palestine where the Kingdom of David was to be recreated under the leadership of the new group. Divine providence was to open the way so that British who controlled Palestine from 1918 to 1948 would permit them to start their theocratic kingdom which, they expected, would soon be the amazement of the whole world,” Daven continued.
From its world headquarters in old Jerusalem, the Davidians believe they are surrounded and the only way to demonstrate their God given authority is resistance.” All of sudden there was a loud, sharp knock on the door. “UPS” was screeched from a thunderous male voice. Jedda Diah got up, looked out the door from side to side. There was no UPS in sight, just a square box wrapped in packing tape. He ran to the phone “I’ll call you back, Daven.” He found a fairly rigid toe nail cutter and opened the box. It was a map of a campground in Palestine, Texas. A combination of twisted trails were penciled out on the map. An X was written with a large, circled dot. The dot was marked “Lois Roden: hidden contents.” Jedda Diah sighed. He picked up the phone and called his boss. “I need some prioritizing here, Lucas. I need to know what I am looking for. I got Bible preachers, pending prophecies and mystery drop offs. I just got a box with a map of some place in Palestine, Texas.” Mr. Transmoore replied “That’s where Koresh lived for two years off the land when Lois Roden’s son drove him off Mt. Carmel. We have to find out what went down between George and him. Both of them had murder charges dropped abruptly after their gun barrel fight for leadership. There might be guns, ammo or money hidden out there in Palestine.” Jedda said, “I need a partner and back up. I got anonymous phone calls. I didn’t even have time to validate if I was talking to a bona fide professor or some other far-fetched religious pontificator. I feel alone and estranged. I don’t know which way to turn.” Lucas relayed “Get your bearings, I am already sending you one. Her name is Trinity Pearl. She was born in the South and she is going to pose as a Branch Davidian recruit. She will find her way in. In the meantime, make plans to go to Palestine tomorrow. She’ll have to bunk with you tonight.” J.D. Whitter cried “Say what?” and then the call faded out. (to be continued)
Waco Siege Series – Part Three
by Jane Hoffman
Stanley Mulbridge stood in the doorway of the Dust Bowl Inn without giving Jedda Diah any elbow room. “C’mon we gotta get a move on. From dawn to dusk, we only have limited time.” Stanley was a man of integrity and character and also bad taste. He had suspenders on, criss-crossed in the back tapered with red and green plaid overlaying a thick white cotton t-shirt. His pants were fire engine red, Wranglers at that, not even a Levis man. Jedda stared at a hopeful apparition. “The meek shall inherit the earth, but I inherited all the strangely frocked preacha men of Southern persuasion.” Stanley cackled “You haven’t even known me ten minutes and you somehow bust my fashion statement. I’m here to get to the bottom of this. I’m saving the government money.” Jedda and Stanley were headed off to Palestine, Texas to look for some lost artifacts of the Branch Davidians and to gather some information and maybe clues on the Mag Bag business, a gun trading operation that has sustained the group financially in recent years. Stanley was an informant in a sense. He had been the Pastor of the 7th Day Adventist Church for 12 years in Waco and personally knew Benjamin and Lois Roden, two leading members before they joined the Davidians. Jedda threw on a light jacket and headed out. “I upgraded to Ford F-150. It’s more masculine. My new partner is going to meet us in Palestine.” The drive was windy and the two glided over the hills of giant fields filled with wild flowers and groves of trees. There was a cool mixture in the air that surpassed the common humidity. Reverend Stanley said “It’s time to give you a lowdown, a brief history of the 7th Day Adventists. It’s a legalistic church that honors many of the traditions of the Jewish diet and customs from the first five books of Moses. There wasn’t a defector from the group until this Bulgarian immigrant named Victor Houteff left the church in the 1930s. He took 11 people with him and built on the present day grounds of the Branch Davidians in Waco. Before him, there were some other prominent church members, namely Ellen G. White who was considered a prophetess. She died in 1915 and was one of the founders of our church. She’s written many books which have sold worldwide. Well, Mr. Koresh transformed 7 founding leaders of the church into defining them as 7 angels who will open the seals of Christ in the Book of Revelation. Don’t you think it is rather arrogant that all 7 angels came out of one denomination in the middle of America? I mean, wow. Of course, it is now September, 1992, and Koresh is waiting for a mitigating event that will put the 7th seal into motion. That will be the final curtain call before Christ’s return.” Jedda remarked “I don’t want to ask you how you know this but how do you know this?” Mulbridge continued “I know some of the members. They are not strangers in the community. Some of them have held down legitimate jobs and are relatives of those inside the Waco compound. I wouldn’t exactly call them witnesses but the word gets out. They have copies and videos of the sermons.” There is one more prophecy I want to mention before we get to the site. “You know the good old Victor, the originator? He tried to put a time stamp on this prophecy but it backfired. His wife, Florence, announced to Victor’s followers right before he died that following a period of 1260 days that Christ would initiate His kingdom that would bring on Armageddon. Following his death, his wife Florence, who succeeded him in leadership, identified the 1260 days as extending from November 9, 1955 to April 22, 1959. She encouraged the faithful to sell their property and come to Mount Carmel Center to wait until 1260 days passed. It corresponded to Revelations 11 and Ezekiel 9. 800 people came. The days came and went and no major revelation took place. When the new leader showed up, Benjamin Roden, he self proclaimed himself to be the new sign. Koresh assigned him the prophecy of the 5th angel.” Stanley held the treasure map in his hand and pointed. “Turn there, brother Jedda.” Off the main road there was a gravel driveway which was not too large. A woman was standing there with a shovel. She had a square jaw and dark hair and could have passed for Native American or Mexican. She had thin lips with high cheekbones and a foul stare. Stanley raced out first. “Hi, I am Reverend Mulbridge of the Mount Lebanon SDA church in Waco. And your name?” She appeared cautious: “Agent Pearl, here to help you out.” She was brief. Jedda sauntered over, grabbing his own shovel in the back. “Here’s the map, Ms. Pearl. I’m your partner.” Without even a breath, she began “There are steps marking off 3 sets of hills that rise to the summit. There is a rail designating each set of stairs. The three ridges are 420 feet apart. At the top of the 3rd ridge there are 7 circles that are stepping stones placed in horizontal union. All the stepping stones are 360 degrees or the shape of the circle but each have a dividing line. Behind each circle is an ivory angel that is carved and placed behind the circle.” Stanley grabbed the map from Trinity Pearl. “I need to see that map.” He paused. “Where are the trails?” Pearl replied “They aren’t trails they are symbols.” Stanley said “420 sticks out in my mind. Do you know why? 420 x 3 = 1260, the length of the waiting period ‘til the prophecy is fulfilled. Seven circles x 180, a half circle equal 1260. They build these steps as a monument and it goes along with the prophecy in Revelations 11. I know some of it by heart. ‘Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told: ‘Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there….they will trample over the holy city for 42 months.’ 3 And I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.” Fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; if anyone would harm them, thus he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to cause plagues.” Jedda said “If we start digging, are we gunna be cursed?” Sweat was rolling down his face. “No” Trinity pointed out “because their prophecy is false.”
The leaves of the white ash and the blackgum trees whisped about as the 3 ascended the stairs equipped with a shovel and sackcloth. When they got to the top, Stanley started walking over the concrete stepping stones of the circles with lines in the middle. “This one feels softer.” All of them were tightly sealed except one. The ground had pushed it up. Stanley saw an opening. “There’s a wedge between this circle.” It was the third sealed circle. He pointed the tip of his shovel and started forcing it to crack. A raven landed on one of the ivory angels. “Stop there,” said Jedda Diah. “I want to follow the map.” “You are a coward,” shouted Stanley. “We are supposed be exposing something of potential danger that won’t deface the whole community of Waco. I sense we are on our own timetable, our own powder keg.” Stanley pushed harder and the surface cracked, exposing the hilt of a sword that shone so bright his eyes squinted, causing him to fall back.
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.” Fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; if anyone would harm them, thus he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to cause plagues.” Jedda said “If we start digging, are we gunna be cursed?” Sweat was rolling down his face. “No” Trinity pointed out “because their prophecy is false.”
The leaves of the white ash and the blackgum trees whisped about as the 3 ascended the stairs equipped with a shovel and sackcloth. When they got to the top, Stanley started walking over the concrete stepping stones of the circles with lines in the middle. “This one feels softer.” All of them were tightly sealed except one. The ground had pushed it up. Stanley saw an opening. “There’s a wedge between this circle.” It was the third sealed circle. He pointed the tip of his shovel and started forcing it to crack. A raven landed on one of the ivory angels. “Stop there,” said Jedda Diah. “I want to follow the map.” “You are a coward,” shouted Stanley. “We are supposed be exposing something of potential danger that won’t deface the whole community of Waco. I sense we are on our own timetable, our own powder keg.” Stanley pushed harder and the surface cracked, exposing the hilt of a sword that shone so bright his eyes squinted, causing him to fall back.
The Waco Siege Series – Part Four
by Jane Hoffman
The sword handle had the essence of a burning flame provoking a brazen, crimson hue from the angled sun rays. Jedda pulled it out. You could hear something shake beneath underground. When he pulled out the sword, it was double edged dark blue and silver with a distinctive inner blade. It had an etching on it: Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The three stood there momentarily, contemplating the sunlight as it seemed to embrace yet scorn the earth. Stanley began reciting Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” All of sudden Jedda cried out and raised his hands “What do these people want? What are we here to discover? We won’t be able to conquer these people.” Then he knelt down and wept. The cool air had vanquished and the sun was mounting. “Keep digging” ordered Trinity Pearl. “With your demeanor” remarked Stanley, “you aren’t going to convince David Koresh you want to be a humble learner when you enter his temple.” She answered “I just want to stay on task. Did you know Koresh was once up on murder charges for Lois Roden’s son? The local law enforcement returned the weapons to them.” David was staying out here in Palestine when he decided to bring 7 men in camouflage and take Roden’s Waco compound by force. Here is the list of the weapons and ammo they had.” She crept her hand into her overstuffed pocket and handed it to Jedda Diah. He read it out loud. “Five .223-caliber semi-automatic assault rifles, two .22-caliber rifles and two 12-gauge shotguns.” Jedda said, “Why are you looking for this stuff? It could have been bought and sold by now. David was not convicted on the murder charges even though George Roden sustained two gun shots.” Stanley said, “George later killed his roommate who he imagined was a spy that Koresh sent to harm him. Now he is in the state looney bin.” “Yeah, I know. I don’t know if it would be worth it to visit him.” Stanley had been digging and found two more silver boxes that looked like beat up tackle boxes for fishing. They were metal but not locked. One had a number of gun receipts in it. One had the birthdates of all the members of the group that had joined since 1935. There were 8 sets of skeleton keys. And in second box, there were 2 scrolls. Inscribed was Daniel 11:33-35. “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” Under the verse, it said, David Koresh is the chosen vessel through whom this Doctrine was revealed. He will be rekindled with fire and overcome its wrath. Some shall fall by the sword or by the flame in captivity after suffering for many days.” Trinity opened the second scroll. “These are the revelations of the church. There will be seven angels to unlock the seals in the last days. Some have already taken place. The first and second angel is William Miller, the father of American millennialism. Ellen G. White became the third angel with her prophecies and books. Victor Houteff, founder of Shepard’s Rod Seventh-day Adventists, later renamed the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists is the manifestation of the fourth angel. Benjamin Roden, head of Branch Davidians, became the Fifth Angel. Upon his death, Benjamin’s wife, Lois, his successor is the “Sixth Angel.” One final angel will break the final seal….David Koresh. David will beget 24 children who will become the 24 elders in the Book of Revelations.” They rolled up the seals after reading them. “This is what I was telling you about, Jedda.” Stanley uttered. “David has arranged it so they have manifested their destiny into the Book of Revelations. He has taken on the messianic role of the lamb mentioned in the final book and named his predecessors of his congregation as instruments to the final days…..he believes he was part of a pre existing creation that God breathed his consciousness into when God first revealed himself to the Jews in Genesis. Then he supplanted the symbolic lamb as a separate entity attached to himself apart from Christ. He put himself above Adam whom he described as a material creation and defined himself as an angelic spiritual creation in which God would allow the 7th Apocalyptic seal to be opened.” Jedda retorted, “The prophecy is the prophecy. They aren’t toting or pointing guns at law enforcement now. We issued a search warrant to the Davidian compound recently in Waco to examine their weapons inventory to see if all the gun sales are legal. That is all we have done. We should get going now. Hold onto those gun receipts, Trinity.” Trinity’s car wouldn’t start so all three of them piled into the Ford F-150. Trinity began, stating. “I didn’t know you issued a warrant. How am I going to go in there now as a possible member?” Stanley said, “They take in people from all over the world including Britain and Australia. You won’t draw suspicion.” “I have a confession to make,” Trinity stated. “I met David once in my childhood at a Bible camp. It was like a summer camp. He was around age 14. He had at least 5 books of the Bible memorized.” Jedda jerked back a little. “What if he remembers you? With a memory like that, he probably doesn’t forget much.” “My hair is different now. She stroked it down in the truck, gazing at the sunset. “That’s why I chose this federal mission. To see what could really come from it.” Stanley invoked, “Explain.” “Some things are more powerful than the government or earthly authority. Do you think you can really get to the center of David’s heart and mind? These Branch Davidians have been around since the 1930s. It’s best to leave them alone. Time will tell if they are a threat.” Jedda argued, “They are practicing polygamy, they are not a bona fide tax free exempt church. I believe they are causing more harm than good.” Stanley pulled the sun visor down and a piece of parchment paper fell out, burned at the edges. Stanley grabbed and opened it. He read it out loud. “Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue .. and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on earth.” Rev. 5:9-10. “Who put this here?” No one answered and the truck moved with the gale of the wind. Jedda thought. “I didn’t like the looks of the car rental person who upgraded this truck.” Stanley said, “I don’t remember seeing it here this morning….who would have put this here?”
Waco Siege Series – Part Five
by Jane Hoffman
Trinity carried the Sears battery up the hill the next day to put in her car. Stanley Mulbridge was waiting at the bottom of the hill with his Buick Park Avenue running, circa 1988. She was trying to shoe him away because she still had the 8 skeleton keys with her and she had seen a keyhole in the back of each angel on top of the hill above the 7 seven circles yonder. She wanted to try the keys out without anyone around. Stanley would be escorting her to the Branch Davidian compound later and she was very excited. She was of Creole descent, her ancestors were from France and she was raised primarily in Louisiana. Her great grandma was exiled from France as a prisoner to marry men in the overpopulated Southern terrain of the U.S. which was common in that day. She came from mixed blood in the root of Southern tolerance where those of mixed blood were exalted not outcast. Trinity remembered the days of that Southern Baptist upbringing in the Louisiana parish and that one close encounter with David Koresh who was once named Vernon Howell. She remembered his eyes, his face, his awkward teen demeanor that was transformed when holy words uttered from his lips. His eyes shone, his face was flushed and fixated on a world beyond that camp. Trinity plunked the battery down and took the wrench to remove the old one. She put the old one in the trunk and the new one was fastened properly. She stirred the engine. Bingo! She hailed Stanley below “Meet me at 3 p.m. 1 mile off the Highway 84 where it meets 31…near the curve by the walnut tree.” Jedda was off trying to find who planted the parched paper in the truck and would get back to them later. Once she had tidied up her hands, she went into her bag and pulled out the old rusty keys. She skipped every other step to the top and mounted the hill to look on the backs of the angels. Four had long, flowing hair and two had delicate curls arranged around their head. One looked asexual and the hair was flattened down. Maybe this was the angel Gabriel she thought in her mind. Gabriel was an angel in the Bible who stretched from the Old Testament to the New Testament. He visited Daniel in his visions and Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father. He told Mary she would deliver a child. Muhammad of the 6th Century also claimed him as a divine intercessor. The substance of the angels were a heavy, metal alloy formed from copper or silver. She wondered if the Branch ordered or made them. With a complex as big as the one in Waco, they may have had some sort of shop. She placed her hand on the metal and the warm sun penetrated her fingers. She picked a key off the ring and placed in the key hole on the back of the plain angel that bore no special features. It did not work. She tried another key that looked more common. She turned slowly and a barely indistinguishable square opened out of the back of so called Gabriel, perhaps, the angel of deliverance? More papers, no gold. There was a list of significant dates with no description. The next significant date was October 6, 1992. That was less than two weeks off. She knew the Davidians celebrated Jewish feasts and holidays. Maybe it was Yom Kippur? She thought. Anything she thought of now was in relation to what she could do or say when she got to the compound in a few hours. She was on a journey of discovery not just of potential crimes but the power of David Koresh and his influence over ordinary human beings who were drawn into his world. She felt she had the charisma to match him in looks, charm and knowledge. But did women hold such a low position that it would not matter? If she wanted to leave, would she be able to? She closed the back of the angel and locked it and heard footsteps through the dust and wind. A man with sterling eyes, a goatee like beard and a mustache coupled with a high brimmed 10 gallon cowboy hat came into her sight. He was heavy set and tall. He planted his feet firmly on top of the stairs. “No trespassers allowed. Who are you?” he syncopated. Trinity stepped back. “I’m an investigator….of truth.” “Who are you?” she replied. “I’m George Roden, do you know who I am?” “Yes, in a sense I do. Are you supposed to be here?” “Why wouldn’t I?” he said. “Well, neither one of us has authority to be here so we best be on our way. I would like to talk to you but now is not the time.” He nodded and spoke. “I’m on a day pass. My momma is buried here.” Trinity was still stupefied and a little scared considering George Roden had killed a man and almost two. “Here’s my number, I will call you when I have time.” She sped down the steps with the list of dates now in her pocket and the keys concealed.
A few hours later, she met Stanley by the bend. She had an overnight bag that purposely was a little beat up looking and not designer quality. She had four pairs of pants and four t-shirts, four pairs of underwear and 3 bras. She hid her walkie talkie but put her Bible on top. Stanley gave her solid instructions for the compound. “Wear white or neutral colors, don’t bring attention to yourself, appear engaged in the material. Don’t make sarcastic remarks while he’s preaching. Hopefully, Mr. Koresh won’t approach you for sex unless he thinks you are planning to stay. Tell him you are on a personal quest and not ready for sex.” She scampered up the driveway. She wore a solid black t shirt tucked into her waist with white pants and Reebok tennis shoes. Nikes would have been too flashy. When she got to the door, a man answered. She stammered. “I wrote a letter awhile back. I have come to the Center to learn about God and the ways of your religion.” The man said calmly “Wait at the door.” She stood there in the hot sun while she saw two children playing in a field with no adult supervision. He came back shortly. “Come in.” She followed down the hall. “The study hour has already begun, it’s right down this way by the fellowship hall.” She had nowhere to set her bag but she managed to hit record on the mini tape cassette recorder inside her pocket. She turned right and the room was of soothing yellow walls and there were seats like temporary risers at a football game. She sat in the third row. David glanced at her through his well trained eye, diverting for only a moment as to not lose his audience. Other people craned their heads to look on. He continued “Ezekiel 2:1-5: And he said to me, “Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you. When he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. ‘Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The people are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them,’ ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them.” He closed the book. He locked eyes with her and she swooned, feeling goose bumps on every inch of her body. Instantly, she felt drawn to him
A few hours later, she met Stanley by the bend. She had an overnight bag that purposely was a little beat up looking and not designer quality. She had four pairs of pants and four t-shirts, four pairs of underwear and 3 bras. She hid her walkie talkie but put her Bible on top. Stanley gave her solid instructions for the compound. “Wear white or neutral colors, don’t bring attention to yourself, appear engaged in the material. Don’t make sarcastic remarks while he’s preaching. Hopefully, Mr. Koresh won’t approach you for sex unless he thinks you are planning to stay. Tell him you are on a personal quest and not ready for sex.” She scampered up the driveway. She wore a solid black t shirt tucked into her waist with white pants and Reebok tennis shoes. Nikes would have been too flashy. When she got to the door, a man answered. She stammered. “I wrote a letter awhile back. I have come to the Center to learn about God and the ways of your religion.” The man said calmly “Wait at the door.” She stood there in the hot sun while she saw two children playing in a field with no adult supervision. He came back shortly. “Come in.” She followed down the hall. “The study hour has already begun, it’s right down this way by the fellowship hall.” She had nowhere to set her bag but she managed to hit record on the mini tape cassette recorder inside her pocket. She turned right and the room was of soothing yellow walls and there were seats like temporary risers at a football game. She sat in the third row. David glanced at her through his well trained eye, diverting for only a moment as to not lose his audience. Other people craned their heads to look on. He continued “Ezekiel 2:1-5: And he said to me, “Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you. When he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. ‘Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The people are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them,’ ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them.” He closed the book. He locked eyes with her and she swooned, feeling goose bumps on every inch of her body. Instantly, she felt drawn to him
Waco Siege Series – Part Six
by Jane Hoffman
The goose bumps really began the moment Trinity stepped her foot onto the earthen clay floor of Mount Carmel Center built in 1957. A shrouded mindset of belief-driven purpose designed to exalt one man, not the impending Messiah. Land had been parceled off and it was now down to 77 acres. It was crowded but a gaelic tempo of women and children were present, designed to serve one master. Was it room to grow or to retreat into the hidden hills of Waco disguised as Palestine or the new temple mount for the self-identified sacred? What transition did David think would take place in this God forsaken cactus studded state? The gulf did not lie between her voluntary surrender and the door. It lay between the minds she communed with and her intention to disrupt it. She did not fear the master. She engaged with him on her terms, in her spiritual language with her contextual undertone to get to the root of the issue to find out his aim. He walked up to her after the lecture and laid his finger over her scar that covered her inner forearm to the crease near her elbow. “Where did you get that?” he asked. “It was a rite of passage” she stated but did not elaborate. “Mount Carmel does not have a full open door policy, I sense you are searching and came to the right place.” Koresh said. “We are a body of believers.” “I know that. I am from the Ephesus 7th Day Adventist Church in New Orleans. I heard about your ministry and wanted to see what it was about. I’m actually Lois Roden’s niece.” She threw that in there as some sort of birthright but knew she might be busted for her lie. “We don’t allow window shoppers. You either choose to join the group in full or disperse quietly.” He didn’t seem to wince at the idea that she was related to one of the Davidian nobility. “I need a room to stay in tonight.” Koresh hesitated. “Evan will show you” and he cupped his hands while motioning his fingers and Evan came. She crawled up a small tower to the third floor where there was a little room that resembled an attic. There was a small, twin bed with white paint on the wooden frame. A saggy mattress crouched in the middle of the frame. The floor was creaky. The room looked fragile and unsettling. She reached in her bag and felt the bottom. The eight skeleton keys were still on a ring and the gun receipts were still in a back pocket of jeans she forgot to wash. What if David or someone would find them? She gasped. She lay in her bed a brief period. She decided to walk around the compound. There were long hallways with children running. There were women making dinner in mini kitchen areas. She gazed upon the layout of the place and found three closets that could use some inspecting. Two were in main areas and one was off near the end of one hall and it looked unlocked. She put her hand on the knob and she felt a presence behind her who spoke. “I hate to do this to you but we have another guest coming after dinner and he will have to sleep in your room on the floor. We have a foam bed for him.” She winced and then said, “I am looking for a broom for the bedroom. The floor could use sweeping.” Evan swiftly opened the closet. When he did, she saw 6 or 7 rifles locked in against the back of the closet. He grabbed a broom for her, leaving it open. Trinity was starting to feel down about the enormous prospects of calling a preacher on his own shit, one who thought he was the messenger of the divine. She could sneak around and look for things or challenge a preacher on his own message with hopes of deflating him. Dinner was at six followed by evening Bible study. She helped cleared the dishes with Esther and sat next to her. She put her gun receipts in her front pocket and had slid her bag under her bed. She listened in a fidgety fashion to the Bible study. Koresh was going on about the Jewish lineage of David and the chosen race held out for greater glory. She raised her hand with wrought and commanded a verse from memory. “In Acts 18 it says that Paul attempted to convert the Jews who were of Jesus’ lineage but they rejected him. This opened the door to the Gentiles receiving the faith. After Paul testified to the Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Christ, the savior, they opposed him. In verse 6 it says ‘Paul shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood will be upon your own heads; I am clean: henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.’ He condemned those who would not accept Christ with his own mouth and with their own blood.” There was silence and shock “In other words, Christ wanted to broaden the fellowship of believers not isolate them into a chosen elect. Isaiah says that the outcasts of Israel will be gathered with the sons of the strangers and serve him. You need to increase the fold, not single it out.” One of the deacons jumped in:“It’s time for healing and prayer.” People began to walk up. Their heads were anointed with holy water and they were prayed over silently. Trinity was about to get up and walk towards the back when she saw a figure of man bent over walking slowly to the altar call. He held a Black oil skinned cowboy hat upon his chest and he reached the front. He appeared solemn. He was waiting for a special anointment. From his lips he burst out “Praise be to God who give us life and freedom from sin, liberates us from the oppression of men.” People were rustling in conversation about the man. He turned his head. It was Jedda Diah, here to assist her. They started towards each other. Evan came between them. “This is the man I told you about.” He turned his head to him. “Your name again?” “Paul Silas.” Trinity acted like she had never met him. “Paul, let me show you to your room.” They rushed upstairs to the tiny bedroom. She sat on the bed. “What was that about? Shouting in the middle of the service?” Jedda whispered under his breath. “There are four federal agents outside. I am sorry I didn’t have time to warn you. We are going to raid the building tonight.” “Why? We are already on the inside.” she exclaimed. “Leon said gun sales have gone up and the list of dates you got was examined. Koresh refused to accept the search warrant on the guns and told them they would not cooperate. The reason he let us in here is because he knows we are bait. But he thinks we are his bait.” Trinity sighed. When she sighed, they was a knock on the door. She shouted “Only gentiles here.” She walked to the door. David Koresh was in the doorway with a gun. “Get out, get out now. You have trespassed on our property.” (finale on janessaconquers.blogspot.com) finale has yet to be written....
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