Press Secretary John Valenti addressed the media two days later. He stood behind a podium, and lied his blood out. He told them the President was in a secure location. He told them several cabinet members, including National Security Advisor Sharon Parks, briefed members of the law enforcement and intelligence communities. He asked for American Citizens to report any suspicious activity. He explained that the threat level would remain at Red, until the proper government agencies felt satisfied that the attacks were over.

Secretary Valenti had a crib sheet of answers in front of him. The bolded, red font at the top of the page read, "I don't have any information on that at this time." John knew the job well enough to state that fact in fifteen different ways, each specific to types of out of the blue questions.

"Is the President expected to brief the nation?" a reporter asked.

"At this time, I can't give you a definite answer," John said. "We just don't have enough information."

"What about the idea that these attacks are being coordinated by a well funded, military organization or government? asked another.

"Well, Al Qaeda was a well funded, government back organization," John said, "But with the nature of these attacks, it's hard to envision the type of organization that could be capable of this. We're looking into a few possibilities, but without solid information, it wouldn't be fair to speculate about who did this. We're still looking at the how, so to speak."

"After looking over the intelligence, was their any indication that an attack was imminent?" one asked.

"All I can tell you is that, as far as I am aware, there was no prior knowledge of an attaqck and no real increase in chatter from the groups we continually monitor, but again, it's still to early to rule out anything. Hindsight being much easier than foresight."

"What about the idea that this is a Christian Al Qaeda?" a man asked.

"I'm sorry," John said, "I'm not sure I follow you."

"A radical Christian terrorist group," the man explained. John looked at his sheet of paper.

"I don't have any information on that at this time," he said. One person in the room caught the lie.


***********************************************




"This isn't about your church," Mr. Eli said, his voice altered and fuzzed. Again, Channel 7 had trumped the other news agencies. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and all the old networks, CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, plus many of the spiritual cable channels and even ESPN broke in to catch the interview.

"On that we agree," said Reverend Tom Hill. "This isn't about God at all. Your people slaughter in the name of God. No sensible church would support that!"

"Except for the Sand People," Mr. Eli said.

Mauly keyed off her live mic and said, "Joe, we have to cut him off. We're being used."

"String him out," Joe said. "The more we let him talk, the more rope the Feds can hang him with."

"If they catch him," she said.

"You," the Reverend said, "Are hiding your face and voice. You're ashamed of what you preach."

"No," Mr. Eli said, "I'm smart. And my God has given me wisdom beyond what you can understand."

"Gentleman," Mauly said, over the air, "If I may..."

"He's no gentleman," the Reverend said.

"He's right," Mr. Eli responded, "I am no more than an animal. But I am God's animal and I'm true to how he made me. They've killed our innocent Brothers and Sisters. They marry 40 year old men and 12 year old girls. Haven't we outlawed that? It's dispicable. It's not a religion, it's a slavery cult."

"You are killing innocents too," the Reverend said.

"No one on earth is innocent," Mr. Eli said. "Your teachings state that. My goodness, stand up for your people Reverend! You are going to let them die? For what?"

"Gentlemen," Mauly broke in the conversation.

"Careful, Mauly," the producer said. She backed off.

"Jesus Christ died for our sins," the Reverend put on his pulpit voice, "And if the Son of God did not lift a sword to defend himself, but begged his followers to turn away from violence..."

"He's changed his mind since his first trip to earth," Mr. Eli said. "This time he brings fire and the sword. One more thing before I hang up and send more instructions. Mauly are you there?"

"Yes," she said, "I'm here but I..."

"Shut up and listen," he said. A raw shock of cold ran over her. "Go and interview a girl named Jenna Paulson from the Reverend's old parish in Orange, Connecticut. Ask her why he left them." He hung up.