Whispers of Refuge Box Set

CHAPTER 13-3

Juliette ran the vacuum mindlessly over the leftover confetti from the graduation party. Eve would have done it later, but she was busy cleaning up the kitchen. Besides, Juliette welcomed the physical activity to keep her mind off her worries.

Simon left just a few minutes earlier. The other young men had departed one by one after dinner, taking various routes to the Tumen River. From now on, they were on their own, with only the Holy Spirit for guidance and companionship. Juliette hoped that would be enough.

Hannah hadn’t moved from her position at the window since Simon’s departure. There had been no tearful parting, no intense farewell. Juliette recalled the angle of Simon’s shoulders as he walked out of the den, the glint of a tear she had pretended not to notice shining in his eye. Juliette turned off the vacuum. She walked up to Hannah and touched her gently on the shoulder. “You have everything packed and ready?”

Hannah squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before turning from the garden view. “Yes.” Her voice betrayed more emotion than her face revealed. Hannah cleared her throat. “I’ll be ready in a minute,” she replied more steadily and turned back to her vigil over the flowerbeds and herbs that were showing signs of the cooling autumn weather.

“Take your time.” Juliette secretly hoped the young woman would change her mind. When she straightened after picking up a fallen string from a tassel, Hannah was there, staring at the floor and shifting her weight from one leg to the other as she clutched her envelope in a steady hand. Had Hannah’s courage failed her? How could someone in Juliette’s position possibly blame her? Hannah was only nineteen years old. Of all the girls who enrolled in the Sterns’ Secret Seminary twelve months ago, Hannah was the only one who lasted through the crisis training. The others dropped out of the program, opting instead for safe passage to South Korea, which the Sterns helped arrange with some of the funds from Roger’s printing business.

“Have you changed your mind, then?” Her husband would be upset, but Juliette would sleep better tonight knowing Hannah was far from her homeland, where raids, undercover spies, and starvation were only the beginning of a young missionary’s worries.

Hannah nodded and fingered the envelope. In an instant, Juliette understood the awkward dilemma. Upon graduation from the Secret Seminary, the students each received a sum of money to survive their first few months back in North Korea. “It’s the money, isn’t it?” Juliette tried to make things as painless for the young girl as possible. She didn’t want Hannah to feel ashamed for choosing the less dangerous route. Even in South Korea, Hannah could find meaningful work to put her discipleship training to use.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Stern.” She bowed and held the envelope out with both hands.

“I understand.” Juliette took the money. “Will you want to stay here for a while longer, then?” Hannah furrowed her brow at her benefactress. Juliette tried to reassure her with a smile. “I could talk to Mr. Stern about hiring you in his factory.”

Hannah widened her eyes. “Are you saying I’m not ready to return home?”

In spite of her grasp on the Korean language, predicaments like these still frustrated Juliette on a regular basis. “I thought you had changed your mind about crossing the border.”

Hannah recoiled slightly. “No. Not at all.”

“Well then, if you’re returning to North Korea, this money is for your expenses. It’s part of the agreement. You’ve earned it. Besides, you’ll need it to complete your first mission.” Juliette offered the envelope back.

“I just don’t think I should take it.”

Juliette tried to hide her exasperation. “You’re going to need this, honey. Trust me.”

Hannah bit her lip but kept her hands clasped together. “When Jesus sent out his disciples, he told them not to take a money bag with them.”

Juliette adjusted her Prada glasses. A dozen arguments ran through her mind, but she doubted any of them would change Hannah’s resolve. Juliette slipped the envelope into her pocket. “If you won’t take the money, at least let me put some extra snacks in your pack, then.” She picked up the backpack, led Hannah into the kitchen, and placed some granola bars in the front zipper pouch. “There.” Juliette cleared her throat, which had started to constrict.

Hannah wrapped her arms around her mistress. “I will never stop praying for you.”

Juliette hid her surprise. Since she arrived at the Sterns’, Hannah had always shied away from intense displays of emotion. Juliette hugged the young woman back. “God bless you,” she whispered in Korean.

After she cleared her throat once more, she added in English, “I love you.”

***

* * * *

The special agent pulled out the government-issued cell phone and dialed the secure number. “This is Agent Ko. I need the director.”

The slightest trace of static popped in Ko’s ear as the operator transferred the call. “What’s going on there, Ko?” The director’s voice was as tense and rushed as always.

“The students left Yanji this evening.”

The following silence bore witness to the director’s unease. Ko knew better than to blow this assignment. The director wasn’t forgiving. Neither was the Party. “What else did you find out?”

“The itinerary of one of the students. Goes by the name Levi. He’s crossing at Tumen then going directly to Hoeryong. Meeting with a pastor there.” Ko gave a thorough physical description.

“If your information is correct, the Party thanks you.” The director’s voice was a low growl. If you fail, you’re as good as dead. He didn’t say these last words, but he didn’t need to.

Ko already knew.