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He pulled up next to her and ran around to help her into the car. He fastened
her seat belt and was on the phone before he got back into the car. Loretta?
Chloe is safe.
She's banged up a little, and I'd like to get her checked out as soon as
possible. If you could call around and find any doctor in the church who has
not been pressed into service, I'd sure appreciate it.
Buck tried to drive carefully so as not to exacerbate Chloe's pain. However,
he knew the shortest way home. When he got to the huge barrier at Michigan
Avenue on the LSD, he swung left and went up over the embankment he had
previously walked. He saw Verna's now deceased automobile and ignored the
waves and warnings of the cops he had talked to not so long ago. He sped up
Lake Shore
Drive, went around the barriers at Sheridan, followed Chloe's directions to
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Dempster, and was soon back into the northwest suburbs.
Loretta and Verna were watching from the window as he pulled into the drive.
Only then did he smack himself in the head and remember. He jumped out of the
car and raced around to the back. Fumbling with the keys, he opened the back
latch and found, strewn all over, Bruce's pages. The computer was there too,
along with the phones Chloe had bought. Chloe, he said, and she turned
gingerly. As soon as we get you inside, I'd better get back to Carpathia.
Rayford was back in the cockpit. As the night wore on, the cabin grew more and
more quiet. The conversation deteriorated into small talk. The dignitaries
were well fed by the crew, and Rayford got the impression they were settling
in for the long haul.
Rayford awakened with a start and realized his finger had slipped off the
intercom button. He pressed it again and still heard nothing. He had heard
more than he wanted to hear already anyway. He decided to stretch his legs.
As he walked back through the main cabin to watch one of the televisions in
the
back of the plane, everyone except Carpathia ignored him. Some dozed and some
were being attended to by the flight crew, who were clearing trays and finding
blankets and pillows. Carpathia nodded and smiled and waved to Rayford. How
can he do that? Rayford wondered. Bruce said the Antichrist would not be
indwelt by
Satan himself until halfway into the Tribulation, but surely this man is the
embodiment of evil.
Rayford could not let on that he knew the truth, despite the fact that
Carpathia was well aware of his Christian beliefs. Rayford merely nodded and
walked on. On television he saw live reports from around the world. Scripture
had come to life.
This was the Red Horse of the Apocalypse. Next would come more death by famine
and plagues until a quarter of the population of the earth that remained after
the
Rapture was wiped out. His universal cell phone vibrated in his pocket. Few
people not on that plane knew his number. Thank God for technology, he
thought. He didn't want anyone to hear him. He slipped deeper into the back of
the plane and stood near a window. The night was as black as Carpathia's soul.
This is Rayford Steele, he said.
Daddy?
Chloe! Thank God! Chloe, are you all right?
I had a little car accident, Dad. I just wanted you to know that you saved my
life again.
What do you mean?
I got that message you left at The Drake, she said. If I had taken the time
to go to our room, I probably wouldn't be here.
And Buck's OK?
He's fine. He's late returning a call to you-know-who, so he's trying to do
that right now.
Let me excuse myself, then, Rayford said. I'll get back to you.
Rayford strode back to the cockpit, trying not to appear in a hurry. As he
passed
Fortunato, Leon was handing a phone to Carpathia. Williams from Chicago, he
said. It's about time.
Carpathia made a face as if he felt Leon was overreacting. As Rayford reached
the cockpit, he heard Carpathia exalt, Cameron, my friend! I have been
worried about you.
Rayford quickly settled in and set his earphones. McCullum looked at him
expectantly, but Rayford ignored him and closed his eyes, pressing the secret
button.
I am curious about coverage, Carpathia was saying. What is happening there
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in
Chicago? Yes yes devastation, I understand yes. Yes, a tragedy
Sickening, Rayford thought.
Cameron, Carpathia said, would it be possible for you to get to New Babylon
within the next few days? Ah, I see Israel? Yes, I see the wisdom of that. The
so-
called holy lands were spared again, were they not? I would like pooled
coverage of high-level meetings in Baghdad and New Babylon. I would like to
have your pen on it, but Steve Plank, your old friend, can run the point. You
and he can work together to see that the appropriate coverage is carried in
all our print media....
Rayford would be eager to talk to Buck. He admired his son-in-law's moxie and
ability to set his own agenda and even gracefully decline suggested directives
from
Carpathia. Rayford wondered how long Carpathia would stand for that. For now,
he apparently respected Buck enough and was, Rayford hoped, still unaware of
Buck's true loyalties.
Well, Carpathia was saying, of course I am grieving. You will keep in touch
then, and I will hear from you from Israel.
CHAPTER SIX
BUCK sat bleary-eyed at the breakfast table, his ear stinging and his rib cage
tender.
Only he and Loretta were up. She was heading to the church office after having
been assured she would not have to handle the arrangements for Bruce's body or
for the memorial service, which would be part of Sunday morning's agenda.
Verna Zee was asleep in a small bedroom in the finished basement. It feels so
good to have people in this place again, Loretta said. Y'all can stay as
long as you need to or want to.
We're grateful, Buck said. Amanda may sleep till noon, but then she'll get
right on those arrangements with the coroner's office. Chloe didn't sleep much
with that ankle cast. She's dead to the world now, though, so I expect her to
sleep a long time.
Buck had used the dining-room table to put back in order all the pages from
Bruce's transcripts that had been strewn throughout the back of the Range
Rover. He had a huge job ahead of him, checking the text and determining what
would be best for reproduction and distribution. He set the stacks to one side
and laid out the five deluxe universal cell phones Chloe had bought.
Fortunately, they had been packed in spongy foam and had survived her
accident.
He had told her not to scrimp, and she certainly hadn't. He didn't even want
to guess the total price, but these phones had everything, including the
ability to take calls anywhere in the world, due to a built-in satellite chip.
After Loretta left for the church, Buck rummaged for batteries, then quickly
taught himself the basics from the instruction manual and tried his first
phone call. For
once, he was glad he had always been manic about hanging onto old phone
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