Free Soul Harvest: The World Takes Sides by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

sustenance provided by the Antichrist. Still, he had eaten. And it was good that he had.
    His spirits began to lift. No way could he cogently share his faith with Mac if he stayed in a funk.
    Mac’s fidgeting made him nervous. “Eager to get flying?” Rayford said.
    “Eager to get talking. But not here. Too many ears. But are you up for this, Rayford? With what you’re going through?”
    Mac seemed as ready to hear about God as anyone he had ever talked to. Why did it happen this way? When he had been most eager to share, he had tried to get through to his old senior pilot, Earl Halliday, who had had no interest and was now dead. He had tried without success to reach Hattie Durham, and now he could only pray there was still time for her. Here was Mac, in essence begging him for the truth, and Rayford would rather be back in bed.
    He crossed his legs and folded his arms. He would will himself to move today. In the corner Carpathia wheeled around and stared at him, the phone still at his ear. Nicolae waved enthusiastically, then seemed to think better of showing such enthusiasm to a man who had just lost his wife. His face grew somber and his wave stiffened. Rayford did not respond, though he held Carpathia’s gaze.
    Nicolae beckoned with a finger.
    “Oh, no,” Mac said. “Let’s go, let’s go.”
    But they couldn’t walk out on Nicolae Carpathia.
    Rayford was in a testy mood. He didn’t want to talk to Carpathia; Carpathia wanted to talk to him. He could come Rayford’s way. What have I become? Rayford wondered. He was playing games with the potentate of the world. Petty. Silly.
    Immature. But I don’t care.
    Carpathia snapped his phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. He waved at Rayford, who pretended not to notice and turned his back. Rayford leaned toward Mac. “So, what are you going to teach me today?”
    “Don’t look now, but Carpathia wants you.”
    “He knows where I am.”
    “Ray! He could still toss you in jail.”
    “I wish he would. So anyway, what are you going to teach me today?”
    “Teach you! You’ve flown whirlybirds.”
    “A long time ago,” Rayford said. “More than twenty years.”
    “Chopper jockeying is like riding a bike,” Mac said. “You’ll be as good as me in an hour.”
    Mac looked over Rayford’s shoulder, stood, and thrust out his hand. “Potentate Carpathia, sir!”
    “Excuse Captain Steele and me for a moment, would you, Officer McCullum?”
    “I’ll meet you in the hangar,” Rayford said.
    Carpathia slid McCullum’s chair close to Rayford’s and sat. He unbuttoned his suit coat and leaned forward, forearms on his knees. Rayford still had legs crossed and arms folded.
    Carpathia spoke earnestly. “Rayford, I hope you do not mind my calling you by your first name, but I know you are in pain.”
    Rayford tasted bile. “Lord, please,” he prayed silently, “keep my mouth shut.”
    It only made sense that the embodiment of evil himself was the slimiest of liars. To imply that Amanda had been his plant, a mole in the Tribulation Force for the Global Community, and then to feign sorrow over her death? A lethal wound to the head was too good for him. Rayford imagined torturing the man who led the forces of evil against the God of the universe.
    “I wish you had been here earlier, Rayford. Well, actually I am glad you were able to get the rest you needed. But those of us here for the first breakfast were treated to Leon Fortunato’s account of last night.”
    “Mac said something about it.”
    “Yes, Officer McCullum has heard it twice. You should ask him to share it with you again. Better yet, schedule some time with Mr. Fortunato.”
    It was all Rayford could do to feign civility. “I’m aware of Leon’s devotion to you.”
    “As am I. However, even I was moved and flattered at how his view has been elevated.”
    Rayford knew the story but couldn’t resist baiting Carpathia. “It doesn’t surprise me that Leon is grateful for your rescuing