The Left Behind Collection: All 12 Books (192 page)

With a mile to go, he made the last curve, now with the sun at his back. His last encrypted message to Abdullah Smith had put the Jordanian right into Mac’s own boat: “Personnel will ask straight out about your loyalty to the cause, to the Global Community, to the potentate. Remember, you are a frontline warrior. Tell them what they want to hear. Get yourself this job by whatever means you can. You will be in a position to help thwart the worst schemes of the evil one and see men and women come to Christ in spite of everything.

“If you wonder what to say, how to phrase it, just align yourself with me. Say without hesitation that you share Mac McCullum’s views of the Global Community and are as wholly committed as he is to the policies and direction of the leadership. A truer word will never be spoken.

“I’m not saying it will be easy. The pay is exorbitant, as you know, but you will not enjoy one cent of it. The perquisites are like none you ever dreamed of, but you will constantly feel in need of cleansing. Praise God, that cleansing is there, because we are under assignment from the Almighty. It’s short-term work, because Tsion Ben-Judah is right: When the mark of the beast is required for buying or selling, you know it’ll be a requirement for being on the payroll here. We’ll go from senior members of the staff to international fugitives overnight.

“I need you, Abdullah, that’s all I can say. You and Ray and I cooperated in the past. This won’t be as fun, but there won’t be a dull moment. I’ll look forward to once again sharing the cockpit with a respected airman and a brother I can trust. All the best, Mac.”

Buck sat next to Chloe on the couch. Tsion sat nearby, as did Leah. Here she was, brand-new in the house and already involved in a prayer meeting about their leader. Buck prayed hesitantly and not without guilt. Should they not have simply confronted Rayford? Wasn’t this akin to spiritually talking behind his back? Surely Tsion would approach Rayford in due time.

Rayford hated feeling isolated from the others. With his dream of eliminating Carpathia (even temporarily) he ironically had more in common with Hattie than with anyone. It was his own fault for losing control and making them tread carefully around him. But what was going on downstairs at midnight? All of them praying together always encouraged Rayford. But did this constitute a meeting of the Trib Force without him? Should he be offended?

Of course they were free to meet in any combination of brothers and sisters they wished. It wasn’t like they were conducting business. What was the matter with him? When did he start caring about such trivia? Rayford tiptoed down so as not to disturb them. Sure enough, they sat on the couch and in chairs in the living room, heads bowed, praying. Everyone but Hattie.

Rayford was moved and suddenly wanted to join them. His motive wasn’t pure. He wanted to reconcile with them without having to apologize again. Inserting himself in a spiritual exercise would speak volumes. He could even pray for forgiveness for his outbursts. . . .

As he slipped into the living room, Rayford’s conscience was suddenly crushed. What a fool! How small! To be so blessed of God despite wrenching pain and then to want to use prayer to manipulate. . . . He nearly retreated but now wanted to join them for the right reasons. He didn’t even want to pray aloud. He just wanted to agree with them before God, to be part of this body, this church. He knew he would feel worthy to lead them again only when he realized that he was
not
worthy aside from the gift of God.

He was the object of the prayer meeting. First one, then another, mentioned his name. They prayed for his strength, for peace, for comfort in his grief. They prayed for supernatural contentment when that was humanly impossible.

He could have been offended, to be, in essence, gossiped about in prayer. But he was ashamed. He had been worse than he had feared. Rayford knelt silently. Eventually the emotion and fervency of the prayers so humiliated and humbled him that he was powerless to hide anymore. He pitched forward onto his elbows and wept aloud. He was just sorry, so sorry, and grateful they believed him worth the effort to restore.

Chloe was the first to rush to Rayford, but rather than lift him, she merely knelt with him and embraced him. He felt Buck’s tentative hand on his back and wished he could tell his son-in-law not to worry, that his support meant everything. Tsion laid his warm hand on Rayford’s head and called on God “to be everything this man needs you to be during the most difficult season anyone has ever been asked to endure.”

Rayford found himself sobbing for the second time that night, only now he did not wail the mournful cries of the hopeless. He felt bathed in the love of God and the support of his family. He had not given up the idea that God might still use him in the comeuppance of Nicolae Carpathia, but that was—at least briefly—less important than his place within the group. They could handle his not always being strong. They would stick with him when he was human and worse. They would support him even when he failed. How could he ever express what that meant to him?

It was not lost on Rayford that Leah, though she had understandably not felt comfortable enough to touch him, had prayed for him. She did not pretend to know the problem, only indicating a recognition that he was apparently not himself and needed a touch from God.

When the prayers finally fell silent, Rayford could muster only “Thank you, God.” Tsion hummed a familiar tune. First Chloe, then the others, sang.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

The four of them rose and returned to where they were sitting. Rayford pulled up a chair. “Thought I was getting voted out of the club,” he said.

Tsion chuckled. “We would not even let you resign,” he said. “I would like to ask you, Leah, if you would mind waiting until tomorrow to tell us your story. I think we have all been through enough for one day, and we would like to give you our full attention.”

“I was going to suggest the same,” she said. “Thank you.”

“Do you have any aversion to staying where Floyd used to sleep?” Rayford said.

“Not unless anyone else has a problem with it,” she said. “And I know this sounds weird, but I won’t sleep well unless I have a sense of the rest of the place. Could I get a quick tour, just so I know where everything is?”

“Chloe and I will be happy to show you,” Rayford said, hoping to start a connection that would facilitate conversation.

“I’ll check on the baby,” Buck said.

Tsion rose wearily. “Good night, all.”

Rayford was impressed that Chloe knew enough to ignore the cellar. She started in the back of the duplex, where Leah had come in. “There’s nothing in the other flat,” she said. “It was more structurally damaged anyway. You came through the nook area here. This has been rebuilt since the earthquake when a tree smashed it and killed the wife of the owner. Her husband was at our church at the time and died when that collapsed.

“Then the kitchen, of course, and off to the left the living room. Then the dining room, where we never eat but a lot of us work. Past the stairs there is a bathroom and the front room where Buck and I sleep with the baby.”

Upstairs they showed her the other bath, Rayford’s room, Tsion’s, and Floyd’s.

“Thanks,” she said. “And where did Ritz stay?”

Rayford and Chloe looked at each other. “Ah,” he said, “I wasn’t aware you knew he had lived here.”

“Was it a secret?”

“The whole place is.”

“I’m not supposed to know he lived here? I knew Dr. Charles and Mr. Williams and Hattie lived here.”

“I just didn’t know you knew, that’s all,” Rayford said. “I hope it doesn’t make me sound suspicious.”

She stopped. “Of what? You want to examine my mark? Something gave you the confidence to bring every emergency my way. If I wasn’t trustworthy, would I have risked my life for all of you?”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“Really, Mr. Steele. If I was working for the GC I could have tipped off the potentate when his lover miscarried his child while I attended her. I could have reported Dr. Charles when he incinerated the remains rather than follow legal procedure. I could have tipped off the authorities when your son-in-law got me to release Ritz with a gaping head wound. You think I didn’t know who you people were and why no one could know where you lived?”

“Miss Rose—”

“It’s Mrs. Rose, and frankly the reason I assumed Ritz lived here was because I knew the airport had been virtually demolished. And, in case you don’t remember, he was with you when you brought Hattie in. Was I to assume you came from your hiding place and he rendezvoused with you from somewhere else?”

“You’re right. I’m just—”

“There’ll be infiltrators, Mr. Steele. I don’t know how they’ll do it, but I wouldn’t put anything past the GC. But until they perfect some sort of a foolproof replica of the sign we can see only on each other, I can’t imagine a spy foolish enough to waltz in here. Run me through any grill you want, but I’ll thank you to never again admit you’re suspicious of me just because I assumed a man lived with you whose first name I don’t even remember.”

Rayford looked pleadingly at her. “Would a tough day be an excuse?”

“I’ve had one too,” she said. “Tell me you’re not afraid of me before I turn in.”

“I’m not. I’m sorry.”

“I am too. Forgive me if I overreacted.”

So much for bonding,
Rayford thought. “Don’t give it another thought.”

“You trust me then.”

“Yes! Now go to bed and let us do the same. Feel free to use the bathroom before the rest of us.”

“You’re telling me you trust me.”

Rayford could tell even Chloe was losing patience with Leah. “I’m tired, Mrs. Rose. I apologized. I’m convinced. OK?”

“No.”

“No?” Chloe said. “I have to get to bed.”

“You think I’m blind or stupid or what?” Leah said.

“Excuse me?” Chloe said.

“Where’s the shelter?”

Rayford flinched. “You don’t want me to be suspicious and now you ask about a shelter?”

“You don’t have one?”

“Tell me how you would know to ask.”

Leah shook her head. “This is worse than your thinking me subversive. You think I’m daft.”

“Not anymore I don’t,” Chloe said. “Tell me how you know there’s more here, and I’ll show it to you.”

“Thank you. If I hid out in a safe house, I’d assume its security would one day be compromised. Either you have a place to run to on a moment’s notice, or this place turns upside-down. Plus, and this is so obvious it offends me to have to raise it, am I to assume Hattie sleeps outside?”

“Hattie?” Rayford said.

“Yeah. Remember her? No seal on her forehead, but fairly visible here until you all get spiritual? Where does she sleep?”

Chloe sighed. “Go to bed, Dad. I’ll show her.”

“Thank you!”

They turned to head down the stairs.

Rayford couldn’t resist. “You can be obnoxious, Mrs. Rose, you know that?”

“Daddy!” Chloe said, her back still to him. “We deserved that and you know it.”

Leah stopped and turned to face him. “I respect everyone here,” she said. “But that was sexist. You’ll call me a feminist, but you would not tell a man, insulted like I was, that his response was obnoxious.”

“I probably would,” Rayford said. “But the point is taken.”

“Thanks for making me feel like a creep,” Leah said. “I spoke to your son-in-law earlier in a way I have rarely spoken to anyone. And now I’ve done it again. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

Rayford felt exactly the same but didn’t care to admit it. “Promise me tomorrow we can discuss a truce,” he said.

“That’s a deal.”

The women descended, and Rayford was finally able to get to bed. He hung his robe and lay back on the cool sheets, feeling morning-after soreness from his work in the cellar and the backyard, and it wasn’t even morning yet. He locked his fingers behind his head and within minutes felt himself drifting—until he heard footsteps on the stairs, then a knock at his door.

“I was showing Leah the cellar,” Chloe said, “where Hattie sleeps. Only she’s not there.”

“Hattie?”

“Where could she be? She’s not in the house. Not outside as far as we can see. And, Dad, a lot of her stuff is gone. She took a heavy load.”

Rayford rose and pulled on his robe again, wondering if he had the energy to deal with yet one more crisis before collapsing. “Check the shed for Ken’s car. Make sure Buck’s is still in the yard. She couldn’t get far on foot. Buck and I can each take a vehicle and start looking for her.”

“Dad, we have no idea when she left. She might have been gone since the burial. I don’t remember seeing her since, do you?”

He shook his head. “We can’t let her out of here with all she knows.”

“Talk about vulnerable. If she got someone to pick her up somewhere, you’ll never catch her.”

They followed footprints to what had once been the street in front of the house. Now it was just a dirt path strewn with chunks of asphalt and dotted with potholes. She could have headed either direction. Rayford fired up Ken Ritz’s Suburban, and Buck threw dirt from all four wheels on his Land Rover. He sent Buck north and headed south.

When it became clear Hattie was nowhere in Rayford’s vicinity, he called Buck. “Nothing here either,” Buck said. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. It’s not like we can report her missing.”

“I’ve got one other idea,” Rayford said. “I’ll see you back at the house.”

Rayford reluctantly dialed Delanty’s cell phone and was greeted with a groggy hello.

“Sorry, T. Did I wake you?”

“Of course you did. ’Sup, Ray? I don’t want this to be an emergency, but if it’s not I’m gonna ask why you called now.”

Rayford filled him in. “So I was just wondering if Tweedledee and Tweedledum are still kicking around out there.”

“Ernie and Bo? Haven’t seen Ernie for almost a year. Kind of miss him, even if he was an idiot. I heard he headed west. Beauregard Hanson still hangs around trying to exercise his 5-percent stake in the place. Why?”

“Just wondering if Hattie might have used him to get somebody to fly her out of there.”

“I left at six. Had a guy in the tower till nine. We shut down after that.”

“Any way I can find out if a big plane left there this evening?”

“Ray, I can’t call a guy at this time of the morning and ask him that.”

“Why not? I just did.”

“Yeah, but you were pretty sure I wouldn’t hate you for it.”

“Don’t you?”

“I’m not allowed to say. We’re brothers, remember?”

“Speaking of that, you’re the only ‘brother’ brother I’ve got left, if you catch my meaning.”

“What?”

Rayford told him about Doc.

“Oh, man! I’m sorry, Ray. You don’t suspect Hattie . . . ?”

Ray told him Floyd’s own theory on how he contracted the poison. “But still, I’ve got dire reasons to know where she is.”

“I’ll check the log.”

“I don’t want you to go out at this hour.”

“I can do it from here, bro. Just a minute.”

Rayford heard T’s bed squeak and then computer sounds. He came back on the phone. “I’m scrolling through here. Not much traffic tonight. Mostly small stuff, business planes, couple of GC. Hmm.”

“What?”

“There
is
a unique entry here. Oversized Quantum, that’s like a huge Learjet, different manufacturer, arrived pilot only at 2230. Left 2330 hours with a fuel top-off, no cargo, one unidentified passenger, destination unreported.”

“That’s all?”

“Well, we’ve got a column here that asks whether it was paid, charged, or OK’d. This one was OK’d by BH.”

“I don’t know the specs on the Quantum,” Rayford said. “What kind of speed and range?”

“Oh, fast as a heavy but probably needs one more top-off before going overseas. How far you figure your escapee’s going anyway?”

“I wouldn’t put it past her to think she can march into Carpathia’s office and personally give him what for. Well, there’ll be no catching or intercepting that craft, will there?”