The Left Behind Collection: All 12 Books (234 page)

“Margaret!” Leon hissed fiercely. “Do not interrupt me again!”

“I’m, sorry, sir, I—”

“I don’t want apologies and I don’t want to hear that my subordinates have more important things to do! The next person through this door had better be Mr. Bakar, and for your sake, it had better be within ninety seconds.”

“Right away, sir.”

The door. The chair. “Now then, son, where were we?”

“I was worshiping you, Supreme Potentate.” Another chair.

“That’s it. Yes, kneel before me and kiss my ring.”

“I see no ring, sir.”

“Kiss my finger where the ring will soon be.”

A quick knock and the door opening. Bakar’s voice: “Forgive me, Commander, I—what the devil is going on?”

“Sit, Director.”

“What’s he doing on the floor?”

“He was just about to tell me what was on the video chip you brought back from Jerusalem.”

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you, Supreme Commander?”

“Of course, but it seems there’s a discrepancy between what he and I saw and what you apparently saw.”

“Oh?”

“Yes,” Fortunato said. “Return to your chair and tell your boss what you saw.”

“I heard the gunshot and saw the potentate’s head snap back.”

“I get it,” Bakar said. “A joke. Now the gun killed him? We all know that’s not true.”

“It’s true,” the cameraman said.

“Yeah, I was born yesterday and went blind today.”

“Did you go blind, Bakar?” Leon said soothingly.

“Wha—?”

“Lean across the table here and let me see your eyes.”

“My eyes are fine, Le—er, Commander. I—”

“Bakar, are you listening to me?”

“Of course, but—”

“Are you listening?”

“Yes!”

“Are you listening? Really listening?”

Silence.

“I have your attention now, don’t I, Bakar?”

“You do, sir.”

“Bakar, you understand that I will soon become the new potentate, don’t you?”

David could stand to listen no more and clicked away from the feed. He stood, dizzy and sick to his stomach. He called Annie and apologized for waking her.

“What is it, David?” she said.

“I need you,” he said. “Meet me soon, before I get called in to see Fortunato.”

Rayford and Leah agreed to meet Chloe in a mostly destroyed banquet hall that had been turned into a dimly lit, dingy bar. They were ignored, sitting in a dark corner, huddled against wind that gusted through huge gaps in the wall.

Rayford and Chloe embraced, but he wasted little time chastising her. “This is more dangerous than staying put, even if Hattie leads the GC right to the safe house. There’s a chance they won’t find the underground.”

“We need the new place, Dad,” she said. “And I’m tired of doing nothing.”

“Granted, but let’s not get crazy.”

Leah’s phone chirped. “This is, um, Gerri Seaver.”

“Oh, I’m—I’m sorry, I—”
Click.

“Oh, no!” Leah said. “That was Ming, I’m sure of it.”

“Hit Callback,” Rayford said.

Any doubts Buck had about Chaim’s physical condition were erased when they finally left the Night Visitors. Chaim knew exactly where they were headed. He had ripped from one clean corner of his blanket a piece large enough to fit under his hat and extend down the back of his neck and both sides of his face. His nondescript shirt and blowsy pants made him look like any other Israeli day laborer, and he had replaced his slippers with boots.

Buck had a tough time keeping up with him. He jogged as Chaim walked quickly, and though the man was a foot shorter and more than thirty years older, he wore Buck out.

“We get to America and what, I’m holed up with Tsion and you? I won’t need to kill myself. You’ll both talk me to death.”

“There’s nothing we could say that you haven’t heard already,” Buck said, gasping and grateful that that comment had made Chaim stop briefly.

“Now there’s the truest thing I’ve heard all day.”

“That’s not so,” Buck said, slow to start moving again when Chaim took off.

“What?” Chaim said, a step and a half ahead.

“The truest thing you heard today was that you are lost!”

Again Chaim stopped and turned. “I’m lost?”

“Yes!”

In the dim light in the middle of the ravaged City of God, Buck saw the pain in his friend’s face.

“You don’t think I know I’m lost?” Chaim said, incredulously. “If there’s one thing I do know, one thing I am certain of, it is that I am lost. Why do you think I would sacrifice myself to murder the greatest enemy my country has ever had? I did not expect to survive! I was ready to go! Why? Because I am lost! Nothing to live for! Nothing! My farewell act was to be of some benefit to Israel. Now the deed is done and I am here and yes, I am lost!”

Buck was desperate that Chaim not give them away with his ranting. But that was only one reason he approached his dear friend, arms outstretched, and embraced him.

“You don’t need to be lost, Chaim. You don’t need to be.”

And the old man sobbed in Buck’s arms.

“Don’t hang up. It’s Leah.” She had moved out to the Land Rover to make the call.

“It sounded like you,” came the voice Leah never felt fit the delicate Ming Toy. “But who is Gerri something?”

“We international fugitives have to keep changing identities, Ming. If it weren’t for the intrigue, what would be the appeal?”

“I don’t know how you keep your sense of humor. This is too dangerous, too frightening for me.”

“You handle it well, Ming.”

“I called with a question. Your friend, Williams?”

“Buck, yes.”

“No, not Buck. Longer name.”

“Cameron?”

“Yes! Where’s his family?”

“West somewhere, why? I think only his father and brother are still around.”

“I don’t think they’re around either. There was lots of talk at Buffer today about what happened to Dr. Rosenzweig’s house and his people. They don’t know where he is, but they’re making it look like everybody died in the fire.”

“Yes?”

“They’re saying the same thing will happen to Cameron Williams’s people if they don’t give him up.”

“His relatives don’t know where he is!” Leah said. “He’s smarter than to give them that kind of information.”

“Leah, they may already be dead. This was supposed to happen right away.”

“What was?”

“Torture. Dismemberment. They tell or they are killed. Then comes the fire to cover it up.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Just have your friend check on them. Maybe he can warn them in time.”

“I will, Ming. How are you doing? Ready to come see us? Whoops! Hang on.” Leah slid down in the seat as two uniformed GC officers strolled by. They stopped right next to the Rover, chatting and smoking. “Ming,” Leah whispered, “can you still hear me?”

“Barely. What’s going on?”

“I’ve got company. If I don’t say anything, you’ll know why.”

“If you need to hang up—”

“I’d rather stay on with you. Let me give you Rayford Steele’s number in case I get caught. He’ll answer to Marvin Berry.”

“Got it.”

Leah felt the vehicle rock. “They’re leaning against the car,” she said. “Luckily all the windows are tinted except the windshield.”

“Where are you?”

“Illinois.”

“I mean in the car.”

“Floor of the front seat. Wish I were daintier. The gearshift is killing me.”

“They don’t see you?”

“Don’t think so. I can hear them plain as day.”

“What?”

Leah didn’t want to speak louder. The Peacekeepers were trading wild party stories. She wanted to say, “Yeah, and I’m the Easter bunny,” but she lay still.

“This hunk of junk looks like it’s been through a war,” one said.

“It has, stupid. It’s old enough to have been through the war and the earthquake.”

“Tough make.”

“Not as tough as the Land Cruiser.”

“No? Same company?”

“Toyota.”

“Really?”

“Expensive.”

“More than this?”

“Quite a bit more.”

“No kiddin’? This thing’s loaded. I think it’s got a GPS.”

“This rig? Nah.”

“Betcha.”

“How much?”

“Ten-spot.”

“You’re on.”

“Oh, no,” Leah whispered, “they’re coming to the front.”

“You need me to call Rayford?”

But Leah didn’t answer. She tucked the phone between the seats and pretended to sleep.

“See, isn’t that the positioning system right there. Hey! She all right?”

“Who? Oh, man! Door’s unlocked. Ask her.”

A rap on the window. “Hey, lady!”

Leah ignored it, but moved slightly so they wouldn’t think she was dead. When one opened the passenger door, she sat up, trying to look groggy. “Hey, what’s the deal?” she said. “You want me to call a Peacekeeper?”

“We are Peacekeepers, ma’am.”

“There a law against a girl getting some shut-eye?”

“No, but what’re you doin’ on the floor? Backseat’s wide open.”

“Trying to stay out of the sun.”

She sat up in the seat, desperate to remember her new address and hometown. Zeke Jr. had reminded her more than once to memorize it as soon as possible. She hated being so new at this part of the game.

“This your vehicle?”

“Borrowing it.”

“From?”

“Guy named Russell.”

“That a first or last name?”

“Russell Staub.”

“He know you’re borrowing it?”

“’Course! What’re you driving at?”

“Run a check on it,” one told the other, who immediately got on his phone. “Where’s he from, ma’am?”

“Mount Prospect.”

“What’re you doing all the way down here?”

She shrugged. “S’posed to meet some friends.”

“We’re gonna find this Rover registered to a Staub in Mount Prospect, right?”

She nodded. “I don’t do his paperwork for him, but that’s whose it is and that’s where it’s from.”

“You got any ID, ma’am?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I’d like to see it.”

“You’ve come a long way from wondering if I was all right to accusing me of stealing a car.”

“I didn’t accuse you of anything, lady. You feeling guilty about something?”

“Should I be?”

“Let me see your ID.”

Leah made a show of digging through her purse even after she had located the new documents so she could take a last peek at the new information.

“This your current address, Miss, ah, Seaver?”

“If it says Park Ridge, it is.”

“You’re a long way from home too.”

“Only because there are hardly any roads anymore.”

“That’s the truth.”

“Staub, Mount Prospect,” the other officer said. “No outstandings and no reports.”

Leah raised her eyebrows, her pulse racing. “Satisfied?”

He handed back her ID. “Don’t be out and about without something to do, ma’am. Why don’t you get this vehicle back to the owner and get on home.”

“Can’t I get a drink first, in case my friends show up?”

“Don’t be long.”

“Thank you.” She pushed open the car door and saw Rayford and Chloe on their way out, concern on their faces. “Oh, there they are now! Thanks again, officers!”

Annie had hurried to David’s office. They pretended it was a normal superior/subordinate meeting, and he quickly told her what he had heard.

She paled. “That sounds like what Buck Williams went through with Carpathia at the UN.”

“But who knew Fortunato could do that?”

“Is
he
the Antichrist?” Annie said.

David shook his head. “I still think it’s Carpathia.”

“But he’s really dead, David. I mean really. How long was he in that bag and in that box? I thought he was supposed to come back to life right away.”

“Dr. Ben-Judah thought so too,” he said. “What do we know? If we had this stuff figured out, we probably would have figured out the rest and wouldn’t have been left behind.”

David’s secretary buzzed him. “The Supreme Commander would like to see you.”

Annie grabbed his hands. “God,” she whispered, “protect him on every side.”

“Amen,” David said.

Buck and Chaim sat shivering in a ditch at the far north end of a deserted and blocked-off road. Only a small stretch remained smooth, and Buck began to wonder whether it was long enough for the Super J. The jet might be able to land and take off without attracting attention, but if T had to circle or take more than one shot at it, who knew?

Worse, the stretch was unlit. T would use his landing lights only as much as he had to, counting on Buck to guide him in by phone. That meant Buck would have to stand at one end of the makeshift runway or the other. He opted for the front end so he could talk T through coming straight over his head, then he could spin and try to keep him straight until he landed. Buck would transmit the GPS coordinates listed in his phone to T’s phone. The only danger was T’s coming in too low too quickly. Buck would have to leap out of the way. Still, that seemed easier than trying to elude a plane careening toward him at the other end.

“This is a lot of trouble for someone who doesn’t want to leave,” Chaim said.

“Well,
I
want to leave even if you don’t.”

Buck’s phone rang, and he assumed it was T, though he had not heard the plane yet. It was Rayford.

“We have a situation here,” Rayford said, quickly bringing him up to date on Chloe. “The question is whether now is the time to talk.”

“It’s not,” Buck said. “But in a nutshell, what’s up?”

“Wouldn’t do that to you, Buck. Call us when you’re in the air or in Greece. And greet the brothers for us.”

“Will do,” Buck said, puzzled at Rayford’s new tone. It was as if he were talking to his old father-in-law.

“Chloe sends her love and wants to talk with you when you have time.”

“Thanks. Me too.”

“I love you, Buck.”

“Thanks, Ray. I love you too.”

David realized how petrified he was when he nearly blundered by heading straight toward the conference room upon reaching the eighteenth floor. “He in there?” he said, trying to mask his anxiety.

“No,” Margaret said, clearly puzzled. “He’s with Messrs. Hickman and Moon in his office. They’re expecting you.”

I will not kneel,
David vowed.
I will not worship or kiss his hand. Lord, protect me.

Leon and the other two directors huddled around a TV monitor. Leon still appeared grief stricken. “Once we get His Excellency into the tomb,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “the world can begin approaching some closure. Prosecuting his murderer can only aid in achieving that. Watch this with us, David. Tell me if you see what we see.”

David approached the monitor, certain Fortunato could hear his heartbeat and see the flush of his face. He nearly missed the chair, then settled in awkwardly.

Shot from above, the recording was crystal clear. At the sound of the gunshot from Carpathia’s left, he had turned and run into the wheelchair as Chaim rolled toward him. Chaim grabbed at the metal back support over his left shoulder and quickly produced what appeared to be a two-foot sword. As Nicolae tumbled atop him, Chaim whipped the weapon in front of him, holding it with both hands, point up, sharp edge facing away from the potentate.

Chaim lifted his forearms as Carpathia’s body met the blade, and the sword slipped into his neck and straight through the top of his head as easily as a bayonet would slice a watermelon. Carpathia’s hands shot to his chin, but David kept his eyes on Chaim, who violently twisted the handle at the base of Nicolae’s neck. He let go as Carpathia dropped, then quickly steered stage left and sat with his back to the dying man.

“Well?” Leon said, peering at him. “Is there any doubt?”

David stalled, but all that served was to make the other two glance at him.

“Cameras don’t lie,” Leon said. “We have our assassin, don’t we?”

Much as he wanted to argue, to come up with some other way to interpret what was clear, David would jeopardize his position if he proved illogical. He nodded. “We sure do.”

Leon approached him, and David froze. The supreme commander took David’s face in his fleshy hands and looked deep into his eyes. David fought the urge to look away, praying all the while that he would do the right thing and hoping that Annie was continuing to pray too. Like Nicolae, here was a man with clear mind control over unbelievers. He felt his pulse in his ears and wondered if Leon could detect his panic through his fingers.