Nicolae: The Rise Of The Antichrist Read Online Free PDF Page B

right over, Mr. Williams, but could you tell me something first? Did Loretta have the phones off the hook there for a while?”
    “Yes, I believe she did. She didn’t have answers for people who were calling about Pastor Bruce. With nothing to tell people, she just turned off the phones.
    “That’s a relief,” Donny said. “I just got her set up with a new system a few weeks ago, so I hope nothing was wrong. How is Bruce, by the way?”
    “I’ll tell you all about that when you get here, Donny, OK?”
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    Rayford saw billowing black clouds over the Dallas/ Ft. Worth commercial airport and thought of the many times he had landed big craft on those long runways. How long would it take to rebuild here? Captain Hernahdez guided the Lear jet to a nearby military strip, the one Rayford had visited so recently. He saw no other aircraft on the ground.
    Clearly, someone had moved all the planes to keep the strip from being a target.
    Hernandez landed the Lear jet as smoothly as a man can land a plane that small, and they immediately taxied to the end of the runway and directly into a large hangar.
    Rayford was surprised that, indeed, the rest of the hangar was empty, too. Hernandez shut down the engines, and they deplaned. As soon as Carpathia had room, he put back on his disguise. He whispered something to Fortunato, who asked Hernandez where they would find the food. “Hangar three,” Hernandez said. “We’re in hangar one. The plane’s in hangar four.”
    The disguise proved unnecessary. There was not much space between the hangars, and the small contingent moved quickly into and out of small doors at the sides of the buildings. Hangars two and three were also empty, except for a table piled with catered lunches near the side door that led to hangar four.
    They approached the tables, and Carpathia turned to Rayford. “Say good-bye to Captain Hernandez,” he said. “After he has eaten, he will be on assignment for me near the old National Security Agency building in Maryland. It is unlikely you will see him again. He flies only the small craft.”
    It was all Rayford could do to keep from shrugging. What did he care? He had just met the man. Why was it so important for Carpathia to keep him updated on personnel?
    He had not told Rayford of Earl Halliday’s involvement in helping design a new plane.
    He had not told Rayford that he expected to need a new plane. He had not even sought Rayford’s input about the plane he would be flying. Rayford would never understand the man.
    Rayford ate ravenously and tried to encourage Amanda to eat more than usual. She did not. As the group made its last move between hangars, Rayford heard the characteristic whine of the Learjet and realized Hernandez was already airborne.
    Interestingly, Fortunato disappeared soon after they entered hangar four. There, standing at attention in a neat row, were four of the ten international ambassadors who represented huge land masses and populations and reported directly to Carpathia. Rayford had no idea where they had been or how they had gotten here. All he knew was that it was his job to get them all to New Babylon for emergency meetings in light of the outbreak of World War III .
    At the end of the row was Earl Halliday, standing stiffly and staring straight ahead.
    Carpathia shook hands with each of the four ambassadors in turn and ignored Halliday, who seemed to expect that. Rayford walked directly to Halliday and stuck out his hand.
    Halliday ignored it and spoke under his breath. “Get away from me, Steele, you scum!”
    “Earl!”
    “I mean it, Rayford. I have to bring you up to speed on this plane, but I don’t have to pretend to like it.”
    Rayford backed away, feeling awkward, and joined Amanda, who had been left alone and looked out of place herself.
    “Rayford, what in the world is Earl doing here?” she asked.
    “I’ll tell you later. He’s not happy, I can tell you that. What was Carpathia talking to you about on the