The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession Read Online Free PDF

Wyatt.”
    “I’m not gonna be able to hear the box here if you fire up. Can’t you give me a second?”
    From the radio on Wyatt’s makeshift desk in the middle of the hangar: “Officer 423, do you copy? Initiate code red screening effective immediately.”
    “This is Wyatt. You mean those thorough checks on everybody, even small craft?”
    “Where are you, 423?”
    “Small-craft Hangar 3, sir.”
    “Then that is what I mean, yes!”
    Rayford quickly closed the door, but before he could settle into the cockpit, Wyatt came running. “Mr. Berry, sir! I’m going to have to ask you to step out of the craft!”
    Rayford initiated the starting sequence, which only caused Wyatt to rush in front of the Gulf stream, waving, rifle dangling. He didn’t appear alarmed or even suspicious. It was clear he simply thought Rayford couldn’t hear him.
    He motioned for Rayford to open the door. Rayford considered simply starting up as soon as Wyatt was clear of the front, hoping the GC was thin staffed enough and busy enough that they would ignore him. But he couldn’t risk an air pursuit or gung ho Wyatt from Fort Collins shooting at him on the runway.
    He moved to the door and opened it three inches.
    “What is it, Wyatt?”
    “I’ve been instructed, sir, to do a thorough check and search of even small craft before departure tonight, due to what happened in Jerusalem.”
    “Even me, Wyatt? A small-town guy like you? An American?”
    “Got to, sir. Sorry.”
    “Wyatt, you know the Gulfstream, don’t you?”
    “The Gulfstream, sir?”
    “This aircraft.”
    “No sir, I don’t. I’m not an aviation man. I’m a soldier.”
    Rayford peeked through the slivered opening. “If you knew this plane, Wyatt, you’d know that if the door opens all the way, I have to start the whole ignition sequence over.”
    “You do?”
    “Yeah, some kind of a safety mechanism that keeps the engines from starting until the door is closed.”
    “Well, I’m sorry, but I have to—”
    “I’m sorry, too, Wyatt, because the tower guys were complaining about you, and I was trying to keep you out of trouble, make you look good, by getting away quickly.”
    “But my commanding officer just told me—”
    “Wyatt! Listen to me! You think I shot Carpathia?”
    “‘Course not. I—”
    “I’d need you to teach me about weapons, for one thing.”
    “I could sure teach you, but—”
    “I’ll bet you could. And I could teach you to fly—”
    “I have to—”
    “Wyatt, I just heard on the radio that two wide-bodies are in landing sequence right now, with another waiting to take off. Now my perimeter flange is going to overheat if I don’t get going, and you don’t want a fire in here. Tell your boss I was already on my way out when you got the order, then we’re both covered. You look quick, you avoid a fire, and you’re still following orders.”
    Rayford kept a careful eye on Wyatt’s hands and flinched when the young man moved his right. If he leveled that rifle at him, Rayford would have to comply.
    But Wyatt saluted and pointed at Rayford. “Good thinkin’, sir. Carry on.”
    Rayford fired up the engines and maneuvered onto the tarmac. He couldn’t wait to tell Mac about this one. He heard about other planes on a radio that wasn’t on yet? Perimeter flange? Fire? Tsion taught that part of the population decimation might be God’s way of removing his most incorrigible enemies in anticipation of the coming epic battle. Wyatt was living proof that the inept had survived.
    Rayford knew he wouldn’t always enjoy such fortune.
    “Ben Gurion Tower to Gulfstream!”
    Rayford leaned forward and looked as far as he could in both directions, both on the runway and in the sky.
    “Gurion Tower to Gulfstream, do you copy?”
    He was clear.
    “Gulfstream, you are not cleared! Remain stationary.”
    “Gulfstream to Tower,” Rayford said. “Proceeding, thank you.”
    “Repeat, Gulfstream, you are not cleared!”
    “Cleared by Officer