The Mark: The Beast Rules The World Read Online Free PDF Page B

personnel could come for her.
    David often overrode other GC systems to send such directives in a way that they could not be traced back to him. He was the one who assigned security codes to keep such transmissions from “enemies of the Global Community,” so he was also able to use the channels without detection. “As soon as you can,” Rayford recorded on David’s private machine, “get back to Albie and me to confirm you’ve paved the way for us.”
    Before long Rayford would have to transmit his picture, with his new look and name, to David Hassid so the young Israeli could “enlist” him in the GC Peacekeeping Forces too. Meanwhile, he and Albie would put down at what was once Peterson Air Force Base, appropriate a GC jeep David would reserve, follow his directions to this bunker, if that’s what it was, and pick up the prisoner.
    By the time Albie had stalled his landing until the fighter was short of fuel, Rayford had been dozing more than two hours. Albie woke him with the news that they had not yet heard back from David.
    “Not good,” Rayford said, placing yet another call to New Babylon. No answer. “You have a computer, Albie?”
    “A subnotebook, but it’s got satellite capability.”

    “Programmed to communicate with David?” “If you’ve got his coordinates, I can make it work.” Rayford found the machine in Albie’s flight bag. “Batteries are low,” he said.
    “Plug in to the plane’s power,” Albie said. “I don’t do heavy-duty stuff on batteries anyway.”
    “Keep the power on after we land,” Rayford said. “This could take a while.”
    Albie nodded and got on the radio to the GC outpost. “GC NB4047 to Peterson Tower.”
    “You ought to know we’re now Carpathia Memorial, GC,” came the reply.
    “My mistake, tower,” Albie said. “First time here in I don’t know how long.” He winked at Rayford, who glanced up from his computer work. Albie had never been in the States before.
    “Gonna hafta take the Memorial out of our name, aren’t we, 4047?”
    “Come back?”
    “He is risen.”
    Albie rolled his eyes at Rayford. “Yeah, I heard. That’s something, eh?”
    “You’re supposed to reply with ‘He is risen indeed.’ ”
    Rayford pantomimed sticking his finger down his throat. Albie shook his head. “Well, I sure believe that, tower,” he said, glancing at Rayford and pointing up.
    “Business here?”
    “Deputy Commander with confidential orders.”
    “Name?”
    “Marcus Elbaz.”

    “One moment.” “Low on fuel, tower.”
    “Short on people here, Commander Elbaz. Give me a minute.”
    “We’re putting down either way,” Albie told Rayford, who was busy pecking in the details that would orient Albie’s computer global-positioning hardware to a satellite that would link him directly with David’s computer. “There you are, sir,” the tower said. “I see you on the system.” “Roger.”
    “Don’t have you assigned out this way, though. You been to Kankakee?”
    “That’s where I came from.” “And your business here?” “Repeat, confidential orders.” “Oh, yes, sorry. Anything we can help with?” “Refueling and a ground vehicle should have been arranged.”
    “As I say, sir, we don’t have your disposition here. We can refuel you, no problem, with the proper authorization code. Ground transportation is scarce.” “I’ll trust you to figure something out.” “We’re very shorthanded and-” “You mentioned that.” “-and frankly, sir, there’s no one here near your
    rank.”
    “Then I expect whoever’s in command to obey my order for transportation.”
    A long pause.
    “I’ll, uh, pass that word along, sir.”
    “Thank you.”
    “And you’re cleared to land.”
    David awoke in the palace hospital, his head throbbing so he could barely open his eyes. He shared a room with two sleeping patients. His clothes had been removed, and he lay there in a flimsy gown, an IV in his hand, his watch on a stand next to