The Regime: Evil Advances Read Online Free PDF Page B

newsweeklies, appearances on two Chicago TV news shows, a spot on one of the network morning shows, and a summons to Washington for him and his boss, Earl Halliday. They gained an audience with none other than the president of Pan-Con himself, Leonard Gustafson.
    In truth, Rayford had thought Earl’s secretary was kidding when she called to tell him of the invite. “Yeah, Francine, and I’m the Easter bunny.”
    But it had been true, and he enjoyed the ride with Earl, as first-class passengers, and the privilege of meeting the legendary Gustafson. He proved shorter than Rayford-- most men were--and even thinner than the wispy Earl,

    but being ex-military, Gustafson had that bearing that commanded respect.
    Rayford had always been a bit of a Boy Scout—formal, courteous, moderate in his appetites. So it hit him strange that both Gustafson and Halliday thought nothing of having a stiff shot of scotch in Gustafson’s office in the middle of the afternoon. On the other hand, he didn’t want to seem rude by rejecting the offered drink.
    “You can imagine,” the president said at last, “that I can’t have a sit-down with every pilot who does what he’s been trained to do.”
    “Yes, frankly, I was wondering what all the fuss was about,” said Rayford.
    “Well, that’s just it,” Gustafson said. “Had you reveled in the attention, I would have let that be the extent of it. That would have been your reward; know what I mean? But Pan-Con looks for examples, men and women we are proud to have wearing our wings. Your feat was extraordinary. Not unique, but special nonetheless. But how you’ve handled it has been exemplary. You didn’t make it into something it wasn’t. And what you said on the Today show about it being the thing that any trained pilot would have to try, that was spot-on. So congratulations, thanks, and be aware that I have put your name on the short list as a substitute on Air Force One and Air Force Two.”
    “Sir?”
    “As you know, occasionally we get asked for referrals if there is ever a need for backup for the president or the vice president. Such opportunities are rare, because the

    full-time job always goes to a military pilot, and there are several pilots ahead of you on the sub list. But a lot goes into a recommendation. Even a man’s looks. How he wears the uniform, carries himself, deals with the press. There might be a hundred men more qualified than you on our team across the country, but your little brush with notoriety made you visible. So, good for you.”
    Rayford was flattered, of course. He didn’t expect anything to materialize from the Air Force One thing, given that substituting was mostly honorary and there were several ahead of him. But it did get him thinking about whether a big honor like that should be a career goal. He’d not had a dream higher than where he sat every few days—in the cockpit of a 747. And yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something had been nagging him. Had he peaked too soon, achieved his goals, realized his dreams?
    On the flight back, since he had already had a couple of belts in Gustafson’s office, Rayford surprised himself and wondered if he noticed a double take on Halliday’s part when he accepted a couple more hard drinks.
    “Glad you’re just a passenger,” Earl said.
    Rayford laughed a little too loudly. “Don’t worry,” he said. “You know me.”
    “Thought I did.”
    “C’mon, Earl. We’re celebrating, aren’t we?”
    In truth, Rayford had never been a problem drinker. He rarely got drunk, even on the golf course, sipping beers for four or five hours at a time on Saturdays and as soon as he could get away from home after church on Sundays.

    Maybe that was his problem. He felt guilty leaving Irene with the kids for the better part of the weekends he was home. And yet he told himself—and her when she mentioned it—that he deserved his own time. He worked hard. His job was high stress.
    So many shots of the