Desecration: Antichrist Takes The Throne by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

years, but that made the second half of the Tribulation seem even longer. If he stayed in Petra, it would be that long before he saw Hannah again too.
    David envied Buck Williams and his marriage. He couldn’t wait to meet Chloe, the brain behind the International Commodity Co-op. Besides creating an underground where believers would be able to buy and sell from each other when they were restricted from world markets, she had almost single-handedly brought together the personnel for Operation Eagle without having met them. In a cooler behind Albie was food enough to last David until the fleeing Israelis joined him. Maybe God would feed David with manna before the others arrived. He hoped bringing food was not evidence of faithlessness.
    Chloe Williams had arranged for the shipment of the latest high-tech computer equipment from various parts of the world, and that too was in the cargo hold. David could only guess how long it would take him and Albie to unload. He studied an aerial sketch of the area and wondered where he would set up and where he would live. “This place sure doesn’t look like it could house all the believers in Israel.”
    “It won’t,” Albie said. “We’re estimating a million people will need refuge. Petra will hold about a quarter of that.”
    “What do you plan to do with the rest?”
    “Expand the borders, that’s all. The co-op has tents for the others.”
    “Will they be safe? Outside Petra, I mean?”
    Albie shook his head. “There’s only so much we know, brother. This is a faith mission.”
----
    At a little after three in the morning in Chicago, Tsion lay with his hands behind his head on the cot in his study. He fought sleep as he watched the broadcast on his computer monitor. Hearing voices in the commons area, he padded out to find Chloe, Kenny on her lap, watching television.
    “Do you believe this?” he said.
    “Dis!” Kenny said, and Chloe shushed him.
    She pressed her lips together. “I wish I were there.”
    “You should be pleased with what God has allowed you to accomplish, Chloe. Every report says things are going like clockwork.”
    “I know. And I’ve learned what strangers can do when they have a bond.”
    Tsion sat on the floor. “The vehicle advance should be underway by now.”
    “It is,” she said. “And it’s one of the riskiest parts. We didn’t have time to put GC insignias on the vehicles.”
    “God knows,” Tsion said.
    “Gott!” Kenny said.
    “That’s God in German, you know,” Tsion said.
    “I doubt he’s bilingual,” Chloe said. “But apparently Buck is. Never studied another language and now he’s speaking Hebrew without even knowing it.”
----
    It was clear to Buck that Carpathia had decided not to address the crowds until either the Garden Tomb or the Temple Mount. All along the Via Dolorosa he confused many by skipping traditional sites, and the people sang and chanted and cheered. Chaim seemed to move more and more slowly, and Buck worried about his health.
    The drugged pig was even weaker, however, and the milling throngs found it hilarious somehow when her front legs buckled and she dropped to her knees, nearly pitching Carpathia on his head. They laughed and laughed as aides rushed to help Carpathia off the animal. He formed a gun with his thumb and forefinger and pretended to pop the sow where she rested. Then he dragged a finger across his own neck, as if remembering the actual plan for the porker.
    Nicolae strode on while the military truck pulled into view and half a dozen Peacekeepers worked on getting the pig back on four feet and into the trailer. The potentate jogged from the central bus station area up to the traditional site of Calvary, and it was all Buck could do to watch. He was grateful there was no mock crucifixion, but still it turned his stomach to see Carpathia stand at the edge of the Mount and again spread his arms as if embracing the world.
    Suddenly Fortunato stepped beside his boss and tried to mimic