The Left Behind Collection: All 12 Books by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

envelope from his home address. Irene had taken to mailing him little surprises lately, the result of a marriage book she had been urging him to read. He slipped the envelope into his case and went looking for Hattie Durham. Funny, he had no emotional attraction whatever to Hattie just now. But he felt obligated to be sure she got home.
    As he stood in a crowd by the elevator, he heard the announcement that a helicopter was available for no more than eight pilots and would make a run to Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, and Des Plaines. Rayford hurried to the pad. “Got room for one to Mount Prospect?”
    “Yup.”
    “How about another to Des Plaines?”
    “Maybe, if he gets here in about two minutes.”
    “It’s not a he. She’s a flight attendant.”
    “Pilots only. Sorry.”
    “What if you have room?”
    “Well, maybe, but I don’t see her.”
    “I’ll have her paged.”
    “They’re not paging anyone.”
    “Give me a second. Don’t leave without me.”
    The chopper pilot looked at his watch. “Three minutes,” he said. “I’m leavin’ at one.”
    Rayford left his bag on the ground, hoping it would hold the helicopter pilot in case he was a little late. He charged up the stairs and into the corridor. Finding Hattie would be impossible. He grabbed a courtesy phone. “I’m sorry, we’re unable to page anyone just now.”
    “This is an emergency and I am a Pan-Continental captain.”
    “What is it?”
    “Have Hattie Durham meet her party at K-17.”
    “I’ll try.”
    “Do it!”
    Rayford stood on tiptoe to see Hattie coming, yet still somehow she surprised him. “I was fourth in line for a computer in the lounge,” she said, appearing at his side. “Got a better deal?”
    “Got us a helicopter ride if we hurry,” he said.
    As they skipped down the stairs she said, “Wasn’t it awful about Chris?”
    “What about him?”
    “You really don’t know?”
    Rayford wanted to stop and tell her to quit making him work so hard. That frustrated him about people her age. They enjoyed a volleying conversation game. He liked to get to the point. “Just tell me!” he said, sounding more exasperated than he intended.
    As they burst through the door and onto the tarmac, the chopper blades whipped their hair and deafened them. Rayford’s bag had already been put on board, and only one seat remained. The pilot pointed at Hattie and shook his head. Rayford grabbed her elbow and pulled her aboard as he climbed in. “Only way she’s not coming is if you can’t handle the weight!”
    “What do you weigh, doll?” the pilot said.
    “One-fifteen!”
    “I can handle the weight!” he told Rayford. “But if she’s not buckled in, I’m not responsible!”
    “Let’s go!” Rayford shouted.
    He buckled himself in and Hattie sat in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and clasped his wrists together. He thought how ironic it was that he had been dreaming of this for weeks, and now there was no joy, no excitement in it, nothing sensual whatever. He was miserable. Glad to be able to help her out, but miserable.
    Hattie looked embarrassed and uncomfortable, and Rayford noticed she took a sheepish peek at the other seven pilots in the copter. None seemed to return her gaze. This disaster was still too fresh and there were too many unknowns. Rayford thought he heard or lip-read one of them saying, “Christopher Smith,” but there was no way he could hear inside the raucous craft. He put his mouth next to Hattie’s ear.
    “Now what about Chris?” he said.
    She turned and spoke into his ear. “They wheeled him past us while I was going into the lounge. Blood all over!”
    “What happened?”
    “I don’t know, but, Rayford, he didn’t look good!”
    “How bad?”
    “I think he was dead! I mean, they were working on him, but I’d be surprised if he made it.”
    Rayford shook his head. What next? “Did he get hit or something? Did that bus crash?” Wouldn’t that be ironic!
    “I don’t