The Vanishings by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online

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FIVE
The Eve of Destruction
    T HE evening before the event that would change the lives of Judd Thompson, Vicki Byrne, Lionel Washington, and Ryan Daley, they didn’t know each other. Oh, Judd Thompson had seen Vicki Byrne at New Hope Village Church on those few occasions when she was dragged there, all but kicking and screaming, by her parents. But he couldn’t have told you her name.
    He knew she went to his school, Prospect High. But she was trailer trash. They would not have been seen together. He didn’t know, any better than Lionel Washington did, that Lionel’s sister Clarice shared a seat on the school bus with Vicki. Judd and Clarice didn’t run in the same circles either.
    It didn’t register with Judd, even when the pilot’s name was announced on the 747flight to London, that the captain also occasionally attended New Hope Village Church. Judd had seen Raymie Steele at church. Raymie was part of the middle school youth group. But Judd didn’t know Raymie’s name. And he certainly had no knowledge of Raymie’s best friend, Ryan Daley.
    In truth, the four kids were entwined in a web of connections they knew nothing about. Only the events of that night, mainly the event late in the evening, Chicago time, would push them together, a strange mix of most different people and personalities.

    Judd Thompson Jr. took a bigger gulp of the champagne than he should have and had to cover his mouth to keep from spitting it out. Some of it came out through his nose, which burned as he coughed. He looked around sheepishly and was relieved to notice that no one had paid any attention. Ick! He would just pretend to sip from the glass until the beautiful flight attendant took it away.
    Judd had his eye on the two seats ahead of the men across the aisle from him. A rather large man had squeezed his way past Judd to sit in the window seat next to him, and asroomy as first class seats were, Judd decided he would rather sit alone if he had a choice. He had been told at the counter that he had bought the last seat on the plane, but those two seats on the other side were still empty. He hoped whoever had reserved them had changed their mind or would miss takeoff for some reason.
    But just as the flight attendants were gathering up glasses and napkins and telling passengers to stow their tray tables, a stooped, old couple boarded and headed for those seats. The flight attendants had helped the other first-class passengers store their belongings, but all were busy as the couple made their way up the aisle.
    The young man sitting in the window seat across the aisle from Judd was shutting down his laptop computer when he seemed to notice the old couple. He turned to the man on his right, the one who had already loosened his tie and downed three small bottles of liquor. “Sir, that elderly gentleman could use a little help, I think.”
    “So?” the man on the aisle said. “What do I look like, a stewardess?”
    “Would you let me by, then, so I can help him?”
    The drinking man cursed and turned in his seat to let the younger man pass. Juddwatched as the old man took off his sport jacket and felt hat and reached for the overhead bin, which was too high for him. The younger man said, “May I help you with that, sir?”
    “Why, thank you, son. You’re very kind.”
    “Not a problem.”
    “What’s your name?”
    “Cameron Williams,” he told the old man. “Call me Buck.”
    “Peterson,” the old man said, extending his hand. “Call me Harold.”
    Judd was fascinated. Harold Peterson introduced his wife to Buck, and as they all sat down Mrs. Peterson told Buck her husband was a retired businessman and asked what Buck did for a living.
    “I’m a writer,” Buck said. “With Global Weekly.”
    Wow, Judd thought. A big shot. And not that old.
    After takeoff, dinner, and a movie, Judd tried to relax. Most passengers put away their reading material and curled up with blankets and pillows. Soon the interior