Tribulation Force: The Continuing Drama Of Those Left Behind by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Read Free Book Online Page A

morning wouldn’t be that convenient. In fact, I’ll see him in church tomorrow, right?”
    Rayford shook his head. “Now you’re going to play games with him? You were worried about obsessing over him like a schoolgirl, and now you’re acting like one.”
    Chloe looked hurt. “Oh, thanks, Dad. Just remember, letting him wait was your idea.”
    “That was just overnight. Don’t involve me in this if it’s going to get silly.”

    “Well, Buck, here’s your chance to check in on Hattie,” Bruce Barnes said. “What do you think Carpathia wants?”
    Buck shook his head. “No idea.”
    “Do you trust this Steve Plank?”
    “Yeah, I trust him. I worked for Steve for years. The scary thing is, he welcomed me to Carpathia’s pre-press conference meeting, told me where to sit, told me who the various people were. Then later he asked why I hadn’t shown up. Told me Carpathia was a little put out that I wasn’t there.”
    “And you know him well enough to know whether he’s being straight with you.”
    “Frankly, Bruce, he’s the main reason I believe that Carpathia is the fulfillment of these prophecies we’re studying. Steve is a hard-nosed journalist from the old school. That he could be talked into leaving legitimate news coverage to be spokesman for a world politician shows Carpathia’s power of persuasion. Even I turned down that job. But to sit through that carnage and then forget that I was even there, that’s just … ”
    “Unnatural.”
    “Exactly. I’ll tell you what was weird, though. Something in me wanted to believe Carpathia when he explained what had happened. Pictures began forming in my mind of Stonagal shooting himself and killing Todd-Cothran in the process.”
    Bruce shook his head. “I confess that when you first told us that story, I thought you had gone mad.”
    “I would have agreed with you, except for one thing.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Well, all those other people saw it happen and remembered it one way. I remembered it entirely differently. If Steve had just told me I hadn’t seen it right, maybe I would have thought I was going crazy and had myself committed. But instead he told me I wasn’t even there! Bruce, [_no one _]remembers I was there! Well, tell me I’m in denial, but that’s hogwash. I was back in my office recording every detail into my computer by the time the news media got Carpathia’s version. If I wasn’t there, how did I know that Stonagal and Todd-Cothran would be carried out of there in body bags?”
    “You don’t have to persuade me, Buck,” Bruce said. “I’m on your side. The question now is, what does Carpathia want? Do you think if he talks to you in private he’ll reveal his true self? or threaten you? or let you know he’s aware that you know the truth?”
    “For what purpose?”
    “To intimidate you. To use you.”
    “Maybe. Maybe all he wants to do is try to read me, try to determine whether he succeeded in brainwashing me, too.”
    “It’s pretty dangerous business, that’s all I’ve got to say.”
    “I hope that’s [_not _]all you’ve got to say, Bruce. I was hoping for a little more counsel.”
    “I’ll pray about it,” Bruce said. “But right now I don’t know what to tell you.”
    “Well, at least I have to call Steve back. I don’t know whether Carpathia wants to talk by phone or in person.”
    “Can you wait until Monday?”
    “Sure. I can tell him I assumed he wanted me to call him back during business hours, but I can’t guarantee he won’t call me in the meantime.”
    “He has your new number?”
    “No. Steve calls my voice mail in New York.”
    “Easy enough to ignore.”
    Buck shrugged and nodded. “If that’s what you think I should do.”
    “Since when have I become your adviser?”
    “Since you became my pastor.”

    When Rayford returned from running errands that morning, he realized from her body language and terse comments that he had offended Chloe. “Let’s talk,” he