"Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Left Behind Series 3 - Nicolae" - читать интересную книгу автора (LaHaye Tim)

had gathered Air Force leftovers for a disguise for Carpathia. He produced a cap
that didn't match a huge, dress overcoat. Carpathia quickly donned the getup and
motioned that the four others in the room should gather around him. “The jet pilot is
where?” he asked.
“Waiting just outside the door, per your instructions, sir,” Fortunato said.
Carpathia pointed to the armed guard. “Thank you for your service. You may return
to your post via the helicopter. Mr. Fortunato and the Steeles and I will be flown to
a new plane, on which Captain Steele will transport me back to New Babylon.”
Rayford spoke up. “And that is in—?”
Carpathia raised a hand to silence him. “Let us not give our young friend here any
information he would have to be responsible for,” he said, smiling at the uniformed
guard. “You may go.” As the man hurried away, Carpathia spoke quietly to
Rayford. “The Condor 216 awaits us near Dallas. We will then fly west to go east, if
you know what I mean.”
“I've never heard of a Condor 216,” Rayford said. “It's unlikely I'm qualified to—”
“I have been assured,” Carpathia interrupted, “that you are more than qualified.”
“But what is a Condor 2—”
“A hybrid I designed and named myself,” Carpathia said. “Surely you do not think
what has happened here today was a surprise to me.”
“I'm learning,” Rayford said, sneaking a glance at Amanda, who appeared to be
seething.
“You are learning,” Carpathia repeated, smiling broadly. “I like that. Come, let me
tell you about my spectacular new aircraft as we travel.”
Fortunato raised a forefinger. “Sir, my recommendation is that you and I run
together to the end of the airstrip and board the jet. The Steeles should follow when
they see us get on board.”
Carpathia held the oversized hat down onto his styled hair and slipped in behind
Fortunato as the aide opened the door and nodded to the waiting jet pilot. The pilot
immediately took off running toward the Learjet as Fortunato and Carpathia jogged
several yards behind. Rayford slipped an arm around Amanda's waist and drew her
close.
“Rayford,” Amanda said, “have you ever once in your life heard Nicolae Carpathia
misspeak?”
“Misspeak?”
“Stutter, stammer, have to repeat a word, forget a name?”
Rayford suppressed a smile, amazed he could find anything humorous on what
could easily be the last day of his life on earth. “Besides your name, in other
words?”
“He does that on purpose, and you know it,” she said.
Rayford shrugged. “You're probably right. But with what motive?”
“I have no idea,” she said.
“Hon, do you see no irony in your being offended by the man we're convinced is the
Antichrist?” Amanda stared at him. “I mean,” he continued, “listen to yourself. You
expect common courtesy and decency from the most evil man in the history of the
universe?”
Amanda shook her head and looked away. “When you put it that way,” she
muttered, “I suppose I am being oversensitive.”
Buck sat in the sales manager's office of a Land Rover dealership. “You never cease
to amaze me,” Chloe whispered.
“I've never been conventional, have I?”