"Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Left Behind Series 4 - Soul Harvest" - читать интересную книгу автора (LaHaye Tim)

he also assumed the earthquake would have taken out nearby cellular towers.
“Soon as I get out of range, it won't, Ray,” Mac said. “Everything's down for as far
as I can see. These units act like walkie-talkies when we're close. When you need a
cellular boost, you won't find it.”
“So any chance of calling the States—”
“Is out of the question,” Mac said. “Ray, Potentate Carpathia wants to speak to you,
but first—”
“I don't want to talk to him, and you can tell him that.”
“But before I give you to him,” Mac continued, “I need to remind you that our
meeting, yours and mine, is still on for tonight. Right?”
Rayford slowed and stared at the ground, running a hand through his hair. “What?
What are you talking about?”
“All right then, very good,” Mac said. “We're still meeting tonight then. Now the
potentate—”
“I understand you want to talk to me later, Mac, but don't put Carpathia on or I
swear I'll—”
“Stand by for the potentate.”
Rayford switched the phone to his right hand, ready to smash it on the ground, but
he restrained himself. When avenues of communication reopened, he wanted to be
able to check on his loved ones.
“Captain Steele,” came the emotionless tone of Nicolae Carpathia.
“I'm here,” Rayford said, allowing his disgust to come through. He assumed God
would forgive anything he said to the Antichrist, but he swallowed what he really
wanted to say.
“Though we both know how I could respond to your ^egregious disrespect and
insubordination,” Carpathia said, “I choose to forgive you.”
Rayford continued walking, clenching his teeth to keep from screaming at the man.
“I can tell you are at a loss for how to express your gratitude,” Carpathia continued.
“Now listen to me. I have a safe place and provisions where my international
ambassadors and staff will join me. You and I both know we need each other, so I
suggest—”
“You don't need me,” Rayford said. “And I don't need your forgiveness. You have a
perfectly capable pilot right next to you, so let me suggest that you forget me.”
“Just be ready when he lands,” Carpathia said, the first hint of frustration in his
voice.
“The only place I would accept a ride to is the airport,” Rayford said. “And I'm
almost there. Don't have Mac set down any closer to this mess.”
“Captain Steele,” Carpathia began again, condescendingly, “I admire your irrational
belief that you can somehow find your wife, but we both know that is not going to
happen.”
Rayford said nothing. He feared Carpathia was right, but he would never give him
the satisfaction of admitting it. And he would certainly never quit looking until he
proved to himself Amanda had not survived.
“Come with us, Captain Steele. Just reboard, and I will treat your outburst as if it
never—”
“I'm not going anywhere until I've found my wife! Let me talk to Mac.”
“Officer McCullum is busy. I will pass along a message.”
“Mac could fly that thing with no hands. Now let me talk to him.”
“If there is no message, then, Captain Steele—”
“All right, you win. Just tell Mac—”