"Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins - Left Behind Series 5 - Apollyon" - читать интересную книгу автора (LaHaye Tim)

“Besides that you refer to me as Supreme Commander, His Excellency asks that you
remain in the cockpit after landing for orders.”
“We're not going to Jerusalem?” Rayford said. Mac stared straight ahead.
“Precisely,” Fortunato said. “Much as we all know you want to be there.”
Rayford had been certain Carpathia's people would try to follow him to the rest of
the Tribulation Force.
Fortunato left and shut the door, and Rayford said, “I'll take it, Mac.”
Mac shifted control of the craft, and Rayford immediately exaggerated the angle of
descent while depressing the reverse intercom button. He heard Carpathia and
Mathews asking after Fortunato, who had clearly taken a tumble. Once the plane
was parked, Fortunato burst into the cockpit.
“What was that, Officer McCullum?”
“My apologies, Commander,” Mac said. “It was out of my hands. All due respect,
sir, but you should not have been out of your seat during landing.”
“Listen up, gentlemen,” Fortunato said, kneeling between them. “His Excellency
asks that you remain in Tel Aviv, as we are not certain when he might need to return
to New Babylon. We have rented you rooms near the airport. GC personnel will
transport you.”


Buck Williams sat in the bowels of Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem with his
pregnant wife, Chloe. He knew she was in no way healed enough from injuries she
had suffered in the great earthquake to have justified the flight from the States, but
she would not be dissuaded. Now she appeared weary. Her bruises and scars were
fading, but Chloe still had a severe limp, and her beauty had been turned into a
strange cuteness by the unique reshaping of her cheekbone and eye socket.
“You need to help the others, Buck,” she said. “Now go on. I'll be fine.”
“I wish you'd go back to the compound,” he said.
“I'm fine,” she insisted. “I just need to sit awhile. I'm worried about Hattie. I said I
wouldn't leave her unless she improved or became a believer, and she has done
neither.” Pregnant, Hattie Durham had been left home fighting for her life against
poison in her system. Dr. Floyd Charles attended her while the rest of the
Tribulation Force—including new member Ken Ritz, another pilot—had made the
pilgrimage to Israel.
“Floyd will take good care of her.”
“I know. Now leave me alone awhile.”


Rayford and Mac were instructed to wait on the plane as Carpathia, Fortunato, and
Mathews were received with enthusiasm on the tarmac. Fortunato stood dutifully in
the background as Mathews declined to make a public statement but introduced
Carpathia.
“I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is to be back in Israel,” Carpathia said with a
broad smile. “I am eager to welcome the devotees of Dr. Ben-Judah and to display
the openness of the Global Community to diverse opinion and belief. I am pleased
to reaffirm my guarantee of safety to the rabbi and the thousands of visitors from all
over the world. I will withhold further comment, assuming I will be welcome to
address the honored assemblage within the next few days.”
The dignitaries were ushered to a helicopter for the hop to Jerusalem, while their
respective entourages boarded an opulent motor coach.