Left Behind Series - The Remnant Part 62

proclaim. And then G.o.d's message of salvation as found

in his only begotten Son will be presented by one of the , witnesses he has raised up from the tribes of the

children of Israel.

"And now begone, you workers of iniquity, you ser

vants of the evil ruler of this world. You shall come nigh

unto these people and this place never again. Begone lest the G.o.d and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ strike you dead where you stand!"

The GC ran for their vehicles and for their lives. Christopher said, "Fear G.o.d and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Nahum followed with his curse on Babylon, and Caleb warned of the consequences of accepting the mark of the beast. Then a white robed evangelist strode to the front and said, "There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pa.s.s, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

"heat's a comin' and you've got water galore, Bihari. 'Scuse me while I make a phone call." Mac punched in Rayford's number.

"Ray? Where you at, man? When you guys headin' this way? Good!

Listen, you've seen the rivers? That's right, you're on the Chico. Let me tell you, it doesn't affect the believers. At least it doesn't here." He told him of his encounter with Michael and what had happened to the blood. "We're about an hour from takin' off, so tell those brothers and sisters the water is comin' ! Well, that's right, they don't need it that bad now, do they? Bihari here's lookin' at me like I've just lost it. Well, hey, you tell 'em a deal's a deal."

" Can I tell him, Captain Steele?" George said.

"Tell who what?"

"Luis. About the GC having to leave this area alone. And about the water."

"Like to share good news, do you?"

"You bet!"

"Knock yourself out."

When they got back, Luis jogged up to the car.

"well?"

"George wants the privilege," Rayford said. "We roll in ten minutes."

Lionel would take the first four hours, then Ree would take over, but Rayford would land the craft. Ray was strapping into the copilot's chair when Lionel fired up the engines, but as he put his headphones on he sensed something wrong. "You okay?" Rayford said.

Lionel pressed his lips together. "Did all my preflight."

"Me too. So?"

"Doesn't feel right."

"Long flight, big plane, lots of cargo, friend. We don't go till you're happy, hear?" "I appreciate that, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Wanna do preflight again, check every box from top to bottom, just to be sure?"

"Nah, just let me think a minute."

Rayf ord turned in his seat. "How you doing, Ree ? "

Ree gave him a thumbs up and laid his head back, as if ready to sleep.

"Here comes your last crew member, Mr. Pilot. Should he shut the door, or are we holding?"

"Aw, nuts. Hold a second. I'm checking the cargo."

"Need help?"

"Nah, I got it."

"Cold back there."

"Don't I know it!"

Rayford waited just past ten minutes. Ree and George were strapped in and dozing already. Ray unstrapped and started back to the cargo hold when he met Lionel coming the other way. "All set?"

Lionel gave him a look. "Tell the tower we're ready."

As they strapped back in, Lionel looked at Rayford again. "Praise G.o.d, is all I've got to say."

"No, it isn't. Tell me."

"Had a whole pallet that never got secured. First bank, it would have shifted."

"Could have put us down."

"'Course."

"Surely you'd checked the cargo on preflight."

"I did. I always do. Hardly anything's more important than keeping that load centered and secure."

"What made you think of it?" "I have no idea. I double checked every lock. All were up. I dust got a feeling I should check again."

"Well, buddy," R.ayford said, "if we land in India, that feeling will be the reason."

Chapter.

CHANG SPENT hours monitoring the palace, his ears always p.r.i.c.king up when he heard Carpathia.

"Something in the atmosphere of that ancient Edom region interferes with our missiles, our flights, our artillery,"

Nicolae said one evening. "The entire area has become a Bermuda Triangle. Ensure the peace but do not waste another Nick on armory that does no more than what we can accomplish diplomatically."

Chang knew Global Community diplomacy was an oxymoron. Standard operating procedure no longer included any semblance of public relations for the potentate. Someone was trying to protect the potentate from it, but from all over the globe came evidence that even the millions of citizens who bore marks of loyalty to him now knew that the risen G.o.d of the world had become a despot king. Hundreds of thousands were dying everywhere for want of drinkable water.

One report from Region , the United African States, showed a woman railing in public before a small, obviously fearful crowd: "Justice, fair play, even juries are relics from another time! We obey the GC and bow to the image of the supreme ruler only because we all know someone who has been put to death for failing to!" She was shot to death where she stood, and the crowd scattered for its life.