Armageddon: The Cosmic Battle Of The Ages by Tim Lahaye, Jerry B. Jenkins Page B

Petra by now.
    Rayford had awakened Krystall in the palace yet again. “I’ve been thinking about your request,” he said.
    “My request?”
    “For eyes.”
    “Don’t play with me.”
    “No, it kept working on me, and I might just know of a pair you could use. You remember, just before you and I spoke, someone opened the door, then shut it again and ran off?”
    “How could I forget? That’s when you scared the life out of me.”
    “He’s a believer too, and he can see in New Babylon.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “I might be able to talk him into coming back and helping you when everyone else is gone. He can tell you where stuff is, do all sorts of things for you.”
    “What’s in it for you?”
    “There might be things in the files I’d like to know about.”
    “More than you know.”
    “See? He helps you for a few days, or for however long you want, and you give him access to things that might help me. Deal?”
    “What’s in it for him?”
    “I’ll take care of that. In fact, I’ll call him right now and see if I can set it up. Well, I’ll call him tomorrow. No sense waking him.”
    “No, why should I be the only one up at this hour?”
    “Sorry.” Rayford heard a tone that told him he had a call coming in. “Hang on just a second, Krystall.” He checked the caller ID. A San Diego area code, but a num-ber he didn’t recognize. “I’d better take this. If I can get this deal arranged, I’ll have the guy call you.”
    He punched his call button twice, ending one call and picking up the other. “Steele here.”
    “Daddy, it’s me.”
    “Chloe!”
    “Please, just listen. You still have that record feature on your phone?”
    “Yes, but-”
    “Turn it on right now. Do it. Did you? Is it on?” “Yes, but-”
    “I know this call is being traced and your phone is going to be useless after this, but I couldn’t call anyone else. I’m in the San Diego GC jail, and they’re trying to bargain with me to get to the others. Tell Buck and Kenny I love them with all my heart and that if I don’t see them again before heaven, I’ll be waiting for them there. Dad, this was all my fault, but I was jogging within thirty miles of our place and, oh, listen, I just wanted to tell you that I’m all right for now. I’ve just been sitting here reminiscing about that wonderful trip you and Mom and I took to Colorado when I was five or six. Remember?”
    “Vaguely. Chloe, listen-”
    “Dad, I don’t dare stay on long. It’s important to me that you remember that trip!”
    “Honey, that had to be more than twenty years ago. I-”
    “It was! But it was so special, and I wish everybody could go there again. If I had one dream, it’s that we could all go there right now, as soon as possible.”
    “Chloe-”
    “Dad, don’t. You know they have to be listening. Just please give my love to everybody and tell them to pray that I’ll be strong to the end. I will give nothing away. Nothing. And, Dad, think of the Colorado trip so I know we’ll both be thinking of the same thing at the same time. I love you, Dad. Don’t ever forget that.”
    “I love you too, honey. I-”
    “Bye, Daddy.”
    And she was gone.
     
     
    “You’re supposed to be the combat guy, George,” Buck said. “And all you want to talk about is packing.”
    “I just want you to know, Buck, that I’m not going to hold you responsible for any mean thing you say to me until Chloe is back safe and sound. Then I’m going to tell on you.”
    “Yeah, and she’ll ground you,” Priscilla said.
    Buck owed George a smile, and it never ceased to amuse him when Priscilla vainly tried to add to or improve on her husband’s humor. It was just that Buck’s spirits could not be lifted. His father-in-law had confirmed where Chloe was through his contact at the palace, and the local GC headquarters simply was not a place vulnerable to a raid.
    “The best thing we have going for us,” Sebastian said, “is that as soon as they determine