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Nicolae Chapter 1, Book 3, of Left Behind
It was the worst of times; it was the worst of times.
Rayford Steele’s knees ached as he sat behind the wheel of the rented Lincoln. He had dropped to the pavement at the crushing realization of his pastor’s death. The physical pain, though it would stay with him for days, would prove minor compared to the mental anguish of having yet again lost one of the dearest people in his life.
Rayford felt Amanda’s eyes on him. She laid one comforting hand on his thigh. In the back seat, his daughter, Chloe, and her husband, Buck, each had a hand on his shoulder.
What now? Rayford wondered. What do we do without Bruce? Where do we go?
The Emergency Broadcast System droned on with news of chaos, devastation, destruction, and cell phone failure throughout the world. Unable to speak over the lump in his throat, Rayford busied himself maneuvering his way through the incongruous traffic jams. Why were people out? What did they expect to see? Weren’t they afraid of more bombs, or fallout?
“I need to get to the Chicago bureau office,” Buck said.
“You can use the car after we get to the church,” Rayford managed. “I need to get the word out about Bruce.”
Global Community peacekeeping forces supervised local police and emergency relief personnel directing traffic and trying to get people to return to their homes. Rayford relied on his many years in the Chicago area to use the back roads and side streets to get around the major thoroughfares, which were hopelessly clogged.
Rayford wondered if he should have taken Buck up on his offer to drive. But Rayford had not wanted to appear weak. He shook his head. There’s no limit to the pilot’s ego! He felt as though he could curl into a ball and cry himself to sleep.
Nicolae Chapter 1, Book 3, of Left Behind
Nicolae Chapter 1, Book 3, of Left Behind