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God as truly his. How else can I say it? Daddy, what does this make God? Some sick, sadistic dictator? Careful, honey. You think I'm wrong, but what if I'm right? Then God is spiteful, hateful, mean. Who wants to go to heaven with a God like that? If that's where your mom and Raymie are, that's where I want to be. I want to be with them, too, Daddy! But tell me how this fits with a loving, merciful God. When I went to church, I got tired of hearing how loving God is. He never answered my prayers and I never felt like he knew me or cared about me. Now you're saying I was right. He didn't. I didn't qualify, so I got left behind. You'd better hope you're not right. But if I'm not right, who is right, Chloe? Where are they? Where is everybody? See? You've latched onto this heaven thing because it makes you feel better. But it makes me feel worse. I don't buy it. I don't even want to consider it. Rayford dropped the subject and went to watch television. Limited regular programming had resumed, but he was still able to find continuing news coverage. He was' struck by the unusual name of the new Romanian president he had recently read about. Carpathia. He was scheduled to arrive at La Guardia in New York on Saturday and hold a press conference Monday morning before addressing the United Nations. So La Guardia was open. That was where Rayford was supposed to fly later that evening with an oversold flight. He called Pan-Continental at O'Hare. Glad you called, a supervisor said. I was about to call you. Is your 757 rating up to date? No. I used to fly them regularly, but I prefer the 747 and haven't been rated this year on the 757. That's all we're flying east this weekend. We'll have to get somebody else. And you need to get rated soon, just so we have flexibility. Duly noted. What's next for me? You want a Monday run to Atlanta and back the same day? On a ... ? 747. Sounds perfect. Can you tell me if there'll be room on that flight? For? A family member. Let me check. Rayford heard the computer keys and the distracted voice. While I'm checking, ah, we got a request from a crew member to be assigned to your next flight, only I think she was thinking you'd be going on that run tonight, Logan to JFK and back. Who? Hattie Durham? Let me see. Right. So is she assigned to Boston and New York? Uh-huh. And I'm not, so that question is moot, right? I guess so. You got any leanings one way or the other? I'm sorry? Page 65 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html She's gonna ask again, is my guess. You have any objection to her being assigned to one of your upcoming flights? Well, it won't be Atlanta, right? That's too soon. Right. Rayford sighed. No objections, I guess. No, wait. Let's just let it happen if it happens. I'm not following you, Captain. I'm just saying if she gets assigned in the normal course, I have no objection. But let's not go through any gymnastics to make it happen. Gotcha. And your flight to Atlanta looks like it could handle your freebie. Name? Chloe Steele. I'll put her in first class, but if they sell out, you know I've got to bump her back. When Rayford got off the phone, Chloe drifted into the room. I'm not flying tonight, he said. Is that good news or bad news? I'm relieved. I get to spend more time with you. After the way I talked to you? I figured you'd want me out of sight and out of mind. Chloe, we can talk frankly to each other. You're my family. I hate to think of being away from you at all. I've got a down-and-back flight to Atlanta Monday and have you booked in first class if you want to go. Sure. And I only wish you hadn't said one thing. Which? That you don't even want to consider my theory. You've always liked my theories. I don't mind your saying you don't buy it. I don't know enough to articulate it in, a way that makes any sense. But your mother talked about this. Once she even warned me that if I didn't know for sure I'd be going if Christ returned for his people, I shouldn't be flip about it. But you were? I sure was. But never again. Well, Daddy, I'm not being flip about it. I just can't accept it, that's all. That's fair. But don't say you won't even consider it. Well, did you consider the space invaders theory? As a matter of fact, I did. You're kidding. I considered everything. This was so far beyond human experience, what were we supposed to think? OK, so if I take back that I won't even consider it, what does that mean? We become religious fanatics all of a sudden, start going to church, what? And who says it's not too late? If you're right, maybe we missed our chance forever. That's what we have to find out, don't you think? Let's check this out, see if there's anything to it. If there is, we should want nothing more than to know if there's still a chance we can be with Mom and Raymie again someday. Chloe sat shaking her head. Gee, Dad. I don't know. I'll think about it. Listen, I called the church your mom was going to. Oh, brother. He told her about the recording and the offer of the tape. Dad! A tape for those? Please! You're coming at this as a skeptic, so sure it sounds ridiculous to you. I see no other logical explanation, so I can't wait to hear the tape. You're desperate. Page 66 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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