LaHaye, Tim - Left Behind 11 - The Mark by LaHaye Tim

Author:LaHaye, Tim [LaHaye, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adult, Thriller, Contemporary, Spiritual, Religion
ISBN: 9780613364980
Publisher: Turtleback
Published: 2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Rayford couldn’t sleep. Pacing various floors in the cavernous Strong Building, he happened by Chaim’s room. The door was wide open, and in the darkness he noticed the old man’s silhouette. Chaim sat motionless on the bed, though Rayford knew he had to hear and see him in the corridor. Rayford poked his head in.

“You all right, Dr. Rosenzweig?”

A loud sigh through the wire-bound clenched teeth. “I don’t know, my friend.”

“Want to talk?”

A low chuckle. “You know my culture. Talk is what we do. If you have time, come in. I welcome you.”

Rayford pulled up a chair and sat facing Chaim in the darkness. The botanist seemed in no hurry. Finally, he said, “The young woman takes my wire out tomorrow.”

“Leah, yes. You can’t tell me you’re worried about that.”

“I can hardly contain myself waiting.”

“But something else is on your mind.”

Chaim fell silent again, but soon he began panting, then leaned to his pillow where he was racked with great sobs. Rayford pulled his chair closer and laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Talk to me.”

“I have lost so much!” Chaim wailed, and Rayford strained to understand him. “My family! My staff! And it is all my fault!”

“Little is our fault anymore, sir. Carpathia is in charge of everything now.”

“But I was so proud! So skeptical! Tsion and Cameron and Chloe and you and everyone who cared about me warned me, tried to persuade me. But oh, no, I was too intellectual. I knew better!”

“But you came to the Lord, Chaim. We must not live in the past when all things have become new.”

“But look where I was not, that long ago! Tsion is joyful in spite of it all, so happy for me, so encouraging. I dare not tell him where my mind is.”

“Where is it?”

“I am guilty, Captain Steele! I could do as you say, put the past behind me, if all I was dealing with was my pride and ignorance. But it led me down paths I never believed I would walk. My dearest, most trusted friends are dead because of me. Slaughtered in my house!”

Rayford resisted platitudes. “We have all lost much,” he whispered. “Two wives and a son for me, many friends-too many to think about or I’d go mad.”

Chaim sat up again, wiping his face with both hands.

“That is my problem, Rayford. I have gone nearly mad with grief, but mostly remorse. I murdered a man! I know he is Antichrist and that he was destined to die and come back to life, but I didn’t know that when I committed the act. I murdered a man who had betrayed my homeland and me. Murder! Think of it! I was a beloved statesman, yet I stooped to assassination.”

“I understand rage, Chaim. I wanted to murder Carpathia myself, and I knew exactly who he was and that he would not stay dead.”

“But I premeditated it, Captain, planned it many months in advance, virtually invented and manufactured the weapon myself, faked a stroke just to

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