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Rayford caught Mac's eye. Then he tucked in his undershirt and slid off down
the hall in his stocking feet. Somebody like Fortunato or worse,
Carpathia could court-martial him for appearing in front of subordinates half
dressed. He knew he couldn't be in the employ of the Antichrist much longer
anyway.
Buck stood silently in the Wisconsin wasteland with the phone pressed to his
ear.
When Rayford finally came on, he said quickly,  Buck, just answer yes or no.
Are you there?  Yes.
 This is not a secure phone, so tell me how everyone is without using names,
please.
 I'm fine, Buck said.  Mentor is safe and OK. She escaped, we believe. Close
to reconnecting now.
 Others?
 Secretary is gone. Computer techie and wife are gone.
 That hurts.
 I know. You?
 They tell me Amanda went down with a Pan-Con flight into the Tigris, Rayford
said.
 She's listed on the manifest, if you can believe what's on the Internet, but
you're not buying it?
 Not until I see her with my own eyes.
 I understand. Boy, it's good to hear your voice.
 Yours too. Your own family?
 Unaccounted for, but that's true of most everyone.
 How are the buildings?
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 Both gone.
 You have accommodations? Rayford asked.
 I'm fine. Keeping a low profile.
They agreed to E-mail each other and disconnected. Buck turned to Tsion.  She
couldn't be a double-crosser. He's too perceptive, too aware.
 He could have been blinded by love, Tsion said. Buck looked sharply at him.
 Cameron, I no more want to believe this than you do. But it appears Bruce
strongly suspected.
Buck shook his head.  You'd better stay out here in the shadows, Tsion.
 Why? I'm the least of anyone's worries here, now.
 Maybe, but GC communications makes this a small world. They know I'm bound to
show up sooner or later if Chloe is here. If they're still looking for you and
Verna
Zee broke our agreement and ratted on me to Carpathia, they might expect to
find you with me.
 You have a creative mind, Buck. Paranoid too.
 Maybe. But let's not take chances. If I'm being followed when I come out,
hopefully with Chloe, keep your distance. I'll pick you up about two hundred
yards west of where I'm parked.
Buck walked into chaos. Not only was the place a madhouse of equipment and
patients and officials competing to prove who had authority, but there was
also a lot of yelling. Things had to happen fast, and no one had time for
cordiality.
It took Buck a long time to get the attention of a woman at the front desk.
She appeared to be doing the work of reception and admittance and also a bit
of triage.
After getting out of the way of two stretchers, each bearing bloody bodies
Buck bet were dead, he pushed up to the counter.  Excuse me, ma'am, I'm
looking for this woman. He held up a copy of the fax Ernie had broadcast.
 If she looks like that, she wouldn't be here, the woman barked.  Does she
have a name?
 The name's on the picture, Buck said.  You need me to read it to you?
 What I don't need is your sarcasm, pal. As a matter of fact, I do need you to
read it to me.
Buck did.
 I don't recognize the name, but I've processed hundreds today.
 How many without names?
 About a quarter. We found most of these people in or under their homes, so we
cross-checked addresses. Anybody away from home mostly carried ID.
 Let's say she was away from home but had no ID, and she's not in a position
to tell you who she is?
 Then your guess is as good as mine. We don't have a special ward for
unidentifieds.
 Mind if I look around?
 What are you gonna do, check every patient?
 If I have to.
 Not unless you're a GC employee and 
 I am, Buck said, flashing his ID.
  make sure you stay out of the way.
Buck traipsed through the first hotel, pausing at any bed that had a patient
with no name card. He ignored several huge bodies and didn't waste time on
people with gray or white hair. If anyone looked small or thin or feminine
enough to be Chloe, he took a good look.
He was on his way to the second hotel when a tall black man backed out of a
room, locking the door. Buck nodded and kept moving, but the man apparently
noticed his fax.  Looking for someone?
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 My wife. Buck held Up the page.
 Haven't seen her, but you might want to check in here.
 More patients?
 This is our morgue, sir. You don't have to if you don't want to, but I've got
the key.
Buck pursed his lips.  Guess I'd better.
Buck stepped behind the man as he unlocked the door. When he pushed, however,
the door stuck a bit and Buck bumped into him. Buck apologized, and the man
turned and said,  No prob 
He stopped and stared at Buck's face.  Are you all right, sir? I'm a doctor. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]