page 8: use of militia against carpathia? I don't like the endorsement of the american militia, but will give a pass that a resistance has to come from somewhere.
page 8: The resistance will use nukes? did they get them from fitzhugh? It seems they aren't too concerned about civilian casualities. less so than nicolae?
page 9: strange disconcern for civilian casualities on both sides. Carpathia doesn't care about nuclear fallout affecting civilians, and apparently neither does the resistance! The authors may know the world only has a few years left, (5?) But the militia wouldn't know that. And what about Nicolae? sure, he may know the prophecies, but unless he's doing this just to fulfill his role, he must have some kind of plan. Is no one worried about the future of the planet?
Page 9: Nicolae probably hit the hospital first? I know he's villain, but what is he, snidely whiplash? I also agree that the book can't seem to decide if he's evil only because he claims to be a pacifist and isn't or that's what pacifists really are.
Page 9: Wow! 2-A clearance! Nicolae may be the antichrist, but he's an important man. And Rayford deserves to be at the center of all that importance.
Page 9: "You want I should check for you?" off-kilter phrasing. I'm not sure what Jenkins is trying to signal here, but he seems to be tyring to signal something.
Page 10: Rayford makes Bruce's death all about himself. "Please, for me." "Woe is I for not having a teacher, a mentor."
Page 10: Why are all sides committed to as much collateral damage as possible? oh, right, red horse. If only the Red Horse and Rider were like a Godzilla sized monster, that might be fun.
Page 11: how corny can you get Jenkins? Even so, wouldn't the worst of times be after the halfway mark?
Page 11: Why are everyone's hands on Ray's shoulders? Shouldn't this loss be felt just as keenly by chloe and buck? Why is it all about Ray here?
Page 11: Why is Ray critiscizing other people being out during the bombings? HE'S out. What, was he the only person visiting someone at the hospital? The only one with a job he's got to get too? Ray seems like the kind of guy that, if caught out driving during the middle of the week day, would complain "who are all these people on the road? Don't they have jobs? BUMS!"
Plus, you know, Shell shock. The last time something horrible happened, all the kids in the world disappeared. the opening said this was two years later. shouldn't there be some new babies toddling around? Maybe everyone is in a panic that the electromagnetic whatever is about to evaporate the kids again and they're trying to get home/to the day care and make sure their kids are STILL THERE! (Also, all this nuking won't be good for Nicky's cover story. If nuclear proliferation caused the disappearances, how much more would a nuclear war? Meh, maybe he just doesn't care any more. Everybody forgot apparently.
Page 11: Ray, I'm pretty sure those side streets are going to be pretty damned clogged too.
Page 11: Ha Ha egotistical Ray doesn't want to appear weak-oh wait, he caught himself that time. That's what happens when you have the Holy Spirit. Every so often, you catch one. Maybe Chloe or Amanda could drive? oh wait, silly me, they're just girls.
Page 11: I dunno, Ray. That fact that you think that you alone with your 2-A clearance have any right to be on the road when others don't suggest you're still suffering your delusions about yourself just fine. Oh, and you made The Event all about you.
Page 11-12: This one may be nitpicking, but if he is a believer in Christ then the Rapture was good for those who were raptured. So, he's kind of saying that he's glad Chloe missed the rapture just so he doesn't have to go through it alone. Misery loves company, but I grant that his a very human thought to have, if not quite a noble one.
Page 12: uh, Irene? Book one made a big deal that Irene told Rayford all about the end times and with a lot of passion. That's how Ray knew IMMEDIATELY that the rapture had occurred. So why does Bruce get special credit for being the teacher and enlightener of Ray? Okay, Bruce had proof on his side, but he wasn't saying anything Irene hadn't said, passionately and over and over again. And what's up with that spelling of "knowl-edge?"
Page 12: Uhhhggg, I hate that Chloe keeps referring to Ray as "Daddy" as grown, married woman. I'll grant that it's not unheard of, but it really just serves to infantize her, make her seem like a kid. Especially since her Daddy and Step mommy are riding up front and she's back in the kid's seat.
Page 12: "Nobodies trying to be somebodies"? Privalege check Rayford! So some people, (The DOT?) have taken it upon to direct traffic. How dare they try to sort the traffic snarl out!
I bet the don't even have 2-A clearance, right Rayford? I mean, why the self important condescension? Oh, right, the Pilot's ego. I suppose the Holy Spirit will be convicting Ray's heart over this pretty soon.................Any minute now.................
Page 12: Turns out the guys Hollering at Ray are in fact "somebodies" after all. They're "Somebody" enough to know who Ray is. Buck wonders how they know that, And Ray gets all disgusted about Nicolae's spy network. Hey guys, you two work for the guy after all. You're like his top agents. You should have cottoned on to it by now.
Page 12: Buck POV shift, first one for this novel.
Page 12: Buck is worried about being discovered in the car with Ray. Why? Both are legal employees for various arms of Nicolae's global community. Maybe he's worried about the fact that they are both part of the "Tribulation Force," a clandestine religous-based resistance to Nicolae's government. (Which so far in the series hasn't really done a heck of a lot of resisting at all, but hey, it's 18-months-to-2-years later and a new novel besides, so maybe their track record will improve.) If so, Buck seems concerned about Nicolae discovering a "link" between Rayford and Buck, (Why not between Rayford and Chloe, or Chloe and Buck, because Chloe is also a member of the TF?) and therefore a link to the TF. But that don't make sense either, because there's already and awful big link between Rayford and Buck. Buck married Rayford's daughter. Surely Nicolae and his spy network are well aware of this. A standard background check would have turned this up, and those who work in secure government positions (Like Rayford with his 2-A clearance) would be subject to even more intense scrutiny. It's impossible to believe that Nicolae doesn't know Buck is Ray's son-in-law. And if Nicolae knows that, then why would it be suspicious for Rayford to be out driving with his wife, daughter, and her daughter's husband? Buck's worrying just don't make no sense.
Page 12: Buck pulls a phony ID and asks Ray to back him up. Given what we just saw, that's going to make things worse, not better.
Global Community Spy: We have recovered Rayford Steele, my Lord. He was with his wife, daughter, and her daughter's husband.
Nicolae: Ah yes. Buck Willaims. He married Ray's daughter Chloe. Hattie always thought they made a good couple.
Global Community Spy: There was something odd though sir. Buck Willaims denied being identified by that name, but rather pulled out fraudlent identification indicating his name was Herb Katz. Rayford Steele even corroberated the story, claiming that Mr. Katz was a pilot friend of his.
Nicolae: Well that's odd. You would almost think they were trying to hide something. Alright, check it. Search their homes, their jobs, their church, everything. Let's make sure they're not affiliated with some kind of clandestine resistance group or something.
Page 12: Most people in Ray's situation would be pretty scared about what the spys might know and why they might be stopping him. But no, Ray is confident the spys will be "deferential." Hey, Ray may be a high placed member of the resistance, but hey, he's got 2-A clearance!
Page 12-13: Buck's offensive didn't last long. What was he going to do anyway? punch the guys out?
Page 13: Okay, so it's natural for anyone to be terrified in this situation, and afraid for their spouse. Still, why must it be Chloe who wimpers in fear and Buck who comforts her? In the first book, Chloe seemed more... self-assured than that.
Page 13: Rayford is being seriously annoying here. Okay Ray, like it or not, you work for the most important man in the world. If you really don't want to, quit. Yeah yeah, supposedly he's doing the job to pass important info to the TF, we just haven't seen that yet. It's entirely plausible that Nicolae wants to track you down in the middle of this mess. So, Ray, why are you giving the Walkie-Talkie spy man a hard time? He asks you a straigt question, and you dodge and weedle twice before giving him a straight answer. He asks for credentials, which is reasonable, ESPECIALLY after the impotent little scene you just made, and you get even more angry! What was the point of that Ray? Why are you giving this guy a hard time for no reason? Just venting about your plight working for the antichrist? Oh, you were trying to take attention off the passengers. I've already explained why Buck being afraid of being seen in the car is totally stupid. On top of that your shiftiness in answering only going to make everyone more suspicious of you and your passengers! And Buck, wipe that smile off your face. This crap isn't funny.
Page 13-14: Guard looks in the car to see if anyone else can drive home, sees a woman about Ray's age in the front passenger seat and a man in his 30s in the back seat, asks the MAN not the woman if he can drive home. Just sayin'.
Page 14: More fretting about Buck and Ray being connected. Ray says that buck should return the car quick. Wouldn't Buck returning Ray's car to the company be an "on-record" connection the two are so desperately hoping to avoid?
Page 14: Nicolae was flown to Illinois to avoid the attacks in DC and on the Pentagon. Okay. But one asks, if the government is really being run out of New Babylon, which as I understand is in what, Modern Day Iraq? Then would the Pentagon or National Security Agency even still be running or viable targets? hmmmm.... MAYBE, I GUESS, but it would really depend on how the new global government was organized, which we haven't had that many details on.
Page 14: Buck makes an awkward joke about when he and Chloe "were first married" that neither Chloe nor the reader is sure they understand. But enough about that. Tonally this is weird. Apparently Buck and Chloe moved to the front seat, started driving, started snuggling, then turned on the radio and remembered "Oh yeah, there's a global nuclear war on!" And oh yeah, did Buck distract Chloe with an awkward joke, then immediately coldly shush her to listen to the radio? Real prize, he is.
Page 15: Darn tootin' life will never be the same. both sides nuked each other. No one seems to care about the long-term consequences of that. Radition on the prevailing winds, Nuclear winter. It ain't going to be pretty. Again, even if the TF only expects there to be another 5 years left, the miltia don't know that. Nicolae... it's hard telling WHAT he knows at this point. The books haven't yet explained Nicolae's connection with the devil, but Bruce was confident that Nicolae wasn't "indwelt" (posessed by Satan) yet. But no one is at all worried about the long term effects of the nukes at all.
Page 15: "Cable News/Global Community News Network?" No flow. Choose one name or the other, guys. No one is going to remember the "CN/GCNN." It does not roll of the tongue.
Page 15: Nice Buck, real nice. Acting like you're unconcerned at the loss of your home like that. Only silly girls worry when their home is destroyed, right Buck? It reads, "As long as he had Chloe and shelter, he was all right." Um, Buck? weren't you paying attention? Your shelter was destroyed/irradiated. By your standards, that means you are not okay. And somehow, I think your claims about being able to "live anywhere" ring hollow. Setting aside what a diva you were about moving to Chicago in the previous book, You yourself note how "rediculously expensive" your flat was. You seem to be trying to pawn that off on appeasing Chloe, but it takes two to tango buddy. Your name was on that lease. And I detect a whiff of pride that you could afford that rediculously expensive flat on Fifth Avenue. So don't you tell me it's just "Chloe" who's concerned about the home being destroyed.
Page 15: More of Buck privately stroking his ego. He just doesn't know what to do! I mean, obviously he's all smart and cool and has handled himself in like, way worse situations than this, but this time it's different, because, um, because.... Chloe! Darn it, he's got a wife to worry about now! that's why he's totally at a loss! He's got to take of his daughter- I MEAN WIFE! WIFE!
Page 15: Holy crap, NUKE!!! So who was it, the evil Nicolae or the heroic Militia, (good God, the one place where the "American Militia Movement" can be called heroic, considering most of them in real life are white superemacists.) Doubt it will matter much to those who die from it. Which should be Chloe and Buck, considering that "a few miles" should still be well within irradiation distance.
Page 16: oops got the acronym wrong. Apparently it's officially "CNN/GCN" Is the "N" at the end of "GCN" for "News" or for "Network?" Meh, it's still very unweildy. Either way, it's a major case for the Department of Redundancy Department. I hear their offices are right across the street from the CN/GcNN:CNN/GCN.
Page 16: It's weird that immediately after telling us that Buck saw a Nuke go off in his rear view mirror, the next paragraph is Buck listening to the radio as the announcer tells us once again that a Nuke just went off.No new information. Not even clarification on the "Nicolae or Militia?" question. Nope, just one, big, redundant paragraph taking up space.
Page 16: What Buck does next is wrong for 3 reasons: 1) reveals Buck to be a selfish, self-absorbed jerk, 2) is at best laughibly ineffectual but more likely impossible, and 3) kind of demeaning to Chloe. It's a perfect Buck Tri-Fecta!
Buck jumps the median to drive on the other side of the highway, theoreticly into on coming traffic. For the moment, I'll grant that their is no on coming traffic trying to get into the city because of the attacks. (still unlikely, but hey.)
It 1) causes Buck's motives to be suspect. And this didn't have to be. Buck saw the Nuke go off, it would make sense for him to panic and try something like this out of mere survival. But the book goes out of it's way to suggest that's NOT why he did it. A few paragraphs ago it set up just how much Buck hated traffic jams. So in this instance, it seems that it's not so much trying to escape the explosion, but just using that as an excuse to pull out. His quote for why he's doing it suggests just how much he hates playing by the rules like everyone else and relishes getting to by pass them. Being in traffic jams is for other people. especially if the world is going to hell.
2) Is likely ineffectual. So this traffic Jam is miles and miles long because of the attacks, and suddenly it got worse when the Nuke went off. Um, is Buck the only one who saw the Nuke go off? Can't Be. It was clearly seen in the rear view. The book even made the point of saying it was immediately reported by the news! EVERYONE in that traffic jam would have been jumping the median to get to the other side! There would have been a huge panic! In a best case scenario, that would just mean a huge traffic jam forming on the other side of the highway too, but really it would be the mass abandonment of traffic rules. Buck would hardly have found himself going faster, and would almost certainly be broadsided and totalled by the teaming mass of panicing humanity.
3.) Once again Chloe is sidelined as a panicing girl unable to understand what's going on in an "Oh My! I Do Declare I have the Vapors!" kind of way. Furthermore, it gives Buck an odious action hero one liner. Who you calling "Babe," meathead?
Page 16: "I hope they don't expect me to fly that thing!" Says Rayford of a Small LearJet on a landing strip at the military base he and Amanda were flown to. Uh, Ray, Why not? What's wrong with you flying a LearJet? We get a clue as to why not by the way the escort answers him. "Dony worry about that. The guy who flew it here will get you as far as Dallas and the big plane you'll be flying." See, the Lear is too small to be flown by a guy like Rayford. Rayford is a big important man, and he flys the big important planes. If his assignment is in Dallas, he won't fly himself. No, He'll have to be flown, chaufferred, this his big important assignment flying the Big Important Plane for the Big Important Nicolae. Rayford may balk and Nicolae and the Global Community all he wants, but he sure loves the status and prestige it affords him. Saved or not, if there's a line, Rayford makes sure he's at the front of it. Didn't Jesus say something about who would be last and who would be first...?
Page 16-17: Buck is cruising along, undetterred. As already stated, this makes no sense. The other drivers are angry at Buck, but aren't breaking the rules the way he is. are we sure these books are playing straight with us? That is, are sure it was the Christians who were taken at the Rapture? Are we sure that it's Christianity that Buck converted too? Buck is being awfully selfish while everybody else in that traffic jam are being awfully gracious. Who's showing the more Christ like attitude here? Buck or the Crowd?
So, what should Buck as a Christian be doing here? The phrase "What would Jesus Do?" is often a useful metric, but in this situation I wonder if "What would Stephan Do?" would be more apt. Stephan, as we know, was the first Christian Martyr. What did he do when his enemies sought to kill him? Well, first he made a big speech about Israelite history that has been unfortunately co-opted by many anti-semetic Christians throughout history, but that's not really his fault and not what I'm focusing on here. But what he did NEXT was not resist the execution and pray for his enemies. Which is precisely what Jesus did. The importance of the echo of Stephan is to reinforce that this the way Christians should deal with death. Buck has seen the Nuke. He knows that the radiation will kill them all within a day anyway. I think what Stephan would have done is to get out of the car and round as many people up to start praying with. Not from deliverance, they're past that point already, but for repetance for their enemies and peace as they face the end.
Buck shouldn't be afraid of death. He knows he'll go to heaven. He doesn't have faith he will go to heaven. He KNOWS he will go to heaven. Faith, the belief in things unseen, would be irrelevant and laughibly obsolete for Tribulaiton Christians. Buck has seen, over and over again. The deliverance of Israel from the Nuclear attack, the Rapture, the protection from Nicolae's brainwashing, the witnesses. Buck has seen and knows. He should have much greater certainty than any Christians living today would have. But that doesn't seem to give Buck any peace in facing inevitable death.
Stephan would have faced death with dignity, love, and compassion. Buck just hightails it out of their to save his own hide. Stephan would have prayed for his enemies. Buck abandons them to their fate.
Page 17: All that said, Buck does something else incredibly bizzarre and out of touch. "Nuclear War, impending death and destruction on a global scale? You know what that means Chloe? Poor driving conditions! I'm buying an SUV!"
Page 17: We are back with Rayford now, and get a brief review of Nicolae's backstory as we meet Nicolae for the first time in this volume. We are also introduced to a new character, Leon Fortunato, who is described as a "sycophant." Oddly, this is announced almost as if this were his job title, "Supreme High Sycophant to Mr. Carpathia." Rayford is shocked that Nicolae seems excited at the prospect of organized resistance and Nuclear war. Rayford is right to be shocked at this, so he does get this reaction right. The reader, however, is less shocked at Nicolae because Buck just reacted as though Nuclear war were the ideal time to go carshopping. Finally, note that the book confirms that this war with the militia is the first opposition Nicolae has faced in the two years since he came to power, confirming that the Tribulation force hasn't done anything significant to oppose Nicolae in all this time. They wasted a rather good lead time, they did.
Page 17: Nicolae can't remember Amanda's name! On the one hand, I sympathise, considering how quickly and perfunctorily she was introduced. I have a hard time remembering her name (and existence) myself. But this is a rather odd and out of character error for Nicolae to make. Up to this point, he has been exceptionally smooth and polite and flattering with people and always had an eye for detail. Is this a clue, then? Is his inability to remember Amanda's name signaling a shift in character? We'll see.
Page 17: Amanda, for her part, responds slowly to Nicolae. Nicolae did offer a profuse apology, so assuming she's not the type to hold petty grudges, (But we don't really know, considering this is really the first volume where she gets to do anything) her slowness must just be a function of her personal dislike for Nicolae. Because, you know, ANTICHRIST. But again, being visible with her disdain really shows that the Tribulation Force doesn't know how to be a resistance. Hate Nicolae? Sure! He's your enemy, you can hate him! But, Rayford and Buck are employed by him, seeming to indicate that they are wanting to act as moles in Nicolae's organization. This can be valuable to the TF, (Though in 2 years it seems they have done litterally nothing with this opportunity,) but it requires that Rayford and Buck keep cover. And to keep cover, stay in Nicolae's confidence, they should seem FRIENDLY AND APPROVING of Nicolae. That is, they should GAIN AND MAINTAIN HIS TRUST. And you don't do that by being disdainful and contemptuous of him at every turn, as Amanda showed here and Buck and Rayford did continuously in the previous volume. Keep this up guys, and Nicolae may decide that you don't like him and cut you out of his inner circle, neutering your value as moles and informants. Nicolae, for his part, seems to always shrug these insults off, indicating he has a thick skin and isn't holding Buck, Ray and Amanda's rudeness against them. Our heroes lucked out at having such a friendly villain to oppose.
The other off thing about Amanda's attitude is precisely the fact that it's been confirmed that The Tribulation Force hasn't been actively resisting Nicolae that past two years. Meaning Ray and Buck's status as molls really has been rendered moot. So now, the Steeles come off even more petty, happy to accept the prestige and money of working for the Antichrist in spite of hating him, and being unwilling to risk their own necks to oppose him.
Page 18: Nicolae is excited. I'm trying to withhold commenting on that until we can see WHY he's excited about this war. Ofcourse, if that clarification never comes, I may be forced to comment on it. This paragraph offers us a look at Nicolae's posh residence in New Babylon. It also comments on Ray and Amanda's sprawling 2 story condo in the same city, which it notes neither Ray nor Amanda truly considered "home." Again, we encounter this weird phenomenon where the novel seems to try have it both ways with regard to Ray's employment by the antichrist. While the novel is carefully noting how Ray and Amanda denounce such spoils, it also seems to be trying to impress the readers with them at the same time. As in, "The antichrist is an evil, evil man, the most evil man ever, but look at how important Ray is! Look at what he rates and gets! Yeah, Ray would never consider it home, but he still has this totally swank condo!" (also, at this point, the book only tells us Ray doesn't consider it home, but it neglects to mention whether or not he's using it.)
Page 18: Finally some explanation on what exactly has gotten Nicolae all excited. It seems Nicolae is thrilled by the loss of life and destruction. All these death tolls are really getting him ecstatic. Okay. So, why is that something he would be excited about? "Because he's evil" you say. Fair enough, I'm granting he's evil, but there are different kinds of evil with different goals. "Because he's in league with the devil" okay, so why does the devil want this? "Because the Devil's evil, of course!" And that's where this logic starts to break down.
The problem is, the books have hinted that Nicolae is in League with the Devil, but not gone into detail on the nature of that relationship. The only detail we've been given is what it's not: It's not Satan possessing Nicolae. We know this because Bruce, prophecy expert, has rejected this idea, because while Satan will possess the antichrist, Bruce is confident it won't happen until 3 and 1/2 years into the tribulation, and we are only 2 years in. But Nicolae has already demonstrated brainwashing powers, indicating he must in some way be in League with Satan. This begs the question, why would Nicolae be in League with Satan? Which is another way of asking "What are Nicolae's motivations and goals?"
Up until this point, there was an interesting possibility we could read out of that: That perhaps Nicolae sincerely wanted everything he said he did. Maybe he really did want world peace and an end to violence and a common, peaceful brotherhood of humanity. He could have wanted those things and despaired that he saw no way of making it happen, and certainly not within his life time. AND THEN the Devil shows up, offering to cut a deal: Satan, with his powers and knowledge, could help Nicolae achieve world peace and unity. All of it, in exchange, for Nicolae's soul. And Satan could have promised Nicolae anything: That Hell wouldn't be so bad, or that he'll grant Nicolae physical immortality so that the question of going to hell would be moot, or he could have even said that yeah, Nicolae will go to hell when he dies, but that's a small price to pay for peace for the whole world, and that no one else has had the courage to sacrifice their own soul for the greater good. So, for whatever reason, Nicolae agrees. And everything seems to be going to plan, until the Miltia launches a Nuclear assault on his government and Nicolae is forced to respond in kind. If this were the case, though, Nicolae would not be excited about the war. In fact, he would probably feel tricked and taken advantage of, and sorrowful knowing he should have seen this coming. We could even see Nicolae trying to break free of Satan's control, and Satan fighting back. From the outside, it would seem like Nicolae was coming unhinged. Until, finally, Satan has to directly posess Nicolae and get the job done himself.
But this is not the direction they seem to have gone. Nicolae relishes the death and destruction, meaning that even before he posession he's fully complicit with the Devil. That means that Nicolae's motivations are irrelevant, and can be set aside. This leads to the larger question: What are the Devil's motivations, and what are his goals?
It's easy, too easy, just to call the Devil the embodiment of all evil and call it a day. It muddies certain specific questions about his actions. For example: Does the devil want people to worship him? "Yes," you say. Does the devil want people to suffer? "Yes" Does the devil want people to die? "Yes." The thing with these questions and answers is that they are to an extent mutally exclusive. People who are dead can't worship you, and people you are causing to suffer are less likely to worship you. In the pretribulation enviroment, Satan can pick and choose: cause some people to worship him, cause some people to suffer, cause some people to die. But in the Tribulation, Satan has maneuvered himself into control of the world, either directly or through a stand-in that is Nicolae, (as these books present it, it doesn't make a difference.) Meaning he's going to have to decide what he wants to do with humanity: Cause them to worship him, or to suffer, or to die. Satan would have to prioritize.
In this scene, he relishes the death of the war. Okay. But if Satan wants people to die, why did he wait 2 years to have someone else start a Nuclear war? He's had his finger on the button for two years. Why not Nuke the world on day one?
Well, maybe he wants the people to suffer. Okay. But again, why did he wait? why didn't he get the ball rolling on suffering two years ago? In fact, he spent that time alleiving suffering. Why do that when he could have savored it and caused more? The other thing about suffering is that it's more intense the longer it's drawn out. That means he's going to have to be careful with the nukes if he wants more people to suffer in the long term. Wouldn't want to accidentally exterminate the planet whilst trying to draw out the suffering.
Well, maybe he wants the people to worship him. Ah, this makes the most sense of what we've seen so far. He certainly spent a great deal of time getting his stand-in Nicolae to amass power and prestige. But, again, that makes his excitement at all the death and destruction somewhat problematic. Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Satan should be constrained to being a benevolent dictator, (though he certainly has been playing that role up to this point,) but at a certain point he has to realize that this war is killing a bunch of people, people who could be rightly worshipping him. It's also going to cause a great many people to suffer, and if that suffering is in any way attributed to Nicolae, that's going to cause people to stop worshipping him and take up arms against him. Neither of which would make him happy if the goal was worship.
I guess you could try to harmonize this by saying Satan prefers the worship, but will take what he can get. I personally think that's kind of weak and dodgey, but, well, it's something. There are other approaches. Perhaps we could have seen Satan in conflict with other demons who had equally evil but altogether different goals. Perhaps Satan, the tempter, just wanted to make humanity worship him. But a different demon/fallen angel,like say Apollyon, would rather just destroy all creation, and was pushing for nuking the humans on day one. Perhaps a third demon, like say screwtape, didn't want worship or destruction wanted to torment humans for as long as possible. Satan, in this devilry council, would get the last word but feel constained to balance the desires of the others against himself. Heck, you could even have Nicolae fall under the influence of different demons at different times as way of explaining the contradictions.
The other way is just to remember that this war ultimately happened because God had an angle unleash the Red Horse. Assuming the books aren't interperetting that action as purely symboloic, (and they don't seem to be,) Then this amounts to GOD throughing a big monkey wrench into Satan's desire to be worshipped by humans. If seen in that light, Satan would not be excited, but infuriated at God's interference. (Unless, ofcourse, Satan and God were working together to cause human suffering, which seems like a horrible, outrageous thing to think, but sometimes in this series of Left Behind books, it seems like the authors are suggesting exactly that.)
Page 18: Everyone's getting disguised up to leave. Nicolae: "And, where's the jet pilot? Ah, there you are Rayford. You ready to go?" "I hope you don't expect me to fly that thing!" Nicolae: *takes out a gun and shoots Rayford in the foot. Rayford doubles over in pain.* "Of course I expect you to fly that thing! You'll fly a wash macine with wings if I told you to! What am I paying you for!"
Sorry.
Page 19: There's an odd theme of "vehicular-potency" emerging in these pages. Simply put, it goes like this: "It's the end of the world, time to trade-up." Buck started it, with seeing the Nuclear-Holocaust as the right time to go SUV shopping. But it didn't end there. Rayford reinforces the theme through opposite: When seeing the small learjet, Ray get very worried that he's about to be asked to trade down. Nicolae then solidifies the theme: Not only are they being jetted to the big plane, but it's a brand-new Big Plane: The Condor 216, custom built too. And Nicolae chooses just this moment to unveil it, as a sort of "Happy Red Horse of the Apocalypse Day" gift that he's giving to himself. But, because he's insisting Ray fly it, it's also a gift to, and trade up for, Ray himself. Here is where I might get myself into trouble, but I'm going to make a prediction here: inspite of everything, Ray is going to be very impressed with the Condor 216 and happy to be flying it, and the book will not regard this as inappropriate. Believe me, I hope I'm wrong, I want the authors to do right, but I don't know.
But the point is the vehicular theme is treated as equivalent with both the born again heroes and the antichrist, suggesting it's okay to seek self-gratification in these dire times. That's just... weird.
Page 19-20: Ah! Yes! Good for you, Jenkins! The fact that Nicolae forgot Amanda's name WAS a clue and IS significant! She makes a point of asking Rayford about it! Alright, I'm excited! Let's see what Rayford thinks.....
....What?
Seriously Rayford, THAT'S how you're reading this!?
Ray, You are a total hole. You're suggesting that this is just Amanda being overly sensitive and too easily offended? Jesus Rayford. Why don't you just a silly girl while you're at it? I've joked about how arbitrary Amanda's introduction was, but what she did here earned her a lot of respect from me. SHE'S PAYING ATTENTION, RAYFORD!!! The one thing Nicolae NEVER does is misspeak! That means if he DOES misspeak, he would have to do it on purpose! Ray, you yourself just said he's "the most evil man in the universe, (emperor palpatine crossed with Darth Vader on steroids AND acid?) Don't you think Amanda may have a point? Don't you think it might be a VEILED THREAT!?
Okay, well, I guess it's not like there was any other time when Nicolae misspoke and it turned out to be a veiled threat-oh wait, yes there was. At the end of the first book. Nicolae confers on Todd-Cothran the title ambassodor to Brittain, then gives the guy next to him the exact same title. Everyone assumed Nicolae misspoke, but then Nicolae murdured Todd-Cothran! Sure, it was Buck who saw it, but I assumed Buck told Ray all about it. When Nicolae misspeaks, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, IT'S ON PURPOSE!
Now, I think I know what Jenkins is trying to set up here. Nicolae will kill Amanda later, then Rayford will look back and realize he didn't take the clue seriously. But it's the way Rayford dismisses her, just saying she's silly expect courtesy, as if that's what it's about! It's one thing if Ray assumed Nic misspoke due to stress, (but Ray just saw that Nic wasn't stress?) but Ray dismisses it just because he thinks Amanda is being a silly girl.
I bet of Buck noticed this, Ray would have taken it more seriously. But no. Amanda is shamed and agrees to keep her place.
Page 20: Back with Buck, buying a Land Rover. Which is weird, considering that this is a sort of convential "buying a car haggling" scene during the middle of a NUCLEAR WAR!!! Did our authors just forget that they just had a nuke hit Chicago, a mere "several miles" away? What is going on here? How can anyone be so ignorant or self absorbed-okay, so Buck IS precisely that ignorant and self absorbed, but the sales manager? why is no one trying to get to a bomb shelter? Why is no one worried about radiation exposure? Why is this just a typical day buying a car? THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE!!!
Other than that, this passage is just a typical disgusting Pat on the back for Buck. He insists that the dealership return his rental and throws just shy of a hissy fit when they are reluctant to do so. Chloe is made to coo at Buck over just how amazing and unique he is. And Buck heartily agrees. "I sure am!" And finally, We are reminded of just how fat Bucks wallet is when he can plunk down 6 figures for the Landrover just like that. But considering all that money has come from being in the Antichrist's employ, that money is, in the words of Dr. Jones, "Blood money, every nickel." He even demands it be ready within a half hour, when an hour is the usual prep time. And don't try to tell me he was in a hurry because of the nuclear war, that logic has already flown the coop. Hey, Buck, weren't you few pages ago, (page 15) musing to yourself how you don't care about pomp and luxury when it comes to your home, that you could live anyway, under any circumstances, as long as Chloe was with you?
BS man.
You made a beeline for the biggest most expensive vehicle you could find, and in your demands for promptness and the return of rental you showed how much you enjoy getting your privaleges and how much you love throwing your money around. Buck Willaims, you're despicable.
But mercifully, we find ourselves at the end of chapter 1. Just 18 more chapters plus and epilogue to go. Oh, joy.
page 8: The resistance will use nukes? did they get them from fitzhugh? It seems they aren't too concerned about civilian casualities. less so than nicolae?
page 9: strange disconcern for civilian casualities on both sides. Carpathia doesn't care about nuclear fallout affecting civilians, and apparently neither does the resistance! The authors may know the world only has a few years left, (5?) But the militia wouldn't know that. And what about Nicolae? sure, he may know the prophecies, but unless he's doing this just to fulfill his role, he must have some kind of plan. Is no one worried about the future of the planet?
Page 9: Nicolae probably hit the hospital first? I know he's villain, but what is he, snidely whiplash? I also agree that the book can't seem to decide if he's evil only because he claims to be a pacifist and isn't or that's what pacifists really are.
Page 9: Wow! 2-A clearance! Nicolae may be the antichrist, but he's an important man. And Rayford deserves to be at the center of all that importance.
Page 9: "You want I should check for you?" off-kilter phrasing. I'm not sure what Jenkins is trying to signal here, but he seems to be tyring to signal something.
Page 10: Rayford makes Bruce's death all about himself. "Please, for me." "Woe is I for not having a teacher, a mentor."
Page 10: Why are all sides committed to as much collateral damage as possible? oh, right, red horse. If only the Red Horse and Rider were like a Godzilla sized monster, that might be fun.
Page 11: how corny can you get Jenkins? Even so, wouldn't the worst of times be after the halfway mark?
Page 11: Why are everyone's hands on Ray's shoulders? Shouldn't this loss be felt just as keenly by chloe and buck? Why is it all about Ray here?
Page 11: Why is Ray critiscizing other people being out during the bombings? HE'S out. What, was he the only person visiting someone at the hospital? The only one with a job he's got to get too? Ray seems like the kind of guy that, if caught out driving during the middle of the week day, would complain "who are all these people on the road? Don't they have jobs? BUMS!"
Plus, you know, Shell shock. The last time something horrible happened, all the kids in the world disappeared. the opening said this was two years later. shouldn't there be some new babies toddling around? Maybe everyone is in a panic that the electromagnetic whatever is about to evaporate the kids again and they're trying to get home/to the day care and make sure their kids are STILL THERE! (Also, all this nuking won't be good for Nicky's cover story. If nuclear proliferation caused the disappearances, how much more would a nuclear war? Meh, maybe he just doesn't care any more. Everybody forgot apparently.
Page 11: Ray, I'm pretty sure those side streets are going to be pretty damned clogged too.
Page 11: Ha Ha egotistical Ray doesn't want to appear weak-oh wait, he caught himself that time. That's what happens when you have the Holy Spirit. Every so often, you catch one. Maybe Chloe or Amanda could drive? oh wait, silly me, they're just girls.
Page 11: I dunno, Ray. That fact that you think that you alone with your 2-A clearance have any right to be on the road when others don't suggest you're still suffering your delusions about yourself just fine. Oh, and you made The Event all about you.
Page 11-12: This one may be nitpicking, but if he is a believer in Christ then the Rapture was good for those who were raptured. So, he's kind of saying that he's glad Chloe missed the rapture just so he doesn't have to go through it alone. Misery loves company, but I grant that his a very human thought to have, if not quite a noble one.
Page 12: uh, Irene? Book one made a big deal that Irene told Rayford all about the end times and with a lot of passion. That's how Ray knew IMMEDIATELY that the rapture had occurred. So why does Bruce get special credit for being the teacher and enlightener of Ray? Okay, Bruce had proof on his side, but he wasn't saying anything Irene hadn't said, passionately and over and over again. And what's up with that spelling of "knowl-edge?"
Page 12: Uhhhggg, I hate that Chloe keeps referring to Ray as "Daddy" as grown, married woman. I'll grant that it's not unheard of, but it really just serves to infantize her, make her seem like a kid. Especially since her Daddy and Step mommy are riding up front and she's back in the kid's seat.
Page 12: "Nobodies trying to be somebodies"? Privalege check Rayford! So some people, (The DOT?) have taken it upon to direct traffic. How dare they try to sort the traffic snarl out!
I bet the don't even have 2-A clearance, right Rayford? I mean, why the self important condescension? Oh, right, the Pilot's ego. I suppose the Holy Spirit will be convicting Ray's heart over this pretty soon.................Any minute now.................
Page 12: Turns out the guys Hollering at Ray are in fact "somebodies" after all. They're "Somebody" enough to know who Ray is. Buck wonders how they know that, And Ray gets all disgusted about Nicolae's spy network. Hey guys, you two work for the guy after all. You're like his top agents. You should have cottoned on to it by now.
Page 12: Buck POV shift, first one for this novel.
Page 12: Buck is worried about being discovered in the car with Ray. Why? Both are legal employees for various arms of Nicolae's global community. Maybe he's worried about the fact that they are both part of the "Tribulation Force," a clandestine religous-based resistance to Nicolae's government. (Which so far in the series hasn't really done a heck of a lot of resisting at all, but hey, it's 18-months-to-2-years later and a new novel besides, so maybe their track record will improve.) If so, Buck seems concerned about Nicolae discovering a "link" between Rayford and Buck, (Why not between Rayford and Chloe, or Chloe and Buck, because Chloe is also a member of the TF?) and therefore a link to the TF. But that don't make sense either, because there's already and awful big link between Rayford and Buck. Buck married Rayford's daughter. Surely Nicolae and his spy network are well aware of this. A standard background check would have turned this up, and those who work in secure government positions (Like Rayford with his 2-A clearance) would be subject to even more intense scrutiny. It's impossible to believe that Nicolae doesn't know Buck is Ray's son-in-law. And if Nicolae knows that, then why would it be suspicious for Rayford to be out driving with his wife, daughter, and her daughter's husband? Buck's worrying just don't make no sense.
Page 12: Buck pulls a phony ID and asks Ray to back him up. Given what we just saw, that's going to make things worse, not better.
Global Community Spy: We have recovered Rayford Steele, my Lord. He was with his wife, daughter, and her daughter's husband.
Nicolae: Ah yes. Buck Willaims. He married Ray's daughter Chloe. Hattie always thought they made a good couple.
Global Community Spy: There was something odd though sir. Buck Willaims denied being identified by that name, but rather pulled out fraudlent identification indicating his name was Herb Katz. Rayford Steele even corroberated the story, claiming that Mr. Katz was a pilot friend of his.
Nicolae: Well that's odd. You would almost think they were trying to hide something. Alright, check it. Search their homes, their jobs, their church, everything. Let's make sure they're not affiliated with some kind of clandestine resistance group or something.
Page 12: Most people in Ray's situation would be pretty scared about what the spys might know and why they might be stopping him. But no, Ray is confident the spys will be "deferential." Hey, Ray may be a high placed member of the resistance, but hey, he's got 2-A clearance!
Page 12-13: Buck's offensive didn't last long. What was he going to do anyway? punch the guys out?
Page 13: Okay, so it's natural for anyone to be terrified in this situation, and afraid for their spouse. Still, why must it be Chloe who wimpers in fear and Buck who comforts her? In the first book, Chloe seemed more... self-assured than that.
Page 13: Rayford is being seriously annoying here. Okay Ray, like it or not, you work for the most important man in the world. If you really don't want to, quit. Yeah yeah, supposedly he's doing the job to pass important info to the TF, we just haven't seen that yet. It's entirely plausible that Nicolae wants to track you down in the middle of this mess. So, Ray, why are you giving the Walkie-Talkie spy man a hard time? He asks you a straigt question, and you dodge and weedle twice before giving him a straight answer. He asks for credentials, which is reasonable, ESPECIALLY after the impotent little scene you just made, and you get even more angry! What was the point of that Ray? Why are you giving this guy a hard time for no reason? Just venting about your plight working for the antichrist? Oh, you were trying to take attention off the passengers. I've already explained why Buck being afraid of being seen in the car is totally stupid. On top of that your shiftiness in answering only going to make everyone more suspicious of you and your passengers! And Buck, wipe that smile off your face. This crap isn't funny.
Page 13-14: Guard looks in the car to see if anyone else can drive home, sees a woman about Ray's age in the front passenger seat and a man in his 30s in the back seat, asks the MAN not the woman if he can drive home. Just sayin'.
Page 14: More fretting about Buck and Ray being connected. Ray says that buck should return the car quick. Wouldn't Buck returning Ray's car to the company be an "on-record" connection the two are so desperately hoping to avoid?
Page 14: Nicolae was flown to Illinois to avoid the attacks in DC and on the Pentagon. Okay. But one asks, if the government is really being run out of New Babylon, which as I understand is in what, Modern Day Iraq? Then would the Pentagon or National Security Agency even still be running or viable targets? hmmmm.... MAYBE, I GUESS, but it would really depend on how the new global government was organized, which we haven't had that many details on.
Page 14: Buck makes an awkward joke about when he and Chloe "were first married" that neither Chloe nor the reader is sure they understand. But enough about that. Tonally this is weird. Apparently Buck and Chloe moved to the front seat, started driving, started snuggling, then turned on the radio and remembered "Oh yeah, there's a global nuclear war on!" And oh yeah, did Buck distract Chloe with an awkward joke, then immediately coldly shush her to listen to the radio? Real prize, he is.
Page 15: Darn tootin' life will never be the same. both sides nuked each other. No one seems to care about the long-term consequences of that. Radition on the prevailing winds, Nuclear winter. It ain't going to be pretty. Again, even if the TF only expects there to be another 5 years left, the miltia don't know that. Nicolae... it's hard telling WHAT he knows at this point. The books haven't yet explained Nicolae's connection with the devil, but Bruce was confident that Nicolae wasn't "indwelt" (posessed by Satan) yet. But no one is at all worried about the long term effects of the nukes at all.
Page 15: "Cable News/Global Community News Network?" No flow. Choose one name or the other, guys. No one is going to remember the "CN/GCNN." It does not roll of the tongue.
Page 15: Nice Buck, real nice. Acting like you're unconcerned at the loss of your home like that. Only silly girls worry when their home is destroyed, right Buck? It reads, "As long as he had Chloe and shelter, he was all right." Um, Buck? weren't you paying attention? Your shelter was destroyed/irradiated. By your standards, that means you are not okay. And somehow, I think your claims about being able to "live anywhere" ring hollow. Setting aside what a diva you were about moving to Chicago in the previous book, You yourself note how "rediculously expensive" your flat was. You seem to be trying to pawn that off on appeasing Chloe, but it takes two to tango buddy. Your name was on that lease. And I detect a whiff of pride that you could afford that rediculously expensive flat on Fifth Avenue. So don't you tell me it's just "Chloe" who's concerned about the home being destroyed.
Page 15: More of Buck privately stroking his ego. He just doesn't know what to do! I mean, obviously he's all smart and cool and has handled himself in like, way worse situations than this, but this time it's different, because, um, because.... Chloe! Darn it, he's got a wife to worry about now! that's why he's totally at a loss! He's got to take of his daughter- I MEAN WIFE! WIFE!
Page 15: Holy crap, NUKE!!! So who was it, the evil Nicolae or the heroic Militia, (good God, the one place where the "American Militia Movement" can be called heroic, considering most of them in real life are white superemacists.) Doubt it will matter much to those who die from it. Which should be Chloe and Buck, considering that "a few miles" should still be well within irradiation distance.
Page 16: oops got the acronym wrong. Apparently it's officially "CNN/GCN" Is the "N" at the end of "GCN" for "News" or for "Network?" Meh, it's still very unweildy. Either way, it's a major case for the Department of Redundancy Department. I hear their offices are right across the street from the CN/GcNN:CNN/GCN.
Page 16: It's weird that immediately after telling us that Buck saw a Nuke go off in his rear view mirror, the next paragraph is Buck listening to the radio as the announcer tells us once again that a Nuke just went off.No new information. Not even clarification on the "Nicolae or Militia?" question. Nope, just one, big, redundant paragraph taking up space.
Page 16: What Buck does next is wrong for 3 reasons: 1) reveals Buck to be a selfish, self-absorbed jerk, 2) is at best laughibly ineffectual but more likely impossible, and 3) kind of demeaning to Chloe. It's a perfect Buck Tri-Fecta!
Buck jumps the median to drive on the other side of the highway, theoreticly into on coming traffic. For the moment, I'll grant that their is no on coming traffic trying to get into the city because of the attacks. (still unlikely, but hey.)
It 1) causes Buck's motives to be suspect. And this didn't have to be. Buck saw the Nuke go off, it would make sense for him to panic and try something like this out of mere survival. But the book goes out of it's way to suggest that's NOT why he did it. A few paragraphs ago it set up just how much Buck hated traffic jams. So in this instance, it seems that it's not so much trying to escape the explosion, but just using that as an excuse to pull out. His quote for why he's doing it suggests just how much he hates playing by the rules like everyone else and relishes getting to by pass them. Being in traffic jams is for other people. especially if the world is going to hell.
2) Is likely ineffectual. So this traffic Jam is miles and miles long because of the attacks, and suddenly it got worse when the Nuke went off. Um, is Buck the only one who saw the Nuke go off? Can't Be. It was clearly seen in the rear view. The book even made the point of saying it was immediately reported by the news! EVERYONE in that traffic jam would have been jumping the median to get to the other side! There would have been a huge panic! In a best case scenario, that would just mean a huge traffic jam forming on the other side of the highway too, but really it would be the mass abandonment of traffic rules. Buck would hardly have found himself going faster, and would almost certainly be broadsided and totalled by the teaming mass of panicing humanity.
3.) Once again Chloe is sidelined as a panicing girl unable to understand what's going on in an "Oh My! I Do Declare I have the Vapors!" kind of way. Furthermore, it gives Buck an odious action hero one liner. Who you calling "Babe," meathead?
Page 16: "I hope they don't expect me to fly that thing!" Says Rayford of a Small LearJet on a landing strip at the military base he and Amanda were flown to. Uh, Ray, Why not? What's wrong with you flying a LearJet? We get a clue as to why not by the way the escort answers him. "Dony worry about that. The guy who flew it here will get you as far as Dallas and the big plane you'll be flying." See, the Lear is too small to be flown by a guy like Rayford. Rayford is a big important man, and he flys the big important planes. If his assignment is in Dallas, he won't fly himself. No, He'll have to be flown, chaufferred, this his big important assignment flying the Big Important Plane for the Big Important Nicolae. Rayford may balk and Nicolae and the Global Community all he wants, but he sure loves the status and prestige it affords him. Saved or not, if there's a line, Rayford makes sure he's at the front of it. Didn't Jesus say something about who would be last and who would be first...?
Page 16-17: Buck is cruising along, undetterred. As already stated, this makes no sense. The other drivers are angry at Buck, but aren't breaking the rules the way he is. are we sure these books are playing straight with us? That is, are sure it was the Christians who were taken at the Rapture? Are we sure that it's Christianity that Buck converted too? Buck is being awfully selfish while everybody else in that traffic jam are being awfully gracious. Who's showing the more Christ like attitude here? Buck or the Crowd?
So, what should Buck as a Christian be doing here? The phrase "What would Jesus Do?" is often a useful metric, but in this situation I wonder if "What would Stephan Do?" would be more apt. Stephan, as we know, was the first Christian Martyr. What did he do when his enemies sought to kill him? Well, first he made a big speech about Israelite history that has been unfortunately co-opted by many anti-semetic Christians throughout history, but that's not really his fault and not what I'm focusing on here. But what he did NEXT was not resist the execution and pray for his enemies. Which is precisely what Jesus did. The importance of the echo of Stephan is to reinforce that this the way Christians should deal with death. Buck has seen the Nuke. He knows that the radiation will kill them all within a day anyway. I think what Stephan would have done is to get out of the car and round as many people up to start praying with. Not from deliverance, they're past that point already, but for repetance for their enemies and peace as they face the end.
Buck shouldn't be afraid of death. He knows he'll go to heaven. He doesn't have faith he will go to heaven. He KNOWS he will go to heaven. Faith, the belief in things unseen, would be irrelevant and laughibly obsolete for Tribulaiton Christians. Buck has seen, over and over again. The deliverance of Israel from the Nuclear attack, the Rapture, the protection from Nicolae's brainwashing, the witnesses. Buck has seen and knows. He should have much greater certainty than any Christians living today would have. But that doesn't seem to give Buck any peace in facing inevitable death.
Stephan would have faced death with dignity, love, and compassion. Buck just hightails it out of their to save his own hide. Stephan would have prayed for his enemies. Buck abandons them to their fate.
Page 17: All that said, Buck does something else incredibly bizzarre and out of touch. "Nuclear War, impending death and destruction on a global scale? You know what that means Chloe? Poor driving conditions! I'm buying an SUV!"
Page 17: We are back with Rayford now, and get a brief review of Nicolae's backstory as we meet Nicolae for the first time in this volume. We are also introduced to a new character, Leon Fortunato, who is described as a "sycophant." Oddly, this is announced almost as if this were his job title, "Supreme High Sycophant to Mr. Carpathia." Rayford is shocked that Nicolae seems excited at the prospect of organized resistance and Nuclear war. Rayford is right to be shocked at this, so he does get this reaction right. The reader, however, is less shocked at Nicolae because Buck just reacted as though Nuclear war were the ideal time to go carshopping. Finally, note that the book confirms that this war with the militia is the first opposition Nicolae has faced in the two years since he came to power, confirming that the Tribulation force hasn't done anything significant to oppose Nicolae in all this time. They wasted a rather good lead time, they did.
Page 17: Nicolae can't remember Amanda's name! On the one hand, I sympathise, considering how quickly and perfunctorily she was introduced. I have a hard time remembering her name (and existence) myself. But this is a rather odd and out of character error for Nicolae to make. Up to this point, he has been exceptionally smooth and polite and flattering with people and always had an eye for detail. Is this a clue, then? Is his inability to remember Amanda's name signaling a shift in character? We'll see.
Page 17: Amanda, for her part, responds slowly to Nicolae. Nicolae did offer a profuse apology, so assuming she's not the type to hold petty grudges, (But we don't really know, considering this is really the first volume where she gets to do anything) her slowness must just be a function of her personal dislike for Nicolae. Because, you know, ANTICHRIST. But again, being visible with her disdain really shows that the Tribulation Force doesn't know how to be a resistance. Hate Nicolae? Sure! He's your enemy, you can hate him! But, Rayford and Buck are employed by him, seeming to indicate that they are wanting to act as moles in Nicolae's organization. This can be valuable to the TF, (Though in 2 years it seems they have done litterally nothing with this opportunity,) but it requires that Rayford and Buck keep cover. And to keep cover, stay in Nicolae's confidence, they should seem FRIENDLY AND APPROVING of Nicolae. That is, they should GAIN AND MAINTAIN HIS TRUST. And you don't do that by being disdainful and contemptuous of him at every turn, as Amanda showed here and Buck and Rayford did continuously in the previous volume. Keep this up guys, and Nicolae may decide that you don't like him and cut you out of his inner circle, neutering your value as moles and informants. Nicolae, for his part, seems to always shrug these insults off, indicating he has a thick skin and isn't holding Buck, Ray and Amanda's rudeness against them. Our heroes lucked out at having such a friendly villain to oppose.
The other off thing about Amanda's attitude is precisely the fact that it's been confirmed that The Tribulation Force hasn't been actively resisting Nicolae that past two years. Meaning Ray and Buck's status as molls really has been rendered moot. So now, the Steeles come off even more petty, happy to accept the prestige and money of working for the Antichrist in spite of hating him, and being unwilling to risk their own necks to oppose him.
Page 18: Nicolae is excited. I'm trying to withhold commenting on that until we can see WHY he's excited about this war. Ofcourse, if that clarification never comes, I may be forced to comment on it. This paragraph offers us a look at Nicolae's posh residence in New Babylon. It also comments on Ray and Amanda's sprawling 2 story condo in the same city, which it notes neither Ray nor Amanda truly considered "home." Again, we encounter this weird phenomenon where the novel seems to try have it both ways with regard to Ray's employment by the antichrist. While the novel is carefully noting how Ray and Amanda denounce such spoils, it also seems to be trying to impress the readers with them at the same time. As in, "The antichrist is an evil, evil man, the most evil man ever, but look at how important Ray is! Look at what he rates and gets! Yeah, Ray would never consider it home, but he still has this totally swank condo!" (also, at this point, the book only tells us Ray doesn't consider it home, but it neglects to mention whether or not he's using it.)
Page 18: Finally some explanation on what exactly has gotten Nicolae all excited. It seems Nicolae is thrilled by the loss of life and destruction. All these death tolls are really getting him ecstatic. Okay. So, why is that something he would be excited about? "Because he's evil" you say. Fair enough, I'm granting he's evil, but there are different kinds of evil with different goals. "Because he's in league with the devil" okay, so why does the devil want this? "Because the Devil's evil, of course!" And that's where this logic starts to break down.
The problem is, the books have hinted that Nicolae is in League with the Devil, but not gone into detail on the nature of that relationship. The only detail we've been given is what it's not: It's not Satan possessing Nicolae. We know this because Bruce, prophecy expert, has rejected this idea, because while Satan will possess the antichrist, Bruce is confident it won't happen until 3 and 1/2 years into the tribulation, and we are only 2 years in. But Nicolae has already demonstrated brainwashing powers, indicating he must in some way be in League with Satan. This begs the question, why would Nicolae be in League with Satan? Which is another way of asking "What are Nicolae's motivations and goals?"
Up until this point, there was an interesting possibility we could read out of that: That perhaps Nicolae sincerely wanted everything he said he did. Maybe he really did want world peace and an end to violence and a common, peaceful brotherhood of humanity. He could have wanted those things and despaired that he saw no way of making it happen, and certainly not within his life time. AND THEN the Devil shows up, offering to cut a deal: Satan, with his powers and knowledge, could help Nicolae achieve world peace and unity. All of it, in exchange, for Nicolae's soul. And Satan could have promised Nicolae anything: That Hell wouldn't be so bad, or that he'll grant Nicolae physical immortality so that the question of going to hell would be moot, or he could have even said that yeah, Nicolae will go to hell when he dies, but that's a small price to pay for peace for the whole world, and that no one else has had the courage to sacrifice their own soul for the greater good. So, for whatever reason, Nicolae agrees. And everything seems to be going to plan, until the Miltia launches a Nuclear assault on his government and Nicolae is forced to respond in kind. If this were the case, though, Nicolae would not be excited about the war. In fact, he would probably feel tricked and taken advantage of, and sorrowful knowing he should have seen this coming. We could even see Nicolae trying to break free of Satan's control, and Satan fighting back. From the outside, it would seem like Nicolae was coming unhinged. Until, finally, Satan has to directly posess Nicolae and get the job done himself.
But this is not the direction they seem to have gone. Nicolae relishes the death and destruction, meaning that even before he posession he's fully complicit with the Devil. That means that Nicolae's motivations are irrelevant, and can be set aside. This leads to the larger question: What are the Devil's motivations, and what are his goals?
It's easy, too easy, just to call the Devil the embodiment of all evil and call it a day. It muddies certain specific questions about his actions. For example: Does the devil want people to worship him? "Yes," you say. Does the devil want people to suffer? "Yes" Does the devil want people to die? "Yes." The thing with these questions and answers is that they are to an extent mutally exclusive. People who are dead can't worship you, and people you are causing to suffer are less likely to worship you. In the pretribulation enviroment, Satan can pick and choose: cause some people to worship him, cause some people to suffer, cause some people to die. But in the Tribulation, Satan has maneuvered himself into control of the world, either directly or through a stand-in that is Nicolae, (as these books present it, it doesn't make a difference.) Meaning he's going to have to decide what he wants to do with humanity: Cause them to worship him, or to suffer, or to die. Satan would have to prioritize.
In this scene, he relishes the death of the war. Okay. But if Satan wants people to die, why did he wait 2 years to have someone else start a Nuclear war? He's had his finger on the button for two years. Why not Nuke the world on day one?
Well, maybe he wants the people to suffer. Okay. But again, why did he wait? why didn't he get the ball rolling on suffering two years ago? In fact, he spent that time alleiving suffering. Why do that when he could have savored it and caused more? The other thing about suffering is that it's more intense the longer it's drawn out. That means he's going to have to be careful with the nukes if he wants more people to suffer in the long term. Wouldn't want to accidentally exterminate the planet whilst trying to draw out the suffering.
Well, maybe he wants the people to worship him. Ah, this makes the most sense of what we've seen so far. He certainly spent a great deal of time getting his stand-in Nicolae to amass power and prestige. But, again, that makes his excitement at all the death and destruction somewhat problematic. Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying Satan should be constrained to being a benevolent dictator, (though he certainly has been playing that role up to this point,) but at a certain point he has to realize that this war is killing a bunch of people, people who could be rightly worshipping him. It's also going to cause a great many people to suffer, and if that suffering is in any way attributed to Nicolae, that's going to cause people to stop worshipping him and take up arms against him. Neither of which would make him happy if the goal was worship.
I guess you could try to harmonize this by saying Satan prefers the worship, but will take what he can get. I personally think that's kind of weak and dodgey, but, well, it's something. There are other approaches. Perhaps we could have seen Satan in conflict with other demons who had equally evil but altogether different goals. Perhaps Satan, the tempter, just wanted to make humanity worship him. But a different demon/fallen angel,like say Apollyon, would rather just destroy all creation, and was pushing for nuking the humans on day one. Perhaps a third demon, like say screwtape, didn't want worship or destruction wanted to torment humans for as long as possible. Satan, in this devilry council, would get the last word but feel constained to balance the desires of the others against himself. Heck, you could even have Nicolae fall under the influence of different demons at different times as way of explaining the contradictions.
The other way is just to remember that this war ultimately happened because God had an angle unleash the Red Horse. Assuming the books aren't interperetting that action as purely symboloic, (and they don't seem to be,) Then this amounts to GOD throughing a big monkey wrench into Satan's desire to be worshipped by humans. If seen in that light, Satan would not be excited, but infuriated at God's interference. (Unless, ofcourse, Satan and God were working together to cause human suffering, which seems like a horrible, outrageous thing to think, but sometimes in this series of Left Behind books, it seems like the authors are suggesting exactly that.)
Page 18: Everyone's getting disguised up to leave. Nicolae: "And, where's the jet pilot? Ah, there you are Rayford. You ready to go?" "I hope you don't expect me to fly that thing!" Nicolae: *takes out a gun and shoots Rayford in the foot. Rayford doubles over in pain.* "Of course I expect you to fly that thing! You'll fly a wash macine with wings if I told you to! What am I paying you for!"
Sorry.
Page 19: There's an odd theme of "vehicular-potency" emerging in these pages. Simply put, it goes like this: "It's the end of the world, time to trade-up." Buck started it, with seeing the Nuclear-Holocaust as the right time to go SUV shopping. But it didn't end there. Rayford reinforces the theme through opposite: When seeing the small learjet, Ray get very worried that he's about to be asked to trade down. Nicolae then solidifies the theme: Not only are they being jetted to the big plane, but it's a brand-new Big Plane: The Condor 216, custom built too. And Nicolae chooses just this moment to unveil it, as a sort of "Happy Red Horse of the Apocalypse Day" gift that he's giving to himself. But, because he's insisting Ray fly it, it's also a gift to, and trade up for, Ray himself. Here is where I might get myself into trouble, but I'm going to make a prediction here: inspite of everything, Ray is going to be very impressed with the Condor 216 and happy to be flying it, and the book will not regard this as inappropriate. Believe me, I hope I'm wrong, I want the authors to do right, but I don't know.
But the point is the vehicular theme is treated as equivalent with both the born again heroes and the antichrist, suggesting it's okay to seek self-gratification in these dire times. That's just... weird.
Page 19-20: Ah! Yes! Good for you, Jenkins! The fact that Nicolae forgot Amanda's name WAS a clue and IS significant! She makes a point of asking Rayford about it! Alright, I'm excited! Let's see what Rayford thinks.....
....What?
Seriously Rayford, THAT'S how you're reading this!?
Ray, You are a total hole. You're suggesting that this is just Amanda being overly sensitive and too easily offended? Jesus Rayford. Why don't you just a silly girl while you're at it? I've joked about how arbitrary Amanda's introduction was, but what she did here earned her a lot of respect from me. SHE'S PAYING ATTENTION, RAYFORD!!! The one thing Nicolae NEVER does is misspeak! That means if he DOES misspeak, he would have to do it on purpose! Ray, you yourself just said he's "the most evil man in the universe, (emperor palpatine crossed with Darth Vader on steroids AND acid?) Don't you think Amanda may have a point? Don't you think it might be a VEILED THREAT!?
Okay, well, I guess it's not like there was any other time when Nicolae misspoke and it turned out to be a veiled threat-oh wait, yes there was. At the end of the first book. Nicolae confers on Todd-Cothran the title ambassodor to Brittain, then gives the guy next to him the exact same title. Everyone assumed Nicolae misspoke, but then Nicolae murdured Todd-Cothran! Sure, it was Buck who saw it, but I assumed Buck told Ray all about it. When Nicolae misspeaks, TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, IT'S ON PURPOSE!
Now, I think I know what Jenkins is trying to set up here. Nicolae will kill Amanda later, then Rayford will look back and realize he didn't take the clue seriously. But it's the way Rayford dismisses her, just saying she's silly expect courtesy, as if that's what it's about! It's one thing if Ray assumed Nic misspoke due to stress, (but Ray just saw that Nic wasn't stress?) but Ray dismisses it just because he thinks Amanda is being a silly girl.
I bet of Buck noticed this, Ray would have taken it more seriously. But no. Amanda is shamed and agrees to keep her place.
Page 20: Back with Buck, buying a Land Rover. Which is weird, considering that this is a sort of convential "buying a car haggling" scene during the middle of a NUCLEAR WAR!!! Did our authors just forget that they just had a nuke hit Chicago, a mere "several miles" away? What is going on here? How can anyone be so ignorant or self absorbed-okay, so Buck IS precisely that ignorant and self absorbed, but the sales manager? why is no one trying to get to a bomb shelter? Why is no one worried about radiation exposure? Why is this just a typical day buying a car? THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE!!!
Other than that, this passage is just a typical disgusting Pat on the back for Buck. He insists that the dealership return his rental and throws just shy of a hissy fit when they are reluctant to do so. Chloe is made to coo at Buck over just how amazing and unique he is. And Buck heartily agrees. "I sure am!" And finally, We are reminded of just how fat Bucks wallet is when he can plunk down 6 figures for the Landrover just like that. But considering all that money has come from being in the Antichrist's employ, that money is, in the words of Dr. Jones, "Blood money, every nickel." He even demands it be ready within a half hour, when an hour is the usual prep time. And don't try to tell me he was in a hurry because of the nuclear war, that logic has already flown the coop. Hey, Buck, weren't you few pages ago, (page 15) musing to yourself how you don't care about pomp and luxury when it comes to your home, that you could live anyway, under any circumstances, as long as Chloe was with you?
BS man.
You made a beeline for the biggest most expensive vehicle you could find, and in your demands for promptness and the return of rental you showed how much you enjoy getting your privaleges and how much you love throwing your money around. Buck Willaims, you're despicable.
But mercifully, we find ourselves at the end of chapter 1. Just 18 more chapters plus and epilogue to go. Oh, joy.
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