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Worse, Ray became less popular, even among the In elementary school he had been the leader, the guy, the one everybody wanted to hang with.
they had all caught and passed him in ability and vement, and he became the butt of teasing instead of the one dishing it out. At least that showed
him how it felt to be on the receiving end. Rather than laughing it off the way the other guys did, Ray found
defensive and obnoxious. He was humiliated, his anger made him try to play beyond his ability, rendering him less effective.
At home Ray had learned to get along with his parents ¢ going along with them. But every day he drifted further from them. They didn't understand him, tried to him, but he didn't want to hear it. He knew they didn't have anything to worry about. He was a citizen, if nothing else. He wasn't into smoking drugs or sex, though the latter wasn't due to lack of and hoping. And he did sneak the occasional
which he loved, mostly because he knew it was al.
* During Ray's senior year everything fell together for him.
His sore arm healed, he reached six foot four, and developed more speed and finesse. He impressed
Bellman at preseason football workouts and was captain of the varsity team and starting quarterback again.
His face was fully clear now, and he had stumbled
right style for his thick, dark hair. He was elected council president over a popular cheerleader, then
THE RISING
homecoming king (she was queen), and seemingly overnight became big man on campus. Even with everything he had going at school, Ray still squeezed in as many hours in the cockpit as possible, pointing toward that private license.
Ray's passing and play calling kept Belvidere in the race for the conference championship until two close losses at the end of the season. Unfortunately, he also just missed making all-conference, because the league was loaded with good quarterbacks.
"Okay, Coach," Ray said at the end of the season.
"How many letters did you get about me?"
"None."
"C'mon, I know how you lobby colleges for your players. And I know you hold all this stuff until the season is over."
"I don't understand it myself, Ray. I pitched you to several Division I programs, and when I didn't hear back, I started with the second tier. I got form letters from three small schools where I wouldn't even recommend
you go, unless all you want is to play football." "You've got to be kidding."
"I wish I was. It's getting tougher all the time to catch the interest of college and university programs, Ray. There's a lot of big kids and talent out there. Fortunately, with your grades and extracurricular stuff, you'll land somewhere."
"But not as an athlete."
"Well, not as a quarterback anyway."
FIFTEEN on the secure line for me, Fredericka.
remind him to remain obtuse regardless." Stonagal read reverence, if not fear, in Reiche Plan-
tone. Maybe he needed to call the man person- more often. "I just want to know whether the entity uestion has outlived its usefulness." "Oh... ah... uh-huh.., yeah. I'd saym'' '"Is all that hemming and hawing a yes, R.P.?"
"Ah... no. No! Viv, ah, our contact tells us that she,
*.. um... it is or has been okay for a while. Not on board, but teaching the.., the target, and
"You seen what's been happening to the markets, R.P. ?"
"The markets! The markets!"
"I'm not up to speed on that, sir, no."
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THE RISING '
Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
"Ach! Listen; things are coming together[ Things are happening. You follow?"
"Urn, okay."
"You follow or not?"
"Clarify for me, sir."
"I just want to streamline this is all. If something is in the way, if it impedes progress, it must be eliminated. Clear?"
"I think so."
"Is that where we are? Are we at that point, R.P.?"
"I'm not sure we are yet, sir, but you know the signs better than I, certainly."
"Consider this a provisional green light. Anytime you think we're ready and this is necessary, you're free to trigger whatever action is necessary. And keep me posted."
Marilena watched as Nicky bounded from the suv with his book bag and sprinted across the schoolyard toward his nine-year-old classmates. She always got him there in time to play before school. But as he headed away from her, his teacher was coming her way, waving. Short, stout Mrs. Szabo knelt and said something to Nicky as he flew by, but it appeared he didn't even acknowledge her.
Marilena rolled down her window.
"Mrs. Carpathia," the teacher said, "I wondered if you'd have time to meet with me at the end of the day."
"Happy to," Marilena said, "but Nicky's Aunt Viv will be picking him up this afternoon. Is there a problem?" "Just some things we should discuss. I've already talked to Ms. Ivins."
"Then I will make it work," Marilena said, barely able to hide her pique. "I would appreciate it if you would
talk to Viv about Nicky without my knowledge." "Oh!" Mrs. Szabo said, as if truly surprised* "But
*.." She trailed off.
Marilena didn't want to pursue it. "I'll see you this afternoon
then."
Marilena worried she would be unable to concentrate her work for worrying what might be the problem
. Had he been talking about Luciferianism
classmates? It was one thing that he was brilliant to have a grasp of spiritualism and the cosmic between God and the other angelic beings. But
expect a boy his age to keep all this to himself
unrealistic. He may have the mind of an adult, but still had the emotions of a child.
home she confronted Viv. "Please don't discuss my with his teacher without my knowledge." "It wasn't my idea," Viv said.
"You should have told her you would be more comfortable with her talking to me."
"But that wouldn't be true, Marilena."
."What does that mean?"
I "I am not more comfortable with that. I don't trust
Your judgment related to Nicky."
How can you say that?"
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"The irony is that while you are his mother, you are not close to him."
"That's not true! I"
"Not as close as you think you are or would like to be. Admit it, Marilena. You're a sdtura."
"Cloying? He's my son! I won't lose him to you or to the association or even to Luciferianism."
"What are you saying? You're reneging on--" "Hardly, Viv, and you know it. I'm raising him in the tradition I promised. And I've become more devout myself. But I don't know how many times I have to say this: I will not have outsiders interfering with a blood relationship."
"Interfering? Outsiders? That's what you think of me? I have given the last ten years of my life to you and this boy, and I've been glad to do it. I thought we had become family. I am not his aunt in name only. I consider you a sister."
Viv looked truly hurt, and that had not been Mari- lena's intention. "Well, but, but--how would you feel if you were me? Say you bore a child and... "
"And pledged to cooperate because he was the fulfill-
ment of a promise from the spirits ?"
"Well, yes, but--"
"You see, Marilena," Viv said, tearing up, "I can't have a child. You once asked why not me? I said I was too old and couldn't imagine giving birth. The truth is, I have another assignment. I have been bestowed gifts of clairvoyance that the spirits believe are crucial to the association. I feel honored and blessed and useful, but--"
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Tim LaHaye (. Jerry B. Jenkins
began to sob"I would have given anything to be in your shoes, to trade roles with you. Please don't shut
me out."
Marilena found herself filled with remorse and compassion
She wanted to
be careful not to be taken in. was this sudden change of attitude? It had seemed ars as if Viv had reveled in her superiority, her sta- her place as spokesperson for those who held sway Nicky. She had insinuated that she could pull rank, have Reiche Planchette arbitrate differences, that was in a' privileged position that made Marilena feel a mere means to an end. But now this. It was as if Viv were pleading to have place at the table. In spite of herself, Marilena felt and emboldened by Viv's apparent neediness
She embraced the older woman, realizing they had seldom touched in all these years and ever embraced.
Viv seemed to lose control, weeping loudly as she
Burying her face in Marilena's shoulder.
"Can we not come to some sort of an agreement?"
said.
"I'd like that."
"I don't want to leave you out. I know your influence on Nicky has been positive, and he loves you. How he loves you. I guess that's what's bothering me. He loves you more than he loves me." "That's not true!"
"Of course it is. I'm trying to change that, because it's
right and proper, but I need you to agree and help me."
"Help you turn his affection away from me?" Viv said. "No! I don't want him to quit loving you. But I want him to treat you like an aunt, not like a mother. I mean, let's face it; you're not really his aunt either."
"I'm closer than an aunt!"
"That may be, but yours is a place of assumed privilege, not earned by blood."
"Earned by more than blood," Viv said. "i've invested in you both, sacrificed."
"Come, come. There's nothing you'd rather have done."
Viv chuckled, seemingly in spite of herself. "Well, that's certainly true."
"Now sit down," Marilena said. "Tell me what Mrs.
Szabo is going to talk to me about."
"I'm not at liberty--"
"Need I remind you that we are talking about my son? How many times do we have to go over the same ground?"
Viv wiped her face and appeared to regain control. "Listen, you've made your point, and I will work hard on helping maintain your appropriate place in Nicky's life. And I will urge Mrs. Szabo to consult you first on all matters relating to him. But in this case I do not want to make the mistake of trying to speak for his teacher. She deserves the right to be heard without any shading from my viewpoint."
"My goodness, Viv. How bad is this?"
"It's not horrible. It's just a concern."
"We're clear then that I will pick him up this afternoon so I can talk with her?"
Viv nodded. "I could ride along. Keep him occupied
you're meeting."
That made sense. It wouldn't do to have another
watch him, and the other students weren't likely stay long after school. She agreed.
And as Marilena feared, she was unable to concentrate
On anything else for the rest of the day.
In basketball as a senior Ray Steele had redeemed himself winning the starting position as weakside forward
wound up leading the team in scoring. Belvidere
third in their conference, however, and again was overlooked by college recruiters.
play did make him the most popular guy at the
Suddenly Ray was anything but short of dates. despite the fun, that left him frustrated. The girls who showed the most interest were the ones he had
Been after for years, but he had been invisible when he was suffering from acne. He now enjoyed the attention, but it all seemed so shallow. He was the same as he had always been; he merely looked different. he exuded more confidence and his athletic prowess had matured, but if that and his looks were all the girls were interested in, what did that say about them? Ray found himself more friendly and cordial, but he had learned not to trust people. Everyone was
,. Was he too? He hoped not. He obsessed the phoniness of his new relationships to the point
212 213
that he couldn't maintain a relationship--let alone develop a long-term girlfriend--for more than a few weeks.
Being popular was better than the alternative, but Ray's distrust of everyone and their motives gained a toehold in his mind. His one solace was flying. Flying solo thousands of feet in the air on his way to getting his private license, he felt a freedom and power he couldn't put into words. No one would understand why it gave him such a sense of satisfaction. There was sure nothing phony about it. Flying was the perfect picture of cause and effect. It was his job to check every function of the aircraft, and once satisfied, he knew it would do what he instructed it to do with all the various maneuvers he had been taught. If he flipped the right switches and pushed and pulled the 'control yoke with the right pressure, the plane responded--and it didn't care about Ray's looks, athletic ability, grades, or popularity.
His dad wasn't going to want to hear it, but flying was going to be Ray's life.
Marilena and Viv conversed as they had in years past on the way to Nicky's school that afternoon. It was actually pleasant, Marilena thought, and she chastised herself for becoming possessive and defensive and jealous. She had been drawn to Viv from the beginning because the woman seemed to care so much for others. That hadn't changed.
.Viv wasn't perfect, but who was? Marilena should
have expected some disappointments, living in the same
house with someone all this time. She herself had been prize; why should she expect otherwise from Viv? because Viv was basically a better person, Mari-decided. More social, more people-oriented. Nicer, was all.
,ite the sisterly fun and laughter they enjoyed on way, it was not lost on Marilena that neither even
Nicky. She knew Viv didn't want her to push, to try to get out of her what Mrs. Szabo's problem was. And when they arrived it quickly became obvious that the teacher had told Nicky she would be talking
To his mother while his aunt watched him, for he came
out of the school ready to play. As Viv opened the he leaped into her arms. In spite of herself, Mari-felt a fresh, sharp pang of jealousy. The boy did not acknowledge his mother's presence. didn't help that Mrs. Szabo arranged their meeting
Marilena sat facing the windows in full view of cavorting with Nicky. They played catch, played
each other in the swings, climbed after each other on the monkey bars. Marilena could have done
do it--if just given the chance.
Nicholae is the brightest nine-year-old I have ever the teacher began.
This was clearly intended as an icebreaker, but Marl-couldn't even force a smile. She had not been invited
To be complimented. "Um-hm."
you must have heard that before."
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216
"From every teacher. Yes, I'm very proud of him." "Even though this is a school for advanced children, he is unique. There are days when I wonder where I will find more to challenge him, days when I feel like his student rather than his teacher."
"Welcome to my world," Marilena said.
"I am concerned about his behavior, however."
"He doesn't obey you?"
"Generally he does. But I am in a unique position to observe how he interacts with the other children. Let me not beat around the bush. He is what I would call pathologically manipulative."
This was not news to Marilena, of course. She had seen it at home. But part of her had hoped it wasn't obvious at school. "How does it manifest itself?" she said.
"He's everyone's friend," Mrs. Szabo said. "And yet it's clear he plays the children off each other. They all seem to like him and appear oblivious to what he's up to, but everybody always does what he wants. He wins all the games, his team always wins, everything revolves around him."
"He's selfish then?"
"That would be understating it. The world belongs to him. He gets himself elected team leader for every project. When we had a mock election for president of the class, I felt it was someone else's turn to enjoy the spotlight, so I arbitrarily nominated ano
ther boy and a girl to run against each other. They were to campaign, give speeches, choose teams to help them win, display posters, everything. Nicolae volunteered to be Victoria's
Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins
campaign manager, and she quickly became the favorite.
get this. Not only did she win, but she won unaniamously
,. Even her opponent voted for her."
"Nicky threatened him?"
"No! I believe Nicky promised him something." "What?"
"The vice presidency."
"But, how--?"
"When Victoria won, she announced that as president, she could choose the vice president."
"And she chose the loser?" she chose Nicolae. Then she resigned as president saying she realized she would be better as a helper a leader. Nicolae became president, and he chose loser as his VP. All this at nine years old."
I don't know what to say. What did Victoria get out of it?"
"She gets to be his girlfriend. They hang around
"Girlfriend!"
The teacher nodded. "You know, he tries the same with me. He tells me everything that goes on, bad he can think of about the other children.
when he senses I have heard enough, he assures me i::can handle it and not to worry about it. A couple of later he'll tell me he has fixed whatever was wrong.
I've actually been tempted to enlist him to help me the class. But I have resisted, because I think he the others enough."
!'"What can I do about this?"
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Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins THE RISING
"Teach him, Mrs. Carpathia. He has astounding gifts, but they must be channeled. He's a diplomat, a politician, a genius, a social gadfly, a divider, a uniter. He must learn humility. He must learn the consequences of power. He could sell a legless man a pair of shoes."
If that was intended to be funny, it didn't hit Marilena that way. This was worse than she feared. "I'll try," she said. "Thank you for letting me know."
"There's more. We had a competition between the boys and the girls for a homework project. The respective sides were to assign different students to memorize the functions and positions in the national government, who held each one, that sort of thing. As you know, Romania has a complicated form of rule, two houses of parliament, all that. Nicolae memorized everything, his assignment and everyone else's, but I didn't want his team to win only because of that. I insisted that each team member recite a different set of facts. The boys won hands down, and I found out that Nicolae had taught them how to remember their individual parts through pneumonics. He used acrostics and acronyms so that if they learned a simple word, the letters represented the first letter of what they had to remember."