Left Behind Chapters 17 and 18

CHAPTER 17

A couple of fundies are in front of the Wailing Wall, preaching about Jesus to a bunch of Jews. Really? Is this what I need to do to get to Heaven? Be an obtrusive asshole with no regard for other people's beliefs?

You know, so far, the Antichrist doesn't seem like a horrible person to me. He is a proponent of disarmament and peace. It's the fundies you have to watch out for.

So, the president (sort of) finally steps up to address the world tragedy that occurred less than a week ago. But all he says is "we have to unite in this time of tragedy and I support Nicholae Carpathia." It's a start, I guess.

Ha ha ha, way to stay incognito, Buck. The fact that he's actually alive has been broadcast on TV. Pretty sure even friggin' Big Bird could stay off the radar longer.

"Rayford was still not sleepy, so he made himself some coffee." That'll get you sleeping.

"But my package is secure?" That's what she said!

Bruce makes a whole presentation on the apocalypse, with diagrams and everything. That's dedication, although maybe stocking up on guns and stuff would be better? I love how this whole meeting has the same atmosphere as if they were discussing who was bringing cookies to the next church meeting. Bruce makes a boring presentation, people ask questions, and then he lets them go get back to their lives. Also, Rayford is taking notes.

Okay, so, there are all these prophecies about what exactly will happen on earth. We know Satan will be defeated, because he always is. But what if Satan doesn't follow the prophecy? Is it really bad that right now I'm rooting for Carpathia? I kind of don't mind him. Anyway, for example, there are two super powered prophets and in like 3.5 years Satan will kill them. What if he doesn't kill them? What if he deviates from the prophecy? Would everything be thrust into confusion?

So...they cleared Buck of a murder without talking to him? I wasn't aware that was how it worked.

Buck seems confused as to what simple words mean. Taped, how...why is he a journalist, again?

In other news, Steve is now press secretary for Carpathia. I'm just going refer to Carpathia as Damien from now on.

Also, Eric, the annoying reporter from before, died.

Hey, how did the pope get to Heaven? He's Catholic, and those guys are all as bad as Satan!

Anyway, Buck is getting Steve's job, natch. Since, you know, he's AMAZING at sniffing out stories, he's now the editor of the magazine.

CHAPTER 18

HA HA HA HA. Buck's all, "I don't want to cover the story of those people at the Wailing Wall!" Really? Because it has crazy people, always a good time, it ties into the bigger story of the people disappearing, AND it has the potential to get violent. That sounds like a great story to me.

Buck: "This job isn't me."
No job is you, Buck. You can't even handle the most rudimentary of reporting assignments. Isn't he supposed to be writing about the disappearances? Haven't seen any work done on that yet.

Buck again: "I just want to write."
When has he EVER done that?

Steve says, "What are you gonna do about the job?" but I totally misread it as "When are you gonna do your job?" and I was wondering the exact same thing.

So Hattie was "nasty" on the phone. Really? She was nasty because she called Rayford out on all his crap AND refused to be proselytized to? What about Rayford's controlling, emotionally abusive behaviour?

Btw: I LOVE the word proselytize and I love that this book gives me opportunity to use it.

Rayford basically says that Hattie should be happy because he's paying attention to her.

Holy ADD, Batman! Damien is talking about the two preachers and how their attackers mysteriously got heart attacks, and he goes "Hm hm hm...strange indeed...Steve is the best person for the job!" I was like, "wait...what?"

I will say it again: Damien is the most decent person in the whole book.

Buck gets a scoop...and then he sits on it. Like the good journalist he is.