The most dreadful speech they've ever heard

L.B.: A GIRAT exclusive, Left Behind, pp. 250-251, posted Feb 16 2007, comment at February 16, 2007 at 04:02 PM

Again, I'm thinking - this could have been such an impressive, telling scene. Carpathia has just made the most boring, pointless speech ever, yet the unSaved unRaptured - all of those at the UN, of course, aside from the few who got the video from their local RTC church - are listening to him in awe. Everyone. Only a handful of people - and most of them, probably, in subordinate positions - are Saved, and can therefore hear Carpathia's speech for what it is, as their Magic Words provide a kind of holy shield for Carpathia's mindwhammy. And that handful are watching, astonished, as the most dreadful speech they've ever heard brings the massed representatives of the United Nations, and reporters, other translators, everyone! - to their feet in a standing ovation.

Supposing one of the reporters was immune. And this reporter is standing next to Buck at the press conference. Reporters are waving their hands and asking questions - gibberish questions, or at least pointless nonsense (Thank you, sir, I was wondering if you could go over the dates for U Thant again ...) - and Carpathia is smiling and responding to them with what sounds like pointless trivia (Of course. Pantanaw U Thant was appointed acting secretary-general on November 3, 1961. A Friday. He retired from that office on December 31, 1971, also a Friday.) or more of that "appropriate humor" - that this reporter listened to, aghast, wondering what kind of person makes light, whimsical jokes about the Event now, and why everyone is laughing at them.

This reporter tries to ask a question, but of course Carpathia doesn't call on them: Buck notices - and notices this reporter's urgency - and wants to know what it is, what's going on? But they get separated in the crowd, and the reporter disappears...