Buck briefly found himself the center of attention

L.B.: A GIRAT exclusive, Left Behind, pp. 250-251, posted Feb 16 2007, comment at February 17, 2007 at 06:53 AM

Buck briefly found himself the center of attention. Someone recognized him and expressed surprise and pleasure that he was alive. Buck tried to quiet everyone.....

In my version of Left Behind (god forbid!) this scene never happens because Buck isn't stupid enough to have himself presumed dead, and even if there was a rumor that he was dead, it's not definite enough (and post-Event, no one cares enough) to publish his obituary.

But, supposing that for some reason a rumor that Buck the GIRAT was dead had got around the press corps, at least the chunk of it that covers stuff like a new leader of a small country making his maiden speech at the UN: there would be reporters (named by name or by journal, depending how Buck thought of them) thumping Buck on the shoulder, and saying things like "Hey, back from the dead! or "'Course I knew it wasn't you in that car, no one's quick enough to get Buck" or "I was worried about you, glad to see you're OK, let's meet for a drink after this," or "Didya see that they published your obituary? Pretty good, huh, and now they'll have to write you a new one! Wonder who they've got to write mine?" Meantime Buck has an eye on the door where the GOFAT, young Nicolae Redford himself, with a twinkle of understated jewellery, is about to enter, and is trying to avoid committing himself to anything and get people to hush up so he doesn't miss any of his latest crush-object's wonderful oratory. Mostly, I imagine, this would involve manly grunts and chuckles and pats on the back in a heterosexual kind of way, as Buck tries non-verbally to indicate that this is great but hey, guys, let's all listen to Nicolae! Maybe he'll recite some more lists!

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...

Who tried to kill Buck, and why?

L.B.: A GIRAT exclusive, Left Behind, pp. 250-251, posted Feb 16 2007, comment at February 16, 2007 at 05:40 PM

Somebody remind me.. who tried to kill Buck, and why?

Colonel Mustard, in the men's room at the Pan-Con Club, with a red-hot poker, after he had to wait 10 pages of interminable prose for Buck to finish.