Chapter 10
.
This had been a big day, even by the standards of the White House. Ryan's son Conner was heartbroken over the dissapearence of his daughter Amy. The first lady, and little Amy's namesake, was distraugh, she had already seen one grandchild die on 9/11, and now this. The president couldn't sleep this night. He thought about the promise he had made to God, all those years ago in Korea. He had gotten on his knees and said "God, get me out of here alive and I'll do whatever you want for the rest of my life. Ryan was by no means the only soldier who made this promise, or the only one who got out alive. He had gone to the chaplain, father Mulchahey, and asked what God wanted in return. Father Mulchahey told him to do what he could to help others, and that if God wanted anything more specific he'd find a way to let Ryan know. Ryan Odonnell had rarely ever sought power, or the spotlight. Yet through strange circumstances, he'd winded up with this power, but at a terribe cost. He couldn't sleep, so he began praying. It was more of a one sided conversation, asking God for an answer.
.
Odonnell: I don't understand what happenned. Is this the rapture, so why some childen and not others? Was it only good people you saved, and the rest of us just didn't make the cut. I keep thinking about the promise I made to you back in Korea. I swore I would do whatever you wanted if you would spare my life. Clearly I should have been more specific. Classic wish maker's mistake, vague language. I knew that if I lived long enough I'd see people die, my parents, my sister. But I thought that my children and grandchildren would at least outlive me. I've tried to honor my end of the agreement, I know I'm not perfect but I've tried. You know better than I do how many people make that promise and then just go out and get drunk or have sex with prostitutes. I've long asked myself how I've gotten here, is this your will? Did you do all of this, put my grandson in the towers, help those neo-nazies blow up the Capitol, all so that I could be president at this moment? What am I suppossed to do, restore order, manage resources? Others could have done the same at this moment, Biden, Hillary, Brady, well maybe Trump wouldn't have cared. So why me? I really want to know. Ofcourse, I doubt you've spoken directly to anyone since Muhammed, no reason you'd break that streak for me. Okay, I'll do what I can, and maybe I'll figure out your plan when I die. Maybe.