force.
Atlas is a chain of powerful men of many nations banded together,
and Caliph was to be its executive chief. Atlas is the only agency which transcends all national boundaries, and has as its object the survival of Western society as we know it. Atlas still exists, its structure is complete only Caliph is dead. He died in a most unfortunate air accident over the or dan valley but Atlas still exists. It has to go on, once that part which Caliph has perverted is rooted out.
It is our hope for the future in a world gone mad.” Peter had never heard him speak so articulately, so persuasively.
“You know, of course, Peter, that you were the original choice to command Atlas. However, the wrong man superseded you although nobody could know he was the wrong man at that time. Kingston Parker seemed to have all the qualities needed for the task but there were hidden defects which only became apparent much later.” Colin began enumerating them, holding up the fingers of his uninjured arm.
“Firstly, he lacked physical courage. He became obsessed with his own physical safety grossly abusing his powers to protect himself.
“Secondly, he was a man of unsuspected and overbearing ambition,
with an ungoverned lust for raw power. Atlas swiftly became the vehicle to carry him to glory. His first goal was the Presidency of the United States. He was using Atlas to destroy his political opponents. Had he succeeded in achieving the presidency, no man can tell what his next goal would have been.” Colin dropped his hand and balled it into a fist.
“The decision to allow you to reach the rendezvous with Kingston
Parker on the cliffs above Jericho was made by more than one man in more than one country.” Colin grinned again, boyishly, disarmingly.
“I did not even know it was you. I believed it was Steven Stride,
right up until the moment I turned my back on you!”
“Tell him,” said
Magda quietly, “Get it over with, Colin.
He is still very weak.”
“Yes,” Colin agreed. “I’ll do it now.
Yesterday at noon, your appointment to succeed Doctor Kingston Parker as head of Atlas Command was secretly confirmed.” For Peter it was as though a door had at last opened, a door so long closed and locked, but through it now he could see his destiny stretching out ahead Of him;
clearly he could see it for the first time.
“You are the man best suited by nature and by training to fill the void which Kingston Parker has left.” Even through the weakness of his abused body, Peter could feel a deep well of strength and determination within himself which he had never before suspected. It was as though it had been reserved expressly for this time, for this task.
“Will you accept the command of Atlas?” Colin asked.
“What answer must I take back with me?” Magda’s long fingers tightened on his shoulder, and they waited while he made his decision.
It came almost immediately. There was no alternative open to him,
Peter knew that it was his destiny.
“Yes, , he said clearly. “Tell them I accept the responsibility.”
It was a solemn moment, nobody smiled nor spoke for long seconds, and then: “Caliph is dead,” Magda whispered. “Long live Caliph.” Peter
Stride raised his head to look at her, but his voice when he replied was so cold that it seemed to frost upon his lips.
“Never,” he said, “call me that again, ever.” Magda made a small gesture of acquiescence, of total accord, then she stooped to kiss him on the mouth.
