Space sneered in contempt. “You take over one little town and act like you’re God?”
“Not one town, stupid. We’re taking over all of Idaho. First this part and then the rest.” Hardin turned back to Ben. “Now then. Suppose you tell us what’s in that trailer you’re hauling.”
“None of your business.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, mister. Anything we want, we take. We tried to break the lock but it’s made of some newfangled metal. So I’ll ask you again and if you don’t answer me, we’ll see if you’re as tough as that lock.” He tapped his foot.
“Well? I ain’t got all day.”
Fully aware of the consequences, Ben Thomas squared his shoulders and said in fierce delight, “Go to hell.”
The Eye of
The Storm
Minnesota
Kurt Carpenter was at his desk in C Block when there was a rap on the door and Becca Levy poked her head in. 1 hey re here.
“Send them in.” Carpenter rose to greet the three men. “I’m glad you made it.”
Patrick Slayne had a three-day growth on his chin, and his suit had the rumpled look of clothes that had been slept in. “Kurt,” he said warmly as they clasped hands. “It’s good to see you again.”
“How bad was it out there?”
Slayne claimed an easy chair and crossed one leg over the other. “The worst was New York City. We barely made it out.”
“Yes. Becca relayed your message. You actually saw the missile hit?”
“Mr. Kapur and his friend saw more than I did. I was too busy driving.”
Carpenter turned to Deepak Kapur. “Thank God you’re alive. I consider you essential to our survival.”
“So Mr. Slayne has told me. But I must be honest. I’m not pleased at how he dragged me from my office and forced me to accompany him whether I wanted to or not.”
“We talked this all out when I came to New York to meet you.
I made everything plain.”
“Please, Mr. Carpenter. Don’t be condescending. You came to New York for the specific purpose of recruiting me. You persuaded me to become part of your Endworld Protocol, as you call it. But my heart was never in it and you knew that.” Deepak indicated Slayne. “That’s why you sent your pit bull.”
Slayne arched an eyebrow. “You’re alive, aren’t you? A lot aren’t. Count your blessings.”
“Yes, yes, I appreciate that fact,” Deepak assured him. “But this is still hard for me. I wasn’t given time to say good-bye to my parents. I wasn’t permitted to go home and get some things I would dearly love to have brought. I was shanghaied, for lack of a better word. And I resent that.”
Carpenter leaned back and made a tent of his fingers. “I’m sorry to hear it. I truly am. If you feel that strongly, you can leave.”
“Just like that?” Deepak snapped his fingers.
“No one is forced to stay against his or her will. But I warn you, the initial stages of the war have been mild compared to what is to come. So far the superpowers have been content with launching a few select strikes. But all-out war will soon begin, and when it does, few outside the walls of this compound will be safe.”
“You exaggerate. Not every city in America will be nuked.
Many rural areas will get little if any fallout. There’s the military with Cheyenne Mountain and the like, and those who have their own shelters. Plus all those who live in remote regions.” Deepak shook his head. “Many millions will be perfectly safe.”
“You’re forgetting the biological and chemical weapons.”
Carpenter sought to set him straight. “Don’t think they won’t be used, treaties or no treaties. Once they are, life beyond these walls will become a hell we can’t imagine.”
“I have a good imagination,” Deepak said dryly.
“It sounds to me as if you could use some rest. Or would you like a hot meal first?”
Alf Richardson rubbed his belly. “Did I hear food? Mister, lead me to the trough. All we’ve had the whole trip were candy bars and beef jerky. I am so hungry for real food I’d eat a cow raw.” He stood and poked Deepak. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go.”
Deepak rose and turned to go. “Don’t misunderstand. I appreciate the extra effort you went to on my behalf. But we have important matters to discuss later.”
“As you wish.”
The moment the door closed behind them, Patrick Slayne sighed. “What’s up with him? He’s been like that the whole way.”
Carpenter held up a finger, pressed a button, and said into an intercom, “Becca, would you kindly show Mr. Kapur and his friend around? Whatever they need, see that they get it.”
“Of course, sir.”
Carpenter sat back. “Do you remember when we first met, Patrick? I made an appointment to meet with you and explained my plans for the compound? I wanted to hire the best there were to do the designs and oversee the construction, and you went one step further. You wanted to be part of the Endworld Protocol, and I made you Chief of Home Security.”
“I knew war was inevitable.”
“I felt the same. Which is why this compound exists. But as Mr. Kapur just pointed out, he never fully believed. Oh, I convinced him to sign on, but I could tell he might prove to be a bother later on.”
“Then why waste your energy? Why didn’t you recruit someone else to do what he does?”
“For the same reason I went to your firm. I wanted the best, and what that man doesn’t know about computers and their operating systems isn’t worth knowing.”
“Still,” Slayne said, “I saw his file, remember? Diana says he could cause disharmony in the group.” Slayne paused. “Where is she, by the way? Did she make it?”
“As a matter of fact, Dr. Trevor arrived late last night. She was suffering from exhaustion, but otherwise she’s fine. As for Mr.
Kapur, I admit his psych profile is borderline. But
