Who's ready for a sample chapter from "Target Berlin"? Wait no longer. The book won't be complete for another month, but I decided it was time let readers get a glimpse of things to come.
CHAPTER 1
REGROUPING
Charlotte, North Carolina
It
was two weeks before Judith could walk by herself. Larry never left her side as
he nursed her back to health. At times he needed to use a stern tone with Rose
to back-off, he had this. At first she bristled with his obstinance but
relinquished when she understood how much he cared for her. He forced her to
eat even when she didn’t want to. The only function she was allowed to perform
was reminding him to take his daily medications. She’d seen once when he
skipped a dose and threatened to evict him if his gentlemanly manners didn’t
improve, and in a hurry. He never missed another dose. The only time he left
her side was to call his parents about the upcoming appointment with the
Neurologist, Doctor Roberts. They tried to convince him how difficult it was to
schedule an appointment with a renown neurologist. He didn’t care. He would
come home when Judith was better.
* *
*
Dean
and Sam remained a few more days after the funeral, but they still had jobs to
attend and excused themselves, promising to return when Judith was feeling
better. Rose knew it wasn’t a polite excuse. These men were truly connected and
cared for their new colleagues.
Muki
and Abdul spent their time visiting the sites around Charlotte. It wasn’t
Nashville, but they made the best of it, visiting the Speedway, Music Hall of
Fame, Billy Graham Library, Aviation Museum, Wadsworth Estate and the Charlotte
Powerhouse Museum. They asked Rose if she’d like to go, but she respectfully
declined until Judith was better.
Berlin
“How
was your trip, sir?” Adolphus stared at Karl.
“You’ve
seen the news haven’t you?”
“Concerning
the Pentagon?”
“Yes
you fool, what else would I be referring to?”
“I
apologize, sir.”
“It
was what I feared. A total failure. All the intricate plans we laid out for
eighty years vanished because Gerhardt became too confident in his own
abilities. Like Leonoid, he perished and took our organization, which we
painstakingly built, with him. There might be a few minor agents across the
United States, but our core is gone.”
“Yes
sir.”
“Yes
sir, what? Yes sir we’ve failed? Yes sir we’ve bungled a great opportunity? Or
yes sir, it’s time to direct my efforts elsewhere?”
“I
presume the later, sir.”
“Your
presumption is correct, Karl. We tried to use diplomacy. We tried to work from
within and we tried to accomplish our task with civilized technology designed
to reduce, what is the term?” He looked in the air for the answer. “Ah, yes,
collateral damage. No more Karl. No more shall we hide in the shadows as the
world disintegrates into debauchery and decadence. No more shall we remain idle
as the failing powers of the U.N., China, the U.S. and NATO, dictate spineless
edicts, bathing themselves in accolades and praise!” He rose from his chair.
“No more Karl. No more! We shall avenge the past. We shall right the wrongs and
bring order to this desolate cesspool of humanity. It is time. It is our time!
Like my father, who resurrected Germany from the ashes of the Versailles
Treaty, we too shall soon take our rightful place in the world and they will
tremble when the Thunder of Thor ROARS out of the heavens, raining death and
destruction to the unbelievers!” He fell into his chair exhausted. “Karl, call
Professor Mecklenberg. Inform him it is time for Thor to fly.
“Yes,
sir.”
“And
Karl.”
“Yes,
sir.”
“I’d
like a nice glass of warm milk before I retire.”
“Yes,
sir.” Karl exited the room.
Adolphus rotated his chair, admiring the power of the portrait on the wall. A smile crept over his lips. “Heil, Father.”
Adolphus rotated his chair, admiring the power of the portrait on the wall. A smile crept over his lips. “Heil, Father.”
Palermo, SICILY
“Welcome
Nathan Francisco. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. We’ve heard many
good things from Don Campesie. He speaks most highly of you.”
“Thank
you, Don Tiseo. The pleasure is all mine. May I suggest, before we talk
business, to pay our respects to those who fell so many years ago fighting
against the Germans?” He bent over, kissing his signet.
“An
excellent suggestion. First, we shall travel to my humble estate and eat. It is
not wise to venture on an empty stomach.”
“Agreed.”
New London
Dean
was catching up on non-essential e-mails and briefs from the Navy Yard. All the
reports revolved around the events at the Pentagon and the government fall-out.
Politics is such a waste of time and energy. He shut down the system out
of boredom, but not before a memory chip picked up an unusual vibration in the
Salzburg Mountains.
Houston
“Joe,
that was some of the craziest shit I’ve ever seen in my life.” It was at least
the tenth time Sam told him the story.
“I
know Sam. You’ve been talking about it for so long, the cows don’t wanna come
home and I can’t blame ‘em.”
“Come
on Joe. How can you get tired of it. I mean, seriously. The whole U.S.
government could have been taken down and we’d be living under the swastika.
Dammit man, everything could have change.”
“Yeah,
but it didn’t. Now, if you’d have found a way for the Astros to stop losing, that would be something.” Sam knew when he was had.
“Okay
Joe, I’ll see what I can do about that, but no promises” Each man shared a
slight laugh.
WASHINGTON d.c.
“What
is our next move Mr. President? It’s been two weeks.” asked Vice-President
Andrews.
“It’s
time to tell the American people exactly what happened and why.”
“But
Mr. President, is that a wise move? Will the public be able to stomach the
truth?”
He
turned around displaying the serious glare many were now accustomed to. “John,
can you stomach the truth? Have you come to terms with how close the government
came to being overthrown? Do you rest peacefully at night with your wife by
your side, or do you wake-up screaming every two hours knowing the horrors
which were unleashed?” He didn’t give him a chance to respond. “No! I have
prepared a speech for today’s press conference. The Beltway has been too secretive
and closed door for too many decades. It’s time to unlock the closets and let
the chips fall where they may.”
“Very
well, Mr. President.”
Taylor
turned the chair back to the window. “John, for once, we aren’t going to take a
poll. We aren’t going to worry about fall-out or political posturing. The
people put us in office. It’s time we trusted those who trusted us.”
“Yes,
sir. Even if it cost us our careers? ”
“Yes.”
