Politics of Blood (Gray Spear Society Book 8) (12 page)

"That's privileged information."

"You mean God doesn't want me to know?" he said. "But I'm a member of the Society."

"We don't make the rules," she said. "Our project was granted special access to knowledge that is normally forbidden to everybody. Cover your eyes now."

Bethany and Leanna crouched behind a desk and ducked their heads down. Kamal followed their example.

A blinding white light suddenly filled the room. He tried to squint at the source, but the glow was too bright. He had to look away.

"What are you going to use this for?" he said.

"A fusion power source," Bethany said.

He was getting excited. All the components were commercially available, and he had assembled them by himself. It had taken him just a few hours to build a working fusion reactor. Other people could easily do the same on a larger scale.

"We should share this technology with the world," Kamal said. "It could solve humanity's energy problems. We wouldn't need fossil fuels anymore. We could stop global warming."

"No," Bethany said.

"Because it's forbidden?"

"God has a plan for humanity which doesn't include this very dangerous technology."

He clenched his jaw in frustration. "Technology isn't inherently good or evil. It just depends on how it's used. This invention could make the world a better place. It's our responsibility to share the discovery."

"No. Special access was granted to Leanna and me only. It's bad enough you saw the design, but at least you don't know how it works."

The bright light stopped. Everybody stood up and walked over to the device. Most of the liquid nitrogen had boiled away, but otherwise, it appeared undamaged.

"The experiment was successful," Bethany announced in her synthetic voice. It always made Kamal think of a pipe organ.

She and Leanna walked out of the laboratory.

He was left staring at the fusion reactor. This was a monumental invention as important as the steam engine and the computer. He couldn't keep it hidden. That was unfair to the entire human race. The twins were just too rigid to see the truth.

* * *

President Haley was standing in the main hall of the Field Museum in downtown Chicago. The voices of hundreds of people echoed between the gray and white marble floor and the high roof. Sunlight poured in through a grid of square skylights. Classical, white pillars and arches all around created the impression of being inside a Greek temple.

A stuffed elephant stood in the center of the hall, but the crowd was more interested in the bones of the dinosaur known as "Sue." She was the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex on display in the world. Doorways on both sides of the hall led to other exhibits in the huge museum. Haley doubted he would get a chance to see them.

A swirling cloud of people surrounded him. A protective ring of Secret Service agents in black suits was keeping most of them at bay. Politicians and other members of the Democratic Party were maneuvering to be seen with Haley. He was more interested in rubbing elbows with the rich donors in attendance. Money was the life-blood of politics.

Ethel and Boreas stood by a column off to the side. Haley had noticed "Miss Pickenpaugh" seemed uncomfortable in social settings. She rarely talked when there were more than a few people in the room.

George Seferis also lingered nearby, and he was keeping an eye on Ethel. His personal obsession with her was starting to annoy Haley. The Director of the Secret Service had much better ways to spend his time. At a minimum, he should've assigned somebody to watch Ethel instead of doing it himself.

Haley noticed another Secret Service agent approaching. It was the big man with brown hair who had come with Ethel at the first meeting. She had identified him as Aaron.

Two other people in formal attire were with him. The first was another large, very muscular man, but his hair was red. His square jaw and blue eyes gave him the appearance of a comic book hero. The other newcomer was a slender woman with long, brown hair. Her red dress and red shoes were too bold for this occasion in Haley's opinion. She apparently liked being the center of attention.

Ethel rushed forward to intercept her people. They spoke to each other briefly. Body language made it clear who was the boss. It was funny how even the big men seemed smaller in Ethel's presence.

The whole group walked over to Haley. Seferis pushed through the crowd to be part of whatever was happening.

"What's up?" Haley said.

The man with red hair responded, "It's a great honor to meet you, sir. I served in the Army for a number of years. I never thought I'd meet my Commander in Chief."

"The honor is mine, I'm sure. Who are you, and why are you here?"

"We work for him." The man nodded towards Aaron. "We've been investigating threats against your life. We already checked out a good number of them."

"I appreciate that. Any leads?"

"Yes, sir." The man took a stack of white pamphlets from his pocket and handed them out to the whole group. "We suspect these people are dangerous. We're meeting them for a barbecue at three o'clock today."

Haley read the pamphlet and became angry after just the first line. Clearly, Pure America was dedicated to spewing the vilest racism imaginable. They weren't even politically correct about it. The pamphlet used ethnic slurs freely. It twisted the language of science into nonsensical arguments. Here was primitive tribalism in its most corrosive form.

Haley looked over at Ethel who was also reading. Her face was a mask of calm, but the darkness that always clung to her skin had become more apparent. Her whole body was vibrating. Her subordinates stepped away from her, even her bodyguard.

"The Secret Service needs to participate in this investigation," Seferis said. "If there is a threat against the President, it's our job to check it out." He shook the pamphlet in his hand to emphasize the point.

"No," Ethel said.

He glared at her. "That's not your decision to make."

"My people work independently. Your goons would just get in the way."

"My goons?" Seferis turned to Haley. "Sir, what's your opinion."

"Leave her people alone," Haley said. "They seem to know what they're doing."

"And I don't?"

"You're the best, George. No question. I just don't want your agents getting into a turf war with her. They might come out on the wrong end of that fight."

"I'm not afraid of Miss Pickenpaugh and her gang," Seferis said.

The statement was a weak boast. Haley could see the intimidation in his posture.

"Your boss is a very wise and thoughtful man," Ethel said. "You should listen to him. We have something else to discuss."

The man with red hair nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I was told you have a heart condition, Mr. President."

"Coronary atherosclerosis," Haley said.

"That needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later."

"I've been busy."

The man smiled. "I can imagine, sir. I'm a doctor. If we could find someplace private, I'd like to give you an examination."

"I've seen lots of doctors," Haley said. "I don't need another one telling me I have a serious problem."

Ethel put a hand on his shoulder. "Roy, my friend isn't just another doctor. He is quite extraordinary. Let's find a secluded place where he can work."

The tone in her voice put him on edge. This wouldn't be a regular examination. He looked at her subordinates, and all of them had serious expressions. They knew the secret, too.

He looked at her. "What are you going to do to me?"

"Something good," she said.

Haley had to make a huge decision, and it came down to a question of trust. Was Ethel truly his friend? So far, she had done nothing to convince him otherwise.

His feelings were clear even if his mind was still confused. "OK. Let's go."

"Great." She looked around and pointed. "Over there."

Seferis stepped in front of her. "No! I will not let you just walk off with the President."

"George," Haley said.

"Sir, this is insane. Anything could happen to you. You could die."

"I won't change my mind. You know I never back down from anything. Besides, for some reason I feel safe with her." Haley smiled at Ethel. "Very."

Seferis remained in front of her with his arms crossed.

Haley realized he would have to take the initiative to break this stalemate. He just started walking. When the Secret Service tried to stay with him, he waved them back. Seferis was left looking foolish and impotent.

Haley moved quickly despite his weak heart. Ethel and her crew formed a ring around him. The men used their big bodies to push the startled crowd aside.

They went through a door marked "STAFF ONLY" and entered a white hallway. A few museum workers looked at Haley with shocked expressions.

Ethel glanced back. "Pick him up so we can move faster."

Boreas scooped up Haley in his thick arms. The whole group broke into a run at once.

Haley couldn't remember the last time anybody had carried him. The experience was so surprising he didn't even complain. Boreas didn't seem to have trouble with the weight. The man was built like a bulldozer.

Ethel led the way as her team flew through the back corridors of the museum. They found a stairway down and entered a basement.

Eventually, they entered a dimly lit storage room in a back corner. Dusty, wooden crates were stacked in uneven piles. A stuffed lion was frozen in the middle of a roar. A cracked glass case contained hundreds of different kinds of coins.

Boreas placed Haley on top of a long crate as if it were an operating table.

"Guard the door," Ethel said.

Aaron and the woman in red stood by the doorway. They both drew guns from concealed holsters.

"Fix his heart now," Ethel ordered. "We don't have much time."

The red-haired doctor approached Haley. "I need to look at your chest."

"What are you going to do?" Haley said.

The doctor grabbed his shirt and ripped it open, exposing Haley's bare chest. He didn't resist. His gut was still telling him to trust these people, and he wasn't in much of a position to fight back.

"This will look and feel very strange," the doctor said. "Be as still as possible. If you move around, it makes my job a lot harder. Are you ready?" He put his hands on Haley's chest.

"Ready for what?"

"Just hold still."

The doctor pushed his hands into Haley's chest. Their flesh actually merged. Haley squawked in terror and tried to roll off the crate. The doctor jerked his hands back. There was no blood on his fingers.

"What the hell was that?" Haley yelled.

Ethel came over and squeezed his hand. "Relax. It's OK. Let's try it again."

The doctor shook his head. "Ma'am, this isn't going to work. He's too agitated. I can't fix a heart that's pounding like a drum."

"Boreas?" She looked at her bodyguard. "Can you safely slow down his heart?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Don't knock him out," the doctor said. "Just make him relax."

Boreas nodded. He took off his sunglasses revealing the blue pigment in his eyes.

"What are you going to do?" Haley said nervously.

The blue color became darker. The heat was sucked out of his body as if by an invisible vacuum cleaner. He became paralyzed by cold. He couldn't move his numb arms or legs at all. The experience was utterly terrifying.

Ethel knelt down and whispered in his ear, "Roy, you're all right. We're your friends. We're going to heal you. Don't be afraid."

She put her hand on his cheek, and the physical contact was comforting. It had been a long time since a woman had touched him like that. Her fingers were wonderfully warm.

The doctor pushed his hands into Haley's chest again. The sensation was extremely disturbing. He could feel his flesh being manipulated inside his ribcage.

"He's still a little antsy," the doctor said. "Take him down another degree, please."

A painful chill swept through Haley's body. He was too cold to even shiver. He wondered if this was how death felt.

"Perfect," the doctor said. "His heart is beating nice and slow. Oxygen consumption is way down. I'm cleaning out the blockages now." He had an expression of intense concentration.

Haley could do nothing but wait for the surgery to end. At least it didn't hurt. He started to drift off.

"Stay with us, Mr. President," the doctor said.

A moment later, he withdrew his hands. There still wasn't any blood on them. Haley didn't understand how that was possible.

The doctor smiled. "All done. Now, we just have to warm him up. Let's get him on his feet."

Boreas lifted Haley and placed him in a standing position. Haley had absolutely no strength in his legs, so Boreas had to support him fully.

"That's right," the doctor said. "Get his blood pumping."

Haley felt like a puppet as Boreas moved him around. The treatment was working though. Before long, Haley could feel his hands and feet again. A couple of minutes later, he could even support his own weight.

"Start jogging in place," the doctor said.

"But my heart..."

"You have the heart of a young man now."

Haley began to hop on his feet. He expected the usual weakness, but it didn't happen this time. Soon, he was working up a sweat and grinning like he had won the lottery. He felt thirty years younger.

The door of the storage room burst open. Secret Service agents flooded into the room. Aaron knocked out one man with a kick to the jaw.

"Stop!" Haley yelled. "Calm down, everybody. I'm OK."

Seferis walked into the room. "What's going on? What did they do to you, sir?" He looked at Haley's torn shirt.

Ethel whispered in Haley's ear, "He's not allowed to know."

He understood. She had shown him a glimpse of her secret world. It was a place of miracles and death. Strangers could get into a lot of trouble there.

"Nothing," Haley said. "I'm fine."

"You're sure?" Seferis noticed the Secret Service agent lying unconscious on the floor.

"The doctor was just checking my heart. Thank you, doctor. I'll definitely follow your diet advice."