Part 52 (1/2)
He saw the answer in Kemel's glazed eyes.
The adrenaline had trailed off, leaving Jack with a pounding headache. His thigh throbbed worse than ever from the exertion of moving the bodies. Foul didn't come close to his mood now. His mood was way far beyond foul... somewhere out near Mars, or maybe Saturn. And he knew from experience how dangerous that could be. He tended to become... unreasonable when he got this way.
Usually when he recognized the signs he'd step back, take a time-out, and push the darkness back into his personal bas.e.m.e.nt. And he'd have been able to do that now if Kemel weren't alive. But knowing this rotten piece of camel dung was still breathing...
”Yeah, you knew about it, but did you call and give a warning? No. You let all those people die just to get rid of one man.”
”Not me...”
”Yeah? Then who?”
”Please... the pain... please stop the pain.”
What was he asking for? A coup de grace?
”You tell me who ordered the bomb, and I'll let you you stop the pain.” stop the pain.”
”No... you... please.”
”Sorry. I don't owe you that. But the name?”
”Nazer... Khalid Nazer.”
”And where do I find him?”
”Iswid Nahr... trade mission... UN.”
Khalid Nazer... Jack made a mental note of that as he drew Baker's 9mm. He popped the clip, leaving the chambered round; c.o.c.ked the hammer, then pressed the muzzle into the soft spot under Kemel's jaw. He wrapped the Arab's fingers around the grip.
”Say your prayers and pull the trigger.”
Then he walked away, leaving Kemel with his dose of the ultimate a.n.a.lgesic.
Alicia started at the sound of the shot. She looked up and saw Jack limping across the clearing toward her. He looked weary. The Jack who'd driven her up here had changed into someone else, someone as cold and ruthless as the men he'd killed. As she'd bandaged his leg a while ago, she'd sensed the original Jack coming back... but slowly.
”What happened?” she called. ”Are you all right?”
He nodded. ”Just someone giving himself some permanent pain relief.”
That someone could only be the Arab. Good Lord, how had he hung on this long?
”You ready to go?” Jack said. ”I'll lead you out.”
Alicia shook her head, ”You go ahead. I'm going to stay awhile.”
”The snow's sticking. You might not be able to get out later.”
”That's okay. It's warm inside. And I've got a lot of thinking to do.”
”You sure?”
”Very.”
”Okay,” he said, shrugging. ”I'll leave you one of the cell phones. Call me when you get back, and I'll return the car.”
”I will.”
He turned to go, then turned back to her. ”You sure you'll be all right?”
”Positive,” she said, putting on a confident smile. ”I just need to be alone right now.”
”Yeah, well, that's one thing you'll be up here. Take care, Alicia.” He waved as he turned. ”And hey... Merry Christmas.”
”Merry Christmas to you, Jack.”
Merry Christmas... she'd forgotten all about Christmas. Only three days away... the season to be jolly...
She watched Jack fade into the snowy dusk, then stepped back into the cabin and closed the door.
She'd known from the moment it was over that she'd be staying here awhile. So while Jack was moving the bodies, she did her best to clean the blood from the floor. Finally she'd moved the throw rug from under the table and laid it over the stains.
She stepped over to the humming transformer-transmitter and stared at the beam of palpably bright light.
Technology to change the world... and make Ronald Clayton a revered figure... one of history's great men...
the man of the century... the man of the millennium...
But Ronald Clayton wasn't a great man... wasn't even an ordinary man... he was a monster who sullied every life he touched...
And the thought of history raising monuments to him...
She wanted to retch.
And yet, what right did she have to withhold such a marvel from the world?
None. She was just one person, and there were billions who could benefit.
She could feel the strings... tugging at her... manipulating her like a marionette. And she knew the name of the puppeteer.
Yes... she had a lot lot of thinking to do. of thinking to do.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Alicia drove downhill through the darkness toward the lights of New Paltz. She felt light-headed, almost giddy.
Two days it had taken her, two full days of agonizing, but she'd finally made up her mind.
And now she felt... clean. Yes, clean clean... that was the only word for it. As if she'd shed a ratty, moth-eaten old skin and now had a new one to show the world.