Snake stopped himself mid-thought.
He didn’t have enough information to formulate a strategy, and he was making dangerous assumptions. For all he knew, whoever was on the boat had no idea the Crew ran Houston or what the gang’s capabilities were.
Snake didn’t even know who was on it.
But he would find out soon enough.
He was tempted to smoke a hit of meth to steady himself, but resisted the urge. He needed a clear head, at least for now. He speared another chunk of ham and popped it into his mouth, but it tasted like wood, and he grimaced and spit it back onto the plate, disgusted. A large swallow of his drink flushed the tang from his mouth and he crossed to the door, checking the Desert Eagle .45 on his hip and his dagger in its belt scabbard as though they were lucky talismans instead of weapons.
The ride to the port took seemingly forever. Snake and his guard detail galloped through the streets of Houston as fast as they could manage, and their horses were almost blown out by the time they reached the waterfront, where the unmistakable rumble of massive engines echoed across the port. At least three hundred Crew fighters had taken up defensive positions, big .50-caliber Browning machine guns pointed at the slate gray vessel that was now docked parallel to the concrete jetty, its artillery turrets radiating menace. A plume of smoke rose from its stack, but there was no one to be seen on its decks. Beyond the ship, the cranes and superstructures of sunken freighters that had been submerged after the collapse broke the surface of the water, a reminder of the anomaly that was an operational naval vessel.
Snake’s security chief had a hurried discussion with his subordinate and then came to meet Snake, whose eyes were glued to the boat.
“We received a radio transmission twenty minutes ago from the captain of the vessel,” he began.
“And?”
“He asked to meet with you. By name.”
Snake absorbed that. “Who is he?”
“He didn’t say.”
“You didn’t ask?”
“I wasn’t here to ask – I was with you. My lieutenant over there fielded the call.” The chief swallowed, anticipating an outburst. “He just relayed the message.”
Snake surprised him by remaining calm. “What channel did they use?”
“Seventeen.”
“Hail them, and let’s find out what’s going on.”
The chief nodded and went for a handheld radio. When he returned, he pressed the transmit button and spoke into the microphone. He finished and waited. Moments later, the radio crackled and a neutral voice answered.
“Yes? Over.”
“Who is this? Over.”
“The captain of the vessel at the dock. Over.”
“Right. But who are you? Over.”
A pause. “I represent a collective that has business with your new leader. Is he there yet? Over.”
Snake snatched the radio from the chief’s hand. “This is Snake. What do you want? Over.”
Another pause, this one longer. A different voice emanated from the two-way. “My name is Lassiter. We had an arrangement with Magnus. I understand you’re now in charge. It’s imperative that we meet with you. Over.”
“Who’s we?” Snake snapped, and then remembered to finish the transmission and release the button. “Over.”
“Would you like to come aboard and have a tour of the boat? I can assure you it will be worth your time. I prefer not to discuss confidential business over the open airwaves. Over.”
The security chief exchanged a glance with Snake, who had just been blindsided. If he refused to go aboard, he would look like a coward and lose face with his men, many of whom in the vicinity had heard the exchange. If he did board, and it was a trap, he could be killed, and the force on the boat could dictate terms to the leaderless Crew. Snake bit his lower lip as he considered his options and then raised the radio to his lips.
“Show yourself, and I’ll meet you at the gangplank. Over.”
“Perfect. Over.”
Snake turned to his chief. “If I go for my pistol or if they try anything with me, hit them with everything you have. Put a sniper with a Barrett on whoever shows himself, and take him out at the first sign of trouble.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“They came all the way here to see me. I’m curious who they are and what they want.”
“It could be a setup.”
“Look at those guns. If they wanted to blow us to pieces, they could. Doesn’t sound like it, does it?”
“Let me go with you.”
“Fine.”
Snake pushed past the line of armed Crew fighters and made his way along the jetty, the chief behind him with his Kalashnikov at the ready, as though the 7.62mm rounds would do anything but bounce off the warship’s thick steel armor like hail off a sidewalk. When he reached the gangplank, he squinted against the sunlight. At the top of the ramp, a solitary figure in a lightweight blue suit stepped onto the gangplank and began the long trip down to the dock.
“I don’t like this,” the chief whispered from behind Snake.
“He looks like he’s unarmed. Back off.”
The chief stood his ground, about to protest, and Snake raised his hand halfway while keeping his eyes on the approaching figure. “I said back off. That’s an order.”
The security head nodded and moved out of earshot, and Snake waited as the figure neared. A Caucasian man in his forties with thinning straw-colored hair approached him with his hand outstretched. “Snake? I’m Lassiter. Sorry to hear Magnus is no longer with us.”
Snake shook hands with the improbable apparition, noting that his suit looked new. His skin was bronzed, but not like that of someone accustomed to being outside for work – more the leisure tan of the prosperous and well fed.
“You knew Magnus?” Snake asked.
Lassiter nodded. “I mentioned we had an agreement. We’re anxious to continue it with you. That’s what brings me to Houston.”
“Who are you with?”
“A group that doesn’t toss its name around.”
“You’re going to have to do better than that. Who are you, and why do you want to meet with me?”
Lassiter sighed, as though disappointed in an errant schoolboy’s inadequate answer, and nodded once. When he spoke, his voice was so soft Snake had to strain to hear. “We need you to understand how things work. As to who I am, suffice it to say that I’m someone who can commandeer one of the few warships on the seas for a personal errand and who can burn thousands of gallons of precious diesel to meet with you. Figure it out. I represent power, and power has come to Houston to cut a deal.” Lassiter paused, watching Snake to ensure he was absorbing his words. “Now come aboard, and I’ll show you around while we talk.”
Snake shook his head. “No way.”
Lassiter’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Two ways this goes down. Either you come aboard and hear me out, or we level Houston and there’s nothing left of you within the hour. You seem smart. I trust you’ll make the right choice.”
“I asked you who you are. I want an answer. Are you the government?”
The trace of a smile played across Lassiter’s face. “There is no such animal anymore, at least not in the sense you’re thinking. No, think of us as the influence behind the throne, if that helps. A loose collection of the interested who hold the power of life and death over you, and everyone else we choose.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the best I can do, other than to say that it’s obvious Magnus didn’t share his knowledge of us with you, which is heartening. That was part of the arrangement.”
“Riddles,” Snake spat. “Last time I ask. Who are you?”
“Let’s just say it’s comforting to see you using one of our symbols tattooed on your head. Now follow me – this heat is stifling, and we have important matters to discuss.”
Lassiter spun and walked back up the gangplank, leaving a stunned Snake staring at his back. The man didn
’t turn around to see whether he was obeying, and Snake hesitated for only a moment before following him up to the deck, waving the shooter off, numb from the obvious import of Lassiter’s words.
Chapter 16
Once on the deck of the destroyer, Snake hesitated in the sunlight, reluctant to follow any further. Lassiter looked annoyed when he heard the Crew leader’s footsteps fall silent and slowly turned toward him.
“You’re…you’re Illuminati?” Snake stammered.
Lassiter’s expression darkened. “We go by many names. It’s not advisable to mention most of them.”
“Then…you’re real. I mean, you exist.”
“A network of like-minded folks who influence events so they turn out for the best? There have been many such groups throughout history. The wonder is that so many believed it impossible that we might be real.”
“But I thought – I mean – you know, that it was more rumor and urban legend than anything.”
“Magnus knew better.” Lassiter paused. “The best trick the devil ever played was convincing humanity he didn’t exist. That’s a bit overblown, but there is much merit to remaining in the shadows.”
“Was Magnus one of you?”
“Membership in our club is confidential.”
“So he was? He’s dead, so it doesn’t matter.”
Lassiter frowned. “We know he’s dead. That’s why we’re here. To have some face time with you and come to an agreement.”
“About what?”
“Magnus was helping us. In return, we helped him. It was a simple transaction at its core.” Lassiter shaded his eyes from the sun. “Now let’s get out of the heat. We can continue our discussion in the air conditioning.”
“You expect me to just follow you in?”
“Why wouldn’t you? Or more accurately, do you not grasp that you don’t have a choice?” Lassiter sized him up. “Look, if we wanted to kill you, you’d already be dead. A sniper round. Or I could have had a latex mold on my hand coated with a cutaneous poison that would stop your heart in less than a minute. There are infinite ways to end a life. But you’re more valuable to us alive, so relax. We’re going to make you the offer of a lifetime. Now let’s go. I don’t have all day.”
Snake bristled at Lassiter’s tone but understood he was in no position to argue. And he believed every word the man said – if he’d wanted Snake dead, he already would have been.
They entered the ship, mounted the stairs, and stopped at an empty officer’s lounge. Lassiter took a seat and savored the arctic blast of the air conditioning from an overhead grid and then offered Snake a drink. Snake declined, and Lassiter invited Snake to sit across from him at the table while he blotted his brow with a white cloth handkerchief from the breast pocket of his suit jacket. Snake did as asked, and Lassiter sat forward.
“Magnus was helping us with the vaccine. I can’t underscore to you the importance of having sole control over it or our disappointment that he wasn’t successful in eradicating Shangri-La. As long as it exists in any form, it’s a threat to us, which means it’s a threat to our allies – the Crew being one of our most important ones.”
“What’s it to you? I mean, if others get a vaccine?”
“It isn’t in our best interests to have competing variants out there. Diminishes our negotiating power with other groups.”
“What other groups?”
“What remains of foreign governments. Other warlords like yourself. Take your pick.”
Snake looked around the lounge, which appeared to be in pristine shape. “Where did you get the fuel to run this thing?”
“We have access to refining capability, as well as the know-how to operate and maintain the vessel.”
“Where are you based?”
“A number of places.”
“I’ve heard rumors of underground cities with power and water.”
“There’s usually an element of truth to persistent stories.”
“Then you have a headquarters?”
Lassiter sat back. “Snake, here’s the deal. We’ll help you solidify your hold on the Crew, as well as its territory. We’ll provide you with an advisor, who will get you anything you need – although frankly you already have huge tracts of territory, so it’s more likely to be guidance that you’re lacking than resources. We helped Magnus obtain most of what he had, and we’ll assist you as well. In return, we expect you to help us.”
“Wait. You worked with Magnus to get his territory?”
“We heard of his interest in our philosophy and decided that there was a synergy there; so, yes, we did. We advised him on how to overcome any resistance, what boundaries to draw that would be sustainable, how to control the territory once he had it, and so on.” Lassiter smirked. “Did you really believe he could have achieved all that on his own?”
“I always thought he did.”
“Well, he had help.” Lassiter paused. “Help we’re prepared to offer you.”
“What do you want in exchange?”
“How’s your search for Shangri-La going?”
Snake looked away. “Slow. They’ve disappeared.”
“Doesn’t seem like you’re putting much into finding them.”
“What’s the point? That was Magnus’s thing, not mine. And he lost a decent chunk of our fighting force pursuing them.”
“It’s important that you locate them. You should make it your top priority.”
“I have bigger problems at the moment.”
“Ah. Yes. We’ve heard stirrings.”
Snake’s eyes darted to Lassiter’s. “What have you heard?”
“Some of your hubs are no longer loyal.”
Snake nodded. “New Orleans tried to assassinate me.”
“And they’re a formidable adversary.”
“We can take them.”
“But you haven’t moved against them yet.”
“I’m pretending I don’t realize they were behind it or that they’re shorting me every month.”
Lassiter managed an approving smile. “Ah. A thinker. Take them by surprise. I like that.”
“How do you know about them?”
“We have eyes everywhere. As your tattoo symbolizes.” Lassiter shifted in his chair. “We’ll give you gold with which to recruit mercenaries and to buy arms. We’ll help you get one of the refineries operational so you can power your vehicles. We’ll leave a top tactician with you to advise you on how best to deal with your mutiny. But you need to step up your efforts to locate Shangri-La, wherever it’s moved, and wipe it from the earth.”
“You can get the refinery working again? We’ve been trying for years.”
Lassiter waved a hand as though such a thing were trivial. “I trust we have your full attention?”
Snake nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
Lassiter rose abruptly and walked to the door. “I’ll be back with my man. His name is Zacharias. Zach. I’m sure you’ll get along swimmingly.”
Snake fidgeted, his head swimming with Lassiter’s revelations about his secret group and the existence of not only a powerful force that had been responsible for Magnus’s success, but limitless resources available to him. The man had spoken of gold as though discussing the weather, and brushed aside Snake’s incredulousness at being able to restart a refinery as though it was self-evident that it was well within their capabilities. No wonder Magnus had been all-powerful and confident. With a group like that behind him, the sky was the limit.
A doubt nagged at Snake, though. If the Illuminati had the capability of bringing one of Houston’s refineries back into operation, why hadn’t they done so for Magnus?
The answer was obvious: because they hadn’t had to in order to get what they wanted from him. Why give Magnus the ability to further expand his power if they wanted him as a regional player rather than a national one? They’d offered what was necessary and nothing more.
Lassiter reappeared with a bulldog of a man in tow, his face all planes, his st
eel gray hair cropped close to his head, and his unblinking eyes the color of lead. Lassiter introduced them and Zach’s voice matched his appearance – gruff, a no-nonsense rasp that didn’t waste a word.
“You mentioned gold?” Snake said, completing the introductions.
“That’s right. We have a thousand one-ounce bars for you. Zach will arrange delivery to your headquarters,” Lassiter said.
“Where are the rest of your men? I didn’t see any crew.”
Lassiter smiled. “They’re giving us our privacy.”
Zach turned his wedge of a head to Lassiter. “I’m going with him?”
“That’s right. Help him however you can.”
Zach nodded, his expression unreadable. Snake cleared his throat and eyed him. “You know where our headquarters is?”
“I’ll find it. Have a horse I can use?” Zach asked.
“Sure. How long will it take to get me the gold?”
Zach held his stare. “You’ll have it by day’s end.”
“And the refinery?” Snake pressed.
Lassiter fielded the question. “That will take some time. But don’t worry. We’ll make some of our fuel from the ship’s stores available. More than sufficient for your immediate needs.”
Snake’s eyes darted around the room. “When are you leaving?”
“Once Zach indicates we don’t need to remain any longer.”
Snake pondered the response for several moments and angled his head at the door. “Are we done?”
“Yes. Kindly ensure that none of your men intrude on us while we’re in port. My crew will stay on board, so all we require is enough of a guard that we aren’t disturbed.”
Snake nodded. “Anything else?”
“Zach will keep us abreast of your progress and needs.” Lassiter hesitated. “Thank you for coming. Don’t forget to make locating Shangri-La your top priority.”
“You can bet on it.”
Lassiter offered a frosty smile that never reached his eyes. “We are.”
The Day After Never Bundle (First 4 novels) Page 80
