Eyes of the World (Gray Spear Society Book 10)

by Alex Siegel

  "That's fine. I'll carry the ball from here. It's been a quiet morning so far, but I expect that to change soon. Leonardo just left the hotel with three hundred legionnaires and a long list of targets to destroy. The good news is the weather is finally clearing up. It's actually a sunny day. I'll let you go. Bye."

  "Bye, sir." Ethel hung up.

  She faced her team. "Let's head back to headquarters. Hopefully, Todd will have something for us by the time we get there."

  * * *

  Aaron walked over to Perry. The hacker was at his workstation as usual. He was back in his version of combat gear: sweats, new running shoes, and a Kevlar vest. He had added a gun in a holster to his ensemble. He knew how to use the weapon. Aaron had made sure every member of his team could handle a gun in an emergency, but Perry wasn't the best shot. Hopefully, his limited skills wouldn't be tested.

  "General Walker," Aaron said. "Defense Intelligence Agency. Look him up."

  Perry typed on his computer. "Lieutenant General Sandy Walker. Age 51."

  A photo appeared on the screen. It showed a man with a thin, weathered face and a long chin. He looked older than his actual age. He was wearing an Army dress uniform.

  "He's the guy who gave the order to shoot down the legate's plane," Aaron said. "Find him."

  Perry typed some more. After a minute, he frowned, but he continued to type.

  "Problems?" Aaron said.

  "It's like he dropped off the face of the Earth, sir. He hasn't touched his bank accounts or credit cards in a month. No phone calls. No email. The Pentagon computers list him as 'on extended leave' with no other details. He's gone deep into hiding."

  "He's hiding from me." Aaron snarled. "Do you still have that Red Eye radio we took off that scout?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "Does it work?"

  Perry shrugged. "I can put it back together and turn it on. You'll talk to somebody, but I don't know who."

  "Do that now."

  "Yes, sir." Perry got up and left the office.

  Aaron stared at the picture of General Walker on the computer screen. My enemy finally has a name and a face, Aaron thought.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Leonardo looked out the front window of the bus as it rumbled along a commercial access road behind O'Hare Airport. The sun was bright this morning, and the air had warmed significantly. The thick blanket of snow on the ground was starting to melt a little at the edges. He would've preferred clouds. A clear, sunny sky favored the military.

  The bus entered a parking lot and stopped at a chain-link fence. The many roads and runways of O'Hare Airport were on the other side of the fence. The terminal buildings stood in the distance. It was an enormous facility, and his group of legionnaires suddenly seemed a little inadequate.

  The airport had become a military airbase. Bulbous, green cargo planes were parked where passenger planes would normally be, and some were being unloaded. Humvees and army trucks were driving around. Tall stacks of crates stood on the frozen ground.

  Leonardo nodded. A worthy foe. "Cut the fence," he ordered.

  Two legionnaires stepped out of the bus. They were carrying wire cutters, and they quickly snipped away a wide segment of the fence. Leonardo looked out the rear window. The rest of the convoy of city buses was lined up behind his.

  The section of the fence fell out. The legionnaires got back onto the bus, and the convoy rolled forward. Leonardo held a railing as his bus bounced over uneven ground. Finally, they reached a service road on the other side and picked up speed.

  The convoy worked its way around to the north side of the airport. Hangars and aircraft service facilities were located in this section. The bus passed a large parking lot for workers, but it was empty now. Vast fields of concrete provided plenty of room for airplanes to move around.

  The buses parked behind a white building where they wouldn't be seen. The many legionnaires began to file out, and Leonardo joined the gathering crowd.

  The air was cold but fresh and invigorating. It was hard not to feel positive on such a beautiful day.

  Thanks to last night's activity, every member of the group was properly equipped. All had real body armor, combat helmets, and a reasonable number of weapons. Most of the legionnaires carried M16's which they had taken off dead soldiers. Ammunition was plentiful in anticipation of a long day of fighting. God's warriors also carried pistols, grenades, demolition charges, and other accoutrement of battle. From a distance, they looked a lot like American soldiers because most of the equipment had come from the U.S. Army.

  Leonardo quickly walked to the end of the building and peeked around the corner. Tanks, armored assault vehicles, and attack helicopters were sitting in the open in neat lines. Crews were loading them with fuel and munitions. Our prize, Leonardo thought.

  His gift allowed him to count the souls of the enemy. There were about 150 soldiers and technicians scattered about. Most appeared lightly armed or not armed at all. They hadn't expected to fight this morning.

  Leonardo looked back at the mob of legionnaires. He gestured, and the squad leaders came forward. He had divided his group into thirty squads of ten.

  He gave each leader specific orders about where to go. One by one, the squads snuck off and took up ambush positions. In his mind's eye, he watched the gray souls of the legionnaires and knew exactly where everybody was. It was a handy gift for a commander.

  Finally, it was time for the battle to begin.

  "Get us started," Leonardo whispered to Débora.

  She stepped into the open and walked towards the enemy. She was wearing the same type of clothing as the real soldiers, and they hardly glanced at her. Her gorgeous hair was tied back. She strolled up to a crew that was working on a tank.

  She began to sing an aria from Carmen. Even though she was a good distance away, Leonardo could clearly hear her beautiful voice. It sounded like an angel had come down from Heaven.

  The tank crew was having a different experience. They clamped their hands to their ears and writhed in agony. When she hit the final, thrilling note, they died.

  All the other enemy soldiers in the area looked in her direction. They began to walk towards her.

  In total silence, thirty squads of legionnaires swept in from all sides. The soldiers and technicians barely had time to react before they were cut down by a storm of automatic fire. The battle was over in less than a minute.

  Leonardo ran forward to join his group.

  "Where are my helicopter pilots?" he called out.

  Twelve legionnaires came forward.

  "Take a helicopter and shoot anything with an Army star on it," Leonardo ordered.

  The pilots ran to the attack helicopters. The aircraft had long, slender bodies like fine women. Pods of missiles hung from stubby wings. Chain guns were mounted on the noses.

  Leonardo then assembled four tank crews using men and women who had actually driven tanks in the military. The crews found tanks that were fueled and ready to go. A few minutes later, they were underway.

  "Destroy everything else!" Leonardo yelled at the mob of legionnaires who remained. "Turn this place into a junkyard!"

  They spread out and began to wreck equipment with child-like enthusiasm. A dozen fires were started quickly.

  Leonardo ran to a location where he had a better vantage point. Débora stayed with him.

  The attack helicopters were the first to strike the terminal section of the airport. Barrages of missiles wrecked cargo planes. Piles of ammunition went off like fireworks. Fuel trucks became giant, orange fireballs rising to the sky. The soldiers on the ground ran for their lives, and the helicopters cut them down with streams of bullets.

  Then the four tanks rolled in. The main guns started blasting targets that the helicopters had missed. 120 mm shells exploded like bombs. Secondary explosions crackled afterwards. Leonardo could feel the concussions on his chest even from this distance. It was an awesome demonstration of modern firepower.

  Leonardo
grinned. He had to admit Aaron knew what he was doing. This attack plan had been his idea.

  The battle moved around to the other side of the terminal building. He could still hear the explosions and see the rising smoke, but he wanted more.

  He looked back to check the progress of the rest of his group. The legionnaires were destroying armored vehicles by detonating the ammunition inside. Wrecking the helicopters merely required dropping a grenade into the cockpit.

  Leonardo detected the presence of thirty enemy souls approaching from the north. They looked like white candles glowing in his mind's eye.

  He whistled to get the attention of nearby squads and pointed in that direction. "Thirty enemies. Kill them."

  The squads ran off.

  Leonardo nodded with satisfaction. Almost too easy, he thought.

  * * *

  "Sir!" an officer yelled. "There is a major engagement at O'Hare!"

  General Walker looked up from his desk. He had been finalizing the plans for today's attack on the Rosemont Tower Hotel.

  He could immediately tell something was wrong. The rows of console operators were frantically working at their computers and chattering on their headsets.

  "How bad is it?" Walker yelled.

  "Very, sir!" another officer replied. "We're getting reports from all over the airport of massive casualties and destroyed equipment. They're hitting us hard with tanks and helicopters."

  Walker grimaced. O'Hare Airport was the main supply conduit for his operation. Losing that facility would seriously hinder his plans.

  "How the hell did they get their hands on tanks and helicopters?"

  The answer occurred to him immediately. Plenty of military hardware was sitting on the ground at O'Hare. The Gray Spear Society was using his own weapons against him. It was an obvious tactic in retrospect.

  "I got a satellite picture, sir," a technician yelled from the front of the bunker.

  "I thought we had no aerial recon," Walker said.

  "It's from a Japanese geological survey satellite which the enemy didn't bother to block. The picture won't be great."

  "Just put it up on the screen."

  An image of O'Hare Airport appeared on the big projection screen at the front of the bunker. The details were a little pixelated, but he could tell a huge battle was taking place. Black smudges marked the aftermath of many explosions. Some of the cargo planes were visibly destroyed even when seen in low resolution.

  "Fuck," Walker said.

  He turned to Erika who was sitting on the velvet chair in her shattered enclosure. She had changed into a simple, brown dress. It was much humbler attire than the purple and gold robes she had worn last night. The change went deeper than her clothing. She had been subdued and listless all morning. Her brash arrogance had left when she had lost her powers. She looked helpless without her slaves attending her every whim.

  "I think the Gray Spear Society is much more numerous than we assumed," Walker said. "We're clearly not just fighting a single team. There must be hundreds of them out there."

  Erika nodded. "Nonetheless, we must press on."

  He couldn't argue with her. The benefactors would not accept any kind of retreat or compromise. This war would be fought until the bitter end. If he lost, he would pay for his failure with his life.

  "The current plan is to launch the main assault at 1400 hours. We'll be able to put together a force of at least twenty thousand troops by then. We'll hit them from multiple directions at once. It should be a crushing blow."

  "I hope you're right," she said. "There is no backup plan."

  "General Walker!" the communications officer yelled. "An unknown person is using one of our Red Eye radios. He's asking for you by name."

  Walker furrowed his brow. There was no good reason for anybody in the field to know he was involved. "Put it through to my desk."

  The phone on his desk rang. It was a standard green model designed for utility rather than style. The plastic was worn and stained in spots.

  He picked it up and said, "Hello? Who is this?"

  Erika rushed over and leaned against him so she could overhear. He didn't like being so close to her.

  "Do I have the pleasure of addressing Lieutenant General Sandy Walker?" a male voice said.

  "It's possible."

  "Am I also fortunate enough to be speaking to the Fifth Corner of Freedom?"

  Walker hesitated. "I don't know what you mean."

  "I'll take that as a 'yes.' I'm the Lord of the Gray Spear Society."

  Walker was stunned. He sat heavily on the chair at his desk. Erika crouched down so she could still hear.

  "Hello," Walker said. "I suppose I should feel honored."

  "The feeling is mutual. You're a tough opponent. You had me scrambling back in September when you tried to kill the President. The cannibal plague was a brilliantly executed gambit. I figured out the trick when it was far too late. It's a great shame you're not playing for my team. Your talents are wasted on a second-class syndicate like the Pythagoreans. You could still switch sides."

  Erika gasped.

  The Society knows about the Pythagoreans, too, Walker thought.

  "I don't think so, but thanks for the compliment."

  "Why are you doing this?" the Lord said. "I looked at your military record. You've had a spotless career. You seem to be a solid American citizen."

  "You're right. I'm a good American, and I want what's best for my country. Unfortunately, our political system is hopelessly corrupt and ineffectual. The citizens are lazy, selfish, and ignorant. The United States can't rise up from the muck unless fundamental changes are made. Right now, nobody has the power to make those changes. Even the President is hamstrung by politics and his personal agenda."

  "And you think fighting me is the answer?"

  "After I win," Walker said, "the benefactors will give me the power to make changes. I'll rise above the limitations that hold normal people down."

  The Lord chuckled. "That's an amusing rationalization. You call them 'benefactors?' They are enemies of God and mankind. They only want to destroy. You're just another one of their tools."

  "According to you."

  "It's funny how even the most intelligent man can be blind to the obvious. As a matter of fact, those positive changes will be made. I even know the kid who will eventually make them. It won't be you."

  "Why did you call?" Walker said.

  "Because I'm bored. I'm wondering when the party is going to finally start. Yesterday was a bust. We both have to admit that. Your guys didn't even get in the front door. It's a good thing it's cold outside, or their bodies would be stinking up my parking lot."

  Walker gritted his teeth. "You don't have to wait much longer."

  "Really?" the Lord said. "I need to know if I should stick around. I have better things to do with my time than waiting for you to get your act together."

  "Where are you?"

  "I'm sitting in my office on the top floor of the Rosemont Tower Hotel. We're running a little low on milk and bread up here. As long as you're coming, would you mind stopping by the store and picking up some groceries? Thanks."

  "Your taunting isn't convincing," Walker said. "You must be afraid. A substantial portion of the United States Army will be breaking down your door before the day is out."

  "I'm eager to meet our fine young men and women in uniform. And then I'll kill them."

  The line clicked.

  Walker hung up the phone.

  "That was interesting," Erika said.

  "Yes, but not very informative. He only confirmed that I can't afford to lose this fight. The Gray Spear Society has my name."

  "Do you think he's really in the hotel?"

  "We'll find out when we get inside," Walker said.

  "General Walker!" an officer yelled. "We just got word. General Holt was tortured and killed in his own office. They attacked him inside the Pentagon!"

  Walker and Erika exchanged worried looks. No words were
necessary.

  * * *

  Ethel walked into the computer room in the Washington headquarters.

  "Todd," she said, "I did my part. I hope you did yours."

  Todd turned to her on his rotating chair. "Yes, ma'am! It's called the Fast Automated Infrared Detection System or FAIDS. It's basically a giant, cryogenic, infrared camera attached to a computer. The Marines cooked it up. It was designed for hunting down terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan. It can detect the warmth of a man's breath from a mile away. It can even see people through trees. The computer will separate the targets from the background noise for you. You should be able to search all forty-two thousand acres in an afternoon."

  "Sounds perfect. Where do I get one?"

  "That's the thing. There is only one experimental prototype, and it's at Marine Corps Base Quantico. It's attached to a helicopter which already has a crew. You won't be flying alone."

  Ethel frowned.

  "I can easily forge orders for you, ma'am," Todd said. "The crew will do what you tell them. I just need a cover story."

  "I suppose the obvious one will work best in this case. We're searching for the President. We think he might be in the mountains. The Marines will be eager to help us."

  "Isn't that a little too obvious, ma'am? Don't we usually lie?"

  "Yes," she said, "but I don't want to screw around. Every minute that passes puts Roy's life in greater danger. God told me the rules are changing anyway. I'm not sure what is allowed anymore. All I know is the man I love needs me. I will take the most direct route possible to saving him."

  "You're the boss. I suggest you dress as Marines and start driving down to Quantico. I'll give you updates over the phone as you go."

  Ethel nodded. "We're on our way." She rushed out of the room.

  * * *

  Roy Haley's mouth was watering. Slade was frying up a late breakfast of eggs and sausage, and the aroma filled the log cabin. Haley had lived on nothing but water since breakfast yesterday. He was very hungry.