Eyes of the World (Gray Spear Society Book 10)

by Alex Siegel

  "Not far from the factory that Unit K occupied," Wendy said.

  Aaron smiled. "That's excellent work. I'll definitely check it out when I'm done with my business here. Erika's partners in financial crime are probably also people we want. Start putting together a list of names."

  "Yes, sir. By the way, I'm enjoying working with the other hackers in the Society. I really feel like I'm part of a global organization now."

  "That's great. We'll talk later. I have another call to make." Aaron hung up.

  * * *

  General Walker watched the Rosemont Tower Hotel burn. Flames were pouring out of all the windows. A raging fire had spread through the entire building.

  Clearly, nobody inside was left alive. Some burning liquid had splashed onto the troops gathered outside the building. Noxious fumes had overcome many. In total, two thousand or so soldiers had just died, and the operation had been pushed back again.

  Desertion had also become a serious issue. Entire units were finding excuses to be elsewhere or disappearing entirely. Walker was down to around eight thousand soldiers still willing and able to fight, less than a third of his original force.

  Broken glass fell away and exposed the underlying structure of the building. The top floor was built like a bunker with concrete all around. Flames licked the sides but did no harm. The only windows were tiny, square portals.

  The secret headquarters is finally revealed, Walker thought.

  The phone on his desk rang.

  He answered, "Hello?"

  "Just checking in," the Lord of the Gray Spear Society said. "I knew you were worried about me, but have no fear. We're still safe and sound up here. The fire is warming us up a little, but it feels nice on such a cold day."

  "These conversations are getting tedious."

  "I disagree. I feel like we're becoming friends."

  "Are you ready to concede, friend?" Walker said dryly.

  "Nope."

  "You're just postponing the inevitable."

  "I think we have different opinions about what is inevitable," the Lord said. "Do you want to concede instead? In case you didn't notice, the sun is setting, and the Society does its best work at night. We live in darkness."

  "The U.S. Army is also quite skilled at fighting at night."

  "We'll see. Bye."

  The phone clicked.

  Walker went to the edge of the platform and yelled down at the officers, "How long until we can get back in there?"

  "We have to wait for the fire to burn out and the building to cool off," one officer replied timidly. "It could be a while."

  Walker gritted his teeth. He didn't understand how the Lord of the Gray Spear Society could be so unshakably confident. Walker would certainly achieve victory tonight, one way or another. It was just taking a long time.

  What am I missing? he wondered.

  * * *

  The last rays of sunlight had faded, and darkness had swallowed the Earth.

  It's time, Ethel thought.

  She, Tawni, and Boreas were wearing night vision goggles. They had brought the equipment with them from the Washington headquarters, so it was high quality gear. The goggles amplified starlight to make the night seem as bright as day.

  "Let's move," Ethel whispered.

  She crept up the side of the mountain, and Tawni and Boreas followed silently. Ethel didn't doubt Boreas' skills, but the much less experienced Tawni was another matter. The young woman was doing a fine job of demonstrating ninja technique though. Every movement was graceful, soft, and dead silent. Aaron had trained her well.

  The team slipped from tree to tree. Even at night, stealth was essential. It was possible the enemy also had night vision goggles.

  Ethel tried to imagine where the Fraternal Order of Honor and Pride was hiding. They were hunters, so they were probably using blinds. Even with her goggles, she would have a hard time spotting them.

  She realized she had to get them all without making any noise. Roy was a hostage. If the enemy realized they were under attack, they might kill him. Even the smallest mistake could cause his death.

  Ethel looked back at Boreas and Tawni. Both were exceptionally talented legionnaires, but the life of the man Ethel loved was on the line. She couldn't take any chances.

  "I'm going up alone," she whispered. "Hang back. I'll call if I need you."

  "But, ma'am," Tawni whispered, "we'll be safer if we stick together."

  "But Roy won't be. I'm much faster and quieter than you two. I'll see them before they see me. Those are my orders."

  "Yes, ma'am," Boreas replied in a grouchy tone.

  Ethel took off. Now that she was alone, she could use all of her supernatural speed. She blew up the mountain like a dark wind. God's rage burning in her belly gave her extra strength and swiftness. She leapt over rocks and dodged between trees. She held her machetes out like silver wings. She startled a raccoon and was gone an instant later. The only sound she made was the soft whistling of her passage.

  I'm coming for you, Roy, she thought.

  She spotted an oddly shaped bulge in the side of the hill. It was a blind made to look like a big boulder, but the angular frame gave it away.

  She approached, flickering from tree to tree. She was never in the open for more than a fraction of a second. Hopefully, the enemy wasn't paying a lot of attention.

  When Ethel felt she was close enough, she charged forward. She slashed open the blind with her machetes. Three men inside had startled expressions. They were wearing camouflage hunting outfits and were carrying .50 caliber rifles. She cut their throats before they had time to cry out.

  She moved on. Finding the next blind wasn't difficult. They had been designed to fool animals, not people. The shapes just weren't realistic. She cut open a blind that looked like a big pile of dirt. She attacked the men inside, and her machetes made streaks of blood fly through the air. As she looked at the faces of the bodies, she recognized Nathan Forrest. She wished his death had been slower and more painful.

  Ethel kept going. The blinds were all roughly at the same elevation and facing outwards. They circled the top of the hill like a crown. Now that she knew the scheme, she could run from one to the next directly. Like a silent Angel of Death, she left only corpses behind.

  She was breathing hard before long. I'm getting old, she thought. Years ago, she could run all day without getting tired at all. Her extreme metabolism would supply her body with fresh energy. Now she had to pause and catch her breath occasionally. It was embarrassing.

  She finished circling the hill. Panting, she took out her phone and called Tawni.

  "Ma'am?"

  "All clear," Ethel said. "You and Boreas can come up now. Meet me at the cabin."

  "Good job, ma'am!"

  "Thanks. I was highly motivated."

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Roy Haley stared at the bowl of dog food on the floor in front of him. He was starving. The repulsive chunks of meat-like material were starting to look good to him. If a dog could eat it, he could. At least it would fill his belly.

  He used his finger to scoop up a little sauce, and he tasted it. It wasn't too awful. The flavor reminded him of beef stew.

  A face appeared in one of the small, dirty windows of the cabin. It was an old woman with brown skin and pure white hair. Her pupils were hugely enlarged and full of death. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life. The woman vanished.

  Haley forced himself to keep a straight face.

  "Slade," he said calmly.

  Slade looked up from his comic book. He had read through an impressive pile of them over the last two days. A battery-powered camp lantern was providing light.

  "What?"

  "I heard a growling noise outside," Haley said. "Are there animals up here?"

  "Of course. Are you stupid? This is the wilderness."

  "What if it's a bear? It could be hungry."

  "I didn't hear anything," Slade said. "Shut up."

&nb
sp; Haley looked at the door and bit his lip.

  Slade rolled his eyes. He drew his pistol, went to the door, and opened it. The night was pitch-black. He took a step outside.

  He made a sound halfway between a scream of pain and a gasp of surprise. He staggered backwards into the cabin. His gun hand had been severed at the wrist, and blood was spurting.

  Ethel came in with him. One of her silver machetes was pressed against his throat hard enough to draw drops of blood. Her other machete was ready to gut him like a fish. She backed him up against a wall. His eyes were wide with terror.

  "I guess it wasn't a bear," Haley said in a joyful tone. "It was just my girlfriend."

  Boreas and Tawni entered next. Everybody was dressed in Marine Corps uniforms and body armor. Seeing their familiar faces was almost as enjoyable as seeing Ethel. He had never been happier to meet old friends.

  Tawni was carrying her black sword. She immediately ran over and cut the chain around Haley's neck. The blade passed through the steel links as if they were nothing. She sliced the rope around his wrists more carefully. She made sure the darkness didn't touch his skin.

  "Are you OK, dear?" Ethel said while keeping both her eyes on Slade.

  "Fine," Haley said. "Just very, very hungry." He rubbed his sore wrists. "Is Atalanta out there? They shot at a woman with her description."

  "She's dead."

  "Oh."

  Slade hadn't moved. He was shivering.

  "Who is this man?" Ethel said.

  "Slade," Haley replied, "leader of the Fraternal Order. What happened to the rest of them?"

  "All dead. We're the only ones left alive on this mountain."

  He grunted. "Good."

  "That's impossible," Slade said. "You couldn't have killed them all! I didn't even hear a gunshot."

  "That's right," Ethel said. "What should I do with you? I could torture you for information, but I suspect you don't know very much. You strike me as an ignorant fool. Maybe I'll torture you just for the satisfaction. It's been a stressful and annoying couple of days. Watching you scream in agony will help me feel better."

  "Wait," Haley said. "I have a better idea. Senator Bedford Forrest is involved."

  "We know. We were at his house this morning. He has a habit of sucking the guts out of people like a spider. He's a person of great interest to the Society."

  "Slade can reach him on that radio." He pointed to a military radio set in the corner of the cabin. "You can catch a much bigger fish tonight than this guppy."

  Ethel glanced at the radio. "Good idea." She stared at Slade. "You're going to make contact with Forrest. Tell him the President wants to negotiate for his life. He's willing to trade state secrets for his freedom, but he'll only do it face to face. The senator has to come up here. Understand?"

  Slade shook his head. "No way."

  She cracked a smile. "I was hoping you'd refuse."

  She raised both her machetes up high and sliced off his ears. He screamed and tried to clamp his hands over his ears, but he was missing one hand. He thrashed around while blood dripped down his neck.

  "There are lots more parts I can cut off," Ethel said, "and if you really aggravate me, I'll give you to Tawni. She can be downright nasty."

  Tawni raised her hands. Darkness swirled around them like miniature storm clouds. Slade whimpered and was suddenly quiet.

  "Call the senator," Ethel growled, "and be convincing. If you screw this up, your death will be so ugly, even God will turn away in revulsion. You know I'm telling the truth."

  Slade stumbled over to the radio. He pressed a few switches, and it emitted static.

  He picked up the microphone with his good hand and said, "Senator Forrest, are you there? Senator Forrest, I need to talk to you. Hello?"

  After a long moment, Forrest responded, "Slade, is that you?"

  "Yes, sir. The President wants to negotiate for his freedom. He's willing to trade state secrets, but he'll only deal with you directly."

  "That's hard to believe. Let me talk to him."

  Haley walked over and grabbed the microphone. Ethel put a machete against Slade's throat and forced him to back off.

  "He's telling the truth," Haley said in a low, broken voice. "I can't take it anymore."

  "You've only been up there for two days," Forrest said. "You're weak."

  "Maybe."

  "What kind of secrets are you offering?"

  "The kind that are worth a lot of money and power to you," Haley said. "The President hears all kinds of things. Just tell these assholes to let me go."

  "Sure, but tell me the secrets first."

  "No. I want you to come here and swear to my face you'll hold up your end of the deal. I'm not doing this over the radio."

  Forrest paused. "OK, but I'm in the middle of dinner. You'll have to wait an hour or two. I like to savor my meals."

  Haley didn't want to know what the senator was eating. "As long as you get here tonight."

  "I will. Put Slade back on."

  Ethel released Slade, and he took the microphone. "Sir?"

  "I'm bringing my own security with me," Forrest said. "There will be a lot of vehicles. Make sure your guys don't get trigger happy."

  "I'll tell everybody. We're in Old Bill's cabin."

  "I already know that. Out."

  Slade turned off the microphone.

  "Well done," Ethel said. "That performance earned you a clean death. Darling, would you do the honors?"

  Haley raised his eyebrows. "You want me to execute him?"

  "It seems appropriate."

  He had never killed anybody in his life. The idea was repulsive but exciting at the same time. He realized this was how things were done in the Gray Spear Society, and as a member, he was obligated to do his part. He certainly didn't have a strong argument to the contrary. He was in a room full of people who slaughtered foes as easily as they changed clothes.

  Haley looked around for a weapon. Spare guns were lying on shelves, and rifles were standing against walls. He had plenty of choices, but none seemed fitting. He wanted his first kill to be spectacular.

  He noticed Ethel had a fragmentation grenade hanging from her utility belt.

  "Let's take him outside," he said.

  She nodded. "As you wish, dear."

  The whole group went outside and took the camp lantern with them. The night was dark and cold. Haley looked up and saw a sky full of beautiful stars. After the last two days, he was much more appreciative of beauty.

  When they were a good distance from the cabin, Haley said, "Boreas, paralyze him, please."

  The whites of Boreas' eyes turned blue, and Slade collapsed to the dirt. He remained on the ground, shivering uncontrollably.

  "Ethel," Haley said, "the grenade."

  Ethel handed him the grenade with a little smirk on her face. He stuffed the grenade down Slade's pants and pulled the pin at the same time.

  Everybody sprinted back to the cabin. They got inside and closed the door just as the grenade exploded. Haley heard shrapnel pelt the wooden walls.

  He exhaled. "That went off a little faster than I expected."

  "I was wondering why you were being so daring," Ethel said.

  His stomach growled. He turned to the food on the shelves in the cabin. There were plenty of dried and canned goods to choose from. He could wash the meal down with water, bottles of juice, or warm beer. One can of beer won't hurt, he thought.

  He began to make himself a feast.

  Ethel took out her phone, pushed the speaker button, and dialed a number.

  "Hello? I hope this is good news." Haley recognized Aaron's voice on the call.

  "Yes, sir," Ethel said. "We rescued the President."

  Sir? Haley thought. Was she demoted?

  "That's great news!" Aaron said. "Congratulations! Where are you?"

  "In a cabin on a mountain in the middle of the wilderness."

  "That's unfortunate. I was hoping he could take command of the Army and end t
his conflict, but he probably can't do that until he gets back to the White House. By then it won't matter. I just talked to Marina. The aperture will open in less than an hour."

  "We're a very long way from the White House," Ethel said. "It will take an hour just to get to a place where a helicopter can pick us up. Senator Bedford Forrest is coming up to this cabin. My team is going to grab him."

  "Do that. After we're done with the aperture, the next task is wiping out the entire Pythagorean conspiracy, for good this time. I'll be in touch. Bye."

  She put away her phone.

  "You called him 'sir,'" Haley said.

  Ethel nodded. "He's the Lord of the Gray Spear Society now. I work for him."

  "How did that happen?"

  "Divine appointment. While you're eating, I'll catch you up on current events. A lot happened while you were out."

  * * *

  Erika walked up to General Walker. She had a concerned expression on her light brown face. She was curling her long hair around her finger.

  "What's wrong?" Walker said.

  "I'm thinking we should have the President killed. You were right all along. It's dangerous to leave him alive."

  "Sounds like you're losing confidence in this operation."

  Erika shrugged. "I'm just managing risks. I planned to use my pheromones to control him, but I may not get them back. Let's snip off that loose end now."

  "Gladly." Walker jogged down the stairs to the lower part of the command bunker. He went over to the communications officer. "Put me through to Slade."

  "Yes, sir," the officer replied.

  He pressed buttons and turned knobs on his control panels. Then he handed a headset to Walker who slipped it over his head.

  "Hello?" he said. "Slade? This is the general."

  He heard static at first. They were using a low frequency radio system for communication with the Fraternal Order of Honor and Pride. The unusual technology made triangulation and jamming difficult.

  After a moment, a woman answered, "Which general?" She sounded African-American.

  "Who is this?" Walker furrowed his brow.

  "Are you General Walker, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, perchance?"

  Walker had a sick feeling. He didn't respond.

  "I'll take your silence as an affirmative," the woman said. "By the way, the black and gray bomber you shot down was mine. I'm still rather pissed about that."