by Marc James
“In what way have I gone against you Bobby?”
“Come on David, don’t play the idiot. The ship you were on with Hughes, there is no way you authorised the ship to retrieve the submarine.”
“No I didn’t. “ David admitted.
“Why did you say you had?”
“I did it for Abaddon.”
“I knew it, so he is working against us?”
“No of course not. He asked me to accompany the Russian defector, he just wanted me to keep an eye on him. He wanted us to go and retrieve the submarine, when we escaped and I told him what happened, he was worried that Kennedy would blame the whole thing on him, he asked me to take the heat.”
“Why did you say yes?” Bobby asked baffled.
“What difference does it make to me? This is his life, I don’t want to be here.”
“Well how did Jacob find out about the sinking of the ship?”
“I have absolutely no idea.”
“David how can I believe that? It could only have come from someone on your ship.”
“Is that true Bobby?”
“Well how else could he have found out?”
“Maybe he has a contact in the Soviet Union, or maybe he has a contact at NASA. That is what we thought before.”
Bobby considered this for a moment, that would make more sense. Someone with access to Apollo 8, that also had access to the Russian. Hughes had never had access to the Apollo program and David had certainly never had access. “David why were you at NASA?”
David smiled, he knew he had won Bobby round. “Abaddon asked me to go.”
“Why though?”
“Well it was only partly down to Apollo 8. He wanted to send you, but it was the day of the car bomb, he thought that you would be taking time off. So I said I would go in your place.”
“David what were you doing there?” Bobby snapped.
David was still coming up with a story in his head, he paused for a moment. “Abaddon told me that the Russian defector had told him how advanced the Soviet Union’s space program is. He needed one of us to go because he knows Kennedy values our opinion more than anyone else’s. He told me that the Apollo program is a mess. Howard took over at the end of last year, and as it transpires Apollo 8 was nowhere near the Moon.”
“What do you mean it was nowhere near the Moon?” Bobby asked in confusion.
“At the moment the Apollo program is nowhere near ready to get near the Moon. The footage was a fake.”
“Does Kennedy know?” Bobby asked.
“No, neither did Abaddon. It was all Wernher Von Braun, he wanted to make it look as though he was doing a good job. Well that’s what we think anyway. He didn’t know how far along the Soviet’s were and he must have thought that he would have more time. But the Russian completely blew that out of the water.”
“Did he know you were going after the submarine?” Bobby asked, suddenly feeling very stupid for not having realized it was Von Braun.
“He was in that meeting. He would have been able to tell Jacob. Think about it Bobby, why would I betray you? Why would Abaddon betray Kennedy? Even if he did want to do it to become President, why wouldn’t he just kill him? And Howard Hughes lost a ship, an airplane, and almost his life. Do you really think that the three of us would conspire against you? What possible motive would I have Bobby? We are like family.”
Bobby took a sip of his whisky and stared hard at David. It all made sense, Wernher had been adamant that it wasn’t anyone inside NASA, he had even said Apollo 8 had orbited the Moon on multiple occasions. “So what does Kennedy have you doing?”
“You won’t believe it if I tell you. I’m not even allowed to tell you.”
“Come on David?”
“Well as you know, Neil Armstrong is supposed to walk on the Moon in around four months. But we can’t get near it. Have a guess?”
Bobby was stunned. “You’re kidding, so the Moon landing was fake?”
David nodded. “Howard Hughes and Stanley Kubrick are going to direct it. You can’t tell anyone Bobby. The only people that know are Clint Hill, Howard Hughes, Abaddon, Kennedy and Von Braun.”
It all suddenly became clear in Bobby’s mind. “That’s it!”
“What’s it?”
“Von Braun! The Nazi fuck! He is trying to incite a war between the Soviets and America, the two countries that destroyed Germany. He knows that if the Soviets and America went to war, Britain would surely join on the side of the US. The Nazis enemies would fall one by one. That must be it! And Cuba is just another way to incite this war!”
“Jesus you must be right! What can we do?”
“Only I can do this. I need to phone the President. David I’m sorry that I didn’t believe you.”
David smiled. “Its fine, I understand.”
“It’s not fine David, we’ve been best friends for nine years. You deserve better from me.”
David suddenly felt incredibly guilty. “Seriously Bobby, just forget it.”
Bobby smiled at his friend, he was so relieved that he had figured this out. He struggled to his feet and walked through to the kitchen. He lifted the receiver and called the President.”
“Mr President, it’s Bobby. I’ve figured it out.”
“What are you talking about Bobby?” Kennedy sounded exhausted.
“I know who the mole is!”
“Who?” Kennedy said, suddenly wide awake.
“Von Braun, it has to be.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Before I thought that Hughes, Abaddon and David were in it together. But the right answer is normally the simplest answer. David told me about the space program, Von Braun knew how far behind we were. He had access to Apollo 8, he could have planted the explosives. Hoover always said he was a Nazi, he has been trying to create a war between the Soviets and the US as revenge for World War 2. It all adds up. He knew they were going after the submarine, he could have told Jacob what happened. No one would suspect him because of the other people involved, but why would Hughes go out on a ship that he knew would sink, same goes for David. Why would Hughes sacrifice an Airplane, and Hughes never had access to the Apollo program until after Apollo 8.
If Abaddon wanted you gone, he would have you killed. He just has a difference of opinion in how we should react to the Soviets. It was Van Braun all along!” Bobby spoke so quickly that he didn’t have time for a breath, he took the opportunity now.
There was silence on the line for a moment. “That does make much more sense. He said there was no chance anyone at Nasa would sabotage the rocket, and we believed him, it was him who said it could only have been an act of sabotage, commited by the Soviet’s. Good God you’re right Bobby.”
“Can I send agents to apprehend him?”
“Yes, Bobby well done! I knew it couldn’t have been David or Abaddon.”
Chapter 78
Jacob Cohen looked up in the morning sky, the smoke from the explosions filled the air. The submarine had fired far too many rockets, buildings throughout Havana had been destroyed. Jacob was beginning to feel a little worried, the Cubans he had aligned himself with had certainly managed to build a following. Thousands of Cubans had taken to the streets, armed with whatever they could get their hands on.
He looked up to the sky as another rocket exploded, what the hell were they thinking? The whole population would rise up at this rate. He turned and went back inside the house, the Cubans were gone now. It was only Jacob, Faraday, Chase and Donald that remained. The doctor seemed to be frightened by the sound of any explosion, the sound of gunfire could be heard from the streets.
“What the hell are they doing!” Jacob shouted. “They will fucking topple the regime!”
Donald stood in silence, visibly frightened.
Jacob wandered around the room, unsure as to what to do with himself. He stormed back through the metal door and stood at the top of the stone steps, he heard the sound of another explosion. He watched dozens of Cu
bans running through the street armed with guns, they were all chanting “Libertad”. He recognised one of the men as Hector. He ran down the stairs and tried to catch up with Hector, the narrow streets made it almost impossible to do so because of how crowded they were.
“Hector!”
Hector did not hear Jacob, he continued running and chanting “Libertad.”
Jacob managed to grab Hector’s shoulder, he turned around aggressively, but became passive when he saw Jacob. “Libertad! Jacob libertad!”
Jacob managed to steer Hector into a small alleyway as the crowd continued running through the street.
“Hector what is going on?” Jacob asked, for once in his life he was frightened.
“Libertad!” Hector yelled with a smile.
“Is it working?” Jacob asked, already knowing the answer.
“Punto Cero has already been attacked.” Hector said jovially.
“You managed to attack his house? What about the army?”
“We were overrunning them, they had no choice but to join us. The people believe this is Christ’s work.”
“The army have joined the revolution?” Jacob asked stunned.
“Libertad Jacob! We did it!”
Jacob had no idea what to do, he had overthrown Fidel Castro accidentally. He looked at Hector’s smiling face and suddenly became very angry, he pulled the gun from his holster and shot Hector in the head. The blood sprayed onto the wall behind Hector and Jacob turned to walk back to the house, without giving Hector another thought.
He walked back up the stone steps and looked at the burning city of Havana all around hm. How the hell had such an insane plan worked. The sound of gunfire could be heard in almost every direction. As he entered the house he saw the doctor lying unconscious on the stone floor.
Chapter 79
Will watched as Jacob descended the stone steps to the street, he seemed to be chasing the Cubans. Will ducked as he heard another explosion, the air was thick with black smoke. He watched as Jacob ran further down the street and knew that this was his chance.
He ran quickly across to the house, the Cubans that had filled the house previously had headed out as soon as the explosions had begun. The revolution was well underway, he had been stunned when he had seen people in military uniform helping the people. He had heard rumours that Castro was dead.
Will ran up the stone steps as quickly as he could, he opened the metal door and was confronted by a terrified Donald Cameron.
“What are you doing here?” The doctor shouted.
Will didn’t have time for this, he strode towards the doctor and punched him in the face, the old man crumpled to the ground.
Will continued through the dimly lit house and back to the room with the desk, where he had first met Jacob. He could hear the sound of “it’s a small world” being played, it had to be the most irritating song he had ever heard. He walked towards the metal door, he could hear the music playing loudly and someone was shouting in the room.
He turned the bolt lock and opened the heavy metal door, the music was blaring and the room smelt horrific. Chase was sitting on a mattress, staring at him blankly, and Faraday was lying on the stone floor, he looked furious.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Faraday asked.
“I’m here to save you.” Will replied. “Come on, before he gets back.”
Faraday rose to his feet, but Chase just stayed on the mattress.
“Come on Chase.” Will shouted.
“I’m not going anywhere, this is my home.” Chase replied.
Will looked at Faraday in confusion. Faraday really hated having to speak to Will, but he knew there was little alternative.
“They’ve done something to him, he thinks Jacob is his father.”
“There is a doctor out there, he was here to program one of you. He must have hypnotised Chase.”
“Go get him?” Faraday suggested.
“I just knocked him out, Jacob is just down the street, we need to get out of here.” Will walked over to the mattress and noticed the piles of human excrement around the room, there was even a pool of vomit. He grabbed Chase and pulled him up to his feet. Chase threw a punch that hit Will’s already burst eyebrow.
“Son of a bitch!” Will shouted in pain.
Faraday wanted to punch him next, but resisted the temptation.
“Get out of my room!” Chase yelled.
Will threw a punch back at Chase, he managed to stay on his feet, but he was dazed.
Faraday grabbed one of Chase’s arms and Will grabbed the other, between them they managed to pull him through the house and down the stone steps. Jacob was nowhere to be seen. Will led them away from the house, in the opposite direction that Jacob had gone.
Chapter 80
Bobby sat in his office opposite Wernher Von Braun, the news from Cuba had been greeted with joy from everyone within the FBI. Sarah Salmond had again been escorted to the offices of the Washington Post. She was now staying in her apartment, but there were always two agents with her.
“So Wernher you must be a little disappointed with the Cuban revolution?”
Wernher was shaken by his arrest. “I have told you already, I have nothing to do with any of this.”
“I don’t believe you Wernher. You lied about Apollo 8 orbiting the Moon.”
He sighed. “I did that for the good of the country, we needed a morale boost.”
“You really think that makes it okay? You lied to the President.”
“What am I supposed to do, just sit back and let the Soviets win the space race?”
“Pretending to orbit the Moon is not a victory.”
“Well I can’t get us to the Moon, it can’t be done!”
“What do you mean it can’t be done? The Soviets can do it?”
Wernher shook his head. “So we have been told.”
“Are you saying it’s not true?”
“We have no proof. How can it be possible that they can get through the radiation but we can’t?”
Bobby was baffled now. “How do you mean?”
“To get to the Moon we need to pass through the Van Allen Radiation Belt, it can’t be done.”
“I don’t understand, why can’t it be done?”
“The radiation would melt the rocket and the astronauts, it just isn’t possible.”
“So you don’t think the Soviets could do it either?”
“I highly doubt it.”
Bobby was silent now, he didn’t know how to proceed. Why would the Russian lie about the Soviet space program, there would be no reason to. He stared at Wernher, he didn’t trust the man.
“How did Apollo 8 explode?”
“I have already told you all I know on the subject.”
“Well I don’t believe you!” Bobby shouted. “You had access to it, you lied about what it was doing, and then you said the source of the problem couldn’t have been NASA. You knew about the retrieval of the Soviet submarine, and you had time to contact Jacob Cohen. You have a motive to try and cause a conflict between the US and the Soviet Union.”
Wernher looked disgusted by Bobby’s words. “What is my motive?”
“You were a Nazi, you are getting revenge for the war. Josef Mengele was involved, you probably knew him.”
Wernher’s face turned scarlet. “I have explained this to you already. I defected to the US, this is my home now.”
“You defected at the end of the war, you worked for the Nazis throughout it.”
“As a scientist.”
“So you admit it?” Bobby said with a smile.
“I designed the V2 rockets. I did nothing worse than any other scientist during the war.”
Bobby shook his head in disbelief. “You designed weapons for the Nazis, it doesn’t get much worse than that. Who built the rockets Wernher?”
Wernher looked as though he was on the verge of tears.
“Who built them?” Bobby shouted.
“Prisoners of war.” He
replied sheepishly.
“The Nazis prisoners built your rockets. How were they treated?” Bobby asked sarcastically.
“What could I do? If I stood up to them then I would have been killed!”
“So you watched as thousands of prisoners worked in labour camps building your rockets. How many of them died?”
Wernher did not respond.
“Did you know Hitler?” Bobby shouted.
Wernher nodded, the tears were now streaming down the man’s face. “I had to demonstrate the capabilities of the V2 rockets.”
“You disgust me Wernher.”
“What could I do, it was my job. I never killed anyone.”
“You designed weapons, of course you did. They were produced by slaves! What did Hitler say to you?”
“He made me a Professor.” Wernher said, almost in a whisper.
“So why defect?”
“I was arrested by the Gestapo. They believed that I was trying to sabotage the production of the V2’s, and that I was a defeatist. I was let go, but when the Russians were closing in my team were forced to surrender, we knew the horrors of the war crimes committed by the Russians, so we defected to the US.”
Bobby shook his head in contempt. “So you weren’t escaping the Nazis, you were escaping the Soviet’s. Did the CIA just erase your past?”
Wernher nodded.
“And you expect me to think that you are working in the best interests of this country. The Nazis made you a professor and gave you a high ranking job. It’s not as though you suffered under them, did you know Mengele?”
“Yes.”
“How did you meet?”
“We were required to pick the prisoners that we wanted. I had to pick the people that would make the best workers, he chose who he wanted to experiment on.”
“So you are a Nazi war criminal.” Bobby stated. “You do realize that you will never see the light of day ever again.”
Wernher shook his head. “You are wrong, I am too important to the space program.”
“Kennedy doesn’t trust you, he gave me permission to arrest you. We will be prosecuting you for war crimes and treason.”
“Treason?” Wernher replied stunned.
