Madness

by Bill Wetterman

  “That’s a normal thing to argue about.”

  “But all I remember was him saying, ‘You’re too bright to waste your time with a boy like that.’” Peacock coughed and her throat tightened. “Kolb said I told her that I’d screamed at my father, telling him to mind his own business. Then I flung off my seatbelt and demanded he pull over and let me out. He turned to make me put it on and the accident occurred.”

  Pendleton sighed deeply. “I can only image how heavy a blow that revelation was to you.”

  “I know now what Kolb said is what really happened. I remember everything clearly.”

  “Lovey, you didn’t cause the accident. Circumstances came together in a bad way.”

  “If I hadn’t been arguing with Dad, he might have avoided the crash. I buried the memories, so I wouldn’t have to face myself—the arrogant witch that I am—the real Donna O’Conner.”

  She waited for Arthur to push her away. Instead, he held her lovingly in his arms and gently rubbed her back. “What do I do? I’ve been running from the monster in my mind, and it’s caught up with me.”

  “We all have our monsters, and you can’t go back and change what’s happened.” He sat her up straight and put a hand on each of her shoulders. “Here’s what I know about you. You’re everything you’ve said you are, and probably worse in some areas.”

  Here it comes, she thought. Surely, he’ll divorce me.

  “But I’ve seen another side of you. I know you as my wife, and I know you love me. I also know you love George. Even insane, you tried to stop the missile launches to save peoples’ lives. Be less harsh on yourself.”

  “I do love you. I love you the best I know how. I’m afraid. The way my brain’s been wired when I’m under an attack, even imagined, I go into a rage and either become sexually uncontrollable or so violent I can kill anything and anyone around me.”

  “You didn’t kill Polaris, or Magnus, or even Ursa. You didn’t kill Kolb for that matter until she forced you to.”

  “How do you manage to be so forgiving where I’m concerned?”

  Pendleton puckered his lips, scrunching them up as he thought. Peacock almost laughed. He looked so silly. His face softened. “I believe God, not Hercules, brought you to me. I have what you lack. I like myself—and you. I don’t doubt what the future holds, and I don’t regret the past. You have what I lack. You read my moods and know when I’m mad and frustrated. You’re charming to my friends and more cunning than I.” He patted her hand. “You stole my plans and I never suspected.”

  “See, I’m despicable.”

  “You also saved my life. I married the best, and I’m never going back on my vow.”

  “But what if I fail? What if on one of these missions under the tension of the moment, I give in to my lust?”

  “On the beach in Athens you told me what you were. You stepped up and admitted it. Let me ask you a question.”

  “All right.”

  “Would you rather I divorce you and have you as a mistress and mother of my children?”

  Not being married to Arthur was a thought she couldn’t entertain. “I love you. I chose you over Hercules. My only regret is marrying you while knowingly being an agent. Maybe someday we could get married again.”

  “The Archbishop of Canterbury is coming to see us in a few weeks. We’ll confirm our vows when he comes.”

  “How do I forgive myself?”

  “Well, you’ve never bought in to my beliefs about God. If you had, you wouldn’t be struggling with that question.”

  Peacock smoldered for a second. Her father drummed the Bible at her until the day he died. She’d fought to keep the Scriptures out, preferring not to be held accountable for her actions by anyone, particularly a God who was always right.

  But that’s my problem. Right now, I need forgiveness from a God that’s always right.

  Her husband ordered the missile attacks. He murdered his partner, Throgmorton. Arthur Pendleton wasn’t a saint.

  “If you can explain to me why you do the things you do and get away with them, I’ll consider your God. I can’t go on the way I am. The guilt I’ve avoided for years is eating away at me.”

  “Tonight, Lovey, after the broadcast, I’ll explain what I believe.”

  Why not now, Peacock thought, she would have him all to herself for another hour or two just to talk about God. She remembered their walks and talks together. He explained financial matters and how to amass wealth, but he also talked to her about poetry, music, and art. She could listen to him for hours.

  George hiccupped and let out a frightening wail. Maybe her husband was psychic. Her child came before everything else.

  “I’ll take care of him,” Peacock said, and lovingly kissed her husband. “And yes, I’ll look forward to talking about God tonight.”

  Chapter 38

  General Jafarzadeh edged his way along the roofline of the servants’ residence near the estate of the former Grandayatollah Khamenei. Al-Sistani selected this place for the meeting with his followers. The famous Malekabad Gardens occupied the site. Captured at his command center when the Russians entered Teheran, fortune smiled on Jafarzadeh when a U.S. missile struck the center killing everyone but him. His finding al-Sistani had been a miracle. He managed to escape to the mountains and stumbled into al-Sistani’s camp, a blessing and a sign from Allah.

  From the rooftop, he could see the surrounding area quite well. The garden smells made the air fresh and a feeling of wellbeing filled him, though wellbeing for Muslims these days was a myth.

  How would the enemy attack? al-Sistani and his followers posed no outward threat to the Global Realm. There was no warrant for al-Sistani’s arrest, yet. However, he and his followers were armed. Discovery meant giving up his freedom and his arms to follow Global laws and become a citizen—something the Grandayatollah would not do.

  Did Pendleton know what al-Sistani planned to do? One could not overlook that possibility. Regional law enforcement wouldn’t be a worry. However, if Pendleton knew about the meeting, he would send his Global Special Operations forces. If combat broke out, regional law enforcement would come in support of Global forces. When that happened, al-Sistani would have no way of winning that battle.

  How would Pendleton’s thugs arrive? They would wait until the meeting started, come into the house from the Garden, and murder everyone inside. How would they dress? If on foot, they’d wear normal Muslim attire. If by attack helicopter, they’d dress in black Global military uniforms.

  General Jafarzadeh would gather over three hundred warriors and spread them out along Malek Abad Boulevard and the surrounding streets. Inside the courtyard on the roof of the house, he could position a dozen men with rifles. Foolishness? Knowing his enemy’s capabilities, precaution wasn’t foolishness.

  Jafarzadeh hurried back down and into the house. Khamenei’s servants had lived well. The huge kitchen would be busy during the meeting, as the attendees needed plenty of food. The large living room would be set up for the comfort of those attending. Three bedrooms slept six. Two bathrooms, plus a prayer room as large as a Western study, finished off the house.

  He opened a trap door in the washroom behind the kitchen. Five steps led down to a stone cellar with a reinforced stone ceiling eight-foot-by-eight-foot and five-foot high. The cooks would store the meat here prior to preparing it. The cellar could provide some shelter against mortar attacks, if they had warning. He made note.

  The general would not choose this place, but he had no say. He’d position his men and ask for Allah’s protection. Maybe al-Sistani’s son, Ammad, would convince his father to meet elsewhere.

  #

  Peacock disliked the spotlight. The world would now see her face as Laverna Smythe Pendleton battle scars and all. There was no fancy dress—black government attire and the gold symbol and gold stripe on her arm to show her position. Men and women gathered dressed in colors to match their station and rank.

  As she peered around before the broad
cast, she noticed twelve flags flying from the ceiling behind the stage at the Zurich Development Center Auditorium. The twelve regional governors were dressed in the color of their regional flag. Peacock shook her head as she realized that one look told person in the Global Realm what occupation track each person was on, what level within that track, and what regions of the world the person came from.

  People filed into the auditorium by invitation from all over the globe. Her husband greeted them and introduced each one to her by name without notes. No wonder he’d pulled off the impossible and brought the world to its knees. He controlled armies upon armies of soldiers in all areas of skill who believed in what he was doing.

  The streets of Zurich glowed through the large auditorium windows with hundreds of additional lights. People, hoping to get a glimpse of Pendleton, packed the avenues in all directions.

  When the last invited person had arrived and been greeted, her husband escorted her up on the stage to cheers. She smiled appropriately.

  “Before we air,” he said, “rumors that my wife has in some way been disloyal to our cause must stop now. I have such faith in her. I’m announcing today that she now reports to Hans Van Meer as head of my personal security team. If any of you object, I’m sure she’ll be willing to kick your arse one-on-one.”

  A roar of laughter burst out, and Peacock took a deep breath and took her seat. The cameraman waved and the twelve regional governors took their seats under the flag that represented their region of the world. The countdown commenced—three fingers, two, one, green light.

  The announcer introduced Pendleton, and Pendleton introduced the regional governors and then Peacock. “Seated next to me is the head of my personal security team, my wife, Laverna Smythe Pendleton, a former key agent for the United States.”

  A sense of pride filled her, not in his words, but from the loving tone in his voice. She waved, then turned her attention to the security chatter coming through on her earpiece from her team. She checked her cell for updates from Felicia, who monitored the crowds outside. Her protégée had removed two rowdy people out of a crowd of well over twenty thousand—better than at a political convention.

  As the broadcast was ended, a text appeared on Peacock’s cell from Milton Rogers. It read:

  The public reactions are overwhelmingly favorable, except for the former United States and Canada. There the reaction is 50/50.

  Peacock texted back. That’s because we Americans are spoiled brats.

  “Finally,” Pendleton said. “Our regional governors will release all prisoners convicted of crimes not a part of Global Realm law. Those already convicted of crimes that violate Global Realm law will have their sentences changed to the Global Realm penalty for said crimes.”

  He reached over and touched Peacock’s hand. She gripped his. “Terrorism, murder, treason, and certain types of sedition are life sentences and require removing citizens from society to protect society. Convicted prisoners will be housed in top level security prisons now being built in Magadan, Siberia, South West Wilderness, Tasmania, Kerguelen Island, Madagascar, Paengyong-do, an island off North Korea, and near Narsaq in southern Greenland.”

  He inhaled and seemed to revitalize. “Now for a special announcement, four years hence a competition will be held between the regions, an Olympics running the entire year—winter sports in February through March and summer sports in August through September. A year-long testing competition in every level of every career path with the winners worldwide assuming the top position in their specialty should draw us together as never before.”

  Cameras panned the faces in the auditorium. Pendleton stood, moved to the front of the stage with his microphone in his hand, and quieted the crowd. “In closing let me say, we have a long way to go. The sea level is rising at an alarming rate. Our effort in the Pacific to clean up the floating garbage dump is slow and unsettling, but we will survive. We will enjoy another Gold Age of Man. Thank you and good night.”

  Peacock pushed her chair back to head to her husband’s side only to find herself surrounded by regional governors dying to meet her. For fifteen minutes or so, they besieged and bombarded her with questions and compliments.

  “Your specialty is espionage. How exciting. How did you meet Arthur?”

  She decided the truth was less believable than a lie. “I met him in Athens. I was there to steal his secrets, and he charmed me into marrying him.”

  “Really? No come on and tell us the truth.”

  She played her role. In addition, she scanned the crowd, looking for her team members positioned around the room. Like happened to Robert Kennedy, after a speech in the height of the moment, a lone gunman could destroy a leader in a fraction of a second. Tonight, things went smoothly.

  After what seemed like an eternity, her husband whisked her away. A good thing, she thought. She needed to talk with him about her soul. Knowing he would listen amazed her.

  Chapter 39

  Doctor Reuben Levi put up Laverna Smythe Pendleton and Beatrice Kolb’s brain scans on his light-board and asked Doctor Pederson to analyze what he saw. The two compared notes and dictated their separate conclusions. They agreed that both brains held a unique anomaly, tangles in the hypothalamus similar to Alzheimer’s patients.

  “The quick leap to rage,” Levi dictated. “The strange increase in sexual drive and domination are found to a far lesser extent in Alzheimer’s patients, but are still there.”

  “Yet the other signs of Alzheimer’s are absent,” Doctor Pederson added. “The question is whether they’ll evidence if the tangles grow?”

  “I need to see Kolb’s other patients’ records. She experimented with several dozen before Peacock.” Levi reviewed the transcripts of his interviews with Beatrice and Laverna. “Who is Felicia Lange?”

  “Why?”

  “She’s mentioned by Kolb as having an existing implant, similar to the one Laverna wore prior to the time she was updated. I need to study her brain scans as well.”

  “I’ll see what I can do to gain cooperation,” Pederson said.

  “One call to Pendleton will get you all the information we need. His wife’s life may be at stake.”

  #

  “Yes, of course, call her regional governor. You can have anything you want.” Pendleton’s face seemed sad.

  Peacock rubbed his back to ease his distress. “People always want something,” she said. “Who was it this time?”

  “Oh, that assistant of Doctor Levi’s, he wanted some of the brain scans from Kolb’s experiments gone wrong.” His eyes moistened.

  “Arthur, what’s wrong?”

  “I’m tired. That’s all.”

  “Maybe tonight’s not a good time to talk.”

  “No, no, put on some coffee. I’m sleeping in tomorrow. Milton will call me if there’s an emergency.”

  She put on coffee unable to shake the feeling that he’d received bad news and hurried back to him. “I liked it better when no one knew me.”

  “We rule the world. We can’t hide.” Pendleton took a sip of coffee, and then another. “You asked me how I can do the things I do and get away with them. Is that correct?”

  “Word for word. You break the commandments I was taught came from God. Yet you claim to be a Christian.”

  “And so do us all—commit sins that is.” His countenance changed. His face brightened. Love filled his words. “Abraham was God’s chosen. Yet Abraham gave his wife to Pharaoh to save his own skin.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes.” Pendleton said. “All God’s chosen were flawed. I compare myself more to David, than Abraham. David had to fight for his life against the tribes surrounding him. He was a murderer, a womanizer, and yet he loved God. When he made mistakes, he paid for them. When Nathan the Prophet rebuked him, David asked forgiveness. And God rewarded David, and called David his Son.”

  “My dad quoted all that stuff.”

  “You’re not listening. By accepting Jesus, I became his brother and
God’s Son.” He took both her hands in his as he’d done that morning. “It’s all about relationship, Lovey. If you’re not a Christian, you have no relationship with God. Your father would have fought the Philistines for you, wouldn’t he?”

  She trembled and said a weak, “Yes.”

  “Because you were his daughter,” Pendleton said and grinned. “When you believe in the Son of God, you become God’s child. I pay every day for the things I’ve done. I have few around me I can truly trust. Claymore and you betrayed me. The difference is you are family. Claymore isn’t. I still love you. I never think about Claymore. That’s the way God works.”

  She had betrayed Arthur, and he had forgiven her. Was God like that? Did He continually love and forgive His children? If so, she wanted God, too. “I’m going to pay for my sins one way or the other. I might as well choose forgiveness.” She hugged her husband. “I’m still insane.”

  “Who is to say we all aren’t a little insane sometime or another?”

  She undressed her husband and crawled in bed next to him. She felt so loving she wanted to show how much. She kissed him only to hear his breathing change to deep, slow breaths. “Good night, Sweetheart. Thank you for explaining things to me.”

  All she heard in response was snoring.

  #

  “How do you think our boy will take to what we have to say?”

  Anne Pendleton nuzzled up to Milton Rogers and answered, “He’ll be fine once he realizes I’m human and not an antique.”

  Rogers propped himself up on his pillow and sipped a cup of tea. “Our Laverna’s got our boy in love with coffee you know. It’s not British.”

  “I love her anyway. She’s as tough as they come. Yet, I’m seeing her true colors over these last five months. In fact, I think we should ask her how to break our wedding engagement to Arthur.”