Greywolf

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER FOUR

  Greywolf remained stone faced and steadfast, the veracity was he had been deeply affected by the verbal exchange with his father before leaving for Australia. After disposing of the body of George Hollis he watched Rose Cavendish on the security screen, his want for her grew but she remained in bed recovering. His thought train was re routed as a young man entered the cavern. "The boffins took control of an American drone over Iraq, then one over Washington, for just a few seconds, its been done, we have penetrated their network. You wish to strike in the near future?"

  Greywolf sat in silent solitude for a few seconds then turned to the young man. "We need the Russian nuclear arsenal, the only one we have no control over as yet."

  "The boffins say another few days at most."

  "The Americans knocked out one of our satellites, we can't afford to loose them like that."

  The young man shrugged his shoulders. "We pressed the boffins to hard, was a godsend in a way, the Americans have stopped looking thinking they took out what they were looking for."

  Greywolf stood and faced the young man. "Yesterday you reported the Karl Vincent group was in South West of Crete in the Mediterranean."

  "Yes."

  "Attacked the north of Iraq and South Western Syria with cruise missiles and a coalition of air power."

  "Well yes."

  "Take control of the group, turn the Karl Vincent around one hundred and eighty degrees, no longer than ten minutes, then relinquish control to the Americans."

  "Your father rejected that suggestion only a few days ago, could start world war three, the Russians will react negatively."

  "And open all their communication channels giving us."

  "Access to their software via our satellites, and we could have control of their nuclear arsenal in minutes, a gamble."

  "How many times have you heard my father distinguish risk from gambling."

  "A few."

  "My father has done this for too long, his edge has been dulled with wisdom and age. Do it and report back to me, I bear the responsibility."

  "Mmm, the boffins were in favour of this plan, was your father that stopped it."

  "He didn't stop it, he delayed it, the lunatics in the Middle East required attention, the carrier group is not scheduled for another strike until tomorrow, the exercise won't affect outcomes in the area. Our American arm is missing a satellite, we need reassure them we are still here and redirect their communication channels."

  "Agreed."

  "Do you know if the virus encryption has been perfected?"

  "I wondered if you'd mention that, the boffins are keen, they've tested the new one several times and has worked fine."

  "Who would the virus be linked to this time, the last target was a waste of time."

  "The suggestion is the Klu Klux Klan in Sothern Mississippi."

  "That's Bret McCrea's neck of the woods, who the hell came up with that, the pentagon won't buy it."

  "Intelligence indicates that's not the case."

  "I agree they'll use it in the media but beneath the shroud look elsewhere, they still view the area as backward, unable to achieve such a task." Greywolf shrugged his shoulders and folded his arms. "We need encrypt an adversary they may suspect."

  "Islamic State."

  "They're already dropping a bucket load of shit on them, waste of time. I thought about this, use the IMF."

  "The International Monetary Fund."

  "Their CEO."

  "They're still trying to prop up the stock market, would have incalculable consequences."

  "For whom."

  "Everyone."

  "Exactly, and that's always pretty safe."

  "The Americans will sanction him."

  "About time they pulled their weight, he's on my list anyway, can't kill everyone at once."

  "Can if you have a nuclear arsenal."

  Greywolf raised his finger with a smile. "Ah, and that's where we started. If the boffins have a problem send them to me, McCrea, Dirk Truman and Conrad Wayne will again have contact with us, subtle but I'm sure they'll pick it up."

  "The CIA has been watching them like a hawk."

  Greywolf chuckled. "They are the CIA."

  The young man nodded. "Good point, I'll get on to it." He made haste and left.

  Greywolf again sat and watched Rose, she was in the kitchen with Louise, regardless of advice to stay in bed and rest. He had problems concentrating, the weight of responsibility hung over his head and the tiff with his father still hounded him. He ran over his plan again in his mind and was interrupted by Henry Dowden, grey and hunched over he had been head of scientific research for Greywolf's father for decades. He shuffled along with a walking stick, wore a herringbone cap on his bald head and thick glasses with silver metal rims. During Greywolf's education he had spent many hours with the ancient scholar and respected him as much as his father. Dowden shuffled to his side and Greywolf stood in respect. "Boy, you have asked for a play of the utmost risk."

  "Henry, would you have done anything different way back when my father started all this."

  Dowden looked into Greywolf's face, he blinked profusely and began to stutter. "I, I, I can't remember." He hunted for breath and became agitated, Greywolf sat him down in his chair and remained standing, Dowden looked up at him. "Boy, your father spent much of his life stopping people having absolute power, he is a great believer in the separation of powers. If we do what you ask you will have complete control over the world's nuclear arsenal should you need it, that's absolute power?"

  Greywolf knelt and held Dowden's frail and wrinkled hands. "Henry, without it I can't as much as take control of an airborne drone and direct its wrath on those whom perpetrate evil. Today the US is number one in billionaires, number one in corporate profit, number one in CEO salaries, number one in child poverty and number one in income and wealth irregularity in the industrial world. Religion is for people afraid of going to hell, spirituality is for those who have already been there. How many times has my father been to hell and back, but still to some extent was a servant of the cause."

  Henry looked positively terrified. "Good lord, the second coming. Is there not another way this can be done?"

  "You don't see faith heelers working in hospitals for the same reason you don't see psychics winning the lottery. How many times did my father win division two and the final win escaped him."

  Henry's hands shook with fear and Greywolf steadied him. "I feel a similar fear to when we were banished from the island."

  "We are no longer banished, we are beneath their feet, hell hath no limits, give me the power my father fought for, and his father fought for."

  "And what of power when you pass, your father had you, heirs and family need persistence, or they may rise again."

  "I told you once when I saw her Id know, I've found her."

  "Who?"

  "Rose Cavendish."

  "Good god boy, she's the devils daughter, twice you're age."

  "Things are not always as they seem Henry, she ages at half the rate I do."

  Henry wore a slight smile and calmed. "Interesting analogy, numbers are for mathematical equations boy. Why Rose, she has the aura of the devil, when near her I lost all rationality."

  "And when near her I gained mine."

  Henry looked down and began to slowly nod. "Spirituality works in mysterious ways." He looked back up. "I have known you since you were a baby, we have had great times together, and I can muster no plausible reason to stop you." He began to stand and Greywolf steadied him, he took to his walking stick and shuffled away turning briefly with a smile before going out of sight.