The Lure of the Pack

by Ian Redman

  “The one with dark blonde hair?” muttered Oratz.

  “Yes, he’s a reporter from the Financial Times in London.” Lana smiled deviously, relishing the secret she was about to reveal. “He’s very interesting to talk to Otto, especially when you are up close…” she giggled again as Oratz sighed, “…and personal!”

  Von Kurst growled, a low, barely audible growl, an evil leer sweeping across his face.

  “So what are you telling me, my dear Lana?”

  “Our man from the Financial Times is a Mister Oliver Drake, supposedly!” She shrugged her shoulders, “I’ve just finished talking to him. He’s very handsome!”

  “Cut the fucking bullshit Lana,” Wilhelm Oratz was tired of the woman’s childish goading. “Get to the point,” he muttered, trying to keep himself calm.

  “His eye colours are fascinating!” Lana Franke was enjoying every second of her hold on both Von Kurst and Oratz, “his right eye is blue, and his left eye is…amber!”

  Von Kurst began to breathe very deeply as his ex mistress continued her mischievous dialogue, “I asked Mister Drake if he would be interested in meeting you, but his response was, well, how can I say…very strange, for a reporter.”

  “Oh,” Von Kurst could barely contain his anger. Yes he thought, the lone one is here, insulting my intelligence, trying to bore into my thoughts. God, how he will pay!

  “Yes, he didn’t seem that keen. I said I’ll sort out a nice little…meeting, just between the two of you.”

  “Clever girl,” said Von Kurst as he turned to Oratz. “I think I know who we’ll have for our interview, don’t you Wilhelm?”

  “Oh yes! I take it you will be gracious enough to announce the interview, straight after your speech Otto?” The look of sheer bedevilment in both men’s eyes barely concealed a far deeper emotion…that of cold, stark, hatred.

  Even though he wasn’t hungry, Ash Piper took another bite from the sandwich he had collected from the buffet and continued his polite conversation with fellow guests. But his stomach was churning, his headache, worse. He glanced again at his watch. Anytime now he thought, and Von Kurst will be giving his presentation. As he chewed slowly on the ham, chicken and mayonnaise sandwich, Piper’s gaze swept the four plasma screens placed around the showroom. Two showed reports of further rioting across Europe, the third, another report regarding the Festival of Peace, showing a tranquil view of St Peter’s Square, and the fourth, a football report. He shook his head and smiled. It’s a strange world we live in he thought, with so many aspects to life, some good, some not so good, and some…Piper turned his gaze to Von Kurst who was talking to Lana Franke…downright evil. He glanced at the televisions again. Even though their volumes had been lowered to a barely audible tone, his hearing was attuned to everything being shown. In many ways, the sounds around him played havoc with his thinking. He needed a clear mind, a way into Von Kurst’s thoughts, but he realised the task ahead would be difficult, and now there was the added problem of Lana Franke. Piper cursed under his breath, his conversation with her being a complication he could have well done without, the scheming, manipulative expression on her face, still troubling him.

  “I told you I’d find him for you, didn’t I? It was so easy Otto. You should always trust a woman’s intuition you know. I knew there would be something, something which would reveal this lone wolf to me. His eyes were perfect, such a give away!”

  Von Kurst bowed his head in mock appreciation of his ex mistress’s comments. In reality he didn’t have time for Lana’s self gratification, his mind being in overdrive, steadfastly controlling his thoughts for his speech was due any minute. “You have done well Lana, very well indeed.”

  “Are you still going to use Helga, to psyche him out during your speech?”

  “Yes, the plan still goes ahead. Helga is powerful, she will enter the lone one’s mind, to make sure he doesn’t become a nuisance.”

  “So,” a look of uncertainty ran across Lana’s face, “who are you going to choose for the…interview of a lifetime?” She giggled again, her eyes holding Von Kurst’s.

  “Oh, I think you already know, you mischievous little vixen. Yes, Mister Drake can have the pleasure of meeting me, in person.” They laughed together as Von Kurst noticed Helga slowly walking past the milling guests, towards them.

  Lana licked her lips, “I have to admit Otto, I was becoming quite moist while I was talking to him, I couldn’t help it!”

  “Keep your voice down,” whispered Von Kurst.

  “All I could see was his nakedness, fully secured and helpless on my table. Oh God Otto, I can’t wait to examine him!” Lana Franke suddenly fell quiet as Von Kurst glowered at her.

  “What did I tell you, keep your fucking voice down and keep those sort of thoughts to yourself!”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking down at the floor like a chastised child.

  “Otto, it’s time!” Helga Zeist wantonly threw a glance full of hatred at the woman she despised, then gently kissed her lover on his lips. “I’ll announce the presentation and then I’ll find the lone one for you.”

  Von Kurst gripped Helga’s hand as he returned the kiss. He smiled, a knowledgeable smile, “Lana has already found him Helga. Trust me, she has the right man!”

  “What, how do you know?” Helga could not suppress the look of jealousy on her face as she turned to Lana. “How have you…?”

  “It doesn’t matter Helga, not now,” Von Kurst’s voice had become penetratingly low. He was ready, both for his speech and for action! His face drew close to Helga’s, “you see the tall man with dark blonde hair, at the rear of the showroom, in amongst the press contingent?” he whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “Enter his mind, concentrate hard, and give him one hell of a fucking big headache!”

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WILL KINDLY TAKE TO YOUR SEATS, MISTER VON KURST IS ABOUT TO BEGIN HIS PRESENTATION. PLEASE CAN I REMIND ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE YOUR MOBILE PHONES ARE SWITCHED OFF! THANK YOU!”

  That voice thought Piper, over the Tannoy, no, it couldn’t be! He turned around, facing the podium, or what he could see of it. The atmosphere in the showroom was electric as the guests and media representatives took their seats. Piper moved to his, his eyes quickly glancing at the woman holding the microphone. He didn’t recognise her, but she seemed close to Von Kurst, he could sense it. His gaze took him back to Lana Franke, sitting to the right of the podium, facing the audience. Her eyes were set on his, her look, slightly menacing. Was it his imagination, he thought, or was she smiling at him? No, get your thoughts together, this is it, get into Von Kurst’s mind and quickly. Piper gazed again at the attractive woman with the microphone. He turned to a journalist next to him, from the German newspaper ‘Bild’. “Sorry to trouble you,” he asked casually, “do you know who the woman on the podium is?”

  The journalist turned lazily to Piper, as if to say, you should know yourself, “yes, it’s Mister Von Kurst’s Secretary, Ms Helga Zeist.”

  “Thanks!” Shit he thought, Von Kurst’s secretary, she was the key person involved in organising the guest list. He shook his head; it was throbbing.

  The German reporter turned again to Piper, “are you alright?” he asked, looking slightly worried, “you don’t look so good!”

  “I’m fine, just a headache, thanks for asking.” This isn’t just a headache he thought, it’s not like the others. Again, his gaze drifted to Helga. Could it be? Her voice, it was the same…as in his dreams. No! Get a grip, concentrate! Get into Von Kurst’s head!

  As VKE’s Managing Director prepared for his speech, Piper noticed many of the guests switching off their mobile phones. He didn’t bother to switch off his own. He had no need, as he knew no one would ring him. His line was strictly for an emergency, and Piper had a very bad feeling that same emergency was going to take place…very soon.

  “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WILL YOU PLEASE WELCOME THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VON KURST ELECTRONI
CS… MISTER OTTO VON KURST!” Helga Zeist began the rapturous applause that greeted the man walking onto the podium, a large beaming grin sat on his face as he took the microphone from Helga’s hand. The applause continued, so too did Von Kurst’s grin.

  The smug, self-righteous bastard, thought Piper.

  “Thank you, thank you, you are all so very kind.” Von Kurst spoke slowly, professionally, his aura once again making its mark on everyone in the audience, including Piper. “Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my utmost thanks for your attendance here tonight. As I said earlier, it is a great pleasure to meet with you all and to re-acquaint myself with old friends, and of course…” the grin appeared again, “…to make new ones.” There was a slight echo of laughter. The audience once again held captive by Von Kurst’s charm and charisma. “Firstly, I must apologise for the level of security this evening. Unfortunately, as you are all too aware, we live in trying and very dangerous times. Sadly, the threat of terrorism is all around us and obviously, with the dreadful atrocities recently perpetrated by the European Muslim Freedom Fighters and the continued rioting in our city, I thought it best to have extra security in place. Your safety is of paramount importance to myself and all the Board members of VKE.”

  There was gentle applause from the audience as Piper sat staring at his enemy, his concentration deepening. He closed his eyes. Think, concentrate! Get into his mind. Just what the hell are you planning Von Kurst? I need to know!

  In CEATA’s Communications Room, the tension was increasing by the second, there being no further evidence of the extra four detonations everyone expected, and still no further proof as to what the leader of the New Totenkopf was really planning. “This could be it Colonel,” Jeanette Descard turned quickly towards Charles Mann, who returned her gaze.

  “It’s now or never,” he said, a look of forlorn concern sweeping across his face, “come on Red Haze, get inside the bastard’s head,” he muttered. Charles Mann turned to Maurice Hertschell who had joined the team just minutes earlier. “It’s a waiting game Maurice, and by my reckoning Red Haze has to psyche Von Kurst out within the next hour, then leave…rapidly.”

  There was no reply from CEATA’s Commander in Chief!

  On the VKE podium, Otto Von Kurst continued his speech, his audience held in a mesmerising wave of charisma and high intellect. “My friends, as you are all aware, microchip production has been in recession for some months now. But why is that? These marvellous, wafer thin advances of modern technology should not be held in recession! Far from it! But now of course, in today’s cutthroat world of hi-tec business, there is so much competition between microchip production companies! Ruthless competition, involving cost cutting and redundancies. This competition is not helping anyone…is it? So my friends, I now ask all of you, what can we make…of the future? Yes, what of the future for our brave new modern world? The world of the twenty first century requires new technology. A new technology to halt this recession! ”

  The Chairman and Managing Director of Von Kurst Electronics walked slowly, tentatively across the podium, a microphone gripped tightly in his right hand. In a strange way Von Kurst’s pompous oratory reminded Ash Piper of American politicians speaking to the masses, rallying their support before a general election. For Otto Von Kurst, his relaxed demeanour and positive body language seemed to have his audience transfixed, glued to his resonance his, some would observe, spiritual way of speaking. Piper closed his eyes again, his thoughts reaching out to the man on the podium. Come on, get into his head, he thought. Open up Von Kurst. Fucking well open up!

  “This new technology my dear friends, has now arrived…” there was a pause in Von Kurst’s speech. He looked around then down at the mass of journalists, all listening intently, many quickly scribbling notes.

  Piper suddenly opened his eyes. Shit he thought, God, my head!

  “WE KNOW YOU ARE HERE, LONE ONE!”

  Piper began to sweat! That voice, he thought, in my head, again…the woman’s voice. He closed his eyes once more as Von Kurst continued his speech, now and again casually glancing over to where Piper sat, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Piper pushed his thoughts further, concentrating solely on the man on the podium. Then, as his body tensed, he saw an image being projected into his own mind. A large, snarling wolf, standing on its hind legs next to a body, ripped to shreds. My God he thought, opening his eyes quickly.

  “NO LONE ONE, ENTRY IS FORBIDDEN!”

  The woman’s voice again! Piper felt like screaming, but he couldn’t. He was thirsty. He needed water, a drink, but he didn’t dare move, not now!

  The German journalist next to him turned and looked at Piper’s heavily bloodshot eyes. “Shit,” he whispered, “you look terrible!”

  “I’m okay…really!” But he wasn’t, and he knew it!

  “Imagine if you will, ladies and gentlemen,” Von Kurst continued, “a child sitting at home, on his or her computer, the child logs onto the information highway. The Internet opens up a vast world of knowledge for that child, a world that can only exist, through the microchip.” Von Kurst paused again, looking over at Piper, this time with a glint of menace in his eyes. “A teenager keys in a number on a mobile phone and speaks with a friend. Yet again, the conversation revolves through the world of microchip technology. Yes, my dear friends…” the powerful look on Von Kurst’s face was now of supreme confidence as he glanced across at the woman known to Ash Piper, as Helga Zeist. “…the microchip, as we all know, is the future, not just for communication, but for knowledge itself. So I now put a theory to you all! What if that same child and that same teenager, could link directly with overhead satellites, to speed up their own communication, to further develop the depths of their knowledge? Would it not be a brave new world of advanced microchip and satellite technology, that would bring about these incredible changes?” There was a stunned silence in the room, but that didn’t mean anything to Piper. He felt sick! Sick to his stomach!

  The woman’s intimidating voice in his head spoke again, “YOU CANNOT FIGHT US LONE ONE, AND YOU CANNOT FIGHT OTTO! YOU WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO JOIN US YOU FOOL, BUT YOU HAVE REFUSED!”

  Get out of my fucking head, thought Piper. God, that woman, the Zeist woman! Piper opened his eyes and attempted to focus on Otto Von Kurst’s secretary. It was difficult, too many people sat in front of him, blocking his view. Then, just for a few seconds, he caught a glimpse of her. She had her eyes closed, her face set in a grimace of intense concentration. My God, he thought, she is the one! She’s entering my mind! The voice in my head, it is definitely hers. Helga Zeist is another of my kind! No wonder my head is aching so badly, there are now two of them in this damned room.

  As Piper sat stupefied, Von Kurst continued his speech, “yes, ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to expand the barriers of technology, to give our children and our children’s children, the chance to reach out for their dreams and to achieve greater heights of knowledge. With this goal in mind, Von Kurst Electronics are proud to announce a brave new concept in communication technology, allowing swifter, more cost-effective communication and advancing the world our children live in. As you are all aware ladies and gentlemen, my good friend, the Sales Director of VKE, Wilhelm Oratz has just returned from St Petersburg. After many lengthy discussions, Wilhelm has now finalised plans for our new microchip research and production facility to be built just south of …the Venice of the North.” Another smile brought ripples of laughter from the speaker’s captivated audience. “On Monday…” Von Kurst continued, “Wilhelm begins a series of sales visits to our three facilities in Munich, Zurich and Rome. This will be to finalise a new direction for Von Kurst Electronics and then for Wilhelm…to have a pleasant holiday, no doubt!” There was further laughter and this time slight applause at Von Kurst’s attempt at humour. “My friends, I am an optimist, never a pessimist. Yes, we live in trying times, with violence and bloodshed seemingly all around us. But we must take heart! We must continuously look to the future a
nd we, at Von Kurst Electronics have looked to the future…”

  Piper’s face was grey, he felt violently sick, his head was thumping. No longer could he concentrate on entering Otto Von Kurst’s mind, the woman’s voice being constantly present in his head, goading him, baiting him. I’ve got to leave he thought; I’ve got to get out!

  “Commander, Colonel, you had better see this, Red Haze’s blood pressure is rising dramatically.” The CEATA medic looked desperately worried.

  “Let me see,” Jeanette Descard practically leapt over to the system where Piper’s vital signs were being monitored, with Commander Hertschell and Colonel Mann soon by her side. “My God,” she whispered, “what the hell is happening in there?”

  “…Ladies and Gentlemen, Von Kurst Electronics are proud to announce our brand new lead in microchip technology. For I now present to all of you, the VKE SATChip, the future of 21st Century communications!” Spontaneous applause erupted across the showroom as Von Kurst continued his speech, giving details of how VKE’s production facilities would soon begin manufacturing a brand new, ground breaking specification of microchip. It was a revolution in communication technology and Piper knew it!

  He sat back, the headache easing slightly. Helga Zeist had moved from her chair and now stood by an overhead projector linked to a Laptop, ready to assist Von Kurst and Wilhelm Oratz with the second part of their presentation. Piper breathed a huge sigh of relief. Helga Zeist’s voice in his head had been a warning. He didn’t dare push any further. Now, she was busy. Relax he thought, breathe deeply, let the presentation finish, then get out, fast! The mission…was a failure!

  Fuck it! It was nearly an hour later and Piper was beginning to seethe with anger. Not with Otto Von Kurst, or Helga Zeist, but with himself. How could he sink into a quagmire of failure? How could he face Commander Hertschell and Colonel Mann? That bastard Von Kurst is planning something, he thought and I’m just fucking sat here, listening to him and his self righteous Sales Director, gloating about the future. What fucking future? A future where possibly thousands more innocent people will die! Piper’s throat began to contract, his hands becoming fists. Careful, he thought; not here! The adulation continued, so too did Von Kurst’s speech, his grin seemingly ever wider. Piper’s eyebrows furrowed. The Followers he thought, they’re outside and ready to assist and I have the mobile phone! Just four simple keys to be pressed and support will be in, fully armed and ready to strike. Piper sighed, looking again at his enemies on the podium. They were bringing the presentation to a close. Again Piper’s throat contracted. He knew the sign! It was the wolf inside him, begging for action, telling him to prepare for confrontation. Piper remembered his military training with the Parachute Regiment and the SAS and his studies on strategy and tactics. Now more than ever, an age-old ‘rule of thumb’ persisted in his thoughts. ‘Sometimes, the best defence, is offence!’ So be it he thought, I’m having you, you bastard! I’m going to stop you in your fucking tracks Von Kurst, and I’m stopping you…TONIGHT!