Chaos

by Iris Johansen

  “What did he want from you?” She snapped her fingers. “Drone lab. He wanted a drone?”

  “Not just one drone. He wanted an entire fleet. Karim was a graduate engineering student and he’d been searching for an answer to his problem since he was a boy. He was from Noura, a small country on the west coast of Africa. It was very poor, and the only source of wealth were wonderful forests rich in timber that the villagers could harvest to make their living. Karim loved his country, and the people, and all the traditions that made it his home.”

  “Past tense?” Her gaze was searching his face. “What happened?”

  “Marcus Reardon. A lumber baron who made deals with half the countries on the west coast for lumber rights to their forests. He decimated Noura’s forests in a little more than fifteen years and then moved on to devour the next country on his list. No replanting, no fire protection. He followed almost a scorched-earth policy in Noura after he pulled his crews out of the country. The villagers were left without any hope of making a living and preserving their way of life.” He threw another stone into the lake. “But they didn’t count on Karim. He’d studied, and he’d found a way to take it all back from Reardon. He heard about California and their terrible fires that wiped out acres and acres of forests.” He paused. “And somehow he heard about me and the drones I donated to the state to bring those forests back to life.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how because I’m careful to keep the donations anonymous. There are always factions who think that it’s just a tax write-off or publicity gimmick. Either way, I don’t like to deal with it. But Karim did his homework, and then sent those letters asking me for the drones.”

  She frowned, puzzled. “To do what exactly? I told you, I don’t have any idea what you did in those drone labs.”

  “A drone can bomb a hundred thousand seeds into the earth in an hour. We’re talking about billions of new trees in a year. And the spraying can help not only with the planting but fertilization and herbicides to keep them healthy.”

  She nodded slowly. “Not just a weapon to spy or destroy. I can see how it would interest you.”

  “It’s a chance to save a little of the planet we seem determined to destroy. Karim’s letter intrigued me. I flew to Noura to take a look for myself. I met him and spent a month with his family while I arranged for the shipment of the drones.” He threw another rock. “It was a good month. They were good people. I told Karim that after he got the reforestation started and his village was back on its feet, I wanted him to come and let me work out a position for him on my staff.”

  “Did he agree?”

  “No. I didn’t think he would. I saw what he had in that village that he wouldn’t have with me no matter how much I paid him. So I left Noura, but I tried to keep in touch in case something went wrong. I wasn’t really worried, because Karim was smart and had let me know when he was in trouble before. I moved on to working on a new idea in the commercial space program that I was finding a challenge.” He paused. “But I should have kept in touch. Karim was excited and full of triumph as he saw the reforestation taking place in Noura’s forests. He saw what a boon it was to his people and wanted to help other countries that had been gutted. But he didn’t want to involve me. He wanted to do it on his own.” He cleared his throat. “I think he wanted me to be proud of him.”

  “You were proud of him,” she said gently. “And everyone wants to be independent.” She paused. “What happened?”

  “Reardon. I’d made sure that Noura was safe from any pirating of resources again. But Karim started to contact other countries and show them what Noura was accomplishing. He talked to reporters and showed them how Reardon had almost destroyed the villagers who had lived there all their lives. He started pushing to have laws enacted to prevent it from happening again.” He picked up a rock and hurled it full force into the lake. “He made himself a pain in the ass to Reardon, and that wasn’t going to be allowed. There were a few warnings by Reardon’s underlings to pull back and stop, but Karim ignored them. He felt as if he was getting somewhere and saving—” He stopped. “And he didn’t let me know what was going on. I could have told him that—I knew all the weapons and how they could be used against him. No, that’s not true. I didn’t know that weapon, but I might have found out if I’d had the chance.”

  She wanted to reach out to him. She could feel his pain. “What weapon are you talking about?”

  “Don’t be in a rush,” he said bitterly. “We’re only a little past the middle. You wanted beginning, middle, and the end. We’ve reached the point where Reardon had found Karim someone not to be tolerated. He was getting in the way of his business and even causing useful political contacts to draw back a little because of the media stories that Karim was beginning to generate. He had to be stopped quickly and thoroughly and with no hint of blame to Reardon or his corporation.” He looked at Alisa. “Are you ready for the end of the story?”

  She didn’t answer.

  “That weapon Reardon found was Jorge Masenak. He hired him to stage raids on Noura and two other countries on the west coast that year. The attacks were savage, particularly in Noura. Villages burned, new forests destroyed, over two hundred deaths. Including Karim, his mother, and his sister, who were beheaded along with thirty-two other victims. Reardon’s orders must have been explicit to make sure Karim and his family were singled out. The carnage was massive in all the countries he raided. In one of the raids Reardon even lost a substantial amount of money and personnel to avoid being thought complicit.” His lips twisted. “The attacks were over within a matter of a few weeks, and Masenak was gone. It was like a lightning storm, a blitzkrieg. The few forces that the villages could muster were helpless because Masenak seemed particularly well supplied and funded during the raids. It aroused a certain amount of suspicion, which was dissipated when Reardon sent help and money to all the villages under siege. He came out of the fray looking pristine and even a little patriotic.”

  “Then how did you know he wasn’t?”

  “I didn’t. Like the rest of the world, I was focused on Masenak and all the blood he was spilling. I was in Silicon Valley when I heard about the attacks, and I boarded my jet and headed for Noura when I couldn’t get in touch with Karim. Masenak had chosen to invade Zarrit first so that it wouldn’t appear Noura was specially targeted. It was a country even smaller than Noura, but it was just eighty-seven miles south of Noura’s border. They tore through Zarrit and then crossed the border within less than twenty-four hours.” He said hoarsely, “Masenak was very fast, very efficient. By the time I cut through the U.N. and military red tape and reached Noura with a special forces team, it was all over. Noura was a wasteland and Masenak had moved on to the next country on Reardon’s list.”

  “You didn’t go after him?”

  He shook his head. “I sent the special forces team to see what they could do about locating him. I had other things to do in Noura. I wanted Karim and his family to have burials in accordance with their traditions before the media started pouring into the country.” He paused. “And I wanted to say goodbye myself.”

  “I think I would have gone after Masenak first.”

  “Perhaps. You’re very fierce.” He smiled crookedly. “Or maybe not. Think if it had been Margaret or Sasha. I have a problem with not honoring the people I love who have fallen by the wayside.” He paused. “Before I cut the heart out of the person who has struck them down.” Then he added, “But the delay only adds to the pleasure because I can savor it as it does happen. So maybe we aren’t all that different. If I’d gone after Masenak that day, I’d probably never have stopped until I found and butchered him. Which would have meant I might never have known about the Reardon connection. I would have been cheated. As it was, I had time to sit back and think about what had happened at Noura and notice a few discrepancies in logic and continuity. Masenak had displayed savagery in the past, but he was smart and picked ripe, prosperous areas to raid. This had been an all-out attack that yiel
ded very little commercial advantage to him and seemed to aim principally at shock and awe. Then there was the fact that weaponry and funding seemed more than ample. Was it possible Masenak had been paid to make the attacks? I decided to take another look and see who might have benefited from bringing Noura down.”

  “And you found this Reardon.”

  “Who seemed to fill the bill. I even arranged to have a few meetings with him to check him out. I had a hunch that I’d hit pay dirt. But when I set Vogel on him to check out any connection with Masenak, he came up with nothing. Reardon was on his way to becoming a very rich man, building corporation after corporation, setting up political contacts in half the countries in Central Africa. Other than deplorable policies on environmental issues and bribery, he appeared squeaky clean. No criminal interaction with any group of any sort, certainly no contact with a monster like Masenak.” He shrugged. “But I’m a cynical bastard who never believes anyone is entirely squeaky clean, so I sent Vogel to dig some more.”

  “It could have been a onetime transaction enacted by a third party.”

  “It could. But from what I’d learned about Reardon, I didn’t believe he’d trust his squeaky-clean image to a third party. He’d handle it himself. If I was right, that would mean there had to have been a meeting. I told Vogel to find out where and when.” He nodded. “That time he came up with pay dirt. He looked at everything we knew about Masenak and then cross-referenced it with Reardon info. Completely different individuals in every way but one: They were both gamblers addicted to horse racing, and they both had stables and horses of their own. Reardon’s horse farm is located outside Marrakech, which would have been convenient to the Atlas Mountains Masenak frequently raided. It would have been easy enough to arrange a meeting at one of the races in Cairo, where they’d blend in with the crowds. We checked video camera shots at several races but found only one meeting. But it was enough to set us on the right path.”

  “What path?”

  He shook his head and abruptly stood up. “Enough. I’ve assuaged your curiosity as much as I’m willing to do today. Some memories should stay memories.” He pulled her to her feet. “I’ve got to get back to Vogel about planning something that’s much more important to you.”

  It was, but what he’d told her was important, too. And the fact that he’d revealed those memories to her was even more valuable in her eyes. “You kept asking Baldwin about Jubaldar and Reardon’s quarters at the castle. What path?”

  The corners of his lips turned up. “You never give up, do you?”

  She shook her head. “And the race you mentioned. I want to know about that, too.”

  “Once we realized that they actually knew each other, Vogel dug very deep and found out a few surprising facts. He paid heavy bribes to all and sundry and traced their relationship back at least eight years. Two very addicted gamblers who were also highly competitive decided they would stage a private race of their own once a year with enormous stakes to make it worth their while. But of course, Reardon couldn’t be publicly associated with Masenak, so they arranged for the races to take place at Masenak’s castle in the Atlas Mountains.”

  “Enormous stakes,” she murmured as a chilling thought struck her. “Maybe Reardon wouldn’t have had to pay Masenak for attacking Noura and those other countries.”

  “The thought occurred to me.” He held up his hand as she opened her lips to speak again. “Later.” He grimaced. “Or figure it out for yourself.” He turned and was heading back toward the munitions shed.

  “I will.” She called after him, “And I’ll find Masenak for you. I keep my promises. I’ll throw in that scum Reardon, too.”

  He chuckled. “Two for one? My deepest gratitude. I must have impressed you.”

  “No, Karim is the one who impressed me.”

  His smile faded. “Me, too.” He disappeared into the munitions shed.

  * * *

  “Tired of being Korgan’s shadow?” Margaret asked teasingly when Alisa came into her tent fifteen minutes later. “Find out anything interesting today?”

  “Half and half.” For some reason at the moment she was reluctant to tell Margaret about Karim and the relationship forged between him and Korgan. Ridiculous. Margaret was her friend and ally. Yet it seemed almost like a breach of trust, because Korgan had lowered his defenses and shown her a very personal side of the man he was this morning. Trust. It was a word that had been used by both of them today…“Korgan is always interesting, but he did mention a few things I didn’t know about Masenak. I’ll tell you about them later.”

  “You’re right, he’s never dull,” Margaret said as she slipped a water bottle into her knapsack. “That could be a very dangerous thing for you. Being boring is a deadly sin as far as you’re concerned.” She snapped her fingers for Juno and headed for the door. “And it must be for me, too, or I wouldn’t have let him talk me into this hike.”

  “Hike?” Alisa repeated. “What did he talk you into?”

  “Precise measurements for the most direct way through the rain forest to Masenak’s encampment from here. Plus, clearing brush from any trees that might interfere with his precious drones’ passage.” She grimaced. “I suppose I should be complimented that he chose Juno and me to do the job instead of one of those high-tech engineering experts he’s had streaming into camp for the last few days. But I’d just as soon bow out of having Korgan looking over my shoulder. He’s going to be nitpicking as hell.”

  “But so will you. Maybe even more than him. Besides, you have Juno, and we won’t have to worry about one of those ‘experts’ blundering into a sentry and setting off alarms.”

  Margaret nodded. “That’s what I told Korgan when he said he wanted to send someone with me to watch my back. I was surprised when he dropped it and didn’t insist. He’s polite about Juno these days and recognizes her as a valuable asset, but he still doesn’t grasp the concept.”

  “He’s stubborn. He’d have to see for himself.” She shrugged. “And he probably realized that I’d go along and watch out for you anyway. Give me a couple of minutes to get my backpack.” She was frowning as she strode out of the tent. “Why didn’t you mention what you were going to do? I might have missed you.”

  “Because I don’t need you. And I got the distinct impression that Korgan wouldn’t want you to go. I don’t know why. But he’s doing a damn good job of putting this operation together and I don’t want to do anything to upset the momentum.”

  Alisa had an idea why he didn’t want her to go with Margaret: It probably had something to do with his vision of her as some kind of victim of abuse. When the hell would he get over that bullshit? “It wouldn’t upset anything to have me in that jungle watching your back and taking the notes,” she said impatiently. “You’re indulging him as much as everyone else does around here.”

  “Because he puts things together and makes them work,” Margaret said quietly. “That’s a gift beyond price. You know that as well as I do. He’s the one who’s going to give Sasha back to you. And I think it’s going to be soon.” Her gaze wandered over the busy encampment. “Feel the electricity? I can.” She smiled. “Even Juno can. She’s getting restless. If you’re coming, hurry up. I want to give Korgan those figures he needs.”

  “I’m definitely coming.” Alisa’s gaze had followed Margaret’s, and hope suddenly surged through her as she felt that same electricity. “I think you’re right,” she murmured. “It’s going to be very soon.”

  * * *

  Masenak’s Camp

  Prisoner Tent

  Three more posts to go.

  Sasha moved down to the next prisoner in the row. Danella Cozarl. Seventeen. She was one of the lucky ones who had been spared being raped or beaten as yet, but she had watched it happen to her friends and was still terrified. Her expression was panicky as she watched Sasha dip the washcloth into the basin. “What are you doing? The guards will be angry.”

  “No, they won’t.” She was gently wiping Danella�
��s face with the wet cloth. “I spoke to Masenak yesterday about giving you girls a chance to get clean. I’ve been doing this all day, and so far, the guards haven’t stopped me.” She dipped the cloth again and handed it to her. “But you’d probably rather do it yourself. I’ll just watch and keep an eye out to make sure there’s no interference from the guards.”

  Danella slowly took the wet cloth.

  And Sasha moved a little nearer the post, her gaze on the lower guardroom door through which the guards had disappeared thirty minutes ago. Natasia had done her job and distracted them twice already today when they’d unexpectedly strolled into the tent, but it would be better if she didn’t draw too much attention to herself. All Sasha needed was another moment to rub the chemical solvent on the chain linked to the post as she’d done with all the other prisoners today…

  “I need a word with you, Sasha.” Masenak had thrown open the side door and was striding down the aisle toward her. “Or perhaps several words.”

  He was angry. His eyes were blazing and his lips tight. Why? Had one of the guards seen her coating those links? Her heart was beating hard as she got to her knees. “What’s wrong? You said this place was stinking. It’s not these girls’ fault. I’m just trying to—

  “I don’t give a damn about what you’re doing with those stupid girls.” He was towering above her. “I want to know about Chaos.” He added through set teeth, “I want to know everything, and you’re going to tell me.”

  “I told you that I—”

  She broke off as his fingers tangled in her hair and he jerked her head back to look into her eyes. “Tell me. This isn’t a game for me any longer. Not since Davidow took Chaos out of the pasture to the track this morning and made him run. He said his time was incredible. He’s a bloody miracle horse. But then you probably know how fast he is. None of my horses can touch him. Davidow was comparing him to Secretariat.”