Home Invasion - J. A. Johnstone [105]
“I am not surprised. Few know of it except the people who work there, and their masters at the very highest levels of your government. It’s a scientific research facility located in the mountains west of here. They’re developing nerve gas and other biological and chemical weapons.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “Nerve gas?” she repeated. “The U.S. doesn’t use things like that on other countries. We never have.”
Garaldo laughed and shook his head. “You misunderstand, Chief. The gas is not intended to be used in a war against another country. It will be used here, in this country, against the enemies of the man who is now your President.”
The horror of what Garaldo had just said, the sheer enormity of it, was almost too much for Alex’s brain to comprehend. She shook her head and said, “No. That’s not possible. I don’t agree with the man’s politics, but he wouldn’t… he’d never get away with such a … it’s just not possible!”
“Of course, it is,” Garaldo said calmly. “If a man believes strongly enough in something, he will do anything to accomplish it. I have never met your President, but I have looked into his eyes in news broadcasts and seen what is there. He is like the Spanish priests of the Inquisition. He believes so strongly that he is correct in his thinking, he will do anything in his power to impose his will on the country. Do you not understand? You foolish Americans have put a man in office who truly loathes his own country and blames it for everything that is wrong in the world. Therefore, he must reshape it into what he believes is right: A country that is weak and defenseless, a country where a relative few do all the work and support the many who will not, a country where success is punished and lack of effort is rewarded. What is wrong with you people? Did you not see for yourselves what sort of man he is while he was running for election?”
Garaldo shook his head as if he were honestly baffled. “Elections are for fools. If a man is strong enough, he should seize power for himself! But I will give your President credit for one thing. The sheep you call voters may have put him in office, but now that he’s there, he will stop at nothing to stay in power. That is the reason for Casa del Diablo’s existence. He plans to wipe out his enemies and everyone who disagrees with him. There will be no more elections in the United States, at least not for this President.” Garaldo smiled. “That is his intention, anyway. But today will change all that.”
Alex struggled to make sense of everything Garaldo had said. “What are you talking about?” she asked now in a voice hollow with strain.
“Today, the first shipment of nerve gas will leave Casa del Diablo and be brought through your town on its way to Washington. My men and I will stop it and take it for ourselves.” Garaldo’s smile widened into a wolfish grin. “Señor Reynosa y Montoya, the head of Rey del Sol, believes that I will bring the gas to him so he can use it to eliminate his rivals and make himself the most powerful man in all of Mexico.”
“But… that’s not what’s going to happen?”
Garaldo made a curt, slashing motion with his hand. “Reynosa is a criminal, a common thug addled by perversion! All he wants is to make himself the boss of all the criminals. He lacks the vision a man needs in order to truly take advantage of this opportunity.”
“And you have that vision,” Alex guessed.
“Indeed I do, Chief.” He closed his hand into a fist again. “The leadership of the other cartels will be wiped out by the gas, but so will Señor Reynosa and his inner circle. Then it will be I who seize power! I will be the one to truly unite Mexico for the first time in many years. Then it will be time to turn our attention northward, to the cruel giant who has dominated my country for far too long.”
“You’re talking about the United States.”
“Of course! With the weapons at my command, it will be my turn to impose my will on your country, and I will begin by demanding the return of the land stolen from us so long ago!”
“You mean Texas?” Alex asked.
“Texas, California,