Temple of the Gods - Andy McDermott [151]
Warden’s expression was slowly turning cold. ‘And what would that be, Dr Wilde?’
‘Power. Over everybody. For ever. If you find the meteorite, you’ll have a genetic Rosetta Stone that will let you create a virus to modify human DNA, to give you control over an obedient and pliant population. Am I getting warm?’
A lengthy silence. First to speak was al-Faisal. ‘Glas should have been eliminated the moment he opposed the plan,’ he growled.
‘I’ll take that as a big yes,’ said Nina. ‘So, y’know, I really don’t think I want to be a part of this. I have an old-fashioned notion that people have the right to decide how they’re going to live their own lives – and by people I mean everybody, not some self-appointed elite. Crazy, I know.’
The masks of civility were rapidly falling away from the others at the table. ‘You’ll do what you’re damn well told,’ snarled William Bull.
‘You think “the people” have ever controlled their own lives?’ his brother went on. ‘That’s fairytale liberal claptrap! There have always been the rulers, and the ruled. That’s the way it is.’
‘We just want to put an end to all the wasteful over-consumption and in-fighting,’ added Brannigan.
‘An end to conflict,’ said Warden. ‘That wasn’t a lie. We will bring order and peace to the world. Finally.’
‘Peace on your terms,’ Nina sneered.
‘Peace is peace.’
‘Does that include resting in peace? How many people will be killed by your virus?’
‘No more than three per cent of the global populace, we estimate,’ said Frederick Bull, as calmly as if discussing how many people owned a particular brand of phone. ‘But population control is part of our long-term plans anyway.’
She regarded him in disgust. ‘So the price of your peace is over two hundred million dead – and genetic slavery for everyone else? Wow, what a bargain.’ She shoved back her chair and stood, picking up the case. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway, because you can’t achieve anything without my cooperation. And I’m sure as hell not going to give it.’
‘Your cooperation,’ said Warden coldly, ‘doesn’t have to be voluntary. If necessary, it will be forced.’
‘You mean like this?’ Nina reached into her jacket and whipped out a gun – Sophia’s Glock. She thrust it at Warden’s face, making him recoil in shock. Gasps of fright came from the others.
‘Stikes didn’t search her?’ said Meerkrieger in disbelief.
‘I said you should have fired him,’ Nina told Warden, who was shaking with fury. ‘Okay, I want you to tell your security goons to withdraw. I’m going to take the statues, and I’m going to take Larry Chase, and we’re going to leave—’
A slow handclap echoed through the room. Nina spun to see Stikes standing nonchalantly at one of the side doors, giving her mocking applause. She snapped the gun round at the former soldier. ‘Oh, put it down, Dr Wilde,’ he said, raising his open hands to show they were empty. ‘We both know you’re not going to shoot an unarmed man.’
‘I’m willing to bet you’re not unarmed,’ Nina said coldly, the Glock not wavering.
‘Actually, I am. But he’s not.’ Stikes nodded towards another door across the room.
‘Yeah, like I’m going to fall for that—’
‘Nina!’ The voice was English, shocked – and frightened despite an attempt at bravado.
Larry Chase.
She had no choice but to look. Larry was shoved into the room by a large man holding his collar with one hand – and pressing a gun into his back with the other. ‘Larry! Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, but – what the hell’s going on?’ He stared at the people around the table in confusion. ‘That’s Caspar Van der Zee! What is this?’
‘It’s a meeting of the secret rulers of the world,’ said Stikes, with a tinge of derision. ‘Now, Dr Wilde, put down the gun. I know we can’t shoot you, but –’ his lips curled sadistically – ‘I will have Daddy Chase over there shot, in such a way that it takes him several excruciating hours to die. You’ve got ten seconds.’
‘If you shoot him, I’ll kill you!’ Nina warned.
‘You wouldn’t have come here at all if you were willing to let him die. Three, two