The brink, p.22
The Brink, page 22
Their mistake. She had grown tired of being underestimated. There was nothing she would not do to ensure the safety of her son. She had to survive so that David could live, and she’d be damned if a group of fanatics was going to get in her way.
They gave her the weapon, and her instinct to protect her young—coupled with the training Bowcut had insisted on—was being put to deadly use.
She rapidly cut down the guards on Bowcut with precision. When no more Foundation soldiers remained, she rushed to her husband’s side.
“Tom, are you all right?” she said, clutching his face.
Cafferty struggled to gain his voice through his bruised neck. “Stop . . . Van Ness . . .” he growled.
Ellen whipped her head around. The old German raised his remaining hand, ready to slam down the execute button.
“You’ve lost, Cafferty,” Van Ness shouted. He swung his fist downward.
“No!” Tom screamed. Ellen tried to bring the laser up but knew she’d be too late.
Less than an inch from the button, however, Van Ness’ hand froze midair. His eyebrows furled, and he seemed to be concentrating hard to bring his hand down onto the button.
Nothing.
His arm wouldn’t move, and it shook, as if he was fighting an invisible force. A look of confusion spread across his face. For the first time, Cafferty witnessed a new emotion on Van Ness’ face.
Fear.
Van Ness’ eyes bulged. His backside jerked up a few inches out of the wheelchair. The sight paralyzed Ellen, and though her gun was up, she didn’t fire. She noticed as Tom scrambled to his feet and knew he was wondering the same thing she was:
What the hell is happening?
Van Ness’ body lifted into a standing position, seemingly on its own, as if his disabilities had suddenly vanished.
“What the . . . ?” Ellen muttered, watching the bizarre scene unfold in front of her. All eyes in the operations center were glued to the strange spectacle, except for Munoz’s, as he continued to deactivate more bombs.
Terrified, Van Ness rapidly looked in all directions, until focusing beyond the glass dome at the cavern. And then she understood.
“The creatures . . .” Cafferty said.
The entire nest of creatures had focused their telekinetic power to target Van Ness directly.
Seconds later, Van Ness’ frail, upright body slammed into the glass dome’s internal wall with tremendous force. He tried to push himself away from the glass with his right hand and his bloody stump, but collapsed against it, like he was being crushed by an ultrapowerful magnet. His screaming face pressed against the glass so forcefully that blood began to run out the corners of his eyes and his nostrils. His head was locked against the glass, unable to turn in any way, facing right at Tom. He glared at Cafferty as drops of blood streamed down his face and dribbled from his chin.
“Help . . . me,” Van Ness pleaded in anguish. “Hit the damned pedal by my chair. Launch the superweapon.”
Ellen looked over at Tom, who was watching indifferently, betraying no emotion on his face. But she knew her husband. No matter how much he hated Van Ness, how much he wanted the man dead (just as she did), Tom wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t someone who could easily kill someone or watch someone—even a person as evil as Van Ness—die without feeling the loss of life. Yet she also understood he didn’t want to show Van Ness he actually cared that he was witnessing the bastard’s final, pain-filled moments, because she felt the same way.
She took his hand.
He looked down at it, as if unsure of what he was seeing. Then he looked into her eyes.
“Tom . . . stop this,” she said softly.
He looked at her, incredulous.
“It’s over.”
“It’s not over, Ellen. All the lives lost because of this asshole . . .”
There was pain in his eyes as he struggled between all he had gone through and all he still wanted to do. She squeezed his hand.
“Van Ness started it. And I’m going to finish it.”
“There’s already so much blood here,” Ellen replied. “You don’t need to put any more on your hands.”
He turned back to look at Van Ness, and she saw his eyes go rapt by the sight. She watched, too.
It was gruesome. The glass remained impervious. Van Ness’ body and internal organs were not. His intestines were being pulled toward the edges of his skin, arteries and veins shifting inside his body as if a powerful vacuum wanted to suck everything out. As if the creatures wanted to tear every atom of Albert Van Ness apart.
He’d be dead in a matter of moments.
Van Ness’ screams grew in intensity. Blood trickled out of his ears, down his chest.
Ellen turned to her husband. Only she could break the former mayor’s gaze from what he most wanted in life—the death of this monster. He turned to look at her.
“Tom . . . stop this,” she pleaded.
“No!” He was shocked at her suggestion, and it pained her that maybe he was too far gone. “Ellen, no. He—”
“He’ll pay for his crimes, we’ll make sure of it,” she said quietly, cutting him off. “But Tom, not like this. This isn’t who I married. This isn’t David’s father.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes, all the love and hope she had ever felt trying to melt the ice she saw staring back at her. Somewhere in there—behind the bruises and pain and fear—was her husband.
She hoped.
“Show me . . . show him . . . you’re better than this.”
Cafferty’s mind thought back to when he almost lost Ellen because of his obsession with the Z train.
He was about to lose her again.
That’s not going to happen.
And as Van Ness was about to be torn apart, Cafferty slammed his foot down on the pedal to launch the superweapon.
In the cavern—now darkened from creatures attacking and taking out the globes—a shimmering cloud puffed out over the dome and spread in the stale air. Seconds later, the glint of a strobe arced into the center of the thousands of foil pieces, then activated.
Spears of light shot to every dark cave, crevice, and corner. Millions of refractions, lighting the place up to the point where Cafferty squinted and shielded his eyes from the intense glare.
Intense rays punched against the clusters of creatures. Faint shrieks emanated through the glass as they scattered and fled toward the nearest caves. It brought back memories of activating the IMAX in the Visitors’ Pavilion, only thousands of times more brilliant.
Released from the creatures’ telekinetic grip, Van Ness slid down the glass wall and lay prone on the ground. He struggled to push himself onto his back with his remaining hand, and the fire returned to his bloodied eyes.
Cafferty strode over to him. Not letting him die was fair enough, but he wasn’t going to be denied this next move. He hunched next to the old German.
“Mr. Van Ness . . .” Cafferty said, drawing back his fist. “New York sends its regards.”
Cafferty smashed his fist into Van Ness’ face, knocking him unconscious.
It’s over.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Three months later
Tom Cafferty stood behind a lectern in front of the United Nations General Assembly. Representatives from every nation packed the semicircular rows of desks to his front. Organized in alphabetical order. Each with equal rights in this room. The secretary-general and president sat to his rear, in front of the vast gold wall with the huge UN logo emblazoned at its center.
The secretary-general had given a speech detailing how the French president and key members of his team had been arrested in connection with the Foundation. He had also described how multinational teams had raided sites across the globe to finally shut down Van Ness’ operation. If this, coupled with the two nuclear detonations in America and the hosts of dormant bombs under other cities, wasn’t enough to compel the world to act, Cafferty wasn’t sure what would.
He had been introduced as the man who had saved millions of lives, and the standing ovation was only just dying down after two minutes. The overwhelming sense of satisfaction brought a tear to his eye. The achievements of his team, against all odds, and his personal vindication. He looked to his left, where President Brogan, Ellen, Diego, and Sarah stood. All smiling. All here to back him. His wife cradled David in her arms, and she gave Cafferty her “you got this” nod.
He cast his mind back to the blue room in City Hall. That was the day he started this mission, though he never expected it would lead here. He was now a major player on the international stage after taking down Van Ness and the high-level politicians who had conspired against humanity.
But that just meant there was more work to do.
The last of the claps faded.
Cafferty cleared his throat and leaned toward his mic. “Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today thankful to be alive. Thankful that my family is alive, that my team is alive, and so, so many more survived that day. And my heart remains broken for all those who perished at the hands of an enemy they didn’t know existed, both human and monster—although it wasn’t always clear where those lines were drawn the last few days. And that is part of the problem we still face.
“Which is why I’m here. I’m here to tell you that it is the dawn of a new day on this planet. I’m here to tell you about a new path forward, a new shared responsibility, a new common mission.
“I’m here to tell you all that there is only one thing that should matter to any of us now.”
Cafferty looked back at Ellen, and she gave him a supporting nod.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are a world of different nations. Different peoples and cultures and religions. We have different dreams and beliefs and ideas about how the world should work. All of that is wonderful . . . but it can also be our undoing. Because of those differences, we allowed the Foundation for Human Advancement to further divide us, to use our differences against us.
“Happily, I’m here to tell you that with the Foundation for Human Advancement no longer a threat, we have a chance to examine those differences. To examine them . . . and forget them. Because they are nothing compared to the threat we still face.
“Citizens of the world, I’m here to tell you that the crimes of Albert Van Ness pale in comparison to what these creatures”—and with a touch of a button on the podium, images of the creatures filled the screens behind Tom, causing gasps to ripple through the chamber—“are capable of. I’m here to tell you it is them versus us.
“I’m here to tell you that if we don’t find a way to fight them that doesn’t require destroying the earth to do so, we might not have a world left where humanity—all of humanity—is safe.”
He stood back as he waited for the translators to finish spreading his word. Slowly, the faces looked back at him . . . and he sensed a growing indifference in the room. Almost unbelievably so. After what the world had just been through, his presence—his call to action—was being met by this?
Do these people not get it?
For a lingering moment, he felt some of the frustration Van Ness had voiced. To be met by such silence. Is this why Van Ness had taken things into his own hands? Is that what I’m going to have to do, too?
He cast the thought to the back of his mind, assuring himself that he was nothing like that monster.
Yet now doubts lingered . . .
He pressed on.
“You have seen the evidence. And there can be no doubt that the creatures exist. The world has a new common enemy, an enemy that does not discriminate based on nationality, creed, or race. An enemy that does not care about borders, or respect elections, or differentiate between men, women, and children. An enemy that is climbing closer and closer to the surface of the earth. An enemy that outnumbers us, is evolving rapidly, understands our actions . . . and is hell-bent on revenge.”
Cafferty knew his last sentence would evoke a reaction. The leaders of various nations began murmuring in the assembly hall finally. He waited for them to die down before continuing.
“That doesn’t mean we are without hope. My team—the David M. North Foundation—has the know-how to take them down. We will partner with any and all of you to end this global scourge once and for all. No blackmailing, no infiltration into your administrations, and no weapons of mass destruction. We are here to help all of humanity. I urge you to take us up on our offer.”
A warm ripple of applause followed his words. Cafferty paused to take a sip of water to moisten his parched throat. He had made big speeches before, but never anything of this gravity. Millions, if not billions, of eyes were on him. He knew this speech was being broadcast around the globe. He imagined his face on screens across the world—in living rooms, in bars, and on pretty much any device that could stream or receive a television signal. He had to make this count.
“This is not a time to rest,” Cafferty continued. “A stain on the world has been removed. But now, with him gone, it is up to us to act as one and to win the war against the creatures.”
Cafferty grimly eyed the dignitaries again.
“Let me be absolutely clear with you: humanity is at a crossroads. If we take the wrong direction, we will end up as a forgotten chapter in this planet’s history. If we take the right road, we’ll flourish for another thousand years to come. The David M. North Foundation is ready to show you the way.”
There was scattered, light clapping throughout the hall. Cafferty’s brow furrowed, and he wondered how they could be so nonchalant about what he was telling them. He wondered if they thought this was a battle that was already won.
They don’t get it.
He walked off the dais.
David’s head shifted on Ellen’s shoulder, and she gently readjusted him on her hip and rubbed his back.
“Tom did well up there,” President Brogan said. “Are you coming to our meeting tomorrow?”
“He’s hired some fresh blood to do my old job. The David North Foundation is expanding fast, but it’s about time I spent some quality time with my son.”
“Completely understand.” Brogan turned to Bowcut and Munoz. “What about you two? Besides the White House reception, we’ve hardly had time to speak.”
“Stuff to do, Madam President,” Munoz said. “Besides, you don’t want a bottom-feeder like me bringing down the class of the Oval Office. It’s been nice to meet you, but that’s not my scene.”
“Same here,” Bowcut added. “These official occasions don’t suit me, though I promised to show my face for Tom. That said, something tells me we’ll meet again, Madam President.”
“I’m sure we will. Thanks again. Your country is grateful.”
“I think we’re all grateful the rest of those bombs didn’t go off,” Bowcut replied. “Just remember, none of us want medals. We’re happy to let Tom be the face of the Foundation, because it lets Diego and me get our work done.”
“Not a problem. There are other ways to express our gratitude.”
“Just a thanks will do,” Munoz replied. “And maybe a break on our taxes.”
Brogan smiled but made no promises.
“Worth a shot,” he muttered.
With that, he and Bowcut headed off and slipped behind a curtain. Both unassuming, both heroes. Neither wanted any public credit.
Pride swelled inside Ellen as she watched her team leave. She and Brogan turned their attention back to the stage.
As Ellen watched her husband walking toward her, his eyes lit with resolution, the nagging feeling she had felt during the speech had finally formed into a conclusion.
Tom had sounded like . . . Van Ness. Granted, the two men both had obsessive personalities, but both had different goals. Except now the madman’s goals were her husband’s. Tom had stepped in to fill the void, and his rhetoric was frighteningly similar. She wondered if this was how the Foundation for Human Advancement had begun before Van Ness warped its mission.
“How did I do?” Cafferty asked.
“Great, though I don’t see you having much free time going forward.”
“I’ll always have time for you and David.” Cafferty grabbed the toddler from her arms and lifted him into the air. “Isn’t that right, buddy?”
“I hope it’s true, Tom, for all of our sakes.”
The secretary-general’s assistant came over. Tom handed David back to his wife and let himself be ushered away.
Ellen understood the drive behind her husband’s mission. She believed in it, too. But every time she had encountered his unwavering determination, it had led him to dangerous places for different reasons. They had been lucky before, because he had been able to find his way back. This time, though, she worried he might go too far. She thought of how quickly he had given David back to her. How easily he had left them here, by themselves, as he went off to save the world.
The thing was, the world now knew the threat. He could always step back—Diego was in a better position to explain how the technology worked; Sarah could train others in the tactics to actually fight the creatures. He could be with his family, having done enough to atone for whatever mistakes he felt were his from New York.
But Tom being Tom, she knew he wouldn’t.
She feared that next time, their family might end up paying the price.
Cafferty strode into the secretary-general’s private office. The walnut desk and bookcases and the sumptuous leather chairs surprised him. He had expected something more somber in the UN building.
The secretary-general sat snug in a leather chair. He was a Tunisian with gray hair and light brown skin, and he encouraged Cafferty toward the opposite chair. A glass table sat between the two with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
Cafferty sat down, loosened his tie, and poured himself a generous measure. He needed it after making that speech. An internal pressure valve had been released, and he wanted to relax. He took a sip, but then put the glass down.
