Authors: K. D. Lamb
Kendall shook her head, marveling at what he’d been through. “And then what happened? How did you get to the U.S.?”
Rashid nodded at Fields, “When I got to Uzbekistan, I flew to Turkey and then London. I really wasn’t sure how to begin my new life. I kind of needed direction … and a friend. So, I called Paul. He invited me to the U.S. and said he knew some people at the State Department. It took a few weeks, but I arrived a couple days ago.”
“What? You’ve been here that long, and you didn’t call me?”
He looked at her with complete love in his eyes and stroked her hair. “I couldn’t, Kendall. I needed to make sure that I had a plan and that it would work for both of us.”
Fields cleared his voice and gently wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin. “Kendall, it’s partially my fault. I refused to put him in contact with you until I was sure you wouldn’t be hurt or traumatized any further. We’ve basically put our heads together for the last two days, and come up with the foundation plan. Between us, we have lots of money, and we both—really, all of us—need to do something worthwhile that will make sure our journey in the past six months meant something.”
She sat back in wonderment at the unexpected twist to the day. It simply couldn’t get any better. Rashid patted her head and leaned over for another kiss.
H
E QUIETLY TOOK A SIP
of his prized and much sought-after velvety
Mao-tai.
It felt quite satisfying knowing that he had the means and connections to an unending supply of the clear liquid heaven. His colleagues and co-workers could not afford such a luxury, having to depend on the new standard of wine—
Shaoxi Laojiu
—or yellow alcohol. Such ordinary options were meant for those who would never aspire to the top rung.
His thoughts turned to that intriguing electronic tool that was developed in the high-tech city of Seattle, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest part of the United States. The super users thought they were so smart. Each imagined he was smarter than the other. He conceded that the guy who developed the electronic phenomenon was probably the smartest of all. What was his name? Something like Daniel, he thought. But Daniel wasn’t as smart as yours truly, he congratulated himself.
The older man marveled at the events he had witnessed from afar. Nations turned against nations. Men plotted, schemed, ruined companies and others, and murdered because of that tool. Yes, even the leader of a country had been taken down. It was both a blessing and a curse. It reminded him of the ancient Chinese curses,
“May you live in interesting times
” and “
May you come to the attention of those in authority
.”
If all the governments around the world knew of its existence, then the playing field would be level. But was that the best outcome? Yes, he told himself. But only if one wasn’t going to use the tool to his own advantage. He had every intention of seeking the highest office in the land. He needed that tool to nudge others out of his way and give him a clear path to the top.
Yes, the Orion kidnapping event had been amusing to observe from afar. He would keep the tool secret for now, but would use it as often as he could for his own purposes whenever it was necessary.
The fact that his intelligence was superior to the other super users, meant
that he was destined to control this lovely special tool. In fact, one could even argue that it had been a gift to him.
He could sabotage it for the others if he so chose. Or he could simply expose the others and sit back to observe what nations could really do to each other. Such mischief he could effect, he mused.
But alas, never! It was much too fun to watch the others go at it in a surreptitious way, making the others believe they were above board and playing by the rules, all while deceptively scheming and plotting.
He knew the truth. The one at the end of the race holding the cards was the winner. He currently had the goods on the others. They knew nothing of his existence or prying eyes. He was safe for the time being ….
Or was he?