Madness (19 page)

Two weeks after the riders rode off with the message from al-Sistani, one returned with wishes of goodwill and hope. Others now carried the message outward. al-Sistani disliked the feeling of confinement, but indeed, he was confined. The Global Realm drew large numbers to its side daily, even in Iran.

This
Devil, Pendleton, isolated people. Gas stations closed, except those used by Global Realm employees for work vehicles. Authorized Global personnel turned over their vehicles for electric cars as they became available for use. In most cases, Global transportation moved workers to and from their jobs.

The cell towers came down and only government
cellphones worked. The new Global Net had become an educational tool, no Facebook, no Twitter, no emails, except those screened for business purposes. The government issued one personal cellphone limited to seven family contact only, but al-Sistani had none since he refused to expose himself to Pendleton’s thugs. Regular telephone systems were non-existent.

As
the riders returned, his information grew. He had Shiite allies in isolated areas of Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Certainly, the true believers in Iran would not bow to Pendleton. Pakistan, although not Shiite, suffered greatly during the black night when the missiles fell. Many would join in Jihad with him. All was in Allah’s hands.

The Sunni Taliban radicals once persecuted the Afghan Shiites, who were waiting for the coming of The Twelfth Imam.
Now they’d joined with the Pashto warlords. They would support al-Sistani. He wasn’t delusional. He understood he couldn’t win a military conflict. Still he could organize a resistance to thwart Pendleton’s plans across the Muslim world.

The West loved comfort. They couldn
’t survive without the Global Realm. Not so with the Persian, Pashtun, and Arab peoples. Millions could live as they did centuries earlier and wait for their time of revenge.

One had to think decades into the future, not days. The Chinese made up the majority of Global Realm forces entering Iran to collect weapons, fingerprint citizens, and distribute food in exchange for joining the Global Realm.
Their presence forced al-Sistani to leave his home and head to the mountains. So he went and his followers with him.

Allah be praised.

#

Along a path leading to the
City of Cizre, a lone rider stopped and studied the landscape. He turned his horse off the path and rode down a graded area through a clump of oak and pistachio trees. Lichen growing on the dead wood smelled like violets, assuring the rider he was in the right place.

He admired the full moon shining low on the horizon near
the city on the Turkish-Syrian border. History blessed this place with stories. In medieval Islamic tradition, Cizre is the location of
Thamanin
, the town founded by Noah at the foot of Mount Judi where the Ark is said to have come to rest, and a "tomb of Noah" can be visited.

The man
broke into a clearing and called out, “Grandayatollah al-Sistani sends his best wishes. May Allah bless you.”

Slowly men appeared, walking to
greet him from various directions. The horseman dismounted and embraced each with a traditional kiss. The people lit a small fire, and for almost an hour, they talked and ate dates and figs.

The meeting ended in prayer and the rider led his horse back to the path from where he’d come. He rode off to the south and away from the city. The others disappeared
as quickly as they had arrived, hurrying off back into the darkness.

All was quiet for several minutes. Then a lone figure hidden among the bushes along the hillside rose and ambled down the slope
. He headed out to the path from where the rider had come. He searched in a clump of thick overgrowth until he found his bicycle, pulled it out, and headed toward Cizre at a rapid pace.

#

Light coming through the blinds flickered patterns on Peacock’s wall, like fairies sprinkling blessings. She’d been up for over an hour, showered, and dressed in the latest spring Global Realm outfit, one of five styles issued in her size. Her main event for the day was a debriefing by Doctor Levi. Why she’d felt so impish at their last meeting, she didn’t know. Her psyche fed on controlling every situation.

Today had to be different if she was to be released.

She reviewed how she would handle all the details, meet the staff, work out arrangements with Anne about George, and then wear her husband out in the bedroom, a task she looked forward to with lustful intent.

She was about to turn on the television for the
weather report, when Doctor Pederson knocked on her door. “I have someone to see you, Laverna. An old friend with a lot of things to talk about, can we come in?”

Humph. What could she say? Whoever was there knew
she was in. Peacock had no choice but to agree. “Enter at your own risk. I can be quite violent you know.”

“
I can be violent as well.”

The unmistakable
voice of Beatrice Kolb, her nemesis, flooded a heated anger through Peacock’s body and her arms tensed. The bitch survived after all. If Pederson turned his back maybe . . . No. They’d lock her away if she murdered Kolb.

Doctor Pederson pushed Kolb through the door
strapped in a wheelchair. He guided her away from the equipment adorning Peacock’s room. Peacock fixed her eyes on the damage she’d done during her rage. Her suppressed memories poured out. Yes, she’d used a special knife to gouge off Kolb’s flesh. Scabbed scars adorned Kolb’s body. She looked like a buzz saw had ripped her apart.

“Hello Bea,” Peacock said. “Remember me.”

Pederson turned Kolb to meet Peacock’s gaze. “Yes, I remember you well. The last thing I remember was asking you to kill me. Alas, you didn’t.”

“You destroyed my mind. I disfigured your body. Tit-for-tat I’d say. I couldn’t control my rage.”

Peacock saw sorrow form on Kolb’s face. Her instincts said Kolb was faking remorse. But in order to assure her release today, Peacock had to pass this test.

“I’m sorry,” Kolb said. “I put my ego and the science ahead of your humanity. Please forgive me.”

“I’m not mad at you anymore,” Peacock answered, “There’s nothing to forgive. You hurt me. I hurt you. We’re even.”

Pederson frowned. Apparently
, he needed to hear her say more.

Peacock swallowed the venom she held for Kolb.
“I forgive you.”

Pederson relaxed.

Peacock mused at how well she’d guessed the situation. Inside she could care less if Kolb said she was sorry or not. Truly, Peacock wasn’t sorry. She was insane at the time and did what insane people do. She acted on her thoughts without considering the consequences.

“I have to ask you a question,” Kolb said. “I understand you stopped most of the missiles from firing. Why?”

“I don’t remember actually doing that. But I know why I wanted to.” Peacock selected her words carefully. Kolb didn’t care about the missiles. Levi and Pederson planted that question. “If I’d kept my mouth shut, Pendleton would have killed Monroe with the Stinger attack. The codes and the U.S. military would have been his. Because of me, those missiles were launched, and I was responsible.”

“Why did that matter to you?” Levi asked, standing at the open door.

With a tilt of her head, she said, “I think I’ll keep that to myself.”

Kolb actually chuckled. “No matter what name you call her. This woman is
Peacock
, unbeatable, unbreakable, and unsympathetic. Even insane, I understand that.”

“
You
don’t seem insane,” Peacock said.

“You’re being released tomorrow. I’ll never be released.” Kolb sighed. “You could become insane again or die of cancer. You have a forty-percent chance of that happening in the next ten years. I, on the other hand, have catatonic, delirious mania episodes.
That’s why I’m restrained. To date, I’ve busted a nurse’s nose, thrown an intern across a room, and destroyed a bunch of equipment.” Kolb smiled. “You wouldn’t think I could by looking at me. The mind is a powerful thing.”

“We’ve tried ECT and benzodiazepines,” Levi said. “She has a condition I’ve rarely seen, if ever, malignant, intermittent catatonia. Meaning, regardless of what we do, the condition will return without warning.”

“Why are you sharing this with me?”

“Both of your conditions involved the use of electrode shocks,” Levi said. “When you return for your evaluation
in a month, I want to test the two of you together for similarities and differences in reactions. I wanted this meeting to occur first to see if having the two of you in the same room was even possible.”

“I’m fine with running the tests together,” Peacock said, not at all sure she was.

“Me too,” Kolb agreed. “I always wanted to work with Peacock as a friend.”

I seriously doubt it.

Once released, Peacock relaxed her head on her husband’s shoulder. Pendleton’s motorcade turned left out of the hospital grounds and headed toward the Widder Global Headquarters. She’d manipulated Levi and Pederson but had no desire to deceive her husband.

“I’ll be honest with you,” she said. “I remember the logical details of our relationship, where we met, our wedding day, and the time on our island.”

“Not ours anymore. It’s the property of the people.”

“I know.” She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled close. “What I connect with emotionally are the intense physical stimuli
—the sex, the attack on us by Lytle, and stealing your secrets without getting caught—all emotional highs.”

Pendleton nodded. “We’ll recapture what you’ve lost. For me, I remember everything clearly. I fell deeply in love with you. Now I have you back, and I’ll make up for what Hercules did to you.”

She squeezed his arm. “Please understand. After the car accident that killed my parents, I willingly shut off my emotions. I chose Hercules, even though they think they chose me.”

Her throat tightened as she spit out the words.
“In training, they tortured me. At first, I used my physical prowess to disable my opponents. Then Magnus’s team strapped me naked to a table for two weeks. I was water-boarded, strangled, and humiliated. I didn’t crack.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Her mind flashed back to Agent Loomis. Her lust for Loomis raced out of control the last time they met. Could she control herself now?

“So you know who you’re married to.” She turned full toward him. “By disconnecting personal emotions, I
could be sent on any mission. I’ve had sex with over a hundred men. I enjoy the physical. But only you made me feel safe. I’ve killed more people than you can count. I don’t feel guilt. I can mimic any emotion. Before the car accident, I must have experienced them all. At least that’s what I thought.”

“How so?”

“Doctor Levi says I am the way I am because of survivor’s remorse. He says I’m sorry I didn’t die in the accident. What I’m trying to say is that I live in the moment.” She kissed his ear and whispered. “I can’t promise you if you put me in the positions I’m trained for I would be faithful to you. I can’t say I wouldn’t murder someone who stood in my way. I’m ruthless on a mission.”

“And you’re honest about it.”

Peacock pushed back. “How can you say that?”

“You told me much of this already. Before we married you said, ‘I can’t promise to be faithful to you.’”

Yes, she remembered. “And you still love me?”

“Dearly.”

“Here is what I’ll promise you. I’ll protect you and our family with my life. I’ll develop a shield of protection close around you, so no one can harm you. And I’ll develop a strike force capable of destroying your enemies wherever they live.”

“I believe you.” He unfastened his seatbelt as the
motorcade pulled up to the Widder. “Do you want to stay married to me? Your decision to marry me was Hercules’ doing.”

“Yes. I want to learn to give you everything I’m capable of
giving. What I can’t promise is what I don’t have in me.”

His bodyguards waited at the doors for the two to exit the vehicle.

“I told you the last time Ursa arranged for us to meet. ‘I will see that your implant is removed.’ I have. I am honest with you. I will love you forever.”

“Should I hide
my indiscretions from you? Would that be your desire?”

“Let’s get off on the right foot. There will be no secrets between us. Open and honest, that’s how our life will be.”

“I respect you, Darling.”

#

Her husband stood at the door of what was to be her new home. She’d lived in a hotel before,
The Emerald
, where she worked in Room 1515. Now she had a family living with her. Her son was here. Would her baby boy reject her? The last time she held him she raged out when they tried to take him from her. What would she do now? Of course, that was the point of her month trial at home.

Steady yourself, Peacock, she thought. You’re Mensa level. You can
remain in control and learn normal behavior.

“Are you ready?” Pendleton asked.

“No.”

“Good. No time like the present.”

The door swung open. Anne Pendleton’s broad smile greeted her, and in Anne’s arms, her son cuddled in a blanket, asleep and carefree.

“Can I hold him?”

“Laverna, of course,” Anne’s voice sang with warmth. “You’re in charge. I’m the backup, available twenty-four seven, like tonight for instance.” Anne winked.

At first
, Peacock’s whole body trembled as she pulled her son to her breast. He fidgeted for a second and Peacock’s heart almost stopped. Then George’s breathing returned to his slumber pattern.

Love?
Was this what love felt like? If she dwelt on her emotions, she’d fall apart in front of everyone.

Behind Anne was Milton Rogers. She recognized him
by name and face. “Milton, you look younger.”

Milton grinned and hugged Anne. “That’s what a good woman does for a man.”

She felt Arthur’s discomfort without looking at him and realized what a strong connection they had. Then an eerie chill cause her to shiver.

“You remember my best man Hans Van Meer
,” Pendleton said. “He’ll be your new boss.”

Van Meer raised his hand. “Remember, old boy, the last time the two of us met, we were fighting each other to the death.”

“I had you beaten. What happened?”

“Our good Professor, Thaddeus Cline, hit you square on the back of the head with a Marlins’ bat.”

“I knew you didn’t beat me one-on-one.”

Anne Pendleton’s mouth gape
d. Milton Rogers chuckled, hand covering his face. “That’s our dear Lovey,” he said. “When Arthur picks them, like everything else he does, he settles for nothing but the best.”

“School’s out on who is best,” Van Meer said, a glimmer in his eye.

“We’re having lunch after you spend time with George. Then you, Milton, Hans and I need to talk.” Pendleton sniffed the air. “Oh, I think a change of diapers is in order, Mum.”

Peacock almost handed George to Anne at those words.
Luckily, she caught herself. She was
Mum
in this case. Into the bedroom she went, Anne following at her heels. “I’ll let you do it. I’ll just observe for the first time to see if you need help.”

I’m a damn college graduate, Mensa level IQ. Of
course, I can change a diaper.

Now if she could get over the smell and find the pins—wait, the thing’s held together with Velcro. Piece of cake!

#

“This is yummy,” Peacock said, having a drink of Global nutrient.

“Yes,” Rogers said. “Europeans and Americans eat too much. Fat is out. Lean is in.”

“Why don’t you tell people more about your plans?” Peacock asked her husband. “All I hear is, ‘All this for the environment?’”

“She has a point,” Van Meer said. “People are numb. They’re still trying to figure out what’s coming.”

“But the testing is far from complete yet,” Pendleton said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

“There are people living in hovels,” Rogers said. “They’re being fed and clothed. They’re getting work and healthcare. But they don’t know why some of the people in the mansions still live there.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Lay out your ten-year plan with the timetables we developed with Project Enlightenment—how the world will be in the future, the beautification projects, the city reorganization plans, and the enrichment of human minds.”

“You see,
Darling,” Peacock said. “I don’t even know where the world is going.”

“We’ve stopped most of the rioting.” Van Meer pointed a finger at Pendleton. “But we’re faced with expectations in underdeveloped countries and apathy among the youth in rich countries. They, up to now, care
d less about anything but themselves.”

Her view of Van Meer changed as Pendleton accepted the criticism without throwing a fit. If this man
became her boss, she would have to walk carefully, so as not to create a ‘choose me or him’ situation.

“All right.” Pendleton took a spoonful of yogurt and fruit and swallowed. “I’ll speak once a month. I’ll follow the Project Enlightenment plan. Now give me some good
news.”

Milton Rogers held up a file. “Our nuclear science team has examined a nuclear fusion-fission process whereby
plants using radioactive material produce no waste. In fact, materials now stored as nuclear waste could be reprocessed and used, thereby slowly eliminating radioactive material altogether.”

“I don’t understand,” Peacock said. “How can your team come up with these
plans so quickly, when the nations couldn’t reach agreement on any solution?”

“
Greed, Lovey.” Pendleton shot her a knowing grin. “The world has never produced the best results. This technology has existed for a long time. However, implementing the program didn’t make the rich richer. I’m not proposing we convert all nuclear plants to the fusion-fission process, only certain safe plants until we’ve disposed of all nuclear waste, and then abandon nuclear plants entirely.”

She stared at her husband with a new respect. She could see the wisdom of his dreams, and she couldn’t argue with the means by which he accomplished them, not with her own rage issues and heartless deeds to deal with within herself.

“Peacock,” Van Meer said, “I’m calling you by your code name as your boss. Information has come to us which may involve you.”

She was straight up in her chair and tuned to Van Meer’s voice.

“One of our informants in Turkey leaked information to us. Grandayatollah al-Sistani, the slimy little bugger, is planning a
holy war
against the Global Realm, in particular your husband.”

“Who?”

“He’s the former spiritual leader of Iran,” Rogers said, “a dangerous man.”

She nodded. Maybe she knew the name in the past, but the past came to her in little pieces, like a puzzle
board that once fit together but spilled out on the floor and needed reassembling. “I’m listening.”

“Riders are crisscrossing Asia and the Middle East making contacts with Muslim militants. In five months, they will meet near Mashhad to plan terrorist attacks, and we will be waiting.”

“And my role?”

“Aren’t you a specialist at this?
Do what you did to Reed. Take a small group in and eradicate the bastards.”

Five months—plenty of time—she needed to pick a team, train like mad, and build her
own skills into top form. Then she’d construct a game plan and execute. “Can I have my pick of agents?”

Van Meer grinned. “You’re the wife of my friend, the First Citizen. Other than those assigned to
other gold level duties, yes, you have your pick.”

“I want at least three people besides myself, Loomis, Magnus, and Felicia Lange.”

“Done,” Van Meer said. “There are real advantages having your wife as head of your personal protection team. She’ll always have your best interest at heart.”

“Unless I piss her off and she offs me.”

“I’d rather just
have it off
with you darling. Screwing is much better if you’re alive.”

“Oh my,” Rogers laughed. “This one fits right in with the boys.”

#

Beatrice Kolb threw a chair across her room.
The legs bounced harmlessly off the wall and rattled for a few seconds. Those bastards Levi and Pederson, so stupid as to think she could ever cooperate with Peacock. She had one month to plan how to murder the bitch.

Even though she’d never seen Major’s face, she loved
him. “We could have been a team, Peacock,” she said aloud. “The science could have propelled our civilization into a new era of understanding. However, Pendleton controls everything now. He’s won.” She pointed her finger at an imaginary Peacock. “The only way I can find peace is to murder
you
and drive him mad.”

She examined her hospital garments, comfortable, form fitting, and totally dull. Into the bathroom she went. A ritual she performed several times a day. She tossed her robe aside and glared at Peacock’s work. Death would have been better. Her once sensuous figure and striking face repulsed her.

The Hell-like road map embedded in her mind. Ugly highways of scars led to her left nipple, now only an oozing scabby mass. Her attack on Peacock must be swift, painful, and deadly. Peacock must suffer, but in the end, die. Only then could Kolb rest.

Leaving her robe on the floor, she left the bathroom and paced about her twelve by twelve foot room
naked, wringing her hands. How could she sneak a weapon into the next meeting with Peacock, and what kind of weapon did she need? A flurry of ideas crossed her mind as she stared at her shoes lying in the corner of the room.