The God Complex: A Thriller

Read Online The God Complex: A Thriller by Murray McDonald - Free Book Online

Book: The God Complex: A Thriller by Murray McDonald Read Free Book Online
Authors: Murray McDonald
Ads: Link
human history, those nine countries between them hold over 17,000 warheads. At Atlas Noble, we strive every day to make the world a better place, yet we all live under the shadow of a past that still haunts us - mutually assured destruction.”
    Antoine paused once more . Heads were turning towards the nine nuclear states. TV cameras were refocusing their lenses on the individuals, the nine individuals who held the power and ability to destroy the planet.
    “ Whatever religion you believe in, however you believe the world was created, it wasn’t at the hands of those nine men. Those nine men have the power to undo all creation and I, for one, think that is wrong. I believe it is time we asked those nine men whether they agree.”
    A rapturous applause engulfed the audience . Antoine looked at the UK king, who had recently taken the throne following his aging grandmother’s abdication and father’s untimely death which, together with his mother’s death many years earlier, was considered suspicious. King William looked across at his Prime Minister who stood up and walked towards the stage. The French President followed suit when Antoine’s eyes fell on him. Both moves had been carefully orchestrated in advance and both countries would benefit significantly from the support shown to Antoine.
    The applause grew louder when the two of the nine neared the stage.
    Antoine’s eyes fell on the Israeli president, a country that had refused to confirm it even had nuclear weapons. The Israeli President stood, and he too walked slowly to the stage.
    The Indian President looked at his Pakistani counterpart, both held each other’s gaze, nodded at each other, and they too walked towards the stage.
    Antoine motioned to his staff at the side of the stage . Nine desks and chairs appeared alongside him and he motioned for each leader to take one of the chairs.
    The applause continued to rise. But the big four didn’t move.
    Antoine raised his hands to calm the audience.
    “Perhaps I can make this decision easier for some of you ,” he said with a wink to the camera, instantly turning more serious when he addressed the audience. “Any country that fails to sign an agreement here today to eradicate their nuclear arsenal is not a country that Atlas Noble will have any further dealings with. To clarify, what I mean by that, is that all Atlas Noble holdings within that country will either be liquidated or moved to a nuclear weapon free country.”
    President Mitchell ’s red line cell erupted as his cabinet members tried desperately to alert him to what he was already fully aware of. Atlas Noble pulling out of America simply wasn’t a viable prospect for the ongoing wellbeing of the nation. He rejected all attempts by his Secret Service agents to pass him the cell phone. He looked across at his Russian and Chinese counterparts. He knew that the Russians were in the same boat as him; they would have to sign. The Chinese were trickier. They would spite themselves. As for the North Koreans, Antoine’s threat was unlikely to faze them. However, America could not allow the North Koreans to be the world’s only nuclear state. The idea was ludicrous and inconceivable. President Mitchell remained seated.
    Antoine looked at the young North Korean leader who got up from his seat. Antoine knew they would be the stumbling block. With little outside influence, the North Koreans had little to lose, but as Antoine had promised the North Koreans, they had a huge amount to gain. North Korea was about to see a cash injection that would transform its economy and strengthen the young leader’s position within his country, despite giving up his nuclear arsenal.
    A roar greeted the young leader as he walked towards the stage , a new experience for the world’s most hated nation and one the North Korean leader was certainly enjoying.
    President Mitchell appeared as shell-shocked as his Russian and Chinese counterparts that this was really happening. He

Similar Books

Absence

Peter Handke

Shadow Creatures

Andrew Lane

Silver Girl

Elin Hilderbrand