Read Online 3 Thank God it's Monday by Robert Michael - Free Book Online Page B

simple. We have taken that plan, genius as it was,
and improved upon it by multiplying the effect and giving it a greater purpose.
Not only do we create a power vacuum that only our consortium can fill, we also
undermine the public opinion of governments worldwide. ‘They cannot protect
you,’ we will say. ‘They are only interested in your money and your votes. ’  ‘They
only want to control you. ’  ‘Here, look, we have the key to world hunger,
clean drinking water, security, the cure for cancer, the cure for this terrible
disease that is running rampant. Only we can help you. Only we can help the
world find peace and prosperity.’ We will suck them in and then we will truly
have the rule for the first time in centuries. We should never have
relinquished it in the first place.”
    “Very melodramatic, Clarence. I think you are over reaching.”
    “Perhaps you are underestimating us , Eilif.” Clarence
looked at him, his smugness and superiority emanating from him like a beacon. “I
thought you were on our side, Eilif. One of us. Were we wrong?”
    Eilif swallowed his anger. He pushed down on the fear that
wrenched at him, realizing that his words and attitude were necessary to keep
his head above the waters that threatened to drown him. He thought he had
control. The longer he hitched his wagon to these mongrels, the more he
realized he had made a mistake. It did not matter. To resist would have meant
death or worse anyway. He did not have a choice. You were either for them or
against them.
    “Of course not,” he said gruffly. “I simply want credit
where credit is due.” He pointed to Jake through the glass. “The first tool in
our plan is my brain child.”
    “Don’t get too confident, Eilif. Understand that our plan
will be initiated whether we have Jake available or not. Timing is everything. We
cannot allow the election to take place. We need President Vine removed
immediately so that we can move forward. We need to leave the world with no
choice. It has to happen soon.”
    “We will have to run some tests. We are safe here. It will
buy us some time to make sure there are no mistakes this time.”
    Clarence turned his attention to the bank of computers. The
technicians had been relieved of their duties for the night. The monitors were
on auto-pilot.
    “There can certainly be no more errors. I am now in charge
of ensuring that the American portion of this operation succeeds. I will not
allow failure,” Clarence said.
    He kept his back to Eilif. Eilif bristled at his gall. He was in charge? He would not allow failure?
    “What could go wrong?” Eilif asked, grasping at a response
that would hide his contempt, his anger, and his hurt pride.
    Clarence turned to him, a quizzical look on his face.
    “Really? ‘What could go wrong?’ First of all, Jake can
resist your programming. Despite your best efforts, he can spoil this most
important mission. Second of all, you can have a change of heart and allow your
daughter to continue to live, disregarding a direct command. Third of all, you
can continue to pretend you have it all together when we all know you are
falling apart. Your entire organization is in shambles. Your inner sniping
between executives, your questionable loyalties, your shady dealings with terrorists
and drug cartels, and even your vaunted real estate holdings are all coming
apart at the seams, like an over-worn garment. What could go wrong? You can
continue to question me as though I am your employee.”
    “Who do you think you are?” Eilif asked, seething.
    Clarence turned and grabbed Eilif by his ascot, pulling it
from his inner vest.
    “Not some bloody pretender, that is for certain,” he said,
his lips in a snarl of anger and disdain. The knife he held at Eilif’s gut was
short but double-edged and almost two inches wide.
    Eilif backed up, sweat beading his upper lip, his eyes
distended. He would never have imagined Clarence reacting violently. He was
such a proper