Read Online Death Wave by Ben Bova - Free Book Online

public disclosure of this assassination attempt. It would lead to copycat attacks, for certain.”
    â€œI don’t agree,” said Jordan.
    Looking disappointed, almost hurt, Castiglione said, “You will have to discuss that with Anita Halleck, then.”
    â€œVery well. The sooner the better.”
    Castiglione’s smile returned. “Good. The first thing is to get you to a place of safety.”
    The female security guard stepped into their conversation. “Jumpjet is landing on the hotel roof.”
    â€œFine,” said Castiglione. Extending his hand to Aditi, he said, “Come with me, please, lovely one.”
    â€œWhere are we going?” she asked.
    â€œTo a place where you’ll be completely safe,” said Castiglione.

 
    TARRAGONA AIR FORCE BASE
    Once he and Aditi reached the roof, with Castiglione and a half-dozen security guards around them, Jordan saw that the hotel had a helipad up there, complete with a small control booth and still more security people standing around, gripping deadly looking black guns, looking on guard, steely-eyed.
    A jumpjet sat on the pad, its swept-back wings drooping slightly, the nozzles of its jet engines swiveled downward for vertical flight. The plane seemed sparkling new, the blue and white insignia of the World Council emblazoned on its silvery side and tail.
    Castiglione extended his hand and helped Aditi up the metal ladder and into the jumpjet. He followed her inside, between her and Jordan.
    The passenger compartment of the plane was small but plushly comfortable, with cushioned couches on either end of it. Jordan and Aditi sat side by side on one couch, Castiglione facing them. Through the glassed partition behind his handsomely smiling face Jordan could see the two helmeted pilots. Once the three passengers clicked their safety harnesses on, the machine hauled vertically off the roof, pirouetted once in midair, then headed out toward the glittering sea.
    Jordan could see the statue of Christopher Columbus at harborside, pointing vaguely in the direction of America. Plenty of ships at the piers, mostly cruise liners, with freighters and container ships moored in the deeper water. Farther out was the seawall built to protect the city from the sea level rise caused by the first wave of greenhouse warming. It extended out to the edges of the city. Like the wall of a medieval castle, Jordan thought. Construction cranes and barges dotted its length: building it higher, stronger, against the rising sea caused by the new meltdowns of the Greenland and Antarctic ice caps.
    It was smoothly quiet inside the jumpjet. Good acoustical insulation, Jordan thought.
    Leaning toward Castiglione, he asked, “Where are we going?”
    â€œTo a safe place,” the man answered, his eyes on Aditi.
    Jordan felt uneasy. He didn’t quite trust this smiling, good-looking stranger who seemed focused on his wife. He knew that Halleck had detailed security people to shield him and Aditi from the news media’s unwanted attention, but a whole team of guards, including medics and a jumpjet?
    Be grateful they were there, he told himself. Otherwise you and Aditi would be dead.
    Aditi asked, “Where is this safe place?”
    Castiglione’s smile widened as he laid a single slender finger across his lips.
    *   *   *
    The jumpjet flew down the Catalan coastline for almost half an hour, then landed at a smallish airfield. As they approached the ground, Jordan could not see any commercial planes: only military jets, in blotches of brown camouflage paint and, farther off, what looked like rocketplanes, sleek and bright in the Mediterranean sun.
    â€œThis is the Tarragona Air Force Base,” Castiglione said. “Very safe, very secure. You will stay here for the time being.”
    â€œAnd how long will that be?” Jordan asked.
    Castiglione shrugged elaborately. “Until we have dug out all the fanatics who want you