Read Online Edge of Apocalypse by Tim Lahaye, Craig Parshall - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tim Lahaye, Craig Parshall
Tags: Fiction, General, thriller, Suspense, American Mystery & Suspense Fiction, Suspense fiction, Mystery, Christian fiction, Christian, futuristic, Fiction - Espionage, End of the world, Crime thriller, Fiction - Religious, Christian - Suspense, Christian - Futuristic
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the Preamble to the Constitution. In that respect, Senator, I guess you could say that you work for me...and for all of us."
Straworth could now see that the gloves had come off.
"That's right, Mr. Jordan, that's right. I do work for you. I was elected by Americans just like you and put into a position of authority to make the tough decisions that affect my country's security. That is the job I've been given by the people of this country. That's not the job you have been given, sir."
The senator's face was turning crimson, and he was just getting started. His voice boomed out. "There's a certain hubris, sir, in your refusal to produce your documents on this project, an arrogance in your taking it upon yourself to decide when and how military secrets ought to be shared with the United States Congress. An attitude that, quite honestly, I find shocking, and dare I say it--unpatriotic--"
Harry Smythe leaped forward to his microphone before Joshua could get to his. "Sir, there's no need to impugn the patriotism of my client." The lawyer held his hand over Joshua's mic to make sure his client didn't start cursing.
Straworth continued, "It is precisely because of your previous record of patriotism and service to this country that I find it particularly puzzling why you won't comply with a simple request from your government--"
Joshua had heard enough. He ripped his lawyer's hand off his mic. "Because I don't want to give a single piece of technology that could save our country to the very people who are trying to destroy it!"
Senator Straworth sat back, like a spider watching his prey fly straight into his web. He smiled, then leaned forward again. "Do you mean the United Nations and the signers of the Six-Party Missile-Defense Treaty?" intoned Straworth.
"Exactly," blurted out Joshua.
"You mean our allies then?"
"Allies?"
"Yes," confirmed the senator.
"Allies like China and Russia?" sneered Joshua.
Harry Smythe knew he couldn't stop his client, so he simply sat back to watch these two men going at each other like heavyweights in the ring.
"They are our allies, Mr. Jordan," said Straworth, now clearly enjoying himself.
"That's right," said Joshua, "but only because we need oil from one and owe trillions of dollars to the other."
"So we should just throw out all our alliances because of an injured sense of pride?" the senator said, toying with him now. "So who can we trust in this world then?"
"That is the question, isn't it, Senator?" Now it was time for Joshua to fight back. "Who can we trust?" He turned to his lawyer. "I can trust Harry here because I know he's taken an oath; if he repeats anything I tell him in confidence, he could lose his law license, maybe even go to jail. I trust my wife because I know she loves me and would never betray me. I trust the Constitution because I know it has the greater good of our country at its heart."
He paused for a second, thinking carefully before going on. "But the question is, who can I trust in this room?...Truth is, I just can't come up with a satisfactory answer to that question."
The room exploded in an uproar, all the senators and representatives on their feet talking and yelling at once. Senator Straworth pounded his gavel hard and brought the chamber back to order.
"Mr. Smythe," Senator Straworth's eyes were steely as he glared at the attorney, "please inform your client of just how close he is to a contempt citation."
"I'm right here, Senator," Joshua shot back, "so you can talk to me directly. And I'm well aware of the implications of contempt."
"I don't think so, sir. Otherwise you wouldn't have insulted these honorable members the way you have. It is outrageous the way you have come in here today, thinking you could bully this committee with your self-centered assertions about duty and honor. I say to you, sir, it is your duty to turn over your work on the RTS project. It is your duty, sir, for the good of your country. And I warn you, if you or your lawyer
Straworth could now see that the gloves had come off.
"That's right, Mr. Jordan, that's right. I do work for you. I was elected by Americans just like you and put into a position of authority to make the tough decisions that affect my country's security. That is the job I've been given by the people of this country. That's not the job you have been given, sir."
The senator's face was turning crimson, and he was just getting started. His voice boomed out. "There's a certain hubris, sir, in your refusal to produce your documents on this project, an arrogance in your taking it upon yourself to decide when and how military secrets ought to be shared with the United States Congress. An attitude that, quite honestly, I find shocking, and dare I say it--unpatriotic--"
Harry Smythe leaped forward to his microphone before Joshua could get to his. "Sir, there's no need to impugn the patriotism of my client." The lawyer held his hand over Joshua's mic to make sure his client didn't start cursing.
Straworth continued, "It is precisely because of your previous record of patriotism and service to this country that I find it particularly puzzling why you won't comply with a simple request from your government--"
Joshua had heard enough. He ripped his lawyer's hand off his mic. "Because I don't want to give a single piece of technology that could save our country to the very people who are trying to destroy it!"
Senator Straworth sat back, like a spider watching his prey fly straight into his web. He smiled, then leaned forward again. "Do you mean the United Nations and the signers of the Six-Party Missile-Defense Treaty?" intoned Straworth.
"Exactly," blurted out Joshua.
"You mean our allies then?"
"Allies?"
"Yes," confirmed the senator.
"Allies like China and Russia?" sneered Joshua.
Harry Smythe knew he couldn't stop his client, so he simply sat back to watch these two men going at each other like heavyweights in the ring.
"They are our allies, Mr. Jordan," said Straworth, now clearly enjoying himself.
"That's right," said Joshua, "but only because we need oil from one and owe trillions of dollars to the other."
"So we should just throw out all our alliances because of an injured sense of pride?" the senator said, toying with him now. "So who can we trust in this world then?"
"That is the question, isn't it, Senator?" Now it was time for Joshua to fight back. "Who can we trust?" He turned to his lawyer. "I can trust Harry here because I know he's taken an oath; if he repeats anything I tell him in confidence, he could lose his law license, maybe even go to jail. I trust my wife because I know she loves me and would never betray me. I trust the Constitution because I know it has the greater good of our country at its heart."
He paused for a second, thinking carefully before going on. "But the question is, who can I trust in this room?...Truth is, I just can't come up with a satisfactory answer to that question."
The room exploded in an uproar, all the senators and representatives on their feet talking and yelling at once. Senator Straworth pounded his gavel hard and brought the chamber back to order.
"Mr. Smythe," Senator Straworth's eyes were steely as he glared at the attorney, "please inform your client of just how close he is to a contempt citation."
"I'm right here, Senator," Joshua shot back, "so you can talk to me directly. And I'm well aware of the implications of contempt."
"I don't think so, sir. Otherwise you wouldn't have insulted these honorable members the way you have. It is outrageous the way you have come in here today, thinking you could bully this committee with your self-centered assertions about duty and honor. I say to you, sir, it is your duty to turn over your work on the RTS project. It is your duty, sir, for the good of your country. And I warn you, if you or your lawyer
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