Read Online Exodus (The Exodus Trilogy) by Andreas Christensen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Andreas Christensen
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classes of weapons, the kinds one could only find in fiction.
“ So, Mr. Thatcher, I remember you, and we did work together when we were both young men. What is it that you want from me now?” That was the usual Joe Buchanan; no time for bullshit, straight to the point, with only the minimum of niceties.
“ I need to know that you haven’t changed your views on the things we spoke of that evening, when we had gotten the bill passed, after dinner.” Joe knew exactly what Thatcher was talking about. He hadn’t talked about it since Seattle, though; it was not safe anymore. That kind of talk could both end his career and possibly put him behind bars, and he had no desire for either. Even so, his views in private had never changed.
“ I remember,” he said, not wanting to reveal anything more on the phone. These days, you never knew whether your phone was tapped; the government could do that, and regularly did, and it was legal; they didn’t even need a warrant or due cause.
“ Good. That’s very good to hear,” Thatcher said, and Joe could hear him breathe out, relaxing a bit more.
“ I need to talk to you. That’s all I can say for now, but you actually need to talk to me as well.” Buchanan wondered if that was really the case, but his curiosity had already taken over, so he agreed.
“ All right, when and where?” He could hear Thatcher’s low chuckle, and then his reply puzzled him.
“ Good-bye for now, I’ll be in touch.” Then he hung up the phone. The senator just stood there for a second, confused as to what just happened. The end of the conversation did nothing to relieve his curiosity, so he was deep in thought when he returned to the dinner table. His wife could easily see he was distracted.
“ Who was that, dear? What is it?” Joe just shook his head and waved it all away.
“ Just some old coworker. Seems they want to have some kind of reunion. He should know I don’t have time for such things.” He shrugged, while Cecilia laughed softly, handing him a cruet of warm gravy to revive his meal, which had turned cold.
“ Well, if you decide to go, I want to go too. We never go out just for fun anymore. It’s all politics these days. Maybe it would do us some good.” The senator nodded, while lost in thought. He remembered that conversation all those years ago, all too vividly. When they happened to touch upon the proposed revisions to the Constitution, and what that would mean. The things he’d said, and later regretted. Not because he didn’t mean those things, but because, even back then, they were such dangerous thoughts, to himself and everyone around him. The political climate had already turned, and his ideas of preserving the Constitution rather than revising it had already been deemed reactionary, and contrary to the development of a safe and secure society, free from the threat of terrorism and subversive elements. Now, he instinctively knew that what he was getting himself into would be very dangerous, so why was he all excited about it?
The next morning, as he was getting ready for work, his tablet beeped twice, and he looked at the new message. It was from a hidden sender, and there were just two words: “Sakura Noon.” He chuckled softly. To most people the message would be cryptic, but to him it made perfect sense: location and time. Sakura had been a Sushi bar, although it hadn’t existed for over ten years. These days it was a rundown catering business. The time was a bit more elegant, as there had been a Japanese Noon, sort of a happy hour, with lower prices on everything. Japanese Noon would be at ten in the evening here. He deleted the message, kissed Cecilia good-bye, and went out to his car.
Winter was coming. It was one of those evenings when you could just smell it in the air. It was getting chilly fast, and Joe had put on his dark blue coat and a green scarf to keep warm. He could see the place was closed, although there was a dim light in one of the
“ So, Mr. Thatcher, I remember you, and we did work together when we were both young men. What is it that you want from me now?” That was the usual Joe Buchanan; no time for bullshit, straight to the point, with only the minimum of niceties.
“ I need to know that you haven’t changed your views on the things we spoke of that evening, when we had gotten the bill passed, after dinner.” Joe knew exactly what Thatcher was talking about. He hadn’t talked about it since Seattle, though; it was not safe anymore. That kind of talk could both end his career and possibly put him behind bars, and he had no desire for either. Even so, his views in private had never changed.
“ I remember,” he said, not wanting to reveal anything more on the phone. These days, you never knew whether your phone was tapped; the government could do that, and regularly did, and it was legal; they didn’t even need a warrant or due cause.
“ Good. That’s very good to hear,” Thatcher said, and Joe could hear him breathe out, relaxing a bit more.
“ I need to talk to you. That’s all I can say for now, but you actually need to talk to me as well.” Buchanan wondered if that was really the case, but his curiosity had already taken over, so he agreed.
“ All right, when and where?” He could hear Thatcher’s low chuckle, and then his reply puzzled him.
“ Good-bye for now, I’ll be in touch.” Then he hung up the phone. The senator just stood there for a second, confused as to what just happened. The end of the conversation did nothing to relieve his curiosity, so he was deep in thought when he returned to the dinner table. His wife could easily see he was distracted.
“ Who was that, dear? What is it?” Joe just shook his head and waved it all away.
“ Just some old coworker. Seems they want to have some kind of reunion. He should know I don’t have time for such things.” He shrugged, while Cecilia laughed softly, handing him a cruet of warm gravy to revive his meal, which had turned cold.
“ Well, if you decide to go, I want to go too. We never go out just for fun anymore. It’s all politics these days. Maybe it would do us some good.” The senator nodded, while lost in thought. He remembered that conversation all those years ago, all too vividly. When they happened to touch upon the proposed revisions to the Constitution, and what that would mean. The things he’d said, and later regretted. Not because he didn’t mean those things, but because, even back then, they were such dangerous thoughts, to himself and everyone around him. The political climate had already turned, and his ideas of preserving the Constitution rather than revising it had already been deemed reactionary, and contrary to the development of a safe and secure society, free from the threat of terrorism and subversive elements. Now, he instinctively knew that what he was getting himself into would be very dangerous, so why was he all excited about it?
The next morning, as he was getting ready for work, his tablet beeped twice, and he looked at the new message. It was from a hidden sender, and there were just two words: “Sakura Noon.” He chuckled softly. To most people the message would be cryptic, but to him it made perfect sense: location and time. Sakura had been a Sushi bar, although it hadn’t existed for over ten years. These days it was a rundown catering business. The time was a bit more elegant, as there had been a Japanese Noon, sort of a happy hour, with lower prices on everything. Japanese Noon would be at ten in the evening here. He deleted the message, kissed Cecilia good-bye, and went out to his car.
Winter was coming. It was one of those evenings when you could just smell it in the air. It was getting chilly fast, and Joe had put on his dark blue coat and a green scarf to keep warm. He could see the place was closed, although there was a dim light in one of the
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