When I found that I was a prisoner a sort of wild feeling came over me. I rushed up and down the stairs, trying every door and peering out of every window I could find, but after a little the conviction of my helplessness overpowered all other feelings. When I look back after a few hours I think I must have been mad for the time, for I behaved much as a rat does in a trap. When, however, the conviction had come to me that I was helpless I sat down quietly, as quietly as I have ever done anything in my life, and began to think over what was best to be done. I am thinking still, and as yet have come to no definite conclusion. Of one thing only am I certain. That it is no use making my ideas known to the Count. He knows well that I am imprisoned, and as he has done it himself, and has doubtless his own motives for it, he would only deceive me if I trusted him fully with the facts. So far as I can see, my only plan will be to keep my knowledge and my fears to myself, and my eyes open. I a
uetendorf, SwitzerlandSunday, October 14, 1500 Hours***The witnesses standing at the edge of the field were staring inhorrified silence, too stunned to speak. The scene that lay before them wasgrotesque, a primeval nightmare dredged up from some deep, dark depths ofprimitive man's collective unconscious. Each witness had a different reaction.One fainted. A second one vomited. A woman was shaking uncontrollably. Anotherone thought: i am going to have a heartattack! The elderly priest clutched his beads and crossed himself. Help ,e fatehr. Help us all. Protect us againstthis evil incarnate. We have fully seen the face of Satan. it is the end of theworld. Judgment day has come.Armageddon is here....Armageddon... Armageddon...*** *** ***Sunday, October 14, 2100 Hours *FLASH MESSAGE* TOP SECRETE ULTRANSA TO TOP DEPUTY DIRECTOR COMSEC EYES ONLYSUBJECT: OPERATION DOOMSDAY MESSAGE: ACTIVATENOTIFY NORAD, CIRVIS, GEPAN, DIS, GHG, VSAF,
Day oneMonday, October 15He was back in the crowded hospital ward at cu chi base in Vietnam and Susan was leaning over his bed, lovely in her crisp white nurse’s uniform, whispering, “ wake up, sailor. You don’t want to die.” And when he heard the magic of her voice, he could almost forget his pain. She was murmuring something else in his ear, but a loud bell was ringing, and he could not hear her clearly. He reached up to pull her closer, and his hand clutched empty air. It was the sound of the telephone that fully awoke Robert Bellamy. He opened his eyes reluctantly, not wanting to let go of the dream. The telephone at his bedside was insistent. He looked at the clock. Four A.M. he snatched up the instrument, angry at having his dream interrupted. “Do you know what the hell time is?”"Commander bellamy?" A deep, male voice."Yes-" "I have a message for you, commander. You are ordered to report to General Hillard at National Security Agency headquarters at Fort Meade at oh six
The National Security Agency is hidden discreetly away on eighty-two rambling acres at Fort Meade, the size of the CIA complex in Langley, Virginia. The agency, created to give technical support to protect United States communications and acquire worldwide electronic intelligence data, employs thousands of people, and so much information is generated by its operations that it shreds more than forty tons of documents every day.It was still dark when Commander Robert Bellamy ar- rived at the first gate. He drove up to an eight-foot-high Cyclone fence with a topping of barbed wire. There was a sentry booth there, manned by two armed guards. One of them stayed in the booth watching as the other ap- proached the car. "Can I help you?""Commander Bellamy to see General Hilliard." "May I see your identification, Commander?"Robert Bellamy pulled out his wallet and removed his 17th District Naval Intelligence ID card. The guard studied it carefully and returned it. "Thank you, Commander."H
Ottawa, Canada2400 HoursHis code name was Janus. He was addressing twelve men in the heavily guarded room of a military compound."As you have all been informed, Operation Doomsday has been activated. There are a number of witnesses who must be found as quickly and as quietly as possible. We are not able to attempt to track them down through regular security channels because of the danger of a leak.""Who are we using?" The Russian. Huge. Short-temperde"His name is Commander Robert Bellamy.""How was he selected?" The German. Aristocratic. Ruthless."The commander was chosen after a thorough computer search of the files of the CIA, FBI, and a half dozen other security agencies.""Please, may I inquire what are his qualifications?" The Japanese. Polite. Sly."Commander Bellamy is an experienced field officer who speaks six languages fluently and has an exemplary record. Again and again he has proved himself to be very resourceful. He has no living relatives.""Is he aware of the urg
Dustin "Dusty" Thornton, deputy director of the Office of Naval Intelligence, had won his fame as one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Annapolis. Thornton owed his present exalted position to a football game. An Army-Navy game, to be precise. Thornton, a towering monolith of a man, had played full- back as a senior at Annapolis in Navy's most important game of the year. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, with Army leading 13-0, two touchdowns and a conversion ahead, destiny stepped in and changed Dustin Thorn- ton's life. Thornton intercepted an Army pass, pivoted around, and charged through the Army phalanx for a touch- down. Navy missed on the extra point but soon scored a field goal. After the ensuing kickoff, Army failed to make a first down and punted into Navy territory. The score stood at Army 13, Navy 9, and the clock was running. When play resumed, the ball was passed to Thornton, and he went down under a heap of Army uniforms. It took him a long time
The limousine was waiting at the river-entrance parking lot. "Are you ready, Commander?" Captain Dougherty asked. As ready as I'll ever be, Robert thought. "Yes."Captain Dougherty accompanied Robert to his apartment so he could pack. Robert had no idea how many days he would be gone. How long does an impossible assignment take? He packed enough clothes for a week and, at the last minute, put in a framed photograph of Susan. He stared at it for a long time and wondered if she were enjoying herself in Brazil. He thought, I hope not. I hope she's having a lousy time. And was immediately ashamed of himself. When the limousine arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, the plane was waiting. It was a C20A, an Air Force jet. Captain Dougherty held out his hand. "Good luck Commander." "Thanks. I'll need it. Robert walked up the steps to the cabin. The crew was inside finishing the preflight check. There was a pilot, a copilot, a navigator, and a steward, all in Air Force un
Day Two0800 HoursThe next morning Robert approached a clerk behind the Europcar desk. "Guten Tag.”It was a reminder that he was in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. "Guten Tag. Do you have a car available?""Yes, sir, we do. How long will you be needing it?" Good question. An hour? A month? Maybe a year or two? "I'm not sure.""Do you plan to return the car to this airport?" "Possibly."The clerk looked at him strangely. "Very well. Will you fill out these papers, please?" Robert paid for the car with the special black credit card General Hilliard had given him. The clerk examined it, perplexed, then said, "Excuse me." He disappeared into an office, and when he returned, Robert asked, "Any problem?""No, sir. None at all."The car was a gray Opel Omega. Robert got onto the airport highway and headed for downtown Zurich. He enjoyed Switzerland. It was one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Years earlier he had skied there. In more recent times, he had carried out