Doomsday

12. The Eye of the Storm

Kurt Carpenter was at his desk in C Block when there was a rap on the door and Becca Levy poked her head in.

“They are here.”

“Send them in.” Carpenter rose to greet the three men. “I’m glad you made it.” Patrick Slayne had a three-day growth on his chin, and his suit had the rumpled look of clothes that had been slept in. “Kurt,” he said warmly as they clasped hands. “It’s good to see you again.”

“How bad was it out there?”

Slayne claimed an easy chair and crossed one leg over the other. “The worst was New York City. We barely made it out.”

“Yes. Becca relayed your message. You actually saw the missile hit?”

“Mr. Kapur and his friend saw more than I did. I was too busy driving.” Carpenter turned to Deepak Kapur. “Thank God you’re alive. I consider you essential to our survival.”

“So Mr. Slayne has told me. But I must be honest. I’m not pleased at how he dragged me from my office and forced me to accompany him whether I wanted to or not.”

“We talked this all out when I came to New York to meet you. I made everything plain.”

“Please, Mr. Carpenter. Don’t be condescending. You came to New York for the specific purpose of recruiting me. You persuaded me to become part of your Endworld Protocol, as you call it. But my heart was never in it and you knew that.” Deepak indicated Slayne. “That’s why you sent your pit bull.” Slayne arched an eyebrow. “You’re alive, aren’t you? A lot aren’t. Count your blessings.”

“Yes, yes, I appreciate that fact,” Deepak assured him. “But this is still hard for me. I wasn’t given time to say good-bye to my parents. I wasn’t permitted to go home and get some things I would dearly love to have brought. I was shanghaied, for lack of a better word. And I resent that.” Carpenter leaned back and made a tent of his fingers. “I’m sorry to hear it. I truly am. If you feel that strongly, you can leave.”

“Just like that?” Deepak snapped his fingers.

“No one is forced to stay against his or her will. But I warn you, the initial stages of the war have been mild compared to what is to come. So far the superpowers have been content with launching a few select strikes. But all-out war will soon begin, and when it does, few outside the walls of this compound will be safe.”

“You exaggerate. Not every city in America will be nuked. Many rural areas will get little if any fallout. There’s the military with Cheyenne Mountain and the like, and those who have their own shelters. Plus all those who live in remote regions.” Deepak shook his head. “Many millions will be perfectly safe.”

“You’re forgetting the biological and chemical weapons.” Carpenter sought to set him straight. “Don’t think they won’t be used, treaties or no treaties. Once they are, life beyond these walls will become a hell we can’t imagine.”

“I have a good imagination,” Deepak said dryly.

“It sounds to me as if you could use some rest. Or would you like a hot meal first?” Alf Richardson rubbed his belly. “Did I hear food? Mister, lead me to the trough. All we’ve had the whole trip were candy bars and beef jerky. I am so hungry for real food I’d eat a cow raw.” He stood and poked Deepak. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go.”

Deepak rose and turned to go. “Don’t misunderstand. I appreciate the extra effort you went to on my behalf. But we have important matters to discuss later.”

“As you wish.”

The moment the door closed behind them, Patrick Slayne sighed. “What’s up with him? He’s been like that the whole way.”

Carpenter held up a finger, pressed a button, and said into an intercom, “Becca, would you kindly show Mr. Kapur and his friend around? Whatever they need, see that they get it.”

“Of course, sir.”

Carpenter sat back. “Do you remember when we first met, Patrick? I made an appointment to meet with you and explained my plans for the compound? I wanted to hire the best there were to do the designs and oversee the construction, and you went one step further. You wanted to be part of the Endworld Protocol, and I made you Chief of Home Security.”

“I knew war was inevitable.”

“I felt the same. Which is why this compound exists. But as Mr. Kapur just pointed out, he never fully believed. Oh, I convinced him to sign on, but I could tell he might prove to be a bother later on.”

“Then why waste your energy? Why didn’t you recruit someone else to do what he does?”

“For the same reason I went to your firm. I wanted the best, and what that man doesn’t know about computers and their operating systems isn’t worth knowing.”

“Still,” Slayne said, “I saw his file, remember? Diana says he could cause disharmony in the group.” Slayne paused. “Where is she, by the way? Did she make it?”

“As a matter of fact, Dr. Trevor arrived late last night. She was suffering from exhaustion, but otherwise she’s fine. As for Mr. Kapur, I admit his psych profile is borderline. But in time I expect him to come around to our way of thinking.”

Slayne gestured at the computer on Carpenter’s desk. “How much use do you expect to get out of him, anyhow?”

“You tell me. You oversaw our EMP shielding. Plus we have enough fuel for our generators to last years.”

“All right. Enough about him. Where do we stand with personnel? How many have checked in?”

“The total stands at ninety-seven. We’re missing three singles. The fifteen couples and their families all arrived safely, thank goodness. They’re the core. The last to show up was Soren Anderson and his family, about nine o’clock this morning.”

“The construction guy?”

Carpenter nodded. “We have a bigger worry. I’ve lost contact with Ben Thomas. The last we heard from him, he was stopping at a place called Smelterville.”

“You should have left that to me instead of sending me after Kapur. Relying on a freelance was asking for trouble.”

“Thomas came highly recommended. I made a judgment call. Don’t be offended.”

“After all you spent on the SEAL.”

“I know. I know. It’s critically important that we have it. I pray to God Thomas shows up.”

“God?” Slayne said and indulged in a rare grin. “Haven’t you been listening to the news? God is on vacation. The devil is running things.”

“Ironic, isn’t it?”

“What is? The end of the world? That we were smart enough to see it coming but too stupid to stop it?”

“It’s ironic that for all our accomplishments, for all our sophistication and culture, our arts and science and engineering, we shoot ourselves in the head with our hate.”

“What’s so sophisticated about a species that can’t get along? You don’t see dolphins nuking each other.” Carpenter chuckled, and rose. “I suppose you want to eat and rest after your long drive.”

“No. I want to take a look around. I can sleep after the war is over.”

“We’ll take that look together. I need to stretch my legs.”

They emerged from C Block into a chill gust of wind. Roiling black clouds darkened the horizon. In the fat distance vivid streaks of lightning lanced the firmament.

“Just what we need,” Kurt Carpenter said.

Various vehicles were parked in rows near the inner moat on the west side of the compound. The drawbridge was down and would stay down until Carpenter gave the order for lockdown. Scores of people were milling about or clustered in small groups and talking in hushed tones. Many fidgeted and cast anxious glances at the heavens.

“They know it won’t be long.”

Carpenter stared at the gathering storm. “I hope to God I don’t get them killed.”

“It’s a little late to second-guess yourself.”

“I know. But I’m human, aren’t I? I shudder to think what will happen if we haven’t covered every contingency.”

Slayne put a hand on his shoulder. “Relax. You’ve thought of everything. From food stockpiles to weapons and ammo to radiation gear to biohazard suits, we’re as prepared as we can be.” A small yellow ball rolled toward them and stopped near their feet. A little girl followed it. She scooped it up, then saw Carpenter and froze as if transfixed. Her mother hurried over and rook her by the shoulders.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Carpenter.”

“That’s quite all right, Mrs. Reynolds.” Carpenter noticed with amusement that they kept looking at him as they walked off. “What on earth was that all about?”

From behind them came a contralto female voice. “You’re the Great Prophet. They hold you in awe.” Both men turned. “Professor Trevor!” Carpenter smiled warmly and embraced her. “I expected you to sleep until evening.”

“It’s the end of the world as we know it. I don’t want to miss any more than I absolutely have to.” Diana had on a clean green blouse and jeans. She held out her hand. “Patrick.” Slayne shook it. “Diana.”

“I’m glad to see you made it.”

“I had special incentive.”

“Anyone I know?”

Slayne looked into her eyes. “Looked in a mirror today?”

“Come see me tonight. We’ll look in it together.” Kurt Carpenter cleared his throat. “What was that nonsense about my being held in awe? I trust you were joking.”

“Look around you. Haven’t you noticed the stares? Or how nervous they are around you?” Diana swept an arm toward the drawbridge and the walls. “This is all your doing. You’re the mastermind, the guiding genius. This place wouldn’t exist except for you. They look up to you. They revere you. And yes, some even hold you in awe.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s human nature.”

Carpenter began to reply, but just then Slayne’s cell jingled. “Excuse me.” He moved to one side and answered it.

“Hello, Arthur. Yes, this might be our last contact for a while. The atmospheric disturbance will be severe and we can’t predict how long it will last. Stick to the plan. Get to Switzerland, to the shelter under the chateau. Stay there until it’s over, and if you can, take up the reins. Yes, yes, try to contact me then. With any luck at all—” Slayne stopped. “Arthur? Arthur?”

“Who was that?” Diana asked.

“Arthur Banning, Vice President of Tekco. He was in London on a stopover. The line went dead.” Carpenter said, “It’s amazing he even got through.” A gust of wind struck Carpenter, drawing his gaze to the approaching thunderhead. “Say. Do either of you notice anything strange about that storm front?” Slayne and Diana looked.

“What are those flashes of light high up in the clouds? See them? The purple and green that comes and goes. That’s not lightning.” Carpenter turned to Slayne. “Would you be so kind as to get everyone into their assigned bunkers and then join me in C Block?”

“Consider it done.”

Diana watched Slayne hurry off. “Ever notice how he moves? Just like a leopard or a jaguar.” Carpenter’s mouth curved. “No, I can’t say as I have.”

“It’s about to hit the fan, isn’t it? The moment you’ve been waiting for.”

“The moment I’ve been dreading, Diana. All I’ve done, all my preparations, are about to be put to the test, and I honestly don’t know if it’s enough.”

A purple streak lit the sky, but there was no boom of thunder. The wind began to whistle and shriek. Carpenter watched his followers scurry for cover. “These people have put their lives in my hands. What if I get them killed?”

“Didn’t I hear Patrick say something about not second-guessing yourself? You’ve done all you can. Now we ride it out and pray for the best.”

“I thought you were agnostic?”

“What’s that old saying? In a foxhole—and when the world comes to an end—there aren’t any agnostics or atheists. There are only believers, wetting themselves.”

Carpenter gave the world a last scrutiny. The end of days had come. He supposed he should feel pleased his dire predictions had proven true but it was hard to get excited over what might prove to be the death knell of an entire planet. “How could we do this to ourselves?” The dark clouds and the purple flashes now filled half the sky and swept toward the compound like a swarm of ethereal demons.

Slayne was hastening a few stragglers toward the bunkers. “A penny for your thoughts?”

“You can have them for free, Diana.” Carpenter nodded at the atmospheric upheaval. “The human race has rolled the dice on its existence, and the dice have come up snake eyes.”