Max & Olivia Box Set
Page 64
‘That’s right,’ said Bronwyn. ‘This is what we want you to do. Once Monya realises that you still have the original Gutenberg, you will arrange the exchange for Penny to take place in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. The Queen Mary 2 is there on the 14 January, which by coincidence is Monya’s birthday and the deadline he set for you. In order to smuggle the Bible out of New Zealand, we expect Monya will travel there on his super yacht.’
Stephen coughed nervously, which indicated to Max and Olivia that he was uncomfortable with what Bronwyn was going to say next.
‘Novichok can be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder and can be absorbed via skin contact. Once you have made the arrangements for the exchange, we want you to smear the Bible with the agent. You are to encourage him to touch it and turn its pages, thus sealing his fate. The dose we have prepared is of high purity, but we have altered it, so it won’t take effect for four to five hours, after which it’s fatal. If all goes to plan, Monya will die at sea on his way back from New Zealand. If the gods are with us, it will be in his sleep.’
‘Won’t we be infected?’ asked Olivia.
‘Possibly.’
‘Is there an antidote?’
‘No.’ From a draw in her desk, Bronwyn produced two leather cases. Opening them, each contained a single stainless-steel canister. The two separate components of Novichok. She pushed one to Max and the other to Olivia. ‘You must keep the ingredients apart until you’re ready. Don’t mix it on board the Queen because the ramifications are too horrific to even consider. Prepare it on the day you are to meet Monya but do it somewhere out in the open and well away from people. The residual will mix and disperse harmlessly in the atmosphere. If you wear a surgical mask and gloves, you should be safe, but behave as if infected. That is, Monya must have the Bible within four hours. Remember he has to touch it with his bare hands, so you can’t use gloves yourselves.’
Olivia wondered for a second before asking, ‘What if we don’t want to kill him.’
It was Stephen who answered, ‘The decision will be entirely yours, but remember what we have said. I ask you both in all sincerity: if you had the opportunity to stop World War III, wouldn’t you take it?’ He knew that they would know that he was trying to manipulate them but it didn’t matter because his statement carried moral weight. ‘The choice will be yours, and always yours.’
‘And Penny?’ Max asked Bronwyn, ignoring Stephen.
‘The FBI has found her through the use of good old-fashioned police work. An obscure trust, linked to one of Monya’s many commercial interests, purchased a multi-million-dollar property on Motuarohia, a small isle in The Bay of Islands. Subsequent satellite imagery and surveillance confirmed that she’s there. We think it best that you negotiate her release with Monya, in exchange for the Bible but we will be there, ready to get her out if anything goes wrong.’
Max rubbed his head. None of this feels right, he thought, strategically or morally. He asked, ‘Bronwyn, if Penny is in the Bay of Islands, when we tell him that’s where the exchange is to take place, wouldn’t Monya twig that we know?’
‘Of course. The exchange taking place in the Bay of Islands is a message, intended to encourage Monya to keep his side of the bargain. Men like Monya are narcissistic and arrogant; he believes he can act with impunity thinking that we wouldn’t dare touch him. Signalling our knowledge will help Penny and we don’t think Monya will move her. He thinks he’s unique, superior to the rest of us. We need to demonstrate otherwise’
Without allowing Max or Olivia to respond, she said, ‘There are two final things. First, Lucia will travel with you from Barcelona to New Zealand and secondly,’ she stopped halfway through the sentence. From the same draw from which she had taken the Novichok, she produced two small plastic containers. Opening one, she took out its single capsule, holding it so they could see. ‘A modern version of a cyanide pill. Quick and painless, preferable to a death by Novichok.’ She slid them across to Stephen before saying to Max and Olivia, ‘The fate of the free world is in your hands.’
Max and Olivia looked at the canisters of nerve agent they were holding and then to the cyanide pills. The meeting was over.
* * *
For no particular reason, Max waited until their second night back on board the Queen Mary 2 before dialling the number Monya had supplied. The phone only rang three times before Monya’s voice answered.
‘Hello, Max or Olivia.’
The pickup and greeting told Max that only they had this number; That must mean something, but I’m not sure what.
The tense conversation lasted twenty-five minutes. Monya told Max that, but for the forgery, Penny would be free, to which Max had replied, ‘No one gave you a forgery; your goons stole it. We trusted you, Monya, to keep your word but you lied.’ Monya denied his deception, reiterating that Penny would be free if he had the genuine article. Instead of perpetuating what he considered to be a fruitless argument, Max went silent. Following the pause Monya changed his tone, reverting back to his normal charming manner.
‘You’re a wily old fox, Max. I tell my men not to underestimate you and Olivia and look what happens, I’ve done it myself. Let’s start again, shall we? We both have something the other wants and, as a sign of trust, I’ll let you set the terms of the trade.’ With some reluctance, Max did as Stephen and Bronwyn had wanted and, when he told Monya the date and place, he had added, ‘Consider it a birthday present.’ Monya replied, ‘Did you know the Bay of Islands was once known as the “Hellhole of the Pacific”, a lawless place? I hope that’s not an ominous sign.’
By the end of the conversation, they’d confirmed that Penny would be released before he or Olivia brought the Bible on board Monya’s yacht. The actual time and location would be agreed the morning that the Queen anchored in the bay. If Monya had been concerned about the exchange taking place where Penny was being held, he didn’t let on. Later, Max said to Olivia that it was as if The Bay of Islands had been his plan all along.
The voyage from Barcelona to New Zealand wasn’t direct, with the ship visiting ports in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and finally Australia en route. Being satisfied that they had securely hidden the Gutenberg, in case Monya planned another visit, Max and Olivia, along with Lucia, made it a habit of disembarking at each port they docked. Olivia was insistent that they remain active, to be as fit and agile as possible for the encounter ahead. Although Max tried after losing his stick in the scooter chase, in the end, he replaced it with another one to help him walk.
The long voyage gave ample time for Max to ruminate, pondering the moral and ethical dilemma he faced. Should he assassinate Monya? There was no question in his mind, if it was to be done, he would do it. The thought of Olivia being poisoned by the nerve agent and then swallowing the cyanide pill to put herself out of misery was something he couldn’t bear. It was also impossible for them to die together in what some people may consider a romantic ending because someone had to be with Penny. After nights of argument, Olivia had conceded that she would go for Penny while he took the Bible to Monya. Max wouldn’t accept her decision until she gave him her half of the Novichok. From that point, Monya’s life now rested with Max alone.
It was the night before they were due to arrive in the Bay of Islands. The Queen had sailed from Auckland for its final destination in New Zealand, before crossing the Tasman Sea to Sydney, Australia. Olivia had gone to bed, but Max had been unable to sleep. Instead, he went up on deck, finding himself a quiet spot. It was a warm night with a mild breeze and, above, a cloudless sky revealed a heavenly display of shining stars, reflecting the wonders of the universe, contrasting with the blackness of the ocean. Holding one of the canisters of nerve agent, lost in his own thoughts, Max leaned against the ship’s railing. ‘Can I join you?’ he heard Lucia saying, bringing him back to the present. He turned his head towards her voice, smiling when he saw her. She looked at his hand holding the poison and said, ‘You could just open the lid and let it blow away.’
I was thinking one canister at a time,’ she laughed and Max’s thoughts once more drifted away. Lucia waited a moment before saying, ‘Would you like to talk about it?’
Max shifted slightly so he could face her, ‘Have you ever heard of counterfactuals?’ Lucia shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s where writers and historians imagine what would have happened if an event never happened. For instance, if Adolf Hitler had been assassinated or never born. A German pastor and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a man of immense faith, decided to assassinate Hitler, but failed and was executed by the Nazis. Few people doubt his decision was wrong. Hitler was indeed a monster but it is Bronwyn’s words that are weighing heavily on my mind when she said, “The international order we have known since World War II, and the freedoms we have known under our liberal democracies are at risk.” What if Dietrich Bonhoeffer had succeeded? Would we have had this period of relative peace and prosperity?’ He went silent for a moment before saying. ‘How do I weigh the greater evil? What would you do?’
‘I’m not influenced by your religious beliefs, but I can understand why you search for the greater good. As you once told me, there are no moral absolutes and, instead, you must search your heart.’ She looked out to sea before engaging his eyes once more. ‘I can’t tell you what you should do, only what I will do. Whatever your decision, tomorrow I will be there to carry the Bible onto Monya’s yacht with you.’ Seeing that Max was about to disagree, she lifted her hand to silence him, leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek, before walking away. Lucia stopped and turned after walking a few steps and said. ‘Have you wondered how they sourced the Novichok? The same nerve agent that almost killed Jana, one that could only have been manufactured in Russia!’ Not wanting a reply, she turned, leaving Max to stare once more into the distance.
* * *
It was a beautiful morning and, from their balcony, Olivia watched as they glided past some of the outer islands. Cruise ships can’t dock in the Bay of Islands. Instead, they drop anchor, and the passengers are taken ashore by tender. Calling to Max who was still inside their cabin, she said, ‘What a sight it must be to see our regal Queen coming in.’
Max often marvelled at Olivia’s ability to find beauty in the darkest of times. He smiled to himself but kept quiet.
The exchange was arranged for 3.00pm that afternoon. Olivia would meet Penny on Paihia jetty and would radio Max using the walkie-talkies they had bought after meeting Jack and Charlee to keep in contact with each other while moving about the ship. Max would be waiting with Lucia at Russell, a small village, a short ferry ride away. Surprisingly, Monya had seemed elated to learn that Lucia, his Claudia, would be accompanying Max. Once given the OK from Olivia, he would board a dinghy for the short ride to Monya’s yacht. As a precaution, Max had told Monya that he would be waiting on a jetty and, if Penny wasn’t released, would drop the Gutenberg into the ocean.
Max, armed with the two canisters, cyanide pill and the Bible in his backpack, took an earlier tender to Paihia, leaving Lucia and Olivia still on board the Queen. Having given up trying to resolve his moral dilemma, because intellectually at least, using the “Lesser Evil”, the “Greater Good”, or “Moral Absolutism”, he could arrive at any answer he wanted but he didn’t know what that was. He had intended to mix the ingredients before catching the ferry across to Russell, but instead, he sat quietly in a café listening to other people’s mundane conversations. How much simpler life would be, he thought, if that were him. Still undecided he left the café making his way to the ferry.
At Russell, he found a picnic table away from the beach, where he didn’t think he would be seen. First, he put on the latex gloves he was carrying and then the surgical mask. He had been keeping the canisters separate by having one in each pocket. Placing them on the table in front of him, he decided that this is where he would mix them. He sighed, then opened the lids. If he had hoped they would be empty, he was disappointed as each contained a white powder. Carefully, he lifted one of the canisters, quickly pouring its contents into the other, then covering it and securing it with its lid. Removing his mask, he shook the contents. Inside, a deadly nerve agent came alive.
Max found a small jetty, giving him an unobstructed view should anyone approach, not far from where he was to meet Monya’s dinghy. He glanced at his watch, 2.45pm, where was Lucia? It was 2.55pm when he saw someone, not Lucia but Olivia making her way to the dinghy pick-up point. Grabbing his walkie-talkie, he called, ‘Olivia.’ Rather than Olivia, Lucia replied.
‘Sorry, Max, she wanted me to be here to protect Penny and how could I argue? That’s one stubborn woman.’ Max knew that what she was saying was true and how much he loved that stubborn woman.
‘Hang on, I see her,’ Lucia said over the radio. Waving, Lucia rushed towards Penny, who didn’t recognise her. A look of panic spreading over her face. ‘It’s alright, I’m with Max and Olivia. Max is on the radio, here,’ Lucia held the walkie-talkie out for Penny to take.
‘Granddad?’ Max heard and a lump formed in his throat. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he struggled to reply. ‘Granddad,’ Penny said again.
‘I’m here, Penny. I’m just crying, that’s all. Are you OK?’
‘Yes, yes, I’m fine now. I knew you would come. Where’s Grandma?’
With the same words, “I knew you would come”, which a young Lucia had once said to him, he broke down again. Gathering himself together, he realised that Olivia was moving towards Monya’s dinghy. ‘I’m sorry my love, we can’t be with you until later. We have something to take care of first. We trust Lucia with our lives and so must you.’ He put the walkie-talkie back inside his pocket and began making his way to the boat. ‘Granddad, are you there? Granddad,’ he could hear Penny calling as he walked.
‘Good afternoon, Max,’ greeted Randolph as he reached the boat. ‘Lady Olivia is waiting for you.’ Seeing Randolph made Max feel that Monya might actually honour his word and let Penny remain free. It was a short ten-minute ride to the super yacht and they made for the docking station built into its side. With the help of Randolph and another crew member, Olivia and Max were soon on board. Monya was waiting for them in the dining room.
‘Max, Olivia, my friends, how wonderful to see you again,’ Monya said, disingenuously, pointing to the vacant chairs next to him at the table. ‘Wine,’ he called to a waiter. ‘Do you have it, the Bible?’ Max tilted his head towards his backpack. ‘Randolph, help Max with that.’ Carefully, Randolph manoeuvred the straps so that Max could free his arms before he lifted the pack off him and placed it on the table. Max unzipped the bag, shaking it until the Bible slipped out. One of the rarest books in the world lay on the table, in front of them. Monya studied Max before saying,
‘You look worried.’
Max sighed. ‘You have what you want, but what will happen to Olivia, Penny and me?’
Monya’s face broke into a grin and he placed his arm on Max’s shoulder. ‘Comrade Max and Olivia, you are my friends and the Brotherhood will be your protector. Penny, as promised, will win the lottery. I even free Claudia, her life is spared. Max, my friend, you have done the impossible and achieved what I couldn’t. You found it.’ Looking at the Bible in front of Max, he said, ‘It’s beautiful and even more magnificent than I had imagined. Have you opened it?’
‘No.’
‘Randolph, the gloves.’
Randolph handed Monya two sets of white gloves. When Max looked at them, Monya asked, ‘Would you like to touch it first before we put the gloves on? We could caress it, just this once.’
Olivia wanted to scream out ‘don’t,’ as Max closed his eyes and stroked the front cover of the Gutenberg, using his fingers to trace the embossments, while gently shaking his head as if experiencing a moment of euphoria. Removing his hands, he smiled, pushing the Bible towards Monya who copi
ed what Max had just done. Monya then opened the Gutenberg.
‘Max, it’s glorious. Look at it. I know you understand. Those who don’t have a love, a true passion for books, wouldn’t appreciate what it is to own such a wonder. He ran the back of his hand over the vellum page. ‘Go on,’ he offered. Max did the same. Then he shut the Bible saying, ‘Gloves from now on. Randolph, take it to my room.’ Randolph put on a set of the white gloves before taking it away. Max and Olivia shared in a couple of glasses of wine before Randolph was summoned to take them back to Russell. Instead, Max asked that they should be dropped at the jetty near the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
Olivia didn’t ask the question that was in her mind because it didn’t matter. Instead, she fondled her cyanide capsule to ensure it was still in her pocket while she walked quietly beside the man she had always loved. She sat down next to him and with the light slowly fading, they looked out over the bay together.
‘It’s the end of a beautiful day,’ he said.
Instead of answering, Olivia let her weary head come to rest against his shoulder. As the light slowly faded; in the glow of the moon and the shine of the stars, it wasn’t dark.
The End
Disclaimer
Operation OBE is a work of fiction and uses actual events to supplement its story. However, these occurrences are not intended to be historically or chronologically accurate.
About the Author
Born in London (UK) I moved to Australia aged nine with my parents. After completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree, I became a Police Officer before undertaking further studies to become a Psychologist and then investigating child abuse for the Department of Health and Human services. I went on to have a wonderful and varied career, working with people with disabilities and then youth.
With a passionate interest in health, I was fortunate to become the Deputy Chair of Latrobe Regional Hospital, Chair of Latrobe Community Health Service and a Director on the Boards of Gippsland Primary Health Network and Gippsland Medicare Local.