Dawn of Defiance

by Dempsey, Albert

  Sitting back for a while, Kate thought about it.

  "I have a strategy that I think will work out perfectly. As soon as we're back I will set things in motion," she said.

  They all looked at her for a few seconds. She loved using that phrase.

  "By the way, I'm going back to Cape Town to personally head the uprising and to take the fight to the streets."

  "You're insane," Nicole replied.

  "Yes, I am, you think I’m serious, don't you? Well, that's good. I want the Police to think so too."

  Nathan started to understand her plan as they were both now on the same wavelength.

  Nicole, on the other hand, didn't understand what she was on about.

  "You better keep my brother out of this. Is that understood?" Nicole blasted her.

  "I'm not really going back Nicole, so don't worry."

  They walked back in silence, each one with their own thoughts. This time Kate walked in front. She was tired of watching them, always holding hands.

  It was getting late and she didn't feel like sleeping alone anymore. But once again, she had no choice.

  Chapter 35

  "I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals.

  Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder: "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode as our conqueror bent on conquest." (Revelations 6: 1-3)

  "For the love of God; I cannot tolerate this man anymore!" Vargän said to Lucia, referring to the Nigerian President who had dragged his heels in implementing the new ERP initiative in his native land.

  The Environmental Rejuvenation Program was instrumental in restoring balance between the natural environment and the man-made industrial complexes which had done untold damage worldwide. Nigeria, as with South Africa, had both become major contributors on the African Continent.

  Protecting the ozone was paramount in stabilizing the shift in global climates and to prevent the earth from heating up too much before it reversed and began its deep freeze, ending mankind's dominance over the planet forever.

  "It's not like they didn't know, for God sake! It's been common knowledge for the last twenty years."

  Lucia could tell Vargän was more than just upset.

  His African tour had been a complete disappointment, nothing much had changed there at all.

  The three day summit in Lagos had been totally unproductive. The African Union, which had joined the UWN, had not changed much over the last few years.

  They were still faced with the Egyptian and Israeli security crisis that had to be dealt with urgently, as the clock was ticking and time fast running out. The last thing they needed was another rocket attack on the temple which no doubt would ignite the already volatile situation. Lucia sensing that Vargän wanted to be alone to think sent everyone out of his office on board the UWN jet, en route back from Lagos. He could tell that Vargän had had enough. Another unsuccessful meeting with the Nigerian president, who had gotten a little confused as to his exact responsibilities.

  "Do we have to baby these Africans all the damn time?" Vargän vented.

  It was good for him to let off some steam. Progress had been slow, very slow, and the scientific news of late had been more than just alarming.

  Lucia put another cognac down next to Vargän.

  "In a democratic society, my friend, it takes forever to get anything done," Lucia said.

  How true, Vargän thought. A simple policy change could be held up for months, even years while committees implemented the paper work.

  "You need to start implementing a system that will speed the reformation process along," Lucia said. "And you know, we have spoken about this before." He took another sip of his cognac. "Because any failures will be catastrophic; humanity will need a strong hand, someone to guide them over the ravine of their own stupidity, and at the moment, that responsibility lies with the UWN."

  Vargän was very fond of Lucia; it was because he was not a politician, he spoke his mind, and he always took care of the little things. His old friend was right, and he knew that someday he would need to be more assertive. Vargän just sat, staring at his friend. The drone of the jet engines had a mesmerizing sound, almost calming.

  They sat in silence until they heard a knock on the cabin door. It was Lucia who got up to let her in. Belinda had a look on her face that preceded the message she held in her hand. She had been with his staff almost as long as Lucia could remember; she hesitantly handed him an envelope. He liked her efficiency and discretion - a valuable asset that made her irreplaceable. Vargän's left Helen his Liaison Officer/secretary back in Brussels, as he did not trust anyone else to take care of his office while he was away.

  "This has just come in. I know the Chancellor would want to see it," she said.

  He read it and then closed the door behind her.

  With the two of them alone again, Lucia sat on the sofa next to Vargän.

  "You're going to love this," he said as he handed him the note.

  Vargän read it twice, just to make sure, and then almost exploded. He picked up the phone to the captain's cabin.

  "Simon, please change course - we're going to Tel Aviv."

  Those damn Israelis, they have taken things too far this time, Vargän thought to himself.

  The pilot was accustomed to sudden changes in flight plans. As a standard UWN safety protocol they always flew fully loaded with fuel, regardless if it was a short trip or not.

  Vargän had told him once that he wanted to be a fighter pilot; it was then that Simon, Vargän’s personal UWN pilot told him of some of his missions during the Syrian campaigns that had toppled the dictatorial government of Asad.

  If that was not impressive enough, Vargän learned that Simon had been piloting a British Airways Boeing to New York when the nuclear bomb exploded. Luckily for them they were just over a hundred kilometers from JFK when it happened. The mushroom cloud signaled an event that would change the world forever, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki paled in comparison to the destruction on that fateful day.

  Both men had a deep respect for each another. Simon felt that piloting the presidential jet was his greatest achievement.

  The flight plan was always kept top-secret, yet with a change in direction warning bells would be ringing at UWN Military High Command in Brussels, who always had to know exactly where the Chancellor, who carried the nuclear launch codes, and his military attaché, were. Vargän was the only one authorized to launch a nuclear strike and all the codes had to be kept with him at all times. The Nuclear Lieutenant, as they called him, was always at the ready, his briefcase firmly handcuffed to his wrist.

  But the pilot knew the protocols, and made the necessary arrangements.

  "How would you handle the Israelis, Lucia? They want to retaliate against the Egyptians if we do nothing. Can you believe it; they want to go to war over a fucking temple?"

  "Sometimes they take it too far," Lucia replied.

  "You know the Israelis better than most; they're a tough bunch to negotiate with.

  After all we have done for them, I mean, when will they grow up? Humanity has progressed beyond worshiping ancient gods; we are not spiritual babies anymore."

  Vargän's cognac was almost finished, but Lucia decided enough was enough for his friend. Instead he poured himself one, it would be a long night.

  "If this is not resolved I fear we'll have another six day war on our hands, and this time I fear the Israelis will not prevail."

  Most members of the Arab league had already voiced their support for Egypt, except for Jordan who was on the brink of a civil revolt against the King.

  "My mother always had a saying regarding the Jews", Lucia said. "Rather make a deal with the Devil than a Jew."

  Vargän did not really like that. His mother was a Russian Jew by birth, but thank God not a practicing one. The thoughts racing through Vargän’s mind were troublesome.

 
He felt as if he was being taken for a fool, not just him alone but everything the UWN stood for. The other reports also weighed heavily on his mind.

  Yet, besides political mudslinging, a greater threat faced humanity; far more devastating than war. Reports suggested that even greater damage to the ozone had occurred, yet the factories of the east still spewed toxic waste into the atmosphere.

  "I feel that no matter what I say, they just go ahead and do what they want…..like a bunch of naughty kids in a classroom. As I turn my back, they begin misbehaving. What is it Lucia, don’t they realize how close we are to extinction?"

  "All they are interested in is making money and having a good time," Lucia replied. "That's it; all they want is more profit, regardless of the consequences. We are all doomed to fail if we do not change our way of thinking," he said standing up.

  "I’m going to get some sleep before we land, I’ll pray tomorrow is a better day," Vargän said, leaving for his sleeping chamber.

  Lucia remained in the office finishing his drink.

  The aircraft was now over the Mediterranean. Vargän looked at the sea below from his private cabin. The shimmering reflection of the moon on the water brought an inner calm to him, something he had not felt in ages. Strange he thought, for tomorrow I will go into battle with the Prime Minister of Israel and undoubtedly, the High Priest will prove to be the most challenging.

  Vargän lay down on his bed, he kicked his shoes off. Lately he began to think about Claudia more frequently, perhaps someone else should take over from him and he should spend more time with his own family. His schedule of the last few weeks had been very demanding; incessant meetings and the administrative demands of running an office had left him with very little time to spend with his family. He’d missed Katiyana's birthday again, for the second year running. But she accepted her father's responsibilities, and the perks that came with being his daughter.

  With the storm clouds now far below them, Simon started to relax a little; it would be another three hours before they touched down in Tel Aviv International. The air hostess popped her head in to take orders, both pilots had grown fond of her Hot Chocolate with extra cream.

  "So, how's the President doing back there?" Simon asked.

  "Trying not to disturb him, Captain, but I think he was sleeping last time I checked," she said.

  Lights from the towns and cities below shone through the gaps in the clouds. Yet ahead and at altitude a massive bank of cloud billowed.

  "At this altitude?" the co-pilot said, checking his instrumentation.

  Simon stared ahead in bewilderment; his instruments didn’t pick it up but it was too late to divert or to gain altitude.

  Without time to divert they braced themselves as the aircraft flew directly into the dark mass of cloud. Not until the last second did the Captain wish he’d gone around. The aircraft shook for a second or two then the cabin lights flickered out.

  Shit, this can’t be happening, he thought.

  A flicker of electro-static charge shimmered over the plane, temporarily disrupting communications and avionics. Then just as suddenly all was calm again as the instrument panels came on and the screens rebooted. Breathing out a sigh of relief, both pilots looked at each other. They had flown many times before and seen some crazy things; this was just another one to put to memory.

  Then a flash of lightning exploded around the plane as they entered the next cloud. Charges of electrons collided with each other; the aircraft shook more violently and suddenly started to ascend.

  "We're going up!" the co-pilot said in disbelief.

  Vargän shook awake from his deep sleep. But before he could strap himself in, the aircraft plummeted, as if it was being pushed down. The bulkhead above collided with Vargän's skull, sending him into blackness. By the time the aircraft stabilized, Belinda was already at the Chancellor's side, screaming for help. The first-aid she knew would not count for much in this situation.

  Further panic erupted, as Simon quickly banked the plane into a rapid, but controlled, descent to the nearest runway; the Leonardo Da Vinci airport, in Rome.

  Vargän's body had begun to spasm from shock; the gash on his head started to bleed profusely. With the airport and emergency services on standby, Simon prayed for a miracle. Vargän was far too important to humanity. It was entirely his fault; he should have avoided the cloud, even if it caused Vargän some discomfort.

  "Vargän is shaking, Captain, please hurry," Belinda said as Lucia stood behind her.

  They stabilized him by the time the aircraft touched down. It taxied to the emergency area where a fleet of medical staff was standing by. As soon as the doors opened two doctors rushed in to assess his condition.

  Simon just sat at the controls, he felt responsible. Seeing Vargän lifeless body being put into a stretcher and taken to the waiting ambulance was a dishonor to such a great man.

  Emergency personnel stared in shock at the helpless body been taken off the aircraft. Everyone knew Vargän Barchevski - after all, he was the people's champion, a true saint. The other injured flight personnel took second place until the most valuable cargo was offloaded. Even Lucia was flung from his chair by the turbulence causing injury to his eye.

  With sirens blaring, the ambulance and police escort rushed Vargän to St. Anne's; a Vatican controlled and financed hospital for training nuns and doctors. The facility was already on standby, numerous specialists were also on their way as this was by far the most important patient they had ever treated.

  The world held its breath as news stations went into overdrive. Each agency had their own panel of experts all evaluating Vargän’s condition. Most only speculated on the events that took place over the Mediterranean.

  Vargän's family had been flown to Rome by the UWN Secret Service who still tried to keep a lid on the incident and limit exposure to the media. An increasingly impossible task it seemed in light of numerous new eye-witness accounts given by emergency services personnel on the scene.

  Outside the Vatican the media had set up camp, as did thousands of supporters who lit candles and prayed to their saints. Yet, amongst all the chaos, hope prevailed, a hope that Vargän would survive.

  Doctors statements started to contradict themselves. First he suffered a head wound from the plane's bulkhead, which caused massive internal hemorrhaging of the brain, sending him into shock and ultimately into a coma.

  Then it was that he had “suffered a stroke, resulting from blood clots caused by massive internal bleeding from his wounds”. This was a trying time, not only for the family but for the political world in general, as many treaties and alliances still needed his approval and his signature as Chancellor of the United World of Nations.

  Much of the world waited in anticipation, yet the majority had very little hope that he would ever recover or even gain consciousness again. Specialists had all voiced concern that the likely hood of a full recover, if any was very slim indeed. Too much brain damage would leave him in a vegetative state. As with Princess Dianna, she too was a true humanitarian, a saint to many, bringing hope to the poor and to the starving. Yet Vargän brought more than just hope; he brought real solutions to the people on the ground that needed it the most.

  The gravity of the situation was truly felt when the Pope gave a special mass at the Vatican.

  "A true man of the people, a child of God," he said.

  Thousands attended with candles singing and praying. Humanity was truly united in prayer. Not only Christians, but religions everywhere held special prayer services.

  The next day the Barchevski family was honored when the Pope arrived at St Anne’s Hospital with his entourage to lay hands on Vargän. Yet the Pope did not stay long, he too was ushered away by his aides, no doubt in preparation of the announcements to come. All that remained now was for the machines that kept Vargän's body alive; to be switched off as doctors had already confirmed that he was technically brain dead.

  Even the clouds darkened over Rome. Some even fel
t tremors deep beneath the ground and believed the earth itself mourned and wept with the people. Leaders from all over the world sent their envoys to Rome in preparation.

  Lucia was the first to know, as he had remained at Vargän's side when Claudia and Katiyana took a rest. In the early hours of Monday morning, Vargän expelled his last breath and the heart monitors flat-lined, signaling his death.

  It was traumatic for the doctors and nursing staff watching at a distance, paying respect to a fallen hero. There was nothing else they could do but hope and pray as they looked helplessly at the great man plugged into so many life support machines.

  It was all over.

  Lucia knew he had to break the news to the family, yet he did not want to believe what had just happened. With no idea of what to say, Lucia nevertheless prepared himself, slowly making his way to the private waiting room where Claudia and Katiyana were resting. The constant tone of the flat-line buzzer was haunting; a clear signal that Vargän Barchevski, Chancellor of the UWN, was no more.

  Lucia hesitated for a moment, he still could not believe it, but he realized that we all die and he had to accept that his friend had gone. Slowly he turned back for one last look before he left the room, he too was in shock. He had not foreseen this.

  But then…… a single beep….and, to everyone's surprise, a second. Doctors swarmed around Vargän, trying to understand what was happening. Then another beep and another constant beep, until Vargän suddenly took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The heart machine bounced back to life again as the medical staff looked on in disbelief.

  Was this a miracle? Had God finally answered the prayers of the multitude?

  Lucia heard the beeps and quickly dashed back towards Vargän but he couldn’t get close as the doctors converged around Vargän. Yet in the chaos he did manage get a glimpse of his old friend. Vargän's eyes were fixed on the ceiling in a gaze, it was then that Lucia suddenly stopped.

  Coldness raced up and down his spine as Lucia felt a sudden chill in the room.