THE LIGHT WE LOST: a gripping thriller

by Valera Titov

  “You struck it lucky, didn’t you?” questioned Dirk Lange.

  “What do you mean?” asked Glory.

  “We have received orders from the Oval Office to transport you there with immediate effect,” said Scott Rogers.

  Glory swallowed hard.

  “The Oval Office… That is the No 1’s office.”

  “Yeah, the orders to transport you there came directly from the office of US President John Carmichael III,” commented Scott.

  Dirk Lange moved over to the lounge window and out of routine, lifted the curtain to make sure that there was nobody listening to their conversation. “Ms Falcon, while you are packing an overnight bag of clothes of toiletries, you don’t mind if we checked the house?” he asked.

  “I mean we would hate to have been here for a few hours only to find out afterwards that Adam Kennedy is hiding in your fridge,” he joked.

  Glory produced a forced laugh. If only the agent knew how close he was to the truth. She said a little silent prayer for Adam, hoping that the powers above would protect him.

  “Sure, by all means, have a look around,” responded Glory.

  Agent Scott Rogers turned to his colleague, Dirk Lange.

  “Let me check upstairs, you check downstairs.”

  Dirk agreed and soon the FBI men were walking through the house checking cupboards and any other potential hiding places.

  Dirk checked some of the downstairs’ rooms and eventually made his way to the kitchen.

  Please, Lord. Glory thought to herself. About three minutes went by before Dirk returned to the lounge.

  Scott Rogers joined him there a few minute later.

  “All clean on my side. Agent Lange, what about you?” asked the African-American agent.

  “Clean as a whistle on my side too,” remarked Dirk.

  Glory was upstairs packing her overnight bag, but the agents were speaking loud enough for her to hear everything.

  Glory didn’t know exactly where Adam was until she heard a slight whistle from near her bedroom window. She glanced outside and there was Adam Kennedy, gripping for dear life onto the stairs of the porch railings. Adam winked at her as if to say send regards to the US No 1.

  Glory blew a kiss to him and shut the curtains. At least she knew that Adam was safe. So was his artifact and its secret. After-all, she didn’t have a chance to discuss it with him, let alone the FBI agents.

  “Ms Falcon, we really have to go now,” bellowed Agent Dirk Lange from downstairs.

  “We will travel via helicopter to the mainland and climb on an aircraft to take us to Washington D.C.”

  Glory gave Joey a hug. She knew that her twins were in good hands.”

  Wow, she thought, little Glory Falcon on her way to meet with the US President! Who would ever have thought?

  The FBI agents walked Glory to a yellow Ford Mustang vehicle parked at the front of the property.

  Dirk Lange opened the rear door for her to climb in and shut it after her, while Scott Rogers placed Glory’s luggage in the boot.

  As the vehicle pulled off from its parked position, she looked back at the Falcon home. Did she hope to see Adam Kennedy waving at her? No, she wanted one final look as she wasn’t sure if she would ever see the mansion again. Planet X was her enemy, not the FBI.

  Another few minutes passed and before she knew it, Glory was air bound inside a military helicopter that was taking her to the mainland.

  She looked out of the window and what she saw was darkness, which reminded her of her endless hours of staring out into space through the various telescopes that she had worked with. How far off was Armageddon? How safe were the spaceships? Could the US military trust their Russian counterparts? How safe was the ‘Corridor’?

  Like Glory and Adam had said earlier to each other, there were so many unanswered questions. How Glory wished that the US President would be able to answer some of them, but her gut feeling told her otherwise. It seemed that the US President wanted answers from her.

  As for Adam Kennedy – initially he was her saviour and lover and now he was in her past, but she still had his back. Between Adam, Alan, and Glory, they held the keys to the ‘Corridor’ more than the US or Russian military ever would.

  Glory Falcon again glanced out of the helicopter window into the darkness. The darkness seemed to be a part of her life, except for that blinding light!

  She hadn’t experienced it for a while: would it come back to haunt her? Was her destiny within the ‘Corridor’?

  Chapter Eleven

  No man is an island

  Glory Falcon felt like she was a ticking time bomb. Time was ticking not only as far as her life was concerned but for the whole of the human race!

  If Planet X smashed into Planet Earth before all forms of human life had been evacuated, then it was all over.

  The state-of-the-art US military jet that was transporting her and a handful of FBI agents to Washington D.C. allowed her to receive and take phone calls, although this was done with the ever watchful FBI men close at hand.

  The gorgeous brunette’s phone rang on three occasions. How she hoped that the caller was her husband, Alan Falcon, who was heavily involved in the space program at Cape Canaveral, but it was not to be.

  Likewise, how she hoped that the caller was not her former lover Adam Kennedy, who was now one of the FBI’s most wanted men, as the US government believed that his search for an artifact in the Amazon, may be a crucial link to the Strongholds program.

  The US's plan was to move all forms of human life via space ships to Mars, the moon and various other places of safety.

  The distance from Cape Canaveral north of Cocoa Beach where Glory, husband Alan and her twins lived, to Camp David, the safe-hold of the US President, was around 8,119 miles. The distance was a little shorter though, as Glory and the FBI men had been airlifted by helicopter from Cocoa Beach to the mainland and then placed in the jet from Florida on route to the Presidential place of safety.

  “Hi Debbie,” said Glory down her Tablet mobile device.

  “I am sorry for being so scarce. Things are just happening so quickly. You won’t believe where I am now?”

  Deborah Summers, a University of Chicago student colleague with Glory, teased her friend.

  “Let me guess, you are about to take off in a space ship to the moon from Cape Canaveral?” replied Deborah.

  Deborah’s call was just what Glory Falcon needed to uplift her spirits. The FBI had accused her of with-holding information on the space program and also of not revealing where Adam Kennedy was hiding out. Admittedly, she had helped Adam to make a quick getaway when the Feds searched her house in Cocoa Beach, but she did not know more about the space program or Planet X.

  “No, silly, I am in a jet on my way to meet with the US President,” said Glory, whose remark caused some stern looks to come her way from the FBI agents, who thought that her comment may lead to a security breach.

  “Yeah right, Glory, and I am married to the Pope,” joked Deborah.

  “No, really, Debbie, the FBI thinks that I am with-holding information on the space program and Planet X. I told them that I am not, but they don’t believe me. The next thing, they got an order from President John Carmichael III to transport me to the White House. Although, with the Planet X issue, I would imagine that I am on my way to Camp David instead.”

  The FBI agents nodded among each other as if to say that the girl was no fool. The plane had been rerouted to Camp David, where President Carmichael was waiting for his guest.

  When Glory had finished her chit chat with Deborah, she received an earful from Senior FBI Agent Corban Jackson.

  “Ms Falcon, do you realize the danger that you are placing on the President and your own life by telling the world where both of you are being kept for your own safety?”

  Glory looked lost for words. She had meant no harm and knew that Deborah wouldn’t tell anyone.

  As she was about to respond, the jet took a slight descent in
altitude and the passengers were requested to be seated as the pilot prepared the plane for its landing.

  Ten minutes later, Glory Falcon, accompanied by the FBI travelers, stepped out of the cabin and on to land. Glory checked her wristwatch. It was nearly 05h10 and the sun was still low. She looked around the airstrip tarmac area and there were FBI agents in suits as far as the eye could see. She guessed there were about one hundred security men gazing at her.

  An FBI agent ushered her into a vehicle and she was driven to the main building of Camp David. From her school days, she knew quite a bit about Camp David, as most Americans should. The area was about 62 miles north-north west of Washington D.C. and in the forest-like Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont, Maryland.

  Building of Camp David started back in 1935 and was completed four years later. It received its name from former US President Dwight E Eisenhower, whose father and grandson were both named David.

  For safety and security reasons, very little is revealed publicly about the area, but it is known that the main house has an underground bunker where the US President and his family plus VIPs can be sheltered in times of attack.

  Once at the main house, Glory was led to a study area and once inside, she looked straight into the faces of four men. The man behind the antique wooden desk was John Carmichael III, while the other three men wearing suits were unknown to her.

  She could see the stress on the face of the US leader.

  “Ms Falcon, I believe?” said John Carmichael III as he made his way around to the front of the desk to greet her.

  “Please take a seat and make yourself at home.”

  The President nodded to the two FBI agents who had escorted Glory into the room and they exited the study and the door was shut.

  The President introduced Glory to his ‘three wise men’ in the form of the Chief of Security, Myles Jenkins, the economics advisor, Stan Appleby, and Space Program advisor, Shaun Kelly.

  None of the men were able to produce a smile. Glory could well understand why as she too was stressed out.

  “Ms Falcon,” began the President.

  “The entire planet is in a state of emergency at this time. I am hoping that you can help us save millions of lives by sharing what you know about the space program and Planet X.”

  The first part of the question was pretty strange to Glory. Why did the President want her input on the space program when he was paying millions of US dollars to employees to run the program, unless he felt that certain persons on the inside were with-holding information from him.

  She threw a side glance at Shaun Kelly, who was staring at his Tablet computer. Suddenly a strange thought went through her mind! Were some of the President’s men working with the Russians and planning on selling the US out at crunch time?

  On any other given day, Glory would have thought the matter through a bit more but this wasn’t about the US or Russia. It was about the lives of each and every person on all continents on earth.

  “Speak freely, Ms Falcon,” encouraged the President, as he pointed to a refreshment stand holding coffee, tea and juice next to his desk. Glory wasn’t in a state to share in on the hospitality side and waved her hand to turn down the offer.

  “Perhaps the starting point is for you to tell us about the artifact that Mr Adam Kennedy was so desperately searching for in the Amazon and how it links to the space program or Planet X.”

  Glory shook her head. Now was the time to show-off her actress skills or else to prove that she could make it as a world class liar.

  “Mr President, I don’t know anything about any artifact nor do I know where Adam is at present,” she said.

  Glory could feel the stares of the President and his men burning through her body. Did they believe her? She hoped so because she was battling to believe herself.

  After a long pause, the President removed his tie and suit jacket before speaking again.

  “Ms Falcon, besides the planets in the solar system, which other places can be considered as strongholds against the potential invasion of Planet X?”

  Glory gulped in a huge amount of air and seemed lost for words.

  “Ms Falcon, please understand the seriousness of the situation here,” said Myles Jenkins sternly.

  Shaun Kelly chipped in as he thumped his right hand on the wooden desk in front of him.

  We need to work together,” he quipped.

  “No man is an island here.”

  The last part stuck in Glory’s mind.

  Of course! The islands! If Planet X was heading straight for the mainland, it was hardly likely to be able to take out all of the islands around the world too!

  “Mr President, Sir,” said Glory.

  Öur choice is to early start the space transportation program….”

  Shaun Kelly interrupted her.

  “That cannot happen, Mr President. We are not ready to action through the Corridor yet. We all know that.”

  Glory played her trump card.

  “Sirs, Planet X is apparently on course to strike the main land but it won’t be able to take out all of the islands around the world too,” she said in an excited tone of voice.

  Stan Appleby giggled.

  Ï am an economics man but this idea from the lady is the stupidest thing that I have ever heard, Mr President,” he remarked.

  “Let her finish,” President Carmichael.

  Glory produced a brief smile.

  “My understanding from my telescopic work is that Planet X will strike the US on the eastern coastal side, so we need to get as many people as we can to the islands on the west coast. California’s Angel Island is a good choice for the President’s team to operate from as there are a few old unused forts there.”

  “Mr President, Sir…” began Stan Appleby but the US No 1 cut him short.

  “Myles, get the FBI SWAT team to check out Angel Island and a few of the other islands on the west coast as Ms Falcon has suggested. I do agree that breaking the people up into smaller groups at different locations, could be their best chance of survival.”

  Stan looked a beaten man and even Myles Jenkins looked as if he wasn’t buying into Glory’s island idea either, but there was no way that they could over-ride the orders of John Carmichael III.

  “Yes, Sir, right away,” muttered Myles as he left the room.

  The President turned his attention back to Glory.

  “Now about the Adam Kennedy matter,” he began.

  “Sir, I really don’t know where Adam is right now but for the sake of the US and its people, he is most useful to us when he is on the loose. Adam is no fool. He went on the mission to the Amazon on Christmas Day, but refused to tell me anything about the trip. I think from that point of view, you will be proud of him, Sir?”

  John Carmichael III nodded slowly.

  “Look, Mr President, Sir, if there is a way to stop Planet X or the destruction of the human race by using the artefact, believe me, Adam will be able to work it out. Putting him on handcuffs won’t help our cause.”

  The President thought for a few moments and then spoke.

  “I agree with you on Adam’s cleverness, but we can’t leave him on his own out there with the artefact. If the wrong people get hold of him and get their hands on the artefact that we are in another pickle and as you know we are already in a race against time.”

  Glory couldn’t argue on that point. She was as worried about her former lover’s safety as the President was but for different reasons.

  “You need to tell him that it is for his own good to turn himself in to the authorities,” said President Carmichael.

  “How will you find him?”

  Glory Falcon looked up at the US No 1.

  “I won’t, Sir, he will find me,” she answered with a sense of pride.

  Chapter Twelve

  Coffee at Thurmont

  Glory Falcon lay staring at the ceiling on a plush double bed in her room inside the main house at Camp David as she attempted to gather her t
houghts.

  In twelve hours’ time, the Presidential contingent would leave for Angel Island now that the FBI SWAT team had given the island the thumbs up from an earthly safety and security perspective.

  Moments later, her Tablet mobile device rang. She was cautious to answer as she didn’t recognize the incoming number. Throughout her high school and university life, she was careful in handing out her phone number as there were some scary crackpot guys out there just waiting for a gap to take advantage of pretty girls.

  “Hello,” she answered cautiously.

  “Glory, I have to meet with you,” said the caller.

  In instantly recognizing the voice of the caller, the 20-year-old brunette glanced at her room door to make sure it was closed and lowered her voice when speaking.

  “Ädam, do you know where I am?” she asked.

  “Yeah, you are with the US President at Camp David,” he said.

  “Deborah Summers has got a big mouth,” teased Glory, in thinking that Deborah had told Adam of her location.

  “I haven’t seen Deborah since Prom Night,” retorted the archeologist.

  “Then how did you know that I am at Camp David?”’ she asked.

  “I can read you like a book, Glory,” replied Adam.

  “Let me guess, your next move is to get the President to safety on an island, more than likely on the west coast considering Planet X is due to strike on the eastern side of the US.”

  Glory grinned. Was her strategy that obvious to the world or just to Adam Kennedy?

  “Yeah, we are out of here in less than twelve hours,” commented Glory.

  “Glory, I have to see you before you go, there is some information that I have that I can’t tell you over the phone,” said Adam.

  Suddenly Glory’s mind was wide awake. So the FBI agents were correct in working out that Adam had information and an artifact that could influence the outcome of Planet X’s onslaught.

  “Adam, it’s too dangerous,” answered Glory.

  “The FBI has orders to bring you in… you and the artifact. I tried to convince the President to let you be as you are more value to us on the outside, but he was worried that some third force may get to you first and relieve you of the artifact.”