Bern Gold sat at the very same table that just days before he had shared with the other members of Liberation Day.
Today, he was joined only with Jasper and Ling.
Overnight, a work station was assembled to match the one from his vacated home, the only difference being the enormous oak table that dominated the room instead of his battered old desk.
Despite the lack of familiarity, he felt the symbolism of the table seemed fitting for the occasion.
Gold waited in silence as one by one the various other members called in to the meeting, nodding their greetings as they waited. Only once all were present, their faces filling the oversized screen on the wall, did things begin.
“First, allow me to say congratulations,” Gold said, striking the perfect solemn pitch as he stared out from his wheelchair. “For years now, we have toiled away with the intention of one day striking back at those that persecuted us. At times things seemed uncertain, might I even say doubtful, but through it all you were dependable and faithful.
“For that I am thankful.”
He paused for a moment as many of them smiled or nodded, their responses so predictable it was almost Pavlovian.
“Gentlemen, as of right now there is no more waiting for a date somewhere in the future. Starting today, we show the world that what was done to us was not okay, that turning their heads while it was done to us was even worse!”
A few of the men clapped while others shouted muffled calls of support.
Gold waited for silence to fall again and said, “Mr. White, is Liverpool under your control and ready for delivery?”
“Yes sir,” White said, beaming.
Gold again flipped a red light to green as he had done in the prior meeting, the map on the opposite monitor switching on cue. “And Mr. Buford, is Marseilles ready for our arrival?”
“Is it indeed, sir,” Buford responded.
Another light went to green and Gold said, “And how are things in Genoa, Mr. Miller?”
“They will be even better once your shipment arrives,” Miller said, smiling.
“Excellent,” Gold replied, turning another port from red to green. “And in Russia, Mr. Watts?”
“Vladivostok is anxiously awaiting our arrival as we speak,” Watts said.
Without looking up Gold flipped another switch, reciting the next name in the order from memory. “And Nagasaki, Mr. Werner?”
“Ready and waiting,” Werner’s voice called out.
“And last, my dear old friend, Mr. Black. How is everything in the Fatherland?” Gold asked, looking up to see nearly the entire map lit in green, just a single red marker still present.
“Hamburg is just desperate for us to embark,” Black said. “And let me just say while I have the floor, it has been a pleasure working with all of you and my life’s honor to have been a part of this, Mr. Gold.”
A series of nods and murmurs went up across the board as Gold said, “The pleasure has been all mine. I could not have done it without you.”
Silence fell as the men shared a moment to reflect on what they had accomplished.
Counting the seconds in his head, Gold waited long enough to convey the proper amount of respect before reaching beneath the table before him and extracting a small stainless steel box with a large red button on it. Cut from the same material as the Vaporizers themselves, he tugged a silver antenna several feet out from one end and held it tenderly in his hands. “Do you gentlemen know what this is?”
There was a palpable anticipation from the group as they each appeared to edge forward toward the screen, nobody saying a word.
“This is an international detonator,” Gold said. “This is what we’ve been waiting to use all these long years.”
He turned the detonator toward the camera and wagged it at them, as if a child displaying a new toy. “Tomorrow at midnight, I shall activate exactly 10% of all Vaporizers. Once those have cleared out the port cities, teams will enter the docks and transport the remaining Vaporizers to another city.
“The following night at midnight, I shall press the button and detonate another 10% of the Vaporizers. This will continue each night until every major city in seven countries has felt our wrath.”
Gold could feel the corners of his mouth rising upward as he spoke, the cruel simplicity of his plan too much to hold back. “Just as we were forced to spend days and months in terror of what the morrow might bring, these countries shall too. By the time we are done, they will have paid for what they did to us.”
A round of applause broke out over the call. Gold started to halt it, but opted to let it go for several moments instead.
“This will be the last time we speak until the project is completed,” he announced, raising his voice to be heard over the rising cheers on the line. He considered offering another perfunctory thank you for years of dedicated service, thought ot reminding the men of the necessary precautions they must take to ensure their own safety, but decided against it, content to wrap things up with one simple declaration.
“Gentlemen, Liberation Day is here!”
The level of applause ratcheted upward, several of the men standing, only their midsections visible onscreen. Lowering the light around him, Gold watched for several moments with an amused expression on his face before disconnecting himself from the call.
The room fell quiet in the wake of the cheering, Gold turning and tossing the detonator to Ling. “Go ahead and throw this away.”
A faint smile grew on Ling’s face. “I thought this was an international detonator?”
Gold glared at Ling’s sarcasm. “You know I would never be that cavalier with my plans. I could have shown those men a candy bar and they would have believed it, that’s how excitable they are right now.”
Ling nodded, unable to disagree with the assessment. “Does that mean these men have outlived their usefulness?”
Gold paused for a moment, considering the prospect. “I believe it does. I was going to allow them to enjoy the first night’s success, but I don’t think I will. It is my night to enjoy.
“Mine and mine alone.”
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Liberation Day - A Thorn Byrd Novel Page 60