Counterpoint

by John Day

  The Duke and Lana must have had a bust up, and Lana went away. Finding she was pregnant, she kept the secret to herself and returned after the babies were adopted. After her death, the Duke must have found out and tracked Carla down. Perhaps he did not know there were twins or could only find the one child. Being a man of many secrets, perhaps he did not want to admit his marital mistake, or that he had children. Perhaps he could not tell all this to his child, or to one child, knowing the other was missing. Anyway, he did his best with Carla in the short time he knew her.

  Max remembered the deep look of love for Carla on the Duke’s face, when she presented Max to him. Max thought then it was a strange and extreme depth of emotion, for a man to have, for a girl that was not his own. Anyway, the Duke had been a vital and virile man apparently, but according to Carla, he had not been intimate with her. Why else would any normal man with such power over a beautiful girl, avoid making love to her? No, the Duke was the father, no mistake. Amy by nature was different to Carla, but both were highly intelligent, physically, they were extraordinarily lithe and co-ordinated, and had remarkable stamina.

  These were obvious qualities , the Duke had, a rare genetic component.

  “No!” Said Max, “I firmly believe the Duke is your father.”

  The next morning, Amy decided to call Geoff. She had hoped he would phone her, she did not want to seem too keen, but could not bear being on her own. Carla had Max, and knowing she was her twin, rejected the idea of tempting Max from her. She missed Geoff badly and wanted him with her. Flipping open her mobile she dialled his number. It would not connect. The signal was maximum strength, but the phone would not work.

  “Carla! Can I use your phone? I need to make a call.”

  “Sorry, not from here, I’m afraid; your cell phone can be traced to this location.”

  “So can yours!” Replied Amy.

  “Yes, but no one outside The Organisation knows my number.”

  “Well, I must make this call,” Amy replied angrily.

  “Who is it, you need to call?” Queried Carla?

  Amy nearly snapped back a “mind your own damn business” but said; “I met a nice guy at the airport, his name is Geoff and I would like to go out with him one evening.”

  “Fine, I can take you into the town, and then you can call from there,” said Carla cheerily.

  Even as Carla replied, the hairs on her neck stood up and alarm bells rang in her head, as the thought of the craggy faced man flashed into focus.

  Carla shopped for food while Amy made her call. Geoff sounded extremely pleased to hear from her, and she was delighted to hear his warm and eager voice, not realising why. Geoff had been trying continuously to call her, but Carla’s security jamming prevented connection.

  After some pleasantries, Geoff said he would meet her on her own the next day, for lunch in the village at 12.30. They agreed a place and ended the call. Carla skilfully pried into the relationship, but Amy was not forthcoming, she was used to keeping her affairs to herself.

  When the girls were out, Max had a call from Sam Leighton, on the direct line.

  He wanted to see Max and Carla, to bring them up to date with various things that were happening in The Organisation, which they were involved in. Max explained he had a guest, Carla’s twin staying with them. To Max’s surprise, he asked to see her as well, on a social basis.

  “She must be treated as an outsider as far as the Organisation is concerned.” He stressed.

  A car called for them in due course and took them to the mountain. Sam greeted them in the Duke’s penthouse, considered a great honour. When the Duke was alive, only Carla had free access to his private quarters.

  Most parts of the gardens, and above ground areas of the building were impressive and had breathtaking views. The lounge made you feel like you were on top of the world, as it spread out before you, from three sides. To be here you had to be special, it left you feeling charged with spiritual energy, omnipotent, and invincible. Amy was awestruck at the beauty and magnificence of the house and the view.

  Sam knew, at the mention of the existence of Carla’s sister that Carla would ask certain questions of him. He would have to answer, or she would use her knowledge of The Organisation, to prise them out of him. If she took the news badly, well, that would be her problem.

  After introductions, and the serving of drinks, Sam addressed the girls without hesitation.

  “When the Duke died, we had access to his personal records, and briefly it goes like this. Lana had an affair, became pregnant by her lover, and left the Duke for a short time to have the child, or as it now appears, twins. Because she loved the Duke she kept the truth from him."

  “She knew she had made a mistake with her lover, it only took place because the Duke had neglected her, in his effort to build this empire. When she returned, their love flourished again, and all was fine.”

  “Like any mother, she longed to see her children, although it would be impossible if not cruel, to let them know she was related to them.”

  “About nine months before she died, she went back to England and using a private detective agency managed to find one of the children; you Amy!”

  “Carla had run away from her foster parents and was lost to her. It appears from various letters, that having met Amy on the pretext of a researcher, she decided to tell the Duke and at least enjoy the love and company of her daughter. She felt certain the Duke would forgive her, his immense pride was small, in comparison with his love for Lana, and he knew he had failed her when she left the first time.”

  “He always wanted children, but felt the risks from The Organisation were too great. He feared the child might be taken and held for ransom.”

  “It looks likely; Lana met her lover on the road home from the airport. She probably told him, she was going to tell the Duke, and gave him a chance to go into hiding. We tracked down the man who sabotaged her car, as she talked with her lover, in his car. Before the man died, he had told us that he had tied a rope to the front brake pipes, one end to each side. As the car drove off, the rope loop dragged out between the rear wheels. At the first bend, one side of the loop, trapped under the rear tyre, ripped off the flexible brake pipe. This would have caused a slight thump, but nothing to alarm the driver. Later the snaking rope would have become trapped under the other tyre, and the other pipe was pulled off.”

  “As you know the approach to the Angel Pass is winding, followed by a steep, downward slope with a bend at the bottom, as it meets the pass itself. With no foot brake, the hand-brake or gears would have failed to slow the car. At this point, the car went out of control, through the safety barrier, and into the abyss.”

  “Someone then picked up the rope, off the road, and all evidence was gone.” Sam paused for this to sink in, both girls were silent and totally in control of their emotions, tears could follow when all questions were answered.

  Sam had anticipated tears and emotional breakdown at this point; nothing happened.

  A slight sadistic pleasure went through Sam as he mentally rephrased his next statement for full effect. As the girls were about to ask the question that burned in their minds, he said, “Philippe is your father.”

  “No! No!” Screamed Carla in denial, as she leapt up and moved menacingly, towards Sam.

  “Christ!” He thought and moved aside. Her face was white with rage; her jaw set firmly and teeth clenched together. Her eyes screwed up and burned like sapphire lasers as she slowly advanced, fists clenched, to where Sam had stood. It was as though Philippe was standing there, in front of her. She paused for a few seconds while she dealt with the bombshell. Hate and revenge, passed through her lightning quick brain, in an instant, and then she composed herself. She apologised to Sam and ran to a sobbing Amy.

  Max looked at Sam. Both knew Sam had handled the last part badly. Max knew Sam was a master manipulator, so why be so sadistic?

  Sam knew then, he had lost Max’s respect, and this might make the next assig
nment difficult.

  He waited for the girls to calm down and handed a thick dossier to them.

  “This contains every original letter and document we have on the matter, as well as copies of others, from third parties. There are some videotapes of interviews, and those at the time of the Duke’s death. They are relevant because in our opinion, they show the Duke’s realisation that Philippe was Lana’s lover, and Philippe’s realisation that Carla is his daughter.

  Very harrowing I know, but you would want nothing less than everything we have, I’m sure.” After a pause, Sam said, “Perhaps we can have tea at this stage; Amy can then wait here while I see you both in my office. We have business to discuss.”

  Down in the office, and without preamble, Sam explained the latest developments in Egypt.

  “The autopsy on Peter Gibson revealed he died from a viral infection, a strain they could not identify. It affects the gut, brain, and liver and results in death. It spreads by contact with the skin.

  Coincidentally, we have found the same strain of virus on the surface of the skin of the mummy. We think this is how Peter contracted it, and indicates the time from infection to death is within 2 days.

  We also believe that Nahep died from the disease and that it results in the hardening of the skin and internal organs by affecting collagen in some way.

  Examination of some of the jars you recovered from the tomb is tremendously exciting because Nahep experimented with all sorts of plant and chemical compounds. Some we have looked at appear to have bacteriostatic properties, as revolutionary now as penicillin was in its day. Some proteins in one compound interact with the oxygen uptake of cells, suggesting tailoring as magic bullets, for many cancers, by effectively suffocating them.

  Overall, it is a fantastic result for The Organisation and humankind. Obviously it will be many years before any of this is marketable, drug trials take a long time, but it is as good as money in the bank for us. We have the invention; so to speak, we just have to find uses for it. I trust you realise, if the tomb had been handed over to the authorities, these humanitarian discoveries would have remained lost to the world in some dusty museum, somewhere.

  Now on to business!

  I have a new project for you, far less hazardous than the last one. I would like you to join a survey team searching for mineral deposits in Africa. First, you and Carla will need to go on an intensive training course in geology, and then go out with new members of the team. We need you to keep an eye on our interests.”

  On the face of it, Max thought it would be interesting, and said he would like to know more, before saying yes.

  Sam smiled; to him the answer was a foregone conclusion.

  “Just one other thing, can you and Carla return to Egypt immediately, and visit the laboratory we set up inside the C.N.W.D. Corporation, we need to check you were not infected in any way. You cannot be tested anywhere else, obviously; they are the only team on the planet who know what to look for.”

  “Here is your brief for the next mission and tickets!” Said Sam.

  Chapter - Destiny in a conversation.

  It was late evening; the two men were so deep in conversation, that the glorious sunset over the picturesque bay at Cala Salida went unnoticed.

  Robert Darrow and his family had moved to their luxury Spanish style house, almost a year ago. It nestled low down on the steep hillside, on the North East coast of Ibiza; this was one of the most desired locations in the area, overlooking this idyllic cove.

  Robert paused in conversation to kiss and cuddle his dark haired, bright eyed, three year old daughter, goodnight. He adored her. His life was devoted to his wife and child.

  Soon Darow would be regarded as the most wilfully evil man, to have ever lived on the planet!

  The other man, Scott Fleming was just a visitor, invited by Robert Darrow, to spend a few days at his home.

  Some twenty years ago, Scott Fleming was considered a brilliant scientist until he warned the world about Global Warming. Failing to realise he was before his time, his persistent and unwelcome prediction lead to banishment, into a scientific wilderness. Since then he made a living as a science lecturer, at a College in the UK.

  The two men had just met by chance. Darrow accidentally damaged Fleming’s hire car, and suggested Scott stay at his home while repairs were made. They got on well and became friends.

  Soon Fleming would be regarded as the most stupid man on the planet!

  Their conversation had reached the point where Fleming asked Darrow what he did for a living. Darrow explained he controlled the disposal of Chemical and Nuclear Waste; he managed the C.N.W.D. Corporation based in Egypt, with clients all over the world.

  “You must have a hard time disposing of that type of material, these days,” suggested Fleming.

  “Actually we don’t, except for the extremely dangerous stuff, and all we can do then, is contain it.

  We have a vast depository out in the desert in Egypt. Some materials we destroy by extreme heat. Those we treat at the Solar Intensification Plant or SIP, a massive array of mirrors that focus the sun’s rays to a small point. Others we encapsulate in a form of glass produced from the local sand melted by the SIP. I admit the pressure is on us, to carry out the process quickly and cheaply, but we are making progress.”

  Fleming had hoped Darrow was just plain wealthy, so being just a lecturer would not make him feel so ashamed about his scientific downfall. Darrow had not pricked, but stabbed Fleming’s pride as an environmentalist, foolishly, Fleming, somewhat drunk, could not hold back.

  “So what are you going to do when the site is full?”

  Darrow paused just a moment; he had repeatedly asked himself the same question. In five years’ time, he would need an answer. “Well,” he replied authoritatively. “That will take at least five years, and we will have the answer, then I am sure.”

  “I don’t think so,” Fleming replied. “As a scientist specialising in the environment, I know you won’t.”

  Darrow was stunned; he never expected to be shot down like that by a stranger. He was always well briefed, when he had to speak to the environmentalists. Here he was face to face with a self-acclaimed expert, one he had never met before. Now he came to think about it, Scott Fleming was a name he had come across, but for the moment, he couldn’t quite make the connection.

  Darrow smiled; the best way to shut up an environmentalist was to get them to solve the problem.

  “So what would you advise, Scott?”

  Fleming cursed his big mouth and wished he had not drunk so much wine. He might then have had the wisdom to deflect the question or at least limit his rampant arrogance.

  “Quite simple really,” he expounded. “I would pop it into the centre of the earth.”

  Robert Darrow was again taken by surprise. The answer was given with such conviction, and without a moment’s hesitation, surely, this man must have fully considered the problem or else he was utterly insane. Unsure which, expert or fool, Darrow asked.

  “Why there, and how might that be achieved?”

  Again Fleming replied without hesitation. What the hell Fleming thought, this is only a bit of fun, we will soon move on to another topic.

  “I would drop it into an active Volcano, say Soufriere Hills Volcano, Plymouth Island in the Caribbean Sea because the area is now uninhabited. The exceedingly high temperatures will melt nuclear material effectively diluting the mass and vaporise the chemicals. No living matter will ever get near enough to become contaminated, unlike dumping it in the ocean. Nuclear waste will become a molten drop in the ocean of the earth’s core for all time.”

  “Supposing the volcano spews out the waste.” Darrow countered, positively intrigued?

  “It will have been so mixed up in the magma by then; it will present no measurable increase in the background radiation. The problem with waste is when it leaks into the environment or as an explosion, like Chernobyl, the particles are at full strength. A grain of atomic dust, for
example, consists of billions of charged particles. If the particle was melted and mixed into a vast amount of harmless material, then it becomes just 1 harmful atom in many billions of harmless atoms. Your average background radiation, situation.”

  Darrow remained silent as he considered the information. Fleming thought, me and my big mouth, I hope he doesn’t believe all this bollocks. He asked for another top up of wine and changed the subject to the beauty of the dying sunset.

  Chapter - Return the Statuette.

  Having finalised arrangements with Sam, to leave two days later for Cairo, they left the office and collected Amy.

  On the way home, Max explained to Amy they had to go away for a several months, so they would put her into a hotel, all paid for by them of course.

  She would have none of it. She demanded they settle with Philippe first, so she would be safe.

  Carla explained there would be no time to set everything up before they left so it would have to wait.

  Amy replied threateningly, she would go to the police and tell them everything she knew about them, Philippe and The Organisation. Carla and Max knew she would, too, but she would also sign her own death warrant and Carla could not allow that.

  “Ok then come with us for a few days and keep out of the way. We could take the statuette with us and hand it to Philippe in Cairo. It is as good a place as any.”

  Everyone was relieved at the solution, and no more was said.

  Max phoned, from the car, to add Amy to their travel arrangements.

  Amy phoned at the same time and told Geoff she would be away for several days. She was delighted when he said he was on his way to see her as arranged, and had booked in at the best hotel in the area.

  Back at the hideaway, everyone was soon busy packing. Amy was constantly consulting Carla about what she should take and what to wear when she met Geoff. Max suggested she pack an overnight bag with clothes for dinner and the next morning. It was obvious she was hoping to have a good time, and make a night of it with Geoff. She could not bring him here so she would need to be prepared to stay at his hotel. She looked embarrassed at Max’s succinct assessment of the forthcoming events.