Descent from Xanadu

by Harold Robbins

  Another door on the opposite side of the platform opened and the technicians came through it. Silently, each found a vantage point and stood transfixed as they looked down at the generator. No one spoke. There was no sound of machinery. Only the tiny clicks as the digital counter went down.

  Sawyer turned toward Judd and held up his hands, fingers crossed. Merlin caught the gesture and did the same. Judd smiled at them and held his thumb up.

  Five, four, three. Each of them sucked in air and held their breath. Two, one, zero. The circuit lights turned from red to green. Suddenly the technicians shouted and began to clap their hands.

  Judd joined in the applause, clapping his hands. He smiled at the German. “Congratulations, Dr. Schoenbrun. Congratulations!” He held out his hand.

  The German shook his hand, clicking his heels automatically. “I am very pleased,” he said, smiling. “My congratulations and thanks to you, Mr. Crane.”

  Merlin looked puzzled. “But I heard nothing,” he said. “No motors, no gears, nothing.”

  “Be happy, Mr. Merlin,” Schoenbrun said, smiling. “If you had heard any noise at all, it probably would have been your last.”

  “Join me in my office for a drink,” Judd said.

  “May I stay here for a while, Mr. Crane?” the German said. “I want to look at my baby for a little.”

  “Of course,” Judd said. “Again, my congratulations.” He turned to the elevator, Sawyer and Merlin following him.

  “Three billion dollars,” Merlin said.

  “That’s cheap,” Judd said. “It would have cost twice that much if the nuclear plant had not already been built and paid for, half by Ludwig and half by the government.”

  “I still don’t understand why they stopped halfway,” Merlin said.

  “Simple,” Judd said. “Ludwig cut out because he couldn’t see a profit, and the government ran out of money. Brazil was already in debt for eighty billion and no way of borrowing. The banks and the IMF shoved an austerity program down their throat. They were all happy to accept my offer of a billion dollars and cut their losses.”

  “And you still plan to stay here?” Merlin asked.

  “I will stay here,” Judd said flatly.

  “You tell him that won’t work. There’s no way he will live forever,” Merlin said to Sawyer.

  “But I can’t say that,” said Sawyer. “No one knows whether it will work or not.”

  “Only time will tell,” Judd said.

  Fast Eddie came into the office. “They’re all settled in,” he said to Judd. “I don’t get it, though. I thought that the Maharishi didn’t allow his guards to carry weapons.”

  “That’s right,” Judd said.

  “Then there’s something wrong,” Fast Eddie said. “His men are loaded. Each one of them is packing an Uzi machine automatic.”

  “Did you talk to Sofia?” Judd asked.

  “Couldn’t. One of the girls said that she wasn’t feeling well and had to lie down right away,” Fast Eddie said. “But that didn’t make sense to me neither. She looked straight at me and it seemed that she didn’t recognize me. I figured she was stoned or something.”

  Judd thought for a moment. “Maybe she is sick. I’ll call him and ask if he wants Sawyer to have a look at her.” He picked up the telephone as Dr. Schoenbrun came into his office.

  The Maharishi came on. “Yes?”

  “This is Crane,” Judd said. “I understand Sofia is ill. I can have a doctor look in on her.”

  The Maharishi’s voice was reassuring. “I don’t think that’s necessary,” he said. “She’s been fighting a cold. I think the flight was a little bit long for her.”

  “Maybe an antibiotic will help,” Judd said. He pressed on the Intertel screen. The face of the Maharishi filled it. Judd turned on the automatic focus. Sofia was seated on the bed behind him, a guard on either side of her.

  “I think she’ll be all right with a little rest,” the Maharishi answered. “We have all the notes transcribed and fed into the computer. We can be ready whenever you say.”

  “Let’s check once Sofia feels better,” Judd said. “Give me a call.” He put down the phone.

  Before he could speak, Schoenbrun did. The German’s voice was filled with shock. “Do you know who that man is?”

  Judd stared at him. “You tell me.”

  “He’s KGB,” Schoenbrun said. “We’ve known him for a long time but have never been this close to him.”

  “You said, ‘we’ve known,’” Judd said. “Who’s we?”

  “Mossad,” Schoenbrun said. “I am not an agent of theirs, but I’ve worked with them many times. Even that affair of Eichmann. The KGB tried to get him, but we were ahead of them.”

  “Fuck it!” Judd swore. “Do you think Sofia is working with the Maharishi?”

  “I don’t know the girl,” Schoenbrun said.

  Fast Eddie looked at Judd. “I don’t believe she is. I think they got her doped to the ears.”

  Sawyer walked over to Judd. “Now what do we do?”

  “The first thing I do is get you and Merlin out of here,” Judd said.

  “Like hell!” Merlin said.

  “You have no choice,” Judd said. “Without you and Sawyer the whole of Crane Industries will go into the shithouse.”

  Judd called the control tower. “CI 2 refueled?”

  “Yes, Mr. Crane.”

  “Get it ready for immediate departure.” He put down the phone and looked at them. “Okay, get going.”

  Sawyer and Merlin stared at him.

  “Go ahead!” he snapped. “You both have enough responsibility. I’ll work this one out.” He turned to Schoenbrun. “You, too, Doctor. This is not your fight.”

  “The hell it isn’t!” Schoenbrun said. “I have relatives who’ve been trying to get out of Russia for over twenty years.”

  “But who was it you met in Caracas?” Judd asked.

  “My wife and son came in from Switzerland. The boy needed an operation that could not be done here. We had neither the technique nor the equipment.”

  Judd looked at him.

  “Besides,” Schoenbrun said, “this is as much my baby as yours. I built that reactor.”

  Judd turned to Merlin and Sawyer. “Okay. You go now. Once you’re in the air, we’ll check back with you every two hours.”

  Silently the two men shook hands with Judd, then left the room. Judd turned to Fast Eddie. “Escort them to the plane. Make sure they board it. I don’t want them hiding down some corridor.”

  25

  Judd turned on the Intertel screen and switched over to the camera scanning the plateau from the control tower. CI 2 turned onto the runway. A moment later it was racing into the sky. He watched it for a moment, then noticed another airplane on the runway. He called the control tower. “What plane is that?” he asked.

  Before the controller could, Dr. Schoenbrun answered him. “That’s mine. It’s taking the technicians back to Rio. Now that the reactor is on automatic, I gave them leave to go home.”

  The controller spoke into Judd’s phone. “B-737 for Rio, sir.”

  “Okay, controller,” Judd said. “Any other planes on the field up there?”

  “Only two copters and the 707 that just arrived with the last party.”

  “Where are the plane crews?”

  “In the service house on the field, sir.”

  “Make sure that all planes are completely refueled.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Judd put the telephone down as Fast Eddie came into the office. “They’re gone,” Fast Eddie said.

  “Okay,” Judd said, and dialed the personnel director. “This is Mr. Crane. How many personnel do we have here right now?”

  “I have it on the computer, sir,” the man replied. “Four guards, eight in the housekeeping department, ten in the food department, three in maintenance, four in air control, eight air-crew personnel, three lab technicians, and two in personnel, including myself. Forty-two in all.
”

  “Are the guards armed?”

  “No, sir. Their only duties are to record staff and guest movements. They are not security guards.”

  “I see,” Judd said. “Very quietly, place all personnel on evacuation alert.”

  “Yes, Mr. Crane,” the man replied. “I’m Jack Somer, sir,” he added. “I’m from Security Central and I am armed if you need my help, sir.”

  “Just stay at your desk for the moment, Jack,” he said. “Thank you. I’ll stay in touch with you.” He put the phone down and turned to Fast Eddie and Dr. Schoenbrun. “I have a feeling if Sofia is doped, the Maharishi will not get in touch with us until her head has cleared.”

  They watched him silently. He took a deep breath. “I have a hunch,” he said, and called Security Central and spoke to John. “We’ve been suckered all the way,” he said. “The Maharishi shoved it up our ass. We’ve been following a decoy. How many men can you put down on his Malibu retreat right now?”

  “Twenty-two, twenty-three men,” John said.

  “I think the kid is there,” Judd said. “That’s the only way he could have suckered Sofia into his deal.”

  “Want us to jump in?” John asked.

  “Go in with copters. And blow anybody out of your way,” Judd said. “Then let me know immediately whether I’m right or wrong.”

  “We’re on the way,” John said.

  Judd put down the telephone and looked at them. “We might as well have some lunch while we’re waiting.”

  ***

  It was more than an hour before the Maharishi called. “Mr. Crane,” he said. “Sofia is feeling much better now. Perhaps we can have our meeting?”

  “Of course,” Judd answered. “Supposing I meet you in your suite, then I will give you the fifty-cent tour of Xanadu. I am sure that you’d be interested in seeing the nuclear generator and the artificial cell-clone laboratory?”

  “I would be very interested, Mr. Crane.”

  “Good,” Judd said. “I’ll be down in a minute. I will also have Dr. Schoenbrun with me. He has developed this whole installation and can answer any questions you might want answered.”

  He put down the phone and turned to Fast Eddie. “You go up to the control tower. Set up at least four loaded ATW’s and wait for me to call you there.”

  “I don’t like the idea of leaving you,” Fast Eddie said.

  “You won’t be leaving me,” Judd said. He turned to Dr. Schoenbrun. “Do you know how to use a gun?”

  “Yes,” the doctor answered.

  “Give him your sleeve gun,” Judd said to Fast Eddie. “And show him how to work it.”

  While Fast Eddie showed the doctor how to use the gun, Judd called the personnel director. “Jack,” he said, calling the man by name. “I’m going to meet the Maharishi on his floor, from there we’re going to the generator platform, then to the lab. We’ll probably wind up in my office. Try to keep us on the screen as much as you can. If you feel that anything might endanger any of the personnel, evacuate them immediately. If there is any danger either to myself or Dr. Schoenbrun, don’t do anything. At the moment we’re personally not important. Do you understand that?”

  “I’ve got it, sir,” Jack said. “I’ll keep an eye on you.”

  Judd turned to Fast Eddie. “Ready?”

  Fast Eddie nodded.

  “Okay,” Judd said. “Let’s go.”

  They went out into the corridor. Judd watched Fast Eddie go up in one of the elevators, and he and the German doctor went down in the other. They came out on the guest floor and walked to the Maharishi’s rooms.

  One of the Maharishi’s bodyguards opened the door. Judd walked into the room, Dr. Schoenbrun following him. The Maharishi gestured and said, “Peace be with you, my son.”

  Judd smiled. “And to you, my teacher.”

  Sofia came in from the adjoining room. Judd went to her and embraced her, kissing her cheek. Her face seemed cool. “Are you feeling better, Sofia?”

  “Much better,” she said wanly. “I think I had the flu or some kind of bug.”

  “Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in bed,” Judd said. “There’s no hurry. We can have the meeting tomorrow.”

  He thought that he caught a hint of fear in her eyes as she glanced past him toward the Maharishi. “No,” she said quickly. “I feel much better now. Really.”

  Judd nodded. He gestured to Dr. Schoenbrun. “This is Dr. Schoenbrun,” he said. “Without him this installation would not have been possible.”

  Dr. Schoenbrun bowed formally. Shook hands with Sofia, then with the Maharishi. “I am honored,” he said.

  Judd turned to the Maharishi. “If you’re ready, we can follow Dr. Schoenbrun.”

  “If you don’t mind, Mr. Crane,” the Maharishi asked, “may we look at the nuclear generator another time? We are more interested in the laboratory. I feel too much movement would overtire Sofia.”

  Judd covered a smile as Schoenbrun had difficulty covering his disappointment. The generator was his baby. But the German rose to the occasion. “Of course,” he said stiffly.

  Silently he led them to the floor elevator. The small elevator became crowded when two of the Maharishi’s bodyguards joined them.

  Judd reached for Sofia’s hand. It felt cold and clammy. He guided her through the elevator doors. The guard at the desk by the lab nodded to him. “Mr. Crane.”

  They went into the dressing room. “The lab is completely isolated,” Judd explained. “We have to change our clothing, shower, put on surgical uniforms, rubber gloves, and surgical caps.”

  The Maharishi glanced at him. “Is there any way we can look into it through a window?”

  Dr. Schoenbrun glanced at Judd. Judd nodded. Dr. Schoenbrun answered. “We have a double plate-glass window outside in the corridor.”

  “I’ll call and ask the technicians to show you one of the cell cultures on the screen. You can see that from the window,” Judd suggested.

  “I think that makes sense,” the Maharishi answered.

  Silently, they watched the window as the cultures were projected on the screen. Judd looked at the Maharishi, then at Sofia, as he explained that the screen was split to show the real cells next to the artificial cells. The Maharishi peered intently, but it seemed to Judd that Sofia couldn’t care less.

  “Now we can go to the office,” Judd said, “and see what we have discovered from the last batch of your sister’s notes.”

  They walked back to the elevators in silence. At the elevator doors, Judd looked at Sofia. “Sure that you’re up to this? We can still go over it tomorrow.”

  “No!” she said, almost in desperation. “I’m all right. Really, I’m all right.”

  Judd nodded without comment and let them into the elevator to his office. Once inside the palatial room, he gestured them to a comfortable conversation corner. The Maharishi and Sofia sat next to each other on the couch, the two bodyguards took their place behind them. Schoenbrun sat on a side chair at a right angle to them, and Judd in a straight chair facing them across the coffee table.

  “May I offer you tea?” he asked.

  The Maharishi answered, “I don’t think so. We’re comfortable.”

  “May I go to the bathroom?” Sofia asked.

  “Through the door behind you,” he said, rising. “I’ll show you.”

  She followed him as he opened the door. “Right in there,” he said, palming two oxy-coke poppers into her hand, and then turned back into the office.

  He sat down. “What do you think of Xanadu?” he asked conversationally. “As little as you’ve seen of it, I mean.”

  “An extraordinary accomplishment,” the Maharishi said.

  “That’s only part of it,” Judd said. “When it’s all finished, do you know it will be fully automated. I could live completely alone with no personnel. Every one of my needs taken care of, food, rest, exercise, all communications, everything one could want.”

  “Amazing,” the Maharishi said, noddi
ng his head.

  Sofia returned from the bathroom. Judd looked up at her. Her eyes were clear and alert now. She sat down next to the Maharishi.

  “Now,” Judd said, “what have we discovered in those notes?”

  The Maharishi turned to Sofia. “I think Sofia might explain it better than I.”

  Sofia looked at Judd. “Really not much that we hadn’t already known or theorized. For the first time we have real knowledge that she had experimented in cellular therapy using the human fetus. Later she began combining the human cells with the cells of various unborn animals, mostly ewes. It appears that the main problem she encountered was that an inordinate number of subjects could not tolerate the cell injections. Many died in anaphylactic shock despite the administration of massive doses of antihistamines and cortisone.”

  “Then how does that add to our knowledge? We’ve already gained that information ourselves,” Judd said.

  “That’s why you were being urged to undertake the DNA genetic engineering process to create an artificial human cell clone,” Sofia said.

  Judd looked at them. “Well, you’ve seen it. That’s already been accomplished. We are at the beginning of immortality. Man can now live forever.”

  “I am most interested in the formula you developed for this,” the Maharishi said politely.

  Judd smiled. “It’s for myself alone. I have never thought of sharing it with anyone.”

  “I think you should, my son. You owe it to the world,” the Maharishi said unctuously.

  Judd laughed aloud. “Fuck ’em. I don’t owe anything to anyone.”

  “I disagree, my son,” the old man said. “Your son’s life depends on it.”

  “I have no son,” Judd said.

  “The son Sofia bore,” he said.

  “She had the son for herself,” Judd said. “I have no responsibility for him.”

  The Maharishi looked into his eyes. “Let’s stop playing games.”

  Judd stared at him. “I wasn’t playing games,” he said.

  The Maharishi was silent for a moment. “One telephone call and the boy is dead.”

  Judd reached for a telephone and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. “Be my guest.”