Kazan leaned forward and looked over at Houston. “David, are you telling us that two billion people need to die in order for us to maintain our current wealth?”
“Yes, and it’s two-point-two billion, to be precise,” said Houston.
“My God, are you sure of that figure?” asked Heike, visibly shocked at the pronouncement.
“Heike, the figures have been checked and double-checked. One-third of the population must go,” replied Houston.
A heavyset Nigerian man in a silver-gray suit stood up and turned to face Houston. “David, please. There has to be another way. Perhaps Heike is correct,” he said with a nod of his head to the German woman sitting across from him. “If we were to further diversify our corporations and become world leaders in renewable energy, we might be able to stave off this catastrophe and still make a fortune in the process.”
Houston shook his head. “Shofu, perhaps green technologies are the future for all of us. However, to be blunt, the patient is dying. If we cut off a limb, he’ll live. However, if we don’t, he’ll die, and our grandchildren will live in a world racked by famine, disease and war as the countries of the world compete for an ever-shrinking pool of resources.”
“David, why do you care? You don’t even have children,” countered Gavin.
“That is true. I chose not to have a family. However, my brother’s son is my CEO and heir. I want him and his family to continue to live in a healthy and prosperous world.”
Kazan said, “Say we accept your premise that one-third of the world’s population must go. What exactly are you proposing?”
Houston walked to the center of the room so he could look directly into the faces of his friends. “Folks, I have been quietly recruiting likeminded people to our cause for decades. However, they are unaware of the people who make up this little group of ours. As far as they are concerned, their participation begins and ends with me. I have managed to entice a fair number of politicians, high-ranking military officers, business leaders, environmentalists, and even several media personalities into working for me. They are all highly committed individuals; some do it for altruistic means, others for monetary or personal reasons. About a year ago, I came across some information that, if true, was the answer to our prayers. Since that time, I have been cashing in favors with these people in order to determine the validity of the information that I had obtained.”
Shofu raised his hand. “I’m sorry, David, you’re losing me. What information have you obtained?”
“I’m sorry, for now that will have to remain my secret,” responded Houston. “Suffice it to say, I have already implemented my plan to reduce the world’s population by one-third.”
“Are you mad?” uttered Heike, growing visibly agitated. “You should have spoken with us before you went ahead with your plan. I won’t be a party to genocide.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Heike, but I couldn’t sit around and wait for the approval of my friends. For forty years, we have met and discussed this issue until we were blue in the face. Someone needed to act if we are to save the world.”
Gavin looked down at his half-drunk glass of Scotch and then with a heavy sigh he said, “What have you done, David?”
“I did what needed to be done. For obvious security reasons, I’m not going to divulge my plans to you at this time,” replied Houston. “If any one of you were to talk with the authorities, please understand that it would be unfortunate for you and your family. And don’t think that I won’t know if you do. Some of the most trusted people in your inner circles are really some of my people.”
An angry murmur ran through the room.
“Please, my friends don’t think that I am some kind of heartless monster. I am doing this for the good of the planet. As we have known each other for over forty years, I am asking all of you to get your affairs in order. When the time is right, I will contact you all with the details of when and where to meet.”
“And what if we refuse?” said Heike defiantly.
“Then you, your children and their children will most likely be dead before the end of the month,” replied Houston coldly.
Heike grew pale. She turned her eyes to the floor.
Houston knew that Heike, like all the others, would bend to his will.
Houston smiled triumphantly. He picked up his drink and looked out over his business colleagues. “One last thing before I head back to Texas for a fundraiser, and this is not open to negotiation when you arrive at the secret location. I want you all to bring with you legally binding documents, giving me fifty percent of all your companies’ stock.”
21
“I can’t see a damn thing,” moaned Cardinal, trying his best to see out of the snow-covered windshield.
“For God’s sake, Yuri, please slow down,” said Sam from the back of the minivan.
Yuri reluctantly took his foot off the accelerator.
Outside, a blizzard was whipping snow like an impenetrable white blanket across the road. Visibility had dropped to mere meters. The wipers on the minivan were fighting a losing battle to keep the windshield clear.
“I’m still not getting any reception on my phone,” said Jen as she turned it in her hand. It still didn’t show any bars.
“It’s okay, everyone,” said Yuri. “I have driven in worse.”
“So have I, back home in Canada,” added Cardinal, “but I wasn’t speeding and driving down the middle of the road, either.”
“Do you think we got away without being seen?” asked Tokarev nervously.
“I wouldn’t count on it,” replied Sam. “Once they realize that we’re no longer at Pasha’s house, they’ll come looking for us.”
Tokarev translated for Pasha, who responded by glumly shaking his head.
“Look out!” yelled Cardinal, as a truck suddenly emerged out of the swirling snow like a polar bear charging straight at them.
Yuri instantly swerved the car back onto his side of the road. With a wide grin on his face, he said, “Not to worry, I saw him coming.”
“Sure you did,” muttered Cardinal.
“Yuri, this isn’t a helicopter,” said Sam, loudly. “Please, please stay on your side of the road from now on.”
“Da, little lady, I will try,” responded Yuri as he leaned forward, trying to see where the road ended and the snow-covered fields began.
In the back, Pasha said something aloud in Russian.
“What did he say?” asked Jen.
Tokarev translated. “Pasha said that his cousin lives nearby and that we should get off this road before we have an accident.”
“Amen to that,” said Jen. “Ask him for directions.”
Suddenly, from behind, the thugs’ black Lada 4x4 slammed hard into the back of their vehicle. Sam and Jen screamed as the minivan spun around in circles on the icy road like a child’s toy.
“Turn into the spin!” yelled Cardinal as Yuri struggled to gain control of the minivan.
To add to their discomfort, the bull-necked thug in the Lada chasing them rolled down his window, thrust his fully automatic Glock 17 pistol out and opened fire. The first burst went wide; however, the second one struck the rear of the minivan, shattering the rear windshield, sending a shower of glass onto the people sitting in the backseat. Jen screamed in terror.
“Get us off the road!” screamed Sam, shielding Pasha as best she could with her body.
Yuri’s eyes widened when he saw a car on the wrong side of the road race out of the snowstorm straight for them. With a prayer on his lips, he gently applied the brakes and turned the wheel hard over. For a second, it looked as if the two vehicles were going to hit head-on, when the minivan’s tires found a piece of clear road and gripped the asphalt, pulling them out of their chaotic spin.