Pulling The Dragon's Tail (29 page)

“The latest in nano-tech. A computer command
adjusts the dome ceiling. It’s turned opaque to reflect light and
heat away. Saves us millions in energy costs. If we want the sun to
shine in and be visible to our residents and visitors below, a
computer prompt changes the dome to allow light to pass
through.”

“Amazing!” said Nate. “All the benefits of
indoor and outdoor venues!”

“Our design engineers are the best of the best.
I’ve known them for, ah, well, for years! So tell me what you saw
this afternoon?”

“Well, we mostly just rested and looked around
the headquarters and—”

“So you haven’t really had the grand tour by the
CEO?”

“Well, no, we haven’t run into him yet!”

“You’re looking at him!”

You’re the CEO!?” exclaimed Nate in
amazement

“So, why don’t I give you the official CEO
‘copter tour?”

“Sure, why not!” said Nate eagerly. “Hey, you
guys ready?”

“Actually, I think I’ll just stay and enjoy the
view from here,” yawned a sleepy Campbell.

Thatcher hesitated for a moment. He noted that
it took what seemed a superhuman effort to decline Chad’s
invitation, but finally he said, “Naw, I’ll just stay here too. But
thanks.”

As Chad eyed them over, Campbell already had him
sized up. She didn’t like what she saw; Chad was not used to being
turned down.

“Well,” said Chad diplomatically, “you won’t
know what you’re missing. Come on Nate; you too Dugan.”

A moment later, Thatcher looked at Campbell.
“Whew! I think I was under his spell for a sec. Nate’s being
charmed by one of the best in the business. I’ve interviewed lots
of powerful people. The one thing they all have in common is that
intoxicating charisma. If you’re not aware you’re being
manipulated, it feels wonderful. When you are aware of it, you want
to puke.”

“You read my mind, Thatcher. That explains what
I saw earlier today when he played the character of Jesus. How
far’s he gonna draw Nate in?”

“He’s already in all the way,” asserted
Thatcher.

“Ekcus me, sa?”

Campbell and Thatcher turned around. A
Vietnamese waiter who had served them earlier, Nguyen, stood
expectantly nearby.

“How was evyting?”

“Khoe, cam on,” replied Thatcher.

Nguyen grinned, “Khong co chi.”

“You speak Vietnamese very fluently,
Nguyen.”

“Yu a funny man, mista Thatcha Gwady.”

Campbell was impressed. “Where’d you learn
Vietnamese?”

“Spent a summer there in high school. A
wonderful country. By the way, Nguyen, how do you know me?”

“Well, you a hewo to ma pepo. Yo wepot about
pollution from defoestation Hep change govament policy. I thank
you.” He bowed slightly.

“That’s flattering, Nguyen.”

“A yu heea on undacova stowy?”

“No. No cover at all. Just visiting. I’m
flattered you recognized me. Is there something else you wanted to
say?”

Nguyen suddenly grew very nervous. “Do yu know
about the othas?”

“The others? No, what do you mean, the
others?”

“So sowri, must go.” He disappeared into the
kitchen area carrying an armload of dishes.

Fifteen minutes passed. Campbell and Thatcher
had seen the rays of the setting sun turn the city below them into
a golden brown pastel. They were ready to leave when Nguyen found
them again.

“Do yu want to see the othas?” he asked.

Thatcher looked at Campbell. “Um, sure. Now…who
are they?”

“No time now. Mus go. Meet me hea at seva thiwty
tomowrow evening.” He handed them a hand drawn map. Before Thatcher
could answer, the waiter was gone.

“Okay, mister reporter, what do your instincts
tell you? Is it a trap?”

“No, I don’t think so,” said Thatcher. “Nguyen
was wearing traditional Vietnamese religious symbols. I take that
to mean that not everyone who works here must tow the strict
Christian line. The others? Hmm. I’ve got about twenty-four hours
to do some Net searching.”

“Well, I’m willing if you are. It might provide
some inoculation from Chad’s charisma.”

“So,” Thatcher added, “after all you’ve been put
through by Nate and Es, you’re still looking for more
adventure?”

“Yeah,” she said with playful eyes, “maybe we’ll
even meet your father.”

“Cute. Real cute.”

* * * * *

Chad flew the small helicopter with expert
precision. “You ever been in one of these with the rotors
encased?”

“No,” admitted Nate. “Very smooth ride.” Dugan
sat beside him. He reached over and patted the CCR, found the
correct location under the shoulder blade, and gave further
instructions to Dugan.

First on the tour was flying inside the
cavernous domed structure. Flying around the perimeter, Chad
explained the detail and layout. Later they approached the Stadium,
a rectangular park. “That’s where we have our largest concerts and
also for what we’re most famous.”

“Which is?”

“I guess we’re not famous to everyone,” smiled
Chad. “You’re officially invited for the thrill of a lifetime
tomorrow night at the Stadium. It’s a virtual reality experience
like no other. It’s our little taste of heaven, at least our
technological vision of it.”

“Sure, I’ll be glad to come.”

“Great! Time to fly out of the dome.” He pushed
a button, and just above the skyscraper headquarters a large
doorway in the ceiling opened up. The night was crisp and cool in
the Dixieland air. The small craft lifted straight up for several
hundred meters, and with it the half-moon jointly rose with them in
the eastern sky.

Chad maneuvered the craft around and headed
west. “This is where I can get away from it all, at least for a
bit. From up here, during daylight of course, you can see five
states, or at least what used to be states. There’s a huge statue
of Christ to the west-northwest of the dome, but it’s kind of hard
to see at night. During full moon it’s an awesome sight. When they
light it up at Christmas, it’ll take your breath away. I don’t know
about you, but when you’re closing in on a hundred years old it’s
kinda hard to get used to all the changes in our country.”

“I know what you mean. It’s gorgeous up here,
Keith, ah, Chad. If I haven’t already mentioned it I want to say
how gracious a host you’ve been. Do you remember Alex
Newberry?”

“Alpha Group Alex? How could anyone forget him;
the father of the cutting remark.”

“Well, he lives in Australia now and—”

“You’re not comparing him to me?”

“By no means!” chuckled Nate. “I was just going
to say that he hasn’t changed one iota.”

“Sounds like you’re keeping up with our youthful
comrades.”

“Um, trying a bit.”
I wonder if he’s
fishing?
“So how has the experiment been treating you?”

Chad looked over and grinned. The craft was on
autopilot, taking them on a pre-set circular course. “Just look at
me. I am having a blast! Life couldn’t be better. Your End-Date
predictions are driving them in like sheep. I’m the executive
director of all this. Nine years ago I brought Christian
visionaries and their billionaire friends in as investors. The
media had a great time criticizing what we intended as essentially
a Christian theme park. It was hard going for a few years, but the
last half-dozen years profits have skyrocketed.”

“You always had the magic touch in business,”
complimented Nate. “I guess I ought to be happy for all the souls
you’re reaching even as you’re reaching for their pocketbooks.”

“Nothing wrong with God blessing me with riches.
I’m blessing many others with my grand vision.”

“Of unchecked wealth.”

“Sounds like one of those Church of Abraham
principles.”

“Well, yes it is,” said Nate half
apologetically.

“Don’t worry, old buddy.” Chad punched him
teasingly in the arm. “I’m not one of those stodgy old Christians
trying to squeeze out the likes of competitors like CHOFA. Your
religion has just as much right to exist as other religions in the
marketplace for saving souls.”

He looked at Nate. “You look surprised.”

“Well, yeah, especially after the response today
when people in the park saw the medallion.”

“Now, I said I respect the religion,” clarified
Chad. “While you’re visiting, it’s still a good idea to hide that
thing. For a lot of people here, that medallion’s blasphemous.”

The ‘copter had nearly completed the circuitous
route and was now returning to the dome.

“Serious topic, Keith, er—Chad.”

“Kinda hard to get used to all those name
changes, isn’t it,” said Chad. “We outlive people. We get to know
their sons and daughters. Everyone gets old except us. We relocate
and have to get acquainted with new people. Our names change but
not our bodies. That Hilliard was a brilliant dude.”

“Well, he was even more brilliant for choosing
you and me.” Nate winked. “But that brings me to a difficult topic.
Are you aware that several Alpha Group members have been
killed?”

“Hold on while I land this thing.” They were now
inside the dome and approaching the landing pad on top of the
skyscraper penthouse. After parking it in a garage-type structure,
they emerged out onto the roof. Several dozen people had paid extra
admission to ride to the top and get a birds-eye view of Heaven on
Earth. Nate noted that nobody seemed to recognize Chad as he walked
through the crowd with sunglasses on.

In the penthouse living room, Nate declined a
drink. Chad poured himself a glass of wine and sat down. “Now what
was that about deaths of some of our colleagues?”

“Not just deaths; murders. Two of them, I mean
three: William, Wakely, and Marisol.”
A little lie about Marisol
to protect her, just in case
, he thought.

He reached down and patted Dugan. The CCR spoke
into his dataport. “Mr Delavan exhibits no homicidal intentions as
assessed with Dr. Devereaux’s RVT scanner. I’m trying to find any
connections with Browning Watts/Herschel Hatton.”

“You okay?”

“Oh, sorry, Chad. Yeah, just a little bit
sleepy. Your fireplace is wonderful, but the warm air must be
putting me to sleep after that cool night air ride.”

“Got any suspects?”

“At this point, nobody and everybody.”

“You don’t suspect me, do you?” He tried to read
Nate’s quiet, studious face. “I’m shocked, Skip. There’s absolutely
no reason to—-I haven’t left here in months!”

“Easy! No I don’t suspect you, but I am a bit
paranoid. I’m here in part to investigate, but also to let you know
you’re not safe. Nobody is.”

“Do you think it’s one person?”

“I think so.” He thought it was interesting Chad
brought this up, but then dismissed it as only a logical deduction
from the mind of a billionaire.

“Sounds like you’re adding ‘detective’ to your
resume.”

“Believe me, I haven’t asked for this. It was
kind of dropped on me.”

“It’s so unbelievable,” said Chad. “Any leads?
Motives? Is our secret out?”

“Well, maybe you can help. Have you been in
touch with any Alpha Group members lately, especially with the
three victims?”

“No, I can’t say I have. My last contact with
anyone I believe was with Marisol in, uh, Pakistan, I think. That
was at least a decade ago.”

“So has there been anybody else?”

“No. My time has been totally devoted to Heaven
on Earth.”

“Well, I just want to caution you to be
extremely careful.”

“Hey, who’d want me? Besides, if anyone came
here, I’d just ask the crowd to stone them

“I don’t think you see the gravity of the
situation.”

Chad gave Nate a long look, his mind whirring.
“Don’t worry, old buddy, my God will protect me.”
Besides, I
think I’ve just added things up, ol’ buddy, and I’m way ahead of
you.

“I have the same faith in Father Abraham.”

* * * * * *

Moonlight streamed through the large picture
window that graced the eastern side of Chad’s penthouse. He gazed
out over his empire. But instead of admiring his accomplishment,
worry filled his thoughts.

“Honey, why aren’t you coming to bed?”

“Something on my mind,” Chad replied stonily to
Honshu, one of his many mistresses.

“I know something that will take whatever is on
your mind off your mind,” she said in sexy voice.

He didn’t even budge as she sat up, revealing
long brown legs and a short negligee. “Oh, Chad, honey, if you’re
worried about that little error in the crucifixion scene, I take
full responsibility.”

“No, no.”

“Then what is it?”

Sighing, Chad said, “Complications with old
friends.”

She came over to his chair and began giving him
a neck rub. “D’you want to talk about it?”

“I said no!”

She stopped massaging his neck at this flash of
rage. “Why do you always clam up when I’m with you? You share stuff
with Vicki and Monica a lot more than me!”

Chad turned around and pulled her up, grabbing
her by the shoulder. “You know I don’t like it when I’m pressed,”
he hissed through clenched teeth. “When I
want
to sleep with
you, Honshu, I
will
sleep with you—not get the third
degree!”

Pushing back against his strong arms, she curled
her lips and said, “No wonder you need twelve women, Mr. Solomon!
None of them can stand you for longer than two hours a day!”

“Goddamn bitch! How dare you!” He slapped her
across the cheek, the force sending her onto the bed pillow.

She screamed. Even as she soothed the sting with
one hand, she scrambled up and tried to hit him with the other.

“You’ll never win,” he gloated, grabbing both
arms and pinning them against her back. Shoving her back onto the
bed, he jumped on her, holding her face down. He grabbed her hair
and put his face close to hers.