knowing glance with the Insider.
“Phase Two,” declared Williams, the screen behind him showing a series of locations and statistics, “will see Whiplash targeted at every major city on earth, and then at the rest of the planet’s surface. The whole world will be switched off. The New Age will dawn!”
“Mankind will revert to a simpler time, before technology took over our lives and our environment was ravaged by industry! Horse-drawn wagons for transport, everyone growing their own food, a healthier, quieter way of life for us all. No pollution, no energy crisis, no threat of global war. Now, as you know, when Whiplash strikes there will be problems. Lorries will crash, aeroplanes will fall from the sky, hospitals will lose power. There will be deaths. But remember our ultimate goal. In war, there are always casualties. Some will die, but the whole of mankind will benefit. Now, let’s get back to work.”
There was more applause and cheering. Despite the knowledge that Operation New Age would cause death and destruction, the group had persuaded themselves that they were fighting for a cause. They believed that someone had to create a better world by force!
As the gang returned to their preparations, Williams sat in the shadows beside the Insider.
“Very impressive speech,” whispered the Insider. “You almost had me believing it myself. Do we really need to tell them all that rubbishabout a Phase Two?”
“We need them to work. We need to keep them on our side. If they knew that Phase Two isn’t going to happen, and that this entire operation is only a way of making money for you and me, do you really think they’d be here now? We need scientific experts to assemble and operate the machinery. They’re interested in helping the planet, not making a profit, so the deception is vital. By the time they realize they’ve been duped, we’ll be well away.”
“I’ve been talking with my people at Gylbut Gadgets,” whispered the Insider. “They’re nearly ready to start making Whiplash shielding. I’ll be able to switch the whole company over to shielding production once the Whiplash is fired. With the whole world terrified of another attack, we’ll be billionaires.”
“And in the meantime,” smiled Williams, watching the gang at work, “this bunch of gullible idiots will be left high and dry.” He looked at his wristwatch. “Bullman should be there by now.”
CHAPTER SIX
The grandfather clock in the hall ticked its way towards 11:30pm. The house was an old one, with low ceilings crossed by thick wooden beams, just outside a quiet little village, several miles from the nearest town.
In the downstairs study, Dr Madeleine Smith, lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of South Warwickshire, was working at a large antique desk. The study was lined with bookcases and filing cabinets. On the walls were paintings, photographs and academic certificates.
Dr Smith herself was elegantly dressed. Hercascade of brown hair fell around delicate features and large eyes. She was noting a long series of mathematical formulae on a tablet computer.
She sat back, eyeing her work carefully. Her mouth twisted into an uncertain expression. Pushing her chair back, she yawned loudly, stood up and left the room.
The moment she was gone, one of the paintings on the study wall appeared to come to life. It was a picture of a summer meadow, dotted with butterflies. One of the butterflies suddenly flexed its wings and fluttered off the frame.
Sirena sent out a signal. “All clear. She’s in the room across the hall, boiling a kettle.”
Three more SWARM micro-robots emerged from their hiding places. Hercules the stag beetle crawled from under the desk. Nero the scorpion emerged from behind heavy, patterned curtains. Sabre the tiny mosquito had been absolutely still, attached to the ceiling in one corner of the room.
“We should go after her,” he transmitted to the others. “Stick closely to her every
“Phase Two,” declared Williams, the screen behind him showing a series of locations and statistics, “will see Whiplash targeted at every major city on earth, and then at the rest of the planet’s surface. The whole world will be switched off. The New Age will dawn!”
“Mankind will revert to a simpler time, before technology took over our lives and our environment was ravaged by industry! Horse-drawn wagons for transport, everyone growing their own food, a healthier, quieter way of life for us all. No pollution, no energy crisis, no threat of global war. Now, as you know, when Whiplash strikes there will be problems. Lorries will crash, aeroplanes will fall from the sky, hospitals will lose power. There will be deaths. But remember our ultimate goal. In war, there are always casualties. Some will die, but the whole of mankind will benefit. Now, let’s get back to work.”
There was more applause and cheering. Despite the knowledge that Operation New Age would cause death and destruction, the group had persuaded themselves that they were fighting for a cause. They believed that someone had to create a better world by force!
As the gang returned to their preparations, Williams sat in the shadows beside the Insider.
“Very impressive speech,” whispered the Insider. “You almost had me believing it myself. Do we really need to tell them all that rubbishabout a Phase Two?”
“We need them to work. We need to keep them on our side. If they knew that Phase Two isn’t going to happen, and that this entire operation is only a way of making money for you and me, do you really think they’d be here now? We need scientific experts to assemble and operate the machinery. They’re interested in helping the planet, not making a profit, so the deception is vital. By the time they realize they’ve been duped, we’ll be well away.”
“I’ve been talking with my people at Gylbut Gadgets,” whispered the Insider. “They’re nearly ready to start making Whiplash shielding. I’ll be able to switch the whole company over to shielding production once the Whiplash is fired. With the whole world terrified of another attack, we’ll be billionaires.”
“And in the meantime,” smiled Williams, watching the gang at work, “this bunch of gullible idiots will be left high and dry.” He looked at his wristwatch. “Bullman should be there by now.”
CHAPTER SIX
The grandfather clock in the hall ticked its way towards 11:30pm. The house was an old one, with low ceilings crossed by thick wooden beams, just outside a quiet little village, several miles from the nearest town.
In the downstairs study, Dr Madeleine Smith, lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of South Warwickshire, was working at a large antique desk. The study was lined with bookcases and filing cabinets. On the walls were paintings, photographs and academic certificates.
Dr Smith herself was elegantly dressed. Hercascade of brown hair fell around delicate features and large eyes. She was noting a long series of mathematical formulae on a tablet computer.
She sat back, eyeing her work carefully. Her mouth twisted into an uncertain expression. Pushing her chair back, she yawned loudly, stood up and left the room.
The moment she was gone, one of the paintings on the study wall appeared to come to life. It was a picture of a summer meadow, dotted with butterflies. One of the butterflies suddenly flexed its wings and fluttered off the frame.
Sirena sent out a signal. “All clear. She’s in the room across the hall, boiling a kettle.”
Three more SWARM micro-robots emerged from their hiding places. Hercules the stag beetle crawled from under the desk. Nero the scorpion emerged from behind heavy, patterned curtains. Sabre the tiny mosquito had been absolutely still, attached to the ceiling in one corner of the room.
“We should go after her,” he transmitted to the others. “Stick closely to her every
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