The Gulf Conspiracy by Ken McClure Page A

credible opposition, we have become an irrelevance. We cannot hope to change things under these conditions.’
    ‘ Sir James,’ began Donald Crowe; he sounded polite but looked angry. ‘I know that you have always regarded the scientific input to this group with a scepticism bordering on contempt and, it might be argued that you had some reason to after what happened at Porton, but if you will hear me out. We have spent over ten years building up our organisation. We have people, like-minded people, in just about every sphere of modern life. This is not the time to throw this all away. It is tantamount to a betrayal of them and what we believe in. If we can’t change things using the ballot box, we should at least start considering other means.’
    ‘ I think I agree,’ said Mowbray.
    ‘ I think I do too,’ said Rupert Everley, clearing his throat in deference to the fact that he was daring to disagree with Gardiner, a man so clearly his intellectual superior. ‘Our country needs us more than ever if we’re to stop the rot.’
    Gardiner had a face like thunder. ‘What other means did you have in mind?’ he growled.
    ‘ Nothing specific,’ said Crowe. ‘I just think we should take time to consider our position and perhaps apply a little more lateral thought to our situation.’
    ‘ It wouldn’t do any harm to delay a little, James’ said Warner.
    ‘ We really should explore every avenue,’ said Mowbray.
    In the face of general agreement from the others, Gardiner looked down at the table in front of him. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘I’ll delay informing our people of disbandment for six months but when we meet again I expect to hear concrete proposals for action – within the law.’
    When Donald Crowe left the house he found Cecil Mowbray standing beside his car ‘We need to talk,’ said Mowbray.
    He and Mowbray started to walk slowly along the path leading to the rose garden. ‘Never been that fond of roses myself,’ said Mowbray. ‘Fine when they’re in bloom but a mess at any other time. God, that was a close call in there.’
    ‘ You can say that again,’ said Crowe. ‘Disbanding now would scupper everything. We need another few months. The agent’s ready but we’re going to need the help of one or two people in setting up the trial.’
    ‘ Is a trial absolutely necessary?’ asked Mowbray.
    ‘ There’s no deal without it,’ said Crowe. ‘They demand a successful demonstration before they’ll pay.’
    ‘ Have they stipulated any conditions?’ asked Mowbray.
    ‘ They have,’ said Crowe,
    Mowbray noted a reluctance to answer in Crowe’s voice. ‘And?’ he asked.
    Crowe told him.
    ‘ You can’t be serious?’ exclaimed Mowbray.
    ‘ We either do that or we wave goodbye to twelve years work and twenty million dollars.’
    ‘ It sounds as if you haven’t dismissed the idea out of hand,’ said Mowbray as they continued walking.
    ‘ It can be done,’ said Crowe. ‘I’ve had a think about it and it can be done but we need money and reliable key people. Money means Everley. How do you feel about taking him on board?’
    ‘ The man’s an idiot,’ replied Mowbray. ‘But a vain and predictable one. If we can convince him that joining us is the way to his dream of a seat in parliament I’m sure he’ll cough up without too much trouble. Leave that to me. What do you need in the way of people?’
    ‘ We don’t need many but we do need specialists. I’m relying on you for the derring-do input and I’ll have a look at the group’s database for the others. I’ve already come up with a couple of key people but we have to get them on board before Gardiner pulls the plug. Time is not on our side.’
    ‘ There’s something else we have to worry about,’ said Mowbray. ‘Intelligence says that Bush has set his heart on another Gulf War within a year. He’ll go through the motions with weapons inspectors and the like and try for UN support for military action but the smart