Mirror, Mirror at 1600 D.C.. Edward Galluzzi

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СКАЧАТЬ Hannah again? And Pope Josetta and President Ashton?’ Harrison returned to his search and focused intently on finding something before his search’s end. Time seemed to pass quickly for Harrison. ‘Too fast’ he believed as he knew that time was not on his side. Harrison reached the front of the jet in his search, but found nothing above the seats. He turned around and looked back to where he had been. ‘Could I have missed something?’ Harrison shrugged that possibility. He knelt down and bent over as he flashed the narrow beam of light under the first row of seats. He reached under each seat with his free hand in an attempt to uncover something that felt out of place. Harrison cautiously carried out this same search pattern for the remaining five rows of seats. As he finished exploring the last row of seats, he shook his head in disbelief that he had not found any explosive device or hint of sabotage.

      Harrison next opened the floor panels near the middle row of seats that led to the small cargo hold under the belly of the jet. He pushed back cautiously each panel, feeling around the edges and underneath for anything out of the ordinary. Harrison then leaned forward causing his head to disappear below floor level. His light scanned the cargo area and revealed nothing but cobwebs. Harrison tried to remember the last time he stored equipment in the cargo hold.

      Harrison backed out of the opening of the cargo hold. He secured the panels to the opening on the floor and replaced the section of carpeting that covered the panel doors. Harrison entered the cockpit of the jet once more to check on the status of the autopilot and other instruments. He was again relieved to find that Target One was maintaining 10,000 feet and heading toward the eastern continental seaboard of the United States.

      Feeling satisfied with Target One’s autopilot performance, Harrison left the cockpit and walked into the small office where several hours earlier he learned the fate of his colleagues…his former colleagues, Scout and Eagle. ‘His former colleagues’ he thought reluctantly. He pondered momentarily whether or not he would suffer a similar fate. Harrison began his search of the office by removing the panels that hid various electronic components. He examined carefully the electronic gear paying close attention to the motherboards, wiring and cabling. Harrison pushed aside wires and removed components as he searched for any sort of detonating device. ‘At this pace,’ he thought to himself, ‘the search will take considerable time.’ He then mumbled in irony, ‘I hope I’ve got the time.’

      Harrison continued the cumbersome task of checking for any abnormality to his equipment. His search thus far yielded nothing except that his office was overrun with dust mites. Harrison was beginning to think that Target One was not violated and that he was safe. Or was it just a false sense of security that replaced his diminished adrenalin?

      Harrison completed the search of his private jet in less than three hours. If there was an explosive device, it was not on board. It was unsettling to Harrison that the device may be mounted to the outer hull of his jet. Will he disappear with Target One as the turbojet descended below 8,000 feet? Harrison gave some thought of inspecting Target One a second time, but decided that his initial search was a thorough one.

      Harrison sat at his desk and prepared a fax for Mentor: “Exhaustive search of Target One negative. Proceeding according to plan. Will land at alternative site. Say again, will land at alternative site. Will need transport.” Harrison decided not to throw caution to the wind if internal security was indeed compromised. Typically, he would fly into Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, but there was no sense in showing his colors if Target One survived the descent. Harrison inserted the note and pushed several buttons that automated the transmission process. The fax machine rang out with its familiar electronic signature. The note was scrambled as a matter of routine and sent to Mentor.

      Harrison returned to the cockpit. He was about six hours away from the continental United States. He planned to start his descent while still over the Atlantic. If Target One exploded at or below 8,000 feet, he did not want to endanger the innocent people below by dropping a rain of torn and twisted metal on them.

      Harrison folded his arms and laid back as far as he could into the pilot’s seat. He did not dare close his eyes, but he needed some mental rest. Harrison’s thoughts drifted to Hannah as they always did in his semi-relaxed state. He looked at his watch and realized

      that it was almost ten o’clock in the morning in Rome. If Hannah decided to keep their scheduled visit with Josetta, his fiancée and holy friend would meet for the first time in one hour.

Chapter 7

       The Holy Man and the Sinner

      Hannah sat in front of the mirror trying to achieve the proper appearance respectful of the office of the Holy See. She has met and interviewed a number of dignitaries during her career as a journalist, but none holds a match to the audience with the Pontiff. Hannah decided to keep their scheduled appointment with Josetta even though Harrison was unable to be with her. She so wanted to see the two men together who on the surface seemed to be such a mismatch of purpose and ideals. Besides, Hannah knew full well that she would spend a great deal of her time thinking about Harrison and the risks that he was taking for his country.

      Hannah called the front desk and asked that a cab be ready in thirty minutes. She stood near a full-length mirror and made final adjustments to her appearance. Hannah glanced up and down the length of the mirror and was satisfied with her image. She walked over by the desk and sat down. Hannah opened each desk drawer in turn until she came across some hotel stationery. She knew that Harrison might not be able to contact her anytime soon and decided to write him a letter. Hannah desired minimally that Harrison knew she was thinking of him. She thought for a moment with the pen hovering over the stationery. She began writing as she became satisfied with her thoughts. Hannah wrote:

      “Dear Darling,

      I know that you are busy and engaged with your mission. I just wanted you to know how much I care about you. Time away from you passes slowly. I decided to meet with your holy friend, Josetta. I’m sure he’ll have some interesting things to tell me about you [that which Hannah was certain]. At the least maybe he will finish your story! I will give him your love. I look forward to seeing you again. My thoughts are with you.

      Love, your H.”

      Hannah addressed the letter as Harrison had instructed her with a simple post office box number somewhere in Washington, D.C. She was not sure where in Washington the letter terminated, but she was certain that Harrison would receive it when the conditions were ‘right.’ Hannah grabbed her purse and held onto the letter. She took the hotel elevator down to the lobby. The hotel clerk greeted her and said, “Your cab is ready, Miss Littleton.” Hannah replied, “Thank you. Please post this letter for me.” The clerk took the letter from Hannah. She walked out the door where a cab was waiting for her. The cab driver stood by the door and opened it for her as she approached. Hannah slipped inside the rear seat of the cab. The driver closed the door and walked around the back of the cab to the driver’s side. He sat in the driver’s seat, turned around toward Hannah and asked, “Where to, Miss?” “Vatican City,” was his passenger’s reply. The driver turned facing toward the front and put the cab in gear. He drove away from the hotel and headed for Vatican City all the while glancing intermittently in the mirror at his beautiful passenger.

      The drive was a pleasant one in the late morning. They arrived at the Vatican in less than thirty minutes. Hannah paid the driver and passed the Swiss Papal Guards as she entered the Holy See. She walked up to a frocked priest sitting at a desk and introduced herself, “Good morning, Father. My name is Hannah Littleton. My fiancé, Harrison Rossetti, and I have an audience with the Pontiff at eleven o’clock this morning. However, Mr. Rossetti was unable to keep the appointment.” СКАЧАТЬ