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

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СКАЧАТЬ he told her and not keeping his scheduled visit with his holy friend that the situation was indeed grave.

      Time was working against the lovers. Harrison slowly pulled away from the embrace that united them, an embrace that gave him a sense of peace and caring. Hannah regrettably let him go as they kissed once more. “I’ll call you when I can, but don’t expect to hear from me anytime soon or often,” said Harrison. Hannah gently stroked the face of her beloved as she spoke in a trembling voice, “I’ll be thinking about you…” “You mean worrying about me,” Harrison interrupted. “That too,” said Hannah exposing a glimpse of a smile. With another kiss, the couple parted and Harrison left the room.

      The tears that Hannah proudly held in check streamed freely down her face. She walked slowly toward the bed and slid back under the covers. Hannah turned off the light at her bedside. She knew that the darkness produced by her action was a feigned attempt at engaging sleep. Hannah’s mind was racing with concerns for her Harrison. There was no way for Hannah not to worry when she was not with him. Although Hannah needed her rest, sleep would take a backseat not only tonight, but also perhaps many nights.

Chapter 6

       Target ‘Target One’

      Harrison arrived at the Rome airport less than two hours after receiving the message that reported the disappearance of Software. Not knowing President Ashton’s whereabouts was disturbing in and of itself without having any knowledge of the circumstances of her disappearance. Harrison paid the cab driver and walked toward the hangar that shrouded Target One, his private jet. He filed his flight plan to Washington, D.C. and reviewed his plans for scheduled refueling.

      With everything in apparent order, Harrison boarded Target One and entered the cockpit. He belted himself into the pilot’s seat and began his routine instrument check for the flight. As Harrison stepped through the checklist, the scent of Hannah on his clothes made his mind drift to thoughts of her and their embrace of not long ago. Distracted by the image, Harrison took a deep breath, cleared his mind and focused on his flight preparations.

      With the checklist complete, Harrison rolled Target One out of the hangar and began taxiing toward the runway. He radioed the tower his intentions, “Roma Airport, this is Target One, over.” After a slight pause, the tower replied, “Go ahead Target One.” “Target One ready to taxi,” transmitted Harrison. “Target One, you are clear for takeoff on runway 318,” authorized the tower. “Roger,” replied Harrison. He accelerated the jet and listened as the engines grinded from a low hum to a high pitch scream. Harrison steered Target One in the direction of runway 318. He glanced skyward at the distant horizon. The darkness was retreating as dawn broke over Italy. Harrison turned the corner onto runway 318. He stopped at the edge of the runway and scanned his instrument panel one last time for any anomalies, but he was alerted to none.

      Harrison radioed the tower for final clearance. “Hold for incoming flight,” was the traffic controller’s warning. “Roger control,” radioed Harrison. Except for the droll scream of the engines, silence shrouded the cockpit. As the time of the hold by the tower grew, so did Harrison’s impatience. He was anxious to become airborne for it was in the air that he planned to contact Mentor. Harrison received his orders from and was responsible to Mentor. There was no paper trail for Mentor or the organization that Harrison pledged his allegiance. The line from Mentor to the President had no branches; neither did the line from Mentor to Hardware. Harrison’s reflections were interrupted by Roma control, “Target One, you are clear for take off. Have a pleasant flight. Ciao.” “Thank you. Target One out.”

      The scream of the engines increased in pitch as Harrison accelerated and guided the jet down the runway. The rumble of the runway gave way to the smoothness of flight as the jet lifted off the runway. Harrison continued his glide path until Target One reached 10,000 feet in accordance with his flight plan. He engaged the autopilot and unbuckled himself from the pilot’s seat. Harrison glanced at the instrument panel and scanned the many devices to determine that their readings were within normal parameters. Having satisfied himself of their performance, he walked out of the cockpit and into a small office adjacent to the cockpit.

      The size of the office belied the power of the electronics, weapons and other equipment it contained. Harrison pushed one of several buttons on his desk that lowered a panel on the wall. The opening revealed sensitive communications equipment adapted with scrambling devices and peripherals such as a fax machine, video conferencing monitors, and satellite tracking instruments.

      Harrison sat in front of the communications array and donned a set of earphones. He placed the transmitter in scramble mode and broadcasted freely, “Hardware to Mentor. Hardware to Mentor. Over.” Static filled his ears, as no reply was forthcoming. Harrison repeated his broadcast and waited. Within a minute came the reply, “Hardware, stand by for Mentor.” Static again filled the silence…a long silence. The anticipation heightened Harrison’s senses as the adrenalin surged within him.

      “Hardware, this is Mentor, came the long awaited voice. Harrison responded immediately, “Mentor, this is Hardware, go ahead.” “Harrison, quickly, what’s your altitude?” “Target One is at 10,000 feet” was the pilot’s terse reply. Harrison continued, “Why do you…” but Mentor interrupted him. “Not sure, listen carefully. Scout, who was stationed in California and Eagle, who was based in Texas were ordered to fly here by me shortly after you received your message in Rome. Both their planes disappeared off radar at 8,000 feet.” “Sabotage?” queried Harrison. “Much too coincidental to suspect otherwise,” was his superior’s reply. Mentor continued, “We have cleanup teams headed for their last known radar position, but that will take considerable time. Suspect either a time bomb or one trigger by altitude once it is armed. We can’t take any chances, Harrison. I need you on this one. Suggest you canvass Target One and maintain present altitude. Do not, I repeat, do not go below 8,000 feet.”

      Harrison’s adrenalin flowed freely once again. “Understood Mentor, was his reply. “Where is Software?” asked Harrison. “Likelihood that security has been compromised. Will discuss all circumstances surrounding Software upon your arrival,” replied the executive. The comforting voice continued, “Be careful, Harrison. Use your sixth sense and even that seventh sense of yours. Come home safe.” “Will do Mentor. Hardware out.” With that, Harrison closed the communications panel and returned to Target One’s cockpit.

      Harrison entered the cockpit and stared immediately at his altimeter. He sighed with some relief as it continued to read 10,000 feet. Harrison gazed at the other indicators to rule out even the slightest hit of tampering or sabotage. He checked the autopilot’s heading, speed and altitude one more time. He also inspected his fuel level. This was not a time to make a mental error. ‘Must keep above 8,000 feet,’ he reminded himself. Harrison decided to search the jet methodically and started at the rear of the plane. He grabbed a flashlight, left the cockpit and headed toward the back of Target One. Harrison hoped that if there was an explosive device aboard that it was inside the jet and not mounted on the external fuselage. That would be very bad news indeed. Harrison also reminded himself that the explosive device could be time-detonated and not impacted by the jet’s altitude.

      Harrison began his search by opening every panel above the seats, including the overhead storage compartments. He shined the narrow intensive beam of light into every nook and cranny visible to the naked eye. Harrison looked for any sign of an explosive device, especially extra wires mounted along the fuselage. He was quite familiar with Target One as he helped perform maintenance on her for the past five years.

      The longer that Harrison searched the queasier his feeling. ‘It should be the other way around’ he thought to himself. ‘What if I missed something?’ СКАЧАТЬ