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Excerpt From Award Winning Novel Prometheus
Prometheus
An Adventure Novel of New BeginningsFinalist in the 2004 Eppie Awards, and
Finalist in the Dream Realm Awards
LIFE Award winner
Prometheus, a future fiction novel by authors, Alex Domokos and Rita Y. Toews is now available in paperback. The novel can be purchased through Hard Shell Word Factory for $9.31 (US).
Or purchase the e-book version at Fictionwise.
We hope you enjoy this sample chapter of Prometheus.
Copyright September, 1986
All Rights Reserved
"... Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to
you in days to come."
Genesis 49.1
"Prometheus, you are glad that you have outwitted me and
stolen fire... but I will give men as the price for fire an
evil thing in which they may all be glad of heart while they
embrace their own destruction."
(Zeus to Prometheus 1. Hesiod, Works and Days 55)
Chapter I
Near Future
"Zero" Time Minus Eight Weeks
China
Coward! It's easy to take the moral high road when your neck isn't on the line. But when integrity comes at a personal price….
Colonel Yun-Kai paced the cramped area of his office. Four paces forward, four back. Midway along the route, his gaze was repeatedly drawn to the black video-phone on his desk, equipped with a direct scrambled line to his superior officer in Beijing. Although reluctant to make the call, he considered himself a man of integrity, and as such, he felt compelled to express his concerns.
The invisible fist that had gripped his intestines the previous evening gave another squeeze and he gasped as an explosion of pain rocked his body. From past experience, he knew the problem would disappear after he stopped wrestling with his conscience. As the agony subsided, he ran a trembling hand through his hair and wedged his bulk into the chair behind his desk. It was time to make the call.
He reached for the phone, and then paused. A conversation about security issues should be done face to face, but his isolated location and the swift advance of the campaign, code named Avalanche, made a meeting impossible. And to question his superiors' decision could prove disastrous if they felt he was criticizing Avalanche. Yet, the consequences if the strategy went bad were too horrific to contemplate.
Frustrated with his own cowardice, Yun-Kai slammed his fist on the desktop.
It's madness! It will never work. My instincts, and this cursed gut, haven't failed me yet.
The small communications room, part of a massive bunker complex located forty feet beneath the ground of Kashgar, was cold, yet Yun-Kai repeatedly wiped his sweaty palms on the front of his uniform. Finally, after a struggle that pitted his sense of moral obligation against both his job security and his family's honor, he activated the call to the capital.
Honorable ancestors, forgive this foolish man for any shame he may bring to your name, he prayed as the connection was made.
The lean face of General Huan Piao appeared on the screen. "Have the scanners picked up something interesting, Colonel?" Piao asked in a friendly manner. It was a false friendliness, a thin veneer that covered a legendary explosive temper.
"Nothing unusual, General. But it's not the Kashgar station I'm calling about. I--I feel... " As he hesitated his gut gave another squeeze and the pain forced him to try again. "I feel that it's my duty to discuss the potential danger of campaign Avalanche with you, sir." He was now committed to having his concerns heard.
"Danger? What danger?"
"Once Avalanche is implemented, in the event of a Red Alert--"
"What the devil are you talking about?" The slow pace and careful enunciation of General Piao's words underscored the anger in his voice.
Yun-Kai groaned inwardly. His worst fears were realized. Once again he cursed the day he had been made privy to the knowledge that China's rocket delivery system was, within certain parameters, a self-launching automatic respond system. The accusing finger Piao stabbed at the screen loomed large in Yun-Kai's sight, blocking out the angry face of his superior.
"I don't remember when you were given the authority to comment on decisions made by your superiors! Need I remind you why you're at Kashgar, Colonel? You're to keep an eye on The Soviet Nation's underground weapons testing. Nothing more!"
For decades after the break up of the Soviet Union, corrupt officials and others with power had joined together to form the Russian Mafia. This criminal organization stripped whatever flesh was left on the carcass of the country. Finally, the people demanded order, and welcomed a right wing nationalistic dictator who consolidated power by whipping up resentment against the West. The former Russia was now forcibly restored to her previous power under the name The Soviet Nation, complete with a nuclear arsenal and a fanatic at the helm.
Despite the rebuke from his superior, Yun-Kai forged ahead. "Some nervousness, stress, unforeseeable miscalculation.... General, the retaliatory systems on both sides are automatic and irrevocable."
"You're talking nonsense! You know very well that there'll be no atomic explosion that could trigger an automatic reaction."
"I realize that we won't trigger a nuclear explosion, General. But a third party--" Piao opened his mouth to interrupt but Yun-Kai pressed on, over-riding any protest Piao may try to utter.
"Iraq, Pakistan or even Korea! Intelligence indicates that Korea's new dictator has surrounded himself with hard-line military advisers." Yun-Kai was relieved to express the nub of his concern.
"It's not my habit to discuss intelligence issues on the phone, Colonel! Even on a scrambled line. But I can assure you that there's not the slightest sign that Iraq is prepared to test again at this time. The international outcry last year has put--"
"But a risk still exists!"
"Enough, Colonel!" Piao thundered. His face was dark with anger and he leaned closer to the screen. "Europeans and Westerners alike have abused us for centuries and now we have Korea breathing down our necks. It's time we regain the position we deserve in the world! This is a nuclear age, and we have no alternative but to obtain nuclear capability on a par with the super powers. Look what happened when we took back Taiwan! There's a certain risk involved, that I will concede. But without risk we'd remain a ridiculous giant with feet of clay. Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course, General." Yun-Kai slumped in his chair, defeated.
"Good. We'll have to discuss your posting in Kashgar at our next meeting, Colonel." A blank screen signaled the end of the conversation.
Does this upstart dare to question his superiors' decision? Piao fumed as he severed the connection. Everything is on target and now this fat buffoon, sitting in a hole in the ground, is going to tell the best strategic minds in the Republic of China that they're making a mistake? The necessary connections in New Delhi have been made and Campaign Avalanche will go ahead as scheduled!
Piao was never in favor of Yun-Kai being included in the select few who were aware of the true nature of campaign Avalanche and in fact, had even voted against it at the decisive meeting. The phone call was proof that his initial misgivings were justified.
In his opinion, campaign Avalanche was brilliant. China needed as much data as possible regarding East-West nuclear strength to plan the strategic location of its own rocket delivery system. To this end, Chinese covert agents passed information to both America and The Soviet Nation, implying that the other was on the verge of developing a satellite paralyzing system. The mere possibility that such a system existed would force both countries to take steps that the Chinese could use to evaluate the nuclear capabilities of the two nations. Such an international "war game" would give China the edge needed for correct evaluation, or further modification, to her own nuclear arsenal.
The call was a disaster Yun-Kai reflected as he stared at the blank screen. He had questioned his superior and would pay dearly for it. If Avalanche proved a stunning success, Piao would see to it that he was dismissed in disgrace.
Earlier in the day the latest coded report from Beijing had arrived. "The seeds have been sown," it stated. To force the hand of the Americans and The Soviet Nation, the Chinese were using an expedition in Nepal organized under the auspices of the International Society of Natural Sciences, or ISONS, as bait. Insinuations were made to convince each country that the other had an agent among the members of the expedition. The report now in Yun-Kai's hand stated that both sides had reacted to the intelligence with a flurry of coded exchanges to their field officers.
With a weariness that owed nothing to his years, he pressed a signal button to summon his duty officer, Tsong Mei. The young lieutenant responded immediately and snapped to attention in front of the narrow desk. Not for the first time Yun-Kai envied the man both his youth and his slim physique.
"Lieutenant, bring me up to date on the ISONS expedition."
"Sir, a chain of patrols has been established to observe the expedition. Our agent in Kathmandu, a local named Loanche, has ensured that the baggage train and the yak drivers required by the ISONS will be hired from him. He's also been hired as the group's guide."
"And what information did we give Loanche regarding the expedition?"
He's been advised that information we've received causes us to question if the expedition is a genuine scientific venture. There's a possibility it's a cover for a covert mission. He's to observe whether any member of the expedition shows an unusual interest in the radio transmitter, or whether anybody makes an attempt to get in contact with suspected Soviet or Western agents in the area. Basically, he's to report any activity not compatible with scientific observation."
With a grunt, Yun-Kai rose from his seat and again paced the small area in front of his desk. "How will he pass his information on to us?"
"Through some of our patrols who are linked by radio with us here at the Center. They've been instructed to mingle with legitimate caravans that will naturally come into contact with the expedition group. That way there'll be plenty of opportunities to pass messages back and forth. They've always been very discrete when contacting us in the past."
"Excellent, Lieutenant. The less Loanche knows, the less danger there is of information being leaked."
"Thank you, Colonel."
In the harsh glare of the overhead fixture Yun-Kai saw a faint smile of hidden pleasure on the lieutenant's face. He dismissed the man, allowing him the impression that he was party to a state secret.
So, our young lieutenant is also under the impression that there's something special about that radio transmitter, and that an agent is attached to the expedition. We create the situation we want by letting Loanche's clumsy intrusion arouse their suspicion. Then, as is inevitable, suspicion breeds suspicion and observers on both sides will report some unusual activity. Danger? Yes. But perhaps the General is right. A country can't gain anything without risk.
Our novel, Prometheus, was a finalist in the Dream Realm Awards and has won a LiFE award. We are proud to present the award for your viewing.
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by Alex Domokos with Rita Y. Toews has been accorded the LiFE Award. |
This novel is available from our publisher, Hard Shell Word Factory, or any book store. Just ask them to order ISBN # 0-7599-0567-3
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