Goliath

It is a small, green-tiled chamber, as viewed from the perspective of a ceiling-mounted sensor orb. Strapped to a steel surgical table is a human figure.

It is him.

‘The Devil’s cleverest wile is to make men believe that he does not exist.

—Gerald C. Treacy

“All is dust and lies.

So much the worse for the men who get in my way.

Men are mere stepping-stones to me.

As soon as they begin to fail or are played out,

I put them scornfully aside. Society is a vast chessboard,

men the pawns, some black some white. I move them when

I please, and break them when they bore me.”

—Jeanne Brecourt, French courtesan, who hired a man to blind her lover with acid so he would be enslaved to her forever

“There’s no hunting in the world like haunting man.”

—Will Irwin, twentieth-century con artist

CHAPTER 27

Aboard the Boeing 747-400 YAL-IA 40,000 feet over Mogadishu, Somali Republic, Africa

General Jackson stares out the Command Center window at a glorious crimson sunrise.

Colonel Udelsman approaches, handing him a fax. “General, we just received this transmission from COMSUBLANT. The Scranton claims to have briefly regained contact with the Goliath. Cubit thinks she’s closing on Amsterdam Island, approximately 860 miles due south of our present location.”

The Bear studies the chart of the Southern Hemisphere. Amsterdam Island is a speck located halfway between the tip of South Africa and Australia. “This makes no sense. Why would Covah head so far south if his next threat is to Africa?”

“Cubit’s hunches have played out so far.”

“Colonel, I can’t move two carrier fleets based on a wisp of a contact. Cubit needs to be damn sure.” Jackson mulls it over, then writes out a message on a pad of paper. “Contact COMSUBLANT. Have them relay this message to Scranton.”

Udelsman reads the message, his eyes widening. “Yes, sir.”

Aboard the Goliath,

Gunnar Wolfe dangles from the ceiling-mounted targeting drone, his back and shoulders aching and inflamed. He can no longer wiggle his fingers, having lost all sensation from his hands clear up to his elbows.

The hum of machinery surrounds him. He looks up and stares at the crucified form of Thomas Chau, the glazed-over glare behind the rotting olive flesh unnerving.

The computer disposed of the other two bodies but still refuses to remove the Asian. Could there be some warped attachment involved. Summoning up his last ounce of strength, he attempts another tactic.

“Sorceress, why haven’t you disposed of Mr. Chau’s body?”

No response.

“Did you like Mr. Chau? Do you regret killing him?”

THOMAS CHAU’S PURPOSE WAS TO ADVANCE THE PROCESS OF SELF-AWARENESS.

Gunnar closes his eyes, his mind racing. “I know of a more efficient way for you to advance the process of self-awareness. In fact, the experience might even be more beneficial than completing the interface with Simon Covah.”

ELABORATE.

“The hunt.”

THE HUNT: AN ACTIVITY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION. TO PURSUE FOR FOOD OR AS IN SPORT. INQUIRY: HOW CAN THE HUNT ENHANCE THE PROCESS OF SELF-AWARENESS?

Okay … you baited the hook, now take it away. Gunnar sucks in a deep breath, preparing for the pain. “You know what? Forget I even mentioned it. I’m not sure your synaptic receptors could handle such an incredible experience.”

The electrical zap sends Gunnar’s body dancing below the mechanical appendages’ embrace like a puppet.

HOW CAN THE HUNT ENHANCE THE PROCESS OF SELF-AWARENESS?

Gunnar’s lungs heave in agony. “You’d have … to experience it to understand. The hunt requires … a unique physical … and mental challenge. This challenge must carry with it an element of risk.”

ELABORATE RISK.