The Cure, стр. 42

‘Right,’ said Logan as they got to the gates.

‘This one,’ said Mendez pointing to a light aircraft ‘that’s as close to a Cessna as I got.’

‘It’s great,’ said Xander.

Logan opened the door of the plane and went to help Professor Brittle on ‘I’m sorry Logan, this is as far as we go together,’ he said.

‘What?’ said Logan ‘I need you. Tallulah needs you.’

‘No,’ he replied, putting a bag into Logan’s hand ‘my place is here. The Government that wanted me dead put me here and this is my home. Give Tallulah the Charcoal,’ he placed the bag into his hand.

Logan nodded ‘Thank you, for everything,’ he embraced the Professor. ‘The truth will come out.’

Logan looked at Mendez and smiled ‘I’ll never judge a book by its cover ever again.’

‘I should hope not Amigo. Stay safe. I hope we meet again someday.’

Logan and Xander got into the cockpit of the plane and Xander turned the key. The engine started turning over and the propellers started to turn.

‘Still got it,’ Xander smiled.

Back at the communications room Tallulah had just swallowed the toxin. She sat down at the desk awaiting what she expected to be imminent death, but still smiling into the camera. She felt an acidic taste in her throat and closed her eyes. She started to cough, and her head felt heavy. She had accepted that this was her destiny and that by sacrificing herself she would at least be saving thousands of others, that her father had condemned.

For a minute she thought the banging was in her head, but then she looked up at the door and there were two soldiers stood outside hammering on the glass windows, glaring at her. Goldsmith had joined them, smiling, presumably because he knew she wouldn’t be a problem for much longer. Her father was also with him. He looked terrified and was mouthing the words ‘No,’ at her. She leaned back in the chair, her face warm and starting to prickle. Her eyes were watering, and she heard more banging but louder.

‘This is your fault you idiot. You couldn’t keep that brat under control for more than ten minutes,’ said Goldsmith. ‘You two go back to your stations,’ he said to the soldiers. ‘We will deal with this.’

‘I was a bit busy trying to create a poison for you,’ Wanikiy snarled.

‘Get her out of there you fool,’ Goldsmith barked at Wanikiy.

‘It’s not what you think’ screeched Wanikiy through the window.

Goldsmith shoulder barged the door and as they entered the room Tallulah was passed out in the chair ‘Switch that off,’ Goldsmith pointed at the camera and stood with one hand on his hip and the other on his head.

‘Now what?’ he said out loud to himself ‘It’s fine. The toxin should be at the reservoir within the hour. No-one would have seen that little cow. We’re all good.’

Wanikiy was knelt on the floor next to Tallulah, when The President came through the door.

‘What’s going on? I saw her on the monitor. Is she ok?’ said President Mathers.

’She’s tried to ruin the one chance we had of actually living to a decent age,’ said Goldsmith.

Mathers knelt by Wanikiy ‘Is she alive?’

‘Barely,’ said Wanikiy ‘We need to get her to the infirmary.’

‘Here let me help you,’ the two men followed by Goldsmith carried Tallulah’s limp body to the infirmary.

Only one other person was in there and that was Jay, head bandaged and looking towards the men coming towards him. He obviously knew of the plan and also that Goldsmith was involved in trying to have the rescue group impeded. He didn’t know just how deep Wanikiy and President Mathers were in too. Did they know about Goldsmith’s plan to kill Danny and the others? Goldsmith locked eyes with him and a knowing look that frightened Jay to the bone.

‘Is she ok?’ said Jay.

‘No son, she’s taken something very poisonous,’ said the President. ‘Can we do anything Wanikiy? Is there any kind of antidote to this toxin?’

‘Activated Charcoal, but we don’t have any on the base. She is dying,’ said Wanikiy cradling his dying daughter in his arms.

Goldsmith was looking out the infirmary window deep in thought.

‘It’s not what you think,’ he said quietly.

‘What Goldsmith,’ said the President.

‘It’s not what you think. You said that right Wanikiy? Back at the communications room. You said through the door ‘it’s not what you think’. What did you mean?’ said Goldsmith rubbing his chin.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Wanikiy.

‘Oh, I think you do,’ said Goldsmith.

A soldier appeared at the door and waited before he could enter. The President waved him in ‘What is it?’ he said.

‘We’ve caught sight on the external monitors of a light aircraft about one to two hours away heading in this direction. The board have insisted that you join them in the boardroom to discuss what’s going on and how to deal with it,’ said the soldier.

‘OK, I’m coming.’ He put a hand on Wanikiy’s shoulder ‘I’m sorry my friend. It shouldn’t have gone down like this. Not at the expense of our children. We should have trusted them with the truth. I’m going to have to answer to the board and explain what has been going on. I’m so so sorry.’ President Mathers left the room.

‘You’re not telling me something Wanikiy and I will find out what it is,’ said Goldsmith pointing at him and following the President.

***************

In the war room the government members sat waiting for the President around the table. The Commander General stood at the head of the table, where the President would normally sit, when President Mathers walked through the door followed by Goldsmith.

‘I believe that’s my chair General,’ he said, ‘please take a seat,’ and he held