Читать книгу Mirror, Mirror at 1600 D.C. - Edward Galluzzi - Страница 12

Chapter 5

Software Down

It was nearly three o’clock in the morning when a barely audible buzz was heard from the phone. The lovers were still intertwined in their embrace. Harrison freed himself as gently as he could so as not to awaken Hannah. He reached for the phone and half-jokingly hoped it was a wrong number. Harrison was as alert as anybody could be when awakened abruptly during the early morning hours.

Harrison switched on the nightstand light and picked up the phone. He managed to mumble, “Hello.” “We have a special-coded message for Hardware” was the terse reply. Hardware was Harrison’s designation assigned specifically to him by President Ashton. Harrison said abruptly, “One moment” and gathered paper and pen to transcribe the message. He returned to the phone and uttered, “Ready.” Harrison listened intently to the message as he translated its true meaning. A look of horror transformed his groggy facial expression as he decoded the incoming dispatch.

Harrison hung up the phone slowly without looking at the bridge base for the receiver. He stared at the deciphered message as if he had surely made an error in his transcription. Harrison read the message aloud as if hearing it would provide credibility to its content: “Whereabouts of Software unknown. Report home immediately.” Software was the designation that President Ashton assigned for herself.

Harrison stared intently at the message, as he stood motionless in the silence. He closed his eyes only to have them reopen to the same insane reality. He phoned the Rome airport and asked for his private hangar number. Harrison requested that his private jet be readied for a flight to the United States and that he would be there within the hour to file his flight plan.

Harrison gazed at his fiancée who was sleeping angelically before him. He knew he would be unable to meet with Josetta tomorrow as scheduled. Harrison gently nudged Hannah, but she did not awaken. He shook her softly once again and called out her name. Hannah stirred, but once again she did not awaken. Harrison shook Hannah again while shouting loudly, “Hannah! Hannah!” This time Hannah awoke slowly and focused her vision on her intended. “Harrison?” she called out. Hannah asked unsurely, “Harrison. What’s the matter?” Harrison did not immediately answer her realizing that she was not fully conscious. Hannah sat up at the side of the bed. She stared at Harrison, but she did not say anything. He looked as if his life energy was drained from his face. Harrison spoke finally, “I’ve been ordered to return to Washington, D.C. on the next flight.” He offered nothing more. Hannah had a queried look on her face, but did not request anything further from him. Harrison spoke, “You know I can’t tell you why, but it is urgent.” Hannah got up from the bed, wiped the sleep from her eyes and kissed Harrison. She went to the closet and retrieved several suitcases. She packed Harrison’s clothes as he washed and dressed.

Numerous scenarios and their contingencies raced through Harrison’s mind since he received the flash message. In all the years of service with the U.S. government, there never had been a severed link between the President and those sworn to protect the temporary occupant of the oval office. ‘How could Software disappear without a trace?’ thought Harrison. Brushing aside the political realities of the office for the moment, he wondered how Elizabeth Ashton—the woman, wife and mother—was faring. Harrison was aware of his growing sadness for Software, but he knew that he must try to remain focused.

Harrison knew that the security staff already took steps even before he received the coded message. Vice-president Neff Jameson, codename Scanner, was first notified of the President’s disappearance. Modem, codename for President Ashton’s husband, Richard Ashton, was advised. The chiefs of staff and heads of the Security Council were informed. These steps were typically taken all things being equal. ‘But,’ thought Harrison, ‘Are all things equal with the disappearance of the first woman President of the United States?’

Harrison’s thoughts were interrupted by Hannah’s question, “How long do you think you will be gone?” She knew the reply without asking the question. “It’s impossible to say,” was Harrison’s expected response. “What should I do about our scheduled appointment with His Holiness tomorrow?” asked Hannah. “Josetta,” Harrison said silently bowing and shaking his head. Josetta was looking forward to meeting Hannah probably just as much if not more so than Hannah meeting him. Harrison always looked forward to his visits with Josetta. He especially awaited tomorrow’s visit with great anticipation. Harrison so much wanted his holy friend to meet the woman who was to take care of him for the rest of his life. Harrison looked at Hannah with some anguish and uttered slowly, “I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to visit Josetta with you.” There was a brief pause as Harrison registered the disappointment in Hannah’s face. Harrison asked, “How do you feel about visiting the Pontiff without me?”

Hannah responded without delay, “I think you know it would mean much more to me…well, to all of us if we could all visit together.” Harrison shook his head in agreement. He reiterated, “But I will not be here tomorrow. I may not be back for a long time.” “Is it that serious?” inquired Hannah. “Yes, I’m afraid so,” was the grave reply.

The comment brought the communiqué about Software back into focus. Harrison finished dressing and called the hotel clerk. He requested a cab in ten minutes to take him to the airport. Harrison turned to Hannah and said, “Why not think about it? The visit is not scheduled until eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. Just be sure to cancel the appointment with the Holy Office if you decide not to go. But I know you, Hannah. Give my regards and love to Josetta.”

With that, Harrison embraced and kissed Hannah. As he began pulling away, she brought him closer. Hannah wanted to keep his arms around her for as long as she could. She did not know when she would see him again or if she would see him ever again. Harrison understood Hannah’s body language and held her tightly against him. Now they were both reluctant to let each other go. “Oh, Harrison” cried Hannah in breaking their silence. She knew that from what little 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.