Amalfi Echo by John Zanetti Read Free Book Online Page A

world’s cities and
when it appeared that they were not about to become lunch anytime
soon, attention shifted to the possibility that Digby, Marion and
Tessa could be invited to lunch which would be the social coup of
the century, or at least the year, anyway. The focus became, ‘how
do we get our hands on all this new technology?’
    After several
weeks with no overtly hostile moves from the ship, and it was only a single ship, not a fleet and which couldn’t be
seen with the naked eye, most people shrugged and went about their
business. Comedians and sitcoms incorporated the new material,
turning it into an endless stream of one-line gags. The world
chuckled.
    As Marion had
feared, ‘The end is nigh,’ like the bugs, had also been done.
Marion said, “I knew it was a bad idea to include the video
footage. It came across like ‘Revenge of the Gorgons.’”
    “I loved
‘Revenge of the Gorgons,’” Tessa said, “so to hell with you.” She
kicked over a chair which promptly disappeared. “What’s the matter
with them? Which part of ‘you’re all going to die’ did they not
get?”
    Not everyone
laughed. The Chinese launched a nuclear missle at the ship which
Digby caught and parked a half a mile away from the Chinese space
lab. After that, no one at all laughed.
    Not many in the
corridors of power around the world had been laughing anyway and
the many emergency meetings that had been taking place in the
Pentagon, the White House, the Kremlin, in military and political
establishments everywhere, were ratcheted up. Complicating matters
for the United States was that their big advantage in two of the
main players being Americans and whose loyalty was not in question,
was being nullified by the arrest warrants out for them and a
vicious fight erupted in the nation’s capital. Questions began to
be asked about the death of Tessa’s parents, at first quietly, and
then more openly as the fight began to spill over into the public
arena. Some of those who knew the real story began to run for cover
and so it was that Joanne Fleischer was mugged on a trip to her
local grocery store and died on the way to hospital.
    Tessa still
cried in Marion’s arms when she heard although she knew she should
have been glad.
    -oOo-
    In a highly
secure hush room in Washington, D.C., an NSA adviser briefed
President Newman. “We have to assume, Mr. President, that they are
recording our conversation in here—.”
    “In here?” the
President said, thunderstruck. “Why did you bring me here? I want
the best!” He thumped his hand on the table.
    “This is the best, Sir,” his chief White House adviser, Bartholomew Johnson,
said. “We need to go with this one.” He motioned for the NSA
adviser to proceed.
    “He’s not short
of a brain cell,” Digby said, referring to Johnson. They were
watching the meeting on one of the many screens in a circle around
the three of them. On a few of the screens it appeared that others
had reached the same conclusion although there were many top-level
meetings in progress where the participants seemed oblivious to the
possibility.
    “I’m loving
this,” Tessa said.
    “The ship is
carrying out the function it was designed for. Reconnaissance.
Gathering Intelligence,” Digby said. “Let’s leave this for now.”
The screens vanished to be replaced by a view of Arlington Cemetery
and beside it, a view of the General Assembly in progress at the
United Nations. Tessa was instantly sobered by the image of
Arlington Cemetery. Her parents were buried there.
    Digby said,
“Sooner or later you will both want to go down to the surface.” He
gestured at the ornament that was Tessa’s Amalfi weapon. “That’s
coming along well and the sooner it’s armed the better.” He looked
at Marion. “It would be good if you also had a side arm.”
    “Forget
it.”
    Digby ploughed
on, regardless. “Which means I’ll be sending some of these with
you.” A swarm of killer jellyfish darted about in the