End of Days by Eric Walters Read Free Book Online

of the bottle and we cannot put it back in. It has been decided that within the next week, we will be holding a press conference to confirm not only the existence of the asteroid and the danger to Earth, but our existence and our complete confidence that our work will save the planet.”
    “Complete confidence?” Markell asked. “So … we’re going to lie to them?”
    “We’re going to tell them what they
need
to know,” Hay replied.
    Sheppard wasn’t sure what to think or feel or believe. Finally the world would know what they were doing, and that they were still alive. Did this mean he could contact his family? His mother had passed on three years earlier, but he still had his sister and her children. Really, though, the bigger issue was that Andrew was right—were any of them that confident they would be successful?
    “We are asking that each department head produce a short report that might be incorporated into our press conference,” Dr. Hay said. “We ask that you try to bebrief, avoid scientific jargon, and provide a positive spin.”
    “Even if that is a false spin?” Markell asked.
    “The world will be given formal confirmation that we are on a collision course with an asteroid that might well destroy all life forms on the planet. I think a little positive news might be warranted,” Donahue said sarcastically.
    Markell was about to respond when Sheppard put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, silencing him.
    “Will we have an opportunity to meet with Joshua Fitchett?” Sheppard asked.
    Both Hay and Donahue looked confused by his question.
    “I’m sorry, Professor, I thought you were aware that he was reported to have perished in the fire,” Hay replied.
    “Yes, of course, I know about the news reports, but I was assuming that was simply a cover to explain his disappearance.”
    “No,” Donahue said. “We had nothing to do with that.”
    “You didn’t?” Markell exclaimed.
    “Then who did?” Sheppard asked.
    “We believe those events were facilitated by Mr. Fitchett himself. That he took his own life to punctuate his message to the world.”
    “And do you
really
expect us to believe that?” Markell asked.
    Hay looked confused. “We’re telling the truth.”
    “Like you’ve told the world the truth for the last seven years?” he demanded.
    Donahue let out a big sigh. “Think about it—prior to his death, we still had the ability to deflect his claims. It ishis very death that has given him credibility. Do you think we wanted that to happen?”
    “So you’re saying he
is
dead?” another one of the scientists asked. Apparently Markell and Sheppard weren’t the only ones to have the same thought.
    “Not by our hands, although, quite frankly, we can’t absolutely state that he is dead. That is simply our assumption based on the available information.”
    “Yes,” Donahue replied. “We had nothing directly to do with his death.”
    “And indirectly?”
    “It could be argued that our failed attempt to capture him triggered the announcement that subsequently led to his death,” Hay said. “We were not responsible beyond that. We did not set the fire.”
    “And you think that Fitchett set the fire himself, that he took his own life?” Sheppard asked.
    “That is the most plausible explanation, although not the only one,” Hay admitted.
    “And will you share that other explanation?” Sheppard asked.
    Hay and Donahue leaned together and spoke quietly so that they couldn’t be overheard. Finally they broke their huddle.
    “As you are all well aware, we have provided you with the best possible environment to allow you to proceed with your work. As part of this environment we have tried to keep distractions to a minimum,” Hay noted. “Included in this is information about certain individuals or groups operating in the larger community.”
    “So you’ve been keeping us in the dark about some things,” Markell said.
    “Some things,” she admitted. “It is time, for