RED HAZE: A Werewolf Story for the 21st Century by Ian Redman Read Free Book Online Page B

room. “Tell me Ashley, and be truthful with your answer.” Charles Mann looked directly at Piper, his face set like stone, “can you control that thing inside you?” There was silence as Piper looked down at his bed sheets. “I’m waiting for your answer, Ash!”
    Piper breathed in deeply, his eyes now staring at the ceiling, “I’m sure I can sir.”
    “Well, myself and a group of people who you’ll meet later in the week, have to be convinced. I saw the satellite footage of what happened during the firefight. God in heaven, I still can’t believe it!”
    “Neither can I sir.”
    The Colonel walked back to Piper’s bedside and sat down, grim faced. “So Ashley, it seems werewolves do exist!”
    “Yes sir, it certainly does.”
    “Right then!” With his broad, pleasant smile returning, Charles Mann held out his hand once more. The two men shook again, firmly. “Your de-briefing takes place in three days.” This time the Colonel’s tone was much more of a military nature. “Ash, for you the battle is over, now…the real war is about to begin. I have made arrangements for you to join a Royal Saudi Air Force C130 flight the day after tomorrow. The flight is on a standard medical supply mission into Brussels. Make sure you’re on it! You will then be met at Brussels airport and driven to ‘SHAPE’ Headquarters. I will see you there.”
    ‘SHAPE’ thought Piper, ‘Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe’. The Central European Military Command Headquarters for NATO, based at Casteau, near Mons.
    “Very well sir, I’ll be on that flight.”
    “Good! Right then, I have to leave. Rest now Ashley, I will see you soon.” Thoughtfully, Colonel Mann glanced once more at Piper as he quickly opened the door and walked out, his solid footsteps echoing down the hospital corridor.
     
    “Doctor Ramirez, the room, is it ready?”
    “Yes Colonel, as you requested, please follow me.” Briskly, the two men walked down another corridor, the Colonel now carrying a large briefcase he had previously left with the hospital’s armed security guards. Down another corridor they travelled, arriving at a door with a sign on it which read ‘MEETING IN PROGRESS. DO NOT ENTER’ Quickly, Doctor Ramirez punched a code into a small panel and opened the door, “in here, Colonel.”
    “Thank you for your help Doctor, obviously I do not want to be disturbed.”
    “Of course!” Doctor Ramirez nodded and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him.
    Swiftly, Charles Mann lifted the briefcase onto a large desk in front of him, then tapped in a pre set code on a keypad inlaid on its right side. With a slight hissing sound the case automatically opened up, a portable television screen and keyboard attachment now in full view. Hastily, the Colonel pressed a red button on the keyboard. As the small television screen came alive, it read:
    ‘IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED’.
    Gently, Charles Mann typed ‘LIONHEART’ and tapped the keyboard’s ‘return’ button. Within a few seconds, a message appeared:
    ‘IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED. PLEASE WAIT’.
    The screen flashed again as the sound of static hissed from the case’s inbuilt loudspeaker. Then, directly in front of him, another man’s face came into view. He had jet-black hair and was naturally tanned. He was also uniformed, a high-ranking officer. “Charles,” the uniformed man said.
    “Maurice, how are you?”
    “Fine my friend, fine.”
    “Have you viewed the satellite video footage?”
    “Of course…”
    “And…your thoughts?”
    “I should think the same as yours. At last we have further evidence of these creatures existence.”
    “Agreed, but what of Piper himself, and what he can do…for us.”
    The dark blue uniformed man on the television screen looked deeply concerned as he continued his important conversation, “from what I have seen Charles, I would expect him to be highly volatile and at times, uncontrollable. The risk factor is obviously