The Genesis Code by Christopher Forrest Read Free Book Online

tallest skyscrapers in the world. Surpassing Chicago’s Sears Tower by thirty-six feet, the Petronas Towers were a tribute to Malaysia’s emerging economic might, and to Kuala Lumpur’s prominence as a commercial and cultural capital.
    The uniquely Malaysian architecture of the dual skyscrapers, with their elegant proportions and design, captured the attention of the world. Each tower’s floor plan forms an eight-pointed star created by two intersecting squares, a design that evokes Islamic arabesques and repetitive geometric figures characteristic of Muslim architecture. Curved and pointed bays create a scalloped facade that suggests the form of ancient temple towers.
    The two towers, joined by a skybridge on the forty-second floor, have been described as two cosmic pillars spiraling endlessly toward the heavens. For Malaysian industrialist and billionaire Kai Tanaka, the Petronas Towers were a fitting location to showcase the headquarters of his growing business empire.
    One entire wall of Tanaka’s opulently furnished executive office suite on the sixty-third floor was covered from floor to ceiling with a massive LCD screen divided into a grid of boxes, each displaying the real-time digital image of a participant in the videoconference that was under way.
    Arrayed around the room, museum-quality pieces from ancient human civilizations were illuminated in eerie blue light from xenon spotlights in climate-controlled glass display cases.
    A Sumerian tablet.
    A Mayan stela.
    An Egyptian ankh.
    An Assyrian sculpture of two intertwined serpents.
    Tanaka paced the length of his plush office, speaking in a commanding voice to the group.
    “Gentlemen,” he began. “The threat has been eliminated. Our agent was successful in his assignment.”
    He paused to allow for the slight delay in transmission created by the use of sophisticated encryption software. Relief at Tanaka’s announcement was evident on many of the faces displayed on the videoconference screen.
    “Unfortunately, our agent was unable to access the Triad Genomics’ mainframe. We cannot be certain that evidence of the discovery does not remain on the company’s computer system.”
    Tanaka paused.
    “The good doctor was remarkably uncooperative when questioned before his untimely demise. He displayed an unforeseen resistance to our man’s…novel techniques of persuasion.”
    An older man with a leathery face addressed the group.
    “So we have accomplished little and created much additional risk. This is precisely why I was opposed to such an action.”
    Tanaka fixed his gaze firmly on the reticent man.
    “This was the will of the Order. You were all aware of the potential risks. The Order has killed many times before to prevent the discovery of our secrets. Those who came before us eliminated many scholars and students of history who stumbled upon fragments of the truth. It is necessary.”
    Tanaka spread out his hands in front of him.
    “Our first attempt to suppress the truth in this instance was simply incomplete. We only have to finish the job. In a more…shall we say…thorough manner.”
    “Meaning?”
    “First, the Triad Genomics computer server must be neutralized.”
    “What do you propose? A computer virus? A fire?”
    “No. That will not be sufficient,” said Tanaka.
    He sat down on a steel and leather chair and folded his hands in his lap.
    “Our agent was unable to extract from Dr. Ambergris whether or not he communicated his discoveries to any of his colleagues. We cannot afford the possibility that our secrets have been revealed to others within the Triad Genomics group.”
    Tanaka’s thin lips parted in a malevolent smile.
    “We must employ more extreme measures.”

Fourteen
    Room 714, United Nations Plaza Hotel
Manhattan, New York
    Arakai sipped from a small teacup. The faint aroma of green tea reminded him of home. He stared out the long window in his room at the UN Plaza Hotel. Across the street, the sprawling United Nations