The God Complex: A Thriller by Murray McDonald Read Free Book Online Page B

25,000 feet above him, a few miles to the north. A crosshair sat perfectly above the main chimney stack of the Kramers’ house. Gray didn’t hesitate for a second when he tapped the ‘fire’ icon on his screen. A counter began to reduce rapidly from 25,000 in the top left hand corner of his tablet screen and as the house became larger and larger, it exploded into a white flash.

MISSION LOG – EXTRACT 1-17
     
     
    Deep Space Mission – New Hope
    Log entry 17 – Mission Commander
     
    After months of monotony , we are finally nearing our destination . The engines have begun the process of gently decelerating the ship as we near our future. An asteroid belt encircles our final destination and requires a careful approach.
     
    The mood on the ship has improved since my previous entry. The realization of how important the mission is has slowly but surely sunk in. The change in rhythm of the engines as we began the slowing process was even met with a cheer.
     
    We have three crew members pregnant, including, I am proud to say, my wife and even prouder to say, with twins. The colony we will begin will already be growing by the time we arrive, a great and hopeful start to a bright future for us all, I hope.
     
    So far, all the readings from our forward scanners are suggesting the atmosphere and environment are about as perfect as we had imagined. The alarms have begun to sound, so we are nearing the final stages of our approach. My next log will be in either low orbit, or even more exciting, from the planet’s surface. Our future home beckons.

Chapter 10
     
UN Headquarters
New York
     
    Antoine Noble, head of the Atlas Noble empire, swept into the UN building with little fuss, unlike the scores of heads of state who would soon be hanging on his every word. Atlas Noble was a company that owned nothing and everything. With a history dating back to the beginning of records, nobody outside of the Noble family truly knew how old the company was. Although it had been noted, even at the creation of records, some 1,500 years earlier, that Atlas Noble holdings was an old and distinguished company of significant standing, little was recorded of its purpose. With the expert acumen of the Noble family ancestors, nothing had changed. Atlas Noble was still of significant standing and few people had any idea what it did. What it did, however, was simple: it used money to create power and influence.
    Atlas Noble was a holding company for a mind numbing and untraceable maze of trusts, charities, banks and businesses that invested in the world’s businesses. The first time that a company would become aware of the involvement of the Nobles was the point at which a Noble family member was appointed to their board of directors. Family members spanned the globe and between the various branches of the family, all under the direction of Antoine, they sat on the boards of most of the world’s listed companies , and certainly on all of those of note. A company’s appointment of a Noble as director of the board was a badge of honor and once public knowledge, always ensured a significant increase in value. Consequently, a Noble removing themselves from a board invariably led to a crash in confidence in a company and was a major warning to investors. Atlas Noble didn’t sell for profit, they only ever sold to avoid losses.
    The banker, the businessman, the director, Antoine Noble was known as many things around the world but only by those who mattered. And those who really knew him, knew him as the king maker. Antoine Noble’s monies, influence, and backing changed the world’s democracies as he saw fit. One-term presidents fell at his displeasure, two-term presidents served at his behest.
    Publicly , he was little known. Conspiracy theories surrounded the family, their influence and their wealth. Rumors and anecdotes abounded regarding their power and influence, one even suggesting that Air Force One was put on hold to allow Antoine Noble to