Fall of Hades Read Online Free PDF Page A

two crystal glasses half full from a bottle of champagne. “I’m giving you permission. A sip of Dom Pérignon won’t jeopardize our security. It’s a special occasion. I’m celebrating a breakthrough.” He extended the drink to Welch.
    Welch just looked at the glass. “I’m really sorry, but I don’t drink alcohol.”
    Coonradt looked at him in surprise. “A teetotaler, that’s refreshing.” He set down the glass, walked over to a refrigerator, and brought back a bottle. “Then have a Coke.”
    â€œThank you, sir.”
    Both men sat down.
    â€œWhy don’t you drink? You a Mormon?”
    â€œNo, sir. My biological father was an alcoholic. I figured I inherited his genes.”
    â€œYou’re a smart man,” Coonradt said. He took a drink.
    â€œWhat kind of breakthrough are we celebrating?” Welch asked.
    â€œA big one. It has to do with a variation of the standard magnetic vector created when a polyatomic ion is covalently bonded—”
    â€œWait, wait, wait,” Welch said, raising a hand. “You lost me way before polyatomic zions, or whatever you said.”
    Coonradt laughed. “Sorry. I get carried away sometimes.”
    Welch took a swig from his cola. “You’re always here.”
    â€œIt would seem that way. My work is my life. It’s my wife, my family, my religion.” His voice fell a little. “It’s the only thing I have left.” Welch thought he saw a flash of pain in the scientist’s eyes. Coonradt sipped his champagne, then put his glass down. “What about you? Do you have anyone you can’t live without?”
    â€œI had a girlfriend for a while, but we broke up about six months ago.”
    â€œWas it mutual?”
    â€œNo. She dumped me for a med student.”
    â€œI’m sorry. Are you pining for her?”
    â€œPining?”
    â€œSorry, it’s an old-fashioned word. Do you miss her?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    Coonradt lifted his glass again. “Then we’ll toast lost loves.”
    Welch lifted his drink. “To lost loves,” he said as they clinked the glasses together.
    Welch drank, then looked at the scientist. “Do you have lost loves?”
    Coonradt looked down for a moment, finished his drink, then lifted the one he’d poured for Welch and took a drink from it as well. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft.
    â€œYes. Two loves. My mother when I was fourteen, my wife eleven years ago. I lost both of them to cancer. Technically, I lost three, I guess. My wife was three months pregnant when she died. I lost my child, too.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Coonradt took another drink. “Me too.”
    â€œDid you ever consider marrying again?”
    â€œNo. Not seriously. I suppose that I feel cursed. I couldn’t bear another loss. But life has a way of figuring itself out. It’s why I’m where I am right now. I decided to dedicate my life to revenge.”
    â€œRevenge? On who?”
    â€œOn cancer. It’s a living organism, and I am going to kill it, just as it killed my loved ones. Turnabout is fair play, right?” He took another drink.
    Welch looked at him with admiration. “Yes, sir. I think that’s pretty awesome.”
    â€œThank you. And if I succeed, I will save millions of lives and make the Elgen Corporation billions upon billions of dollars.” He sighed deeply. “Well, I better get back to work and let you get back to yours. Thank you for celebrating with me.”
    Welch quickly stood, taking the comment as his dismissal. “Thank you, sir. For the drink and the talk. Congratulations on your breakthrough. Maybe someday you’ll win a Nobel Prize.”
    Coonradt smiled. “That would be nice. Not so much for the prize, but because it would mean that I had accomplished something.” He stood. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Welch. I