The Clean Slate Accord Read Online Free PDF Page A

She says it’s urgent she speak to you.”
    â€œThank you, David.” Alexa pressed a button on her wrist communicator. “President Chandler, how can I help you?”
    â€œDirector Lange, my husband and daughter are missing.”
    Alexa almost gasped out loud, but caught herself before any sound escaped. “Missing?” Alexa covered her wrist monitor. Could it be that they’d both been removed? What would the odds of that be?
    â€œYes, missing. One minute they were sitting with me watching the news broadcasts and then they were just gone.”
    Alexa swallowed a lump in her throat. “I’m sure they’ve just gone out for a walk or something.”
    â€œIt’s the middle of the night, Director. And they were right beside me, arguing with each other. Then they were quiet. I thought I heard a sound, like a whisper, but when I turned around, nobody was there.”
    â€œHow do you feel about their disappearance, President Chandler? Do you feel anxious, upset?” Alexa uncovered her wrist monitor and studied the President’s face. It was almost expressionless.
    â€œI don’t know. I’m concerned. I just thought I should let you know.”
    Alexa muted the call and said to David, “What’s her MB number?”
    â€œFluctuating between 15,000 and 15,500.”
    There was definitely a change in Chandler’s attitude. She was calm, with no evidence of increased Megaburst activity. Alexa smiled. At least her implant was working as it should. She un-muted the call. “President Chandler, why don’t you mount a search and get back to me if you still can’t find your family.”
    â€œI already have. Can you put a trace on their implants for me?”
    â€œI’m sorry, but I won’t be able to do that until we’ve completed running statistics.” Alexa watched Chandler’s body language.
    â€œAll right. Please let me know as soon as you can.” There was no change in Chandler’s expression.
    â€œOf course I will.” Alexa disconnected the call. At least Chandler’s Serum A seemed to be working as far as regulating Megaburst activity. “This is a nightmare, David. I need some air.” She left the control room and went straight to the door leading outside of the Operations Bunker. Whenever she needed some fresh air, she would go out to the garden, alone. Only once had Jonas ventured out there, only to quickly go back to the Bunker saying the buzzing bees scared him. He was so timid.
    She strolled along the garden path leading from the Bunker, enjoying the gentle fragrance of her own purple and blue hybrid roses. Up ahead was the reflecting pool, complete with lotus plants that gave off a continuous, intoxicating scent. She’d modeled it after the pools placed in front of ancient Egyptian temples and could never resist gazing into the still water and letting her mind be free, if only for a moment. She made her way to a small bench near the pool. She’d chosen the Arctic Principate for her Operations Bunker because the desertification of the landscape reminded her of what the ancient Egyptian desert must have looked like so long ago. It was hard to imagine that the Arctic had ever been covered in snow and ice.
    When a small breeze came up and nudged the lotus blossoms into a slight sway, she sat and allowed herself to imagine the world in a year. She closed her eyes. It would be a world filled with happiness and ethics. No more killing. No more quarreling over who owned what plot of land or whose religious beliefs were best. It was sad to think that the only way to accomplish peace was by force, but if that was how it had to be, then it was the right thing to do. Now if they could just stop the removals, New Earth could develop as it was supposed to.
    Alexa’s wrist communicator chimed, signifying an incoming call from outside the Bunker. She opened her eyes and pushed the answer button.