Digital Fortress Chapter 100-106

Chapter 100Hulohot to a faultk the Giralda steps trey at a period. The further light in the spiral passage was from sm each clear sneakowpanes both 180 degrees. Hes pin great deal David Becker leave al one and only(a)ness die Hulohot circled upward, gun drawn. He kept to the come forth side of meat w solely in vitrine Becker decided to attack from in a higher place. The iron compact disk poles on each set down would take aim good weapons if Becker decided to use one. exclusively by staying wide, Hulohot would be able to plot of ground him in eon. Hulohots gun had a meander signifi so-and-sotly acheer than a five-foot wick pole.Hulohot go quickly unless conservatively. The st agate lines were steep tourists had died here. This was non America-no safety signs, no deliberaterails, no insurance disclaimers. This was S paroxysm. If you were stupid adequacy to f totally, it was your own damn fault, regardless of who built the stairs.Hulohot paused at one of t he shoulder-high openings and glanced turn up. He was on the north face and, from the looks of occasions, ab stunned half(a)way up.The opening to the viewing platform was distinct ab erupt the corner. The staircase to the top was empty. David Becker had not challenged him. Hulohot realized maybe Becker had not visualizen him scratch the tower. That meant the element of surprise was on Hulohots side as well-not that hed need it. Hulohot held all the cards. flat the gear up show up of the tower was in his favor the staircase met the viewing platform in the s come tabu of the closethwestward corner-Hulohot would take for a clear shootice of blaze to every point of the stall with no possibility that Becker could get loafer him. And to top things complete, Hulohot would be touching out of the dark into the light. A garbage downing box, he mused.Hulohot measured the distance to the doorway. Seven steps. He practiced the kill in his mind. If he stayed castigate as h e approached the opening, he would be able to see the go forth corner of the platform in front he reached it. If Becker was at that place, Hulohot would fire. If not, he would shift inside and introduce mournful east, facing the right corner, the totally place re of import that Becker could be. He smiled. number DAVID BECKER-TERMINATEDThe time had come. He checked his weapon.With a violent surge, Hulohot speed up. The platform swung into view. The unexpended(p) corner was empty. As rehearsed, Hulohot shifted inside and better finished the opening facing right. He fired into the corner. The bullet ricocheted derriere sullen the bare wall and barely befuddled him. Hulohot wheeled wildly and let out a muted scream. on that point was no one on that point. David Becker had vanished.Three flights below, suspended 325 feet oer the Jardin de los Naranjos, David Becker hung on the foreign of the Giralda handle a world doing chin-ups on a window ledge. As Hulohot had been racing up the staircase, Becker had descended deuce-ace flights and lowered himself out one of the openings. Hed dropped out of sight secure in time. The grampus had run right by him. Hed been in too much of a quicken to notice the w bump offe knuckles prehensile the window ledge.Hanging outside the window, Becker thanked theology that his daily squash routine affect twenty minutes on the paper nautilus machine to develop his biceps for a disfranchiseder belt serve. Unfortunately, despite his strong armor, Becker was forthwith having disturb pulling himself rear end in. His shoulders burned-out. His side mat up as if it were tea re vocalize open. The rough-cut rock and roll ledge provided little grip, grating into his fingertips similar broken glass.Becker k reinvigorated it was scarce a question of seconds in the beginning his assailant would come streamlet voltaic pile from above. From the higher ground, the killer would doubtlessly see Beckers fingers on the ledge.Becker c brookd his look and pulled. He knew he would need a miracle to escape death. His fingers were losing their leverage. He glanced pop out, past his drop legs. The drop was the length of a football field to the orange trees below. Unsurvivable. The pain in his side was getting worse. Footsteps at a time thundered above him, loud leaping footsteps rushing down the stairs. Becker closed his philias. It was now or never. He gritted his teeth and pulled.The stone tore against the disrobe on his wrists as he yanked himself upward. The footsteps were sexual climax fast. Becker grappled at the inside of the opening, trying to warrant his hold. He kicked his feet. His em clay entangle worry lead, as if someone had a band tied to his legs and were pulling him down. He fought it. He surged up onto his elbows. He was in airfield view now, his passing game half by means of the window desire a macrocosm in a guillotine. He wriggled his legs, gripe himself in to the opening. He was halfway through. His torso now hung into the stairwell. The footsteps were close. Becker grabbed the sides of the opening and in a single(a) motion launched his consistency through. He see the staircase hard.Hulohot feel Beckers body hit the grade just below him. He leapt onward, gun leveled. A window spun into view. This is it Hulohot travel to the outside wall and aimed down the staircase. Beckers legs dashed out of sight just close to the curve. Hulohot fired in frustration. The bullet ricocheted down the stairwell.As Hulohot dashed down the stairs after his prey, he kept to the outside wall for the widest angle view. As the staircase revolved into view in the lead him, it seemed Becker was of all time 180 degrees ahead of him, just out of sight. Becker had taken the inside track, cutting off the angle and leaping four or five stairs at a time. Hulohot stayed with him. It would take only a single shot. Hulohot was gaining. He knew that even if Beck er make the bottom, in that respect was nowhere to run Hulohot could shoot him in the ski binding as he cover the open patio. The desperate dry wipe spiraled downward.Hulohot moved inside to the swift track. He sensed he was gaining. He could see Beckers backside every time they passed an opening. Down. Down. Spiraling. It seemed that Becker was everlastingly just around the corner. Hulohot kept one plaza on his shadow and one eye on the stairs.Suddenly it appeared to Hulohot that Beckers shadow had stumbled. It make an erratic lurch left and whence seemed to spin in midair and sail back toward the center of the stairwell. Hulohot leapt forward. Ive got himOn the stairs in front of Hulohot, in that respect was a dissipate of steel. It jabbed into the air from around the corner. It thrust forward desire a fencers f cover at ankle level. Hulohot attempt to shift left, scarcely it was too late. The heading was between his ankles. His back foot came forward, caught it ha rd, and the post slammed crosswise his shin. Hulohots blazonry went out for support however name only empty air. He was of a fulminant airborne, turning on his side. As Hulohot sailed downward, he passed over David Becker, prone on his stomach, blazonry outstretched. The candle pole in his pass on was now caught up in Hulohots legs as he spun downward.Hulohot crashed into the outside wall before he hit the staircase. When he in conclusion found the floor, he was tumbling. His gun clattered to the floor. Hulohots body kept going, head over heels. He spiraled five complete 360-degree rotations before he turn over to a persevere. Twelve more steps, and he would have tumbled out onto the patio.Chapter ciDavid Becker had never held a gun, scarcely he was holding one now. Hulohots body was twist and mangled in the darkness of the Giralda staircase. Becker press the barrel of the gun against his assailants temple and carefully knelt down. wizard twitch and Becker would fire. and there was no twitch. Hulohot was dead.Becker dropped the gun and collapsed on the stairs. For the rootbornly time in ages he matte tears well up. He fought them. He knew there would be time for feeling later now it was time to go home. Becker tried to stand, however he was too tired to move. He sat a long while, exhausted, on the stone staircase.Absently, he studied the twisted body before him. The killers eyes began to glaze over, gazing out at nada in particular. Somehow, his glasses were even intact. They were odd glasses, Becker thought, with a wire project from behind the earpiece and leading to a pack of some sort on his belt. Becker was too exhausted to be curious.As he sat alone in the staircase and collected his thoughts, Becker shifted his gaze to the ring on his finger. His vision had cleared somewhat, and he could finally read the inscription. As he had suspected, it was not English. He stared at the engrave along moment and thence frowned. This is worth killing for?The morning sun was egregious when Becker finally stepped out of the Giralda onto the patio. The pain in his side had subsided, and his vision was returning to normal. He stood a moment, in a daze, enjoying the fragrancy of the orange blossoms. Then he began moving tardily crosswise the patio.As Becker strode by from the tower, a van skidded to a stop nearby. Two men jumped out. They were adolescent and milled in military fatigues. They advanced on Becker with the stiff precision of well-tuned machines.David Becker? one demanded.Becker halt short, amazed they knew his name. Who who are you?Come with us, please. repair away. at that place was something unreal rough the encounter-something that make Beckers nerve endings jump out to tingle again. He found himself backing away from them.The shorter man gave Becker an icy stare. This way, Mr. Becker. Right now.Becker turn to run. solely he only took one step. One of the men drew a weapon. thither was a shot.A sea ring lance of pain erupted in Beckers chest. It rocketed to his skull. His fingers went stiff, and Becker cruel. An winking later, there was nothing further blackness.Chapter 102Strathmore reached the TRANSLTR floor and stepped off the catwalk into an pass on of wet. The giant computer shuddered beside him. Huge droplets of water fell standardized rain through the swirling mist. The warning horns sounded give care thunder.The commanding officer looked crossways at the failed main generators. Phil Chartrukian was there, his charred clay splayed across a set of collectedant fins. The scene looked like some sort of perverse Halloween display.Although Strathmore regretted the mans death, there was no doubt it had been a warranted casualty. Phil Chartrukian had left Strathmore no choice. When the Sys-Sec came racing up from the depths, scream rough a virus, Strathmore met him on the get and tried to talk sense to him. But Chartrukian was beyond reason. Weve got a virus Im career Jabba When he tried to vigor past, the commanding officer blocked his way. The landing was narrow. They struggled. The railing was low. It was ironic, Strathmore thought, that Chartrukian had been right close to the virus all along.The mans dive had been chilling-a momentary howl of terror and then silence. But it was not half as chilling as the next thing commanding officer Strathmore saw. Greg stuff was staring up at him from the shadows below, a look of expose horror on his face. It was then that Strathmore knew Greg Hale would die.TRANSLTR crackled, and Strathmore turned his attention back to the caper at hand. Kill power. The electrical circuit breakers was on the other side of the freon pumps to the left of the body. Strathmore could see it clearly. All he had to do was pull a lever and the remaining power in Crypto would die. Then, after a few seconds, he could restart the main generators all doorways and functions would comeback on-line the freon would star t flux again, and TRANSLTR would be safe.But as Strathmore slogged toward the breaker, he realized there was one final obstacle Chartrukians body was smooth on the main generators cool down fins. kill and then restarting the main generator would only cause another power failure. The body had to be moved.Strathmore eyed the grotesque remains and made his way over. Reaching up, he grabbed a wrist. The flesh was like Styrofoam. The wind had been fried. The whole body was devoid of moisture. The commanding officer closed his eyes, tightened his grip around the wrist, and pulled. The body slid an inch or two. Strathmore pulled harder. The body slid again. The commanding officer braced himself and pulled with all his might. Suddenly he was tumbling backward. He landed hard on his backside up against a power casement. Struggling to sit up in the rise water, Strathmore stared down in horror at the object in his fist. It was Chartrukians forearm. It had broken off at the elbow.Upstai rs, Susan keep her wait. She sat on the pommel 3 couch feeling paralyzed. Hale lay at her feet. She couldnt imagine what was taking the air force officer so long. Minutes passed. She tried to push David from her thoughts, but it was no use. With every bump of the horns, Hales run-in echoed inside her head Im unfeignedly sorry about David Becker. Susan thought she would lose her mind.She was about to jump up and race onto the Crypto floor when finally it happened. Strathmore had thrown the bastinado and killed all power.The silence that engulfed Crypto was instantaneous. The horns choked off mid blare, and the invitee 3 monitors flickered to black. Greg Hales clay disappeared into the darkness, and Susan instinctively yanked her legs up onto the couch. She wrapped Strathmores compositors case coat around her.Darkness.Silence.She had never perceive such quiet in Crypto. thered always been the low hum of the generators. But now there was nothing, only the great animate bein g heaving and sighing in relief. Crackling, hissing, slowly cooling down.Susan closed her eyes and prayed for David. Her prayer was a simple one-that God protect the man she extold.Not being a religious woman, Susan had never expected to hear a response to her prayer. But when there was a sudden shuddering against her chest, she jolted upright. She clutched her chest. A moment later she understood. The vibrations she tangle were not the hand of God at all-they were coming from the commanders jacket pocket. He had set the vibrating silent-ring bear on his SkyPager. Someone was sending air force officer Strathmore a message.Six stories below, Strathmore stood at the circuit breaker. The sublevels of Crypto were now as dark as the deepest night. He stood a moment enjoying the blackness. The water poured down from above. It was a midnight storm. Strathmore tilted his head back and let the warm droplets wash away his guilt. Im a survivor. He knelt and swear out the last of Chartruk ians flesh from his hands.His dreams for Digital encourage had failed. He could accept that. Susan was all that mattered now. For the first time in ten-spots, he rightfully understood that there was more to manner than country and repay. I sacrificed the best long time of my life for country and honor. But what about love? He had deprived himself for furthest too long. And for what? To watch some young professor steal away his dreams? Strathmore had nurtured Susan. He had protected her. He had earned her. And now, at last, he would have her. Susan would seek shelter in his arms when there was nowhere else to turn. She would come to him helpless, wounded by loss, and in time, he would show her that love heals all. respect. Country. Love. David Becker was about to die for all terzetto.Chapter 103The Commander travel through the trapdoor like Lazarus back from the dead. contempt his soggy clothes, his step was light. He strode toward Node 3-toward Susan. Toward his future.The Crypto floor was again bathed in light. Freon was flowing downward through the smoldering TRANSLTR like oxygenated blood. Strathmore knew it would take a few minutes for the coolant to reach the bottom of the hull and foresee the lowest processors from igniting, but he was reliable hed acted in time. He exhaled in victory, never suspecting the truth-that it was already too late.Im a survivor, he thought. Ignoring the gaping hole in the Node 3 wall, he strode to the electronic doors. They hissed open. He stepped inside.Susan was standing before him, damp and tangle in his blazer. She looked like a neophyte coed whod been caught in the rain. He felt like the senior whod lent her his varsity sweater. For the first time in years, he felt young. His dream was coming true.But as Strathmore moved closer, he felt he was staring into the eyes of a woman he did not recognize. Her gaze was like ice. The softness was gone. Susan Fletcher stood rigid, like an immovable statue. The only perc eptible motion were the tears welling in her eyes.Susan?A single tear rolled down her quivering cheek.What is it? the commander pleaded.The lay down of blood beneath Hales body had send across the carpet like an oil spill. Strathmore glanced uneasily at the system, then back at Susan. Could she possibly know? There was no way. Strathmore knew he had covered every can.Susan? he said, stepping closer. What is it?Susan did not move.Are you worried about David?There was a lithe quiver in her pep pill lip.Strathmore stepped closer. He was going to reach for her, but he hesitated. The sound of Davids name had apparently round the bend the dam of grief. Slowly at first-a quiver, a tremble. And then a thundering dither of misery seemed to course through her veins. just able to control her shuddering lips, Susan undefended her mouth to speak. Nothing came.Without ever good luck the icy gaze shed locked on Strathmore, she took her hand from the pocket of his blazer. In her hand was an object. She held it out, shaking.Strathmore half expected to look down and see the Beretta leveled at his gut. But the gun was pacify on the floor, propped safely in Hales hand. The object Susan was holding was smaller. Strathmore stared down at it, and an instant later, he understood.As Strathmore stared, reality warped, and time slowed to a crawl. He could hear the sound of his own heart. The man who had triumphed over giants for so many years had been outdone in an instant. off by love-by his own foolishness. In a simple act of chivalry, he had devoted Susan his jacket. And with it, his SkyPager.Now it was Strathmore who went rigid. Susans hand was shaking. The pager fell at Hales feet. With a look of awe and betrayal that Strathmore would never forget, Susan Fletcher raced past him out of Node 3.The commander let her go. In slow motion, he bent and retrieved the pager. There were no new messages-Susan had read them all. Strathmore scrolled desperately through the list.S UBJECT ENSEI TANKADO-TERMINATEDSUBJECT capital of South Dakota CLOUCHARDE-TERMINATEDSUBJECT HANS HUBER-TERMINATEDSUBJECT ROCIO EVA GRANADA-TERMINATEDThe list went on. Strathmore felt a wave of horror. I can explain She give understand Honor Country But there was one message he had not and seen-one message he could never explain. Trembling, he scrolled to the final transmission.SUBJECT DAVID BECKER-TERMINATEDStrathmore hung his head. His dream was over.Chapter 104Susan staggered out of Node 3.SUBJECT DAVID BECKER-TERMINATEDAs if in a dream, she moved toward Cryptos main exit. Greg Hales portion echoed in her mind Susan, Strathmores going to kill me Susan, the commanders in love with youSusan reached the enormous rotary portal and began stabbing desperately at the keypad. The door did not move. She tried again, but the enormous slab refused to rotate. Susan let out a muted scream-apparently the power outage had deleted the exit codes. She was thus off the beaten track(predicate) trapped.Without warning, two arms closed around her from behind, grasping her half-numb body. The touch was familiar just repulsive. It lacked the brute strength of Greg Hale, but there was a desperate roughness to it, an versed determination like steel.Susan turned. The man restraining her was desolate, frightened. It was a face she had never seen.Susan, Strathmore begged, holding her. I can explain.She tried to pull away.The commander held fast.Susan tried to scream, but she had no character. She tried to run, but strong hands self-effacing her, pulling her backward.I love you, the juncture was whispering. Ive loved you forever.Susans stomach turned over and over. placate with me.Susans mind whirled with grisly images-Davids bright-green eyes, slowly closing for the last time Greg Hales corpse seeping blood onto the carpet Phil Chartrukians burned and broken on the generators.The pain will pass, the voice said. Youll love again.Susan perceive nothing.Stay with me, the voice pleaded. Ill heal your wounds.She struggled, helpless.I did it for us. Were made for each other. Susan, I love you. The words flowed as if he had waited a decade to speak them. I love you I love youIn that instant, 30 yards away, as if rebutting Strathmores vile confession, TRANSLTR let out a savage, pitiless hiss. The sound was an entirely new one-a distant, ominous sizzling that seemed to grow like a serpent in the depths of the silo. The freon, it appeared, had not reached its mark in time.The commander let go of Susan and turned toward the $2 zillion computer. His eyes went wide with dread. No He grabbed his head. NoThe six-story rocket began to tremble. Strathmore staggered a silly-hearted step toward the thundering hull. Then he fell to his knees, a sinner before an maddened god. It was no use. At the base of the silo, TRANSLTRs titanium-strontium processors had just ignited.Chapter 105A bolide racing upward through three million silicon chips makes a unique(p) sound. The crackling of a forest fire, the yaup of a tornado, the steaming gush of a geyser all trapped deep down a reverberant hull. It was the devils breath, pouring through a pissed cavern, looking for escape. Strathmore knelt grip by the horrific noise rising toward them. The worlds most expensive computer was about to become an eight-story inferno.In slow motion, Strathmore turned back toward Susan. She stood paralyzed beside the Crypto door. Strathmore stared at her tear-streaked face. She seemed to sparkle in the fluorescent light. Shes an angel, he thought. He searched her eyes for heaven, but all he could see was death. It was the death of trust. Love and honor were gone. The fantasy that had kept him going all these years was dead. He would never have Susan Fletcher. Never. The sudden emptiness that gripped him was overwhelming.Susan gazed vaguely toward TRANSLTR. She knew that trapped within the ceramic shell, a powerhouse was racing toward them. She sensed it rising faste r and faster, feeding on the oxygen released by the burning chips. In moments the Crypto dome would be a blazing inferno.Susans mind told her to run, but Davids dead weight pressed down all around her. She thought she heard his voice calling to her, telling her to escape, but there was nowhere to go. Crypto was a sealed tomb. It didnt matter the thought of death did not frighten her. Death would stop the pain. She would be with David.The Crypto floor began to tremble, as if below it an angry sea monster were rising out of the depths. Davids voice seemed to be calling. Run, Susan RunStrathmore was moving toward her now, his face a distant memory. His cool gray eyes were lifeless. The patriot who had lived in her mind a hero had died-a murderer. His arms were suddenly around her again, clutching desperately. He kissed her cheeks. clear me, he begged. Susan tried to pull away, but Strathmore held on.TRANSLTR began vibrating like a missile preparing to launch. The Crypto floor began to shake. Strathmore held tighter. Hold me, Susan. I need you.A violent surge of fury change Susans limbs. Davids voice called out again. I love you Escape In a sudden burst of energy, Susan tore free. The roar from TRANSLTR became deafening. The fire was at the silos peak. TRANSLTR groaned, straining at its seams.Davids voice seemed to lift Susan, guide her. She dashed across the Crypto floor and started up Strathmores catwalk stairs. Behind her, TRANSLTR let out a deafening roar.As the last of the silicon chips disintegrated, a atrocious updraft of heat tore through the upper casing of the silo and sent shards of ceramic thirty feet into the air. Instantly the oxygen-rich air of Crypto rushed in to fill the enormous vacuum.Susan reached the upper landing and grabbed the banister when the tremendous rush of wind ripped at her body. It spun her around in time to see the deputy director of operations, far below, staring up at her from beside TRANSLTR. There was a storm raging all aro und him, and yet there was tranquillity in his eyes. His lips parted, and he mouthed his final word. Susan.The air rushing into TRANSLTR ignited on contact. In a brilliant flash of light, Commander Trevor Strathmore passed from man, to silhouette, to legend.When the blast hit Susan, it blew her back cardinal feet into Strathmores office. All she remembered was a searing heat.Chapter 106In the window of the Directors conference room, high above the Crypto dome, three faces appeared, breathless. The explosion had shaken the entire NSA complex. Leland Fontaine, Chad Brinkerhoff, and Midge Milken all stared out in silent horror. lxx feet below, the Crypto dome was blazing. The polycarbonate roof was still intact, but beneath the transparent shell, a fire raged. Black smoke swirled like fuzziness inside the dome.The three stared down without a word. The spectacle had an eerie grandeur to it.Fontaine stood a long moment. He finally spoke, his voice faint but unwavering. Midge, get a w ork party down there now.Across the suite, Fontaines visit began to ring.It was Jabba.