The Brit burned a CD containing all of the information they had pertaining to al-Qaeda operations in America. He also burned a copy of the CD and gave it to Hans after handwriting on it the date and that it was given to the Americans. He told Hans to send it someplace for safe keeping. Hans looked at him rather funny and the Brit responded, \u201cAt some point this is going to all blow up. We are going to need to know what we told to whom when the hammer falls. Right now, the rest of the world hasn’t decided to throw out the Rules of Engagement and open back up the wholesale slaughter counter. No offense, but the last time we did that was against your people and there is a lot of fallout happening from it even today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hans nodded, knowing it was the truth. There had been a lot of soft-life educated-type people writing articles about the Allied bombing campaign which exterminated entire German cities. A lot of party members back home still carried some resentment about it, but oddly not as many as Hans would have expected, and far fewer than in the countries which had actually carried out the bombings.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou honestly believe there will be another international war crimes trial over this and we will be sitting in defendant\u2019s chairs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I think you and I will either manage to disappear or we will both be sitting at ground zero when the leaders of this decide to tie off loose ends. Give this to someone who will keep it in a safe place and let it surface if we happen to be tied off.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, the Brit left and endured a four-hour bus ride one way to meet his contact. People from civilized countries tend to hate buses and use them only when they have to. As bad as the buses are in those countries, they look like a shiny new Mercedes compared to the bus the Brit was riding on. Thank God the windows opened. No air conditioning, the bus was packed, and some people had animals with them.<\/p>\n
He arrived at yet another IT center: one cluster of shiny new modern buildings surrounded by squalor. He found a place on the street that wasn\u2019t too crowded and opened up a disposable cell phone to call his contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have some information for you. Can we meet?\u201d \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just got off the bus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. I\u2019ll be there in ten minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The contact arrived right on time. The Brit handed him the CD.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we currently have on al-Qaeda in the U.S. Don\u2019t ask for more or where it came from as I cannot say.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstood.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man put the CD in his shoulder bag then asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s the bird\u2019s-eye view?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmail traffic to and from al-Qaeda members. Attack plans for both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sears Tower.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Brit watched his contact\u2019s eyes widen involuntarily, then asked, \u201cEnough for an arrest?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t have to divulge your source and go through the court system. More than enough to get a warrant and search for legal evidence. Doubt you will find it, though. Most of these operatives seem to use libraries and Internet caf\u00e9s to communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat has been the problem, but right now we have to go through due process.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, if you can arrange for a covert flight in and out, I know some people who could snatch some of these operatives for you, interrogate them off U.S. Soil. Then you will never hear from them again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have the clearance to authorize it yet. Should be coming, though. We shall see what the high-IQ boys think of this stuff and what they are willing to risk on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s my return bus. Good hunting.\u201d \u201cAnd to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Brit climbed aboard for another hot, sweaty and smelly four-hour bus ride back to headquarters. He made a mental note when he got back to go to one of the apartments and take a shower.<\/p>\n
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You are reading a special promotional version of \u201cInfinite Exposure\u201d containing only the first 18 chapters. This is the first book of the “Earth That Was” trilogy. You can obtain the entire trilogy in EPUB form from here:<\/p>\n