“owns 40 percent of the world’s wealth. Four million people. The ones threatening her are a few random and apparently unconnected individuals, out of four million.”
“Individuals running the founders’ organisations?” “Yes, but indirectly, not as members. They operate through networks of proxies and subsidiaries, the way they operate their share holdings and finances. And they don’t have a secret underground HQ in Antarctica, or a hollowed-out mountain in the Himalayas. They have something much better: their corporations. When they want a task done, or an object made, they divide it down to its smallest components and farm it out to subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries.” When Anwar stayed silent, Gaetano added, “Maybe Rafiq’s one of them.”
“No. He’s rich, but not that rich. He has millions, but the people you’re talking about have billions. Or trillions.” But Anwar was thinking, Currency isn’t only money, it’s also power and knowledge, and there Rafiq must be in their league. This was beginning to worry him. His mind was racing, but he If this is real, it’s the worst combination of threats: a cell, like Black Dawn, but with trillions. I must talk to Arden .
Gaetano waited politely for Anwar to digest this—he hadn’t been convinced by Anwar’s convincing poker face—before he continued. “I think they’re putting together something intricate and far-reaching, and her death is only a part of it. But... a handful of people, unconnected, not even members of the founders’ organisations. Out of four million. I don’t think you can easily locate or identify them.”
“UN Intelligence can.”
“Probably not in time.”
“They’ve done nothing to invade our space yet.”
“They will...And if you can’t locate them pre-emptively, all that’s left is the inferior option: just wait for them to move at the summit, and hope you can stop them.” When Anwar didn’t reply, Gaetano got up. “Think about it, while I go and make us some coffee. Vietnamese, yes?”
“How did you...Oh, of course. Her people asked Rafiq’s people.” He watched Gaetano set the two glasses down. There was a layer of condensed milk at the bottom of each glass, on top of which the dark coffee floated without mixing. It looked like an upside-down Guinness.
“So how did you come to work for her?”
“Isn’t it in Rafiq’s briefing?”
“Tell me anyway.”
“I’m a mercenary. It was interesting—far more than guarding politicians or business people or criminals—and it paid well.”
“And now?”
“I’m still a mercenary. It’s still more interesting than guarding politicians or business people or criminals, and it still pays well. I’m a permanent employee with a job description and a contract. But if I wasn’t, I’d still go out and die for her.” The last sentence was spoken without any change of voice.
“She told me you’ll be providing a two-day briefing on the summit. Do you want to take me through it?”
Yes, Gaetano did want. He would give Anwar a first look at the Conference Centre, where the summit would take place. Then he would detail the security arrangements for the summit, in the following order:
One, descriptions of each delegate and his/her entourage, especially security.
Two, liaison protocols with delegates’ security staff.
Three,the currently-agreed version of the summit Agenda, which would be subject to last-minute changes.
Four,the arrangements on the first day of the summit:the delegates’ arrival, and the style and content of the opening ceremony. “Despite what she believes,” Gaetano said, “the threat could come on the first day, as well as the last. It’ll be just as public, and just as high-profile. She’ll be there as host, and she’ll make the welcoming speech, all about the love that dare not speak its name because its mouth is full.” Anwar looked up sharply. They locked eyes for a moment, then Anwar smiled faintly. Each of them thought,
“Individuals running the founders’ organisations?” “Yes, but indirectly, not as members. They operate through networks of proxies and subsidiaries, the way they operate their share holdings and finances. And they don’t have a secret underground HQ in Antarctica, or a hollowed-out mountain in the Himalayas. They have something much better: their corporations. When they want a task done, or an object made, they divide it down to its smallest components and farm it out to subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries.” When Anwar stayed silent, Gaetano added, “Maybe Rafiq’s one of them.”
“No. He’s rich, but not that rich. He has millions, but the people you’re talking about have billions. Or trillions.” But Anwar was thinking, Currency isn’t only money, it’s also power and knowledge, and there Rafiq must be in their league. This was beginning to worry him. His mind was racing, but he If this is real, it’s the worst combination of threats: a cell, like Black Dawn, but with trillions. I must talk to Arden .
Gaetano waited politely for Anwar to digest this—he hadn’t been convinced by Anwar’s convincing poker face—before he continued. “I think they’re putting together something intricate and far-reaching, and her death is only a part of it. But... a handful of people, unconnected, not even members of the founders’ organisations. Out of four million. I don’t think you can easily locate or identify them.”
“UN Intelligence can.”
“Probably not in time.”
“They’ve done nothing to invade our space yet.”
“They will...And if you can’t locate them pre-emptively, all that’s left is the inferior option: just wait for them to move at the summit, and hope you can stop them.” When Anwar didn’t reply, Gaetano got up. “Think about it, while I go and make us some coffee. Vietnamese, yes?”
“How did you...Oh, of course. Her people asked Rafiq’s people.” He watched Gaetano set the two glasses down. There was a layer of condensed milk at the bottom of each glass, on top of which the dark coffee floated without mixing. It looked like an upside-down Guinness.
“So how did you come to work for her?”
“Isn’t it in Rafiq’s briefing?”
“Tell me anyway.”
“I’m a mercenary. It was interesting—far more than guarding politicians or business people or criminals—and it paid well.”
“And now?”
“I’m still a mercenary. It’s still more interesting than guarding politicians or business people or criminals, and it still pays well. I’m a permanent employee with a job description and a contract. But if I wasn’t, I’d still go out and die for her.” The last sentence was spoken without any change of voice.
“She told me you’ll be providing a two-day briefing on the summit. Do you want to take me through it?”
Yes, Gaetano did want. He would give Anwar a first look at the Conference Centre, where the summit would take place. Then he would detail the security arrangements for the summit, in the following order:
One, descriptions of each delegate and his/her entourage, especially security.
Two, liaison protocols with delegates’ security staff.
Three,the currently-agreed version of the summit Agenda, which would be subject to last-minute changes.
Four,the arrangements on the first day of the summit:the delegates’ arrival, and the style and content of the opening ceremony. “Despite what she believes,” Gaetano said, “the threat could come on the first day, as well as the last. It’ll be just as public, and just as high-profile. She’ll be there as host, and she’ll make the welcoming speech, all about the love that dare not speak its name because its mouth is full.” Anwar looked up sharply. They locked eyes for a moment, then Anwar smiled faintly. Each of them thought,
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