Crisis: Blue. J. A. Davis

you have done quite well. We can launch our deadly assault on the United States and have enough weaponry to continue our struggle,” Mohammad declared.

      “Absolutely, and as an added bonus, Mohammad, the North Koreans, in a gesture of kindness, recruited fifteen suicide bombers. Their families were each given ten thousand dollars for the willingness of their sons and daughters to give their lives for our cause. However, all became ill in transit. The last recruit died yesterday. Their bodies, along with those of the sailors who had succumbed to the sickness, were tossed overboard,” Raspar interjected, with little emotion. This was business as usual, and death was to be expected, if not demanded.

      “That is indeed unfortunate, Raspar. Yassar, wire twenty-five million dollars to the designated account in Wonsan,” Mohammad ordered. “Also, email Abu Bakr informing him that our shipment has arrived. Lastly, please let our brothers in Saudi Arabia know that now is the time to generate the computer traffic necessary to misdirect and preoccupy the infidels. The Eagle has landed!” Mohammad declared with resounding strength in his voice.

      Chapter 9

      The alarm erupted with an enormously sobering ear-piercing buzz.

      “Oh!” Rex groaned, desperately searching for the snooze button. “Christ!” he complained after a water glass and several magazines were knocked to the floor as his hand groped in the darkness.

      “No,” Trissy moaned as she, too, slowly came to life.

      “What did Bubba put in those drinks, and how much firewater did I inhale?” Rex asked, pleading for some rational answer from above. “Oh, does my head hurt!” he moaned as he jettisoned the pillow and slowly struggled to right himself.

      Minutes later, Rex felt somewhat human once again. He was sweet-smelling and clean-shaven. He even had a spring in his step as he closed his robe and made his way back into the bedroom, where he found Trissy fast asleep.

      “Trissy, I thought you were up,” Rex said. There was no response. “Huh, so much for this early bird catching the worm,” Rex whispered, shaking his head and walking toward the kitchen.