The End of the Beginning

John stopped just outside Hammond’s hotel room door. She was shouting at someone inside. He couldn’t hear another person so he deduced she was on the phone. John would say to other people they were staying in a hotel for the opening ceremony but it really wasn’t a hotel, it was better described as temporary housing. It had been built just to house the massive influx of dignitaries and UNIRO officials that would be in attendance. When the dam started normal operations in two weeks the housing would be torn down and recycled.

It was nearly five o’clock, nearly nine back home. John had attempted to call William for the fifth straight time but he could never get through. That’s why John had come to Hammond’s room, to inform her about a possible communications breakdown with base. He knew she would be up. She always was.

“You’ve waited till now to tell me this? Are you fucking kidding me?!” she screamed.

There was a quick silence.

“How much time do I have?”

John raised his fist to knock but lowered it.

“Twenty-two hours! That can’t bloody be.”

Who the heck was she talking to, thought John.

“Nome. I’ll be on a plane in less than an hour… No! No one can know. This is my own battle to finish. UNIRO will be mine. Nothing will stand in my way, do you understand me, least of all Hernandez!” John looked down the hallway to see if the shouting match had attracted anyone else. He saw no one, thankfully.

“What about Emerson? What does he know?”

John slapped his ear directly up against the door.

“He broke into… Samir… Shit. He knows.”

Was William in danger?

“Let’s hope he can keep his mouth shut till I arrive back at base. I’ll be in Nome ready for the pickup in three and half hours. After that I will take the drive home to stop all this. I will not fail again!” Something was smashed against a wall.

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me upon my return. You already know, I don’t have much time anyways. All that will matter is that I will have won…” For a few seconds of silence, John waited. He had developed a pit in his stomach and a knot in his brain. Maybe William hadn’t been imagining what he saw and heard in the warehouse that day. After a minute, John guessed the apparent phone call was over. He knocked. It took another thirty seconds for Hammond to open the door. When she did, she was sweating.

“John!” she gasped. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Is everything okay ma’am? I thought I heard shouting.” John looked past her in the doorway. He saw a landline phone on one of the beds. A few pieces of a shattered vase were also strewn about.

“Yes,” she said obviously lying. The mighty Hammond was definitely rattled. This alone disturbed John. “I am leaving early, within the hour. Something unexpected has come up in Nome. Something personal. I want you to meet me in Anchorage by o-three hundred hours with the rest of our staff. From there we will go home no later than o-three thirty hours.” “But, ma’am, we aren’t scheduled to go home for another two days. Has something happened? I haven’t been able to get in contact with Captain Emerson ever since we got here. Do you know anything about that?” “No idea Colonel but you will be able to talk to him in person soon enough. Now, listen to me very carefully and do not ask questions. Should I not be in Anchorage by o-three fifteen hours leave without me and get home. Take this.” Hammond grabbed a small sealed envelope and handed it to John. It was unmarked.

“Take this. Only open it if I am not there. Only open it on the plane and when you are alone. Only act upon what it says when you have landed and destroy it before you land. All of that is a direct order. Is that understood, Colonel?” “Yes ma’am but - ”

“No questions, remember,” said Hammond, slowly closing her door. “Now, get what little sleep you can Colonel for both of us on your way to Anchorage. You need to be wheels up in one hour, no matter what.”