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Page 12.
Chapter 7
 As the fires flared up on the distant launch pad, and pale assistants dashed to the window to point and yell in anguish, Moss pushed Tonsonby into a small side office and closed the door behind him.
They were alone in the small room, which was too brightly lit with too many fluoros, and contained blonde furniture (a table, chairs, bookcase) littered with white paper printouts.
"This is a chess game," Moss said. "You were blind-sided, and I am going to insist you shake up your internal staff."
"Of course, Leader." Tonsonby felt his knees trembling.
People were pounding on the door, demanding Moss' attention, but he called out "Leave us alone!"
He sat Tonsonby down in a chair and loomed over him, face to face so that Tonsonby could smell the other's rancid cigar and brandy breath. "You, Tonsonby, will now have the need to know, and will be further enlightened, so that you can fulfill your next duties in continuing to deceive the East into thinking we are as stupid as their Captain Hedrock evidently thought we are. Are you ready?"
"Yes, Leader."
Moss was shaking with rage, and red in the face. He jammed a thick, dirty index finger into Tonsonby's mouth so that Tonsonby felt his choke reflex mauled and attacked.
Tonsonby started retching helplessly, failing the courage to attack back. He closed his eyes and thought of his family. Oh God, anything but that, anything but lose them.
"So you understand what's at stake then!" Moss shouted. His eyes were small and vicious, and spittle flew from his small meat-red lips. He made the finger into a fish-hook and tore a knife-like fingernail through the soft tissue in Tonsonby's mouth as he extracted the finger.
Tonsonby leaned forward retching up brandy and blood. His mouth felt as if it were on fire.
Moss shouted: "I'm going to put it in your record that you failed to supervise your people on several of the most sensitive projects the state has entrusted to you. If you succeed in the next phase, I will consider removing the damaging information from your record. Family or no, cousin or not, this nation cannot succeed with dimwits like you entrusted with important matters. That is why I had my people infiltrate your department when I got word of the traitors working for you."
Tonsonby sobbed, kneeling before Moss and holding the man's knees in his hands. "I am sorry, Leader. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."
The words choked in blood and chyme that kept making him spasm and splatter the carpet, so that Moss slapped him across the face and jumped back.
"I am so sorry, Leader, so sorry…" Tonsonby repeated amid sobs and choking.
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Copyright © 2018 by Jean-Thomas Cullen, Clocktower Books. All Rights Reserved.
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