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John Carpenter's
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HOSTILE TAKEOVER - CHAPTER 5
MacReady was stunned. He could not believe what he just heard.
Everything he had worked for the last two months just went up in
smoke. It didn't matter one bit that he went through painstaking
lengths to get to this point. All that money spent, all that time
wasted. Wayne already had his Antarctic site underway. Now, MacReady's
one chance to stop the thing from possibly returning was over before
it began.
"I'm sorry Mr. MacReady. I don't know what we could possibly do now,"
offered Fox.
The room went silent. The three businessmen looked at one another
hoping the other would speak up and break the awkward pause. MacReady
seemed to stare off a thousand miles away from where he was. Wayne was
lost in thought. A look of deep concentration formed on his brow.
After many minutes, Wayne finally broke the calm. "I think I know what
we can do. That is if you are up for it, Mac."
MacReady had a vague idea of what Wayne was going to suggest but he
prayed he wouldn't say it.
"What are you getting at?" inquired Preuss.
"Well, if Mr. MacReady is willing, I'd like to send him to TOMAR with
an escort to investigate and see if there is any concern. If there is
not, then we'll make sure that they avoid that area at all costs."
MacReady thought about it for a minute. This was all happening way to
fast. He needed time to sort everything out. After a while of
wrestling with his doubts and fears he came to a decision.
"I promised myself that I'd never go back there no matter what. I
hated it there the first time and just the thought of going back is
enough to make me throw up..."
"But, Mac, you are..." Interrupted Wayne.
"I know, I'm the only living soul with experience against that thing,
I know. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is yeah, I'll go. I'm
telling you though, the first sign of danger I'm getting my ass out
and to hell with you and your site and your people there. If something
is wrong there, I'll do what I gotta do to get out alive, understand?"
"Well, let's hope that there won't be any cause for alarm. Where can I
contact you when we complete all of the travel arrangements?"
"I'm at the Clauer, room 14-C. Know where it's at?" replied MacReady.
"I never patronized it but I know where it is," answered Wayne. He had
been there in the past but it was for different business than what he
conducts from his office. "I want to thank you for bringing this to my
attention and I appreciate your concern for what could happen. Stay
close to your phone. I'll get back to you very shortly."
"Yeah, I can't wait," MacReady replied dryly. MacReady turned and left
for the office doors. He peered out slowly into the lobby to make sure
that the police were not waiting. He still wasn't overly trustful in
anyone yet. Not even of the first person that supposedly believed his
fantastic tale of Outpost Thirty-one. MacReady wasn't thrilled at all
about going back but he knew he had to. He prayed to God that there
wouldn't be anything wrong.
As MacReady left Wayne Foundation he noticed the strange looks from
guards at the front desk. He hoped that there wouldn't be any hassles
awaiting him on the way out. He felt kind of embarrassed about the
events that transpired but he didn't pay his feeling that much
attention. He learned to be cold to emotions over the years. The pains
that he suffered taught him that lesson fast and thorough. "Don't care
and don't get hurt" was his motto.
MacReady wasn't a trusting sort and he put his faith in what he knew
could protect him in his time of need. He put his hand on his waist to
make sure his "faith" was still there and ready to deal out righteous
retribution when called upon.
To his utter surprise, his loaded, porcelain guardian angel was
missing.
Wayne picked up the maps and paper work and formed into a neat
stack and placed it on his desk. He began to scrutinize them with
great attentiveness.
"Thank you, gentlemen. I'll contact you shortly with details of what
shall be done," Wayne dryly uttered not looking up to address them.
"I can't believe that fool thinks that we are going to help him on his
ridiculous cause," uttered Preuss in contempt.
Wayne slowly looked up with an emotionless scowl. "Actually, Russ,
that is exactly what we are going to do."
"But Bruce, you seriously don't..."
"Yes, I do believe him and even if it turns up false, we owe it to the
company and the team down there to investigate any possible dangers,"
Wayne curtly interrupted. "Now, is there any other comment needed to
be made before we adjourn?"
The room went silent. The three underlings did indeed have comments to
make but they held their tongues. They never seen their boss act like
this. It was very unnerving to see Wayne react with such strength and
conviction.
"Then, I thank you and I will be in contact with you all with the
details later." Wayne turned and went back to his desk. He sat down
and silently studied the maps gave to him by Preuss with a look of
concern never before witnessed by the three men.
The men awkwardly left Wayne's office. Not one of them made a sound as
they left. Wayne sat alone in his office for an hour studying and
planning. His phone rang with no answer. He was alone with his
thoughts and nothing was going to break his concentration.
After the hour was up, Wayne slowly lifted his head. His mind was
still a thousand miles away in thought. Slowly, deliberately he
reached to the row of buttons on his desk. He methodically pressed the
buttons in a specific sequence.
"Scrambling-communications-code-1564-initiate-scramble-ingaged-please-wait...proceed,"
A tinny synthesized voice broadcasted.
"Yes, sir? How can I be of a service?" A voice came over the intercom
system. It was smooth with a noticeable English accent.
Wayne glared off into space. His mind was formulating a plethora
potential scenarios and solutions. "Alfred, I need you to get Col.
Haines ready for an expedition to the Antarctic."
Chapter 6
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