The Doomsday Conspiracy   ::   Sheldon Sidney

It was the sound of the telephone that brought Robert Bellamy fully awake. He opened his eyes reluctantly, not wanting to let go of the dream. The telephone at his bedside was insistent. He looked at the clock. Four a.m. He snatched up the telephone, angry at having his dream interrupted. “Do you know what the hell time it is?”

“Commander Bellamy?” A deep, male voice.

“Yes …”

“I have a message for you, Commander. You are ordered to report to General Hilliard at National Security Agency Headquarters at Fort Meade at 0600 this morning. Is the message understood, Commander?”

“Yes.” And no. Mostly no.

Commander Robert Bellamy slowly replaced the receiver, puzzled. What the devil could NSA want with him? He was assigned to ONI, Office of Naval Intelligence. And what could be urgent enough to call for a meeting at six o’clock in the morning? He lay down again and closed his eyes, trying to recapture the dream. It had been so real. He knew, of course, what had triggered it. Susan had telephoned the evening before.

“Robert …”

The sound of her voice did to him what it always did. He took a shaky breath. “Hello, Susan.”

“Are you all right, Robert?”

“Sure. Fantastic. How’s Moneybags?”

“Please, don’t.”

“All right. How’s Monte Banks?”

He could not bring himself to say “your husband”. He was her husband.

“He’s fine. I just wanted to tell you that we’re going to be away for a little while. I didn’t want you to worry.”

That was so like her, so Susan. He fought to keep his voice steady. “Where are you going this time?”

“We’re flying to Brazil.”

On Moneybags’ private 727.

“Monte has some business interests there.”

“Really? I thought he owned the country.”

“Stop it, Robert. Please.”

“Sorry.”

There was a pause. “I wish you sounded better.”

“If you were here, I would.”

“I want you to find someone wonderful and be happy.”

“I did find someone wonderful, Susan.” The damned lump in his throat made it difficult for him to speak. “And do you know what happened? I lost her.”

“If you’re going to do this, I won’t call you again.”

He was filled with sudden panic. “Don’t say that. Please.” She was his lifeline. He could not bear the thought of never speaking to her again. He tried to sound cheerful. “I’m going to go out and find some luscious blonde and screw us both to death.