Free A Game of Gods: The End is Only the Beginning (The Anunnaki Chronicles Book 1) by K. Hari Kumar, Kristoff Harry

Mediterranean. Even if you do, you can get away by handing them a few euros. Cheap people to buy with monetary bribe, I say.’
    ‘Can you arrange for the transportation, Hussein?’ the concerned captain asked.
    ‘I will arrange that. Make sure that nobody sees the woman; pack her in a well-ventilated trunk. If anybody sees her, we are all in trouble.’
    ‘Thank you Hussein, I knew I could count on you.’
    ‘ Allahi Yekhrib beitak… God damn you, Spaniard. You bring a curse into the land, and I cannot do anything but help you, because you are my friend. The oldest known enemy of an Arab is his friend.’ Hussein recollected words from an Egyptian proverb and dialed his assistant’s number on his mobile phone.
    Captain Hernandez asked one of the sailors inside the room to prepare the trunk as the Egyptian officer had suggested. After the sailor left the room, Hernandez moved closer to the pale woman’s face and looked at her with the fascination of a child who had found a fallen angel that he was always told about. He did not know the woman, but believed that he had known her for ages, maybe more. More than anyone, he prayed for her.
     

22
     
     
    Manorma 24x7 News Headquarters
    Mumbai, 17:50 hours
     
    The atmosphere inside the conference room had been that of a chaotic silence that preceded the ultimate attack of a catastrophic explosion. Sagrika Bose, editor-in-chief of the nation’s most entertaining news channel that was hell bent on restoring Leftist values in the minds of viewers, least expected her channel to be taken as seriously by the international community as it had surfaced in the past forty eight hours. Within the confided space of the air conditioned room, sat two influential people. One was Sagrika, plum faced and obese, and the other was Major General John Harker, the head of operations for the American Army in the North African region. The matter to be discussed was so confidential that he had instructed his personnel security officers to guard the room. The Closed Circuit Television Cameras were switched off.
    ‘I am so glad that you trusted us with such a huge assignment from the subcontinent.’ The boy-cut haired woman stated her gratitude unceremoniously.
    ‘We were handpicking the most popular news networks that penetrated into every nook and corner of the respective regions, be it through print, electronic or visual media. Our scouts found you the best bet for our purpose.’ The American heavyweight explained in a husky voice that had the timber of a vintage bond. His specs had a thick carbon rim that blended in well with his tanned skin.
    ‘I am sure; you will not be let down.’ She tried to speak confidently.
    ‘I hope that you will give us your best man for this assignment.’ Harker demanded.
    ‘Oh! Better than that. I am giving you a woman.’
    At that very instant the door opened and Pakhi entered the scene.
    ‘Good evening, I hope I did not keep you waiting.’ The new entrant said as she glanced at the white man and then fixed her gaze on her boss.                           
    ‘Major General Harker, this is Ms. Pakhi Dutta, the best investigative journalist in the ‘country.’ Sagrika introduced her trump card. She looked at Pakhi and said, this is Major General John Harker, the operations in-charge of the American Army in the North African region.’
    Pakhi gobbled a pint of saliva down her throat upon hearing the ranked officer’s designation. As they shook hands and exchanged momentary smiles, her personal delirium was over shadowed by the sudden realization of the international importance of this story. Harker eyed the woman for a prolonged period, for he had never encountered a dusky woman with such sharp features as Pakhi. Her eyes were the shape of the petals of a Star Lotus blooming on the surface of finitely contained waters of a temple pond.
    Lot of adjectives could be used to describe Pakhi Dutta- bold, gorgeous, sensational,