#SampleSunday – Chapter 4 of The Usurper
Thank you for coming to my blog for Sample Sunday. After reading the sample, the links to buy are below, and please feel free to look around, check out my other novels, which are listed on the pages above. Thanks!
CHAPTER FOUR of The Usurper
The KGB had managed to bring all of the terrorist groups of the world together, but, also made sure each organization did their own public relations, and made absolutely no mention of the KGB. Occasionally, the KGB allowed a small attack on Soviet soil. This was meant to appear to everyone else on the planet, that terrorists were targeting Soviet interests. The response to the terrorist attack, which was fierce and brutal, was supposed to show to the rest of the world that the KGB was completely serious about defeating terrorists. Showing that the Soviets came down hard on terrorism, the Soviet Union wouldn't be attacked again, thus making a perfect cover. In 1970 alone, the KGB organized four attacks on the United States using regional groups, like the Black Liberation Army. One attack was blamed on the Jewish Defense League, but, in reality, was conducted by the KGB itself. The United States didn't seem to worry all that much about the attacks, which would be an effective weapon when Gary was put into place as an adult.
One of the most effective terrorist attacks on the world, was by the group Black September, who was trained by John al Hussein, and operated by Yasser Arafat. They targeted the 1972 Olympics in Munich to test how well people could be taken hostage, and to see how well they could negotiate a release of other terrorists jailed in Israel. They had the men become workers in the Olympic Village, as not to raise suspicion, and they scouted the Israeli Olympic teams' dorm. Due to West Germany wanting to make the Olympics open and friendly because of the black mark for them that was the 1936 Olympics, the security was rather lax.
The terrorists stormed the apartments where the Israeli athletes were staying, two weeks after the start of the Olympics. The terrorists ended up killing two of the Israelis immediately because they fought back, and the rest of the athletes were tied up. Israel refused to negotiate, but Germany tried to, and had an airplane ready for the terrorists. Everything fell apart at the airport, the terrorists killed all of the hostages, and the Germans killed most of the terrorists. The German attempt at a rescue effort was criticized for how it was poorly planned. Meanwhile, the KGB and al Hussein thought it was a fairly successful effort, because it showed how weak the western powers were in dealing with terrorism.
For the next five years, by the time he was 10 years old, Agent Putin and John al Hussein had taught young Gary about their ideas of the evils of the world, pouring into his head all sorts of ideas about how the United States, in particular, had caused droughts in Africa, all the economic collapses in the world in the last two centuries, both world wars, and was a threat because of their use of nuclear weapons against Japan. They told him capitalism was evil, and must be brought down.
"Can I ask why we use Comrade Bornos' money for all of this if capitalism is so evil?" asked the 10 year old.
"Herr Bornos isn't using his money for his gain. He is using it to fight the United States, that's why he supplies us with everything we need monetarily. The KGB has the means, but, not the money. Does that make sense?" asked John.
"I guess. The United States is bad because the government doesn't have total control, and nobody is equal, while the Soviet Union is good, because the government controls life, and everyone is equal. Did I get it right?"
"Yes, you did, very good Gary. We call that social and economic justice. Do you know who else is enemy of the people?" asked Putin.
"The enemy is anyone who questions the word of the government and the KGB. They must be destroyed; nobody can be spared if they disagree,"
"You know who is one of your enemies, Gary?" asked al Hussein.
"No, who?"
"One of your enemies is your mother. She doesn't agree with the government controlling peoples' lives, and she thinks terrorism to control the people is bad. What do you think we should do with her, Gary?" asked Putin.
"My mother is an enemy? But, she could be on our side," Gary innocently said.
"We've talked about this before, Gary, and you know what you must do,"
"But… but…. I don't want to do this,"
"Yes, I know, but she will destroy all that we are working for, and all of your future hopes and dreams. Again, I ask you, what should we do to people like her?"
Gary sighed, gulped a couple of times, and said, "The enemy has to die as an example to others not to think for themselves and do what they want. If my mother is an enemy, she must die,"
"Correct response. We need to go visit your mother to see that she is no longer a threat. Let's go, Gary." ordered Putin.
A few minutes later, the trio arrived at the house Gary and his mother lived in. They went inside, where Ann was in the kitchen cooking dinner, she heard them come in, went to meet them, saw her son, and went to hug him, but, Gary didn't hug her back, so she asked, "What's wrong?"
"You are the enemy, you must be destroyed."
Putin handed Gary a Russian made Tokarev TT-33 service pistol, and Gary aimed it at Ann, who was shocked, and wasn't sure what was happening. Gary, who had no expression on his face, aimed, and fired point blank at her forehead, his mother had no time to react. Blood, and brain matter, spattered everywhere. Ann died instantly, her body falling to the floor with a thud. Gary handed the gun back to Putin, left the room, and he was determined to leave this in his past, hopefully to never be dwelled on again. Putin checked to see if Ann was completely dead, which she was, and the three quietly left the house. Putin called for a clean-up, and for the house to be destroyed.
When they were back at al Hussein's office, Putin said, "Gary, you did a good job. You did not let family get in the way. All enemies of the state must be treated the same way. Soon, we will let you participate in some of the operations we have planned, but, you need more training. Go find Khomeini, and see if he needs you for anything."
Gary found Khomeini speaking to his followers, and whipping them up into a fury over how they were going to take Iran away from the Shah. An hour later, Khomeini was finished, and Gary went over to him, and said, "Comrade Putin asked me to come. I'm supposed to ask if you need help."
"Allah demands that I lead Iran, and I seek followers to help me take over my country. Master Gary, you can help me by helping me plan this. I must bring Islamic clerical authority to the people; they must be cleansed of the evil influence brought on by the Shah, and the Great Satan, the United States, and its lapdog, Israel. The Great Satan is a corrupting influence on the world; didn't they have, just last year, a leader who resigned in disgrace because he did not follow Allah and His laws? Only those who know Allah's laws should govern, and those not ruled by Allah should die. Allah has appointed me the person who is strong enough to do all of this. The people will be happy again once I have cleansed the country of evil influences. Men shall be men again, and women shall be women again, Allah has commanded it. Come, Master Gary, we have a lot of work to do."
For the next four years, Gary helped Khomeini and his followers, which kept growing in ranks day by day, plan the eventual coup of the Shah of Iran. News came from Iran, occasionally, that the people were awaiting the return of the Ayatollah, and they would do whatever they were asked to do. Strikes and demonstrations were started by Khomeini's followers inside Iran itself, to pressure the Shah to give up his power. The Americans also had a weak President, who was willing to do whatever he could to maintain peace, so Khomeini also added the destruction of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on his list of things to do, in order to force the United States to do whatever he wanted. Gary was not allowed to actually participate in the coup, because the KGB didn't want their star pupil to get hurt in the ensuing chaos, so Gary had to watch the whole thing unfold on TV.
The Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, went into exile in January 1979, shortly before Khomeini returned to Iran. The rebels and guerilla forces that were trained in Pakistan, overwhelmed the soldiers who were loyal to the Shah, and the government collapsed a short time later. A few months later, on April 1, the Iranian people voted to make Iran an Islamic Republic, and made Khomeini the Supreme Leader under the new theocratic constitution. This took the whole world by surprise, and the United States went the feeble route, freezing Iranian assets. The U.S. embassy was under constant siege, until November, when students stormed the embassy, and took all of the Americans who were inside, hostage.
The Iranians released thirteen of the hostages, but kept fifty-two. In the United States, President Carter attempted to appease Khomeini, while most of the American people wanted to bomb Iran. Carter ordered an ill-fated rescue mission, only for mechanical failures to occur on the helicopters, including one crashing into a C-130 re-fueling aircraft, killing the men on the helicopter. This affected the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election, when Ronald Reagan became President. The Iranians took him seriously, unlike Carter, and released the hostages after 444 days. Saddam Hussein used the change in relations between the United States and Iran to attack Iran a short time later, starting a very bloody, and costly, war that would last eight years.
In Pakistan, Putin and al Hussein were pleased with the outcome. Putin was given new orders to transfer to foreign intelligence as the First Chief Directorate of the KGB, since he did such a good job keeping all the terror organizations in line. Al Hussein was going to continue operating the terror headquarters. Putin went to talk to Gary when Putin learned of his promotion.
"Comrade Gary, I have good news,"
"What is it, Comrade Putin?"
"I have been promoted to First Chief Directorate in the intelligence division of the KGB, and now I must return to Moscow for training. I have also been told that you will now be sent to the United States, since you are now 16, and the next part of your education shall begin,"
"Congratulations on your promotion, Comrade. However, I don't welcome the news that I have to go live among those infidels. Who am I going to live with, how will I know what to do?"
"You must not worry, everything is planned out. We have told your mothers' parents that you will be coming to stay with them. They are not communists, so you must be very careful when you are around them, do you understand?" asked Putin.
"Yes, I don't like it though. How will I know what to do, I don't know anyone,"
"We have many agents who will assist you; some of them will be a phone call away. I will give you all of their numbers if you need to talk to them. In order to be a convincing American, you must attend their high schools, work in a place where other teenagers work, and then attend college. At the college you will be attending, Harvard, we have turned many of the professors to our side, so they will be of no trouble to you. Remember, we will take good care of you Gary, do not worry."
"I trust you, Comrade, you haven't let me down yet. When do I leave?" the two men sat down, and talked about the arrangements.
Where to buy, in paperback it's $8.99, e-book, it's $2.99
Apple iPad
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
B&N Nook
Amazon
Kindle
Amazon UK for paperback Kindle UK
Books a Million
Sony Reader
Diesel E-books
Kobo for your mobile phone
Hastings
Independent Bookstores
Powell's Books
Check out Out of Time, which is a time travel novella going for the sale price of $.99 as an e-book
Shattered Earth, which is science fiction, which is going for the sale price of $2.99 as an e-book.
