The Ark: A Novel Read Free Page A

knew that Crestwood Limos was Hayden's preferred company, so he had simply called to cancel the reservation and showed up himself.
    He knew those celebrity types. They didn't pay any attention to the staff, never even asked for his name. They simply assumed he was their assigned driver and that all the bags would get on, so they didn't see him put an extra one on with the others. When that little chump named Fitz had threatened him, Cutter had momentarily entertained the notion of snapping the pissant's neck, just to show him how unimportant he really was. But then he remembered his mission. The faithful leader's vision. Everything they had worked for the past three years. Getting the bag on the plane was far more important.
    It had been Cutter's suggestion to test the device on Hayden's plane. A long distance flight over water was exactly what they needed. The wreckage would be three miles deep, so the plane wouldn't be recovered even if it were found. Plus, it had the added bonus of Hayden. He had been a thorn in their sides for months, bringing undue attention to the cause. And the press would go into a feeding frenzy when the plane of one of the world's biggest stars crashed, providing the perfect distraction.
    Bringing the device onto a commercial airliner for the test would have been much riskier. As checked baggage, it would have been out of his control for most of the time, during which too many things could go wrong. The device could be discovered, or it could simply be left off the plane for some reason and put onto another plane. Not to mention that whoever traveled with the bag would have to go with it; for security reasons, airlines regularly removed bags when the passenger was not on board. With Hayden's plane, Cutter had seen the bag go into the cargo hold himself, and now he could watch it take off, with him standing safely to the side.
    The tower gave permission for Hayden's 737 to taxi to the runway. Right on time, as Cutter knew it would be. If it hadn't, Hayden would have gone berserk. Guys like that thought the world revolved around them.
    Now was the time. He opened his cell phone and navigated the address book until he found the entry he had programmed in:
New World
. He pressed the green call button. After three rings, a click of the other phone answering. Then a series of three beeps told him the device in the belly of Hayden's jet was activated. He hung up the phone and replaced it in his pocket.
    The 737 came to a stop at the end of the runway. On the scanner, Cutter listened for the tower to give permission to take off.
    "Flight N-348 Zulu, this is Burbank tower. Hold short of the active and await further clearance."
    "Acknowledged, tower. What's the problem?"
    "We've got a fuel spill on the runway. Leaking truck."
    "How long? My boss isn't going to like a long wait."
    "I don't know yet."
    "Should I head back to the ramp?"
    "Not yet. I'll keep you informed."
    "Gotcha."
    Cutter stared at the idling 737 in horrified disbelief, kicking himself for activating the device before permission to take off was given. A lengthy delay could be a disaster. The weather was perfect, so he hadn't anticipated a delay. Now that the device was active, there was no way to turn it off. It was already working. If the plane returned to the ramp, he would have to get the device back somehow. That would be extremely problematic, not to mention dangerous. It was already too lethal to interact with. As the plane sat there, he was helpless. So he did the only thing he could. He prayed.
    Cutter leaned on the wheel, his eyes shut tight, his hands clasped together, praying with all his heart that his mission would go on. God would not forsake him. His faith would overcome.
    His entire life, Cutter knew he was destined to serve a greater purpose, and he was willing to lay down his life to attain it, as all his brethren were. It was only after he left the Army, where he had gained the skills necessary to carry out God's plan, that