The Doomsday Prophecy Read Free

country house in the distance, across sculpted lawns that looked like velvet. Gravel crunched under the tyres of the rented Audi Quattro as he pulled up in the car-park alongside the Bentleys and Rollses and Jaguars.
    Stepping out of the car Ben straightened his tie and slipped on the jacket of the expensive suit he’d bought for the occasion and was pretty sure he’d never wear again. He could hear the sound of the big band drifting on the breeze. He followed the sound, cutting across the lawns towards the back of the house. The sweeping acres of the estate opened up in front of him.
    Guests were clustered around a striped marquee on the lawn. Laughter and chatter. Long tables withcanapés, waiters carrying trays of drinks. Women in summer dresses and big flowery hats. The wedding reception was a lot more opulent than Ben had expected.
    Charlie had done well for himself, he thought. Not bad for the practical, down-to-earth Londoner who’d started out driving supply trucks with the Royal Engineers. He’d been in the service since leaving school. In 22 SAS he’d never gone higher than trooper. Never wanted to. His only ambition was to be the best. It was strange to imagine him marrying into wealth. Ben wondered if he’d be happy surrounded by all this.
    Charlie and his new bride were among the dancing couples on the lawn. Ben smiled as he recognised him. He didn’t seem to have changed a lot, apart from the tuxedo. The band had struck up an old jazz number he vaguely remembered, Glenn Miller or Benny Goodman. Their trombones and saxes glittered in the sunshine.
    Ben kept his distance, stood listening to the music and watching the people, taking in the scene. Thoughts came back to him of the day he’d got married, just a few months before. His hand instinctively went to the gold wedding ring that he wore on a thin leather thong around his neck. He fingered it through the cotton shirt, trying to stop the other memories that bubbled up, the bad ones, the ones of the day it had all ended.
    For an instant he was there again, seeing it unfold. He blinked the images away, battled them back into the shadows. He knew they’d return.
    The dance ended. There was applause and morelaughter. Charlie spotted Ben and waved. He kissed his bride and she went off with a chattering bunch of friends towards the marquee as the band started up another number. Charlie trotted over to Ben, visibly buzzing with excitement, unable to repress the broad grin on his face.
    ‘You look a little different in that outfit,’ Ben said.
    ‘I didn’t think you’d come, sir. Glad you could make it. I’ve been calling you for days.’
    ‘I got your message,’ Ben said. ‘And it’s Ben, not sir.’
    ‘It’s good to see you, Ben.’
    ‘Good to see you too.’ Ben clapped Charlie affectionately on the shoulder.
    ‘So how’ve you been?’ Charlie asked. ‘How are things?’
    ‘It’s been a while,’ Ben replied, evading the question.
    ‘Five years, give or take.’
    ‘Congratulations on your marriage. I’m pleased for you.’
    ‘Thanks. We’re very happy.’
    ‘Nice place you’ve got here.’
    ‘This?’ Charlie swept his arm across the horizon, at the house and the neatly tended acres. ‘You must be kidding. This belongs to Rhonda’s folks. They’re the ones paying for this do. You know how it is – only daughter and all. A bit over the top, between us. All about flaunting their money. If it was up to Rhonda and me, it would have been the local registry office and then off to the nearest pub.’ He smiled warmly. ‘So what about you, Ben? Did you ever take the plunge?’
    ‘Plunge?’
    ‘You know – normal life, marriage, kids, all that kind of stuff.’
    ‘Oh.’ Ben hesitated. What the hell . There was no point pretending. ‘I did get married,’ he said quietly.
    Charlie’s eyes lit up. ‘Great, man. Fantastic. When did that happen?’
    Ben paused again. ‘January.’
    Charlie looked around. ‘Have you brought her with