Page 104 of The Presidents Shadow

I TELL MY colleagues of my decision to go directly to Nigeria. Their response? A combination of extreme apprehension and extreme understanding. I am personally highly gratified that all of them, without exception, volunteer to accompany me on this enormously challenging journey.

I tell them (and I mean it) that the plan is far too dangerous to risk the lives of anyone else.

Since my Dache-taught superpowers are almost completely restored, I remind them that I have manipulative skills such as shape-changing, mind control, internal speed, and energy mechanisms that they do not share.

“Indeed,” I say to them, “even though Margo and Maddy have gradations of powers similar to my own, I will not permit them to confront such a dangerous situation.”

Then I share with everyone my plan. As of right now, all signs are pointing toward Africa. We know that’s where Ambrose is, and the fact that the largest outbreak of Newbola Strong is located there proves to me that he is responsible for the virus as well as the natural disasters.

If I can find Ambrose, there’s a chance I can destroy Terrageddon and end the plague at the same time, as he certainly has an antidote on hand, if only to keep himself safe.

I have to throw caution to the wind. Plan or no plan, I have to go to Africa.

Right after I end the meeting with my team, I connect with an old friend. Gutta Linderson is a former colleague of mine now teaching science at a private university in Helsinki, Finland.

Gutta is way beyond delighted to help. He is ecstatic.

“Anything I can do, small or large, to restore some peace and order to this awful universe is a great privilege.”

I explain to Gutta the intricacies of my planned, somewhat crazy rampage. I further caution him that it is only my personal instinct that the Terrageddon satellite attacks are supported by President Townsend, though executed by Glenn Ambrose.

“This is based partly on my intuition,” I tell Gutta. “I have been wrong before. You don’t have to help if you don’t want to.”

Gutta laughs, then speaks. “Don’t want to? Don’t want to? Listen, Lamont. You are my hero, and there’s no way I’m backing out on a chance to help you save the world.”

After that burst of hope and praise, I tell Gutta that he must immediately arrange to have a ship fortified with advanced antiaircraft artillery and superior technocommunication capabilities.

“I’m on it. You know that you can depend on me,” he says.

“Yes, I know that.” At least, I think I know that. There is always a tiny bit of doubt that I carry with anyone, everyone. I see potential betrayal everywhere, except within my own family and team.

Even a man who has powers beyond belief cannot work alone. I must trust that Gutta will do as he says.

But my trust extends no further than that.