Page 98 of The Presidents Shadow

I KNOW I’VE made this very clear, but let me state it one more time—I believe that President Townsend is the most reprehensible world leader alive today. But at this moment I force myself to take Townsend’s call, mostly because I am bursting to confront him about his massive treachery.

My first words to him? I immediately explode. “You betrayed me, Townsend! You are a liar and a devil.”

“Control yourself, Cranston,” he says, his own voice relaxed, pleasant.

“Damn control! Damn you! Damn your lies!” I reply. Yes, I am absolutely off the rails with no intention of getting back on. “You promised protection. You promised help. Support.”

“And that’s what I delivered,” Townsend says.

I angrily but briefly recap the missile attack for him. I detail our horrendous, frightening near-death experience aboard an aircraft that he provided to us.

Townsend puts forth his point of view.

“You’ve been misinformed and misled, Cranston. Or maybe you’re simply a damned fool. As promised, my people destroyed the Ambrose missile as soon as we saw it advancing toward your airship,” he says.

“You’re lying, Townsend. It was because of the quick response of Margo that we were able to disengage and destroy the attacking missile. You aided and abetted the enemy.”

“Believe what you want to believe,” he says. “I am certain that we destroyed the weapon when it was launched, with your team as the target.”

All my anger spent, I find that I have to consider the situation at hand, not dismiss alternatives simply because of my personal beliefs concerning Townsend’s character.

What if Townsend is actually telling the truth? What if Ambrose has circumvented the plan both Townsend and I put into place? Yes, that might have happened.

Dache often says, Always remember that it is possible that nothing is actually impossible.

What if, even with Townsend on our side, there is no way that we will ever end the power Ambrose wields, the power of Terrageddon?

As I consider the possibility, I stop talking.

Eventually Townsend speaks. “Are you still there, Cranston?”

“Yes, I’m still here.”

“When all your ranting and raving stopped I thought that perhaps you had simply disconnected,” Townsend says.

“No,” I say. “I have not disconnected.”

“Good, because—” Townsend continues.

“But I am now,” I say, and hang up.