End of Days Read Online Free

shrugged his shoulders.
    “I can’t fathom how you can be so calm, Markell. These people stole me from my bed in the middle of the night, and now, according to you, they have told the world, told all the people I know and care for, all those who care for me, that I am dead. They have brought me to who knows where to do who knows what. And it is almost as if you have been brainwashed into somehow believing that all of this is right.”
    Andrew didn’t answer at once.
    “Daniel, I know what you’re feeling. And you have every right to feel, think, and say it. The difference is that I
understand
why we are here. You really do need to see the whole elephant.” He paused. “But it’s not my place to explain.”
    “Then whose place is it?”
    Markell gestured to a large mirror next to the door at the end of the room—a mirror Sheppard hadn’t noticed.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Seconds later, the door opened and a woman and a man entered the room, followed close behind by four men—the men who had kidnapped Sheppard. No, these were
different
men, albeit dressed identically, right down to the dark sunglasses hiding their eyes.
    The professor felt his blood chill. He had to assume that the mirror was two-way, used for observation. These people had obviously heard everything he’d said.
    The man and woman took seats at the table at the end of the room, and the four men stood silently, two at each end. There were two seats left empty.
    “You’re about to get your answers,” Markell said.
    Sheppard was reassured and frightened at the same time. He was no longer sure he wanted those answers.
    Andrew guided him by the arm and the two men slipped into the seats.
    “We’ll start with introductions. My name is Dr. Hay,” the woman began.
    “And I am Donahue,” the man said.
    “We would like to apologize for the manner in which you were brought here,” Hay said. “We realize it was somewhat disconcerting.”
    Sheppard, against his own will, laughed.
“Disconcerting
is not the word you would have chosen if you’d ever had the experience of being hauled out of your bed by armed men, thrown in a car, and then flown halfway across the world!”
    Both smiled. Not the reaction he’d been expecting.
    “Professor Sheppard, how do you think
we
arrived?” Hay asked.
    “And because we experienced exactly what you experienced, we understand your distress, and we offer a sincere apology,” Donahue added.
    “An apology does not change the fact that I have been kidnapped and am being held here against my will.”
    “Kidnapped
is such a strong term,” Hay replied. “We would like you to consider yourself a very honoured guest.”
    “A guest?” Sheppard couldn’t believe his ears. “Does that mean I’m free to leave?”
    He started to get to his feet, but Andrew reached out and took his arm.
    “Let them talk, Daniel … please.”
    He slowly eased back into his chair.
    “I can appreciate your need for an explanation, and we wish only to provide that, so please let me continue,” Hay requested calmly. “We sit in the boardroom of theInternational Aerospace Research Institute. This agency was created only four years ago, and its existence has been kept completely secret. So secret, in fact, that even those being funded to conduct research are unaware of their funding source. Each person in this project—including you—has been conducting research that has been directed and funded by this agency. You and all the others have been unknowing associates of this agency and have been working toward its goals.”
    “Whether you funded my research or not, you have no right to do what you have done,” protested Sheppard.
    “That’s where you’re wrong. We have every right to do exactly what we have done. We have full authorization.”
    “No one has the authority to do that!” he protested.
    “No one
had
such authority until our inception. Now this agency has the power to … shall we say,
enlist
staff, as well as many