The Lazarus Moment Read Online Free Page A

feet any day than waste away in a bed
alone.”
    Khomenko
rose, extending his hand. Zokwana stood, clasping it in both of his.
    “To
dying on our feet.”
     
     

 
     
    Hertzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, Moscow, Russia
    Two weeks before the Air Force One crash
     
    “Have you found the target yet?”
    Dudnik
nodded, handing a file folder to Khomenko. “His name is Senior Airman Cameron
Lennox. He’s twenty-six years old, has a wife and daughter and a baby on the
way. He’s been serving on Air Force One for six months and is scheduled to be
part of the crew for the South African flight.”
    “And he has
access?”
    “Absolutely.
He’s one of the two techs.”
    Khomenko
smiled as he leafed through the rather thorough file. “He’s young.”
    “He’s
perfect because of it.”
    Khomenko
nodded. “Agreed.”
    “When
will you execute the plan?”
    “The day
the President leaves for South Africa.”
    “Very
well.” Dudnik leaned forward, pointing at the file. “Are you sure you still
want to do this? If it gets traced back to you, or more generally, to Ukrainian
freedom fighters, America might enter the war.”
    “They
already entered. The moment they allowed their citizens to fund the very
weapons that murdered my family, they entered the war.” He shook the file.
“It’s time for us to retaliate!”
    “You
might lose all you have gained.”
    Khomenko
inhaled. The possibility had occurred to him already. America might decide it
was best to move twenty thousand soldiers in and secure Eastern Ukraine under
the guise of the war on terror.
    But his
homeland had one thing that Iraq and Afghanistan never had.
    A
benefactor.
    He
looked at Dudnik.
    “If they
do, then Mother Russia will protect us.”
     
     

 
     
    Hertzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, Moscow, Russia
    Two days before the Air Force One crash
     
    “So you’re proceeding?”
    “It’s
already in motion.”
    Arseny
Dudnik sighed, shaking his head slightly. “I’m not sure this is a wise move.”
    “Then
you shouldn’t have provided me with the file.”
    “A man
is allowed to regret his decisions, isn’t he?”
    Khomenko
smiled. “Of course. I’ve made a few that I regret.”
    “In war
we all regret things.”
    “And
that’s what you need to remember. This is war.”
    Dudnik
shook his head. “No, this is revenge.”
    “Is
there a difference?”
    “I’d
like to think so.”
    It was Khomenko’s
turn to sigh. “Perhaps, once, I felt the same way. But my homeland is at
war, and things are being made worse by the decisions made by this man. If he’s
eliminated, all those whose blood stains his hands will rest in peace knowing
their executioner has been himself executed.”
    “I still
think your own loss is tainting your view of things.” Khomenko was about to
object when Dudnik raised a hand, stopping him. “ But , I completely
understand your desire. Hell, if it were me, I’d probably want to do the same
thing. I just don’t know if I’d have the balls for it.”
    “It
helps when they no longer work.”
    Dudnik laughed,
tossing his head back. “Too much information, my friend, too much!” He looked
at Khomenko, the smile slowly fading. “I consider you a friend, you know that?”
    Khomenko
nodded. “As do I. You’ve helped my people immensely.”
    Dudnik
shook his head slightly. “No, forget the war. I deal with a dozen men like you
day in and day out. But you are the only one to have invited me into your home,
the only one I felt compelled to invite into my own home. I have met your wife
and daughter, and I grieve with you at your loss. If it were any of the other
commanders I deal with, your desires would have been left unfulfilled. Only
because it is you do I do this.” He paused, his eyes glassing over a bit
before he rapidly blinked them clear. “We shared many a meal and many a drink
over the past year. Your wife and daughter always made me feel like your home
was mine. I feel as if I’ve lost a