The chasm (eBook)

Brett O'Conor (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
176 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-085680-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Nobody knew how it came to be. One day, it was just there. Or had it always been there?

The whole world is watching the events unfold, waiting for answers. But there are no answers. The decision-makers, treading carefully, are trying to find and give explanations for what has happened. Still, the public and the scientific community are getting louder in their demands for results. They need to know what happened at one of the world's most mystical sites.

The expert group assembled to investigate this extraordinary phenomenon came up with a hair-raising explanation. Still, that's not enough. They need to prove their theory.

Are the sceptics right, and is it just a massive hole? Or does the chasm indeed hide something supernatural and unknown? Perhaps something alien, more advanced than humanity? Or maybe something ancient, that has been slumbering in the depths for centuries, just waiting for the right moment to reveal itself to those who can unravel its secret.

Textauszug

- 4 -

 

The emergency cabinet meeting that evening was a reflection of their political cohesion, deep-rooted friendships in civilian life, and countless favors exchanged long before their current collaboration, which had solidified them into a strong team. Rivalries, underlying envies, and jealousies over coveted positions did undermine unity, but these forces hadn't yet become potent enough to seriously threaten fragmentation or turning against each other. The Prime Minister, lips pursed, read through the report before him again.

"Can someone finally tell me what we're dealing with here?"

The Minister of Culture cleared his throat. He was unsure how to begin, as his boss expected some sort of satisfactory answer, and he had none. Damn the rest for their silence now! When it came to needing extra tickets for a Liverpool match, they promised the moon and the stars.

"We don’t know yet, Prime Minister! You've received the reports, which so far aren't worth a damn. We can't get any measuring equipment or cameras down there... well, we can get them down, but they don’t work. We’ve already lost two drones. We have nothing! The assigned geologist is just guessing."

The Prime Minister fiddled thoughtfully with the corner of the report.

"The archaeologists didn’t even know that damn hole was there in the ground?" he asked.

"No, they knew nothing. If it hadn't been spotted from the helicopter, we might still not know it exists."

"Could it be caused by some weapon? Is it possible the Russians or the Chinese are testing some new technology?"

This question was directed at the Minister of Defence. The burly man shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Impossible! Preliminary investigations assure that no known weapon or technology can do this. There are no burn marks or anything similar around the edge of the chasm. This rules out missiles, laser weapons, seismic strikes, and meteor impacts. Intelligence is still investigating, but it’s too early for concrete results. There’s no debris spread around the chasm, so it wasn't caused by an underground explosion or blasting either. We are currently waiting for a satellite to take some images."

"When?"

"The earliest the satellite can start is by dawn tomorrow!"

"I want results!"

"What should we do about the press?" asked the Minister of Culture.

The Prime Minister widened his eyes, then pursed his lips and responded.

"Well, if it comes to that, I can run your ministry too, but then what do we need you for?" he asked in a paternal tone.

The Secretary quickly corrected the question as if the boss had misunderstood.

"I meant, should we keep denying or admit that we've run into something unknown?"

It was a tricky question, but the Prime Minister had to admit it was valid. And, of course, a nice try from his people. If he makes a decision now, he also takes the responsibility, and in the end, he'd have to oversee this whole mess.

"What do you think?"

The Secretary hated this ping-pong game his boss was a master of. Usually, in the more interesting state affairs, especially if some money could be squeezed out of it, the departments competed with each other, but this was different. It was easier to fail in this than to gain any glory. When they were campaigning for re-election, they promised their voters transparent, responsible, frugal governance, all that jazz. The voters believed them, and here they still were, but the Secretary felt if they started this, they'd end up spending a heap of cash for nothing. He grimaced at the thought of literally throwing millions down the chasm. In the end, he'd be blamed for it! Since he definitely didn't want to keep the case with him, he tried to deflect it in the most straightforward way possible.

"Who's actually responsible for this case?" he asked.

The Prime Minister smirked.

"What did you call it? An anomaly? So, this anomaly is on your department's turf, right?"

"That's true, but we don't have the tools for a thorough investigation! The military is already there..." he left unsaid that in the end, it would probably be the Defence Ministry that would snatch the case.

The Defence Minister started squirming. He felt uncomfortable with the attention now directed at him. For a moment, he thought about sending that overzealous general, who had decided to assist the archaeologists without going through him, to the world's worst hotspot. Now, he had to navigate carefully. He thought over each word before saying it.

"We're just helping out there. Provided a few trucks, that's it! The area's domestic, so it's not our jurisdiction. Of course, we support the relevant department if we can."

The Interior Minister was the youngest member of the cabinet. Young but agile, he maneuvered professionally through the political labyrinth. He was one of the most popular members of the government. His approval rating was still well over 50%. With a slow, theatrical move, he closed the dossier in front of him and pushed it away. The Prime Minister didn't miss the gesture.

"This isn't our case! If you need the police's support or resources, you can count on me to sort out the reallocation, but I'm not carrying the case because it's none of the Interior's business!"

After a bit of silence, the Cultural Secretary raised the question on everyone's mind.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Shall I call the German Chancellor and ask for advice?" the Prime Minister asked with a hint of sarcasm. "Or shall we push it over to Foreign Affairs? They haven't been dealt a hand tonight! Why do I feel like none of you wants to shove the mess into the nettles?"

Nobody answered. They knew all too well that whatever they said or suggested, their boss would arrange the delegation of tasks in such a way that it would be equally miserable for everyone involved. They knew him that well. If they had taken it on from the start, they might have fared better, but they had caused the Prime Minister enough discomfort with all this shuffling to now want revenge. They sat around the table like those awaiting a verdict from the Crown Court, only this was perhaps a bit more unpredictable and uncomfortable a wait.

"The case remains with the Ministry of Defence for now! Until we know exactly what's going on, treat it as a national security risk! The cultural department should look up every expert who can help understand what the hell is happening there! Get to work under the army and archaeologists!" this was the so-called revenge on the cultural department for the discomfort caused. "And keep handling the press! Don't let it slip what's really going on! Or rather, that we don't know shit!"

The ensuing silence indicated he was finished. The Defence Minister spoke up.

"Can I access the emergency fund?"

The Prime Minister looked at him sharply.

"You can't wait to get your hands on the jam jar!" he thought to himself, but aloud he only said. "We're not opening the emergency fund, but I'll arrange for you a £100 million emergency fund tomorrow!"

This was the coup de grâce following the revenge, at least as far as the resentful Secretary was concerned. Everyone in the room knew that such an amount was entirely unnecessary at this point. It was only secured to kick even harder those who had shrugged off the delicate matter today. The Interior Minister, of course, did not take up the fight. The Finance Minister indicated that he wanted to ask.

"Where do you intend to find the resources for the fund, Prime Minister?"

"We'll take half from the cultural department and gather the rest from places where it's currently not needed!"

The Secretary thought he would explode with anger, but of course, he tried to hide it. Somehow, he felt that he had overdone it with his excessive opposition, and this case might well be the end of his tenure. But then he didn't dwell on it further because his boss continued.

"I want results, and until we close this case, I want a report every evening on our progress! The intelligence services should also report directly to me on everything that can be linked to this whole mess!" he looked at the Interior Minister. "You, stay behind!"

 

With that, the first cabinet meeting came to an end, and the ministers left in silence. The Defence Minister elbowed the Cultural Secretary.

"Don't worry!" he said mischievously adding. "What goes around comes around!"

"Do you find this funny?"

"No! I'm serious! I didn't want this whole mess either, but since it's been dumped on us, let's try to make the best of it!"

"What do you mean?"

"It seems to me that this isn't going to be as simple as it looks! Let's work together and then a bunch of money from the fund will end up back with you! It’s never bad to end up in the black!"

"I'm asking you again, what do you mean?"

The Defence Minister sighed heavily. Was he really this clueless?

"You handle the press, right? Frame the news so that we stay in the limelight! You and me! Then, when it’s time to throw out the dirty nappy and they start questioning the numbers, casually mention that your department provided half the resources! I'll make sure those resources are well spent and yield results! Who knows? You might even become the Finance Minister if you play your cards right now!"

"In your government, huh?" the Secretary smirked.

"Let's just say, anything could happen!"

They sealed their newfound alliance with a handshake.

 

In the room, a heavy silence weighed on the two remaining leaders. The Prime Minister's position was strong enough that he didn't...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.6.2025
• Übersetzer: Alex Karl with chatgpt
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• ISBN-10: 0-00-085680-0 / 0000856800
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-085680-7 / 9780000856807