All rights reserved. Copyright © 2018 by Ivan Del Valle
The Ring Of The Witch: The Rise Of Amun-Ra
[Chapter 1: “Late Justice”]
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. The writing medium used to tell the story takes elements from stage scripts and screenplays, but doesn’t intend to be one or the other (or adhere to the Dramatists Guild’s guidelines). The book falls into the performance arts creative work category and is not written or formatted as a traditional novel.
Its content might contain wording and scenes sensitive to some audiences and is intended for adults only. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental.
This is the original, non-edited version of the chapter. Minor changes should be expected.
[Thursday, March 20th, 2031 — Time: 10:03 p.m. — Location: Abandoned house in Solntsevo, Kursk Oblast, Russia]
[The musty smell was indescribable. The structural integrity of most of the walls was almost non-existent, and every single corner looked dirty. There was graffiti everywhere and signs that the abandoned house had been extensively used by drug addicts. The place was guarded by armed personnel with militarized equipment that would be the envy of any elite forces on the planet. There was a sophisticated computerized system in what seemed to have been one day the living room of the place…]
Evgeniy Mikhachev: I still don’t understand why we must work from this pigsty. We could be in Napoli enjoying a lovely evening…
[Yakim stared at his cigarette for a few seconds before responding...]
Yakim Boleslav: That is the point. Great riches, great slavery. It was greed that established poverty and ambition what destroyed everything. Ambition, luxury, and arrogance always demand a pompous stage…
Evgeniy: It’s not greed, Yakim. Just take a look at this place…
Yakim: To live always in comfort and to pass without a sorrow in the soul is to ignore the other half of nature. There are things that knowing them is not enough… You must live them to remember them every day.
[Yakim Boleslav was raised in extreme poverty in Eastern Europe. A self-made oligarch, he rules the toughest streets of Solntsevo-a neighborhood in northwest Moscow in the post-Soviet Russia.]
Evgeniy: We are in… The advance persistent threat attack has been a success… The ‘StuxnetEvo’ computer worm has been awoken.
Yakim: The fake harmony of this world is made up of unconformities. The time has come to destroy the sense of security that only belongs to those who have everything.
Evgeniy: We haven’t been detected so far. We have direct access to the programmable logic controllers… The blackhats alpha team already changed the automation code of the electromechanical processes…
[A few seconds later…]
Evgeniy: In a few minutes, the fast-spinning centrifuges will tear themselves apart. A serious nuclear accident is about to happen at the Nogent Nuclear Power Plant, 120 kilometers south-east of Paris.
[Three minutes later…]
Evgeniy: Not bad… They reacted faster than expected. They are trying to get hold of The Ministry Of Defense.
Yakim: Activate the signal blockers. Interrupt all the frequencies used by the police and the military.
[Almost instantly…]
Evgeniy: Done.
Yakim: Activate “GameOver Jupiter”…
[Evgeniy smiled. A few seconds later…]
Evgeniy: Done… We have control of the airport and maritime systems, water treatment plants, electrical grids, and even the traffic lights… They are so busy with ‘StuxnetEvo’ that they won’t have time to figure out what the real threat is all about.
[Yakim enjoyed a sip from his home distilled самого́н]…
Evgeniy: Yakim?
Yakim: To win without danger is to win without glory. Death is the consecration of those whose end deserves the praise of those who fear it.
[pausing]
Yakim: Greed is like a flame; which violence increases in proportion to the fire it produces. Our objective has been met. Stop the attack.
Evgeniy: Stop? I thought… [staying silent for a moment] We must attack now or we’ll lose the element of surprise…
Yakim: You doubt the power of your creation? I thought you said it was undetectable.
Evgeniy: ‘GameOver Jupiter’ is an invisible masterpiece, capable of disrupting the assets, systems, and networks of the most powerful countries of the world…
Yakim: Nothing would ever be discovered if we considered ourselves satisfied with the things discovered. There is nothing so fast as slander; nothing is easier to accept, nor quicker to spread. I want them to be confused and blame each other…
[pausing…]
Yakim: Nothing is as much as injustice as late justice. [Putting the glass of liquor on the table…] Tear down this place and continue per the plan…
[Friday, March 21st, 2031 — Time: 8:37 a.m. — Location: Interpol’s Headquarters in Lyon, France]
Meng Stong: [to one of his aides] Okay, transfer the call to my office…
[seconds later…]
Meng: Good morning, Florence. What is the reason for this pleasant surprise?
Florence Parley: Don’t be ironic, Meng. And for you, I’m still Mrs. Parley, regardless of whether you’re the General Secretary of Interpol.
Meng: [smiling] As you say, honorable French Minister of National Defense…
[Florence took a few seconds to respond…]
Florence: I will just ignore that insulting tone of yours. Listen… We believe the Nogent Nuclear Power Plant was under a Cyber-attack last night. The programmable logic controllers were compromised…
[Meng’s facial expression changed.]
Meng: [interrupting] The centrifuges…
Florence: I thought ‘Stuxnet’ was neutralized years ago.
Meng: ‘Stuxnet’ was a malicious computer worm uncovered in 2010. It was believed to be a jointly built American/Israeli cyberweapon. It ruined almost one fifth of Iran’s nuclear centrifuges years ago… It targeted industrial control systems, infecting over 200,000 computers and causing 1,000 machines to degrade…
Florence: I didn’t call you for a history lesson… Was it neutralized, or not?
Meng: You know I’m bound to confidential agreements related to my former job at the GCHQ…
Florence: [raising her voice] I don’t give a damn s — t about the UK Government Communications Headquarters! We were close to a nuclear disaster last night. I need to know who is threatening my country!
Meng: Our country, Florence…
[Hesitating for a second…]
Meng: Rogues from the ‘Equation Group’ and the original ‘Stuxnet’ developing team are believed to be working together. Their leader is known online as “luckyslavik” and we believe his real name is Evgeniy Mikhachev.
[pausing]
Meng: How did you get your systems back?
Florence: That is the problem. We did nothing… Everything went back to normal and we haven’t been able to detect any anomalies…
[Someone opened the door…]
Aide: Sir… Mr. Vladimir Rovonkov is on the phone. He says it’s urgent…
Meng: [surprised] The Rovonkov from the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office? Should I assume Hangir Khan is on the call as well?
Aide: I don’t know, Sir…
Meng: Pass the call…
[Friday, March 21st, 2031 — Time: 8:06 p.m. — Location: Oia, Santorini, Greece]
Quique Grey Rodriguez: Are you sure this was a good idea?
Grace: Are you kidding me? Don’t make me remind you that this was YOUR idea. You wanted to experience a traditional Greek-style celebration, so here we are…
Grey: [smiling] Well… Who could resist a Greek celebration with the food, wine and dances of Greece, together with great views of the picturesque village of Oia?
[The host of the activity made her entrance.]
Host: Everybody, say ‘OPA!’ [said with an Italian accent while smashing a plate on the floor.]
Various people: [while laughing hard] OPA!!!
Host: Sì! Questo è lo spirito! Benvenuti al ristorante “Le tre sorelle”!
[Yes! That’s the spirit! Welcome to “le tre sorelle” restaurant!]
Grey: [to Grace, in a low voice] Wait… Wasn’t this supposed to be a Greek restaurant? I hope we didn’t come to Oia for Italian food. [He continued…] I should have figured that by the restaurant name. That is the Italian translation for “The Three Sisters”, right?
Grace: [smiling] Stop it! You sound like a cicada hovering around my ear. Pay attention to the host. [pausing] Don’t forget the Italian occupation between 1912 and 1943. They are probably descendants. You can still feel the Italian influence all over around. This place is advertised as one of the best restaurants around for traditional Greek food, so just hang in there…
[Grey made a sound like a cicada close to Grace’s ear, and she pushed him out while smiling…]
Grey: Traditional Greek food, with an Italian influence… [then shouting…]OPA!!
[Several people shouted “OPA!” as well while celebrating. Grace had to laugh…]
[Several minutes later, they sat at a long table, accompanied by other guests. There were several tables arranged in the same way, and some people stood up to dance to the contagious music. There was no lack of salads, breads, cheeses, grilled meats, wines, and other delicacies. Waiters passed by delivering plates full of food to share. The variety of food and exchange of dishes over people’s heads seemed endless. From time to time the sound of a broken dish was overheard, followed by a big “OPA!” that made everyone laugh hard. Two of the sisters who owned the restaurant were at the same table as Grace and Quique…]
Claudia: [almost shouting to Grace and Quique because of the noise around] And our sister Narcissa was the last one in getting married. She was saving herself for the love of her life, which she knew would come one day…
Cecilia: What she is trying to say is that Narcissa was a sprinter…
[Quique almost choked when laughing about the comment. Grace pinched him on his arm.]
Claudia: [speaking in Italian to her sister] Non essere impertinente. Non parlare di tua sorella in quel modo. Era la bella cameriera che doveva essere trovata.
[Do not be impertinent. Do not talk about your sister like that. She was a beautiful maid waiting to be found.]
Cecilia: Sì, in attesa di essere trovato da un pazzo a portarla.
[Yes, waiting for a dumb ass that would take care of her.]
Claudia: Per favore. Non essere così cattivo!
[Please, don’t be so bad!]
Cecilia: La ragazza innocente non era affatto santa. Aveva già un buon chilometro quando il principe “affascinante” si presentò.
[The innocent girl was not so holy at all. She already had good mileage when the “charming” prince showed up.]
Claudia: [raising her voice] Cecilia, basta!
[Cecilia, enough!]
[Changing back to English…]
Claudia: What will our guests think of us? [frantically gesticulating to a waiter close by…]
[The waiter came to the table.]
Claudia: [to the waiter] Why is there so little food on this table? Bring more dishes!
[Claudia became impatient and stood up to grab food herself. Cecilia followed her, speaking something in Italian while waving her hands.]
Grey: [to Grace — loudly because of all the noise] Did we really need to go through that? They look like two scary gossiping magpies!
Grace: [pinching him harder this time] Please, Quique… Lower your voice. Just behave and eat whatever is big enough to keep your mouth chewing and not talking.
[Quique turned and talked to the person at his right…]
Grey: Mamma Claudia is right… We have plenty of space on our table for more food [Said ironically, as the table was more than full already.]
Grey: OUCH!! [Being pinched again by Grace — this time even harder.]
[The young lady next to him smiled. Quique introduced himself.]
Grey: Hello. My name is Quique and this beautiful lady next to me is my wife Grace. She just pinched my arm so I stop saying inappropriate things…
Young lady: [smiling] My pleasure. My name is Mariem. I’m the daughter of “Mamma” Cecilia… The gossiping magpie that was seating there [pointing to where she was seated.]
[Grace made a gesture of frustration with her face…]
Grey: I… didn’t want to…
Mariem Munire: Don’t worry… [laughing] They are a crazy… You have seen nothing yet.
[Cecilia y Claudia passed by, still arguing about Narcissa…]
Grey: You are blessed, Mariem. Living in Santorini… What a beautiful place.
Mariem: [smiling] Maybe in a few years… I live in the United States… In Lincoln, Nebraska. I’m just visiting.
Grey: Do you know Nebraska was once called “The Great American Desert”? And that the 911 system of emergency communications used nationwide, was developed and first used there?
Mariem: [without knowing what to say…] Impressive, Mr. Quique…
Grey: [turning to Grace] She called me Mister… Did you hear? She called me Mister.
Grace: Quique… You will be sixty years old in a few months…
Mariem: [embarrassed] I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to…
Grace: [interrupting] Don’t worry, honey… Doctor Grey has a weird sense of humor…
Mariem: Doctor? Medicine?
Grey: Nahhh… That would be too boring. I love exciting stuff… [pausing]Like Social Sciences and Ancient History… [smiling]
Mariem: That’s great! I’m a Biofuels Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Grey:? You look so young!
[The conversation was interrupted by a loud “beep” sound coming from Quique’s label-tattoo communication device. The “beeps” increased their frequency. Grace seemed very nervous...]
Grey: [in a rush] Nice meeting you, Mariem. We need to step out one second…
Mariem: [shocked by their sudden reaction] Sure! No problem. Nice meeting you.
Cecilia: [shouting from a distance to Mariem] Dove stanno andando? Ora arriva il primo round di dessert!
[Where are they going? The first round of desserts is about to arrive!]
[Mariem smiled and made a gesture with her shoulders and hands, implying that she didn’t know.]
[Less than four minutes later a contingent of military armored vehicles surrounded the place. The deafening noise of a helicopter flying close to the roof was almost unbearable. The front door was opened abruptly, and an approximate group of 30 armed soldiers took control of the place. There was food all over the floor, and the chaos was accentuated by the screams in panic of everyone. A few seconds later Mariem was surrounded by several soldiers pointing her with their powerful weapons …]
Soldier: Mariem Munire… You are under arrest by the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Interpol.
[Four months later…]
[Article published by “The Telegram” newspaper — Sunday, July 20th, 2031]
[…]
Although officials said no tourists were wounded, the attack at the ancient Egyptian Karnak Temple near Luxor was the second in just over a week on a major attraction in Egypt, where tourism is a vital source of income and foreign currency.
“The government of Egypt places the highest priority on the safety of tourists in our country,” said Rani, the tourism minister. “We have enhanced security measures in place at all our sites, and we continue to take every possible measure to ensure that no harm comes to anyone visiting Egypt.”
In the meantime, on a brief press release, the Director-General of the UNESCO, Andrey Azulay, expressed… “I condemn the attack perpetrated today outside the historic Karnak temple, near Luxor. A prime tourist attraction, Karnak is a symbol of Egyptian civilization and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This attack against human lives is also an attack against culture as a force for dialogue, tourism, and socio-economic development. I’d like to express my solidarity with the government of Egypt. UNESCO stands firmly with to protect heritage against extremism.”
[…]
[Monday, July 21st, 2031 — Time: 9:37 a.m. — Location: Wawel Cathedral; Krakow, Poland]
[Several tourists were taking a guided tour…]
Tourist Guide: …what you are seeing now is the Wawel Cathedral… It holds the remains of several Polish royals, as well as famous religious art… [suddenly changing the tone of his voice while mocking a scared expression on his face]… but we all know the real reason you are here today is to see the hanging bundle of bones of the rumored local dragon, Smok Waweleski. It is believed the world would come to its end when the bones fell on the ground, [changing the tone of his voice back to normal while smiling] but as it became notorious around the world almost four years ago, they fell, and nothing happened…
[He was interrupted by a mysterious young lady who was dressed impeccable. Her hairstyle, makeup, and overall beauty was different to anything the tourist guide had seen before…]
Mysterious lady: Show respect. The only reason you are still here is because of the mercy of the gods…
Tourist Guide: [confused] Sorry… I beg your pardon?
Second lady: Don’t waste your time here. We need to rush our way to the village of Słonowice and Czaplinek…
“The Ring Of The Witch: The Rise Of Amun-Ra” (LCCN: 2018903823) is expected to be released late summer, 2018. Check out the press release and book promo video trailer at ‘ http://www.trotw.com ‘.
Book Blurb: “A dangerous Russian oligarch threatening the stability of the world. Four prominent Research Scientists gone missing — experts in the fields of Nanomedicine, Brain Neuro-Networks, Biofuels Production, and Environmental Archaeology. Several World Heritage Monuments destroyed. A financial scandal at the UNESCO. A violent serial killer on the run… The newly promoted Dean of Computational Social Sciences at Birbeck University wasn’t expecting that night the frantic request for help from an unexpected visitor… Antonio Boutros, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.”
Learn more about the prequel, titled: “The Ring Of The Witch: The Curse Of Apollo”…
Publisher: Seven Hearts Publishing, LLC / Sette Cuori Press™ — http://www.shp.solutions
U.S. Copyright Office Certificate Of Registration: PAu 3–861–631
Library Of Congress Control Number (2nd Edition LCCN): 2018903784
ISBNs: 978–0692895856 / 978–0999199503 / 978–0999199510
Paperback: https://goo.gl/SZYxdQ — Audiobook: http://a.co/0pQC5yd
U.S. Copyright Office Certificate Of Registration: PAu 3–861–631
Library Of Congress Control Number (2nd Edition LCCN): 2018903784
ISBNs: 978–0692895856 / 978–0999199503 / 978–0999199510
Paperback: https://goo.gl/SZYxdQ — Audiobook: http://a.co/0pQC5yd
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