Point 3

POINT 3

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POINT 3

Pr e fa ce I t is t rue when people say science brought doom not boom . The scient ific race was on. Every count ry proving it s wort h on planet eart h. Wit h no lim it s t o science and innovat ion, world saw som et hing new being creat ed as every second t icked by. Things were creat ed which soon becam e a problem and t hus a new t hing was creat ed t o solve it . World seem ed endless. A new world was being creat ed. World far beyond what we could im agine a cent ury back. Aft er all, it was t he cellular which ended t he era of t elephones and fire was no longer necessary t o light a dark room . Everyt hing had t o end and end it shall. Technology was spreading like plague eat ing what ever cam e in it s way in a dizzying speed. People could no longer survive wit hout t echnology around t hem and t hey say, “ Man creat ed t echnology.” Men lived and lived, for t hey had t echnology t o survive - The t echnology for life and t he t echnology for life aft er deat h. Soon, t he world will be t he land of t he dead cause t he dead shall live.

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PART I

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Ch a pt e r 1 A lot had changed since I kept m y first st ep on planet eart h. No, I am not an alien. My first st ep was from t he cradle on t o t he floor. My m ot her was delirious wit h excit em ent as if she never t hought I would walk. There was a lot m ore t o be excit ed about and t he excit em ent seem ed never ending as t he world was changing wit h light ening pace. I m aginat ions and ideas were t aking shape. I deas st at ed dum b were now being applauded by t he great est and t he m ost sophist icat ed. I t was year 2042. Thirt y years flew past m e and I experienced t he m ost am azing t hings happen. Planes could fly by t hem selves, finger sized m obiles, com put ers t hat could t alk and aids could be t reat ed. Space was no longer light years away. More st udies were being done on space rat her t han eart h. A t ent h planet added t o our solar syst em but alas, no life found elsewhere. Bright sunny day it was as t he rays escaped t hrough t he t hin linen of t he drapes dist urbing m y sound sleep. I was quick t o get up for I had an agenda t o m eet . An agenda so unscrupulously dangerous t hat t he very t hought of it brings chills. There were only t wo sides t o t his t ask I was about t o undert ake. One side was bright er t han gold t hat could give m e glory, fam e, all at one shot . The ot her, darker t han hell; t he road t o perdit ion where t he forces of evil were wait ing for m e wit h t heir st eely knives. I nvolved in m y own t hought s as I washed m y face. Wat er dripped down m y face and I was looking deep wit hin m y eyes in t he reflect ion searching for an answer, “ What if it doesn’t work out t he way it is supposed t o?” I could feel t he t ension creeping up. Never before was I so worried for m y profession could never afford it . I no longer rem em bered how t o cry, how t o rej oice, how t o com fort and nor did I feel any pain. A quick shower and breakfast got m e ready by 8. I reached out for t he drawer and picked up a piece of paper wit h an address. “ Café Marino, 8 t h Avenue, Copernicus Square” I t read. I put it in m y t rouser pocket and I headed for 8 t h avenue in m y old DMC. St eering t hrough t he st reet I searched for t he café shop. Round t he corner was a sm all coffee shop wit h a board t hat said Café Marino in bold. Sm all and shabby wit h t he windows dirt y, curt ains t orn, cobwebs all over and t he sweeper busy sm oking his cigaret t e t o it s but t . I t looked like a perfect place for t he t ask in hand. Hesit ant ly, I ent ered inside t he shop. I was greet ed by a few occupant s st aring at m e as if I had done som e sin having ent ered. I was feeling t ot ally out of place. I

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POINT 3 pulled a chair back. Som ehow I felt it would be bet t er t o st and, from t he creaking sound t he chair m ade as I sat . I st ill m anaged t o m ake m yself com fort able. I t was nine t hirt y t wo. Two m inut es over t he t im e we had agreed t o m eet . I wait ed as t im e t icked by. Fift een m inut es passed and a lady approached m e, “Sir, would you like t o have som et hing?” “Hm m …A coffee please.” I n anot her t wo m inut es, a cup of brew was at m y t able. St ill t here was no sign of Valdam ov. All kinds of t hought s hovered over m y head. I j ust hoped everyt hing was fine. I t wasn’t a hot day, yet sweat t rickled down m y forehead. I was st art ing t o worry for no sign of Valdam ov could be seen. I t was very unusual of him . I could not even call him on his cell for it could put m ine as well as his life in danger. I had lost m y cool and was about t o leave. “Bill please,” I shout ed. The lady nodded. Wit h t he bill was a sm all piece of t orn paper. I t said, “Sorry. Could not m ake it t oday. Sam e t im e sam e place t om orrow. Have a big news. Hold your breat h.” I kept st aring at t he paper for som e t im e unt il t he wait ress int errupt ed m e. I gave her t he m oney wit hout t aking m y eyes off t he paper. What was t he big news Valdam ov had and why procrast inat e it ? Som et hing m ade m e feel t here was m ore t o it . Som et hing big.

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Ch a pt e r 2 Valdam ov was Russian by birt h but had t hat fluent accent which could fool any one if one m isses out t o see his face. His face could be described in j ust one word – st one. Chiseled down t o his chin, black hair t hat could even put a Raven t o sham e, eyes com plem ent ing his hair, wrinkles on his forehead, his hair com bed st raight t o t he back and a ghast ly looking face would describe him t he best . I had m et him j ust t wo m ont hs back. He could be easily t agged as a m obile encyclopedia. He had superfluit y of inform at ion. He could fill your ears t he whole day. His appet it e for learning new t hings never seem ed t o end. Som et im es, I despised him wit hout saying so. But , I adm ired him for t he perfect ion he showed in his work and his punct ualit y. That was why; he not t urning up on t im e dist urbed m e. He would always carry a t o do list . Such a syst em at ic m an he was. At night I had dinner wit h m y ladylove. She looked st art ling wit h a red fish dress clad over her slender body. I couldn’t keep m y eyes off her as I had m y dinner. “Ron, you don’t seem t o be yourself t oday,” She spoke out . “Wit h som eone as st unningly beaut iful as you in front , I bet no one would even ut t er a word. Thanks for m aking m y life as beaut iful as you are.” She blushed and god she looked m ore beaut iful. I dropped her at her apart m ent , gave a good- night kiss and left alt hough I wasn’t in t he m ood t o leave her. She was t he only pill for t he t ension in t he air. A half an hour’s drive got m e t o m y apart m ent . I t was a t iring day and I needed a good sleep. I st raight away j um ped int o t he bed wit hout even t aking m y shoes off. Open windows let t he cool breeze inside which brushed by m y sweat y body t aking every drop of sweat wit h it . The hair on m y body st ood and swayed on m y dry body as if t hey were dancing t o t he t une of gushing air. Birds chirped and t he roar of car engines broke m y sleep. The supposedly big day had begun. A six m ont h hunt was finally going t o end. But t he big news Valdam ov had could m ean a final t wist in t he t ale. What ever it be, wit h t he closure of t his t ask would com e m assive pandem onium and world will see it self being supplant ed by a com plet ely new world. By nine, I was at t he Café. I m ade m yself com fort able inside. The wait ress gave m e a pleasant sm ile wishing m e m orning. I sipped t hrough a cup of coffee t o keep m y eagerness away. Every second seem ed like days now. Sharp on t im e a car screeched in front of t he café. A black Merc wit h t int ed glass st ood, wit h passer- bys st aring at it wit h crave. Silence followed and suddenly t he door flew open and out cam e t wo guys wit h a black bag in hand.

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POINT 3 Keeping t he bag near t he ent rance t o t he café, one of t he guys lift ed his head and frowned. I n a few m inut es, t he Merc disappeared. I hesit ant ly m oved t owards t he bag fearing t he worst . To m y horror I found a body inside and it was Valdam ov wit h blood sm eared all over his body. His eyes st ared at m e wit hout blinking. I could see his skull rupt ured ghast ly. All I could do was st and t here helplessly wit h t ears rolling down m y cheeks. A piece of paper st uck out from his pocket . I reached out t o get it . I t was a t o do list . “ Send a m ail t o Ron wit h docum ent s and snaps. Meet Ron at café. Meet Valent ino…” What were t he snaps all about ? Was it relat ed t o what he was about t o t ell m e t oday? Quest ions clogged m y brain. Cops and em ergency vans were t here in no t im e. They assist ed m e t o t heir vans and t ried t o console m e t o t ake m e out of t he daze I was int o. They asked t o leave for hom e but warned m e not t o leave t he cit y. I underst ood t hey were doing t heir dut y. All absorbed in t hought s, I drove t o m y place. I knew why Valdam ov was killed and t hat t hey were com ing for m e as well. I packed m y t hings in a suit case and decided t o flee from t he place. As I sat inside m y car, I called up m y dear old friend Tim whom I can easily rat e as a friend one can rely on at any t im e. He was working wit h m e on t his t ask since t he beginning. “Hello, Ron…I t hink you should leave your place. I am already on m y way t o Vancouver.” “Vancouver…? Even I was t hinking of leaving.” “Why don’t you com e t o t he j olly bees? I ’ll pick you up from t here.” A long silence followed. “Ron, are you list ening t o m e?” “Yeah…yeah…I ’ll be t here in t en m inut es.” “Ron, list en t o m e. Don’t you worry. Not hing will happen t o us. Once we leave t he cit y, we are safe. Do you underst and?” “Yeah…t hanks Tim .” “Don’t t hank m e now Ron. Don’t t hank m e now.” There wasn’t m uch t im e. I had t o act quickly. I left for t he Jolly bees. Reaching t here I received a call from Tim . “I am wait ing in a red Pont iac parked besides t he

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POINT 3 vending m achine out side. I t won’t be safe for us t o be t raveling in our vehicle. I t hink you should leave yours as well.” I left m y car and walked t owards t he vending m achine. I saw a red car parked and t raversed across t he road. As I drew close t o t he car, an explosion deafened m y ears and t hrew m e yards away. I n a split second, t he space once occupied by a car now had only rubbles all in flam es. I could see Tim ’s lim bs lying wit h blood sm eared all over t he ground. Slowly all m y near and dear ones were being snat ched away from m e. Who would be t he next was an im m ediat e quest ion t hat st ruck m e. Linda…? I im m ediat ely called up Linda t o check whet her she was fine. “Linda, are you at hom e?” “Ron, you have called on m y landline num ber. Of course, I am at hom e. What ’s t he m at t er Ron? You seem t o be t ensed. I s everyt hing fine?” she could sense som et hing was wrong. “Linda, j ust keep t he doors and windows closed dear. I ’ll be t here in half an hour’s t im e and I ’ll explain you everyt hing.” Worried Linda kept t he receiver down. I cannot afford t o lose Linda. Now, she was all I had. She was m y life and I could not let m y life snat ched away from m e. I f t hey want ed t o play rough, I ’d play so. I will give t hem a t ast e of t heir own m edicine. Wit h rage, I drove t o Linda's place. I found her door open and I im m ediat ely sensed danger. Wit h a revolver in m y hand, I t ipt oed inside. I t was all dark and silent . I reached for t he swit ch board and swit ched t he light s on. I t was t ot al chaos. The room gave m e an im pression t here had been som e sort of st ruggle. I rushed t o t he t errace. As soon as I opened t he door, I was grabbed by few m en dressed in black. Linda st ood t here wit h a rope t ied around her neck. A m an wit h long hair st ood wit h his back facing m e. He had a Russian accent . “Mr. Ron, you like a cat and m ouse gam e. Eh?” He t urned t o have a glance at m e. He lowered his goggles and raised his brows t o look at m e and said, “But , alas I don’t like t hat gam e. I t s so sad for you, Mr. Ron.” “Who are you?” “Don’t raise your voice. Don’t you raise your voice,” He cont inued, “I am Evan. Evan Gorbonovic.” “What do you want ?”

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POINT 3 Evan laughed and spoke, “I sn’t it funny? All t his t im e I t hought it was you who needed som et hing. I didn’t like your appet it e for inform at ion, Mr. Ron.” “What are you t alking about ?” “Hey you, don’t act so sm art ,” he held m y collar wit h anger in his eyes, “You know what I am t alking about . Valdam ov and Tim were good guys. But t he problem is even t hey didn’t know what I am t alking about . But in your case if you don’t speak out , it won’t be you but unfort unat ely we would have t o kill your lady love.” Linda was st anding near t he edge of t he t errace. Fearing t he worst , I spoke out , “Ok. What is it t hat you want from m e?” “Now you are com ing t o t he point buddy. Just one sim ple inform at ion from t he big pie you have collect ed.” “Can you be a lit t le m ore precise?” “OK. Ron, t ell m e who else has t he inform at ion.” “I t hink you m ust be having t he knowledge. Don’t you? Tim , Valdam ov and now who else do you want t o kill?” scream ed I . “You…” cam e a sound from behind. Out cam e a figure from t he shadows. As he walked out of t he shadows, I saw a figure t hat seem ed quit e fam iliar t o m e. I st ood spellbound as his face was lit up by t he bright sun. “Don’t be surprised,” he sm iled and t hen t urned t o Evan, “No one else knows. Trust m e. Kill bot h. Thanks Ron, I liked your com pany.” One of t he guys t hrew Linda from t he building. “No…” cried I as I m oved t owards t he edge of t he building. She hung from t he building st ruggling t o live. She t rem bled like a m ouse wit h a snake clut ching it s t hroat before she broke. “Now t hat your lady love is dead, it would be bet t er if I send you t o her t oo so t hat you live happily ever aft er,” Said Evan. I t urned t owards Evan disheveled, “You son of a …” I was int errupt ed by a deafening gun shot . I could sense sm oke com ing out t hrough m y chest . Blood oozed out and I lay t here on t he concret e as light slowly blurred off. Slowly t hings t urned grey and t hen black. I had a last look at t hose who st ood in front of m e as I found it hard t o cat ch m y breat h.

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POINT 3

PART I I

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POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 3 I could feel wat er escaping m y closed eyes and m oist en m y body. I st art ed feeling cold. I t seem ed hard t o open m y eyes for t here was ext rem e bright ness. Soon I found it hard t o breat he. I st art ed t o lose breat h and I st ruggled t o get out . I was in a cham ber full of wat er and I couldn’t see anyt hing else but wat er around m e. Suddenly, t he cham ber was pulled open and off I fell on t o t he ground. I t ried t o open m y eyes and gain consciousness. But it was hard t o do so and I dozed off wit h lack of energy. Next t im e I opened m y eyes, I found m yself in a room wit h dim light s. Slowly t he lum inosit y increased and t he bright ness no longer pinched m y eyes. There was a t able and a chair kept in t he corner of t he cham ber. I m ade m yself com fort able in t he chair and st art ed t hinking. Everyt hing seem ed so very em pt y t o m e. I sat st ill wit hout any m ot ion. I could not m ake out who and where I was. My head st art ed aching as I st rained m yself t rying t o recall but in vain. I st art ed m oving around t he room dem ent ed. Just t hen a m an, dressed in all whit e, walked in and t ook m y hands in his and spoke, “Hello Ron.” “Ron…?” I spoke out silent ly. “Yes. You don’t rem em ber your nam e do you?” “No. I rem em ber not hing,” I said in a querying m anner. “Don’t be surprised. This happens t o all.” “What do you m ean? Where am I ?” “I know you have several quest ions t o fire at m e. But , hold t hem . I ’ll t ake you around t his place aft er which you’ll have plent y m ore. I ’ll answer all your queries but lat er. I am your adj unct .” “OK. Shall we leave? Eh…I am sorry. I didn’t even ask your good nam e.” “Pardon m e. I didn’t int roduce m yself. I am Craig.” “Hi Craig. I t ’s kind of suffocat ing in here. Shall we leave?” “Oh sure, Ron. Com e on. Keep following m e. You shall see som e haunt ing sight s. Just ignore t hem . I ’ll explain everyt hing once we are t hrough.” Just before leaving, Craig st opped and point ed t owards a clot h, “You got t o wear t hose first .” And he sm iled. I t was t hen I observed t hat I was t ot ally naked.

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POINT 3 Wearing t he robe, I left t o find m y ident it y. As we set our foot out of t he cham ber, a sm all spherical ball sim ilar t o an eyeball st art ed hovering near us. “What ’s t his?” asked I wit h curiosit y. “This is a bot cam . Basically a surveillance cam era.” “A cam era and it float s! ” I was am azed. “Ron, t here are m any t hings t hat are wait ing t o am aze you. I ’d say t hat you are going t o wit ness som et hing you have never seen before.” I held m y breat h and followed Craig wit h t he sm all cam following us. I walked t hrough t he alley and found m any m ore like m e walking wit h a helper. All looked as if t hey were lost j ust like m e. As we walked, I saw few m ore bot cam s hovering here and t here. Then, cam e a scene t hat shocked m e. I n sm all glass cham bers filled wit h wat er were hum ans. All were unconscious. “What is t his? Why are t hese people inside t hese wat er cham bers? What kind of a nast y experim ent is t his?” I spoke wit h furor. “Don’t get so wild. See Ron, These people are dead.” “So, you m ean t o say t hat t hey are guinea pigs?” “No, Ron. You are get t ing it all wrong. This is t he place were dead people are brought t o life. This is t he Tim eship.” “What do you m ean? This is not possible. How can a dead be brought back t o life? You are lying,” I sounded suspicious. “Now t hey can be brought back t o life.” “Wasn’t I in t hat wat er cham ber?” said I finding it hard t o cont inue, “Am I dead…t ell m e Craig am I dead?” “Uh…not any m ore.” I broke down and his words echoed in m y ears. How could I be dead and how did I die? “Craig, how did I die?” “Sorry, I cannot help you on t his. I am j ust a pract it ioner and we are not supposed t o know any t hing about t he pat ient except for t heir nam es. I am sorry.”

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POINT 3 “Craig, you need t o help m e here. Can you get m e t he inform at ion about m e?” “No one can except you.” He said. “What do you m ean?” “Can you feel som et hing on t he back of your neck?” I felt t he back of m y neck, “Yes, I can feel som e scrat ches.” Craig gave a faint laugh and said, “That is not a scrat ch. I t ’s a barcode.” “A barcode? Barcode for people?” exclaim ed I . “Yes. That surprises you eh?” I kept quiet . Then Craig spoke out , “Can you guess t he year, Ron?” I st ill kept quiet and wait ed wit h anxiet y. “I t is t he year t went y four t went y.”

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Ch a pt e r 4 I looked at Craig openm out hed. My m out h had gone dry. Did I m iss som et hing or had I heard right . I suddenly found m yself at a loss for words. “You m ean t wo four t wo zero?” “Yes. I t ’s kind of hard t o digest . I can underst and. You died in t he year t went y fort y t wo.” “I was dead for four hundred years! ” There was a brief silence as I was lost in m y own t hought s. “Craig, you have t o help m e find m y ident it y.” “I don’t know how I can be of any help. But , looking at your code all I can t ell you is t hat you are a point t hree.” “What does t hat m ean?” “Few people here are called point t hrees. They are supposed t o be special people. I don’t know why you are special. I hope you’ll find it .” “You need t o help m e Craig. What ’s t his place and how can I find m y ident it y?” Craig t ook a deep breat h and t hen ut t ered, “OK. List en carefully.” And so he st art ed. I knew it would t ake som e t im e. I j ust hoped he t ells m e what I want ed t o hear. “This is t he Tim eship building, a giant fort ress wit h neit her windows nor doors. I t 's only point of ent ry, a t et rahedron t hat hides under a subt erranean t unnel, is closely guarded by a sophist icat ed alarm syst em . This building at present has t en t housand hum an beings, each one suspended vert ically in individual capsules, each one cont inuously sprayed wit h nit rogen vapor at a t em perat ure of - 150 degrees Celsius. They have decided t hat one life is not enough and, t herefore, at t he end of t heir own, have had t hem selves frozen.” “So, did I die of a nat ural cause?” “Not necessarily so. This also has frozen people who have died due t o ot her reasons.” “You m ean accident s and m urders?” “Yes. I f you want t o say so.”

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POINT 3 “But how can people who have died be brought t o life? Shouldn’t t hey be preserved when t hey are alive?” “I t 's not necessary. Life does not funct ion like a light swit ch t hat shut s off in an inst ant . Even when t he heart and lungs have st op, when a doct or m akes t he official pronouncem ent of deat h, our cells and organs have not lost all of t heir vit alit y. Ot herwise, how would it be possible t o t ransplant t he heart from som eone killed in an accident int o t he body of anot her. True deat h is when it is no longer possible t o reanim at e. Once t he heart has st opped beat ing, obviously t he dying process accelerat es, as t he organs and t he brain no longer receive oxygen. I f inst ead one react s in t im e, it 's conceivable t hat one could be preserved in nit rogen before t he t issues are irreversibly dead, before m em ories, em ot ions, and t he sense of self is erased in t he brain - all t hat is t he t rue soul of a person.” “So you m ean I can have m y m em ories back?” “Yes, but you need cues t o t rigger t hem . You st ill can rem em ber t he basic fact s of life but t here are som e privat e inform at ion residing in t he lat eral part of your brain. You’ll soon rem em ber all.” “How were t he dead organs repaired? You have pract it ioners for t hat ?” “No, Ron. I t ’s been four hundred years since your deat h and world has changed at a t rem endous pace. Now it ’s t he t im e of nanot echnology.” “Nanot echnology? I t sounds fam iliar.” “Sm all at om sized robot s are inj ect ed int o t he hum an and t hey are m eant for repairing t he dam aged part s. The robot s inside you are at work as we are t alking. Right now, only people like you have t hese.” “What else do you know?” “All t he reanim at ed people are called t he hibernaut s.” “Are you a hibernaut s t oo?” asked I . “No, I am not . Only point ones are em ployed in t his building.” “Point one is supposed t o be t he present generat ion?” “Yes…” There was a m inut e’s silence aft er which Craig cont inued, “The design of t he Tim eship Building, a six- acre st ruct ure t hat is m eant for life ext ension research and for t he cryopreservat ion of DNA, biological t issues, hum an organs and pat ient s, was t he brain- child of an archit ect St ephen Valent ine keeping bot h it s funct ional and it s sym bolic im port ance in m ind. Tim eship is t he Fort Knox of

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POINT 3 biological m at erials. DNA, t issue sam ples and cryopreserved pat ient s, and t heir safet y and securit y against all t hreat s, bot h nat ural and hum an- m ade, have been m aint ained for hundreds of years. Tim eship has been designed t o provide t hat securit y at every level, from defense against t errorist at t ack, t o sea level changes due t o global warm ing, t o int errupt ion of energy supplies due t o any cat ast rophe.” “So you m ean all t he inform at ion about t he hibernaut s are safe and secure and cannot be st olen. Then how am I supposed t o know m y ident it y?” I queried. “I don’t know, Ron. But , t he only inform at ion I can offer is t hat now all t he hibernaut s’ inform at ion is st ored at a cent ral server. I t is a huge server and is called t he prodigy.” “The prodigy…” I gave a t hought ful exclam at ion, “So, t he prodigy is t he answer t o all m y quest ions. Ain’t it ?” “Yes. Ron, you will be let free aft er one week. I know it won’t be easy. You have a new world t o survive. I j ust hope you find your ident it y.” “Thanks Craig. I t ’s been nice m eet ing you.” “Sam e here, Ron. Here’s m y card j ust in case you want t o cont act m e.” He handed over his card t o m e. Then he was gone. I again got lost in m y own t hought s.

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Ch a pt e r 5 A new world wait ed for m e out side. Four hundred years had passed by. I rem em bered what cars were, what birds were like, and I also knew t hat I , who was once called as a hum an will now be referred t o as a hibernaut ; a walking dead. But , I was special and why so was a quest . I t was supper t im e and one of t he bot cam s showed m e t he way t o t he cafet eria. A big block filled wit h hibernaut s. I t all seem ed like an ant hill wit h t he creat ures all gat hered t o st ock food for t he off season. Wit h a plat e in m y hand, I st ood in t he queue. I was asked t o place t he plat e in a count er. As I reached t he collect ion count er, I had a plat e full of food. Everyt hing was aut om at ed inside, right from squirt ing gravy t o placing bread slices. Just I put t he first piece of bread in m y m out h, a voice from behind spoke, “I t seem s like t his is your first day.” “Excuse m e. I didn’t recognize you.” “Do you t hink you can recognize anyone? We are hibernaut s and t his world is absolut ely new t o us. Hi, I am St even. The funny part is t hat I can’t int roduce m yself m ore t han t his. This is all I know about m e.” I sm iled. “Hi, I am Ron. So, are you a point t hree as well?” “No. I am a point four. I don’t know what point t hree is but I am supposed t o be one of t hose elit es who enrolled t o be reincarnat ed.” “OK. What about you? I s t his your first day as well?” “No. I t ’s been six days. Tom orrow I ’ll be going out of here.” “Good for you. I have six m ore days t o go and I want t o get out of here as soon as possible. I t ’s suffocat ing in here.” “Don’t worry. You’ll adj ust in a few days.” There was not hing m ore on t he plat e t o fill m y st om ach wit h. The whole night I conversed wit h St even as if I knew him for years. When I got back t o m y cham ber, I found a couch, a bed and som e clot hing. I t was a t iring day. I dozed off wit hout st raining m yself anym ore. Best t hing about t hat night ’s sleep was t hat t here were no night m ares. One needs t o explore life t o have night m ares. I rony was t hat I didn’t even know what m y life was like. My deep sleep was dist urbed by a loud ring of a bell. I t was m y second day and I m ade m y way t owards St even’s room because he was t he only person I knew aft er Craig. The fact t hat he t oo was a hibernaut m ade m e share m y feelings wit h him .

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POINT 3 His room seem ed t o be locked. He was no where t o be found in t he cafet eria as well. I had m y breakfast and headed for m y room disappoint ed t hat I couldn’t bid St even adieu before he left . Even at lunch I was all alone and t here was no sign of St even any where. Suddenly in t he evening, St even st ood in front of m y cham ber. “Hi Ron, I am sorry. I was so busy t oday. These guys kept m e in a separat e cabin and prepared m e for t he j ourney ahead. I am very excit ed.” “I t hought you had already left . When are you leaving?” “I n a short while. I asked t hem t o m ake m e m eet you.” He t hen picked out a card and handed over t o m e. “They have given m e a cellular and a num ber as well. This card has m y nam e and num ber. I ’ll see you out side.” “See you.” And off he went t o st art his quest for life. Days passed by like years as I anxiously looked forward t o set m y foot int o t he new world unt il one day. I t was m y sixt h day and like any ot her norm al m orning, I headed for t he cafet eria when I heard som ebody shout ing at t he peak of his voice. Som ebody was in pain. I followed t he scream and t o m y horror I found St even. “Leave m e…leave m e…I don’t want t o go back…please….no….” Just t hen som ebody pat t ed m e on m y Back. I t was Craig. “What happened t o him ? Why is he back? Wasn’t he let t o go?” I queried. “This happens som et im es. He m ust have learnt som et hing really horrific about his past life. We have t o live wit h it . What has happened has happened. I t can’t be changed. Make a fut ure out of it .” “I want t o m eet him . Please Craig m ake m e m eet him .” “I don’t t hink t his is t he appropriat e m om ent . You can go t o his cham ber in t he evening.” As t im e t icked by and it was evening, I went t o St even’s room and peeped t hrough t he sm all window provided in t he door. St even raised his head and excit em ent was obvious. He rushed t o open t he door and caut iously pulled m e in aft er seeing t hat nobody else was not icing him . “Ron…” he spoke t rying t o cat ch breat h. “Yes, St even…” I looked int o his eyes. He had a worried look. Som et hing seem ed t o be bot hering him .

18

POINT 3 “I t is a horrible world out t here. The past will never leave you. I t will keep haunt ing you.” “What are you t alking about ?” “I was a m illionaire and I had died a nat ural deat h in t he year t went y t hirt y seven. Four years lat er it was found t hat m y wife had conspired t o kill m e.” “Where did you learn all t his from ?” “Don’t worry Ron. You’ll event ually learn everyt hing about yourself. These inform at ion will com e searching for you. That ’s why I am t elling you t hat your past will never leave you. I t is your past and your present as well.” He went on and t he whole night he narrat ed his st ory. I t surely was dark. All I could do was console him wondering what was in st ore for m e out side. Finally t he day arrived and I was t aken t o a room where already t went y odd hibernaut s had gat hered, all set t o see t he new world. I was assist ed by Craig. A variet y of it em s including a suit were kept in front of m e. Craig handed m e a finger like t hing saying t hat it was a cellular. “I don’t rem em ber m uch, Craig. But , isn’t a cellular supposed t o have a keypad?” Craig laughed his heart out . “You are st ill in your t went y fort ies. Ron, all you need t o do is speak out t he num ber and it will get dialed.” I also got a card for m yself and I asked for a m inut e’s t im e such t hat I could m eet St even once. I m et him and gave him a card and left . I was guided t o anot her cham ber where a sleek car await ed m e. I was given t he inst ruct ions on how t o use it . I sat inside. Not hing was visible t hrough t he windshield. I n a few m inut es, I could feel t he vehicle m ove. I t kept on going for nearly an hour or so and t hen it suddenly st opped. The screen in front of t he windscreen rolled down. A new world unwrapped it self before m e.

19

POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 6 Giant concret e st ruct ures st ood in front of m e. They were of all sizes and shapes. Vehicles vroom ed past m e. The world looked a m uch busier place t han I had im agined. Moon lit t he whole place. St ars t winkled like diam onds. A sm all box opened in front of m e. I t cont ained som e it em s. Suddenly a voice broke out from a vent near t he st eering wheel. “Ron, t his is your guide Marianne. You have cert ain it em s wit h you. I t includes t he keys t o your apart m ent and a sm art card. You need not carry cash in t he beginning. Use t his wherever cash is required.” “OK. I got it . Where do I go now?” “Can you see a sm all screen on your right ?” “Yes…t here is one.” “I t ’s a GPS. I t ’ll guide you t o your dest inat ion. Right now, t he yellow blink is your building and four hundred t wo is your flat num ber. Have a good night sleep. You m ust be t ired.” “I am t ired all right .” I yawned. “I n case you need any help, j ust press t he but t on in front of you which says guide. Bye.” “Bye.” Silence followed. I m eandered t hrough t he roads following t he navigat or’s direct ion unt il I reached a t all building which read Meridian in bold. I parked m y car besides cars t hat were t wice t he size of m ine. I got inside an elevat or, which seem ed like st ruggling t o accom m odat e m ore. I som ehow squeezed in. As it rose from one floor t o anot her, people kept st aring at m e, which kept m e wondering if I had com m it t ed any crim e or else if I resem bled som eone who has. Just as I reached m y apart m ent , I heard som eone rust le, “He is a point t hree. You saw t hat ?” “Yeah. I did.” Anot her voice followed. Trying t o ignore t hem , I reached out for t he keys in m y pocket . I t was a big room accom panied by a kit chen and a bat h. I t ook a m uch- needed rest . As I j um ped int o t he bed, t he quilt ricochet ed. Wit h m y head sopped int o t he soft pillow, I dozed off.

20

POINT 3 Wit h t he sound of a bell ring, m y sound sleep was broken. A m an dressed in a t uxedo st ood at t he door wit h som e clot hes in his hand. “Sir, here are som e clot hes for you.” He handed over t he clot hes t o m e. “Sir, in case you want t o give your clot hes for laundry, you m ay put t hem in t his box placed out side your room .” I didn’t respond m uch except for nodding m y head. I sat down on t he couch t hinking deeply about m y docket . Wit h a pencil and paper, I st art ed j ot t ing down point s. First on m y list was finding m y ident it y.

21

POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 7 As I walked out of m y apart m ent , an old wom an st ood st aring at m e and she m ade her way t o t he elevat or wit h m e. Get t ing inside t he elevat or, she spoke, “Son, I haven’t seen you here before. Are you a new t enant ?” She had t hat welcom ing sm ile. “Yes, m a’am . I st ay in four hundred t wo.” “When did you m ove in?” “Just yest erday.” “Didn’t even hear you m oving in. I st ay at four hundred five. I am Mart ha. What ’s your nam e, son?” “I am Ron, m a’am . Glad t o m eet you.” I said, hoping t hat it will be t he end of t he discussion. “What do you do, Mr. Ron?” she queried. Unable t o find an answer, I looked here and t here ignoring t he lady. The I ut t ered, “I …I am a hibernaut .” I nst ant ly t he old lady m oved back and I could see her querying eyes. “I do not know who I am . I have been released from t he Tim eship building yest erday. Could you please help m e?” She st ood st ill and walked out of t he elevat or wit hout even a whisper. She was all whit e as if she had seen a ghoul. I couldn’t underst and what m iffed her. She was fine unt il I m ent ioned about m e being a hibernaut . I gnoring t he incident , I set out t o find m y ident it y. I j ust hoped som eone could help m e in t hat regard. Get t ing inside t he car, I t yped in Prodigy in t he navigat or. “I nvalid input ,” was t he answer. But , I was t old Prodigy is t he cent ral st orage of inform at ion of all hibernaut s. I went in search for a super- m art cause I had t o purchase som e food for m yself. Down t he st reet , I found a big super- m art which said, “You nam e it , we have it ”. I walked in wit h a cart and filled it wit h alm ost anyt hing I could get m y hands on t o. A cup of coffee, t wo sandwiches, t wo hot dogs wit h sausage and a donut finished m y appet it e. I drove back t o m y apart m ent . As I reached t o unlock t he door, I found it open and t here was no noise t o be heard from inside. I was caut ious as I headed inside. The drawing room was a t ot al chaos. Som ebody had desperat ely searched for som et hing im port ant . “But , what could he want from m e?” I queried m yself.

22

POINT 3 I searched m y apart m ent expect ing a perpet rat or st ill t o be inside. As I peeped inside t he bat hroom , I saw in t he m irror, a wom an hiding behind t he wall carrying a gun. Pret ending t o not having seen her, I walked t owards t he wall. Wit h a quick lunge, I got hold of her hand by her wrist as she went for t he t rigger. Two shot s followed holing t he ceiling. Aft er a sm all st ruggle, she let go of her gun. Picking up t he pist ol, I point ed at her, “What are you doing inside m y house?” She kept sm iling, adam ant not t o speak a word. “Who sent you?” I cont inued firing quest ions. She st ill st ood silent . Firing a shot at her leg t o ensure t hat she won’t m ove, I st art ed calling t he police. Just as I connect ed t o t he ot her end, t he lady ran t owards t he window and m ade a leap crashing t he window. I n a m om ent , I couldn’t believe what had happened. I t all happened so quickly for m e t o react . There she lay on t he ground wit hout m oving a lim b and blood sm eared all over. I knew cops would so easily get on t o m e. So I had t o react quickly. I quickly gat hered all m y belongings and rushed for m y car. Crowd had gat hered at t he sit e. I t becam e all t he m ore im port ant t o know who I was. I called up t he Tim eship and inform ed t hem about t he incident . Expect ing lit t le support from t heir side, I decided t o drive as far as possible. A sm all phone boot h j uxt aposed a gas st at ion. As I parked t he car t o get it s t ank filled, I called up St even from t he phone boot h t im id t o call from m y personal cell. “Hi Ron.” was t he answer from t he ot her side. “Hi. I s it St even?” “Yes. Who else do you t hink would know you?” “But …but …how do you know it was m e?” silence followed. “St upid, I got it from t he Tim eship building.” “O.K. So, it m eans you have again been let free from t he Tim eship. List en St even, I have got m yself in a bit of t rouble. I need help.” “Oh god. What is it ? I hope it is not serious.” He rem arked. “Let ’s m eet som ewhere. I ’ll explain you everyt hing.” We decided on a place t o m eet and in t wo hours t im e we were at an eat ing j oint t hat had only a few occupant s.

23

POINT 3 St even hugged m e and asked m e t o t ake a chair. His brows converged wit h concern. As I narrat ed t he incident , he list ened quiet ly and t he air around our cup of coffee condensed. I n t he end, he rem ained dum bst ruck. Som et hing t old us t hat it all had t o do wit h m y past life, as m y life at present hadn’t even m oved a m et er. “St even, I want you t o help m e find m y ident it y.” St even nodded. “You know t he way t o get t o t he Prodigy? I t is not even m ent ioned in t he navigat or,” I cont inued. “Well, I don’t know how t o get t o t he Prodigy. But , I do know a m an who’ll get you t o t he Prodigy wit hout going t here.” “What do you m ean?” “His nam e is Hari. I m et him t he first t im e I left t he Tim eship. He is a com put er m aven. He can help you get int o t he server and you get t o know your past .” “Where can we m eet t his guy?” “He has asked m e not t o m eet him at his residence. I nst ead, we’ll cat ch him at his office. I t ’s lat e now. We’ll have t o wait t ill t om orrow.” There was a sudden droop in m y shoulders as if I had run out of bat t eries. “You m ay com e t o m y place and rest . We’ll st art off from here t om orrow.” I greet ed t he next day wit h eager because I was going t o get m y ident it y back. But , I was in a dilem m a about whet her I should be gleeful or worried, as I didn’t know what m y past would bring. Wit h a nervous sm ile, I set out wit h St even t o m eet Hari. We had our breakfast , got t he t ank filled and set t he navigat or dest inat ion t o Sant a Clara. A couple of hour’s drive t ook us t o Sant a Clara. People swarm ed wit h t heir leat her bags busy wit h t heir work. Tall st ruct ures eclipsed t he sun and reflect ed each ot her in t heir t int ed glass. I t was as if we were cruising t hrough a cryst al m aze but wit h reward at t he end. My ident it y was t he reward. “I know Ron. Even I had but t erflies t he first t im e I cam e t o m eet Hari. But believe m e, all m y excit em ent went in vain when I learnt t he t rut h. Knowing t he past m ost oft en com es wit h a price.” I was so deeply involved in m y t hought s t hat I didn’t even hear what St even ut t ered. I hoped I had a sim ple past wit h no t ides or cyclones. But one t hing t hat kept hovering over m y head, what m ade m e special and whet her m y past had som et hing t o do wit h t he incident .

24

POINT 3 I was m inut es away from t he answer. Hexaware said t he building; we parked our car in front of. At recept ion we called for Hari and St even handed over his card t o t he recept ionist . We sat on t he couch and m ade ourselves com fort able. Out cam e a m an who would have been in his early t hirt ies. Chisel faced, wearing a pair of glasses and dressed in whit e shirt and form al t rouser. “Hello, Hari. Meet m y friend Ron.” St even int roduced m e t o Hari. “Hi, Ron.” He spoke wit h an I ndian accent . “I need t o t alk t o you, St even,” he cont inued and t ook St even out side let t ing m e sit inside. From Hari’s gest ures, it seem ed he was unhappy wit h som et hing. Aft er a couple of m inut es, t hey walked in. “I ’ll j oin you in an hour. Meanwhile you can eit her wait for m e in t he lounge or you have a bon appét it in our food court .” Hari rem arked. On asking St even why Hari seem ed so unhappy, he j ust nodded wit hout saying a word.

25

POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 8 An hour lat er, Hari j oined us at t he food court . We left for a place t hat wasn’t revealed t o m e. As we sat inside Hari’s car, Hari spoke, “Ron, init ially I wasn’t going t o help you. Just because I helped St even doesn’t m ean I ’ll help whom soever he brings.” I list ened silent ly. “I wouldn’t have if St even hadn’t t old m e what happened t o you t wo days back.” “Thank you Hari.” I spoke. “Don’t t hank m e. Thank St even. I am doing it for him . He saved m y life once and t his is one way I can repay him .” While we were in t he car, Hari narrat ed how St even saved his life t wo weeks back from a speeding wagon. A few m inut es drive brought us t o a sm all building. “Where are we?” asked I . “This is a cyber café. I am t aking precaut ions j ust in case we are t racked,” said Hari. We walked in and Hari becam e “www.prodigy.com / t im eship” Hari logged in.

busy

wit h

t he

browser.

Hari opened his briefcase and picked out a disk and a st range looking sm all device. He insert ed t he disk and kept playing wit h it for a few m inut es. God knew what he was doing. “Turn around”. “Why? Am I not supposed t o wat ch?” “I want t o scan your barcode. Do it quick.” I t urned around and he did his scanning. I t t ook a few seconds for t he sit e t o display m y det ails. As soon as m y det ails were flashed on t he screen, Hari insert ed a sm all device which he called as a flash drive and saved all because he didn’t want t o spend m ore t im e logged inside t he sit e as it was illegit im at e. We left t he place. Sit t ing inside t he car, Hari opened his lapt op t o display t he cont ent saved. First page had m y phot ograph. “You haven’t changed a bit in t hese four hundred years,” j est ed St even. “The only t hing I m iss is m y hair. I looked bet t er wit h hair,” I rem arked. I could hear m y heart pounding as Hari m oved on t o t he next page.

26

POINT 3 What flashed before m e left m e dum bst ruck. Nam e: Ron Belgrad. I D: 21320.3. St at us: Hibernaut . Released. Dat e: 23 rd Sept em ber 2420. Crit eria: Special. Profile: CI A agent . Hist ory: A nat ive of Serbia but a cit izen of Am erica since birt h. Bachelor in science from St anford Universit y. Joined CI A in t he year 2035. Won accolades for m any of t he invest igat ive proj ect s. He was part of t he t eam Falcon which was responsible for successfully resolving t he assassinat ion of President St reak case. He died on 23 rd Sept em ber 2042. He was found m urdered at a girl’s house who was supposedly his girlfriend. Her nam e was Linda and even she was found dead on t he very sam e day. I t was believed t hat he was working on a case relat ed t o a cont roversy involving t he Russians. Two m ont hs lat er t hree Russians were arrest ed in connect ion wit h t heir m urder. No furt her det ails on t he case was st ored. He was signed in for cryopreservat ion as he was considered in t he special cat egory of Am erican cit izens. NOTE: Archives available in t he dat abase of t he CI A. As t he docum ent s of t he special agent s were considered im port ant , t heir archives were kept int act . Click on t he following link t o be direct ed t o t he archives page: www.cia.gov End of docum ent . Not a lim b m oved. St even and Hari found it hard t o even ut t er a word. They kept looking at each ot her. “Ron, I know what you are going t hrough. I am sorry for what happened t o you,” said St even. “I want t o know what happened on 23 rd Sept em ber. Can you guys help m e?” “Of course. The Am erican daily The Sun has all t hese inform at ion st ored. You m ay j ust get t he news of t went y fort y t wo as well.” “Where can I get it ?”

27

POINT 3 “Eit her over int ernet or else you need t o go t o t he library. Library will be a safer opt ion right now.” “Take m e.” “Ron, don’t m ind. I have t o get t o m y office now. But , I assure you t hat I ’ll help you aft er I am t hrough wit h m y work.” “Thanks Hari.” At seven in t he evening, we were all set t o go. Hari drove us t o a nearby library and we go t o t he sit e of The Sun and t he archives, we searched for t he year 2042. I t was st ill t here. We navigat ed t o t he issue of 24 t h Sept em ber. “CI A Agent and his girlfriend found m urdered,” Read t he headline. “CI A agent Ron, popularly known for cracking t he case of President St eak’s assassinat ion, was found dead in his girlfriend’s house. His girlfriend ident ified as Linda, an em ployee of Oracle, was also found hung from t he roof. Bureau suspect s t he involvem ent of som e Russians in t he case. Sam e day, Valdam ov, a Russian agent and a close associat e of Ron, was also found dead near a coffee house in Copernicus square, Bayport …” Flabbergast ed, I walked away and sat on a couch and closed m y eyes t hinking deep. I was t rying t o open t he gat es t o m y brain in an at t em pt t o recall t he incident . Suddenly, scenes flashed before m e. Myst ery st art ed t o unravel. I t was as if I was t raveling in a t im e m achine. I could recall all.

I was a CI A agent and working on a proj ect t o unknot a conspiracy. There was a cold war bet ween t he U.S and t he Russians. Som ebody was leaking inform at ion about t he Tim eship building proj ect which was underway at t hat t im e and t his proj ect was supposed t o show t he t echnological suprem acy of U.S t o t he world. A Russian sleut h, Valdam ov had offered m e help. I was close t o solving it . Valdam ov had called m e t o t he coffee shop for he had som e very im port ant inform at ion t hat could bring a t wist t o t he t ale. I wait ed and wait ed unt il a bag wit h Valdam ov’s body was dropped out side t he café. I called m y dearest friend, Tim who was involved in t he case as well. We decided t o leave t he place and go underground for a few days. But , even he was killed. I rushed t o Linda’s hom e where t here was t ot al chaos. Few m en st ood wait ing for m e and Linda was st anding at t he edge of t he t errace wit h a rope t ied around her neck. A Russian m an, Evan Gorbonovic kept asking, “ OK. Ron, t ell m e who else has t he inform at ion” .

28

POINT 3

“ I t hink you m ust be having t he knowledge. Don’t you? Tim , Valdam ov and now who else do you want t o kill?” scream ed I . “ You…” cam e a sound from behind. Out cam e a figure from t he shadows. As he walked out of t he shadows, I saw a figure t hat seem ed quit e fam iliar t o m e. I st ood spellbound as his face was lit up by t he bright sun. I t was Tim ! ! ! I saw Linda being hanged t o deat h and I st ill sensed t he hole in m y heart .

29

POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 9 “I t was Tim ,” shout ed I wit hout not icing I was in a library. Hari and St even com fort ed m e. I explained t hem everyt hing. “Hari, find out in ot her issues if Tim was held responsible for t his m urder.” Hari went t hrough issues t hat were dat ed t wo m ont hs furt her down. 28 t h Novem ber issue carried t he det ails of t he case having been solved. A few Russians, which also included Evan, were held responsible but never was t here any m ent ion about Tim . “That bast ard,” I cried out . St even t ook m e back t o his hom e. At hom e, St even swit ched on t he t elevision. “…t oday a wom an nam ed Rachael was found dead at t he Meridian in Bayport . According t o t he police officials, she was t hrown from room num ber four hundred t wo which apparent ly belonged t o Mr. Ron Belgrad who is a hibernaut and was released only a week back. Cops are st ill t o find t he whereabout s of Mr. Ron. People are request ed t o inform t he cops in case t hey com e across Mr. Ron. Kindly cont act t he following num ber…” news channels flashed m y phot ograph. “As if I wasn’t in t rouble already.” “Ron, we have t o be careful now. You go and have a nap,” said St even. As I slept , again scenes from m y past flashed before m e. Sweat t rickled down m y forehead. I was having night m ares and unable t o sleep, I st art ed walking in t he drawing room . I saw St even heavily drunk sit t ing in t he couch. “St even, I t hink you should go t o sleep now.” “Hey, Ron…” exclaim ed St even, “Do you know what m y past was?” “Yeah, you t old m e. You were a m illionaire and your wife deceived you.” “No, Ron. I lied t o you. Only part of it is t rue.” “What do you m ean?” “I was a m illionaire. I had an ext ram arit al affaire. I plot t ed t o kill m y wife. I did kill and she begged for her life. I was so very rut hless. I got m arried again. Two years lat er m y wife’s body was found buried in t he back yard. My second wife had let t he inform at ion out because she believed I was having anot her ext ram arit al am our.” I list ened quiet ly.

30

POINT 3 “I wish I had never enrolled for being reborn. I t hink God want ed m e t o live again wit h t his t errible night m are,” He sobbed, “Am I t hat bad, Ron? Am I t hat bad?” “No…forget t he past . You are different now, St even.” I gent ly rubbed m y palm over his back t rying t o console him . He kept weeping and he dozed off as he lay on m y lap. “I am not t he only one t o live wit h a horrific past ,” I pondered. I n t he m orning, I st ill found St even lay in t he couch and snoring. Wit hout dist urbing him , I m ade m y way out t o t he phone boot h. I called Hari. “Hello…” said Hari in a hoarse voice. “This is Ron here, Hari. I want a favor from you.” “Yes. Go on.” “All CI A agent s were put under special cat egory and were aut om at ically enrolled for t he Tim eship proj ect .” “OK. So, what is wit h it ?” “Tim …Tim was also a CI A agent . So, he m ust also be a hibernaut rat her a point t hree. I want you t o find out his st at us, Hari.” “Hm m …I t hink you are right . I t ’ll t ake som e t im e as I don’t have his code t o scan.” “Take your t im e, Hari. His full nam e is Tim Woodbridge.” “I ’ll get back t o you in t he evening, Ron.” I n t he evening, Hari called m e t here was good news. “Tim is st ill reviving in t he Tim eship. He died of a heart at t ack back t hen.” “That bast ard deserves m ore. What is his code?” “Two one six five zero point t hree.” “Thanks Hari.” St even was happy t o hear t hat Tim was st ill at t he Tim eship. “How did you m anage t o get back t o t he Tim eship aft er you were released?” asked I . “What ’s in your m ind, Ron?” quest ioned St even wit h curiosit y.

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POINT 3 “I want t o go back t o t he Tim eship and kill t hat pig before he even grunt s.” I said wit h furor. “No, Ron. I t is not easy t o get t o t hose cabins even if you get t o t he Tim eship. I t is t oo risky for you t o go t here.” “I t doesn’t m at t er. I can risk m y life t o kill him .” “Don’t be foolish, Ron. I have sources inside t he Tim eship. I can get t o t hat cham ber easily.” “No St even.” “List en, Ron, let m e do som et hing good in t his life t o rub t he black m ark off m y past . God has given m e a chance. I can do t his. You have t o believe m e. Please believe m e.” St even pleaded. I held St even’s hand. “I do believe you. I hope t o see you again.” We hugged each ot her.

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Ch a pt e r 1 0 “Be careful,” I wished St even as he left for t he Tim eship. Hours passed and t here was no news from St even. Just as I t hought of calling him , m y phone rang. I was happy t o hear St even’s voice at t he ot her end. “I j ust reached t he Tim eship. Don’t worry. Your work will be done. What ’s t he code?” “I t is t wo one six five zero point t hree. His nam e is Tim Woodbridge.” “Consider it done.” I wait ed anxiously t o hear from St even. I knew t hat it would t ake t im e. I decided t o go out t o keep m yself involved. I headed for t he super m art . I bought a few fruit s and som e coke t o quench m y dry t hroat . I t had gone all dry due t o anxiet y. As I went t o t he count er t o m ake t he paym ent , t he at t endant st ared at m e as if she had seen a ghost . “Hello sir, m ay I know your nam e please.” “What do you need m y nam e for?” I was curious. “Uhh…” she couldn’t find words t o speak. I im m ediat ely knew she was up t o som et hing. I kept som e m oney on t he desk and fled. The at t endant shout ed at t he t op of her voice, “I t is t hat m an in t he news…” As people t urned around t o have a look at m e, I fled from t he scene in m y car. So, I was in m ore t rouble now. The news was soon spreading am ongst people and I was now linked wit h t he deat h of a girl found out side m y apart m ent . I quickly got t o St even’s hom e and swit ched on t he t elevision expect ing t he worst . But , what I heard left m e dum b st ricken. Wit hout a blink, I wat ched t he news. “…Mr. St even, a hibernaut , was shot t o deat h. At noon, t he horrible incident t ook place in t he t im eship building. The t im eship m em bers say t hat t his was t he second t im e St even had com e t o t he Tim eship aft er being reincarnat ed. Sources say t hat he was disheveled when he learnt his past . Back t o t he desk. This is Robert report ing from t he Tim eship building. Thankyou Robert . Those who have j ust j oined us, a t ragic incident happened in t he Tim eship building am idst very high securit y, which t he t im eship boast s of. St even, a hibernaut breached past t he securit y and got int o t he cham ber for point t hrees. He m anaged t o break t he cham ber of a hibernaut nam ed Mr. Tim Woodbridge leading t o his deat h inst ant ly.

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POINT 3 St even was shot dead by t he securit y personnel. Mr. St even was a m illionaire and Mr. Woodbridge, a CI A agent in t he past life. I nvest igat ion is going on t o find out whet her t here was any m ot ive behind Mr. St even’s act ion. Till now it is being st at ed as Mr. St even’s m ent al illness sparked t he errant behavior…” Tears rolled down m y chin. Poor St even had lost his life for m e. Tim was also gone. I had avenged Linda’s deat h. But , at t he cost of St even. I hadn’t even recovered from one sad news and t he channel flashed anot her, “…t oday Ron Belgrad, a hibernaut linked t o t he deat h of a girl nam ed Rachael in t he Meridian, was spot t ed by a Tesco super m art em ployee. According t o her, he seem ed t o be dist urbed when she recognized him . Cops are in t he lookout for Mr. Belgrad around t he superm art . Cops hope t o get inform at ion regarding all t hese coincident al incident s involving t hree hibernaut s which includes t wo point t hrees…” I had t o act fast . I gat hered all m y necessit ies and rode off in m y car. I drove about fift y m iles t owards t he nort h and screeched beneat h a flyover. Wit h m y head rest ed on t he st eering wheel, I cogit at ed. I st art ed t o find answers for all m y quest ions hovering over m y head. Explain everyt hing t o t he cops and I hoped m y docum ent s were st ill present in t he archives of t he CI A. That was t he only proof I had, t o prove m y innocence.

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Ch a pt e r 1 1 I t ook out a j acket wit h a hood recognizing m e in t he very first were I was ident ified. But , st ill I running out of gas. I got m y t ank

and goggles t o avoid anyone from not icing and inst ance. I was fift y m iles away from t he spot didn’t want t o t ake any chances. I was quickly filled and decided t o call up Hari.

“Hello…” “Hari…” “Ron…I s t hat you, Ron?” “Yes…yes…” “Did you here what happened t o St even? Why t he hell did he go t o t he t im eship? And t hose m edia people are saying he was not in his m ind…” “Hari. Slow down. St even went t o t he t im eship for m e. I t was m y m ist ake. He want ed t o help m e out .” “What are you t alking about ?” “He killed Tim Woodbridge for m e.” Silence followed. “Poor St even. He was a good m an. May he rest in peace. But , Ron cops are on t he lookout for you. You have t o act quick.” “I know. I have called for t he very sam e purpose. You have t o do m e a favor.” “Yes. Go on, Ron.” “Get t o t he sit e of t he CI A. Use m y login nam e as Ron Belgrad wit hout any space. Type in t went y t hree Linda as t he password and j ust let m e know when you get int o m y archive.” “Cont act m e aft er half an hour sharp. By t he way, where are you?” “I don’t know. I fled from St even’s place as soon as I heard t he news. I will call you in anot her half an hour’s t im e.” I kept t he receiver down. I j ust hoped all t he docum ent s were int act . Seconds seem ed like hours for m e. I halt ed m y car near anot her t elephone boot h and I walked out t o call once again. Hari picked up t he phone, “Yes, Ron. I t seem s your docum ent s are st ill t here.”

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POINT 3 “Just read out t he docum ent s in t he archive and do not speak out loud.” “Here are som e folders. I ’ll j ust read out t he nam es. Report 21 on t he MI 6 event …Not ice from t he HQ…I m p Valdam ov I nfo…Report 16 reopened…” “St op. Just open up I m p Valdam ov folder. What is t here in it ?” “Som e phot ographs which seem t o be t aken t hrough a spy cam .” “I f you can see t he t hum bnails, open t he snaps for m e.” “Yes…opened. So, what is t here in it ? Who are t hey?” queried Hari wit h anxiet y. “I assum e t here would be Tim in at least one of t hose snaps. These were t he snaps Valdam ov sent m e before he died. He said he had m ade a st unning discovery.” “But , Ron. I am sorry t o int errupt you. I fail t o underst and how t his will help you cause I cannot find Tim in any of t he snaps.” My ears st ood st raight as I heard Hari say t hat . I held t he receiver in disbelief. “What do you m ean? I sn’t t here anyone in t he snap whom you recognize?” “No Ron. There are m any m en in t hese snaps wit h one m an com m on t o m any of t hem . He has t his blonde hair and is wearing a spect acle.” “That is Tim ! ” exclaim ed I . “No. This isn’t t he person I saw in t he prodigy dat abase.” “I t cannot be,” I shout ed as t he by passers t urned around. “Ron, I t hink t here is som e m isunderst anding.” “Hari, save all t he docum ent s in t hat folder.” “I ’ll do so. I also have Tim ’s dat a saved in m y flash drive.” “Good. Let s m eet som ewhere.” “Where are you right now?” “I do not know, Hari. I can…” I paused for a second looking for a landm ark out side t he boot h, “I can see a t all t ower saying I nt ot o in red.” “Ask som e passer by.” I put t he call on hold and asked a pedest rian. “Hari, t his is Cheyenne.”

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“Got it . Be t here near t he I nt ot o building. I t ’ll t ake m e t wo hours t o reach. See you.” Aft er about t hree hours, Hari’s car screeched out side t he I nt ot o building. I flashed m y car’s headlight s t o indicat e Hari where I was. He silent ly got int o t he rear seat . “Sorry for t he delay. I was st uck in t he t raffic.” “I t s all right . Have you got t he dat a?” “Yes..” he opened up his lapt op and plugged in his flash drive, “here are your docum ent s from t he archive and t his is t he snap you were t alking about .” Hari opened one of t he phot ographs. “Yes, in t his snap t his m an st anding on t he left is Tim . The wom an and t he ot her guy you see here are Russians.” I had a look at t he ot her docum ent s Hari found in t he sam e folder. I t had all t he proof t o connect Tim wit h t he conspiracy. “This is t he dat a I got from t he prodigy. Here is what I was t alking about .” What Hari showed m e got m y heart pounding. I was in a m uch bigger m uddle t han I t hought I was in. I found it hard t o speak, “…t his…t his is Paul Allen’s phot ograph in t he dat abase. He has been regist ered as Tim Woodbridge in t he prodigy. Two one six five zero point t hree is Paul’s code and not Tim ’s…” “So, you m ean St even killed Paul?” I kept silent . “Then, where is Tim ?” Hari cont inued. “I …I don’t know. Tim , t hat bast ard is st ill alive. He is st ill playing his dirt y gam es again. Now he has killed m e, Linda, Paul and St even.” “Now what ?” “He knew I was going t o get t o him . Now I can very well connect t he dot s. Rachael was sent t o kill m e. Tim is alive.” “What ? Who is Tim t hen, I f Paul is Tim ?” asked Hari. I spoke aft er a brief silence, “Paul Allen.”

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Ch a pt e r 1 2 “Hari, I want you t o do m e one last favor and t hen you m ay go. I don’t want ot hers t o be killed because of m e. I have already lost t wo precious m em bers of m y life.” “I ’ll be wit h you t ill t he end, Ron. Anyt hing for you and St even. I have t o repay St even. Just t ell m e how I can help you.” “You have t o get m e t he inform at ion and whereabout s of Paul Allen from t he prodigy.” “I ’ll m eet you at t he sam e place t om orrow at seven in t he evening wit h all t he dat a.” I n a few m inut es, Hari was lost in t he darkness of t he st reet s. Now I had only one person I could t rust . I had t o act quickly for t here were very few cards in m y hands and it was m y chance now t o give an ace for an ace. I knew I could not hand m yself over t o t he cops now as Tim is already dead for t hem . My search for Paul Allen had begun. I had nowhere t o go and st aying inside t he car would draw t he cops. I decided t o get a room in a m ot el expect ing nobody t o recognize m e. The recept ionist expressed not a pinch of doubt . He gave m e t he keys wit hout any hesit at ion. He did not act in any way t hat could arouse suspicion in m y m ind. I could hardly doze off. Scenes of Linda and St even kept flashing which kept m e awake all t hrough night . Suddenly, I heard som e noises out side. As I leaned against t he railing t o have a look, I saw a couple of police cars parked out side and cops m aking t heir way inside t he m ot el wit h t heir guns. Wit hout wast ing a second I gat hered m y bag of belongings and looked out side t he window t o find an escape rout e. A couple of leaps got m e ont o t he ground. I assum ed t hat by now t he cops would have learnt t hat St even’s car was wit h m e. I spent t he rest of m y night under a bridge and near t he garbage, sharing t he roof wit h a few beggars. World hadn’t changed m uch. Rich becam e richer at t he expense of t he penury. I t was an irony, but t he surrounding gave m e a sense of securit y. No one could find m e here and nobody would even know who I was. I saw t he sun rise right from t he first rays t hat lit up t he sky. I j ust hoped it would bring m e a new life; a t hird life. I st art ed wondering why people require a second life if living once is t his horrific. I am sure t he m ast erm ind behind t he t im eship would have opt ed out of t he reincarnat ion. I called up Hari and t old him what happened last night and t hat I wont be able t o m ake it near t he spot where we m et t he previous day. He agreed t o pick m e up in t he evening.

38

POINT 3 I t was seven in t he evening and I was wit h Hari in his car. He seem ed t o be carrying a worried look on his face. Eyes wide open, wrinkles on his forehead and t ot ally lost in his t hought s. Not a single word did he ut t er unt il we reached his house. I assum ed he was afraid of what would happen t o us. “Hari, what ’s t he m at t er?” asked I . “Uhh…hm m …I have got Paul’s dat a,” said Hari as sweat rolled down his forehead. “That ’s good. So what ’s t he news?” “You were right . Tim is Paul now. He was also a CI A agent but he was released alm ost a year back and is now a m illionaire if not a billionaire.” “OK” I rem arked, “I see.” “Ron, we will never be able t o get t o him . Never,” Hari cont inued, “and he will t ry his best t o get rid of us.” “He rem em bers everyt hing and he knows about every st ep I t ake. He knew when I was released from t he t im eship and he t ried t o kill m e at m y apart m ent . He also knew, I would event ually recall m y past and t ry t o kill him or prove him guilt y of leaking secret inform at ion. So, he swapped his ident it y wit h Paul’s and poor Paul had t o pay t he price.” “So, you m ean he knows about m e as well?” Hari sounded nervous. “I am sorry, Hari. I have no clue. But , I guess not because Tim won’t wast e t im e in get t ing rid of you if he had known. I t hink you have helped m e enough and should live your life now.” “I am worried and afraid all right . But , I want t o help you at least for St even’s sake.” “Thank you Hari. But , I wont force you t o do so. I t is your wish. I don’t want t o pull you int o t his.” “I t is OK. I am sorry if I dem ot ivat ed you. Com e on, let ’s get int o t he house or else we’ll t rem ble t o deat h. I t s quit e cold out side.” I had a sigh of relief knowing t here is som eone by m y side whom I could t rust . I knew, wit h t im e he would grow st ronger. I t was t went y- four and we were about t o get int o t he bed. Just t hen t he doorbell rang. As I got up t o receive at t he door, Hari spoke out , “This is unusual. Who could be t here at m idnight ?”

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POINT 3 This single rem ark m ade m y hair st and st raight . I peeped t hrough t he peephole and I could see t wo guys st anding out side desperat e t o get in. Suspect ing t he worst , I headed t o Hari’s bedroom . “Who is it ?” shout ed Hari looking at m y dist urbed look. Hearing t he voices from inside, t he guys broke in. I signaled Hari t o hush. I got hold of a golf club. As one of t hose guys looked in, I gave a blow on his wrist t o loosen his grip on t he gun. Wit h a swing t o his head, t he guy fell on t he floor. He couldn’t even m ove a lim b. Blood oozed from his t em ple, as he lay dead. I looked up and t here was t his second guy st aring at m e st icking his gun t o m y forehead and t hen followed a gunshot . Next t hing I knew was t he second guy lying against t he wall wit h a hole in his chest . Hari st ood behind m e wit h his hands t rem bling as sm oke cam e off t he gun in his hand.

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POINT 3

Ch a pt e r 1 3 Eyes and m out h wide open, Hari found it hard t o even im agine t hat he had killed som ebody. Wit hout wast ing m ore t im e, I grabbed Hari by his hand and pulled him wit h m e. As we headed out side Hari’s apart m ent , neighbours were wat ching anxiously for t hey had heard t he gunshot . I knew t his would put us in m ore t rouble. We drove off from t he apart m ent and we had nowhere t o go. Hari was involved in deep t hought s. “I t ’s OK,” I consoled him . “We are being followed,” said Hari. “What ?” “Don’t look back.” Warned Hari and I didn’t . I swiveled t he rear view m irror and I saw a black car wit h t wo m en. They would t urn wherever we would. Slowly our suspicion t urned int o t rut h. As we accelerat ed, t he car was t rying t o cat ch us and soon it becam e a cat and m ouse chase. “Hurry, hurry,” cried Hari as I m eandered t hrough t he st reet s. Heading t owards t he highway was m y biggest m ist ake. Seeing t hat t here wasn’t anyone t o not ice t he pursuit in t he highway, one of t he guys following us pulled out a gun and aim ed at us but in vain. A speeding t ruck cam e in bet ween and we som ehow m anaged t o lose sight of t hem . We t ook a diversion t o avoid being sight ed again. We halt ed t he car inside a paddy field nearby t o st ret ch our back and rest . I t was a t iring day all right . As we pushed t he car seat s backwards, Hari spoke out , “Ron, is it t hem ?” I had a look behind and saw a black car speeding t owards us. “Not again,” I st epped on t he gas. We raced t hrough t he field. “Hari, your gun…” Hari st ared at m e, “shoot .” Hari poked his head t hrough t he sunroof and shot t wice. He burst t heir t yre and finally we lost t hem off our t ail. “Nice shot ,” I rem arked. “What ? I was aim ing for his head.” We broke int o laught er. “How t he hell did t hey know we were in bet ween t hat field?” I queried. “They are t racing us. Did you m ake any calls from your cellphone?” “Nope. I don’t have m y cellphone now.” “Then we have t o leave t his car.”

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POINT 3 “What ? Why do we have t o leave t he car? I t doesn’t m ake any sense.” “Technology Ron. Technology…now it is also possible t o t race cars. Every vehicle has got a chip beneat h t he chassis. The t racking facilit at es t he police t o t race in cert ain cases where t here is a requirem ent of t hat sort .” “But , why would t he police t rack your car? How would t hey know you are wit h m e?” “Ron, it is not t he police. I t is Tim . He has m oney and power. He could do anyt hing t o get rid of you and he knows t hat I am also involved. He t ried t o kill us in m y apart m ent and now t his car chase. I t is Tim , Ron.” “That bloody rascal,” I squalled. “Now let us t hink of a place t o leave t his car and t he way t o get back t o t he cit y.” We left t he car in an isolat ed place and t ook a hit ch t o t he cit y. I t was eleven in t he evening when we reached t he cit y. We decided t o get a m ot el room . Just t o be caut ious, I m ade Hari get t he keys such t hat nobody not ices m e. We had a snoring night , as we were exhaust ed t o t he lim it . Nine in t he m orning and Hari found m e sit t ing upright and engrossed in deep t hought s. “What 's t he m at t er, Ron?” yawned Hari. “We have t o put an end t o t his. How long are we going t o run? There isn’t any place t o hide. Tim will event ually find us.” Hari kept nodding and I cont inued, “He has done what ever he want ed t o. Now it is our t urn.” “And what are you going t o do?” “Give him a t ast e of his own m edicine. He is playing a dirt y and deceit ful gam e. So be it .” I shed t ears. He killed all m y near and dear ones. Tim has t o pay and he shall. I had t o m ake a foolproof plan t hat even t he best of t he best cannot crack. “Hari, does t he dat a you collect ed from t he prodigy about Paul Allen have any m ent ion about his current place of residence?” “No, sorry. These are privacy issues and hence, you can’t get it anywhere unless you are personally t old. We don’t know where he is and neit her do we know how he looks like now. He is hiding in his den and we don’t even know where t he den is.” Hari grinned. “I f t he lion won’t com e out by him self, we will drag him out .”

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“And how are you going t o do t hat ?” “I won’t Hari…I won’t . People will. I have a plan.” “I am dying t o hear t hat .” “OK. One by one. First of all, get t ing t he lion out of t he den. I s t here any way we can send a m essage t o t he t im eship wit hout physically going t here?” “Yes. We have t hese special boot hs for t hat purpose or we also have phones in t he cars of hibernaut s, which direct ly connect us t o t he t im eship. Anot her opt ion could be a m ail over t he int ernet .” “A call will serve t he purpose. Tim is Paul now, right . Get t o t he nearest boot h from where you could call t he t im eship and t ell t hem t hat t he m illionaire Paul Allen, who is a hibernaut , is dead. This will generat e a ripple t hroughout t he t im eship as hibernaut s have been in news off lat e and t hey’ll see a link in t his. I m m ediat ely Paul Allen will be put on news aft er discovering t hat it was a hoax.” “Brilliant . Then we’ll know where he is.” “Yes. But , be ready t o shift from t his place.” “Why? No one knows we are here.” “They will, once you m ake a phone call. They’ll t race your call. I want t hem t o know. And also m ake sure you rent a car by t he nam e Ron Belgrad.” “Why your nam e?” “Pat ience…Pat ience. I ’ll explain you everyt hing once you finish t he first t ask. Trust m e we are safe. Just m ake sure you rent a car under m y nam e. I t is im port ant t hat you do so.” “I do t rust you. I t is j ust anxiet y.”

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PART I I I

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Ch a pt e r 1 4 My days of suffering were over and it was m y chance t o becom e t he puppet eer and m ake Tim do what I want him t o. I ’ll avenge every drop of blood. Every single drop. Hari left t o call t he t im eship as planned. Two hours lat er, Hari honked t he car horn signaling t hat t he t ask was done. We swit ched on t he t elevision in our room wait ing for t he news t o be on air. Half an hour lat er, it was. Search was on t o find Paul Allen and t he t rut h as well. Event ually, he was put on air. “There we go. He is in Denver. There you have t he full address as well,” said I point ing t owards t he t elevision. News kept flashing, “…Mr. Paul Allen is hale and heart y. Today in t he m orning, an anonym ous caller affirm ed t hat Mr. Allen was dead. Fearing t hat t his could be t he t hird incident involving a hibernaut in j ust t wo weeks, our report ers rushed t o find where Mr. Allen was. Lat er, it was found t hat he is alive. St ill t here is no clue about t he whereabout s of t he caller. We’ll keep you updat ed on t his news. Now j um ping on t o t he ot her headlines t his m orning…” “Well done Hari.” “Now what ?” “We have t o leave t his room and wait in t he car.” “Wait in t he car? But for whom ?” “We’ll wait in t he car for Tim t o send his m en t o t he sit e. Police is going t o t race t he call and com e t o t his place and so will Tim ’s m en. You have t o t ake m e t o t he boot h you called from . We need one of his m en.” “Sure. Let s get going.” I n anot her t en m inut es we were on our way t o t he boot h. I asked Hari t o park t he car som e fift y m et ers from t he boot h. Cops were t here at dusk wit h a search part y. Wit h no luck at t he sit e, t hey left t o search ot her places. And at night , as I had t hought , cam e Tim ’s m en. They were five of t hem . They split up t o search different places. We select ed one of t hem and decided t o follow him . Ot hers accom panying him slowly disappeared and t his was our chance t o m ake a m ove. A blow t o his head, m aking sure t he guy wasn’t dead, m ade him drop t o t he ground and t hen we t ied him up. We fled from t hat place t o anot her where we won’t be int errupt ed. The guy regained consciousness. I had a look at his wallet . Kobe prince was his nam e. I also t ook his gun. “Hello, don’t you worry. I am Ron Belgrad.”

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The guy wit h his m out h open st ared at m e and shout ed, “Help.” “No one is here t o hear your out cry.” “What do you want from m e?” “That ’s so st range. I t hought you guys want ed som et hing from m e. Wasn’t it you who cam e in search for m e?” “I don’t know anyt hing. Mr. Allen sent us t o search for you.” I point ed a gun at his t em ple, “Hm m …you answer m y quest ions and I ’ll set you free. Seem s like a good deal?” “OK. What do you want t o know?” “I s it t rue t hat Tim is in Denver?” “Who is Tim ?” “Oh I am sorry. Paul…is he in Denver?” “Yes.” “Good. I s t here anybody else living wit h him ?” “No. He is all alone. But , t here are a few guards wit h him .” “How m any? Are t hey wit h him t went y four seven?” “Not all. There are four of t hem accom panying him all t he t im e. Two at t he gat e and t wo inside t he house.” “I see. Thank you for your answers. What ’s your nam e?” “I am Kobe.” “Kobe, what will you do if I leave you?” “I ’ll leave t his place and go away far from here.” I grinned, “Wrong answer.” I gave anot her blow t o his head and he fell unconscious. “Hari, t ie him up. Tom orrow I need a razor t o shave off his hair.” “OK. Then?”

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“Do you know what t his is Hari?” I asked Hari scrat ching m y neck. “Yes, a barcode. Every hibernaut has one.” “Yes, t rue. But , do you know what t he t echnology is behind t his?” “Yes. I t is different from t he norm al barcodes you see on cart ons. This t hing on your neck is a com binat ion of m et allic st rips of different sizes. What are you up t o here?” “Can you m ake it ?” “No I can’t . But , I do know of a place where t his is possible. There is t his place where t hey m ake all t hese illegal t hings wit hout asking a quest ion. I t ’ll j ust t ake you good m oney.” “Don’t worry about t he m oney,” I t ook out a bundle of dollars from Kobe’s wallet , “j ust t ake m e t o t hat place.” A couple of hour’s drive t ook us t o t hat place. I im m ediat ely got a feeling t hat no body would call t he police, by t he very look of t hat place. Body t at t ooing, clubs, pubs and adult clubs. Seem ed like a conglom erat e of all illegal act ivit ies. Our car screeched in front of a sm all old house sandwiched bet ween t wo t all buildings. The door was open. Support ing Kobe on our shoulders we went inside t he house. There was a drunken old m an lying on t he couch wit h half t he liquor spilled on t he floor. “Who is it ?” asked he. “We need t o get som eone bar- coded.” The old m an was surprised t o list en t o what we had j ust said. He m oved closer and whispered, “Who t old you t hat I do t hat ?” “Just cam e t o know.” “Sorry son. You have com e t o t he wrong place. I ain’t do not hing.” Hari m oved closer, “We will give you five grands for t hat .” The old m an was dum bst ruck. “That m akes it five hundred beers,” he wondered, “who is t o be coded?” out cam e his quest ion im m ediat ely. We helped Kobe on t o t he couch. “I s he dead?” asked t he old chap. “No. He is j ust drunk.”

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“OK. What is t he code?” “Two one t hree t wo zero point t hree,” said I as he penned it down. “Heh…I don’t do point t hrees.” Said he. “One m ore grand for t hat ” He grinned, “Lay him on t hat chair over t here,” he said point ing t owards an old chair m ade of wood. We laid him t here and we wait ed out side for t he old m an t o finish his j ob. An hour lat er, t he old m an cam e out wiping his hands wit h a t owel. “Your j ob is done.” “Hari, scan t he code.” Hari did so and it was all right . A syringe was kept beside t he chair. “What is t his?” asked I . “I t is a sedat ive, son.” “I need one bot t le of t hat .” The old guys sm iled and st art ed scrat ching his palm . Annoyed by his appet it e for m oney, I pulled out t he gun from m y pocket . “Uh…if you say so.” He handed one vial of sedat ive and a syringe. We gave him six grands and left t he place. We had t ied up Kobe and rest ed t he whole night in t he car. Next day in t he m orning, Hari bought a razor from a nearby super- m art . We inj ect ed Kobe wit h t he sedat ive and shaved his hair off. “Now what , Ron?” asked Hari. “We have t o kill him .” “Kill him ?” “Why are you so surprised?” I cont inued, “We can’t let him go free. We’ll kill him in such a m anner t hat Paul in fact Tim t hinks t hat I am dead.”

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Ch a pt e r 1 5 Lat er in t he evening, we gave Kobe anot her dose of sedat ive and drove t o an isolat ed place. Wit hout any by passers, t his was t he perfect t im e t o execut e t he plan. I dressed Kobe in m y clot hes. We got out of t he car and let it roll down t o hit a t ree. Then we lit t he car and wit hin m inut es it blew int o pieces. We saw Kobe being burnt alive. Hari st art ed vom it ing by t he very scene of it . We walked a few m iles before t aking a hit ch t o anot her m ot el. We m ade sure t here was a t elevision in t he room and I again asked Hari t o book t he room . News soon st art ed flashing st at ing t hat Ron was dead. “…t here was a car accident in t he Cheyenne- Denver highway, about fift y m iles from Cheyenne. There weren’t any eyewit nesses t o t he accident . Police believe t hat because of som e m echanical failure in t he car, t he vict im lost cont rol and hit a t ree, which result ed in t he car cat ching fire. His face was badly burnt beyond recognit ion. But , t o t he cops’ luck, t he vict im had a barcode on his neck, which let t he police know t hat t he vict im was Ron Belgrad, a point t hree. Mr. Belgrad is t he t hird hibernaut t o be killed in t he last t wo weeks. Police also confirm ed t he det ails of t he vict im from t he place where he had rent ed t he car. The regist er shows Mr. Belgrad as having rent ed t he car a day back. Unfort unat ely t he police, which assum ed t hat Mr. Belgrad would put light on t he deat hs of Miss Rachael, Mr. St even and Mr. Woodbridge, are now com plet ely wit hout any hope of get t ing t ips on t he whole issue. This is St ephanie report ing from Cheyenne…” “Now I get it . Now I know why you had asked m e t o rent t he car on your nam e. Sm art m ove.” “I hope Tim follows t he news. He’ll now slacken t hinking t hat I am dead.” “Hm m …when should we leave for Denver?” “Tom orrow. I need som e rest .” “Me t oo. I am going t o sleep next t o a corpse.” Hari grinned. We dozed off for nearly sixt een hours. So t ired were we. Som et im es you do t hings you never would have im agined. Circum st ances m ake you do so. Things do not rem ain in your will anym ore. I t sure didn’t . Next day we left for Denver aft er Hari finished his shopping for t he daily necessit ies. I had asked him t o get a week’s st ock. We also bought a pair of binoculars. “This is an ult ra sophist icat ed binocular. I t even gives you t he dist ance t he obj ect in view is from you.”

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POINT 3 “Fancy.” I rem arked. Five hours’ drive got us t o Denver. Tim had a huge house wit h t wo m en guarding t he gat e. We were put up in a hot el near by and a room from where we could keep an eye on Tim ’s house and his visit ors as well. As we spied Tim ’s house wit h binoculars, Hari spoke out , “Ron, here is som et hing t hat m ight int erest you.” He passed on t he binoculars t o m e. I had a look t hrough it , “A lady? Who could she be?” Aft er about t en m inut es, Tim was out wit h t he wom an and sped away in her car. “Look what Ron Belgrad’s deat h could do. He has left wit hout any securit y personnel. Now who could m ake him go wit hout a guard?” “His lady love definit ely. Nobody want s t o have a guard poking his nose all t he t im e.” Sit ing her t hrice in five days confirm ed t hat . On t he fift h day, we decided t o follow her t o her apart m ent . Alas, she wasn’t alone. Tim gave her a ride hom e in his car. We followed t he car m aint aining a good dist ance. We swit ched off t he headlight s t o avoid being seen as Tim reached out t o give his wom an a goodnight kiss. We shied away as Tim sped past us back t o his house. We t hen m ade our way t o t he wom an’s house. We heard her call as we knocked t he door, “Yes. Who is t hat ?” enquired she from t he ot her side. “Ma’am , we are Paul’s friends. Ron and Hari.” “Why are you here t hen?” she asked wit h curiosit y. “We want t o help you, Ma’am .” “Why? What ’s t he m at t er? I s it regarding Paul?” “Yes. I am afraid it is.” She opened t he door a bit which was lat ched from inside by a sm all chain lock as well which rest rict ed it from being opened any furt her. I picked out a snap from inside m y bag and held out such t hat t he lady could have a clear look at it , “Ma’am , can you see t hat wom an dressed in red st anding next t o Paul and t hat whit e haired m an?” “Yes,” said t he nervous wom an. “Well, he has been having an affair wit h t his wom an for years.”

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POINT 3 She broke down and Hari unlat ched t he door from inside by put t ing his hand t hrough t he opening. We helped her on t o t he couch and lat ched t he door. We gave her a glass of wat er, which helped her feel bet t er. “Now m a’am . What ever we said out side is false.” “What ? I ’ll call t he police.” “You sure can. But , you have t o list en t o us. I t is st ill regarding Paul.” “How can I know whet her you are saying t he t rut h now?” “Ma’am , t here is no harm in list ening t o us. Then aft erwards if you feel like calling t he police, you m ay.” She som ehow got t he im pression t hat I wasn’t lying. “Go on.” “Can I know your nam e please, Ma’am ?” “I am Kat hie Miller.” “Kat hie, you would be knowing t hat Paul is a hibernaut .” “Yes, I do. He was a special agent and he died of a heart at t ack.” “Part of it is t rue. He sure was a special agent but he did not die of a heart at t ack and neit her is he Paul Allen.” “What rubbish are you saying?” Kat hie was furious. “Ma’am , I have som et hing t hat m ay ast ound you.” I showed her t he snaps and t he docum ent s t hat proved Tim ’s involvem ent in a conspiracy. She was soon int o t ears. “I f t his doesn’t prove anyt hing t o you, I have a plan t hat will definit ely prove he isn’t Paul.” “And what ’s t hat ?” I explained her t he whole plan and she agreed t o cooperat e.

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Ch a pt e r 1 6 World hadn’t changed m uch. St ill people had t o survive at t he expense of ot her’s life. Man was soon becom ing his own enem y. One could not t ake t he survival of t he ot her, for he had t o survive t oo. Good survives at t he cost of t he bad and bad at t he expense of t he good. Ult im at ely t here will be only one winner. Kat hie gat hered st rengt h and called up Tim t he next day, “Paul?” “Kat hie, it s m e Paul.” The speaker m ode was on for us t o hear as well. “Paul, do you rem em ber which day it is t oday?” “Uh…Twent y nint h Sept em ber. I t m ust be special for you t o ask. I t s not been one year since we’ve been dat ing. Oh god, is it your birt hday?” “Yes dear.” “Oh god, I am sorry. I accept m y m ist ake. I didn’t know t hat . I am sorry.” “I t is OK.” “Honey, I ’ll be t here at your house t onight and we’ll go out som ewhere.” “Paul, I have already booked a room at t he Marriot t . I hope you don’t m ind?” “That ’s great . Excellent . I ’ll be t here at seven in t he evening. What ’s t he room num ber?” “Seven hundred five.” “OK. Bye honey. Can’t wait t o see you t onight .” “Me t oo. Bye.” Bot h of t hen hung up t he receiver. We wait ed in t he room of t he Marriot t at sharp seven in t he evening. Ten m inut es past seven, t he knob of t he door t urned and Hari and I hid inside t he bat h. We were able t o list en t o t he conversat ion bet ween Kat hie and Tim and see part of t hem t hrough t he peephole as well. “Hi Dear. Happy birt hday honey,” Tim hugged Kat hie and gave her a bouquet , “I am sorry I didn’t rem em ber your birt hday.” “I t s not your fault . I never t old you.” “What a fool I am . I never asked you. So foolish of m e.” Tim seem ed disappoint ed wit h him self.

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POINT 3 Kat hie point ed t owards t he bed and said, “Paul, lay on t he bed. I ’ll swit ch on t he m usic.” “Ooh, you surely seem t o be in a m ood. I ’ll prepare us a drink.” As he reached out t o m ake t he drink, Kat hie spoke out , “Tim …” “Yes dear,” Tim t urned back. “Tim …” Kat hie repeat ed. Suddenly Tim found it hard t o speak. His forehead crinkled. “What did you say?” t here was hoarseness in his voice now. “I said Tim ,” Kat hie seem ed t o be bold. “Who is Tim ?” said he nervously. “You Paul. You lied t o m e,” she scream ed. Tim let grip of t he glass loosen, which crashed on t o t he floor, and he rushed t owards Kat hie. He held her by her hair. “Who t old you t his?” I t was t im e we m ade our m ove. We cam e out of t he bat hroom holding a gun. “I t old her, Tim . I did.” I said. He was ast ounded t o see m e alive. “Ron, you are alive.” He puffed. “Yes Tim , if I am not a ghost ,” I sm iled. “What are you going t o do, Ron? Kill m e?” “You bet . I would love t o. But Kat hie has asked m e not t o. I ’ll t urn you t o t he police.” “Oh,” he laughed, “so you t hink police will accept what ever you say?” “I have got proof, Tim . You rem em ber Valdam ov? The m an you slaught ered t o deat h. He had sent m e all t he relat ed docum ent s before dying.” This got Tim ’s at t ent ion. Tim quickly t ook out a gun from his packet and held Kat hie by her neck in front of him m aking it difficult for us t o aim at him . He slowly m oved back wit h Kat hie. People in t he corridor st art ed scream ing seeing Tim hold Kat hie by her neck wit h a gun. He slowly m ade for t he elevat or, as we st ood helpless.

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When t he elevat or door shut , we ran down t he st airs t o cat ch t hem . As we reached t he second floor, we heard a deafening gun shot and people where scream ing. We feared t he worst . On reaching t he ground floor, we where disheveled by t he scene. Tim was m oaning in pain as blood oozed out t hrough his chest and he lay m um on Kat hie’s lap. There seem ed t o have been a st ruggle. She was in a st at e of shock. We st ood incapacit at ed. We helped her on t o a couch wit h t he help of ot her onlookers. Crowd gat hered at t he scene and soon cops were also t here. They t ook us int o cust ody. The t rial went for about a week. The docum ent s did prove t hat Paul was act ually Tim Woodbridge and he was involved in a conspiracy wit h som e Russians. Kat hie was released on t he basis of self- defense. Hari and I were t aken int o cust ody and were sent enced t o one and t hree year’s im prisonm ent respect ively. I was charged wit h t he deat h of Paul Allen at t he t im eship and Hari was charged for helping m e. Years flew by and I was released aft er j ust t wo years on account of good conduct . World was changing at a dizzying speed. I t seem ed world would never end now. Nanot echnology was soon em erging. Tiny robot s were placed inside t he hum an bodies t o repair dam aged part s. Soon, a day will com e when t he t im eship won’t be required cause no one would die. No one will age out . Thanks t o t he robot s t hat const ant ly repair you and keep you alive t o live anot her day. That day is not far when t here won’t be enough space on our planet and one would kill t he ot her t o m ake space for him self. There would be blood sm eared everywhere. Eart h won’t be sufficient anym ore. A war will rage. Soon t here will be a war. Soon t here will be a war of t he worlds.

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