The Milestone Protocol by Ernest Dempsey (best books to read in your 20s txt) 📕

Buri sounded surprised, though he shouldn’t have been. Odin’s capabilities were virtually limitless.

“No,” the voice said. “I said it’s handled.”

Buri couldn’t hide the puzzlement on his face. He tilted his head to the side, visibly trying to process the information.

“They went back to their hole in Atlanta,” Odin explained. “There was nothing left for them to investigate at the blast site. Unfortunately, because of your carelessness, an ancient portal was destroyed.”

The accusatory tone struck a nerve with Buri. He quickly turned defensive.

“Master, I wasn’t careless. I took initiative. Had I succeeded—”

“You could have destroyed everything we worked for. Your insolence might have exposed our plans to the world and shown all of our flock who we are. You risked everything, thousands of years of careful planning, and for what?”

“I thought—”

“Silence!” the voice boomed. “You made a power play, Buri. Do you think me foolish?”

“N-no. Of course not, Master. I would never think such a thing.”

“And yet you went behind my back, thinking I wouldn’t see what you were doing?”

Buri weighed the question, knowing that the wrong answer to any part of this conversation would result in death.

“Is there anything you don’t see, Odin? You are the one who creates and tumbles empires. History flows according to your will and those who came before you. Would I be so foolish to actually think you didn’t know what I was up to? Of course not. I conducted my experiments, my research, my hunt for the stones—all in the knowledge that you were watching. I would never be so bold as to think you didn’t know what I was doing. And I only did it because I thought you would approve.”

“And yet you didn’t come to me to ask for permission.”

The statement stung, but Buri didn’t back down. To do so would be an admission of guilt, and a death sentence.

“I took initiative. You put me in a position where I can be useful. You chose me because of my leadership abilities. And I am well aware of what happens to those who fail you. I would never do something I thought you wouldn’t approve.”

A man with as much power as Buri commanded sounded desperate as he groveled. He was distantly aware of it, too, but he couldn’t help it. A strange sense of danger overwhelmed him, and he could feel Odin’s judging eyes on him, watching every flinch, every muscle twitch.

The silence that fell over the room felt heavy in the sterile air. The faint scent of lavender wafted through, but Buri couldn’t locate the source of the smell.

He knew he’d said all he could, or at least he thought he had. Did Odin believe him? Or had the man already condemned him and was merely toying with Buri, allowing him to hope for forgiveness and life?

“Thank you for being so candid with me,” Odin said at last. “I appreciate your honesty. And you’re correct to assume I see all. There is little anyone can do on this planet without my knowing. Our eyes are everywhere, after all.”

A tidal wave of relief washed over Buri. The color returned to his face, and he forced himself not to let out a sigh. “Yes, Master. I am always honest with you. To do otherwise would be foolish.”

“Very true. You may go, Buri. See to it that if you plan on doing anything else with Quantium in the future, or with one of the other portals, you bring it to me first.”

“Of course, sir. Thank you.”

Buri stood, and the two guards stepped toward him. He straightened his jacket and started walking out of the room with the two men in tow. As he reached the edge of the room, Odin’s voice halted him.

“Buri? Have you ever seen my collection of animals?”

“No, sir,” Buri confessed. “I’m afraid I haven’t. I have been here many times, but I’ve never even heard of them. What kind of animals?”

“See for yourself.”

One of the guards motioned with his hand to a corridor that shot out to the right from the main hallway.

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”

Odin said nothing more, and the three continued down the alternate passage until they reached a black metal door.

The guard on the left opened the door and motioned Buri inside. Buri hesitated for a moment, looking into the next room, which was only about ten feet long and led to another similar door.

“Does he have a zoo in here or something?” Buri asked nervously.

“You could say that.”

The guard’s deep voice only made the cryptic response that much more disconcerting.

“You know,” Buri said, “it’s okay if I don’t see the collection today. Perhaps another time.”

Both guards stared blankly at Buri. Their emotionless gazes unnerved him.

“Or today is fine,” he surrendered. “So, what are we looking at today?” He stepped into the room. “Some monkeys or something?”

The first guard entered the room with him and walked on the left. He stopped at the door and unlocked the two deadbolts along with the latch. Then he pulled the door open and motioned with a nod for Buri to enter.

The smell of grass and leaves filled the room, along with a warm, humid air that seemed to roll into the little space. There was a hint of animal to it, that nondescript odor that seems to hang around fur and hoof, like on a farm.

Buri stepped forward into another world. Lush trees grew up out of soil that covered the floor—if there was a floor. He felt the soft dirt under his shoes and immediately worried about ruining the expensive footwear. He turned a corner, mesmerized by the size of the indoor jungle, and discovered a whole new world. Stands of trees filled a gigantic space. The walls shot up at least sixty feet to an open, screened ceiling. Exotic birds whistled in the lush canopy, though Buri couldn’t see them. He heard monkeys somewhere in the trees, too, and thought he glimpsed a light brown tail.

“What is this?” Buri asked, turning his head back toward the guard.