23. The Task Team

After a long silence, Nico continues carefully: “Right around the world groundbreaking experts and their families have vanished in the course of 20 years. Someone at Interpol became suspicious and a special, international, secret task team was established to investigate the possibility that an underground organization clandestinely occupy themselves with very dangerous illegal research with very sinister motives.

“In the meantime, face identification technology developed to such a stage that the task team established a network of points at key air port’s customs that especially are on the lookout for any of these missing scientists. The previous month, surprisingly, a group of tourists - most of them were of the missing scientists - arrived from India at Johannesburg airport and flew from there to Port Elizabeth with new identities. Unluckily, they vanished without a trace here in PE and it is then when I was asked for help and I became part of the international team. I must help to find these people and ascertain what they are up to.”

“We tried to find out why exactly they are here in South Africa. Long story short, we found that they are here because one of the scientists that they had tried to get into their web years ago, had escaped and is now a professor who teaches philosophy at the Port Elizabeth University. It was when we investigated and I made contact with Professor Johan de Ridder, that we were pretty sure what these people are up to when we have learned about his superior knowledge. Prof Johan is a retired, pioneer virologist and had way back during his scientific research incidentally found something that these people had been unable to discover.

“This group of scientists is in Port Elizabeth because they want to manipulate Prof Johan to help them with the development of the last step in the construction of their biological weapon. They probably have a laboratory ready and want to get their weapon perfected and then they will dispatch it all around the world to resting terror cells situated in every country. It seems as if their goal is to destroy our civilization in order to bring about a new one from scratch with their chosen ones amongst the survivors. They believe our civilization is like a virus that is going to destroy Mother Earth if they don’t annihilate our civilization before it is too late.”

Nico shakes his head despondently and looks at Kadin. “Kadin, you had direct contact with this Vipracitti, these people’s occult leader. Your conversation is extremely important because it may confirm some of our suspicions. What did Vipracitti tell you while Billy was in the toilet? It may be crucial.”

Kadin tries hard to remember. “He confused me a lot and I was angry and worried. I wish I had known how important it would be.”

“Please Kadin, try to remember. Think it over. When you remember one thing, other information might come into your mind.”

Kadin thinks deeply. “The man said funny things that didn’t make sense to me. He said he would like to chat a little with me because we are going to go a long way together and then I asked his name and he told me.”

Kadin’s eyes narrow as she concentrates and tries hard to remember. “Then he spoke of light and darkness that will protect us in the near future together throughout the awful end of everything that we know now that will lead us to a new beginning.”

Kadin’s eyes suddenly brighten and she remembers everything clearly as if their conversation has just happened. “Very difficult times lie ahead and what happens to us now is just the preparation. The evil that came over us, created a bond between our families and our families will melt together to navigate the terrible evil when our world perish. The light and darkness will soon protect us throughout the terrible end of everything that we know now and will lead us to a new beginning. I will remember his words and although it doesn’t make sense to me now, I will one day understand there is only one way. We will bring the only flickering flame of hope for a new world to him and he will then end the darkness that he brought in the world and a new world of light and hope will start. This is suddenly so clear in my thoughts.”

Nico is flabbergasted. “Very interesting, thank you, Kadin, keep thinking. Is there something else? Billy, is there something you remember; anything. Please tell me. It may be extremely important.”

Billy remembers something that has haunted him the whole time. “Kadin, do you remember when he bluffed us to look into the flat book and he changed it into mirrors and his eyes caught us. He said we should read together from the book of truth that will free us and protect us and soon help us through the difficult times ahead.”

Kadin nods. “Yes, I remember Billy, I was so surprised when I saw the empty pages and then he rubbed his hand over it and it changed into mirrors.”

Billy continues. “Kadin, did you have the same experience. His face appeared in front of us and his words echoed eerily when he said to you: ‘I warned you not to double-cross me and now you had given me the right. I will be with you always. It is destiny because we are going to need each other very much in the execution of our duties in the service of light and darkness.”

Surprised Kadin shakes her head. “Yes, I remember, we hung in the darkness and it was as if light shines out of us.”

Rene is concerned. “I am very worried, Nico. That monster hypnotized them and who knows what he left in their thoughts and what he is able to do. We will have to get them to a psychologist who must hypnotize them to cancel every key he might have planted in their subconscious.”

Nico concurs. “It will be wise. Please do me a favor and make a sound recording of the session and keep it for me because it may reveal important information that they have forgotten and may be important for our investigation. Will you do that, please? I will leave my contact number and please let me know as soon as you have the recording. Is it okay with you?”

Nico looks from Rene to Jack who answers: “All right, Nico.”

Nico continues: “It seems that your two families became part of Vipracitti’s plans and thus I must warn you. We don’t understand how these scientists got involved in this occult group and disappeared to surface later on as willing participants. We think Vipracitti influenced them so that they now endorse the occult’s goals completely. During my contact with Professor Johan de Ridder, he told me that he has heard of a mighty Aghori by the name of Vipracitti who is a legend in India amongst some of the Hindu worshippers. He believes this man is the leader of the underground movement and he is supported by a multi-billionaire in India by the name of Ahmed.

“Our task team is currently spying on this billionaire’s activities. This man has very interesting businesses in every country in the world and we suppose that they will use these for the distribution of their biological weapon when it is ready.

“Kadin, please hand over the booklet. I want to arrange things as soon as possible. Your and Billy’s families, as well as Vyasa and Michael, will be watched 24/7 by my team. We are extremely professional and you will not even be aware of our existence. I also want each one’s smartphone numbers and then you won’t see me again. Please make sure that your phones have batteries and SIM cards. I will also give my number to you. Store me on your phones as Nico and contact me whenever you need me. If the occult contacts you, we want to follow them to their secret den.”

Nico looks at Jack. “Jack, do you now understand why I really shouldn’t divulge all this information to anyone. Our task team’s only ace is that the occult doesn’t know they are under investigation. They also don’t know Prof Johan made contact with me just before he surrendered. They don’t know of the code which he could use to leave a message for us somewhere if he gets the opportunity and now I’ve received a message from him and I simply burn to decipher it.”

“I am, however, sure that if he indicated the place in which they hold him it will be of no use after the episode with Billy in the park. Probably they would have moved their activities to another place, but we will visit the old place for possible leads. We will have to be very careful because they could watch the place and then our ace is worthless.”

Jack rises and unnoticed hides his pistol in his trousers beneath his jacket. He walks towards Nico who rises together with Alex, takes his hand in a firm grip while he takes Nico’s upper arm with his left hand. He smiles at Nico: “Sorry, my mate, but I think you understand, don’t you?”

“I understand completely. If you ask me, the wrong man’s family crossed the path of Vipracitti and his occult. I have confidence you won’t allow this devil to harass your family and that goes for Billy too.”

He points at Billy. “Take him now for medical care and bring them both to the police station so that they can go through the photo album I had prepared for Alex and his men. All the visitors that moved through customs from India to Johannesburg and from there to Port Elizabeth within a certain time span are in that album and please people, no word to anyone about our task team, myself or the agenda of the occult. Play stupid. You don’t know anything. All you know is what already happened, promise?”

Jack looks around to everyone. “Our families are together in this thing and we promise not to tell anyone about it, right?”

They all solemnly nod with their heads in agreement. Jack then looks at Nico.

“I am sure you can depend on each of us, Nico, my buddy.”