World Betrayed: The Story Continues Sequel to World Aflame

By Robert Ludolph

“World Betrayed” is the sequel and continuing story of “World Aflame”. The mysterious, and to date undefeated fires, continue to burn around the world threatening all life on the planet.
Scientists, politicians, philosophers, clergy and “talking heads” all have their theories, but none of them has a solution to end this terrifying phenomenon. Communication, travel, and energy experienced in the 21st century has been sent back to 19th century standards and methods.
The mystery of Rick Landis’ disappearance continues unsolved. After being shot by an unknown assailant, the Sun Times reporter disappeared without a trace. But his “comrades in arms”, Captain Carl Dyan, Sydney Marston, and Marty “What’s his name” have vowed to never give up until they find the answer, dead or alive. For Sydney it is more urgent because Rick is the “love of her life”.
Next, there are the rumors of a “Shadow Government” planning to take down the nations of the world. The promise to their naïve followers is power, wealth, position, and a Utopian World! But there is a dark side to these “Brave New World” leaders. They are brutal, power driven despots, traitorously using the trusting masses, to achieve their own personal goals.
Murder, treachery, betrayal, and war continue in the book’s final chapters leading to an inspiring finish.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664121447

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Robert Ludolph.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/25/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

813543

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter 1 Mister X

Chapter 2 Frantic

Chapter 3 Disappointment

Chapter 4 Desperation

Chapter 5 The Informant

Chapter 6 Hoping for A Miracle

Chapter 7 Uncertainty

Chapter 8 The Assassin

Chapter 9 Strange Bedfellows

Chapter 10 Assignment Death

Chapter 11 Suspicion

Chapter 12 Intrigue

Chapter 13 No Way Out

Chapter 14 Dead End

Chapter 15 Monotony

Chapter 16 Murder

Chapter 17 The Tour

Chapter 18 Recaptured

Chapter 19 Chained

Chapter 20 Sudaki

Chapter 21 Survival

Chapter 22 Deception

Chapter 23 Renewed Hope

Chapter 24 Searching

Chapter 25 Discovery

Chapter 26 Foiled Again

Chapter 27 Departure

Chapter 28 Breaking Through

Chapter 29 Recruitment

Chapter 30 Revelation

Chapter 31 Shock and Awe

Chapter 32 The Voyage

Chapter 33 The Invitation

Chapter 34 Rendezvous

Chapter 35 Arrival

Chapter 36 The Next Day

Chapter 37 Revelation

Chapter 38 Surprised

Chapter 39 No Hope

Chapter 40 Retribution

Chapter 41 The Final Act

Epilogue

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my granddaughter Justina Johnson and my son-in-law Curt Johnson. Words cannot express or tank you enough for your time spent assisting me in producing this book. Thank you, Justina, and Curt, for long hours exerted in typing and trying to decipher my hard to read handwritten pages. May God bless your both and continue to prosper you both.

To my beautiful wife Betty, the love of my life. You have always been by my side encouraging and praying for me. You have never wavered in your support in all the projects I have attempted. You are truly the wife of good report described in Proverbs 31:10-31.

PROLOGUE

The year is 2023 and fires around the globe still burn unabated. Scientists, talking heads, psychics, clergy, and millions of opinions on the internet have not found a solution to ending these fires. Scientists attribute the problem to global warming, the clergy believes it is God’s judgement on the world, others attribute it to China and India’s careless disregard of protecting the atmosphere with their current industrial revolutions. After all is said and done, no one knows the answer. The major concern now is can humanity survive under these severe conditions.

The other mystery is the disappearance of Rick Landis. Still unsolved by the FBI, the search for answers continues. Sydney Marston, Captain Carl Dyan, Marty, and the Honolulu FBI chief Max Carrigan are all determined to find the answer. Is Rick still alive, or is he dead?

The first book World Aflame ends without revealing Rick’s fate. Now the story continues in the sequel World Betrayed and discloses answers that World Aflame left unknown.

CHAPTER ONE

Mister X

The black impenetrable fog swirled and danced insanely. This aberration of a mindless journey through the netherworld of oblivion was archaic, dark, devious, and demonic. Twisting and turning the horrific abyss was mentally staggering and endless, struggling to reach a surface of stability or any appearance of reality kept slipping away. Inch by devouring inch consciousness was just beyond grasping, then in this hellish, paralyzing confinement a distant barely audible voice penetrated the dense quagmire Come now Mr. X, time to wake up!

Feeling a physical sensation for the first time in days, he realized that it was his face being slapped. Determined now to regain consciousness, he lunged ahead of his present physical and mental limitations and his stone-cold eyes flickered open. As if rising from the dead he strained to gain some sense of reality, but as his eyes began to focus, and consciousness slowly returned, he wondered if he had awakened in heaven or hell. Now as full consciousness returned panic embraced him because he could not remember who he was or who he had been, Scanning the damp stone walled room, he also became aware that he was hooked up to an IV, dripping some unknown fluid into his veins. He was now fully awake and fully conscious, but his memory had been completely erased.

Standing by his hospital bed was a man in a white smock and a stethoscope who appeared to be a doctor. Looking at the man intently, he asked who and where am I and what happened to me? All in good time Mr. X, he answered. After you’ve fully regained your strength in a few days, all will be explained to you. It’s important that you don’t do anything foolish, especially removing the IV needle from the vein in your arm. If you do, you will die, he said bluntly. The medication is powerful and formulated to alter a person’s life source. It changes the normal function of a person’s heart, to beat normally and sustain life, but now he had to be dependent on the medication for his heart to continue to beat. Without the antidote to return his heart to its normal function, death would occur within twenty-four hours."

With that information and stern warning, the man left, locking the heavy steel door behind him. The man lying in the hospital bed didn’t know who he was. But if Sydney, Marty and Dyan entered the room they would immediately know that the gaunt, weakened, unshaven man on the bed was Rick. They would rejoice in the fact that they had found him and that he was alive.

When the man left, Rick was left with the realization that not only was he a physical prisoner, but also a prisoner to a life sustaining medication. With no memory of who he was, he was comparable to the biblical Adam, no past, no history, and no idea of what the future held. However, one thing he was certain of, was that his captors had a plan for him and there was no escape from it. He would be manipulated under threat to do their bidding and if he refused, death would be his future.

CHAPTER TWO

Frantic

Sydney’s dream was dark and foreboding. She was overwhelmed by anxiety and desperation. Abruptly, wide awake, the walls of her apartment became oppressive, threatening and began to close in and stifle her. Panic welled up in her throat, adding to her terrifying feeling of doom. Something is terribly wrong, Rick is in a life and death struggle, she was sure of it. After finally hearing from him, several months had passed without a word. She knew instinctively that she was losing him again. What kind of danger was he in, was he alive? How could she find out? Was there any source of information she could turn to?

Scrambling out of bed, she glanced at the clock, five a.m., time to get moving! After a quick shower and dressing hurriedly, she headed out the door without any make-up. A beautiful woman in any situation, make-up or not, she didn’t care at the moment, she was on a mission! Waiting at the curb she hailed one of the HDC’s (horse drawn carriages) that had replaced the taxis. The energy crisis caused by the raging worldwide fires had regressed all modern-day vehicles back to nineteenth century technology. Horses and mules had again become the engines of necessity to drive any available carriage, wagon or buggy.

Months after they had begun, the global fires were still uncontrollable. Was this worldwide catastrophe a natural phenomenon? Is it being caused by space aliens, or is it God’s final judgement? All of these theories had been exegeted by the talking heads, scientists, religious theologians, and newspaper pundits to no avail.

Listening to the clip-clop of the horse’s hoofs, Sydney was momentarily mesmerized by the monotonous rhythm. She was brought back to reality when the driver said, this is your stop Miss. After paying the driver she charged boldly into the Sun Times Offices.

During the economic down-turn thousands of businesses went belly up or almost, the Sun Times included. With Chuck Wainwright and Jack Ridley gone missing, there was a vacancy of leadership. And for several weeks the Sun Times floundered and almost became a blank page in history. During this crucial period, employees continued to work with reduced token salaries, out of a sense of loyalty to the paper and its customers.

The one redeeming factor that gave the Times an advantage over their competitors was the exhibit in the entrance lobby. Displayed there for all to examine was an 1800’s manual printing press. Reporters, printing press operators and visitors always marveled that a newspaper in any quantity could actually be produced on such a primitive hand operated mechanism. But now in these perilous times it was their only means of producing a reduced number of newspapers. The lobby was no longer a visitor waiting room, but now a converted working printing and production center.

However, without strong leadership and direction, there was an abundance of grumbling, moaning, and whining among the employees. Everything from the low pay, no computer service and having to use manual typewriters were targets of complaints. But still they slogged ahead, loyal, and damaged but not broken.

At this point, Sydney stepped up and took charge. She had worked with Wainwright and Ridley for several years. During that time, she had learned and absorbed much of the business from the executive’s viewpoint.

Now in the position of editor and chief, Sydney and her aides, began studying the most efficient printing and distribution methods of the 1800’s. This knowledge would be vital to them if they were to survive financially. Then unexpected good fortune smiled on them, as they were endowed with a grant from the Federal Government, to purchase needed manual printing presses and equipment.

The monetary amount was large enough to re-equip the Sun Times with several manual presses. These were put into immediate operation providing a more normal production of daily papers. It also became necessary as in the past to hire boys and girls to fold and deliver papers on specific routes. Oh, the good old, bad old days!

Oil lanterns, manual typewriters and additional minor supplies were also purchased. Having to use manual typewriters again, produced an abundance of loud cursing among the reporters, as they had to use white-out to make corrections. But after all was said and done, they were thankful to still have a job!

Many adjustments had to be made but once again the Sun Times was back in business! Sydney felt a sense of satisfaction in this accomplishment, but her prime concern now was finding Rick. She had tried calling him many times, but no connection, his phone was dead. If only I could travel to Oahu where he was last seen. Steamboats and sailing ships were crossing the oceans on a limited schedule. However, the Government had rigid restrictions on who could travel and who could conduct business overseas. Only supplies were being delivered to the Islands or government business was being conducted. It would be a virtual miracle to obtain permission to travel. Sydney had made many contacts throughout her career, but would there be one, that would accomplish her purpose.

CHAPTER THREE

Disappointment

What happened to Rick remains a mystery. All that Dyan and Marty know is that Rick seemingly has disappeared off the face of the earth. Continually searching for him, they have turned up empty. Still working for Max Carrigan, the FBI chief in Hawaii, they have resources but no results. Marty and Dyan have taken a vow that they will never give up, until they find Rick dead or alive.

Walking the streets daily they question every suspicious character they come in contact with. Many theories have been expounded concerning the situation. Additionally, the TV talking heads continue their meaningless and unverified chatter on the subject. With only one hour a day of sporadic broadcasting the time is very limited for news and opinions. Furthermore, the mystery and interest after several months are beginning to fade. The question that lingers in everyone’s minds, however, is that on an island the size of Oahu, how can there not be any leads.

After three months of Rick’s disappearance, surprisingly Max Carrigan was still receiving E-Mails and calls concerning the incident. Many reports of seeing Rick at various places, at a bar, on the beach, in a hotel, and various other venues and locations. One person said they had even talked to him and positively identified him. Others believed his body had washed out to sea. Or that he had lost his memory or was kidnapped and shipped off the island. Unfortunately, all these leads were found to be false. Through all these reports Dyan and Marty tried to stay upbeat and keep the faith, but as the weeks and months passed, even they were beginning to lose hope. But giving up now was not an option. There were no choices, this mystery had to be solved. Sitting in a corner booth in the almost empty Coffee Hut, they again pledged their vow to find Rick. With renewed vigor and blood hammering their temples with new determination, their course was set. Once again, they would go to war if necessary, to complete their mission.

Sipping their steaming, hot, black coffee they began to reminisce about their past shared experiences. How they had spied on the Syrian Military encampment of the Saterian Nation. Remembering Ricks capture and near-death experience was chilling. How he had escaped and had been saved by Hakeem, a member of Israel’s Secret Service. Warming up to the subject and feeling new energy, Marty said remember when we hijacked Wainwright’s plane. And they both laughed when they remembered Wainwrights’ whining like a baby, when he was shoved out the door of the plane over the open sea. Then Dyan, with a serious expression, said remember our plane crash into the ocean and we survived, then the relief we felt when the Hawaiians picked us up in their outrigger?

There was much more that they shared…

But the final agreement made that morning was that no matter the cost, physical, financial, or reputation, they would find Rick!

CHAPTER FOUR

Desperation

Three thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean, Sydney Marston sat at her desk searching her mind for answers. Who can I contact to find transportation to the Islands in these perilous times? The news will continue without me when I’m gone. My associates