The Power of Twelve Read online

  “What the hell! Tell the driver to turn around. We’ll go back to the airport and take a chopper to Mackenzie’s estate instead and wait for him there.” Disgusted with the delay, Arnold immediately called Mackenzie’s private cell phone.

  “Mac, there’s another one of these demonstrations going on. We can’t get through, so we’ll meet you for dinner at your estate instead. Will that work for you?”

  “That will be fine, Arnie,” Mackenzie Hardy the Third responded. “I’m looking out the window of my office and I can’t believe the mass of people below. They had predicted this demonstration might have a few hundred people. I think there are more than twenty thousand.” The awe left his voice and he became more businesslike. “No need to rush. It will be a couple of hours before I can get out of here myself.”

  “We will need a good two hours. See you then.” Arnold hung up the phone and looked out the window at the demonstrators. He was confused by one of their issues. There had been a few newspaper leaks about his GMO initiatives, but news had been leaked before and nothing significant had ever happened.

  “Eugene, what is going on here?” Arnold snapped, not wanting an answer. “How can people take any of this Project Wake Up or Full Feminine Power Now crap seriously? Don’t they know that the world needs cheaper food? There are seven billion people on this planet. If these protests shut us down, half of those people are going to starve!”

  Three hours later, Arnold was sitting down to dinner with Mackenzie Hardy the Third in the main dining room of Mackenzie’s forty-room estate outside of Dublin, overlooking acres of green grass and the hills beyond.

  As Arnold sipped his champagne and dug into his first course of smoked salmon and caviar, he turned to Mackenzie with a smile. “Your grandfather was a great man. It has been years since I have visited you here at your home. I remember with fondness coming here as a very young man for meetings with my father and your father and grandfather. I have wonderful memories of those years.”

  “I was just a toddler when you first visited, but I remember those days with fondness as well. I guess the only good that has come from the nuisance of these demonstrations is that it created a reason for you to visit us here at Maloney Castle. I trust you will spend the night,” Mackenzie invited.

  “No, I have to get back to California and then meet up with George in Texas to be sure the new crops are going in. Yet I will be flying back with George to Prague, and I can come back after those meetings. I should be less rushed by then. I do enjoy spending time here at Maloney Castle and wish I could come more often.”

  “You are welcome anytime,” Mackenzie confirmed. “Tell me, what are you going to be doing in Prague?”

  “I’m glad you asked. The developments outside of Prague at Chateau Mcely are actually the reason for this visit.” Arnold’s face turned down in a grimace. “A group of nobodies—mostly from California, of course—have hooked up with Jim and Inéz Cusumano and have created a movement called Project Wake Up. I did not take this organization seriously at first, but I am starting to see signs that it is catching on. Jim and Inéz, as you know, have contacts with many members of the Illuminati. At one point I was even thinking of inviting them to join us as full members.”

  “Yes, I have stayed at Chateau Mcely on numerous occasions,” Mackenzie acknowledged. “They are charming people.”

  “They may be charming, but they are also insane,” Arnold broke in. “They have brought in Horatio Rhinegold, Wolfgang Roter, and even some of the members of the Illuminati to support their cause. I wanted to warn you that they may be planning to approach you. They seem harmless, but these demonstrations prove that their cause may in fact be dangerous. I have decided to infiltrate their movement and discredit it, and I may need your help.”

  “Whatever you need, I will provide,” Mackenzie reassured him. “My grandfather explained to me why he had appointed you the Grand Light and Keeper of the Code. He felt that no one else had your grasp of business or the ability to maintain and grow the absolute economic and political control necessary to ensure that the families of the Illuminati will continue to rule.”

  “I am clear on our purpose and confident of our continued success,” Arnold continued, “but for the first time in many years I have a sense of unease. We must be more vigilant than ever to protect our interests. The 2011 riots in Greece, the chaos in Egypt and the Middle East last year, and now these Full Feminine Power Now demonstrations are unsettling.” Arnold was on a roll and he let the full flush of what he’d been thinking lately pour out. “We can crush movements easily when we can isolate or co-opt the leaders, but these new movements seem to have no leaders, or in the case of Project Wake Up, leaders who seem immune to our powers of persuasion. We must be ready to take more drastic measures if necessary, and I wanted to be sure that you were aware, even though Project Wake Up at present seems insignificant.”

  “You know I abhor violence,” Mackenzie responded, “but I have full trust in your decision and will support you in whatever way you require.”

  “Thank you,” Arnold said, and then an ominous tone entered his voice as he spun out the further reaches of what he’d been contemplating. “I may need access to some of our mini nuclear devices and perhaps some of our untraceable biological weapons as well.” Arnold had finally broached the real reason for meeting with Mackenzie Hardy the Third. “Of course,” he hastily added, “we will only need to use these resources in case of an emergency. As always, we will focus on using our powers of persuasion to avoid violence.”

  “I take it you will need these products delivered to you in Prague?” Mackenzie asked, already having anticipated Arnold’s plan.

  “Yes. In Prague, my dear friend.” Arnold raised his glass of champagne, toasting his host. “To my dear friend Mackenzie Hardy the Third and the continued health and prosperity of the Illuminati for the benefit of all mankind.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  ARRIVING IN STYLE

  GEORGE, WAKE UP,” Arnie whispered to George with a gentle poke in his ribs.

  George blinked his eyes and Arnie continued. “We are going to be landing in about ten minutes. I need to brief you before the BMW sedan from Mcely picks us up.”

  George blearily looked around the interior of Arnie’s private G5 and momentarily forgot where he was. Then he realized he was on Arnie’s plane, a plane he had flown on many times since becoming the ex-president of the United States. But initially, he still did not recall why he was on the plane.

  “Huh?” a sleepy George Bush yawned. “Where are we?”

  “We’re about to touch down for our meetings with the inner circle behind Project Wake Up at Chateau Mcely. Jim Cusumano has sent a car to pick us up. I want this to go smoothly, and I want to be sure you remember why we are here,” Arnie reminded George in a tone all too familiar to George ever since his college days in Skull and Bones. Arnie was not pleased and he expected George to pay attention.

  “I remember, all right. You want me to introduce you to the members of Project Wake Up whom you have not previously met and present you as a potential donor of an additional hundred million dollars,” George recalled, pleased that he did indeed remember what he was supposed to do.

  “Exactly.” Arnie smiled, though still not pleased. “But what else do you need to tell them?”

  “Only that before you can give such a large donation you need to do additional due diligence to be sure that those monies will be spent properly and that all accounting will be handled according to international law,” George parroted.

  “Yes. Good. Just be sure to explain that it is only because of you that I am willing to be so generous and that because of that you feel a personal responsibility to ensure that the due diligence will include sharing even the most confidential information about Project Wake Up,” Arnie emphasized.

  “No problem, Arnie,” George confirmed. “As usual, your requests are logical and I can see no reason why they won’t open the kimono to you. I’m still not su
re why this is all so damn important. To me this just seems like one more do-gooder group with a half-cocked idea that is never going to amount to anything anyway.”

  “George, these do-gooders are starting to attract serious attention. I just flew back from Dublin and I saw demonstrations there fueled by that Full Feminine Power Now woman and her Project Wake Up buddies.” Arnie, seeing George looking startled, lightened up his tone and reassured him. “Just leave the thinking to me and I’m sure our trip to Mcely will be successful.”

  Harold the Hilarious woke up and sensed that he had overslept. He caught the tail end of George’s conversation with Arnold Wheeler and realized that the moment of truth was quickly coming toward him. He knew from their previous conversations that Arnie was intent on destroying Project Wake Up by any means necessary. Harry had developed his own plan to confront Arnie and get him to actually be a supporter and not a saboteur of Project Wake Up. If he could achieve that goal, he was certain that Arnie could change the entire structure of negative thought forms that the Illuminati were creating on Earth 769. However, Harry realized that was a big “if.”

  Just as Arnie had predicted, as soon as the G5 touched down, a sleek BMW pulled up to the plane’s door and a chauffeur helped George and Arnie and bodyguard Eugene Green with their bags and escorted them to their seats in the car.

  After a drive of less than an hour, the BMW came to a stop in front of the large, exquisitely restored dwelling. As soon as they entered the front door, Jim and Inéz Cusumano descended the staircase and received them, first George and then Arnie, with polite hugs.

  “So glad to see you again, Arnold,” Jim greeted. “I was not sure you were really all that committed to Project Wake Up at our first meeting, but I am pleased that you are willing to explore partnering with us.”

  Turning to George, Jim continued, “I know you have visited us before, but I have never had a chance to talk privately with you. I think you are key to the success of Project Wake Up.”

  “You flatter me,” George responded. “Other than snagging a deer or two for my down-home Texas barbecue, I’m not key to anything anymore.”

  “Be that as it may, we are grateful you have joined us. Please let us ensure that you have everything you might need to enjoy the Chateau,” Inéz, standing next to Jim, interjected. “You both must be tired. Let Walter show you to your rooms. We have organized a light snack at nine o’clock this evening to give you each a few hours to rest before meeting the other directors of Project Wake Up.”

  “That is so thoughtful,” Arnie remarked with his usual canned sincerity. “I do enjoy visiting Chateau Mcely. I have such fond memories of the excellent food and service that I receive each time I stay.”

  Inéz was pleased by this response. “As a repeat visitor you must know about the special efforts that we make year round to ensure that the gardens remain pristine. If there is time tomorrow, I want to be sure to show you some of the improvements we have made in the meditation garden.”

  “Oh yes, I will definitely want to take a walk in the meditation garden with you tomorrow,” Arnie affirmed. “As beautiful as the Chateau is, the garden is really the high point for me when I visit.”

  “Well, until nine in the private dining hall,” Inéz concluded as Harry/George and Arnold made their way up the main staircase to their rooms.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  A PLEASANT CONVERSATION

  ABIGAIL/BARBARA WENT STRAIGHT for the chocolate bonbons that were laid out on the table in the formal dining room. A combination of fresh raw and cooked vegetables, caviar and toast points, mini filet mignons for those who had not yet eaten dinner, and other choice delicacies had been prepared by the excellent chefs at Chateau Mcely.

  Between mouthfuls of chocolate, Abigail/Barbara addressed Harry/ George. “Oh, so wonderful to meet you, President Bush. The last time I met a president was Dwight Eisenhower when I was just a young girl. I remember asking him, ‘What is the meaning of our new technological powers in terms of future benefits to the planet?’ and I was horrified when he commented, ‘I don’t know.’ That brief encounter has propelled my life purpose, as I have dedicated all my energy to exploring exactly what we should be doing with our tremendous technological know-how. Now, for the first time in my life, thanks to Project Wake Up, we may be coming close to providing a suitable answer.”

  “Fascinating,” George mumbled, feigning interest that he did not really feel. “Let me introduce you to my good friend Arnold Wheeler.”

  “This is actually our second meeting, though we never got a chance to talk,” Arnie told George and they greeted Barbara with a warm handshake. “They tell me that you are responsible for the entire concept of Project Wake Up.”

  “I can’t take all the credit, but much of Project Wake Up is based on my original idea of creating a peace room and synergy engine that can be available through the Internet to all of humanity. Originally, I saw the peace room as a government project, but with the communications revolution it seems we can now avoid governments altogether and just go straight to the people.” Abigail/Barbara beamed with enthusiasm.

  “Yes, no real need for government involvement anymore, I guess,” Arnie conceded, well aware that this was the very prospect he was hoping to avoid. Controlling a few hundred government heads and multinational corporations was a lot easier than controlling a billion or more people with direct access to a peace room or synergy engine. “Of course, some governmental control will still be necessary to implement your primary Project Wake Up initiatives, I suppose,” Arnie offered.

  “Not necessarily,” chimed in Horatio Rhinegold, who was just walking into the dining room with his wife, Natalie.

  “Pleasure to see you, Horatio,” Arnie greeted. “And wonderful to see you again, Natalie, as well.”

  “Yes. Last time we were with you was in Aspen at the beginning of the ski season. All is going well, I trust?”

  “Yes,” Arnie said, not really wanting to talk to more California types. “Let me introduce you to George. I do not believe you and he have met.”

  Jim and Inéz Cusumano, Otto Goerden and his wife, Nina, Eve as Barbara’s traveling companion and secretary, Jack and Inga Canfield, and Gayle Newhouse joined the group in the dining room. The thirteen people present, lacking only Randall Jenkins, who was unable to attend this third and hopefully final organizational meeting before full implementation of Project Wake Up, constituted the full board of directors, with the addition of George Bush and Arnold Wheeler, who were attending not as directors but as major potential donors.

  “I was so sorry to hear that Randall could not be with us on this trip. I so enjoy his enthusiasm and ability to make quick connections as we evolve Project Wake Up,” Jim commented to Gayle.

  “Yes, he is disappointed he could not join us, but his older brother just suffered a massive stroke and he felt he needed to be there for his nephews just in case things get worse,” Gayle explained.

  Jim nodded in commiseration, then turned to the table at large. “Let’s get down to business. I am delighted that you could all attend on such relatively short notice. Our agenda for the two days is to finalize our plans for reaching up to one billion people with Project Wake Up in the next thirty days. Thanks to George, Arnold Wheeler has decided to join us and may be willing to make an immediate donation of up to a hundred million dollars so that we can implement our plans immediately. Arnold, I think almost everyone knows you, but please introduce yourself and let us know what information you will need in order to finalize your pledge.”

  “I’m really just a real estate developer. I specialize in taking over distressed properties, cleaning them up, and reselling them,” Arnold began, bowing his head in humility. “Fortunately, God has smiled upon me and we have created great wealth. We funded our own charitable trust—the Arnold and Elizabeth Wheeler Foundation— to support worthy causes. When George told me about Project Wake Up, it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to make a difference. We have been active
with the United Way, St. Jude Hospital, and many other philanthropic causes, but never with an organization like Project Wake Up.” He opened his hands slightly, indicating that what he needed to know was no big deal. “My questions are really those that my foundation board is going to ask. Why Project Wake Up and what evidence do we have, if any, that it can really make a difference? We know when we pay for medical research that lives are likely to be saved, but with Project Wake Up we are not sure what tangible results we will be able to monitor to see if the project has been successful or not—and perhaps just as important, if our money is being used in the best possible fashion.”

  “Fine questions,” Jim concurred. “I’m not sure who is best to field them, but perhaps we should start with Jack.”

  “As you may or may not know, Arnold, I have dedicated my life to teaching people how to identify their true destiny and purpose. As vital as it may be to take physical action to develop new medicines to cure diseases and save lives, it is equally vital to teach people to develop inner mastery so that they can achieve their own personal goals on a daily basis. Project Wake Up is the first major initiative I have seen to attempt to bring this information to hundreds of millions of people instantly. My own training institute has reached tens of thousands of individuals, but to teach tens of millions of people with similar ideas is for me a dream come true. I know that real change starts on the inside and I am certain that the impact of Project Wake Up can be massive. Based on my own research, changing the very nature of human nature is not only possible but imminently feasible,” Jack explained.