Chapter fifty three
The Chalet
Christopher Golde
Then he said to me, ‘It is done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
The beginning and the end.
To the thirsty I will give water,
As a gift from the spring of the water of life.’
John Revelation 21.6
Date: 6th January 2002 Location: Swiss Alps
A black bell ranger jet helicopter landed safely and expertly less than fifty yards from the Chalet in the Swiss Alps that was used as a base for Sir Nigel Stansen’s United Nations research team. Two armed French special services guards in white snow cams ran from the entrance of the Chalet to meet the chopper. Two men alighted from the aircraft and spoke to the guards and then one returned and opened a door assisting a third person to alight. All five headed for the shelter of the retreat.
Sir Nigel Stansen stood inside the entrance to the Chalet and held out his hand to one of the new arrivals.
“Welcome, Mr Gatwick to our refuge in the sky.”
“Thank you, Sir Nigel,” replied Bill Gatwick, dusting the snow off his thick parker and pulling a scarf from around his neck, “nice backyard you’ve got here.”
“We appreciate our privacy, Mr. Gatwick.”
“Just call me Bill please,” the billionaire American said, as he held the professor's hand firmly.
“Please come this way,” offered the professor.
From the entrance hall, they entered a large room with several lounges a long boardroom table, a long-serving table along one wall and another wall made completely of glass with an incredible view of the snow-capped peaks that surrounded the chalet.
“Our conference room Mr Gatwick,” said the scientist, as they entered, “we have thirty guest rooms, a very well-stocked library, scientific laboratory, a recreational wing which includes a gym, swimming pool and tennis court, plus of course our administrator wing.”
“Very impressive Sir Nigel,” said Gatwick nodding.
“Please come this way to our more intimate meeting room, I have someone waiting to meet you.”
“Oh”, said Gatwick, raising his eyebrows in mock anticipation.
They passed through a door opposite the vast glass wall next to the long-serving table and as the two men entered the room, Bill Gatwick stopped dead in his tracks. Sitting at the other end of a small table was the last person on Earth he expected to see.