Part One
Date: 26th December 2004 / 15:00
Location: Singapore
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
Genesis 1
The University of Singapore auditorium erupted with what was for this crowd unconventional cheering and applause, as the grey haired speaker made his final statement in a speech that had enthralled the ‘to capacity’ filled hall.
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen, you have been an inspiring audience and I hope todays discussion about the future of our world has inspired you all to achieve the highest academic levels of this great University. The Earth will certainly need many more great scientists if we are to survive.”Professor Nigel Stansen was more than just a guest speaker at the University, he was a head hunter. He lectured around the globe and at the same time scoured the worlds Universities and laboratories looking for the brightest of the bright. He needed as many of the world’s great minds as he could find. They were running out of crucial time and the events that had unfolded this last night and day had brought it home to him like a brick.
As the audience continued to applaud and gradually all got to their feet, still applauding and even whistling, Nigel waved and walked from the stage his assistants and body guards surrounding him and guiding him from the auditorium into the bowels of the University.
“Mr. Stansen,” called someone from behind him. Nigel turned to see his Chief of Security, Scott Owens approaching holding his mobile phone in his hand. “It’s you know who Mr. Stansen,” said Owens, in his usual military tone. As Nigel took the phone he could read on the screen ‘Jason King’. He knew he must take the call and he knew why he would be calling.