Scourge of the Super-saurs
By C. L. Werner
Interlude
Twelve grim-faced men were seated around a massive mahogany table in a room high above the streets of Manhattan. The men argued amongst themselves, their voices rising as anger and panic threatened to overcome their carefully cultivated veneer of civility. Only one man seated at the table did not join in the heated argument. Tall, thin almost to a point which could be described as cadaverous, Mr. John Latos seemed indifferent to the fear which seemed to rule the men seated around him, almost as if he was above such petty concerns. CEO of all of the multinational branches of MARS, Latos was certainly above the various chairmen and presidents sharing the room with him.
The gaunt, wizened figure rose from his seat and glared at the MARS executives, his burning gaze silencing arguments wherever he found them. Latos let a smile twist the corner of his mouth when quiet claimed the room. Even in his old age, the 'war wizard' could silence a room without saying a word. Latos remained standing, allowing his gnarled knuckles to rest against the table to better support his aged frame.
'If you are all quite finished,' Latos said, his voice carrying the slightest hint of the antebellum South in its drawl.
'What you have told us is astonishing,' stated a MARS executive dressed in a simple black suit and red tie. The man seemed to shrink deeper into his chair when Latos' looked at him.
'What is more astonishing is that we did not make the connection sooner!' snapped Latos. 'Three cities attacked in as many weeks, and each time, our offices happen to be victims of the carnage. I assure you that I have initiated some housekeeping measures with regards to our security agencies.'
'But giant monsters?' another MARS executive questioned. 'Can we really be certain that the destruction of our buildings was not just a coincidence?'
Latos nodded to a man seated at the far end of the table. 'Chairman Carmichael, did it seem accidental when the monster attacked your building?'
Chairman Carmichael sneered at the executive who had questioned Latos. 'This monster, this Titanosaurus, headed straight for the Ares Building. I barely made it to the bomb shelter in the basement before the whole thing came crashing down about my ears! I was beneath several tons of brick and steel at the time, but I understand that after the monster destroyed our offices, it returned to the Thames and left London. Does that sound like the incidental rampage of an overgrown animal, or does it sound like a deliberate attack?'
Latos nodded at the hawk-nosed British MARS executive. 'We have more to go on beside Chairman Carmichael's observations. We know who is behind these attacks. I have already put the full resources of our corporation into finding this mad man, and dealing with him. The reason I called this meeting is to announce what we will do to protect ourselves until then.'
Latos turned away from the table, staring through the window at his back. The CEO of MARS did not turn around to face his subordinates when he continued his decree. 'This lunatic is targeting our main offices. With Paris, London, and Moscow already destroyed, that leaves two regional offices and our worldwide headquarters here in New York. I have analyzed the problem, and have decided that we can afford to defend only two of these targets. Naturally, we shall take steps to protect this building. As for the two remaining regional centers, I have decided that Tokyo is a more vital asset than our San Francisco offices, especially in light of Vander Van Hise's incompetent legacy.'
'You are just going to abandon San Francisco?' the president of the regional office in that city cried out. Latos glared at his son.
'San Francisco must fend for itself,' Latos declared. 'If I might make a suggestion, now would be a good time to take a vacation. Still, it is a good captain who remains with a sinking ship.'
Murakoshi slipped into the back seat of the car that had arrived at the airport. The Interpol agent had just returned from Ogasawara and eager to confer with his superior. Murakoshi greeted the man who shared the rear of the car with him. The two men began to talk as the driver maneuvered his vehicle away from the airport.
'Did things go as you hoped?' the senior Interpol officer asked. Murakoshi nodded his head.
'I explained to them all about Dr. Mafune and his creatures. I think we can assume that news of who is behind these attacks will reach the right ears.'
'You are really convinced that this is the best way to handle this?' the detective sounded skeptical.
'If we made a formal request for assistance,' Murakoshi assured his superior, 'it would do more harm than good. The governments involved would see our request as an accusation of not only employing this man, but perhaps of being behind these attacks as well.' Murakoshi paused, collecting his thoughts. 'By doing it this way, by letting them bring news of Mafune's involvement back to their own governments, there will be no taint of accusation attached. The involved agencies might be more inclined to assist us in finding Dr. Mafune.'
'You think that any of them do know where he is?'
'Somehow contact is being made with Mafune. I know that recently he was rumored to be working for the American CIA in the Caribbean. Perhaps they will help us find him. After all, a madman with four giant dinosaurs can't be a very reliable asset for anyone. I don't think anybody would have anything to gain by sheltering the man.'
Murakoshi stared out the window of the car, watching as construction crews labored on the ruins of Tokyo's waterfront, repairing the damage done by Gigan and King Kong only a year ago.
'We have to find Mafune soon, before his monsters strike again.'
Dr. Shinji Mafune watched the newscast, his face reddening with every word. At last, the white-headed scientist rose from his chair and angrily turned the television off. For good measure, he pounded his fist against the top of the set.
'So, they say that Rodan destroyed Moscow!' the irate scientist roared. 'My Anguirus was driven off by the monster! If I had allowed that fight to continue, they would know better! Anguirus would have made short work of Rodan, would have flattened the entire city had I commanded him to!' Mafune stomped from the room, onto his veranda and out into the lush tropical jungle that covered his island.
'I'll show them!' the scientist muttered to himself. 'I'll show them what my Anguirus can really do! Then the whole world will know that I am not a man to be slighted!' The mad doctor's steps carried him to the edge of a vast, bowl-like depression. Dr. Mafune beamed down at the four gigantic creatures resting on the floor of the basin.
'Up and at 'em!' Dr. Mafune shouted down to the spiky hill of Anguirus' back. 'There is more work to be done! Time to show the world what you are really made of!'
A huge reptilian muzzle rose into the air and a low whining howl echoed across the island as Anguirus responded to his creator's summons. Another urge was forming in the giant dinosaur's mind and, soon, another city would burn.