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The Judas Seat
The Judas Seat
Category:
Action/Thriller
Publisher: Sterling Quill Press
ISBN-10: 1452800677
Type: Fiction
Pages: 305
Copyright: 2010
ISBN-13: 139781452800677
When a South Korean defector takes the reins of North Korea, the world teeters on the edge of a nuclear abyss. The only man all parties will agree to lead the negotiations is the man who doesn’t want the job—former American diplomat Richard Matthews. And someone at the table wants the negotiations to fail. Can Richard unmask the Judas in time?
When a South Korean defector takes the reins of North Korea, the world teeters on the shaky edge of an abyss, the only man all parties will agree to lead the peace talks is a former diplomat who doesn't want the job--Richard Matthews. However, his conscience drives him to North Korea where the talks stall. The delegates posture, but make no concessions. Sabotage pulls the Russians from the table. The Japanese leave in response to a terrorist threat. Then Richard is kidnapped, disappears without a trace. The delegates, his staff and his family cope with no clues to his whereabouts for weeks. During his absence from the table, he feels the true pulse of North Korea.
Excerpt
Suddenly the doors to the chamber burst open. The delegate jumped with surprise, turning toward the door to see a filthy apparition stride into the chambers. As his heart slowed down, he recognized Matthews under the dirt and beard. The room fell silent as Matthews stood glaring around the room. The American, Delmonico, got up from Matthews’ former seat to stand behind it. Chung Hee smiled and then bowed his head.
“I’m back,” Matthews announced, his voice harsh. Once again, his gaze swept the room. “Delegates, the games are over.” With every eye on him, he marched around the room to his place at the head of the table. Leaning forward, resting his hands on the table, he looked at them all one more time. The delegate noticed Matthews’s hands—dirty, swollen, distorted, as if they had been broken.
Matthews spoke again. “The rules have changed, ladies and gentlemen.” He waited while they absorbed his words. “From now on, only delegates and the staff I choose will be present in the room.” A gasp circled the room. The delegate glanced toward his stenographer.
“From now on,” Matthews continued. “You arrive at the chambers when I say and you leave when I say.” The delegates began to look at each other and at their staffs. “Meals and breaks are at my order.” A muttered rumble began.
Matthews stood staring, until the rumble died, and the delegate could hear the other people in the room breathing. All of them. “And from now on, no arguing about who will sit where.” No one else spoke. “You will sit where I tell you, when I tell you.” He pulled his hands deliberately off the table, every person in the room watching him. “You will rotate chairs when I tell you, until each of you has the chance to sit in the Judas seat.” Slowly, moving from delegate to delegate, he stared each of them in the eye. The delegate resisted the urge to look away, to swallow hard, when it was his turn. Finished, Matthews stood straight, and backed a half step away from the table. “And for one of you, it will fit like a glove.” Fear began deep in the pit of the delegate’s stomach, and climbed toward his throat.
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