Page 37 (2/2)

Gupta followed him out of the office They passed a conference rooe and walked up a wide staircase to a second lounge, this one with a baby grand piano as its centerpiece

They continued aft past four sumptuous staterooms, one of which would be Gupta’s In the tail section, they reached a third lounge This one had an array of leather chairs on three low risers that were tiered higher toward a set of spiral stairs at the back A door behind the stairs separated this rooalley The walls were decorated with a wide assort fro stars

Gupta examined the armaments closely

“I wouldn’t want to be in this roo turbulence,” he said

“They’re all securely fastened to the wall,” Carlton said “I understand that you’re a fan of weapons like I am”

Gupta nodded “But o more toward firearms”

Carlton shrugged “Difficult to collect in England”

Gupta stopped at an edged weapon shaped vaguely like an a from just above the hilt at one end and a two-headed axe that had a pointed blade on one side and a wicked curved hook on the other

“I’ve never seen one of these before,” Gupta said “What’s it called?”

“A hunga h it can be used to hack at an enemy, it’s even deadlier in the hands of a skilled thrower” Carlton gestured at one of the chairs “Please take a seat”

While Gupta settled into it, Carlton pressed a button on the wall, which lowered to reveal a huge monitor

“Are atching a movie?” Gupta snidely asked while he checked his phone “What does this have to do with Romir Mallik?”

Carlton rolled his eyes “I guarantee you ant to see this”

Gupta put away the phone and crossed his arms Apparently, his initial shock at Carlton’s accusation was gone, replaced by a generous dose of skepticism

“Is this going to be a video of the rocket explosion? Because I’ve seen it already Your networks have been broadcasting it on a loop since the failed launch”