Episode 9: Mary Foxxen Publishing
The Publish and Die Protocol-Fiction Series
The television was on in the reception of my new publishing office. There was an interview taking place with my elder sister Mary, who was five years older than me.
Mary my older sister had started a book publishing firm. Her success is on the rise and she is making a name for herself as a representative of SWAMP Publishing. We are on opposite sides of the publishing fence. The fence was just growing higher and higher between us every day.
SWAMP was getting more powerful and controlling in the world. This gigantic and tarantula-like company was seizing every product, service, and opportunity in the fields of business and e-commerce. The conglomerate was taking over smaller companies, dissolving them and killing the fundamental principles of these enterprises like a black widow.
At the very beginning of the twenty-first century, the world of printing and publishing was insipid and placid like a weak cup of tea and also like a still fungus and algae-filled lake.
However, once SWAMP entered the publishing arena, things started to take shape and get more interesting. The smaller printing and publishing companies were being sold or taken over by a company called SWAMP. The company offered these smaller companies, who were barely surviving, lucrative incentives and profitable deals, which were too hard to resist.
But, as time went on, SWAMP was growing in size, influence, and presence. The company was now creating a more dynamic field of publishing. Some saw this as a good thing. The world of publishing was in desperate need of a large dose of injected advancement and progress, which was being provided by SWAMP. Some editors were also calling SWAMP the savior for publishing. The media viewed this gradual growth and emergence of this media giant as a boon to the printing and publishing industry.
Scholars and researchers into printing and publishing were now calling this period of SWAMP publishing a Golden Age and the start of the Renaissance for Printing and Publishing.
This Publishing Renaissance was now a global phenomenon and everyone wanted to be a part of it, even if it meant sacrificing freedom of expression along with other liberties. The company was now in control of almost the entire population of the world.
I was surprised that my sister was not just an advocate for this evil company, but she was leading it on its way to taking over the world. The business dealings of SWAMP were covered with the dirt and grime of corruption, deceit, and evil. The company now had most of the world leaders, entrepreneurs, and intellectuals in the palm of its hands. Its influence was growing stronger and it was now just a matter of time for it to destroy the good in society.
Children were betraying their parents and even parents were now forced to turn their children over to SWAMP for its experiments on human beings.
My sister Mary, who I had not spoken to for over twenty years now, was talking about a new life-enriching and life expectancy increasing program which was being introduced by SWAMP worldwide.
“You’re telling me that there will be no harmful effects?”, asked the young reporter Randy Bridge-Waters of the Yokel Nine Television company.
“No, there are no harmful effects. We have had a number of subjects who have undergone these experiments and they are still healthy and happy,” said Mary a forty-year-old lady, who looked like a college professor, with her large spectacles, brown hair, and dressed in a smart blue suit.
“What is the purpose of these experiments?”
“It is part of SWAMP’s research and development project, to increase the lifespan of human beings and to make us live longer and healthier lives.”
“What are the positive effects of these experiments, which you have aptly named the Elixir Project?”
“People who undergo these experiments will have their cells and tissues regenerated and so have an increased life-span. A man of sixty will have the body of a thirty-five-year-old.”
“Are you saying that twenty-five years will be knocked off a person’s biological age?”
“Yes of course. We have had a number of people who are now living the experience.”
“Do you mean that there are a few of these miracle “young people” who have successfully done the experiments? Can you give us a few names?”, asked Randy enthusiastically.
“I’m sorry, I can’t give you any names, due to the confidentiality agreement they have signed with SWAMP for the Elixir Project.”
“There are rumors that there are a few billionaires and World Leaders who have undergone these experiments, is it true?”
“My lips are sealed. The people who have undergone these experiments consider it a personal experience for them.”
“Why don’t they want to share their experiences?”
“They fear that the world would treat them like freaks, like the first head transplant victims in the world,” said Mary as she tapped the blue file in front of her.
“There are also websites which state that SWAMP is creating new super-soldiers, are these true or just tall tales?”
“They are absolutely not true. That would be a waste of money and resources. We at SWAMP would like to use all our research and development facilities around the world to enhance and enrich the future of mankind. We promise humanity a more healthy and positive future, free from hunger, poverty, war, and disease,” said Mary with a smile as she takes off her spectacles and wipes her lenses with soft tissue, she pulls out of her handbag and places it on her lap.
“One final question, can SWAMP with all its experiments in the physiology and psychology of man, bring the dead back to life?”
“That’s impossible and you know better than to ask me such an outrageous question,” said Mary, as she stands up annoyed.
“Okay, Mary Foxxen, why is it that you are not with your brother Richard Foxxen helping him with his publishing firm, which is now a global independent publishing platform, giving independent authors all over the world a free and fully controllable platform for publishing?”
“I would like Richard to join us, we are a much bigger enterprise and we are guaranteed to last for as long as mankind walks the planet.”
“Thank you for this interview with us,” said Randy the interviewer as Mary thanks him and walks off the stage.
Kevin Hardstone was an Assassin for the conglomerate SWAMP.
His life was taken over by the large commercial firm which was now a part of everything in society.
SWAMP had saved the life of his wife and cured her of cancer she had when their daughter was very young. Kevin’s daughter Heloise was now studying at university with a grant made possible by SWAMP.
Kevin owed the company his life. He was always contacted online and given a name and address for his next target. The money was only transferred to his bank account when the target had been killed.
SWAMP was a tough employer and any form of betrayal was met with death. Anyone who worked for SWAMP could be asked to be an assassin for the company SWAMP would train the selected individual to be a proficient killing machine.
Kevin had notched up over fifty-four kills in the space of ten years making it almost five kills a year.
He had hesitated on the last job. He was told to kill a school teacher. He did not know why he needed to kill the young woman. Kevin knew that he could not ask questions as he would not be given any answers. He was paid to kill his victims and receive his money. He was not supposed to get close to his victims. His anonymous employer, who had told him that he or she was an agent of SWAMP somehow knew his every move, it seemed like he was being watched by them constantly.
The young school teacher Alexandra was walking to her school that morning. Kevin was waiting with his gun ready to shoot her, but at the last minute when she was in his gun-sights, he hesitated. A minute later, his phone rang and a muffled voice told him that he had hesitated and he needed to complete the job or someone else would be sent to kill the young teacher.
This assassin was now developing a conscience and that was not the right emotion to have in this business.
Today Kevin was told to kill the young teacher Alexandra as she went on a camping trip with her family.
Kevin followed the family, as they drove in their car out of the city. The car kept going till they reached a densely forested area.
He stopped some miles away and watched as they set up camp.
He waited a few hours, as they sat around the campfire and ate their meal.
At midnight, the young Alexandra, her teenage brother, and their parents went into their tents for the night.
At one o’clock Kevin Hardstone, the cold-blooded SWAMP assassin came out of hiding and moved towards Alexandra’s tent, with his fully loaded rifle.
As he pulled the door of the tent to look inside, he was surprised by what he saw.
Three of the family members were in the tent, with their rifles aimed at him. It looked as if they were waiting for him. The family was hunting him and he was not the hunter, they were the hunters.
All three of the family started shooting at him.
He heard a noise behind him.
As he turned, he was shocked to see the young teacher Alexandra standing with a gun, she also started firing at him.
His knees buckled and he fell to the forest floor bleeding.
Kevin was bleeding profusely.
The blood was just spurting out of his body from all angles.
He was like a fountain spouting blood. He was losing his life, his blood was being greedily absorbed by the green grass of the forest floor.
He was the victim, his time of being an assassin was now over.
He wished that SWAMP would allow his wife and daughter to live.
SWAMP Slogans of Love, Peace, Fellowship, and Harmony were advertised everywhere. Society was brainwashed into believing that SWAMP was the future of mankind.
The agents of SWAMP were everywhere spouting all the slogans of positivity and brotherhood. They were not to be believed.
“Let Us Swamp your Life, with everything you need today, tomorrow, and in the years to come.”
“Your Life will have a deeper meaning if you are part of the Swamp Family.”
“Enrich the quality of your life and the lives of your loved ones, by joining the SWAMP, Life Insurance Scheme today.”
“Donate your Organs and your Wealth to Swamp and we will ensure a better future for generations of your family.”
“Swamp is embracing the world with its warm and comforting presence. Feel the warmth of Swamp by joining one of our Swamp Free Family Home Projects.”
“Swamp provides you and your loved ones with all that you need in life, from free births, free education, free clothing, free shelter, to free housing, full-time employment, full cover for your marriage, your divorce, and even your funeral expenses.”
“Make Swamp the permanent lasting legacy which you leave to your loved ones and family today.”
There were so many young people who were disillusioned by society and who decided to dedicate their lives to SWAMP.
It was only after having served a number of years that the members of SWAMP would want to leave.
There was only one way to leave SWAMP and that was in a sealed oak box.
The agents of evil were ever-present. They were trained in the ways of evil and they would use fear as their weapon of choice.
https://warrenbrown.substack.com/s/publish-and-die-protocol-a-thriller