The Last Human (a novel)

"Repent sinner!" The Prophet intoned in a sacerdotal flourish. "Obey the Will of the Most High made manifest in his chosen Prophet! Oh generation of unbelief, We demand repentance and obedience!"

The Prophet lowered his hands, folded them across his chest, and glared at Adrian.

Adrian resisted an urge to point a finger at the bizarre nut and demand that he cut the horsing around. Instead he took a deep breath to calm himself and gave as friendly a smile as he could manage to the religious maniac.

"I am the Acting President of the United States," he said in a calm even voice. "I am not one of your followers."

The Prophet pointed an accusing finger at him. "Beware! You speak to the Prophet of the Almighty! He will smite your stony heart! His Dogs of Death have been unleashed!

He descends in visible majesty, nothing but destruction awaits you!"

Adrian sighed and shifted his stance slightly. "My good man, all I ask is that you try to understand my situation. I am trying to save the human race, too. None of us is against you or your religion." Adrian held out his hands pleadingly. "We don't mind if you and your followers want to live in Monaco. What we care about is that you adhere to the anti-virus procedures." He shook his head to emphasize his plea. "There are too few of us left."

The Prophet took a step back and placed an arm around the waist of woman advisor and placed his other hand on man's shoulder. He stood there for some seconds glowering at Adrian.

Then abruptly The Prophet turned and stormed back to the van with his two followers. He climbed in. They climbed in after him. He slammed the van door.

For a terrifying several seconds his guards fired their automatic weapons into the air.

Then they piled into the vans.

Adrian heard the van engines start. He turned and walked back to the Humvee.

Lionel had slid over into the driver's seat and had kept the engine running in case they might have to beat a quick retreat. The Prophet's vans, peeling rubber, Squealed off down the road away from him.

Adrian did not turn to look at their attention-getting display. He continued to walk to the Humvee while throwing out his arms in a gesture of both helplessness and resignation.

Lionel, at the wheel, shook his head and shrugged. Adrian got into the passenger seat. They drove back to Toulon saying little.

Over the next several days Adrian held cabinet meetings. He consulted the best remaining psychological experts. He talked with his military advisors in case it should come to that. He discussed economic pressures, such as they might be. He even discussed