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  What others are saying about Climatized…

  “In Climatized, Sally Fernandez has deftly created a novel out of perhaps the biggest deception in the history of the modern world. She has made herself a credible expert on the real causes of our mostly natural global warming, and on the members of the cabal that has misled us. She also presents a plausible scenario that a very cold 60-year solar minimum will descend on the planet soon, with or without any change in human CO2 emissions. The plot to create a world government of unelected bureaucrats will thus be brought down by the very natural cycles the deceivers have tried so hard to deny. Then the Western world will have to turn around the deadly and ultimately ruinous ‘environmental’ policies which have held us in thrall for the last 30 years.”

  —Dennis T. Avery, New York Times Bestselling Co-Author of Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years

  “Sally Fernandez’ novel Climatized is a tour de force of exciting fictional characters engaged in non-stop action juxtaposed within a context of real people, current politics, and factually accurate information. She has found a stunningly innovative way to draw attention to one of the great issues we’re dealing with today!!!”

  —Tom Wysmuller, NASA, The Right Climate Stuff research team

  “Sally Fernandez has written an exciting novel that interweaves politics and science. Although it is a work of fiction, Climatized demonstrates that its author—having done her own investigating—has not been taken in by the hype of so-called ‘climate change/global warming’ that continues to be prominently propagated by a host of politicians, media, scientists, and administrators of major scientific societies. Readers of Climatized can expect adventure plus enlightenment.”

  —Laurence I. (“Larry”) Gould, Professor of Physics (University of Hartford), Former Chair New England Section of the American Physical Society, Member of The Right Climate Stuff research team

  “Bernie Sanders says this election is about global warming, and if he’s right then Sally Fernandez’ latest novel, Climatized, should be required reading for all voters! Not only a great read—exciting, suspenseful, with unexpected twists—but brilliantly researched and convincing about what really is at stake in the climate-change debate. Four stars!”

  —R. A. Halpern, BA (Honours), Oxford University, MA/PhD, Princeton University

  “Once again the author of The Simon Tetralogy addresses an important contemporary and controversial issue, and once again she does it with believable characters and situations, sparse and terse plot development, crisp dialogue, and carefully researched science. No matter what your views are on the climate-change debate, Climatized is an excellent read and will galvanize your mind.”

  —Alfredo S. Vedro, Media Production Consultant, Florida

  “Where can you find intrigue, romance, conspiracy, corruption, and mystery wrapped up in one neat package? The answer is Climatized! The inaugural edition of the Max Ford thriller series has it all. Fernandez has delivered again—a great read with a character you will be eager to follow!”

  —Donna Post, Banking Consultant (Ret.), Florida

  “Climatized has opened my eyes and Maxine is the new sleuth of the day to keep your eyes on. Reading this book, and then researching the named organizations and scientists in this storyline, have altered my views on climate change 180 degrees. Sally Fernandez adds suspense, wit, and reality in the making of this surefire bestseller. For all lawmakers, it’s a ‘must read.’”

  —Kenney DeCamp, Producer, Performer, and Mime, Florida

  “Riveting, powerful, intriguing—I could not put Climatized down! Fernandez once again brings the ignorance of man to the forefront. Will we remain sheep or will we break away from the fold? If we do not, we will be penned in and led to the slaughterhouse. It is time to start questioning our governments’ true motives and who they actually benefit—US or THEM!!”

  —Ann E. Howells, Wine Consultant, Florida

  CLIMATIZED

  CLIMATIZED

  A Max Ford Thriller

  A Novel

  Sally Fernandez

  Climatized

  A Max Ford Thriller

  Copyright © 2016 by Sally Fernandez

  All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, scanning, or otherwise—without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. For information on licensing or special sales, please email Dunham Books at [email protected]

  Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-0997397321

  E-book ISBN: 978-0997397338

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2016952849

  Printed in the United States of America

  In loving memory of Dr. Patricia Ames,

  a selfless aunt and eternal role model,

  who contributed in large part

  to the person I have become.

  FOREWORD

  I was completely astounded when Sally Fernandez, a novelist previously unknown to me, contacted me about 10 days ago and asked me to read and comment on a pre-publication draft of her new novel, Climatized. At first, I was surprised to find characters in her novel using my real name in the dialogue of this fictional mystery thriller that is full of political intrigue and obscure international locations. But as I progressed further into the riveting plot, I was completely blown away when she revealed an unusual clue scribbled on the back of a family photo in a fictional US Senator’s office. This clue was in the form of an equation that I recognized from presentations I had made at international climate conferences and that our climate research team of retired NASA Apollo Program scientists and engineers had derived and documented in research reports published on our website. Most readers won’t learn the meaning and actual significance of this clue until much later in the story, as Fernandez deftly weaves her fictional plot in and around the actual history and more recent events of the anthropogenic (human-caused) global-warming (AGW) movement. Her heroine, Maxine Ford, not only uses the old adage “follow the money” to solve this mystery; she also has to “follow the bodies” and survive attempts on her own life to bring this political thriller to its final conclusion.

  Besides the suspense and reading enjoyment from following the characters in the unfolding plot of the sinister but plausible premise of this novel, readers will be educated regarding many important scientific facts. Many of these facts are totally at odds with the constant barrage of global-warming doomsday propaganda continually distributed by some politicians and hyped-up mass media news stories using selected alarming, but highly unlikely possibilities, from peer-reviewed scientific research publications by climate scientists’ dependent on government grants doled out by political appointees.

  Fernandez leads her readers to understand her fictional explanation for the current climate alarmism, and it lines up uncomfortably close to the conclusions our research team of NASA Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station Program veterans from our own independent and objective scientific assessment of the current global-warming controversy.

  —Dr. Harold Doiron, Chairman

  The Right Climate Stuff research team

  July 25, 2016

  INTRODUCTION

  Everything had changed. The country had stabilized and support for the president’s plan had gained momentum. America was once again sailing on course.

  But for this cast of characters unexpected winds lay ahead, starting with Major Stanley Stanton. His love for Maxine Ford was beyond reason, given her unwillingness to commit to him. Then he discovered who was holding her back. It hit him hard. But as with any hardy soldier, he was resilient and accepted that an abiding friendship was all he could expect. Of one thing he was certain: he would always
protect her with his life. The real shock came when Max and Noble Bishop discovered their adoration for each other, forcing Max’s role as his deputy director to come to a bittersweet end.

  Their true feelings had erupted three months earlier, on that ominous night in July when the former First Lady and senator, Maryann Townsend, held Max at gunpoint. For Townsend it was a final vendetta against those who had caused the death of her one-time lover, the world-renowned terrorist Simon Hall, and her husband, the former US president Abner Baari. For Stanton it was a split-second decision forcing him to fire the fatal shot that killed the former First Lady. For Noble it was a hidden emotion when he witnessed Max’s life in peril. Although a tragic ending to the legacy of the Baari Administration, it a new and interesting chapter for those who survived.

  Life was about to get more complicated. This is their story… somewhat.

  Chapter 1

  UP IN THE AIR

  Claus was pleased to see Ernst standing outside the hotel at eight a.m. sharp. Now they could beat the weekend traffic and arrive in Saint Léger within the hour. It was an easy drive from Claus’ home in Avignon, but the weather forecast for the weekend called for conditions that were unseasonably sunny with cloudless skies, abnormal conditions for an April day without rain. He suspected the roads would be cluttered with families opting to enjoy the various outdoor activities available in the mountainous region. Most important, the weather was ideal for rock climbing, one of Claus’ obsessions. He often remarked that the desire to climb coursed through his veins since receiving his first Whiz Kid harness and carabiners at the age of five. What choice did he have? Both his grandfather and father were avid climbers. Oh yes, with the warm sun and the crisp air, it promised to be a strenuous but invigorating climb, exactly what Claus preferred.

  Up ahead was the sign for Saint Léger du Ventoux. They were about to pass through the quaint village in the Toulourenc Valley at the base of the Mont Ventoux. The immense mountain, towering six thousand feet into the air, was well known for casting a permanent shadow on the tiny hamlet. In another half-mile east and a quarter-mile north they would reach their destination. Finally, Claus steered into the sparsely filled parking lot, pleased to see only a few visitors had arrived.

  “How magnificent,” Ernst said, as he viewed the majestic Saint Léger hovering above.

  “She’s got some of the finest crags and some the hardest routes,” Claus said. Eager to get going, he hopped out of the car and headed for the trunk. “Help me with the gear?”

  As Ernst followed behind he spotted myriad overhangs off in the distance. “It looks challenging.”

  “The route we’re going to take is a single pitch and only a hundred and thirty feet high up the cliff. But don’t let her fool you; she’s a tough old crag.”

  “So what do we need—just ropes and belay devices?” “That will do it.” Claus looked at Ernst’s feet and noticed that they were two shoe sizes larger than his. “Good thing you brought your own climbing shoes,” he joked.

  “I never leave home without them. But thanks for letting me borrow your other gear.”

  “No problem. Let’s get going. It’s a twenty-minute walk from here to the base.”

  As they walked along the narrow path lined with Austrian pines, Claus explained that the route was one of the most difficult, as well as one of the least ventured. “There are permanent bolts strategically placed up the rock face. They’re positioned anywhere from fifteen to thirty feet apart, so we’ll be able to descend without rappelling.”

  They both understood that with or without the bolts that provided protection, the descent was the most dangerous part of rock climbing—the part they both enjoyed.

  “Hey, Ernst, you never told me what you do for a living or why you were even at the conference?” Claus was a little curious, but he was primarily killing time.

  “I guess our climbing tales did dominate our discussions. No big secret. I’m a freelance consultant for biotech companies.”

  “So why the interest in a climate-change seminar?”

  “I was bored.” Ernst grinned. “You gonna let me start the ascent?”

  “I know the route. You don’t, so I’ll take the first pitch.”

  Ernst didn’t push. He knew there would be plenty of opportunities to switch roles back and forth between the lead climber and the belayer.

  “Here we are!” Claus announced as they came around the last bend. Standing before them was a massive rock towering up in the air.

  Ernst inspected the crag. He noted that the first bolt was secured approximately twenty feet up the rock face.

  Claus noted his expression. “I assume you approve?”

  “Absolutely!”

  Claus expertly tied off one end of the rope to his carabiner with a figure-eight knot and then attached the carabiner to his harness. “I mentioned that this is one of my preferred routes. It’s a rugged day’s climb that calls for endurance and physical strength, but it’s not Dangerville.”

  “I’m ready to rock and roll!” Ernst said. His eagerness was apparent.

  Claus also deemed it time to get the show on the road or, rather, up the rock. After double-checking his equipment, he took the lead and began the ascent. Taking special care, he inched his way up the rock face as Ernst ran the rope through the belay device and then clipped the device to his harness. It provided the necessary protection in case the leader was to slip and fall before attaching himself to a pre-placed bolt with a carabiner. The belay device created friction, placing bends in the rope the belayer to tighten and secure the rope quickly, preventing the leader from falling beyond the last piece of protection.

  Having maneuvered the rock face without incident and satisfied with the pace, Claus attached himself to the next bolt. Then, he took over the belay device and functioned as the belayer. He watched attentively as Ernst climbed to join him. At that point they had been ascending for well over an hour, covering half the distance, with Claus always in the lead.

  “Now can I take the lead?” Ernst asked, satisfied he had proven his athletic prowess.

  Claus gave the go-ahead.

  Ernst moved upward toward the next bolt as Claus adjusted the belay. Thus far, the ascent had moved along with a rhythmic cadence. Then after passing a few more bolts, Claus was once again in the lead.

  “I’m ready!” he shouted down to Ernst but there was no response. “C’mon, let’s move it!”

  “Give me a sec! I’m adjusting my gear!” Ernst shouted back. Moments later, he resumed the climb.

  Finally, they had reached the top of the cliff. They each detached the rope, removing the tether from their harnesses, and then stood back to admire the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view.

  “Breathtaking!” Ernst remarked. “Well worth the climb.”

  “Ready for lunch? I’m starved.” From Ernst’s expression, Claus needed no verbal response. Immediately he opened his backpack and pulled out an assortment of sausages and cheeses, along with a crusty baguette.

  Ernst grabbed two energy drinks and two protein bars from his backpack.

  They noshed leisurely on their snacks and carried on with simple conversation while enjoying the refreshing cool air. But as the hour passed by they agreed to pack up and get off the mountain before losing the benefit of daylight. Within the next two hours, the sun’s glow would cast itself on the back side of the mountain, leaving them hanging off a dimly lit crag. After a few more moments to stretch their legs, they gathered their belongings and organized for the descent. As agreed, they would not rappel, but would climb down together, sharing the roles of leader and belayer as they had before.

  Ernst walked over to the permanent bolt fastened to the rock face at the edge of the cliff and clipped on a carabiner. He ensured the knotting on the rope was secure. Simultaneously, Claus tied the other end of the rope to his harness and descended to the first bolt twenty feet below. Ernst released the rope at a slow, even pace through the belay, using the device as a descender th
is time. As Claus increased his distance, Ernst kept the rope taut.

  “Watch your footing down here!” Claus shouted, paying particular attention to the patch of scree they encountered on the way up. He continued to edge his way along the rock face using great caution, until he arrived at the next bolt. “I’m clipped on!” He attached his carabiner and waited for Ernst to climb down and take the lead.

  “Whoa!” Ernst landed his left foot smack in the center of the scree, but soon regained his balance as the loose gravel scarcely missed Claus’ head.

  Either Ernst did not hear him or he was not paying attention, but for whatever reason it gave Claus pause. “Let’s take it slow! We have plenty of time. Remember—you don’t know this crag—I do!”

  “Got it!” After a few deep breaths, Ernst continued.

  They regained their cadence, taking special care as they maneuvered past each other and descended the mountain.

  All of a sudden, Claus heard a foreboding snap. “ERNST!” he screamed as he slid down the rock face, scraping his head along the way.

  With no time to spare, Ernst tied off his rope to stop Claus’ acceleration. Had he not, they both would have plunged over seventy-five feet to the ground.

  Dangling helplessly on the rope thirty feet below, Claus took a lungful and then exhaled. His ears rang with the sound of his body scraping against the rocks. It reminded him of a train coming to a screeching halt on unoiled tracks. A horrible sound, he thought as he shuddered.

  “Find a foothold—and don’t move!” Seconds later Ernst had him tied off, and the rope was secure. “I need to rappel down and take your weight.”

  For Claus, it seemed like hours, but it only took minutes for Ernst to reach him.

  “What the hell happened?”