"There are too goddamn many variables, Elliott, sneaking a team in there right under the noses of the Joint Chiefs and the president. I'm not even going to mention how Brazil would react to an intrusion like that. And this tactical weapon you're sending? I don't want to think about what security procedures have been violated for that little bit of skullduggery. This is fucking madness and I didn't sign on to kill American citizens!"
"General Peterson, it's already been decided. We unanimously agreed, you included, that the location of the Padilla site cannot become public knowledge, ever. As for the material — if it's discovered in Iraq, only by a long shot can it be traced back here to our doorstep, because it was neither refined nor mined here. The only way for it to come to light is if some reference is found to it. Yes, this lady professor in her maddening zeal to find the Padilla site discovered one link, but it was a fluke. The only other reference to the area is in the old Padilla legends that the scientific community scoffs at and doesn't take at all seriously. The location of the site and what exactly was mined and brought out of there are buried deep in the memories of the survivors of the initial incursion in the forties, if any are even alive today. Now, you went along with the deployment of the material the same as we did, and the aggression was stopped."
"As I said, we've gotten in over our heads here, we need—"
"You'll have your position in the government after the next election, just as I will. The mission is a 'go.' And that particular weapon you are so concerned about, if it is to be used at all, was entered into the naval inventory as inactive and destroyed, so no one will miss it. Anyway, I doubt very much anyone has to be eliminated. Now, that's all, just go about your business, and let Rear Admiral Pierce and myself handle the fine print. Good day, gentlemen."
Ambrose didn't wait for another concern to be voiced that would lead to splintering; it was always best to commit right away so there would be no going back.
The thin-framed national security advisor turned away from his desk and shook his head as he again picked up the morning intelligence report on the border activity between Iran and Iraq. He smiled as he saw the sentence in italics: As of 0345 this morning eastern daylight time, satellite imagery has verified the total withdrawal ofall Iranian combat divisions from the adjoining border with Iraq.
As he tossed the morning briefing on his desk, he walked over to the coat rack and put on his suit jacket in preparation for the president's morning intel brief. He couldn't help but wonder in the end what price one would pay for peace. He picked up his phone and placed a call.
"Yes," the tired voice said.
"Congratulations on your mission to Iran. How's your jet lag?"
"I'm too tired to think about it, but we did leave the damned Iranians something to ponder. Iraq may not have the bomb to stop them from invading, but they now have something just as terrifying. Now, what about this expedition you briefed me on, this Professor Zachary?"
"We have it covered; there will be no amazing discoveries coming out of that area of the world. And if anyone else here goes digging into the same files the last person did, we'll be alerted; it's been red-flagged and we'll be able to trace it to the computer terminal that's being used. Sometimes it's very advantageous to be partners with the intel chiefs."
"Good. Is there anything else before we brief the president and the press corps on our diplomatic triumph?"
"No, everything is going well. I will be speaking to our partners in Brazil soon, to finalize our fail-safe positions as far as this expedition is concerned, if our SEAL friend fails to do what was ordered."
"I know it is distasteful at times to deal with people such as this, but the end will justify the means. Let's just close up the mine connection for good and move on with the real business at hand."
"I agree. Enjoy all the accolades for your harrowing diplomacy from our current man in office. If he only knew how he was helping us in the election! Anyway, this latest diplomatic coup should put you right over the top in the polls. Peace in our time, right?" He thought he was being smart, quoting Neville Chamberlain.
"I sometimes wonder if it was all worth it. As they say, you can't put the genie back in the bottle."
As the national security advisor hung up the phone he placed the morning report back in the red-bordered file and then he frowned. He knew that the sale of their souls to the Devil was the price all six conspirators had just paid for "peace in our time."
SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA
After Robby Hanson closed the cell phone he looked around and, when he saw no one watching him, he turned to the overhang of the second deck and waved the girl over. She smiled and came out of the shadows.
"What did she say?" the twenty-year-old asked.
"She's clueless; as long as she's finally going on her dream cruise down the Amazon, Professor Zachary doesn't care who's on this trip. Besides it's not like we're lying about your being a grad student from Berkeley, is it?"
The girl smiled and leaned forward to kiss Robby on the lips. "I just had to go. How could I miss the trip of a lifetime?"
"Yeah, but how much trouble am I going to get into? Remember it was me who helped you ditch your protection. Your father's going to freakin' flip his gourd." Robby shook his head, kissed the girl again, then turned her away from him.
"Go to your cabin and start getting acquainted with your fellow travelers, and stay out of sight until you check your equipment. And by the way, Kelly, your name is Cox. Leanne Cox. God, I'm dead," he mumbled.
She batted her eyes. Grabbing her brand-new seabag, she started for the hatchway leading belowdecks. Then she stopped and turned. "Don't tell me my secret fiance is afraid of my father?"
Robby smiled and started making check marks on his manifest. "Why would I be afraid of one of the most powerful men in the world, surely not I, Ms. Cox?"
* * *
Farbeaux decided to drive to Los Angeles from Palo Alto. Taking Highway 1 relaxed him and allowed his mind to absorb the mission and think. He had placed Helen Zachary's map inside a cylindrical container and placed it in the trunk. As he whistled he removed from his jacket pocket a Spanish cross once owned by Father Corinth. The last time Pizarro's priest had seen the cross was in 1534. The warmth of it radiated out into his hand as he looked at it. How clever of Corinth to have placed both ore samples together in this most ingenious way. The large cross had inadvertently fallen to Farbeaux over a year earlier when it had been offered as payment by a former employer for services rendered. It had gone through a few changes while handed down through the Corinth family. Jewels had been added, and a thin plating of gold. The surprise he found inside its hidden compartment was an amazing stroke of luck.
Farbeaux knew the riches to be found in that near-forgotten lagoon were now close to being in his possession, partly thanks to this very cross and the secrets it had revealed to him. A five-hundred-year-old myth, an old legend that refused to die, would soon become a reality that was worth more than all the lost treasures ever torn from the earth.
SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA FOUR HOURS LATER
After her arrival at the harbor, Helen was making a final check of the crated equipment strapped down across the deck of the Pacific Voyager. She only hoped that they would have enough room on the river tug Incan Wanderer and the river barge Juanita when they transferred the equipment in Colombia. Kennedy and his team had three more crates than she had allowed them. On her clipboard she made a check mark by each space that indicated the weight of his crates. She frowned when she added it all up.
"Robby, where's Dr. Kennedy?" she asked her brightest graduate student. He tossed a coiled rope to one of young girls who populated Helen's expedition and pointed toward the stern of the Pacific Voyager.
She bit her lip and handed him the clipboard with the manifest on it. "Give this to the captain," she said, as she turned toward the stern. "Tell him we are over by three hundred pounds, but still within his load capacity."
"You got it, Doc." He watched her for
a moment, wondering if maybe he should accompany her to see Kennedy and his men. But he decided that if anyone could handle these guys, it was Dr. Zachary. His eyes next sought out Kelly. She was on deck, checking her camera equipment. The thick-rimmed glasses and dyed hair didn't hide her beauty, but they did go a long way toward hiding her identity. He figured everyone on the ship would find it difficult to recognize her.
Helen approached Kennedy and his associates, who were huddled near one of the ships large stern cleats. They were deep into conversation when Kennedy looked up and saw her walking toward them. He nodded and his men turned and walked away, but not before Helen noticed one of them partially raise his hand toward his forehead. Kennedy's eyes locked on the man in question and he quickly lowered his hand and moved off. She wondered what that was all about.
"Professor Zachary, we about ready to shove off?" Kennedy asked as he straightened and walked over to meet her.
"I have a meeting to attend, but we should be able to depart in about twenty minutes." She zipped up her dark blue coat. "Doctor, according to the manifest, you have three crates that were not accounted for nor inspected, and the weight of those three crates placed us over our limit. It makes me wonder if you were trying to get these items past me."
Kennedy, a man of about twenty-six with short cropped blond hair, laughed. "My pharmaceutical company sent us two computers and a fluoride analyzer at the last minute. Nothing earth shattering, quite boring stuff really."
"Then you wouldn't mind if I inspect them?"
"Not at all, I'll have them opened for you. I don't think it should delay us more than two hours. It's a royal pain but they're packed quite well because of their sensitive components. But we don't want to break any rules. Mr. Lang, will you unstrap the analyzer and her component computers and break down the crates for the—"
"That won't be necessary, Doctor," Helen said, irritated by the possible delay. She was nervous and didn't trust Henri St. Claire at all. It felt as if he might drive onto the dock at any moment and catch them before they could make their way out to sea. "Your pharmaceutical company picked up the remaining portion of the bill for this trip, but please don't assume that gives you the right to circumvent my authority." She turned and strode away.
"I would never think of it," he said to her retreating form. "We value this opportunity to examine the fauna of this new and unexplored area of the basin for the chance at—" He trailed off, giving up his rehearsed speech when she didn't slow down. His eyes remained on Helen as she started down the gangplank toward the ship's offices.
* * *
Helen entered the office and removed her coat while her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the interior. She finally saw the man sitting in the corner with one of his long legs crossed over the other.
"I honestly thought you were going to keep me waiting all night long in this smelly place," he said as he stood.
"I imagine you've been in worse places." She greeted him with a hug.
"As a matter of record, my dear, your father and I shipped out of this very harbor a million years ago bound for that paradise we know as Korea." He released her and looked her over. "You, young lady, look exhausted."
"Goes with the territory." She patted him on the chest and then sat on the edge of a desk that occupied the center of the office.
"So, you finally got the grant you always wanted for this mysterious field trip. Are you excited?"
"I will be if we ever get out of here," she answered as she looked at her father's oldest friend and family attorney. She was sorry for having to lie to him about where the money came from. She managed to force the guilty thought from her mind. "I've got a secret mission for you, Stan."
"Ooh, sounds mysterious," he said jokingly.
"You don't know the half of it," she said, thinking, If he only knew. "You're the only one I can trust to do what I ask, and not ask a bunch of silly questions."
"At my age, I've learned to only ask pertinent questions, never silly ones. What do you want me to do?"
Helen stood and walked to the door. She bent down and retrieved the aluminum case that contained the fossil. She held out the case to the attorney.
"If for some reason I don't make it back by September first, or call you by that date on the satellite phone, I need you to take this sample to Las Vegas and give it to a friend."
Stan took the case and looked at his friend's daughter.
"You're kidding, right?"
Helen reached into her pocket and placed an envelope of the top of the container.
"The address is in here, along with my friend's name. There's also a brief on the expedition. My friend has the resources to know how to track me, so for security reasons and your safety, I didn't leave him directions on how to find me. Stanley, will you do this for me?"
He didn't say anything at first, as he made his way to the desk and placed the container on it. Then, "What have you gotten yourself into, Helen? Just where in the hell are you going and why do you need to leave me with such a cryptic list of instructions?"
She smiled and once again patted him on the left lapel. "You worry too much; it's just a competitive type thing, the race for the prize."
"And what prize is that?"
"A big one, Stanley." She rose on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "It's dangerous only because the place is so remote. I have fifty people coming with me, so I'm not in this alone. Will you do this for me?"
He was about to respond when the ship's horn sounded and drowned out his answer. He grimaced. When the horn stopped blaring there was a quick rapping at the office door and Kimberly Denning, a third-year student, poked her head through.
"Captain said he has to get this tide or you can forget about sailing until morning," Kimberly said, then vanished.
Helen grabbed her coat and put it on. "Wish me luck?" she asked Stan.
"I do. I just wish I knew what it was you were up to."
She smiled and turned for the door, raising her hand in good-bye. "All I'll tell you is that, when I get back, no one will look at the world the same way again."
The door opened and Helen was gone. Stan took the white business envelope from the top of the container as he made his way to the window. Helen turned when she reached the top of the gangplank and waved at him, and he held the envelope up and waved back. Her students were lining the rails and waving at family who were in the parking lot. To Helen's right, standing away from her and her students, was a group of men who were watching from the railing. They weren't waving, just leaning against the steel gunwale as the ship's crew cast off her thick rope lines. Stan watched as the ship drifted away from the pier with her horn sounding. There was an explosion at her stern when the engines began turning her screws and the Pacific Voyager started making for the open sea.
Stan turned from the window and looked down at the envelope he held in his hand. He squinted and moved to stand by the desk lamp. Helen's womanly scrawl was written across the white paper in flowing lines. Stan looked up through the window at the receding lights of the blue-painted Pacific Voyager and then back at the name and address on the envelope. He read it aloud to himself: "Dr. Niles Compton, c/o the Gold City Pawnshop, 2120 Desert Palm Avenue, Las Vegas, Nevada.
"A pawnshop?" he said wonderingly.
He placed the envelope in his overcoat and looked out the window again, now taking in the few family members and friends of Helen's students as they started their cars and moved out of the small parking lot. Then Stan, for no reason that he knew of, got goose bumps down his arms as the vehicles departed. He didn't believe in premonitions or any of the other strange sciences that occupied the newspapers these days, yet had a distinct feeling that he would indeed deliver this envelope to that pawnshop in Las Vegas. And that the families that had watched their loved ones sail into the night would never again see them alive.
Stan picked up the aluminum container and made for the door. He allowed himself one last look out into the harbor, but the ship's running ligh
ts had vanished into the dark Pacific waters.
PART TWO
THE DIVINE WIND
Man has gone to the brink many times in his short history. We must therefore thank God there has always been a human being who could look beyond nationality, color, and religion to examine the truth of what he saw around him, and cried, Enough!
— FROM THE MEMOIRS OF GARRISON LEE, RETIRED UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM MAINE AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE EVENT GROUP
3
OKINAWA, JAPAN PRESENT DAY
Army Second Lieutenant Sarah McIntire held the porous lava rock in her hand for all to see. Then she winked at Vincent Fallon, professor of Asian Studies from UC-Riverside, and gave a quick nod of her head.
"So this area of the cave had been excavated before?" he asked.
Lieutenant Commander Carl Everett stood and watched the reaction of the others. He was on detached service from the U.S. Navy, serving in his sixth year in the highly secretive Department 5656, known to a very distinct few in the United States government as the Event Group. The tightly controlled Group was established officially during the Teddy Roosevelt era with historical arms that reached all the way back to Abraham Lincoln.
Carl watched Sarah McIntire closely. She was the only other member of the Group on station. They had infiltrated the university dig three weeks earlier and he was hoping this mission was a wild-goose chase. But according to Sarah, who was a damned good geologist, it seemed very likely that the research that had been done by Dr. Fallon was accurate. Meaning they might have a biological disaster on their hands, and that meant the mission to infiltrate the archeological dig might have just risen in the danger level by a hundred percent.
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