Chapter 53
National Secure Archive Facility
Frank stood in front of the assembled Ark leaders. Patriarch Ryan sat in the middle, Peter sat on his right and Thomas was there as well. Julia still felt somehow out-of-place and suspicious of her presence. She could see that Frank was excited. He had something to reveal. He struggled to keep a straight, professional face. He sipped a glass of water and slowly shook his head.
“We're all here, Frank. So let's hear your report.” Patriarch Ryan chaired the meeting and liked to get straight to the point. Efficient yet still retaining sensitivity, he was widely viewed with respect. Julia had an unpleasant, oppressive gloom around any of the Ark leaders. Perhaps they were decent enough but they were part of the system.
“I took a urine sample from our visitor,” Frank beamed. “I ran all the usual checks. His urine is a little…” he paused dramatically, “radioactive.” No, this was not the stunning news, not yet. “He is otherwise perfectly healthy. No abnormal indications at all. But you won't believe this. I froze a sample – some of his urine.” Frank took some tongs and from a covered bowl picked up a yellowish ice cube and dropped it into the glass of water he had drunk from just prior. He pushed the glass across the table into the middle for all to see. The ice cube sank to the bottom of the glass. Silence ensued. Frank waited. Julia could see he was waiting for someone to grasp the implication. She wrestled mentally. The ice cube sank. It was unusual. A bit weird but what was the point? Patriarch Ryan and the security director looked at each other quizzically. Julia reckoned they had no clue either.
“Shit, damn!” It was Thomas. “Well I'll be...” Seconds passed.
“Now gentlemen, if you would enlighten us? I mean, I've never tried this but if I take my pee and freeze it – does it sink or float?” Ryan addressed Frank and Thomas.
“It floats,” Frank answered looking at Patriarch Ryan to see if he understood the significance. He didn't. Julia was amused that the answer escaped him as much as it did her. There was another silence.
“What ratio is it?” enquired Thomas.
“Eighty-four percent,” Frank was relieved that someone else had come to the same conclusion.
“Whoa. Apart from he should be dead from radiation exposure, he should be dead. This is huge. Now things make a lot more sense. Body fat proportion minus three percent; recalibration of the DNA sequencing; he filters and drinks his own urine... How he survives the radiation, I don't understand.”
“Eighty-four percent what?” Ryan was getting rattled by the science he was clearly ignorant of. Frank cleared his throat and thought he had better explain. He took a deep breath.
“Our guest, Omar, is entirely human – just the same as you and I – but with one key difference: throughout his entire body all the hydrogen atoms in his body fluids, fats, proteins – including his DNA sequence – are deuterium. He drinks and urinates heavy water. According to the archive material on experiments of giving animals heavy water, it isn't possible. Once they got to about half and half the cellular processes for cell division fail and the animals die if they continue intake of heavy water. Apparently, that isn't true. At least, not for Omar and that makes Omar an extraordinary individual. Since Omar arrived we had to give him six litres of saline solution intravenously – just ordinary water. That, plus allowing for intake of other liquids, would strongly suggest that when he arrived he was pretty much one hundred percent deuterium. It is utterly incredible.”
Hearing this stunned Julia. Clearly, Thomas and Frank were amazed but they considered Omar to be a specimen in the science lab. Julia knew that he was an outstandingly sensitive and kind man but hearing the theories and explanation as he was dissected and analysed stripped away some of the impenetrable mystery that surrounded him and lessened him.
“So what is he? Hydrogen or deuterium?” probed Patriarch Ryan.
“Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen – a proton and a neutron form the nucleus instead of a proton by itself as ordinary, abundant hydrogen is. For most elements, it is doesn't make any difference, chemically speaking, which isotope it is. However, for hydrogen, doubling the mass of each atom is really significant and changes the chemical and physical properties just enough to change the biology.” Frank tried to explain.
“Change enough to make frozen pee sink?” questioned Patriarch Ryan.
“Exactly. Heavy water is denser and its ice form sinks in ordinary water.”
“Isn't deuterium radioactive?” It was Peter this time. “Surely, his DNA would not be stable? He should decay to mush?”
“Actually, deuterium isn't radioactive at all. Tritium, that's two neutrons with the proton, is radioactive and decays quite quickly but deuterium is perfectly stable. There is no reason why you can't have a biological system using deuterium instead of single-proton hydrogen.” Frank had obviously taken his time to check out his findings.
Thomas interjected, “It does explain one thing though – why Omar can't swim. As Frank's little demonstration here showed, Omar's body is denser than water. He can as much swim as I can fly.”
A hiatus prevailed following on from Thomas' remark. There were no further objections – Thomas had seemingly concurred with Frank. Patriarch Ryan broke the silence.
“Julia, there is something very special about Omar and his biology and how he maintains it. We need to know what we are dealing with. Are there more like Omar? We must assume that all the Nephilim are like this. I would like you to continue to keep close to him and find out as much as you can. He seems to trust you. Perhaps through this there will be a way we can all return to the surface. He has some secret and he might not even know it. We need to know.”
Patriarch Ryan's instructions were precise and authoritative; efficient and polite. Julia had already felt the pull of conflicting loyalties but now the tension was being ramped up. The Patriarch had just asked her to spy on Omar. That is what it amounted to. Ironic as it was, Julia had already joined Omar – she was one of the Nephilim – and here she sat taking orders from Patriarch Ryan!
“Of course he trusts me. I saved his life,” responded Julia laconically.
Chapter 54
National Secure Archive Facility
Julia sat in the Ark canteen eating the bland, glutinous slop that everyone despised but contained the correct dose of vitamins and minerals. It was called breakfast. Frank sat opposite. They sat mostly in silence until Frank asked, “How's Omar? Is he fully recovered?”
“Yes, he seems to be. I'm surprised you ask – don't you see him?”
“No, Thomas has completely taken over his case. But I'm glad to hear he's doing well.”
“Thomas takes the more interesting work for himself and you get all the menial chores?”
“Yeah, that's how it goes.” There was another bout of silence while they ate. Abruptly, Julia asked a question that had been on her thoughts but she had not yet found the right moment for.
“Frank, have you ever been topside?” Frank looked a little disconcerted.
“No, I've not touched my quota – I'm keeping it – I should get double soon enough.”
“You've never been tempted to have a look?” Again Frank looked a little uncomfortable – even embarrassed – but then the tension released.
“I went to the airlock last week. I was going to go out. I hadn't realised we need to get authorisation from our section head. Well, I just wanted to go out – I didn't want to disturb Thomas. He can be a little difficult sometimes. Well, when I eventually asked him, he said no. We're too busy at the moment. I might hurt myself or something equally stupid. Thomas is right I suppose. Ever since Omar arrived, we've been a lot busier than usual.”
“Doing what? Omar doesn't take much looking after – not now.”
“It's hard to say. Nothing in particular. Just routine stuff. Quite pointless some of it but somehow it's become important. I'd almost think that Thomas was inventing extra work.”
“What for? I mean why would he do that?”
Julia was intrigued. She had heard a few people say similar things. Even in the archive department they had to do extra inventories and relabel the physical material. They found a whole section that was wrongly indexed – a section Julia was sure had been checked the previous year. It had to be redone. None of it was essential work. Julia perceived that, indeed, it was just invented – almost as if there was a conspiracy to keep everyone busy and stop them from thinking about Omar.
“I don't know. I guess we're just busy – it comes and goes.” Frank obviously had simply accepted the situation and gotten on with the job. In his case the strategy had clearly worked. “There was one thing though.” Frank looked over both shoulders as if to check no one would overhear. Julia's curiosity was pricked. He continued quietly, “Some medical records were stolen from Thomas' office. I happened to be with him when he discovered it and he was furious like I've never seen him before. His safe had been forced open.”
“Whose records were they? What was in them?” Julia also spoke in a hushed tone.
“I have no idea. I've never seen them. I didn't know they existed. Thomas wouldn't say much about them – he was very evasive and I quickly got the message not to ask.”
“Whoa. Who could have done it?” Frank shrugged.
“No one is telling me. I don't think they know. All the directors came down to see. There was a lot of tense whispering but I couldn't tell what about. Apart from the Patriarch and directors, I'm the only one who knows. Andrea suspects something but...” Frank shook his head. “I shouldn't be telling you this.”
“No, you shouldn't but you have, Frank. It won't go any further.”
“Anyway, Thomas has been in a particularly bad mood since and I've been on the receiving end...”
As he spoke Frank's expression changed. He became serious and then worried. His gaze was focussed distantly at something behind Julia. As Julia turned to see what was happening, there was a crash of breaking plates and the ding of a tumbling metal cup. Julia saw a look of desperation on Peter's face. He was turning purple and grasping his throat. He struggled to breath. He stumbled and fell. Frank stood up and went to help. Peter thrashed on the ground. Frank tried to slap him on the back. Perhaps Peter was choking? Ghastly blue froth was forming round his mouth. Peter's face was agonising to watch. His eyes bulged and stared in terror. Julia turned away – it reminded her of watching Omar in the water tank. She still heard the sounds of struggle and Frank and others trying to help. There was urgent shouting, running. Tables were moved to clear space. Julia snatched a glance but immediately looked away again. The sounds alone were hideous. Peter rolled on the floor amid fragments of broken plates. He slapped the floor repeatedly between laboured gasps for air until the struggle ceased and he became still. No one spoke – just a barely audible panting for breath. It was Frank who broke the silence.
“What was he eating? Did anyone see what he was eating or drinking?” Frank's voice was shaky and uncontrolled. Others murmured. Julia looked round. Peter's body was laid out on the floor. It was rigid and still. Shards of porcelain had lacerated his arms and back while he writhed on the floor. His face held a contorted and horrific expression that appalled Julia. Yet she could not look away this time though she felt her stomach churn. His eyes were wide open in fear. Frank spoke again.
“He may have been poisoned. Nobody should eat anything.”
Thomas hurried into the canteen. He looked at Frank standing over Peter's body looking askance. Frank was visibly shaking looking aghast at the body.
“What happened? Tell me what happened!” There was irritation and frustration in his tone. Frank failed to speak. Someone else spoke.
“Is he dead?”
“Yes, he's damned well dead. What happened?”
“He was eating here when he stood up and collapsed on the floor. He couldn't breathe. We thought he was choking but Frank just said he'd been poisoned. Was he?”
Thomas was irritated by the added question which he ignored. He placed his hand to Peter's neck to search for a pulse. He looked into his eyes and mouth. He extracted something and set it aside carefully.
“Was he poisoned?” The question was repeated.
“No,” asserted Thomas. “He choked on something.”
Yet more people arrived and Patriarch Ryan also. Thomas gave directions for the body to be placed on a stretcher and taken to the medical wing. Peter's food was packaged up and taken away. Thomas badgered Frank to help but to no effect. When approached by Patriarch Ryan, Frank stuttered and blurted out.
“I'm sorry. There was nothing I could do. I thought he was choking. I tried but I couldn't help him. He was so terrified. I couldn't help him.” Julia saw that Frank was all but crying. He was really badly shaken up. Everyone was upset but no one could leave. Patriarch Ryan had ordered the canteen be sealed. The events were very serious and an investigation was needed. Statements were required from everyone. Until the truth was known, every precaution was needed to avoid any subsequent accidents. Patriarch Ryan distinctly used the word accident. However, when asked to give her statement, Julia felt that there was an implicit assumption in the questions that Peter had been murdered. She was asked about Peter: what was he like, how well did she know him. Julia replied saying that she knew Peter very little but in his responsibility as security director he ran a tight ship and justifiably so. He had few real friends and Julia certainly was not one of them. It would be suspicious to pretend otherwise. Eventually, she was allowed to leave.
Julia wandered from the canteen to the library with barely any conscious recollection of the journey. She sat at her desk and stared blankly at her console without moving for over an hour. The events of the morning played over and over in her mind. She could not shake the foreboding feeling that they were about to plunge into a nightmare. Her thoughts were haunted by Omar's story about the Russian shelter at Zlatoust. She was roused by Sarah's arrival.
“Julia, oh my God, I just heard what happened. The whole place has gone crazy. I've been looking for you for over an hour. I never thought you'd be here.” Julia felt herself being pulled back to the reality of the moment. She looked around, slightly disorientated.
“I was there, Sarah. I saw it happen.” Julia felt rising uncontrollable emotion. Her voice was breaking. Sarah knelt and embraced her. Julia felt release and started to weep. The tension and trauma began to crumble. She felt a return of objective reasoning. “Omar. I need to see Omar. He may be in danger.” Sarah grabbed Julia and shook her.
“Julia, there are all kinds of rumours. People say that Peter was poisoned – that he was murdered. The Patriarch is saying nothing as yet – just the usual bullshit about an investigation. Peter was one of the directors. There will be repercussions. Is there any reasons I should be afraid for you?” Sarah was looking intently at Julia. The scrutiny was fiercely intense but Julia did not think Sarah was making any accusation. On the contrary, Sarah would have been almost proud.
“No, I had nothing to do with it – I just happened to be there. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It was horrid. He died in agony. He looked terrified. I can't get it out of my mind. If Peter was poisoned, I've no idea who would have done it. How would anyone gain anything from it? I mean, I know Peter was not liked – that he could rub people up the wrong way – but that's not a reason to … murder him.”
“Someone had a reason. All I know is that people are disaffected and some more than others. I think there's a mutiny in the offing.” Sarah's face was showing a certain level of excitement. When she saw Julia's fearful reaction, she calmed and added, “Let's hope I'm wrong.”
Chapter 55
National Secure Archive Facility
The air in the Ark had become unbreathable. Julia felt constricted more than ever. Since Peter's death – or was it murder? – the tension had risen to unbearable and every moment seemed strenuous. Julia had not seen Sarah for several days and she missed her and the opportunity to vent her angst. Everyone was terse. Julia had seen Patriarch Ryan f
rom a distance. His normal confident and assured manner had been eroded and replaced by one that was no longer completely engaged in the life of the Ark. Perhaps he felt the sharks of opposing ideology circling for the kill. There was blood in the water. That was how Sarah described it. Julia mused. No one could implicate Omar in any of this. He had not incited insurrection by word or deed. In fact, apart from herself and a few of the medical team and Sarah, no one had even met Omar. Yet he was inextricably to blame. His presence – a mere whisper and a rumour – alone had posed far reaching questions that the Patriarch had failed to answer.
Julia shook off these thoughts and sought out Sarah by way of distraction. She found her at work in the engineering section where she supported the engineering crew in their work.
“Hello, you're a sight for sore eyes.”
“I came to escape. I thought I might find you here.”
“Working. There's a new thing.” Sarah's sarcasm had a playful tone and Julia brightened. “Ed and Josiah, the lucky beggars, are topside inspecting the thermal exhaust port and water intake for the cooling system. Suddenly, it’s high priority – orders from the top.” Julia returned a quizzical look causing Sarah to sigh. “I've been working here too long I'm beginning to talk just like them.” By them presumably she meant engineers. “It's a beautiful day up there – only I'm not allowed to go out, remember?” Sarah swivelled a monitor toward Julia. Indeed it was a stunning view of the beach and ocean – this time more peaceful than when Julia had ventured out to help Omar.
“I'm beginning to hate the Ark.” Julia made a uncommon confession.
“Hmm, didn't you go to school where we were taught to love it?”
“Of course. But that was a long time ago. I must have forgotten that lesson. The past few weeks have been hell. A wonderful, beautiful, tormented hell. I don't know who I am any more. Everything has changed. We have lost sight of the stars that guide us.”
The Nephilim Protocol Page 27