♦ ♦ ♦
Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
Monteverde, Costa Rica
A lone car, splattered with mud, bumped and rolled across a sun-dappled dirt track road before coming to a stop outside a dilapidated cabin surrounded by trees. The driver’s door creaked open and banged shut an instant later.
Jason stretched his legs, arched his back and gave a groan of relief. ‘Next time we need to go to town, I’m staying here.’
Trish grunted something in response and collected a bag from the back seat before clambering out and hooking the door shut with her foot. She walked up the porch steps and stopped in the doorway. ‘Jason,’ she said, ‘come here, something’s wrong.’
Dropping the bag, Trish ran inside with Jason following close behind.
The scene inside the cabin was one of disarray. Upended furniture, cushions torn apart and floorboards prised up.
‘Sarah!’ Trish ran to the kitchen. ‘Sarah!’
Jason sprinted upstairs and burst into Sarah’s bedroom, which had been similarly trashed. He rushed back out to search the other rooms.
After more frantic moments, Trish came to a halt on the landing and stared at Jason in despair. ‘Oh my God, where is she?’
Jason shook his head. ‘They took the parchments and Mayan tablet, too. They knew what they were looking for.’
‘Do you think …?’
‘It must be,’ he said, ‘they must have found us somehow.’
Trish wiped a tear from her eye, her face stunned by shock and Jason walked over and hugged her to him.
‘What do we do?’ she said.
He kissed the top of her head and stared out of a window at the forest beyond. ‘We’ll find her. Even if we have to break back into Sanctuary itself, we’ll find her.’
♦
‘All the locals agree, they had helicopters,’ Trish said, ‘and they heard voices, American accents. Some even saw the men that took her, they wore black tactical gear and others the grey armour used by the GMRC.’
Jason righted the kitchen table and spread a map across its surface. ‘Did they see what direction they headed?’
‘North.’
‘Then that confirms it. If the GMRC are involved, they’ve taken her back to Sanctuary. We have to go back.’
‘But we just sold our Deep Reach helmets.’
Jason jabbed his finger at the town they’d just visited. ‘Then that’s where we start.’
‘But how will we get back into the base when we get there? We don’t have the pendant and there’s no way we can breach their security.’
Jason stuffed more supplies into a holdall and zipped it closed. ‘We’ll find a way, or find someone that can.’ He shouldered the bag and walked back into the living room where the TV fuzzed and flickered behind cracked glass as it searched for a signal. ‘Have you got everything?’
Trish nodded and Jason’s face hardened into determination. ‘Then let’s go.’
The two explorers left the cabin and returned to the car. With their supplies loaded, and direction set, Jason revved the engine and reversed round before slamming the gear stick in first and flooring the accelerator. Wheels spun, dirt and stones sprayed out, and they surged forwards back the way they’d come, the car slipping and sliding as it struggled to gain traction as they sped towards civilisation and the mission to come.
♦
An hour out from the cabin and they tore along the gravel road at breakneck speed.
‘Which way?’ Trish said, looking at the map.
Jason recognised the T-junction ahead. ‘It’s left.’ He dropped gears from fourth to second and slid the car round the corner.
Trish screamed. ‘Watch out!’
An oncoming four-by-four swerved off the road and the fleeting glimpse of its passengers’ shocked faces vanished behind as Jason regained control.
Trish glanced back as the other vehicle rejoined the narrow highway. ‘Was that a police car?’
‘I hope not; are they turning round?’
She shook her head. ‘Not yet they haven’t. You need to slow down; we’re no good to Sarah dead.’
‘Or in prison.’ Jason dipped the clutch, slammed it into third and accelerated. ‘If that was the police, let’s not give them the chance to catch up.’
The engine roared and the car barrelled on through the forest and, if she could have seen, Sarah would have known … her friends were on their way.
♦
Two hours later, back at the abandoned cabin, night had fallen and a foreign wind rustled through the cloud forest’s trees. The front door creaked open and banged shut in the breeze before repeating the process again and then again, in unending percussion. A vehicle crept along the nearby road, its fat, off-road tyres cracking and popping the gravel underneath. Main beams streamed bright and the shadows swung round as the four-by-four parked up to highlight the surrounding area in a blaze of headlights. The gasoline engine stuttered to silence and the illumination dimmed. Suspension creaked and car doors slammed as four people emerged into the dark of night.
Footsteps thumped up wooden steps and into the cabin, where the TV continued to flicker in the living area with an ethereal glow. Broken glass crunched underfoot and someone switched on the light.
‘Search the rooms,’ a woman said, ‘this happened recently.’
The newcomers spread out into the cabin to search for signs of continued habitation, but when they’d quickly exhausted all avenues they regrouped back in front of the TV.
‘It’s totally cleaned out, no food, no clothes, nothing.’
‘Whoever was here had something of great value; you wouldn’t go to these lengths for anything else.’
‘So what’s next? What do we do now?’
The three who’d spoken looked to their leader, who had, up until now, remained silent.
‘He told us we were to meet someone here,’ the man said, concerned. ‘It looks like someone beat us to it, or he got it wrong.’
The woman who’d been the first to speak gave a snort of derision. ‘Of course he got it wrong. I don’t even know why you keep trusting him.’
The young man next to her made a rude gesture. ‘Ach, what do you know.’
‘More than you, little man.’
The bickering continued and the voice of another woman joined in before the leader stepped between them.
‘Enough! Enough!!’ Professor Steiner said, his voice ringing with authority. ‘This is getting us nowhere.’
Brett Taylor laughed. ‘Nowhere? Look around, nowhere is exactly where we are.’
‘We agreed we had to come,’ Steiner said, ‘you included.’
The disgraced FBI agent glowered at him and the young man chuckled and made a derogatory remark.
Jessica Klein touched his arm. ‘That’s not helping, Eric.’
The young German made a face and wandered away to the kitchen.
Jessica watched him go before turning back to the professor. ‘And Bic didn’t say who was supposed to be here?’ she said. ‘You’re sure?’
Steiner nodded. ‘He said he didn’t know, only that the GMRC were interested in her.’
‘And some random woman would have helped us, how?’ Brett said. ‘If we’d have got here sooner it could have been us in harm’s way. I thought he was supposed to be helping us avoid the authorities, not lead us to them.’
‘He obviously thought the risk was worth it,’ Steiner said.
‘That’s because we’re the ones in the firing line!’ Brett shook her head in disbelief and stalked out of the front door.
Steiner sighed. ‘She’s got a point.’
‘Bic has got us this far,’ Jessica said, ‘we have to trust him.’
Steiner wanted to agree, but relying on a man regarded as the world’s foremost terrorist was still something he was finding hard to accept.
A message on the TV flashed up reading: Satellite signal acquired. The screen crackled to life and the fractured image of a wom
an in a yellow power suit appeared.
‘This is the BBC’s World News Service, reporting to you live from—’
Jessica hit the off button and the damaged screen went blank. ‘I can’t stand that woman,’ she muttered and then looked back to the professor. ‘I’ll go ask some of the locals if they saw anything, it might give us a better idea of what’s going on and who it was we were supposed to meet.’
Steiner gave a nod and adjusted his spectacles. ‘I’ll have another look round in case we missed anything. I’ll meet you out front.’
‘Eric!’ Jessica said.
The young German poked his head out from the kitchen. ‘Ja?’
‘Are you coming?’
He glanced at Steiner and then gave a nod and the two of them left the professor alone in the cabin to mull over his thoughts.
The sound of frogs croaking and crickets chirping drifted in from the balcony and Steiner removed his glasses to massage tired eyes. This was not how he’d envisaged spending his twilight years, going from country to country branded as a murderous fugitive. Perhaps it’s Bic who finds it distasteful working with me, he thought. The irony brought a wry smile to his face. Putting his glasses back on, he trudged upstairs to give the rooms a second look and it was in the bathroom where he spied something of interest. He bent down and slid out a sheet of paper that had become trapped in the crevice between sink and wall. Smoothing it out, he held together its torn sections to reveal the drawing of a crucifix. He turned it over and found more drawings on the back, but unlike the single image, these were stylised constellations and letters, or more accurately, symbols. And they were familiar enough to make him frown. He glanced round to make sure the others hadn’t returned before running his fingers over the images. He was by no means an expert in historical matters, but having been in Sanctuary on numerous occasions, and having visited its fabulous Smithsonian museum, he knew Anakim inscriptions when he saw them. The question is, he thought, what are they doing here?
He shivered. The room suddenly felt cold and the hairs on the back of his neck bristled. He looked round in unease and tucked the paper into a pocket before retreating downstairs. The balcony’s net curtain fluttered in the air and a chill breeze blew through the cabin. Steiner pushed the curtain aside and moved out to look up into the night sky. His eyes drifted out of focus as he delved into memories past before a distant flash drew him back to the present. Another shooting star zipped across the heavens, and then another, and another after that. The light show continued, but rather than enjoying the spectacular vision of the distant meteor shower, Steiner saw it for it was, a premonition of what was to come.
The sound of the staircase creaking made him turn just as a flurry of wings erupted in his face. Steiner yelped and jumped back as a bird flew squawking into the sky. Spooked, he ducked back into the cabin and glanced up at the bathroom’s dark doorway before switching off the light and hurrying outside.
A second later he was climbing into the front passenger seat of the four-by-four and slamming the door shut behind him.
Brett, who sat in the driver’s seat, gave him a quizzical look.
Steiner slowed his breathing and tried to ignore the strange sense of dread that had descended on him in the cabin. He peered up at dark shutters that concealed the bathroom window and told himself, it was just the bird. Stop being an old fool.
He jumped as the back doors opened.
Jessica and Eric clambered inside.
‘So?’ Brett said, turning round.
‘They were reluctant to talk,’ Jessica said, ‘I think they were protecting someone.’
‘Figures,’ Brett said. ‘Perhaps I should have spoken to them.’
Eric made a face. ‘You’d just make it worse.’
‘You could try,’ Jessica said, ‘but I think Eric’s right; if they were reluctant to talk to us you’d stand no chance.’
Brett’s expression showed doubt about that statement, but she refrained from relinquishing her seat, perhaps because she knew Jessica’s journalistic past made her a credible interrogator, or more likely, she wanted to ensure she retained control of the vehicle.
‘So, what now, then?’ Jessica said.
Steiner looked at her. ‘We keep heading north, as before, nothing’s changed. Whoever was here has gone and we need to get back to the States.’
Eric nodded. ‘Ja, we have a world to save.’ He tapped Brett’s shoulder. ‘Let’s go, fräulein.’
Brett scowled and turned the key in the ignition. The vehicle’s engine rumbled to life and the headlights blazed bright.
Steiner took one last look out of the window. Eric was right; they had a world to save, billions of lives were in their – his – hands. He was used to power, but this was the first time he’d ever had so much riding on the decisions he made. One wrong move and the entire planet would burn. I just hope I can make a difference, he thought, as more shooting stars skimmed across the celestial sphere, because our time is nearly up.
♦
The four-by-four drove away into the night, its red taillights disappearing down the road. But back inside the cabin, the darkness lingered and the TV switched back on as its system searched for broadcasts. One by one, the aerial picked up a new channel which displayed on-screen as it saved the frequency in its memory bank. After some moments it entered a new category and the first international news channel appeared.
‘—have been made of this strange phenomenon in the Chinese city of Xi'an,’ a reporter said. ‘Some are claiming it’s a UFO, but as yet, all sightings of the mysterious, gliding light have been – not in the air – but on the ground, causing some sceptics to call it an MOB, or what’s more commonly known as, man on bike.’
The TV fuzzed into black and white pixels before the next channel displayed.
‘—celebrations continue into the night throughout the world’s major cities as leading experts declare the impact winter is in full retreat. And as weather patterns return to normal, crop yields continue to rise—’
The TV searched for the next signal.
‘And good evening from Los Angeles, I’m Hunter Davies. This is a Fox News special report. As the GMRC announces a timeline for talks on water rationing, we ask viewers and panellists what they think this will mean for them and why some citizens appear to be more equal than others.’
The picture vanished and the previous graphic displayed:
Searching ...
The message changed:
Signal acquired ...
‘President elect, John Harrison Henry, has offered an olive branch to the Chinese amidst escalating tensions with the West. But with the Japanese still calling for the U.S. and its allies to launch a full scale attack, it’s unclear whether meaningful relations can be maintained …’
Searching ... Signal acquired
Channel 107
CNN
{Cable News Network}
‘— first pictures from inside the impact zone have been released today as news crews were allowed back in as South Africans attempt to rebuild their shattered country. No one knows how long it will take before people can return to the African nation, but if the footage is anything to go by, one thing is certain, it’s not going to be anytime soon.’
Searching ...
Channel 108
Chinese Central Television
CCTV News
{Subtitled}
‘The Pope has once again called for calm as Italy’s capital saw pitched battles erupt late last night between various religious and political factions. This comes after a recent spate of suicide bombings that has rocked the Eternal City. Some are blaming Catholic fundamentalists, although it has been cited elsewhere that at least some of the violence was—’
Searching ...
Channel 109
NDTV India
‘—tensions continue to rise in the Chinese province and questions remain as to what is causing this rash of disappearances. So far only two bodies have been recovered, but city off
icials are reluctant to release the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Some believe a serial killer in on the loose, or that a terrorist organisation is to blame. However, a member of the Xi'an city police administration, said, categorically, ‘there is no connection between these occurrences and the strange light captured on camera by local residents and UFO hunters.’ A light, which you can see in this footage, appears to float across the ground and has the ability to pass through solid walls—’
Channel 110
BBC World News Service
{Channel Search Complete}
‘—but before we go, did you want to make a closing statement to our viewers around the world?’
‘I would, thank you, Keira.’ The man faced the camera. ‘I don’t pretend to have all the answers; God knows I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in life—’
‘Haven’t we all,’ Keira said with a smile.
‘—and who knows what the future holds. But, for me, there is one thing that is crystal clear. We must find a way to protect this planet and the precious life that clings to its surface. The next asteroid strike might be the one that wipes us out and everything humanity has striven to achieve will be gone in an instant. And not just humanity’s achievements, but all life on this planet, all the billions of years its taken us to get this far will vanish and when that day looms large and we look back and realise we had the chance to do something before it was too late, how will we feel knowing everything is going to end, that everyone and everything we’ve ever loved, or ever will love, will cease to be?
‘In 2015, Russell Schweickart, an Apollo astronaut who travelled the world to encourage a coordinated global response to the asteroid threat, conducted a Newsweek interview with author, Nina Burleigh. In that interview he said the following, ‘I fear there’s not enough of a collective survival instinct to really overcome the centrifugal political forces. That is, in a nutshell, the reason we’ll get hit. Not because technically we don’t know it’s coming, or we can’t do something about it.’
2041 Sanctuary (Genesis) Page 44