The Atlantis Gene (The Origin Mystery 1)

“What now, Martin?” Dorian asked.

“Same thing we always do — keep digging.”

“I want specifics. I know you’re excavating under the sub, next to the structure.”

“What we think is the other vessel,” Martin added quickly.

“Agree to disagree. What have you found?”

“Bones.”

“How many?” Dorian leaned back against the wall. A pit developed in his stomach, like the anticipation you got before you went over the drop-off in a roller coaster. He dreaded the answer.

“Enough for about a dozen men so far. But we think there are more,” Martin said wearily. The time in the suit had really taken it out of him.

“There’s a bell down there, isn’t there?”

“That would be my guess. The area around the sub collapsed when two researchers approached it. One man was incinerated — similar to what we saw on the sub. The other was killed when the ice collapsed. I expect to find the rest of the crew down there.”

Dorian was too tired to argue, but the idea scared him to death. The finality of it. “What do you know about the structure?”

“Not much at this point. It’s old. At least as old as the ruins in Gibraltar. 100,000 years, maybe older.”

One thing had bothered Dorian since they had arrived: the lack of progress on the excavation. Even though Martin’s people had only found the site 10 days ago, with their resources, they should have had the iceberg carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey. The staff here was almost minimal, like the action was elsewhere. “This isn’t the main site, is it?”

“We have resources… assigned elsewhere…”

Assigned elsewhere. Dorian turned the idea over in his head. What could be bigger than this — a piece of… ‘Bigger’ than this? A piece. Dorian leaned forward. “This is just a piece, isn’t it? You’re looking for a larger structure. This part simply broke off from some primary structure.” Dorian wasn’t sure it was true, but if it was…

Martin nodded, slowly, without making eye contact with Dorian.

“My God, Martin.” Dorian stood and paced the room. “It could happen at any minute. They could be upon us in days or even hours. You’ve put us all at risk. And — you’ve known about this for 10 days now. Have you lost your mind?”

“We thought it was the primary—”

“Thought, wished, hoped — forget it. Now we have to act. When we’re clear, I’m going back to shut down the China operation and start Toba Protocol — don’t bother protesting, you know the time has come. I want you to contact me when you find the larger structure. I have several detachments of agents on their way here. They’ll help you if you have trouble operating your sat phone.”

Martin put his elbows on his knees and stared at the floor.

The door to the holding room slid open with a hiss as fresh air rushed in ahead of a 20-something woman carrying a clipboard. She wore an almost skin-tight outfit — she must have selected a suit 3 sizes too small.

“Gentlemen, you’re both cleared for duty.” The woman turned to Dorian. “Now, is there anything else I can do for you?” She dropped the clipboard to her side, then clasped her hands behind her back, arcing her back a little.

“What’s your name?” Dorian said.

“Naomi. But you can call me anything you like.”

CHAPTER 46

Somewhere off the Java Sea

Kate couldn’t tell if she was awake or asleep. For a moment, she simply floated there in total darkness and dead silence. The only sensation was the soft cloth at her back. She leaned to the side and heard the crackle of the cheap mattress. She must have fallen asleep on the cot in the bomb shelter. She had lost track of time as she and David had waited in the bomb shelter while their pursuers marched back and forth, searching the cottage for what seemed like hours.

Was it safe to get up?

She felt another sensation now: hunger. How long had she slept?

She swung her legs off the tiny bed and planted them on—

“Awww, Jesus!” David’s voice filled the tiny space as he did a sit-up into her legs, then curled up and writhed on the floor.

Kate shifted her weight back to the bed, pawing the floor for a firm foot hold — one that wasn’t somewhere on David’s person. She finally planted her left foot and stood, swatting the air for the string that activated the dangling single-bulb light. Her hand connected with the cord, and she jerked the light on, sending a flash of yellow like lightning into the small space. She squinted and waited, standing on one foot. When she could see, she moved to the corner of the room, away from David who was lying still in a fetal position in the middle of the room.

She had hit him there. God. Why was he in the floor? “We’re not in middle school, you know. You could have shared the bed.”

David grunted as he rolled onto his hands and knees. “Apparently chivalry doesn’t pay.”

“Hey—”

“Forget it. We need to get out of here,” David said as he sat up.

“Are the men—”

“No, left 90 minutes ago, but they may be waiting outside.”

“It’s not safe here. I’m coming—”

“I know. I know.” David held up his hand. He was getting his breath back. “But I have one condition, and it’s non-negotiable.”

Kate stared at him.

“You do what I say, when I say. No questions, no discussion.”

Kate straightened. “I can take orders.”

“Yeah, I’ll believe it when I see it. When we’re out there, seconds could matter. If I tell you to leave me or to run, you have to do it. You could be scared and disoriented, but you will have to focus on what I tell you to do.”

“I’m not afraid,” she lied.

“Well, that makes one of us.” David opened a set of double steel doors built into the concrete. “There’s something else.”

“I’m listening,” Kate said, a little defensively.

David looked her up and down. “You can’t wear those clothes. You look almost homeless.” He tossed her some clothes. “Might be a little big.”

Kate perused her new attire — some old blue jeans and a black v-neck t-shirt.

David threw her a gray sweater. “You’ll need this too. It will be cold where we’re going.”

“Which is?”

“I’ll explain on the way.”