The Atlantis Gene (The Origin Mystery 1)

Together, Father and Son dragged the water-logged man into the boat, but as soon as he cleared the side, the boat began taking on water.

“We’re sinking, Papa!” Eko looked about nervously.

Water rushed over the boat’s side. What to throw out? The man? The river flowed to the sea, he would surely die there. They couldn’t drag him, not far. The water rushed in more quickly now.

Harto eyed the nets, the only other thing with any weight in the boat. But they were Eko’s inheritance — the only wealth his family had, their only means of survival, of putting food on their table.

“Throw the nets over, Eko.”

The young boy followed his father’s orders without question, throwing the nets over one-by-one, feeding his birthright to the slow-moving river.

When most of the nets were gone, the water stopped, and Harto slumped back into the boat, staring with absent eyes at the man.

“What’s wrong, Papa?”

When his father said nothing, Eko scooted closer to him and the man they had rescued. “Is he dead? Did—”

“We must get him home. Help me paddle, son. He may be in some trouble.”

They turned the boat and paddled back up the river, against the current, toward Harto’s wife and daughter, who would be preparing to clean and store the fish they brought back. There would be no fish today.

CHAPTER 27

Associated Press

Wire Release - Breaking News Report

Explosions and Gunfire Rock Indonesian Capital of Jakarta; Police Chief Arrested

Jakarta, Indonesia (AP) // The Associated Press has received multiple reports of explosions and gunfire across Jakarta. Although no terrorist groups have claimed responsibility, insiders within the Indonesian Government, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said they believe the attacks were a coordinated strike. It’s not clear at this time who the target or targets were.

At about 1 pm local time, three separate bomb blasts ripped through high-rise buildings in rundown residential neighborhoods across the city. Observers said at least two of the buildings were thought to be abandoned.

Those blasts were followed minutes later by explosions and automatic gunfire on the streets of the market district. Casualty figures are unavailable and police have declined to comment.

In what is believed to be a separate incident, the Chief of the West Jakarta Police Station was arrested on child  p**n ography charges. The new chief of the station, Paku Kurnia, issued this statement: “This is a sad and shameful day for The Jakarta Metro Police and The West Jakarta Police Station, but our willingness to confront this evil within our own ranks will ultimately make us stronger and affirm the public trust in us.”

The AP will update both stories as details emerge.

CHAPTER 28

Immari Jakarta Headquarters

Jakarta, Indonesia

Kate sat in a chair, her hands bound behind her, the dark hood still over her head. The trip had been rough. The soldiers had tossed her about like a rag doll for the past thirty minutes, transferring her from one van to another, marching her down a series of hallways, and finally throwing her into the chair and slamming a door. The sensation of moving in pure darkness had made her nauseous. Her hands ached from the zip ties, and she couldn’t see a thing through the thick black hood. The absolute dark and quiet was disorienting, like sensory deprivation. How long had she been there?

Then she heard something coming closer: footfalls in a hallway or large room. They echoed louder with each passing second.

“Take that bag off her head!”

Martin Gray’s voice. Martin — the sound of her adoptive father’s voice sent waves of relief through Kate’s body. The darkness didn’t seem so dark, and the pain in her hands near the bindings seemed to ease. She was safe. Martin would help her find her children.

She felt the bag lift off her head. The lights blinded her, and she squinted, grimaced, and turned her head away.

“And unbind her hands. Who did this to her?”

“I did, sir. She was resisting.”

She still couldn’t see them, but she knew the voice — the man who had taken her from the truck, who had taken the children at the clinic. Ben Adelson’s killer.

“You must have been pretty scared of her.” Martin’s voice was cold and forceful. Kate had never heard him talk to anyone that way. She heard two more men chuckling, then her captor responded, “Complain all you want, Grey. I don’t answer to you. And you seemed satisfied with our work earlier.”

What did he mean by that?

Martin’s voice changed slightly; it was more amused. “You know, it almost sounds like you’re resisting, Mr. Tarea. Here, I’ll show you what happens when you do.”

Kate could see Martin now. His face was hard. He stared at the man, then turned to two other men — soldiers who must have accompanied Martin. “Take him to a holding cell. Shroud him and bind his hands, the tighter the better.”

The two men seized the kidnapper and put the bag that had been on Kate’s head on him and dragged him out of the room.

Martin bent down to Kate and said, “Are you ok?”

Kate rubbed her hands and leaned forward. “Martin, two children were taken from my lab. That man was one of the kidnappers. We have to find—”

Martin held up a hand. “I know. I’ll explain everything. But right now I need you to tell me what you’ve done to those children. It’s very important, Kate.”

Kate opened her mouth to respond, but she didn’t know where to start. Questions raced through her head.

Before she could speak, two more men entered the large room and spoke to Martin. “Sir, Director Sloane would like to speak with you.”

Martin looked up, annoyed. “I’ll call him back, this can’t—”

“Sir, he’s here.”

“In Jakarta?”

“In the building, sir. We’ve been instructed to escort you to him. I’m sorry, sir.”

Martin stood slowly, looking worried. “Take her downstairs, to the observation deck for the excavation. And… Guard the door. I’ll be along shortly.”

Martin’s men escorted Kate out, keeping a safe distance, but watching her like a hawk. She noticed that the other men treated Martin the same way.

CHAPTER 29

Pesanggrahan River

Jakarta, Indonesia

Harto watched as the mysterious man pushed up onto his elbows, tore his helmet and goggles off, then looked around, confused. He threw the head gear over the side of the boat, and after lying down for a few minutes more, he struggled with some straps at the side of his suit. Finally, he managed to tear them loose, and he tossed the bulky vest over the side as well. Harto had noticed a large hole in the chest area of the vest. Maybe it was damaged. The man rubbed his chest, breathing heavily.