“I did.”
Alison took a deep breath and looked up at the star-filled sky. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. The fear was still there, but she had to ask him. She had to ask him the question she was terrified of hearing the answer to.
“How is John?”
She watched the look on Borger’s face change. He struggled, staring at her uncomfortably. “Uh…”
“Just tell me,” she said. “I know something is wrong. I can feel it. Just tell me the truth.”
Borger blinked and remained still, then finally nodded. “The truth is…I don’t know.” He slowly shook his head. “I don’t know how he is, or even where he is right now. Not exactly.”
“What does not exactly mean?”
“He’s in China. But I’ve lost contact with him. A rescue team has been sent in…”
Alison pursed her lips together. Borger could see the glistening of tears in her eyes. “A rescue team?”
He nodded, hoping she wouldn’t ask who. Explaining that the CIA was trying to find Clay probably wouldn’t help matters.
“It must be bad.” Alison's chin quivered slightly. “He’s usually the one doing the rescuing.”
“He did save someone. A young girl. That much, I do know.”
She nodded and tried to blink away the tears. “Do you think he’s dead?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Why?”
Borger let a small grin escape. “Because Clay is my friend. And I know that if the situation were reversed, he would never give up on me.”
Alison stared at Borger before finally grinning with him. “You’re right.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “Thank you.”
He nodded and looked around at the men waiting nearby. “Now what?”
She took another deep breath. “Neely Lawton is waiting for you upstairs. They’ll take you.”
“What about you?”
She turned and looked back at Tay and Lightfoot, both waiting patiently. “I have an appointment.”
Borger noticed the SCUBA gear behind the men. “What did you find?”
“The plants are the same. Just like we saw on the mountain. But how it happened here, I haven’t the slightest idea.”
Borger’s face became serious. “Then there’s something I need to tell you.”
Alison. You back.
“I’m back,” Alison nodded. “Just like I promised.”
We happy for you back.
Alison looked over her shoulder and smiled at Lightfoot floating next to her. “So are we.”
You come for plants.
“Not this time.” Alison reached down and retrieved a small device from a pocket on her BCD. It was the device Borger brought.
They knew what they were dealing with now. The plants were the same, which suggested the cause had to be the same. Just like at Acarai, something was in the water. Now they just needed to find the source.
The device in her hand came on automatically and glowed with a soft blue light. On the mountain, it had measured the concentration levels of a very special compound, which ultimately led them to the secret vault. Now they were trying to find the second source: the ship.
Alison twisted around, studying the display. She kicked forward, traveling twenty yards, but there was no change. She turned and swam further still, but could not see anything different. Then it hit her.
In the jungle, it was easier. There was a flow of water, and it was one directional.
“What’s wrong?” Lightfoot asked.
“It’s not working.”
“Why not?”
“Because what this is looking for isn’t in front of us, or behind us. It’s everywhere.”
Alison began to call up to Lee, but stopped when she spotted Dirk and Sally, floating patiently in place.
No plants.
“No. Not the plants this time.”
Come Alison. Come now. We show.
Both dolphins thrust their tails and moved past her and Lightfoot, who both turned and followed. Together they descended back into the darkness and watched as the green glow eventually reappeared below them. The effect was both eerie and breathtaking.
The dolphins continued downward, pausing to allow Alison and Lightfoot to catch up.
Hold us.
Alison glanced curiously at Lightfoot before wrapping her hand around Sally’s dorsal fin. Then he did the same to Dirk. The dolphins continued, diving deeper into the expanse of dense vegetation.
When they reached a small drop-off, the dolphins dropped with it, skimming over the tops of enormous sea plants, all shining brightly under their headlamps. They suddenly ducked beneath long waving tendrils, and saw a dark yet thriving dip in the coral. Leading the way, Dirk slowed and approached the area carefully. Yet when he reached the wall of plants, Dirk didn’t stop. Instead he continued forward smoothly, passed through the vegetation, and disappeared inside. Alison barely had time to blink before Sally did the same.