“We're both soldiers, Colonel,” Blake responded. “We are expendable assets of our government.”
Chesterton's teeth gritted. “None of my men are expendable, Blake. And I'm going to need confirmation on this.”
“You shall have it, Colonel,” Adler said, stepping forward. “In the morning we shall open communications with the Pentagon so that you can confirm whatever—”
“Open communications?” Chesterton shouted. He looked like he would strike Adler without any hesitation at all. “What do you mean 'open communications'? I've got three platoons of Rangers, and I've got the authority and equipment to communicate with my superiors whenever I deem it necessary and prudent.”
“Not any longer, Colonel,” Adler returned, implacable. “Colonel Blake can explain the situation.”
Utterly hostile, Chesterton turned to Blake. “Well, Blake? I need an explanation right now.”
“To ensure security, communications are now coded,” Blake responded quickly. “They are coded with an NSA encryption known only to Mr. Adler and myself. So this facility's communications link has now been switched to an NSA satellite which comes in range every four hours. And I sincerely hope that this will not be, ah, a source of tension between us. It is only a temporary procedure.”
“You're pushing it, Blake. You are on very, very dangerous ground.”
Blake swayed. “The Army is like a machine, Colonel. It is a machine of men. You know that, and I know that. So we do as we are told. We do as we are told or the machine breaks down. And orders, in the end, are orders. Especially when they are issued from the highest office in the land.”
A slow acknowledgment settled over Chesterton. Frank saw it coming and tried to stop it. “Don't let them do this, Chesterton!” he interjected. “They're going to wake up Leviathan!”
Chesterton gazed down, frowning. And without even looking, Barley knew what Chesterton had decided. The big lieutenant slowly lowered his pistol from the face of the MP Commander, still staring the man in the eye.
“Everything is under control, Colonel Chesterton,” Adler said, forceful again. “You are, after all, a professional. You are part of the, ah, machine. The simple truth is that you are under orders from your own government to submit to Colonel Blake's command. But I do assure you, for your own peace of mind, that we will use every possible security measure.” He turned to gesture. “Dr. Tolvanos is the leading man in this held, and he understands the creature quite well. But first I suggest that you remove Dr. Frank, at least temporarily, from the Observation Room. He appears to be overstressed. Then we can discuss this matter more thoroughly and iron out any details that might concern you. Afterwards we—”
Frank rose, startling everyone.
“GEO acknowledge my voice!” he said quickly.
“NO!” Adler bellowed and leaped forward with Tolvanos screaming beside him. Frank sensed a dozen bodies leaping on him from behind.
“Voice identification confirmed as Dr. Frank,” came the soft reply that somehow penetrated the screams.
“GEO!” Frank screamed, defensively raising his hands. “Erase all—”
Adler’s fist slammed into the side of his head, rocketing him back into grappling arms that pulled him to the ground, muffling him, burying his voice beneath shouts that tore through the Observation Room like a bomb blast.
Stunned, Frank caught, “GEO does not understand Dr. Frank's command. GEO requests that Dr. Frank repeat command for implementation.”
It was the last thing Frank heard, shocked by the sight of Adler's snarling face above him, the huge white fist coming down again to ...
Blackness.
* * *
Connor gently stroked Beth's long brown hair, soft and luxurious tendrils that he combed back from her forehead with his fingers. They lay in the blue-sheeted bed, side by side, bathed in the gray-white light of an early dawn. Sleep had never come to him through the long night.
He had stared at the ceiling for hours, remembering what Thor had said, thinking it through over and over while thin shadows, indistinct and snakeish, crawled across the ceiling. He had watched the shadows a long time, becoming more aware of Beth's head on his chest, thinking more and more of Jordan sleeping blissfully, helplessly, in the adjoining room. He was responsible for their safety; the thought came to him again and again. But he couldn't understand why he was so worried.
Leviathan, the older man had said. But what did it mean?
Connor wondered at what relation the name might have to the project hidden in the cavern. What have they done? Surely they couldn't have—no, that is impossible, he told himself, again and again. That is completely impossible. But what did it mean? What was Chesterton so afraid of? Were Beth and Jordan in danger? And what should he do about it? Was there anything he could do? It had been a cacophony of questions through the slow, dark night. Unanswered questions, questions that plagued him with guilt and confusion, and even more guilt. Then he felt soft brown eyes staring at him through the gloom.