“Yes, Colonel,” Adler gestured sharply, “it is part of your job. But the United States Government does not fund this experiment. And cementing the Containment Cavern will cost Stygian a great deal of money, so it is something that I will have to authorize. And then you can supervise the procedures.” He paused. “Is this acceptable to your demands?”
A pause, and Chesterton nodded.
“Very well then. It's decided.” Adler rose, gathering his files. “We shall make safety adjustments, and this creature shall live until we complete the final two tests. Our respective obligations shall be fulfilled; and then, and only then, gentlemen, will we receive authorization to destroy this creature and perform an autopsy.”
No one spoke as Adler crossed the room. But when he reached the door, he turned abruptly back. His face, rigidly cold and implacable, allowed no room for misunderstanding.
“Leviathan lives, gentlemen. It lives until it's time for it to die.”
* * *
Chapter 3
Connor smiled as he watched Chesterton's approach through the storm window of the warehouse. Walking stiffly, Chesterton crossed the wide expanse of wind-frozen tundra until he quickly opened the door and closed it even more quickly behind him. He stood for a moment in the warmth, as if he'd been shocked. He had a look of severe impatience.
Connor laughed out loud. “What'd your people blow up this time, Chesterton?”
“We've got a big problem, Connor,” he replied, walking forward. “There's a 1,000-amp line that's been burned up. We've got circuit breakers blown all over the place.”
Chesterton glanced at a bright-eyed four-year-old boy sitting contently on the bulldozer's tread. Barely three feet tall, the child was contentedly consuming a large candy bar, fingers and face coated with chocolate.
“Well,” the Colonel smiled, “how are you doing today, Jordan?”
Jordan nodded politely. “Fine.”
“Is that a good candy bar?”
“Yes, sir. Daddy gave it to me.”
“Well, it sure looks like a good candy bar,” Chesterton said, leaning forward. “Think you might share a bite with me?”
Jordan paused, staring seriously. Then he stretched out the half-consumed candy bar in a chocolate-covered hand and Chesterton laughed easily. “That's all right, partner.” He patted the pocket of his coat, whispering, “I've got a few of 'em in my coat.”
Jordan received the news without blinking and returned to his snack while Connor picked up a rag, wiping hydraulic fluid from his hands. “How did your people burn up a 1,000-amp line, Chesterton?”
“You could call me Colonel, Connor.”
“I could call you a lot of things, Chesterton,” Connor responded with a slight smile. “But before we get personal, why don't you tell me how your people burned up a 1,000-amp line?”
“Good grief, Connor, I don't know. Do I look like an electrician? It was overloaded. It surged. It did whatever electrical lines do when they blow. I think they were trying some kind of experiment with lasers or something and they just blew the thing up.”
Connor dropped the rag over an engine line and gathered a handful of tools. “Did you see it blow?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then you were a lucky man.”
Chesterton leaned back, staring. “I figured that much, Connor.” He paused. “But now that these preliminaries are over, can we get on with fixing the thing? We're on a schedule.”
Dropping tools in a leather pouch, Connor nodded. “All right. I'll send a crew down in a few minutes.”
“No.” Chesterton shook his head. “We can't use a regular crew on this. It's a highly classified area and everybody below is already nervous about it. They expressly said they don't want a crew poking around the damage. You'll have to handle this one by yourself.”
Something in Chesterton's voice made Connor turn. Staring for a long moment, he leaned a shoulder against the bulldozer. “So I need to do it myself, huh?”
“That's right.”
Studious, Connor glanced again at Jordan and the boy looked up, continuing to munch happily. With a laugh Connor reached down to tousle the light brown hair. But when he looked back to Chesterton, his face hardened; something focused sharply between the two of them.
Chesterton blinked.
“I've never seen a 1,000-amp line burn up before, Chesterton. I've never even heard of a 1,000-amp line burning up.” Connor paused. “Just how much power was it pulling?”
“Connor,” Chesterton replied, harder, “I have no idea how much power that thing was pulling. But I assume that it was a lot. And now, if you don't mind, we need to get on with fixing the thing.”