Project Hyperion (A Kaiju Thriller) (Kaiju #4)

The way he says this reveals he’s just as confused about the creature’s appearance as they are. Could it really have been created accidentally? Something that large would take time to grow, unless... I recall the man’s words, accelerated organ growth. But how quickly could something the size of an elephant grow?

“—did not appear until after the operation was complete.”

“How did you survive?” Collins asked.

“I barred the doors,” Endo says. “Shut off the lights. Stayed quiet. It passed us by several times.”

That I’m dubious is an understatement. “It killed everyone else here. Everyone. And just you and the General survived?”

“Actually,” he says. “Two other people managed to survive.” He raises his eyebrows at me.

“Right,” I say. Touché. It’s hard to say if everything this man has said is the truth, but he’s showing no telltale signs of lying. That said, I’m positive we’re not getting the whole truth. And if this man really is a bodyguard for a U.S. general, then maybe he wasn’t involved in the decision to kill the Johnsons, Collins and me. “All right, look, we’ll help you get your boss out of here, but once he’s safe, I need your guarantee that you’re going to let us go.”

He stares at us. I can see the idea bothers him. His instinct is to probably kill us both where we stand.

“Look,” I say. “Someone needs to clean up the mess that was made here. That thing is headed toward civilization and when it gets there, a whole shit-storm of trouble is going to come your way. General or not, you two are screwed. The only chance of avoiding that scenario is letting us get the word out to organize a response.”

I can see him strategizing, working through the possibilities. He raises the gun back to my head. “I agree with everything you’ve said, but do not believe they are the words of a Fish and Wildlife Service officer. Show me your I.D.”

I sigh, but comply, slowly taking out my I.D. and tossing it to him. He catches it in his hand, flips it open and looks a little surprised. “DHS?”

“That’s me,” I say.

For a moment he looks like he doesn’t believe me. Who can blame him, really? With my cargo shorts, t-shirt and beanie cap, I look like the average Mainer out for a hike in the woods. Of course, Collins and I also evaded an armed search party, killed three soldiers and survived the creature’s assault.

He throws the badge back to me. “The General is your direct superior. You have a duty to save his life.”

I hear a hint of a question in his words and answer truthfully. “Yes.”

He holsters his weapon and turns toward the door. “Come with me.”

Collins and I look at each other, quickly pick up our weapons, and follow the man. I keep my weapon still drawn but aimed at the floor. I don’t think the man is going to ambush us. He could have killed us already, but I still don’t trust him.

I push open the door and enter a surgical suite. The operating table flood-lights have been extinguished, and the room is dimly lit by a single lamp. There are surgical instruments covering trays, some bloody, some clean.

But the unconscious general isn’t lying on the operating table, or on a gurney or even sitting on a chair. He’s standing on the far side of the room, stark naked, with a hand against the empty wall and staring at it like he’s looking through a window.

Endo has stopped just inside the door. He looks as confused as I am.

“General,” he says, confirming at least part of his story—this man is a general. “General Gordon.”

The General flinches, hearing Endo for the first time, and turns his head around. “Endo?” His voice sounds dry and scratchy.

“I’m here, sir.” Endo says.

“I can feel her,” the General says.

Endo steps toward the naked man. “Feel who?”

“Maigo.” When the General turns around, Collins and I both take quick breaths. A long cut over his sternum has been sewn shut, but isn’t bandaged in any kind of way. A trickle of blood runs over his belly to his leg and all the way to the floor.

“General!” Endo says, sounding genuinely concerned. He takes a step forward, but the older man holds up his hand in a way that commands authority.

The open hand becomes a pointed finger. It lands on me. “Who—” And then on Collins. “—are they?”

Endo looks at both of us and then says, “Sheriff Collins and Jon Hudson from DHS.”

“DHS?” the General says, looking confused. “This is our couple from the woods?”

Oh shit. They were aware of what went down in the woods. Doesn’t mean they ordered it, but they didn’t disapprove.

“Yes,” Endo says. “But they’re going to help you—”

“I’m fine.” The General levels his eyes at Endo. “Kill them.”





18



“Don’t even think about it, Endo,” I say. Before the General even finished giving the order to have us killed, Collins and I raised our weapons and sighted Endo’s head.

Endo, his back still to us, holds his hands out where we can see them, but he doesn’t give up his weapon, and since he strikes me as the kind of guy who never surrenders, I think the death count is about to go up a notch. Maybe two.