“So they could survive it.”
“Survive it yes, but more specifically — to be able to pass under it. In Gibraltar, they had to excavate around it and remove it. I think there could be a Bell at every Atlantis structure — a sort of sentry device that keeps anyone out, but it malfunctioned on us because we’re actually human-Atlantean hybrids. If the Immari found a way to activate the Atlantis Gene, they could send an army in and kill the Atlanteans. Toba Protocol would be the ultimate contingency — if they were unsuccessful, the Atlanteans wake up and all that’s left are members of their own race.”
Kate nodded. “They would be massacring the same people who saved us from extinction, maybe the only people that could help us reverse the plague from the Bell. But it’s all theory and speculation. We could be wrong.”
“Let’s stick to what we know. We know bodies were taken from China and that bodies from the Bell caused a pandemic before.”
“We alert health agencies?”
David shook his head. “You read the journal, they know how to hide outbreaks. They are probably a lot better at it now — they’ve been preparing for Toba Protocol for a very long time. We need to find out if your theories are correct, and we need some advantage — a way to contact the Atlanteans or stop the Immari.”
“Gibraltar.”
“It’s our best option — the chamber the tunnelmaker found.”
Kate glanced at the balloon. They were already losing altitude and they had only a few sandbags left to jettison. “I don’t think we’ll get that far.”
David smiled and looked around the basket, as if searching for something they could use. There was a bundle in the corner. “Did you bring this?”
Kate noticed it for the first time. “No.”
David slid over to it and unraveled it. Inside the layers of rough woven cloth he found Indian Rupees, a change of clothes for each of them, and a paper fold-out map of Northern India, which they were no doubt flying over now. David unfolded the map, and a small note fell out. He set the map aside, read the note, and handed it to Kate.
—————
Forgive us our inaction.
War is not in our nature.
~ Qian.
—————
Kate set the note down and studied the balloon. “I don’t think we have much longer up here.”
“Agree. I have an idea. It’s risky though.”
CHAPTER 99
1.5 Miles outside Drill Site #6
East Antarctica
Robert Hunt had to drive slower — the giant umbrella had almost pulled him off the snowmobile twice. He had finally found a comfortable speed where he could hold on, but even at that speed, the noise of the machine, combined with the umbrella’s flapping, was almost deafening. Through the din he heard an unusual noise. He looked back. Had the men followed him? He stopped the snowmobile. It wasn’t an engine. It was a voice.
He tore his jacket open and searched for the radio. The signal indicator was lit — they were calling him. He killed the machine, but the signal was gone. He waited. Around him, the rolling hills of East Antarctica were as quiet as the Serengeti at sunset. Far in the distance a wind gust blew snow dust off the top of a rounded peak.
He pressed the radio button and said, “This is Snow King.”
He took a deep breath. The abrupt response and the operator’s sharp tone startled him. “Snow King— why were you radio silent?”
Robert thought, then pressed the button on the radio and spoke as evenly as he could manage. “We are in transit. The radios are hard to hear.”
“Transit? What’s your location?”
Robert swallowed. They’d never asked for his location or contacted him between sites before. What could he say… Could they see him from the air?
“Snow King! Do you copy!?”
He fidgeted in the seat, then lifted the radio back to his face. “Bounty, this is Snow King. Estimate we are 3 klicks from location seven.” He released the button and lowered it to the snowmobile again. He inhaled. “We have encountered… We have problems with one of the snowmobiles. We are repairing.”
“Stand by, Snow King.”
The seconds ticked by. It was cold as hell, but all he could feel was his heart beating in his throat.
“Snow King. Do you require assistance?”
He answered instantly, “Negative, Bounty. We can handle it.” He waited for a second and added, “Should we alter our destination?”
“Negative, Snow King. Carry on at best speed and observe standing local blackout protocol.”
“Copy that, Bounty.”