“This is a valid assumption,” Larry said. “She should be able to set Apollo so that it can receive a cross-dimensional transmission, but she would not be able to access it without a password. If she tried to download data to her phone without a password, the process would fail.”
“I hate it when security gets in the way.” Ashley slid the phone into her pocket. “Larry, Lauren mentioned sending you something. It looked like a small beaker. Did you get it?”
“Affirmative. It was in the first data stream, but since it needed considerable analysis, I sent the video to you first while Lois conducted a composition test.”
Ashley nodded. “Lauren mentioned some kind of precipitate. Does Lois have the results?”
“Preliminary results are ready. She will transmit the details to your phone.”
Ashley pulled out her phone again. A series of words and numbers appeared on the screen, lines that scrolled vertically. Her eyes darted from side to side as she read. “The genetic markers indicate cells from anthrozils, but there are some anomalies as well as other organic structures.”
“Correct. The sample Lauren sent includes skin and hair from a combination of male and female anthrozils. The genetics were altered in a number of ways. Lois ran simulations to see what would happen to the mixture if it were to be heated quickly to the temperatures one could expect in a volcanic crater.”
“You mean poured into the lava.”
“Correct again. It was impossible to determine the exact temperature of the lava in Mount Elijah or its composition, so she ran approximately ten million simulations with different temperatures, materials, and known organisms that might live near the volcano. In most cases, the mixture merely burned, but in three hundred and seven simulations, the result was the creation of an invasive, multiplying organism, though really it is a mutation of an already existing species.”
“Species?” Ashley’s brow shot up. “Then it’s not a virus?”
“It behaves like a virus in that it replicates quickly and likely will not be affected by an antibiotic, but it has extraordinary properties indicative of a more complex bug, for lack of a more precise term. Most of the organisms survived the high temperatures for seven minutes before burning up. It would be difficult to battle such a hardy bug. In fact, it would not be detected at all with traditional methods. It leaves no markers normally associated with infectious diseases.”
“Do you have any of Jared’s tissue samples there? Can you check for this structure?”
“I know of no stored samples, but perhaps—”
“Ashley, this is Carly. I figured out where you’re going with this. I’ll see if I can collect some skin cells from Jared’s bed. It won’t be much, but it might be enough.”
Ashley nodded. “Good thinking, Carly. When you get the sample, have Lois look for that bug in the cells. If it’s there, it’ll probably be dead because it doesn’t have a host. If she does find it, tell her to get right to work on what kind of countermeasures we would need.”
“Got it,” Carly said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Ashley clenched a fist. “Mardon has to be behind this. He used Mount Elijah to cook up a bug, or whatever you want to call it, and he sent it all over Second Eden when it erupted more than fifteen years ago.”
“Did it infect all the anthrozils there?” Selah asked.
Ashley gave her a grim nod. “As far as I know.”
“According to my records,” Larry said, “we have reports of severe symptoms in Irene, Dallas, Kaylee, Elise, and Jordan; moderate symptoms in Jared; and no symptoms in those who remained dragons.”
“What about Tamara?” Ashley asked.
“She disappeared before the symptoms manifested themselves, but her emaciated condition in her prison role indicates that she has suffered to the same degree Jared has. Apparently she is not well.”
Ashley pulled her hair back from her eyes. “Jared didn’t spend as much time in Second Eden, so less exposure might have been the reason for his initial resilience, but we heard that he’s gotten a lot worse ever since he came to the prison. So when you combine all the evidence, you get this possibility—this portal leads to Mount Elijah in Second Eden, and when Jared came here, he was exposed to residual environmental factors from the portal opening, which contributed to his deteriorating condition.”
“That adds up,” Walter said, “but wouldn’t that mean the other sick anthrozils shouldn’t be in Second Eden? Was it stupid to send them there to try to get well?”
Ashley tapped her chin. “We couldn’t predict the future. If Jared suddenly got worse, maybe something happened to the environment when the volcano blew its top. It could be that Second Eden is worse for the bug victims now than it was before.”
“That’s probably it.” Walter flared out his hands as if to mimic an explosion. “Mount Elijah blew while we were there during the big battle. The recent eruption looks a lot worse, so maybe the first one started the disease by introducing the bug, and the second one sent ten times more bugs into the air.”
“I’m not sure bugs work that way,” Ashley said, “but I think only one person can tell us for certain.”
“Mardon?”
She nodded. “If he was behind this disease, he would have to have known the exact time of eruption during the battle. Otherwise, the bug would have burned up before it could be ejected from the lava. But if he did know the time, he could have poured the mixture into the crater a little less than seven minutes before the eruption. Then, the bug would be created in the hot soup and blown out into the cooler air before it could be destroyed. Another question is whether or not he used the mixture twice, once for the eruption about fifteen years ago and again for the new one. Semiramis was here for the recent eruption, and the older one happened before she was put in prison in Second Eden, so she might have helped him do it both times. Either way, I don’t see how even Semiramis could time an eruption.”
“Could he have actually caused the eruptions somehow?” Joran asked. “Then he wouldn’t have to worry about the timing.”
“Only he would know that.” Ashley glared at the high-security area. “Is he still waiting in Captain Boone’s office?”
Joran nodded. “Mardon’s been there ever since he came back from dropping off Billy and Lauren at the airport.”
Ashley’s cheeks reddened. “I think it’s about time for an interrogation.”
“I’ll get the weasel to squeal,” Walter said. “I don’t mind adding a little pain to his miserable world.”
“Or a lot.” Ashley touched her jaw. “Larry, print out a physical note to send to Apollo. Even if Lauren switches it to receive mode, she might not figure out how to download data to her phone. She’ll see a piece of paper.”
“What message do you want written on the page?”
Ashley growled. “Instructions on how to receive data from you and the access password, of course!”
“Any particular font? For technical manuals, the most common—”
“I don’t care, Larry! Just make it readable!” She let out a huff. “Honestly, these computers can be—” Her gaze met Joran’s, and her angry expression slowly wilted. “Sorry. I get really wound up sometimes. We have a pile of emergencies to deal with, and I don’t have time to coddle an overly—”
“There is no need to explain,” Joran said, waving a hand. “Considering the circumstances, I think you are extraordinarily calm.”
“I don’t feel calm.” As she let out a sigh, her shoulders sagged. “We have to save some dying people and at the same time rescue Billy and Lauren.”
“Ashley,” Larry said. “I have a priority alert.”
She touched her jaw once again. “What is it?”
“I received an emergency signal from Gabriel’s phone, but he did not follow with an explanation. I attempted contact with the others in the company returning to Second Eden, but I received no response.”
“Did you try cont
acting their tooth transmitters?” Walter asked.
“Affirmative. Since we altered our encryption algorithms and did not reprogram their tooth transmitters before they departed, they might have extracted them from their molars and decided to rely on their phones. I have since sent signals to their transmitters to reprogram them, but I have no feedback that would indicate success.”
Ashley pressed her jaw. “Did you switch the encoding in our transmitters?”
“Affirmative. Our transmissions are secure, both by phone and tooth.”
“Did you try to contact anyone in Second Eden? Karrick? Valiant? Listener?”
“Several times. No one answered. There is no signal emanating from Second Eden at all.”
“Did you try to call Yereq?”
“Negative. He was not a member of the party returning to Second Eden, so he was not on my list of Second Eden names to contact.”
“Right. He was just guarding the portal.” Ashley looked at Walter, her eyes wide. “What do you think?”
“Ambush.” Walter pulled a phone from his pocket and pressed it against his ear. After a few seconds, he let out a sigh. “Yereq, thank God you’re okay. Where are you? … Why there? You were supposed to guard the portal. … Who told you to go there? … It couldn’t have been Jared. He was supposed to transport Billy and Lauren to the crater portal. … Didn’t Larry change your transmitter protocol? If he didn’t, then everything we’re saying now can be monitored. … Oh, right. We wouldn’t be able to talk to each other now. Good call. … Well, go to the portal immediately and get back to me with a report. Thanks.”
After punching the disconnect button, Walter looked at Ashley. “Larry made the changes a little too late for Yereq. Someone faked Jared’s voice and sent him on a wild-goose chase. Anyone getting ready to attack the portal wouldn’t want to face him.” His face hardening, Walter put the phone away and touched his jaw. “Larry, prepare for lockdown. Highest security. You’re probably the next target. Follow invasion avoidance protocol. Carly, are you listening?”
“I’m right here, Walter. I heard everything.”
“Prepare to go portable. Put Lois’s brain in the docking briefcase and pack all the backup drives. Larry will stay as the decoy. Got it?”
“Got it. Should I contact Adam?”
“Yes, he’ll be the operator of the fake headquarters. It’s dangerous, but he’s up to it. Get cash from my lockbox. Don’t use any credit cards from now on.”
“Procedures are printing out for Adam,” Larry said. “I will shift all secure communications to Lois on your command.”
“Do it now!” Walter looked at his watch. “I wonder how long it will take for Adam to get there.”
“I already texted him,” Carly said. “He’s on his way. Probably five minutes.”
“Good. If Larry’s not the next target, then we might be, so we need to get out of here.” Walter scanned the sky. “The transfer of all the guards and prisoners feels diabolical now. An airstrike to cover their tracks isn’t out of the question.”
Ashley’s face paled. “Ten minutes ago I would have said Captain Boone wouldn’t approve of that, but now …”
“Right. Don’t bet your life on someone who’s trained to obey orders without question. If the head is corrupt, the legs and arms will do the dirty work.” Walter nodded toward the high-security area. “I saw a weapons room, but I don’t know if it’s locked. Either way, I’ll be back with a Jeep. I know where Boone keeps the keys.” He kissed Ashley and sprinted away.
Ashley looked at Joran and Selah in turn. “I think we’d better meet him partway. I don’t like being out in the open. This portal area is starting to feel like a bull’s-eye.”
“I think I hear a helicopter,” Selah said, setting a hand behind her ear, “but my ears aren’t working very well.”
As the whir of blades filled the air, all three looked up. Four helicopters swept over the trees and began orbiting above their heads.
Ashley threw the photometer down. “Run!”
The three sprinted toward Walter. One of the helicopters shot a stream of bullets in their path, forcing them to halt. Another followed with a spray of flames that seemed to drip from the sky. Fuel ignited into orange and yellow flares as it fell. When the spray hit the ground, it burst into a wall of fire.
As the helicopters orbited, they added more and more fuel and whipped the flames into a cyclone.
“They’re trying to open the portal!” Ashley shouted above the roar.
Selah gripped Joran’s arm. “Can you sing a concussion note?”
“I’ll try, but from this far away, I don’t know how effective it will be.”
“Ashley,” Selah said as she plugged her ears with her fingers. “Do this, or your eardrums might split. Joran will aim at the helicopters, but it’s best to be safe.”
As soon as Ashley complied, Joran took in a deep breath and pivoted at the same rate as the attackers flew. He locked his focus on one of the helicopters and sang the highest note he could reach, pouring in all his power. The windows cracked, raining glass into the flames. The pilot grabbed his ears. The helicopter veered into the circle and crashed near the center.
Joran, Selah, and Ashley ducked under a wave of flames, but it quickly diminished. Turning to another helicopter, Joran blasted the note again. This time when the windows shattered, the pilot shifted to the outside of the circle and flew away.
“Two more,” Selah called, her fingers still in her ears. “You can do it!”
Gasping, Joran shook his head. “No … I can’t. … I can barely breathe.”
Selah and Ashley lowered their hands. “Can we create a shield?” Selah asked.
“We can try.” Joran withdrew the lyre, stripped off his parka, and handed Selah the sonic rods. “Get ready to sing.”
Selah set the ovulum on the ground and held the rods far apart, one in each hand. “Do you remember the melody for the mercy song?”
“Just a few notes.” He stood in front of her, equidistant from each rod. “I’m hoping it’ll come to me. I haven’t had a chance to show mercy to anyone.”
The remaining two helicopters continued whipping the flames. The snow melted. The ground near the center of the ring had already transformed into lava, forcing Joran, Selah, and Ashley to edge closer to the flames.
“You were merciful to me,” Ashley shouted. “Your words calmed me down.”
“That wasn’t much at all. Anyone would have—”
“No time to argue! Just do it!”
Joran plucked the lyre strings, playing the first few notes of the song, but nothing else came to mind.
“I remember the words we sang when we created the other shield,” Selah said. “I will speak them. Maybe it will spark a memory.” As the lava expanded toward them, she raised her voice and spoke in singsong.
Your love protects my soul within
And shields my heart from shameful sin;
No flames or fear can steal my love;
It’s safely stored in God above.
A few notes flowed to his fingers, then stopped. It seemed that a boulder blocked the stream. The rods vibrated in Selah’s grip, but no shield emerged. She continued quoting the lyrics.
So now I ask with mercy’s song,
Unfurl a banner, safe and strong,
The sound of love’s enfolding grace;
We trust in mercy’s warm embrace.
A new measure came to mind. Joran quickly played it, and Selah sang the first lines of the next quatrain using the resurrected melody, though she had to resort to singsong afterward.
Although the tempest tosses seas,
And evil men encompass me,
Let grace and mercy be my shield,
And love and truth the sword I wield.
The circle of lava expanded more rapidly, pushing them closer and closer to the wall of flames.
“The ovulum!” Selah dropped the rods and dove fo
r the egg, but it tipped into the lava and burst into flames. Grimacing as she folded her fingers around her hand, she rolled away from the edge and climbed to her feet. “No! It’s gone! I should have—”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Joran said. “You’re doing your best, and we can’t do anything about it now.”
After blowing on her reddened palm, Selah picked up the rods again. As she held them in place, they all backed closer to the fire. Only twenty feet of safe ground remained. Heat radiated from all around. Ashley stripped off her coat and threw it to the mud.
A Jeep with no cover crashed through the wall to their right. It spun, throwing mud in every direction, its wheels avoiding the edge of the lava. As it rotated, it slid toward the trio. Joran pushed Selah and Ashley out of the way, but before he could leap, the Jeep plowed into him and knocked him into a backwards slide.
When the wheels finally halted, Walter stood on the driver’s seat. “Joran! Are you all right?”
Still holding the lyre, Joran pushed against the ground, but sharp pain shot through his thigh. Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. “I’m not all right, but I’ll try to get up.”
Walter leaped to the ground and dropped to his knees at Joran’s side. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t control—”
“No …” Grunting, Joran lifted a muddy hand. “No explanation. All is well.”
Ashley pressed her fingers around Joran’s thigh. New pain ripped through his body, worse than ever. “His femur’s broken! If we move him, we might cut his femoral artery!”
“Yeah,” Walter said, “but if we don’t move him, he’ll cook in the lava!” He slid his arms under Joran’s back. “Let’s get you out of here!”
“No!” Joran raised the lyre. “I remember the melody now. Just help me sit, and Selah and I will make a shield. You and Ashley get to safety.”
A shower of bullets clanked against the Jeep, cracking the windshield and ripping holes in the hood and passenger door.
Walter raised Joran to a sitting position. “There is no safety. Every option is deadly.”