“The odds would be, as you say, unbelievable. Miraculous even. But, Frank, you are a scientist and you have a theorem. How will you verify it? Can you test it?” Omar returned Frank’s fixed eye contact.
“I have the virus…” stuttered Frank in return.
“From my blood sample? On the second shelf down, in the refrigerated cupboard next to the centrifuge in the laboratory? In the vial marker Omar?”
“Yes,” muttered Frank with considerable uncertainty.
Omar smiled indulgently. “What about fifty litres of heavy water? Do you have that in your archive?”
“Of course. How did you know?” Frank’s expression even inside his protective suit betrayed rising doubt.
Again Omar smiled and now he gently laid his hand on Julia’s shoulder. Julia felt a barely perceptible tap from Omar’s index finger. It was purposeful. A discrete piece of information passed from Omar and Julia felt the revelation rise within her: she knew exactly where the fifty litres of heavy water stored in the archive were now to be found. She looked down at her own body in amazement. How had he done it?
Now Omar replied, “I’m sure you do, Frank. Good luck with your experiment. I look forward to hearing your results, but it is time for us to go.”
Frank was left to his all too evident vacillation as Julia turned to Sarah.
“I will miss you. Most of all you.”
“You know where we are – we're not going anywhere. When you return, I shall be Queen of the Ark.”
“Queen? Are you serious?”
“Someone's got to take charge. We both have our destiny to fulfil.”
Julia was not sure if Sarah was serious. She looked at the others pressing round. There were a few, to say the least, who would need a lot of persuasion before they would take orders from Sarah. Yes, the Ark would be safe. Sarah would bring a sharp reality check for sure. She would do her very best to secure the future of the Ark – the future of humanity.
Julia turned to Omar and they set off following the tracks of the Ryan's sons. Omar carried food and his water filter. It would be a long journey.
Chapter 62
Vermont, United States of America
Gary sat on the veranda. The view from the log cabin was stunning and remote. A table was laid for dinner. Inside the cabin Mandy wiped her brow with her forearm avoiding her flour-caked hands. She made the final touches to the meal. Gary admired her. She had an infectious serenity whereas many he had met in the last days were panicked and hopelessly fragile. He had not suspected Mandy to show such resilience in the face of the impending apocalypse. Gary was absorbed into her inner peace willingly.
Others had scrambled to save themselves. They clawed and scratched in the dirt to excavate a shelter – perhaps a dungeon. Mandy seemed unconcerned. She said savour each moment well and they will last a lifetime – these moments with you will be enough for me. She had proposed to retire to her father's log cabin in the Green Mountains forest. Gary accepted. She embarked on the preparation of a meal entirely from scratch. There were no short-cuts. Bread was baked from flour, yeast and water. Potatoes were peeled carefully, washed and placed gently in boiling water. Gary watched her face flush with effort. Her forehead glistened with sweat, which was periodically wiped. The smells and textures were to be enjoyed fully.
Gary sipped water from a glass. It was pure crystal clear – fresh and uncontaminated from a mountain stream, fetched by hand no doubt and carried to the cabin by Mandy. Tactile moments to be savoured – Gary imagined the ice-cold stream and the smell of pine.
Mandy served dinner. She meticulously arranged succulent grilled lamb chops on a bed of mashed yams and potato. Roasted peppers, fennel and mushrooms were neatly placed to the side.
“Well here we are, Mandy, eating and drinking as the world ends.”
“Just as in the days of Noah: people are marrying and being given in marriage, eating and drinking...”
“If we're on a biblical theme, isn't this like the last supper?”
“No, it is more like Noah and the flood. Eat up, Gary, before it gets cold.”
Gary cut and ate a piece of lamb. The aroma was exquisite. It was perfectly cooked and complemented by the flavour of pungent rosemary. The potato mash had been mixed with egg white, whipped and baked in the oven. It was the smoothest, most delicate potato Gary had ever tasted. It seemed to melt in his mouth. The meal that took hours of preparation was finished in a matter of minutes – much like so-called civilisation.
“Mandy. That was absolutely delicious. I am almost embarrassed that I wanted to take you to that naff Italian place. Giuseppe has nothing on you. Where did you learn to cook like this?”
“My father taught me. This was the passion we shared. My brothers and sisters were all into books and really hard brain work – a bit like you in many ways. I learned to cook.”
“Well I'm glad I'm with you. Do you come from a big family? You make it sound like you have lots of brothers and sisters.”
“Yes, I have quite a few.”
“Are they back in Ohio?”
“No, scattered all over but we keep in touch.”
“There is so much I don't know about you. For example, why did you decide to work at the zoo? Selfishly, it's great you left Ohio... But why animals? They are still pretty wild even though they are kept in the zoo.”
“I grew up around all kinds of animals so I've never been afraid of them. I just do what I grew up doing. It's no big deal. I love the animals and I feel connected to them and we understand each other. Some of the scientists don't see it that way. They just want to analyse, analyse, analyse. They don't respect the creatures and they won't make the connection. I'll miss them.”
“The scientists or the animals?”
“The animals, of course.”
The after dinner conversation was cut short as the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down. Mandy rose and started to clean up. It seemed an unnecessary task but she insisted.
Gary also went inside and sought out the bathroom. For six days he had been eating Mandy's food. He stepped on the scales and checked his weight. He was surprised. He had put on nearly ten pounds but he hardly felt it round his waist – he had no need to renew his wardrobe yet. Most likely the scales were reading over. He looked at himself in the mirror and reflected on the meal and conversation. He knew so little about Mandy yet they had flown to Vegas and got married. The queue had been much longer than normal – with the threat of approaching annihilation many had chosen rash and reckless courses of action. Gary was pleased that his choices had been good ones. There might not be much time left but it was well spent and in the best company. For a long time he had dreamed of Mandy. She had been in his thoughts at the worst moments, through disaster and on the brink of death. Escobar had once cursed him but Gary most assuredly knew that Escobar's words were empty and powerless. He had been sleeping well and the voices in his head were silent. Mandy's love had saved him. Even now he faced the end without fear and without regret. These moments would be savoured indeed. Time had become liquid and every instant distilled and purified. In the last week he felt he had lived with an immense sense of destiny which, logically, was at odds with the world around. Gary no longer cared.
Just as in the days of Noah. Why had Mandy insisted that this time was like Noah's? Noah had built the Ark and his family had been saved from the flood along with two of every animal. There was only one other who talked of Noah. Gary remembered Doctor Campbell. The good doctor was going to take the blame for all this – if anyone lived to assign blame. Of course, there would be a few who would survive. There were underground shelters built to survive wars and global devastation. Humanity would persist.
Mandy returned and sat opposite. She held a glass of port which she sipped slowly. She had brought port for Gary as well.
“My family are looking forward to meeting you. Actually, they're shocked I married a scientist. They didn't think I would do that.”
“You know, unt
il today, I had never really thought that you'd have brothers or sisters.”
“You sound disappointed, Gary. I'm not sure about Washington but, in Ohio, brothers and sisters are quite normal.”
“How many do you have?”
“Gary, I have to warn you: I come from a large family – but I'm sure they'll like you.”
“That's reassuring – not that it'll make much difference. I can't believe how many things I still don't know about you. I'm an only child – no brothers, no sisters. Just in case you were wondering.”
“I know, Gary. I mean it's obvious … and I asked Trisha.”
“Ah, Trisha.”
“You were away in Mozambique – and God knows where else – we had plenty of time to dissect you over coffee.” It was a playful poke at Gary but the mention of Mozambique unsettled him. He had told no one where he had been. Not even Trisha. Gary became suspicious and moody. The thought of Mozambique irked him. He was silent and drank his port. Abruptly and harshly he challenged Mandy.
“How did you know I travelled to Mozambique?” His tone was unpleasant to hear spoken and immediately Gary regretted it but did not assuage it. Mandy looked stunned and a look of fear seemed to be frozen on her face long enough for the atmosphere to turn awkward.
“Gary, you talk in your sleep. Something happened in Mozambique and you dream about it. You talk about some really scary things, Gary. It's horrible to listen to.”
“I'm sorry, Mandy. It's something I can't talk about.”
“You will, when you are ready. We have all the time in the world.”
The Nephilim Protocol Page 33
