The woman nodded in approval. “Nicely done, Jason. You’re quite the soldier.”
“How the hell do you know my name?”
“I know lots of stuff. It’s why we will win and you will lose.” For a quick moment Angelica was distracted by the little white ghosts flitting around and over the forest. “Those yours?”
Jason’s attention remained fixed on the woman. “I thought you knew everything.”
“Give them a look,” Angelica said. “Tell me what you see.”
“Not a chance,” Jason said. “Whatever they are, I don’t care about them. I only care about the kid you’re loading onto that chopper. Let her go.”
The woman laughed high and insane. “Not going to happen.”
Several squads of soldiers were closing in on him, cutting off all possible escape routes. He could see them with his peripheral vision. He expected to be cut down any second. But they weren’t firing. Why weren’t they firing at him? Didn’t matter. Jason was pretty sure he would be dead in a matter of seconds. Time to act. In a lightning-quick move that surprised even himself he lifted the muzzle of his weapon and fired a burst of rounds into the idling helicopter’s engine cowl. The engine sputtered and belched smoke and Jason knew he’d hit the turbines. The chopper was never going to fly again. Unfortunately he’d also hit a fuel line and the engine compartment burst into flame. Sheets of flaming fuel, spread by the whirring rotors flew out and away from the chopper, bathing everything in fire, including Angelica, who did not move or react in any way. The two soldiers who had helped Charlee aboard jumped out the door and directly into the inferno. They were immediately cut down by automatic weapon’s fire. Jason did not take the time to ponder who had killed them or why he wasn’t dead. He was focused on one thing only: Charlee. He could see that she was still inside the burning craft.
“Charlee, get out now!”
Jason sprinted toward the carnage. He knew the chopper was loaded with fuel and ordinance and would blow any second. But Charlee wasn’t moving. She was just standing there as flames licked around her. Something was wrong. No human being he’d ever known could withstand that kind of heat without reacting. “Jump, Charlee, I can save you!”
Jason was suddenly tackled from behind and brought down. Struggling to break free and cursing in frustration he saw that two men had hold of him. He was amazed to discover that one of them was Dr. Randal.
“It’s too late,” Randal said. “We’re out of time.” Several more men grabbed a kicking and cursing Jason and began dragging him back away from the danger zone. Jason saw that more men had shown up and had completely surrounded him and Randal. They were engaged in a fierce firefight with enemy soldiers. Several of Randal’s men fell dead as more took their place. Jason did not care who they were or why they were attempting to save him. He continued struggling trying to break free. “You can’t let her die.”
“She’s already gone, Jason,” Randal said. “Look.”
Jason watched in horror as the flaming Angelica jumped back aboard the inferno that was once a helicopter and took Charlee in a fiery embrace. Charlee’s halo of red curls ignited but Jason saw no emotion in her expression.
Without warning the helicopter detonated in a fiery explosion that shook the earth like a quake. Soldiers fell on Jason and Dr. Randal like linebackers tackling a quarterback as flaming debris fell all around them.
“I killed her,” Jason said pushing the men away from him and rising to his feet.
“You cannot blame yourself,” Randal said. “This is the way it was supposed to happen.”
Jason’s face went red with rage as tears ran down his cheeks. “How the hell do you know how it was supposed to happen?”
“I have studied the prophesies. They were written long before any of us were born.”
“Save the religious bullshit for someone who believes!” Jason spat.
“I am a soldier of God,” Randal said. “Nothing you do or say will ever change that. You do not have to be a believer to be chosen. You are one of the chosen and I have vowed to protect you.”
More of the ghostlike craft were showing up now. All around them they darted and dashed, seeming to defy the laws of gravity. Rays of light shot from them destroying one helicopter after another. Soon dozens, perhaps hundreds of aircraft were falling from the sky. From the forest beyond came the thunderous sounds of impact and the blossoming of fire as flaming aircraft met the ground. Enemy troops were giving up, throwing their weapons down and running in terror.
“What the hell is going on?” Jason asked. “What are those things?”
“They are emissaries of God, sent here to make sure Earth survives.”
“What the hell do they have to do with God?”
“Everything,” Randal replied. “Hurry now, we must get back inside quickly. We are on a timeline.”
To Jason’s astonishment three figures materialized directly in front of them. The first was Annie McArthur, the second was Nadia Zeigler, and the third was a figure he’d seen yesterday down beneath the ice caves. The form was human but impossibly tall—perhaps three meters. The creature inside the form seemed far from human, however. It wore a silvery-black hooded cloak—or perhaps the cloak was part of the creature. Jason could not be sure. A single, ruby laser eye shone from inside the cowl. Jason found it impossible to look directly at it. The creature moved swiftly toward the burning chopper in which Charlee had most certainly lost her life, and returned just as swiftly. To Jason it did not look like movement at all, but a form of dematerializing and materializing. The action was disorienting.
Upon its return, the creature handed Annie the third alien artifact; the one Charlee had taken from the body of Johnny Cobain and given to Angelica.
“Is Charlee dead?” Jason asked, knowing the answer to his own question.
“Yes,” Randal said. “There’s no doubt. She was lost the moment she turned that artifact over to Angelica.”
“None of this was her fault.” Jason said bitterly.
“You’re right,” Randal said, “It wasn’t.”
“What about that witch?”
“That remains to be seen,” said Nadia. “But I don’t think she’ll be bothering us again anytime soon.”
The Collector winked suddenly out of existence as though some cosmic hand had flipped a switch, and with him went the majority of Randal’s soldiers. As if cued by some silent command they moved quietly back into the forest. A squad of six men stayed behind to act as guards. Neither Jason nor Annie raised a word in protest. The ghostlike flying machines were dissipating as well, and no new choppers were arriving, and, from the unscathed forest behind the mountain, thousands of animals were returning, walking slowly, cautiously, tasting the air. It was a sign that things were winding down, that maybe, if they were lucky, the emergency was over.
The animals parted, allowing the group of four survivors and their guards to move toward the cave entrance.
CHAPTER 47
Secret Bunker. Somewhere in the world. July 6th.
The old man known as De Roché held the phone tightly in his hand as he paced in his office. “Jonas, are you telling me our forces were defeated by alien spacecraft?”
“Well, no, sir . . . I mean, we’re not exactly sure what they were. They were just white blips on the radar. They didn’t fly like any aircraft we’ve ever seen. Their movements seemed to defy the laws of physics. Somehow they destroyed everything we threw at them, choppers, jets, drones, even cruise missiles. I suppose alien spacecraft is about as close as we can come to a reasonable description.”
De Roché sighed and fell into his chair.
“Sir?”
“Are they still out there?”
“Ah, no, sir, they’re all gone. Not a whisper of them anywhere on the radar. We have no idea where they went.”
“They’re here, aren’t they, Jonas.”
“What, Sir? You mean aliens?”
De Roché did not answer. Earlier that day he had received th
e unsettling news that his forces worldwide were being rendered useless by beings that were attempting to restore order to civilization. Reports were coming in that these beings were human-like but not really human. Not only that, most nuclear facilities were under siege as well as every known Blue Light portal on Earth. Those attempting to breach nuclear facilities or Blue Light portals were being shot on sight.
“We lost Spencer, didn’t we?” De Roché said.
“I believe so, sir.”
“What about Angelica?”
Jonas hesitated. “I can’t be sure of that, but I don’t see how anyone could have survived that carnage.”
“I’ve failed,” De Roché said. “I’ve been defeated. Too many forces beyond my control have conspired to prevent me from getting to my grandchild,” he said. “My daughter’s husband for one, and that police detective from Portland. I should have killed them both when I had the chance. But my biggest enemy has always been that creature I made the bargain with all those years ago.”
“Sir?”
“Never mind. It’s something you wouldn’t understand.”
Jonas had heard rumors of a legendary creature that was somehow connected to the old man, but it all seemed too fantastic to take seriously. Jonas was a strategist who lived in the real world. Supernatural creatures, alien invasions, religious artifacts with paranormal powers, magic children, well, they just weren’t part of his core belief system. His skepticism about such things had been shared by his friend—his now almost certainly dead friend—Zach Spencer.
In a careful voice Jonas said, “Sir, this doesn’t have to be a loss. I mean, there is one more option left. A chance to get the child and the artifacts.”
“I suspect it’s much too late for that, Jonas.”
“Sir, I can assure you, it’s not.”
“You have evidence of this?”
“Yes, sir. Conclusive evidence.”
“I’ll be damned,” De Roché said brightening. “Very well, then, what can you give me for a timeline?”
“I’m not sure yet, but, sometime in the next two to three hours, give or take. I’ll make the contact and get back to you as soon as I know.”
“And if that fails?”
“Well, sir, we do have one more ace in the hole.”
“And that is?”
“Sir, I’m sitting in a missile silo as we speak. We have one ICBM armed with a 5.2 megaton warhead targeted and ready for launch per your instructions. And as far as I know there are no aliens within a thousand miles of here.”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that.”
“Yes, I know, sir. But if we don’t hear something soon then I’m afraid all bets are off. You might lose the child.”
De Roché was silent for a long moment.
“Sir?”
“All right, Jonas. If I can’t have her, nobody will have her.”
“I think that’s a wise decision, sir.”
“Give it a little more time. We want to make sure all other options are off the table.”
“Right, sir. I’ll keep you posted.”
“And remember, Jonas, because of the situation in the world everyone involved needs to use the utmost discretion. Loose lips sink ships. Remember that. If anyone gets out of line, even a little bit, kill them. No questions asked.”
“Oh yes, sir, it will be my pleasure.”
CHAPTER 48
Ice Caves. Northern Maine Wilderness. July 6th.
As the survivors entered the cavern Ariel squealed and jumped into her mother’s arms hugging her fiercely. “I knew you would come back to me, Mama.”
“You knew where I was, didn’t you?”
“Uh huh. You were in the web.”
“I felt you there with me, little one. I was comforted by your presence.”
Nobody asked how Ariel knew her mother had been in the web, or even what that meant. All had come to realize that a lot of strange magic was happening and that Ariel simply knew things. Doug wrapped his arms around them both in a loving embrace he never wanted to end.
Jason took Danielle in his arms. “I couldn’t save Charlee,” he said bitterly.
“You tried,” Danielle said. “I know you did everything you could.”
The sadness everyone felt for losing Johnny and Charlee, two innocents who’d gotten caught up in a terrible game of good versus evil, was palpable.
Stories were hastily exchanged. Doctor Randal explained that earlier, sometime before the massive explosion occurred, he’d slipped out the front door. Nadia had disappeared and he was afraid if he announced his intentions he would not be believed, and the group—who at that point did not trust him—would hold him prisoner. He explained that the Brotherhood had a secret platoon-size contingent of troops hiding out of blast range, and with Nadia gone, and her whereabouts unknown, he was the only one who knew how to contact them.
“Thank you for saving my life,” Jason said offering Randal his hand.
“I helped,” Randal replied. “You’re a good soldier, Jason. You did most of it yourself. Although I do suspect Ariel helped.”
Jason glanced in Ariel’s direction.
“You needed to survive,” said the child.
“Why me? Why not Charlee. She didn’t deserve to die.”
“No one deserves to die,” Ariel said. “It is sad losing her, but her life was beyond my control.”
“And mine wasn’t?”
“You and Charlee made separate choices, Jason. Yours were the correct ones, Charlee’s weren’t.”
“I don’t understand any of this,” Jason said.
“Welcome to the club,” said Rick Jennings.
Nadia told of her journey through the tunnels of the ice caves, and of her harrowing descent down the longest and most perfectly formed spiral staircase she had ever seen. She told of her visit with aliens in a place they called a waystation and what the aliens had revealed to her, and how the collector had opened a portal and dragged her into the web where she’d encountered Annie.
“So the aliens are here,” Eli said. “And you actually talked to them.”
Nadia beamed. “It was the most amazing experience of my life.”
“Were those white things out there actually alien spacecraft?” Eli asked.
“I don’t know what they were,” Randal said. “But they probably saved us all.”
“We’re not safe yet,” Ariel said suddenly. “This isn’t over.”
“How do you mean?” Doug asked his daughter.
Ariel had a slightly befuddled expression on her face. “I don’t know, but I feel that something terrible is going to happen.”
“But you know everything, little Ariel,” Slim said. “I’ve never seen a child as smart as you.”
Ariel shook her head and looked as if she might cry. “I don’t know everything. I wish I did, but I don’t. I just know something bad is coming.” Suddenly Ariel did begin to cry, bursting into the kind of heart wrenching sobs that can only come from a child.
“It’s okay,” Annie said, holding her close.
“No it’s not,” Ariel said. “I don’t want us to die. I don’t want my animal friends to die. Something bad is going to happen. You have to believe me,”
“I believe you, little one,” Doug said. “What do you suggest we do?”
“We need to go.” Ariel pointed at the floor. “Down there.”
“Come on everyone, let’s gather weapons and food. It’s a long and dangerous journey to the bottom.”
“How long?” Dr. Randal asked.
“At least two hours before we reach the stairs,” Jennings said.
Eli groaned. “I don’t know if I can do those stairs again.”
“Well, there is the alternative,” Jennings said. “You could stay here.”
“No way.”
“Let’s move then.”
“What about those objects?” Slim said. “They got us up here in an instant. Why can’t they get us back down?”
Everyone
looked at Ariel for guidance. The child had stopped crying and was wiping tears from her cheeks with her delicate little hands. I don’t know,” she said.
“Why wouldn’t they?” Jason asked.
“Johnny’s gone,” Doug said. “He was one of the original recipients. There might be rules.”
“We do have the added advantage of the spear fragment,” Eli said. “We don’t know what will happen if we add it to the mix.”
He looked to Ariel for guidance.
“I think we should try,” said the child.
Ten minutes later they were through the cave-in and were situated at the back of the antechamber where it began its dangerous descent down toward the ice caves. Flashlights, weapons, supplies and warm clothes had been gathered in case the objects didn’t work and they actually had to do the trek on foot.
Earlier Dr. Randal suggested taking along the six guards that had come in with them. Everyone thought it was a good idea except Jennings, although he did not voice his concerns in front of the group.
“What are your reservations?” Laura asked him when they had a moment alone while gathering supplies.
“Not sure. Just a gut thing. I’m hoping it’s wrong.”
“You do have good instincts,” Laura said, “despite all your other faults.”
“You really know how to hurt a guy.”
Laura smiled warmly. “You know I love you, Rick, but seriously, you must have some idea.”
“We don’t really know who those guys are. We know what Randal and Nadia told us but I think we should keep a close eye on them. If you ask me there have already been way too many surprises with those two.”
No sooner had Jennings spoken to Laura than Jason came to them with information of his own. After hearing what he had to say, Jennings said, “All Right, I’ll talk to Doug, and Laura, you talk to Danny. Not a word to anyone else, and be on your guard, okay?”
Song of Ariel: A Blue Light Thriller (Book 2) (Blue Light Series) Page 39
