“Like you, I have read the speculations coming out in the news, especially on the Internet, which have put forth all sorts of conclusions and have implicated two well-known individuals in a conspiracy. What can I say to such claims? We are a small relief organization that occasionally dabbles in research projects. That two of my employees have been attacked comes as a complete surprise to us. If these were not random acts of violence or possibly a case of mistaken identity, then we can assume that both the Mongolian and Nepalese attacks were related since they both involved Mr. Evers. Any suspects in these attacks must know that they are being closely monitored by the United States along with security forces of other countries. I have been told by my sources that arrests are likely after all the evidence has been compiled. I cannot comment further on that investigation as I have no other details.”
Bill had made a point that he wanted Holtz and Engel to clearly understand: We know you were involved. You mess with my people again, and you’ll be brought to justice. He also knew that it was little more than a hollow threat. Adlebrecht Engel was a powerful man with backing from one of the most powerful nations in the world. Bill was certain that the Russians’ uncooperative attitude clearly implicated their involvement.
“I will gladly entertain questions at this time.”
Nearly every hand in the audience went up.
“Mr. Mayer,” Bill pointed to a reporter in the front row.
“Mr. Hendricks, since you’re aware of the odd bits of news mysteriously leaked out about these incidences, you must also be aware that there are all sorts of fantastic claims about them.”
Although the reporter paused for a response, Bill waited for him to ask the question. He could anticipate what was coming.
“We understand that Mr. Evers discovered something in Tibet which has…let’s say…significance to the study of genetics. Would you comment on that?”
“First of all, my employees were in Nepal, not Tibet. And, yes, we are investigating a sample of frozen mammalian tissue of unknown origin, but it is much too early to offer any substantial information at this point. It was recovered from a cave with the full knowledge of the Nepalese government. A sample of this type was studied some years ago by Russian and East German scientists. Their report was never published and their results were lost, but it is our intention to replicate the study using the latest in genetics technology.”
“Mr. Hendricks.” Another hand went up—a young blonde woman he didn’t recognize. “What are you trying to prove with this study? We’ve heard that you’re claiming to have found a passenger on Noah’s Ark.”
Laughter erupted from the group.
“We’ve made no such claims. TERA is a legitimate research organization published widely in recognized journals. We are not about premature, speculative assumptions, I can assure you. I can tell you that the tissue sample we are investigating could have profound implications on the origin of species. We’ve isolated a segment of DNA that has never been seen before except by the earlier researchers whose work was lost. Anything I could say beyond this point would be speculation.”
“If this turns out to be what you expect,” the reporter continued her line of questioning, “what would it tell us about the origin of species?”
Bill paused for a moment. “It’s really too early to comment.”
“Mr. Hendricks,” Mayer blurted. “We’ve been down this path with you before. Everyone in this room knows that TERA is a thinly disguised evangelical Christian organization which has actively promoted an agenda of refuting the established facts of evolution. This frankly sounds like the beginnings of another fabrication to promote your agenda.”
“Your point, Mr. Mayer?”
“The point is, we are wasting our time here,” he said angrily. “We came for answers, which you have not provided. You claim that some dastardly acts were committed against two of your employees. You have alluded to some grand genetics mystery, and yet there is no evidence of either. Where is the story? Prove to us that any claim…any claim you might possibly make has the least shred of viability. Otherwise, we must assume this is just another biblical treasure hunt.”
“I see.” Bill nodded slightly and then turned to the navy blue curtain behind him. He reached up and pulled a cord hanging from one end. When he did, the curtain fell, revealing a weathered NASA space capsule. “Why don’t we start with this?”
All eyes were focused on the object.
“I somehow envisioned Noah’s Ark to be a little larger,” Mayer replied smugly.
Again, the audience burst into laughter.
“This spacecraft was built by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri in 1963,” Bill instructed. “On April 8, 1964, this unmanned Gemini capsule was launched into orbit and reportedly burned up in the earth’s atmosphere nearly four days later after completing approximately 64 orbits. As you can see, there’s an obvious problem with that story. But more interestingly, when my team discovered this spacecraft in the Gobi desert almost five weeks ago, they found a greater mystery, which I think you will find worthy of your visit here today.”
He motioned with his finger and Sam rolled out a cart that carried an archaic electro-mechanical device.
“You see,” he continued, enjoying the theatrics, “our government was not wholly forthright in the stated purpose of the mission. This is a Soviet-made camera far beyond state-of-the-art in its day. We found it onboard the capsule, and we were able to develop the film. Would you like to know what it had taken pictures of?”
Chairs began to rattle as the reporters suddenly sat up to take notes and snap photographs. A growing murmur overtook the audience.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Bill said raising his hands, “please sit back and make yourselves comfortable. This is going to be a long story, and one worth hearing,” he nodded at Mayer, “so let’s get started.”
Nine hundred miles away at his office in New York, Walter Holtz watched the news story with seething anger. As he punched the power button on his remote, the buzzer on his phone sounded.
“Yes,” he answered abruptly, but then his facial expression suddenly changed to one of fear. “Put him through.”
“Guten Tag, Walter,” the voice on the other end greeted in perfect German. “It has been a long time. I trust you are well.”
There was a long pause before Holtz responded. “What do you want Adelbrecht?”
“I was just thinking about old times and decided to call you. Our names have come up recently in the news, together even, and we need to discuss it. Did you know I am on the host committee for the next Olympics? It is a position that unfortunately places me in the public spotlight. I’ve never cared much for that sort of attention. With these unkind rumors afloat, I’m facing questions that I would just as soon not answer.”
“And you think I’m not?” Holtz answered.
“It’s a difference in status. You low Germans should understand that. A man in my position does not have to deal with such things, which brings me to my point. You have not been truthful with me. I told you years ago that your infatuation with the Fountain of Youth was only going to bring you grief. You were supposed to have destroyed Petrovich’s work. That is what you told me at least. Was it a lie?”
“I had need of it. There was no reason to destroy the specimen. I did not lie to you. Everyone who knew of it was killed.”
“Apparently not everyone,” Engel responded.
“Petrovich’s granddaughter,” Holtz said. “She is the one who’s responsible.”
“You used her to find the site.”
“I had no other choice. All my notes and maps were stolen years ago. I had no other way to find that cave.”
“That was the plan,” Engel responded coldly.
“You!” Holtz exclaimed. “It was you. You raided my office and took everything.”
“It’s the price for being uncooperative. Your orders were to kill everyone who knew of the cave and then seal it for all eternity
. But you couldn’t follow orders. I knew that you would try to return. The scientist has overpowered the patriot.”
“Patriot,” Holtz scoffed. “Is that what you are? Privateer would be a better description. What do you still have to gain by keeping all of this a secret? Communist ideology is all but dead. Are you its lone champion?”
“Atheism is still a powerful tool,” Engel responded. “And I have plans for it. The Soviet Union may not be as dead as the West would like to think.”
“Chairman Adelbrecht Engel,” Holtz said sarcastically. “What can it possibly give you that you do not already have?”
“Immortality,” Engel let the word flow slowly from his lips.
“Then you are a fool.”
“Am I? By the way, Walter, you should expect visitors soon. I did some research within your sphere of influence and found a curator at the natural history museum there, Kirk Hoffmeyer. He was a very helpful fellow, especially with what I could offer him in exchange for his testimony. I suspect the FBI will be at your office within the hour. Just thought you should know. Goodbye Walter.”
When he hung up the phone, Engel looked over at the man who sat in the chair beside his desk. “Well, Oleg,” he said, “that should complete your mission. Things have come full circle haven’t they?”
“Yes sir.”
“I find it so strange that the girl knew to look for the capsule out there in the desert. You were probably the last person to see it when you followed Jensen to Mongolia to finish our business with him. It’s been many years now, but I’m almost certain that you said the film had been destroyed back then. Am I incorrect?”
Though he tried to hide it, the nervous look on Oleg Volkov’s face was obvious. “I thought I had. I shot the CIA agent and hastily dismantled the film canister. I obviously overlooked something trying to get out of there.”
“Yes,” Engel nodded. “You did overlook something. But I didn’t. Neither you nor Holtz ever understood the bigger picture. Money is not everything. In fact, I believe it is called the root of all evil.” He laughed loudly, but then his expression became hardened. “You were planning on taking the film, you and Walter, but you forgot the exact location of the capsule. You hoped the girl had some information and you got her to do your work for you.”
“It’s not that way,” Oleg erratically shook his head.
“Walter is an idiot, you know,” Engel continued. “There is no fountain of youth. For what it’s worth, the Bible is completely reliable. I’m sure that sounds strange coming from me. God changed the DNA in all living creatures. It plainly says so in Genesis. Men were given a shortened lifespan because of their sin. Walter isn’t going to change that. He thought that he could analyze the DNA of this ancient creature and figure out what God had changed to shorten its life. If he could extrapolate the findings to man, the two of you would have become very wealthy.”
“I promise I knew nothing about this.”
“I see,” Engel nodded as he pushed a button on his desk console. Two tall, thuggish men entered the room. “We could have been partners for many more years. You’ve done good work for your country and for me. I am sorry that it has to end this way.”
Two rough hands dug into Oleg’s shoulders from behind.
“Oh,” Engel added as the men drug him from the room, “as for the shortened lifespan we were just discussing, you are about to become an eyewitness.”
EPILOGUE
Sitting beneath the portico to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Magic Kingdom, Katie looked over at the Blackberry in Jake’s hand and read the news article along with him. When he scrolled to the end, she looked up and smiled.
“I like your boss,” she said.
“Don’t you mean our boss,” Jake corrected, “or have you already forgotten your new responsibilities as lead scientist for TERA’s new Biological Studies Division?”
She looked at him playfully. “Are you sure you’re not in my management chain?”
“Are you kidding me?” he feigned a look of surprise. “I don’t take any problem children under my wing. All of my employees are deadheads. I’m not even sure you’re manageable.”
She gave him a hard nudge in the ribs.
“See,” Jake shouted with laughter.
“And to think,” she said pretending to pout, “I was about to share a secret with you. I’ve finished reading my grandfather’s last journal.”
“Oh, bad timing on my part. What can I do to make it up to you?”
Katie squinted and tapped the side of her head as if trying to come up with the answer. “A suitable kiss wouldn’t be so bad.”
“By suitable you mean…?”
“Our first one comes to mind.”
Jake looked around at the crowd of people who were traversing in both directions along the sidewalk in front of them. “Not a very private place,” he noted.
“Under the circumstances, I’ll accept an abbreviated kiss,” she raised a warning finger, “but only as a down payment. I want the real thing later.”
Jake placed his hand against her arm and lightly touched his lips to hers. “How’s that?”
She smiled. “OK, you’re forgiven.”
“So what’s in the journal?”
“The missing pieces to the puzzle. Dmitri had gone back to the excavation site to extract the complete remains of the animals. He had planned to transport them out of the country to India and then to England for a full analysis.”
“Did he have any idea what was about to happen?” Jake asked.
“He knew he was being watched and suspected a traitor in his excavation party. You ready for the name? Oleg!”
“Oleg!” Jake blurted. “That was the name of the guy who told you about the capsule being in Mongolia.”
“I don’t know if there’s a connection, but it does raise the question.”
“What about Peter Jensen? Did he say anything about the Gemini flight?”
“He did. Apparently, he and Jensen met through a group of international explorers who were determined to find tangible evidence of things from the Bible. My grandfather had told Jensen about his animal migration theory, namely that all the animal species in the world had originated from a single location.”
“You mean Noah’s ark.”
“Yep, and all that his theory lacked was a complete topographical survey from the ice cave all the way back to the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian. Jensen was tied in with a program that could give them just that. Do you remember some cloudy streaks in the most zoomed out photo?”
“Yeah.”
“It was smoke from large signal fires. Dmitri’s team had lit them before the prescribed time for the flyover. From these images, my grandfather hoped to finalize the migration path and ultimately discover the location of Noah’s ark.”
“That would be cool,” Jake said with excitement.
“So where do we go from here?” she asked.
Jake looked behind them at the entrance to the ride.
“Don’t even go there,” she said with a grin. “You know what I mean.”
He reached over and took her hand. “All of this is completely new ground for me. I’ve never had these feelings for anyone before.”
“Feelings?” she repeated as she raised her eyebrows.
“You’re not going to make this easy are you?”
Katie nudged him and smiled. “We’ve been through more in a few weeks than most people go through in a lifetime. Now that the pace has slowed and I have time to think more clearly, I guess I’m just curious about us.”
“Us,” Jake echoed. “I like the way that sounds. Look, I’m just going to be honest with you. Since the day we met, you’ve been my constant thought. That’s not going to change. And although we’ve only known each other for a short time, I’ve fallen completely in love with you.”
Katie leaned forward and touched his face. “I feel the same way. You’re the person I’ve prayed for all my life. I love you too.”
Author’s Note
Thank you for taking the time to read this story. I certainly hope you enjoyed it. If you will spare me a few minutes, I want to share something with you that I think you’ll find interesting. When I first starting writing Genesis Conspiracy, I had no idea how much our heavenly Father would get involved in directing and encouraging me. You hear that sort of thing a lot in Christian circles but let me give you something tangible that is truly amazing. When I finished the first draft of the story, I was both tired and exhilarated. I decided to drive out to lunch and stop by a local bookstore to see if they had any resource material for my next novel, which involves the Maya. As I was driving, I had a great time of fellowship with God, thanking Him for leading me through this project. It was one of those times when the world around you seems to disappear and the only thing that matters is this moment with the one Person who loves you the most.
When I got to the bookstore, I really didn’t focus too much on what I had gone there to do. My time with God was trumping everything else. I knew that my first story was to take place in Tibet. God had brought that location in front of me too many times for it to be coincidental. As I walked around the store, I prayed about that: Heavenly Father, I know you wanted the first story to take place in Tibet. Would you guide me about the Maya? Looking through the history and geography sections, I found nothing. Oh well. God speaks to us clearly sometimes and sometimes we just have to wait and listen more closely. The latter was not to be the case here. As I walked out of the bookstore, there was a display window outside, which usually features new releases. There were two books on display—two books from a series. One of them was titled Tibet and the other—you guessed it, the Maya. I stood there in near disbelief and that’s when the Spirit of God grabbed hold of me. It’s almost indescribable when our loving Father reaches out to us in such a tangible way. Frankly, it moved me to tears.
The Genesis Conspiracy Page 26
