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Nicolas hurried through the open service hatch that pierced the back wall of the hangar. It took a dozen steps to cross through the hatch. The Shelter's steel walls were twelve meters thick.
Once through, Nicolas entered the heart of the Shelter.
Despite his desperation, he gaped at the sheer wonder of the massive space. The arch of steel climbed a hundred meters overhead and was two and a half times as wide. Cavernous did not describe the place. Like stars in the night sky, hundreds of lamps lit the vast interior, positioned along steel scaffolding that lined the inside of the Shelter. Overhead, a maze of yellow tracks crisscrossed the roof. Giant robotic cranes waited stationary, ready to tear apart the old
Sarcophagus. Giant hooks the size of ships' anchors and skeletal pronged grips hung from the trolley cranes.
Just inside the Shelter, Nicolas stopped long enough to hit the giant red button that closed the service hatch. It trundled slowly closed behind him, creeping down on giant gears.
According to their original plan, Nicolas and Elena were to hole up outside in a control booth on the far side of the Shelter. The booth, which controlled the winch engines, was heavily lead-lined to protect the operator from any radiation. It was also positioned on the opposite side from the concussive charges, so exposure should be minimal.
Nicolas needed to reach that booth, but if Elena remained pi
So to protect his own future genetic heritage, Nicolas sought to shield her. But more than that, he could not totally discount that he did care for the woman.
His mother would interpret such tender feelings as weakness, but Nicolas could not deny his heart.
As the door slowly lowered, Nicolas headed off.
Elena! Gray called out from behind the jeep. You must help us!
There was no answer.
At least not from Elena.
Pierce, I don't think you're going to talk your way out of this, Kowalski said. His partner crouched a few steps away. His shoulder wept blood through his jacket, but it was only a graze. She's one crazy bitch. Why is it always the crazy ones who are such good shots?
I don't think she's crazy, Gray mumbled.
At least he hoped not.
He had seen how she had reacted to the revelation that Sasha was Nicolas's biological daughter. A mix of shocked dismay and protectiveness. There was some co
He had to trust he was correct.
Sasha came to me! Gray called out. Sought me out. She guided us here for a reason.
Silence stretched. Then a soft voice finally spoke. How? How did Sasha guide you here?
Elena was testing him.
Gray took a deep breath. He lifted his rifle in the air and tossed it aside.
Pierce , Kowalski growled. If you think I'm throwing my gun away, you're as nutty as she is.
Gray stood up.
Across the gap, the Russian soldier's rifle shifted toward him. Elena also rose and barked at the soldier, keeping him from shooting outright. Elena wanted to know more about Sasha. Across the way, the Russian pair shared a fortress of concrete pylons. Elena kept her pistol pointed at him.
Gray answered her question. How did Sasha guide us? She drew pictures. First she guided the Gypsies to my door. Then she drew a picture of the Taj Mahal, which guided us to India, where we discovered your true heritage and history.
You have to ask yourself why. Sasha is special, is she not?
Elena just stared at him with her hard, dark eyes.
Gray took that as agreement and continued, letting her see and hear the truth in his words. Why were we sent to India? Why even engage us at all? Why now? There has to be a reason. I think Sasha consciously or unconsciously is trying to stop what you're pla
Elena showed no flicker of acknowledgment, but Gray was still alive.
She sent us on a path to discover your roots: from the Oracle of Delphi, through the Gypsies, to now. I think there was some reason your lineage was begun. Perhaps the fulfillment of a great prophecy that is yet to come.
What prophecy? Elena asked.
Gray noted a flicker of both recognition and fear. Was there some nightmare etched into their psyches? Gray pictured the mosaics found at the Greek stronghold in India, including the last mosaic on the wall, a fiery shape rising out of smoke from the omphalos. Gray took a chance and quickly described what they had found, finishing with, The figure looked like a boy with eyes of fire.
The pistol in Elena's arm began to tremble though it still didn't waver from its aim at his chest. Gray heard Elena mumble a name that sounded like Peter.
Who is Peter? Gray asked.
Pyotr, Elena corrected. Sasha's brother. He has nightmares sometimes. Wakes screaming, saying his eyes are on fire. But but
What? Gray pressed, intrigued despite the time pressure.
When he wakes, we all do. For just a moment, we see Pyotr burning. She shook her head. But his talent is empathy. He's very strong. We attributed the nightmares to some quake of his talent that radiated outward. An empathic echo.
It's not just an echo from Pyotr, Gray realized aloud. It's an echo going back to the begi
But where does it end?
Gray stared over to Elena. You ca
To this moment. You have the chance to either help Sasha or destroy what she started. It's your choice.
Her decision was instantaneous, perhaps born out of the fire in her brain. She pivoted on a toe and fired. The Russian soldier dropped, killed instantly.
Gray hurried over to her. How do we stop Operation Uranus?
You ca
Elena handed Gray her pistol, as if knowing where he must go. He was already sidling past her and heading off between the rails. If she didn't know how to stop Operation Uranus, perhaps Nicolas did.
You must hurry, she said. But I I may know a way to help.
She turned and glanced toward the back side of the complex, where Nicolas been headed originally.
Gray pointed to the motorcycle. Though the front tire was flat, it would still be faster than on foot. Kowalski, help her.
But she shot me.
Gray didn't have time to argue. He turned and sprinted through the forest of concrete pylons. The way opened ahead, lined by the tracks to either side. At the other end of the concourse, he spotted Nicolas limping through a wide door in the massive steel wall and vanishing into the darkness.
Gray pounded down the way.
Down to six minutes.
As he flew, he saw the black gap in the steel wall begin to narrow. The door was closing.
They'd escaped the jail, but now what?
Elizabeth ran behind Rosauro, while Luca trailed and guarded their backs with a pistol. Using his cane, Masterson limped as best he could next to Elizabeth. She helped the old man by holding on to his elbow.
Their first priority was to find a phone and to raise an alarm. But the entire city appeared haunted and desolate. Birches grew out of broken streets, weeds grew everywhere, buildings were scribed with lichen and moss. How were they going to find a working phone here?
The next intersection! Masterson gasped and waved his cane while taking a hop on his good leg. To the left. The Polissia Hotel should be at the end of that next block.