Area 51

CHAPTER 35

The view from the rim of Rano Kao was spectacular.

Waves roared into the rocks a thousand feet below and the sea stretched out to the horizon, the setting sun creating hundreds of sparkles in the wave crests. The only thing marring the view was the silhouette of an aircraft carrier six miles off the coast.

A jet roared past, carrying another load of politicians.

The Abraham Lincoln task force was spread out around the island and the local airfield was packed with incoming aircraft. Turcotte squatted and picked up a rock, tossing it up and down in his hand. Kelly was standing nearby.

Von Seeckt and Nabinger were still down in the cavern, studying the guardian computer. Nabinger had found the control that opened a shaft to the rim of the crater shortly after briefing them about the history. Then the others had begun to arrive, Duncan taking them down to see what had been found.

Nabinger had communicated with the guardian again.

There was so much information. Medical theory; physics; the universe; even the instructions on how to fly the mothership. It was all there.

“So what now?” Turcotte asked.

“We’re sitting on the biggest story of the century,” Kelly said. “Hell, it’s the biggest story of the last two thousand years.”

She and Turcotte had seen Gullick’s body. He told her his theory that Gullick had been controlled by the pyramid uncovered in Mexico. That Gullick had turned it on and powered it up, but then it had taken over. It all fit together now, and Kelly would very shortly have to leave to do her job and tell the rest of the world the story.

“I miss Johnny,” she said. “This is his story more than mine.”

“His death wasn’t in vain,” Turcotte said.

“He helped bring to light the greatest story in history,” Kelly agreed.

Turcotte threw the rock out toward the ocean and watched it disappear. “I think about that alien commander so many years ago. Aspasia. The decision he had to make.”

“And?” Kelly asked.

“And it took a lot of guts.” Turcotte stood. “And he made the right decision. It was what was meant to be.”

“I didn’t know you had this philosophical side to you,” Kelly said.

“This all had to happen. I grant you that. But”—Turcotte looked out to sea—“but I don’t know if we’re making the right decision to continue down there with the guardian. I don’t know if this is meant for us, this knowledge, this technology ahead of our time. I talked to Von Seeckt. He said they’re already giving the guardian more power, putting it totally on line.”

“You sound…” Kelly hesitated.

Turcotte looked at her. “Scared?”

She nodded.

“I am.”