Marko cleared his throat. “Have you guys forgotten something? What happens if these aliens or whoever come looking for their property?”
Paulson grinned. “If Leah’s right, I’d like to be around for that.”
Jack dropped his spoon into the empty cup. “We need a plan to get out of here.”
“Why?” Leah asked.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“You always say that.”
“Look,” Jack said. “We’re sitting on what will be the biggest discovery in the history of man. If what we’ve seen is true, it’s gonna push the discovery of fire right out of the history books. Think about it. An endless power supply, cryonics technology, and who-knows-what other advanced technology percolating inside that lab.”
“So it’ll change humankind for the better.” Leah shrugged. “I for one can’t wait to get the word out. It could bring relief to so many suffering around the world.”
“That’s my point,” Jack said. “If this is exposed, there’ll be tremendous pressure to share this technology and, knowing how government works, they’re not going to do that willingly. After all, it could offer the military an entirely new generation of weaponry; it could change the balance of power forever. No, this is a secret the government will mean to keep, and that bodes ill for the likes of us.”
“That sounds like acute paranoia, Climber.”
“I don’t think so,” Paulson said. “Once this gets to the White House, issues of national security are going to be raised, and national security trumps all. For all I know, we might end up in Guantanamo Bay permanently if we don’t agree to keep our mouths shut.”
Leah’s expression changed to one of concern. “So what are you suggesting we do?” she asked Jack.
“We need a plan to get out of here on our own, not in custody. That means getting to the Caribou and getting off the ice on our own terms.”
CHAPTER 75
Jack woke with a start and glanced at his watch. He’d been asleep for six hours. He glanced around the tent; everyone else remained stretched out in their sleeping bags. Paulson was even snoring softly.
They’d worked every angle of escape for more than two hours but no one could come up with anything that remotely sounded realistic, given the two armed guards stationed outside the tent. The fact that they were all bone-tired hadn’t helped. After several arguments had broken out, Jack called a time out. They all needed sleep; otherwise they’d be in no shape to carry out an escape, even if the opportunity presented itself.
Jack leaned over and unzipped the vestibule on the tent. His eyes opened wide in surprise. Only one SEAL seemed to be standing guard. Given that they’d been sleeping, maybe the SEALs had assumed they were secured.
He leaned back into the tent, scratching at three-day stubble. Only one guard remained, but how to overcome him was still a puzzle. With his brain fresh from sleep, ideas flashed through his head, one after the other.
Suddenly his eyes opened wide. “Jesus, that might work,” he murmured. The others woke as Jack began digging through his gear bag.
“What’s happening?” Leah asked, pulling hair away from her face.
“I’ve got an idea,” he whispered. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it sooner.
“If I can find the magic box, we might have a ticket out of here well ahead of that.”
“What’s the magic box?” Marko asked.
“I always bring a heavy-duty medical kit along.” Jack replied. “As a trained EMT,” Jack pulled a rectangular-shaped nylon bag, filled to near bursting, from his gear bag, “I have access to some potent and — depending upon which country you happen to be in — illegal pharmaceuticals.”
Marko’s entire face lit up. “Better living through chemistry.”
“I doubt they’re your brand of chemicals,” Leah said dryly.
“Just a little bit of morphine,” Jack said.
“What’s your plan?” Paulson asked.
Jack looked up at Leah and raised his eyebrows.
“No way, not doing it,” she said flatly.
“Oh, yes you are,” he said, “and I’m going to show you how.”
CHAPTER 76
Beckam stared at the bodies lying within the tubes, not shocked at the sight — he had seen plenty of bodies during his SEAL career, most shot to death or worse — but slightly shaken.
This is no Russian installation.
Beckam had seen Russian technology, and this wasn’t even close.
“I don’t believe the brass have a clue about any of this,” Beckam told Frantino. “What did Dr. Andrews think about this place?”
“She didn’t say a word.”
“I need to speak with her, right now.”
“Aye, aye, Skipper. I’ll get you transportation down to the camp.” Frantino turned and issued orders to a SEAL standing near the entryway.
The vestibule opening to the expedition tent shook as the guard unzipped the flap. Jack stuffed the medical kit under a sleeping bag and Paulson quickly sat against it, covering the bag with his body.
“Commander Beckam is inbound, and he’d like to have a word with you,” said their SEAL guard before zipping the flap shut.
Ten minutes later, the growl of a snow machine increased in intensity, finally shutting down near the tent.
“Listen up,” Leah called out. “I’m not interested in speaking to anyone with a machine gun pointed at my chest.”
The flap unzipped and a tanned face poked through the vestibule, sans goggles. “I’m Lt. Commander Gus Beckam.” He smiled as he looked from one member of the group to the next. “I understand you’ve met Lieutenant Frantino.”
Leah found herself staring at the whitest, most perfect teeth she’d ever seen. Beckam’s short-cut, bleach-blond hair looked anything but SEAL-like. When Beckam smiled, his blue eyes twinkled; he managed to appear powerfully confident and completely relaxed at the same time.
“I want to commend whoever designed and built this camp.”
“I’m glad someone’s paying attention to my efforts,” Jack said.
“What the hell is going on here, Commander?” Paulson asked.
“We’ve been ordered to remove your expedition from Antarctica, Mr. Paulson.”
“How is it that you know our names?” Paulson asked.
“When we were briefed, I received files on Mr. Paulson, Dr. Andrews, and Mr. Hobson.”
“Know your enemy,” said Leah. “Right, Commander?”
Beckam ignored the comment. “I’d like to have your analysis of the structure, Dr. Andrews.”
She shrugged, staring him down. “Didn’t you talk to Admiral Frantino? He says it’s a secret Russian military base.”
“I’ve heard Lt. Frantino’s analysis. Now I want yours.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Indulge me.”
“Well, it’s not Russian,” she said.
“I figured that much. So what do you think it is?”
“I’m not sure there’s any point in us having this discussion.” Leah leaned forward and crossed her legs. “What would a machine-gun-toting Neanderthal know about Native American archeology anyway?”
Beckam raised his eyebrows. “If it helps, I majored in philosophy and religion with a minor in physical anthropology, so… a fair amount.”
“Okay,” she said. “You asked for it.”
Twenty minutes later, Leah breathed out a sigh of relief. The truth was out in the open, and it actually felt good to get it off her chest. “My concern,” she concluded, “aside from our personal safety, is that this whole thing will be covered up, and these captive people, if they can be revived, will be the next generation of lab rats. That after they’ve already suffered so much.”