The Blackhawk circled the airport once and hovered over the tarmac before setting down. Jack, Garrett, and Marko stood together in front of the Quonset hut, watching the helicopter land. Teresa paced behind them, phone to her ear as she barked orders.
Jack, Garrett, and Marko ran for the back of the Blackhawk as a lone figure exited the helicopter, carrying what appeared to be a large silver blanket in her arms.
Jack glanced at Garrett and grinned. “Damn if that isn’t a sight for sore eyes.”
“You know,” Garrett said in his soft western drawl, “she was probably ordering the flight crew around like it was her own personal chopper.”
Leah approached the trio. “What took you so long, Climber?”
“You know I can’t pass up a high-altitude adventure.”
She glanced over at Garrett and Marko. “I told him that if anything happened to you two—”
Garrett laughed. “We figured his life was already hell. No reason to make it any worse.”
“I want you to meet someone,” Leah said.
Jack, Garrett and Marko craned their necks as Leah pulled the thermal blanket away from the girl’s face. She slept soundly in Leah’s arms.
“Her name is K’aalógii.”
Leah glanced at Garrett, knowing there’d be a reaction.
“She’s Navajo?” Garrett said.
Leah nodded.
“How many more are alive?” Garrett asked.
“Twenty-seven.”
“You know her name — you’ve spoken with her,” Jack said.
Leah nodded.
Jack stared at her expectantly. When she didn’t say anything more, he had to ask. “Well, what did she say?”
Leah’s fatigue was clearly getting the better of her. “The Anasazi weren’t a single people. They were from a number of tribes, all fleeing those extraterrestrial visitors and the abductions. K’aalógii, her mother, and a few dozen other survivors were starving to death in the cavern we discovered. They decided that they wouldn’t be picked off one by one — they’d go out in one final battle.” She glanced down. “You’ll never find a bigger warrior that the one I’m holding right here.”
“Leah Andrews — it’s so good to see you again.”
Before Leah got over her surprise at seeing Teresa Simpson, Jack said, “She came looking for you. She found us in Chile.”
Teresa held up both hands. “No time for tearful reunions. I just got off the horn with Washington. I’ve been put in charge of this recovery and research operation, and we’ve got work to do.”
Leah looked at her with only minimal comprehension.
“I’ll fill you in when you’re fully conscious, Leah. I need someone to head up this operation, and you’ve got the job, whether you want it or not.”
Just then, Simpson’s cell phone rang. “Look,” she told the caller, “you people are going to have to learn how to wipe your own ass without calling me every time you’ve got to a problem.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve just appointed someone to honcho this entire deal.”
Teresa reached out and handed the phone to Leah.
“Hello,” Leah said.
“Dr. Andrews? You’re the person in charge?”
It was Leah’s turn to laugh as she recognized the voice. “You heard right, Gordo. I’m your man.”
“I’m… I’m glad you made it. It looks like we have our work cut out for us.”
“We sure do.” Leah took a breath, thinking. “Okay, here’s the plan. Once we get the patients transferred out of that place, I need experts to work out protocols for handling them. Calm environment, low lights, consistent personnel, low noise level, all that.”
“Anything you need.”
“I’m going to give you a list of names. They’ll be tribal leaders located on reservations all over New Mexico and Arizona. Hopi, Pueblo, Navajo, and more. Tell them I won’t take no for answer and that cost is no object.” Leah looked over to Teresa Simpson, who nodded agreement without hesitation. “One more thing, I want them to bring along traditional dress.”
“I’ll form a team right away.”
“And Gordo? I want this handled by you personally.”
“What do I tell them?”
“You’ll figure it out.” Leah ended the call and returned Simpson’s phone. “When the refugees are healthy, I want to transfer them back to the mesas in Gila.”
Teresa nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve got an idea. I’ll arrange to close off the Gila National Forest to public use and access for the indefinite future.” She smiled. “And I’ve got just the man for the job.” She dialed her mobile phone. “Get me Glenn Janssen.” She nodded and then snapped her fingers at Marko.
The young climber jumped like he’d been shocked with a cattle prod.
“Come on, Marko. I’ve got a feeling I’m gonna need someone who knows his way around those cliffs.”
“But—”
“Don’t but me, Mister. I’m bringing you aboard under the same arrangement as Dr. Andrews. You’re drafted.”
Garrett Moon stepped forward. “Since you’re looking for native speakers, I got some Navajo.”
“You sure, Garrett?” Leah asked. “After all I’ve put you through? This could be tough sledding.”
“Actually,” he said, “I think I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”
“You remember what my dad used to say?”
Garrett nodded. “That the Navajo were a race of kings and warriors.”
“When you see them up close and out of those pods,” Leah said, “it’s gonna blow you away.”
When Simpson, Marko, and Garrett had left them, Jack came over to Leah and kissed her.
“Why am I not surprised you already have this totally under control?”
Leah stepped back and wiped away a tear. “I don’t know. I hope you’re right. They’ll need help. Lots of help.”
“They’ve got the best in you.” Jack glanced toward the sky. “This isn’t the end of it, you know. Beckam told me that when we breached the lab, or whatever it was, the structure radioed some kind of high-powered signal into the sky. Apparently, it roasted satellites in the Southern Hemisphere on its way out into space. The Russians have moved to occupy Antarctica, and everyone, including the Chinese, have itchy trigger fingers.”
“No surprise there,” Leah said. “Fischer believes there are likely more than one of these alien labs, or transfer stations. After all, the visitors abducted a hell of a lot more than the 30 cliff dwellers we found. He was dying to find out if the Native Americans knew about any other facilities in Antarctica.”
“Well?” Jack asked in anticipation.
“I haven’t had a chance to ask; she’s been sleeping for the most part since we got on the helicopter.”
“Unless you knew where to look, it’s a mighty big continent. If she tells you there are more, we’ll have a whole lot more leverage with the government. Then again, if those ‘visitors’ come back looking for their property….”
Leah glanced up at the sky, then down at the girl in her arms. “We whipped their sorry asses once, and our spears are a lot sharper now.”
Jack looked at her in surprise. “You’re advocating the use of weapons of mass destruction?”
“Only if I find someone worth using them on.” She glanced around. “Speaking of nasty alien species, where’s Paulson?”
“Washington. If you want all hell to break loose, Paulson’s your man. But our leverage isn’t going to last forever.”
“What?”
Jack shook his head. “It’s a long story.”
“Ah,” Leah said, working it out in her head. “Of course Fischer wouldn’t just release us because he had a kind heart.”
“You’re right. Fortunately for you, Paulson’s a much better poker player than I am. We ‘obtained’ a super-secret weapon, the same type that wiped out Gus Beckam, the SEALs, and a small army of Russian Special Operations Commandos. It also destroyed the alien lab and Thor’s Hammer. For the moment, at least, we’ve got another one of those bombs positioned to insure cooperation at the highest levels.”