It wasn’t much different from the speech Gregor used to give to new recruits in Yerevan. Before anyone became fully integrated, they had to prove themselves. Ben the dog had already done this to some extent, but Gregor was wary. Jackson had shown to be a sly operator in the past. Leopards didn’t change their spots.
Gregor smiled as the frightened dog nodded.
“Yes. Thank you, sir,” Ben said.
Gregor winced. “Don’t call me—”
Two knocks boomed against the door.
“Who the hell is that at this time?” Marek said.
Before anyone could respond, Layla flung the door open. She looked immediately at the dog.
“Strange time for a visit,” Gregor said.
“I’ve been carrying out a little bit of the investigation work you asked me to do. Who’s he?”
“Let me introduce you to Ben,” Gregor said. He held up the necklace. “He’s given me the location of a hideout used by the little wasp. Jackson tried to use him as his new bitch. Recognize this?”
“Is that?” Layla said.
“Jackson’s necklace. Yes. I’m going in a few hours,” he turned to Ben. “He’ll show me the way. And you’re coming with him.”
“Me?”
“If you’re bullshitting, I’ll leave you in the forest.”
Layla sat on the couch. “We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
“Bigger things than Charlie Jackson?” Marek said. “We’ve wanted that bastard for years. What could be bigger?”
“Yesterday, I watched the croatoans carrying out a test. Did you see a large transparent structure in the paddocks?”
Gregor nodded. “We passed over it. Why?”
“It was some sort of atmosphere box. They tested five different levels on humans and aliens. Let’s just say we wouldn’t survive in an environment where they can take their helmets off.”
“It doesn’t take a genius to work that out. They wouldn’t wear them in the first place if they didn’t need them,” Marek said.
“You’re missing the point,” Layla said. “Look around you. The sky during dusk and dawn. Go out and look at the moon. The increase in land conversion. It’s all building.”
“They want more root. So what?” Gregor said.
“They’re terraforming the planet. The root is how they’re doing it.”
“Even a fool can see they’re changing the place. What are we supposed to do about it?” Gregor said.
“Why would we run away to live in ruined city?” Marek said. “Somebody else would just step in. The croatoans needs us, we’ve proven that.”
“I’ve just come back from the chocolate factory. There was information on the computers that collectively pointed to something happening very soon.”
“Very soon? Collectively?” Gregor said.
“Graphics and a timeline,” Layla said. “They looked close to concluding whatever they are trying to achieve. I think the experiment backs it up.”
“I think you’re being a little dramatic,” Gregor said. “We provide them with food. Manage the farms around the world. Why would they choke us to death?”
Layla rolled her eyes. “I don’t know. To live on our planet in conducive conditions?”
“No need to get sarcastic. I can’t risk everyone’s lives, based on your theory. You might be completely wrong.”
“And if I’m not?”
Ben cleared his throat.
“Do you have something to say?” Marek said.
“Charlie thinks the same,” Ben said. “That’s why he’s been trying to stop it.”
“Who gives a fuck what he thinks?” Gregor said. Ben looked back at his boots. “I can see things changing. We can all see things are changing. It’s a question of to what level, the timing and our personal survival. Layla, I’m not going through this in the middle of the night.”
“We might not have time to wait,” Layla said. “I told you the other day they’re acting differently. It’s happening soon, I know it.”
Gregor twirled the necklace around on his finger. He sat back in his chair, stroking his chin. “First I deal with the hideout. Layla, try to find out more. We’ll get together this evening and decide our next steps. If we act, we have to be one hundred percent sure. I’m not risking everything on a hunch.”
She nodded.
“It’s crazy,” Marek said. “We’ve been doing this for ten years. Why now?”
“We’ll discuss it tonight. I need a couple of hours sleep before heading out,” Gregor said.
“There’s something else,” Layla said. “Igor came into the chocolate factory. I think he knows what’s going on. He threatened me and said things were changing.”
“Don’t worry about that Russian scumbag. I’ve got him just where I want him,” Gregor said.
“Have you?” Layla said. “Or does Augustus?”
“Screw that freak,” Gregor said, resisting the urge to insult Layla. He jumped from his chair and grabbed the back of Ben’s neck. “I’ve got my eye on a different prize at the moment.”
Chapter 23
MORNING BROKE with a rich purple stain across the sky. An hour later and the color burned away to be replaced by a thick, tobacco-orange.
Denver parked the truck at the edge of the broken road, what used to be the New Jersey Turnpike, where it met the Newark Bay Bridge. The structure lay half in the bay. The thick, sludge-like water rolled slowly back and forth across the debris.
From their position, they could see across to Manhattan. The broken shards of hundreds of towers, piercing the orange sky like shattered grey teeth. They spoke of the initial devastation during the first invasion.
Charlie got out of the truck and helped the others. Ethan and Maria had slept for the entire over-night journey. Charlie got a couple of hours when Denver took over driving, but his body could have done with a few more. He needed another intake of root to really feel awake again, but now they were in the city, root wasn’t so easy to come by.
His current supply would have to last. If things went well, they’d be heading back out by noon anyway. Just a few hours here to get the device and they’d be done.
“Wow,” Maria said, stretching her arms above her head as she stared on toward the city. “That’s incredible. This is the old world?”
“Yeah. Used to be one of the greatest cities on Earth,” Charlie replied.
“This is the place where you worked?” Ethan asked, impressing Charlie that he remembered. “Must be heard to deal with the memories of your colleagues when you come back.”
Charlie shrugged. He’d lost so many of the years it was difficult to still grieve for individuals. Occasionally he would think back to the young lad he tried to save in the sinkhole, Luke, and his supervisor, Steph. That fateful day will always remain with him. How he and Pippa and a single fireman were the only survivors from that day.
“Right. It’s where we’re header,” Charlie said to break himself from his memories and cut anymore inquiry into his grief.
“How are we going to get across?” Maria asked. “It’s not like we were taught to swim.”
“Follow me,” Charlie said.
Leading them across the deserted bridge until they came to the point in the middle of the bay, where the concrete road split apart, Charlie leaned over the side and ran his hand along the side until his arm was submerged up to his elbow.
It took a moment, but he found it. A rope. He pulled on it and from within the murk of the water, he pulled up a plastic container with weights on the side. “I need some help over here,” Charlie said.
Ethan and Denver grabbed the rope and the three of them hauled up the eight-foot by four-foot plastic container and dumped it onto the concrete road.