Rogue Angel - Polar Quest Part 13

As they rounded the bend, immense lights that had been set up to illuminate the entire area blinded Annja. She blinked several times before finally being able to focus again.

"Slow it down," Zach said. "They'll want to check us out."

Sure enough, Annja heard a bang on the side door. Dave opened it and a soldier dressed all in white stood there with his rifle.

"Identification?"

Dave removed an ID card from his wallet and pa.s.sed it over. The guard studied it and then handed it back. "All right. Make sure you park this and head over to in-processing."

Dave closed the door again and drove the Sno-Cat into a parking area that looked well sheltered from the elements. Other Sno-Cats sat there along with smaller snowmobiles.

"This is quite the setup," Annja said.

Zach laughed. "You haven't seen anything yet, Annja. Just wait."

Dave parked the vehicle. "All right, let's get out and get the in-processing done. Then I need to find a toilet."

"Thanks for the image," Annja said.

Dave led them toward a hard-sh.e.l.l prefabricated unit with lights strung up. Inside, warm air greeted them, and they all unzipped their parkas. Dave approached a desk and the soldier sitting behind it. A sidearm was clearly visible.

"Evening."

The soldier nodded. "I'll need IDs from everyone."

Zach handed his over while Annja struggled to get her pa.s.sport out. Finally she managed to extract it from her bag and handed it to the soldier, who looked her over.

"Do I know you from somewhere?"

"TV," Annja said. "Chasing History's Monsters." "Chasing History's Monsters." She hoped that's all it was. She hoped that's all it was.

He nodded. "Yeah, that's it. Hey, I really love that show. Especially when what's-her-name is on."

"Kristie Chatham. Yeah, she's a doll." Annja tried to smile, but it came out like a zigzag line across her face.

The soldier handed back her pa.s.sport. "Enjoy your stay."

"Thanks."

They started to leave when the soldier stopped them. "Wait, don't forget these. You have to wear them at all times. Just in case."

Annja took a small credit cardsize box from him. "What's this thing?"

"Radiation detector," the soldier said.

"Radiation?" Annja turned to Zach. "Just what the h.e.l.l is going on here anyhow?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. This is all new to me."

"Just a precaution, most likely," Dave said. "Come on, let's get the gear."

They walked back into the biting cold. The wind was screaming now, and anything not tied down was flapping about in the wind. Annja spotted an American flag stuck into the ground and noticed that the cold air had frozen the fibers.

"So where's this big environmental accident?" she asked.

"Later," Zach said. "Let's get the gear and get settled. We can check it out later, like tomorrow morning."

"I thought we were under the gun here," Annja said.

He shrugged. "Right now, I want to rest and get some food into my belly. I also want to find out what's been going on since I left."

"All right."

They got back to the Sno-Cat and opened the rear compartment. Zach handed Annja one of the boxes and she was pleased to find it wasn't heavy at all. Dave heaved out another long box, and Zach grabbed the final bit of stuff. They walked over to another series of prefab shelters.

Zach ducked into one of them and then waved them on in.

Inside, Annja could see four beds set up with s.p.a.ce heaters blasting out warm air. The lighting was great and although spa.r.s.e in creature comforts, Annja did notice a closed-off toilet stall at the back.

Dave headed right for it.

Annja glanced at Zach. "So what's with all the gear?"

"Just some standard boring stuff. I wanted to see if I can get down farther into the earth with it and possibly see if there are any other items that might help describe the necklace."

"You think there might be?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. At this point, even being away for a couple of days, things can change on a dime. Who knows what's been happening since I left."

Someone knocked on their shelter. "Yeah?" Zach said.

Annja saw a head poke in. "Okay to come in and talk?"

"Sure."

The hooded figure entered and removed his parka. Annja saw an older man of about fifty standing before them. He removed his gloves and headed right for Annja.

"So you're our newest addition here."

"I guess so."

"Welcome. My name is Colonel Thomson. I'm in charge of the operation here at Horlick."

"Nice to meet you. But what is this operation exactly? I was under the impression it was just a dig site," Annja said.

"Oh, it is, it is. But when Zach here found that necklace, the scope of things changed a bit. Now it's more of a recovery operation than anything else."

"Recovery? What are you talking about?" Zach said.

Colonel Thomson sat down on one of the beds. "Since you left us, Zach, the crews kept digging. We've found some more items."

Zach looked startled. "More? Like what exactly?"

"Evidence of a race of people living here long before most scientists would agree it was possible to fashion items like we've found. From what we've discovered, they were extremely advanced. And we still can't fathom what the metal is. We've even sent some back to the States for a.n.a.lysis, and they can't determine its origin."

"Incredible." Zach sat down again.

Colonel Thomson nodded. "So what we're hoping is that you and Miss Creed here-"

"Please, call me Annja," she interrupted.

He smiled. "Very well...Annja." He glanced at Zach. "We're hoping that you will be able to go down into the dig site tomorrow morning first thing and help us try to figure out who these people were."

"Do you have any ideas?" Annja asked.

Colonel Thomson shook his head. "None whatsoever. The ideogram of three snakes keeps popping up, however. We feel certain that they somehow a.s.sociated themselves with a serpent of sorts. Three perhaps. Maybe it figured into their mythology in some way."

"The other items you've found have had this ideogram on them, as well?" Annja asked.

He nodded. "We've got a pot of sorts and some kind of kettle, it looks like. All made from the same type of metal. And both of them are emblazoned with that trio of snakes. It's quite unusual."

"And what about the possibility of these items being extraterrestrial in origin?" she asked.

Colonel Thomson smiled. "Well, now, I suppose that's an idea that Zach had put forth." He pointed a finger at Zach. "You're far too obsessed about this alien thing. I just can't see it. At least not yet."

"So you admit there's a possibility," Zach said.

"Oh, sure, there's always a chance. I mean, it's certainly got all the makings of a good theory-unidentifiable metal, strange ideogram, evidence of a race existing here long before it should. Sure. It could be aliens. Why not?"

Annja looked at him. "You seem awfully open to the idea."

"Annja, when you've been in the military as long as I have, you see things. Sometimes you ask questions-only if it's permissible. But you still see things. And I've seen a lot. Certainly enough to know that nothing is as impossible as it might at first seem."

"I understand."

Thomson stood up. "All right, then. Glad we had a chance to meet up and discuss things. I look forward to seeing you both down on the dig bright and early tomorrow. Did you have any troubles getting out here?"

"Snowslide," Zach said. "It took out my Sno-Cat. We had to double up in the second one."

Thomson nodded. "All right. I'll send a recovery team as soon as the weather breaks. I can't do it until then-don't want them exposed to the elements unless they can get it back. How far away was that?"

"A couple of hours back," Zach said.

"Good enough." He put his parka on. "Have a good night." He ducked back through the door and out into the cold night.

"Nice guy," Zach said. "He likes to rib me on my obsession with aliens."

"I can tell. You've known him long?"

Zach shrugged. "Just since I got here. He was in charge. I didn't even know it was a military operation until I arrived. Up to that point, I was still thinking the oil companies were behind it."

"Not a chance, huh?"

Zach smiled. "Not a chance."

Annja heard a flush and then the stall door opened and shut quickly. Dave emerged, looking much more relieved. "I really hope you guys don't have to use the can anytime soon."

Zach sighed. "Great. I hope you left the fan on."

"Oh, yeah, definitely."

"Thanks."

"No sweat." Dave lay down on his bed. "So what did the bird have to say?"

"Bird?"

"Full bird. A colonel. Thomson."

"Oh," Zach said. "He was just filling us in on the discovery of some more items. A pot and a kettle."

Dave nodded. "So what's the plan, then?"

"First thing tomorrow," Annja said, "we head down into the dig site."

"Cool."

"In the meantime," Zach said, "we need to get some food and then some sleep. It's going to be another long day tomorrow. There's a lot of stuff to check out. And I want to be ready for anything."

"Is there a galley or a mess hall here?" Annja asked.

Dave nodded. "Got a mean cook here, too. I hear tell that Colonel Thomson's a real foodie, so any place he goes, he makes sure he brings along a good cook in his unit. And this guy is top-notch."

"You've got all the gossip, huh?" Annja asked.

Dave shrugged. "Well, not all of it, but a fair chunk. Anything food-related, that's a given. I love to eat."

"I'm getting hungry," she said. "What say we head on over and see how good the cook really is?"

Zach yawned. "Can I get one of you to bring me back a doggie bag? I'm kind of wiped out here."

Dave frowned. "You feeling okay, pal?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Just checking. I don't want you having any lingering effects from the carbon-monoxide inhalations earlier. You think you want to get yourself checked out? Just to be sure?"

"I'm fine. I just need some good rest. Sitting up in a Sno-Cat all day long can wear you out."