Rogue Angel - Polar Quest Part 16

"Indeed." Thomson looked at him. "You have something for me? A necklace, I presume?"

Zach nodded. "Here you go. Back safe and sound."

The colonel accepted it from him and gestured for another soldier to take it. "Place in the containment area. No one handles it unless I authorize it."

Zach frowned. "That's new."

"We started picking up readings," Thomson said. "The day after you left. Down in the dig site, the Geiger counters started going off the scales. We couldn't pinpoint the source. It seemed to fluctuate wildly from time to time and then it would simply disappear."

"You couldn't determine the source?" Annja asked.

"No. So we took the step of giving everyone portable rad detectors. What you've got on your parkas now."

Annja had almost forgotten about hers. She looked down and saw the strip of red across her chest.

Thomson pointed. "If that turns blue, get the h.e.l.l out of wherever you are-otherwise you'll start to glow in the dark."

Zach nodded. "Understood."

"Good. Now, what else?"

"We'd like to head down if that's okay with you."

The colonel nodded. "Fine, fine. Just be sure to take the necessary survival gear. They've gone deeper than when you were last here."

"I've only been gone two days," Zach said.

"Yes, well, things have been stepped up. Our new orders are to thoroughly penetrate the mountain and determine whether or not the artifacts we're uncovering are of an earthly origin or not. In the event they are not, then we are to try to determine where they come from."

"Well," Annja said. "That ought to be easy enough. We'll just search them on the Internet and see what planet pops up."

Thomson frowned. "That'll be enough. This is a serious matter and the people upstairs aren't taking any chances."

"Hence the armed militia," Zach said.

"Hence prudence," Thomson replied. "We're not here to turn this into a military operation. It is still primarily a scientific exploration of a possible alien environment. But we also like to be prepared."

"How so?" Annja asked.

"Washington has sent down another adviser."

"Another scientist?"

Thomson shook his head. "No, he's something of a specialist on security issues. He's to take command in the event we uncover something we can't control."

"What-like G.o.dzilla?" Zach asked.

"No, like something otherworldly," Thomson said. "Something that might be slumbering right now beneath our very feet."

"You're kidding," Annja said. "It's just a mountain."

The colonel shook his head. "We don't know that yet. And until we do for certain, we will take whatever precautions we deem necessary to secure the safety of the people in this camp."

Behind them the door to the shelter opened and a hooded figure strode in. The colonel rose with a smile. "Allow me to introduce you to Major Braden."

The figure paused and slipped his hood off.

Annja caught her breath at the sight of the man standing before her with a broad smile splayed out across his face.

16.

The first thing Annja wanted to do was shout, "Garin!" but something deep inside her stopped that from occurring. Instead, she merely smiled and extended her hand. "Annja Creed. Nice to meet you."

Garin shook her hand and bowed slightly. "Likewise."

Annja couldn't help but grin. Garin's normal continental manner seemed to have been replaced-almost painfully so-by the brusquely polite personality of an American military officer. It wasn't a mantle he looked comfortable a.s.suming, and Annja could only wonder why in the world he'd shown up at the bottom of it.

Dave and Zach introduced themselves and then Thomson came around and clapped Garin on the back. The gesture seemed to shock Garin, who looked as if he wanted to punch the colonel for doing so. But as quickly as that expression rolled over him, it was gone. Garin slapped the disguise back into place and immediately smiled instead.

"Major Braden here is one of our most experienced professionals in the field of unorthodox security procedures. He's been trying his best to push through several new protocols that will help us deal with the possibility of alternative security threats."

"Alternative security threats?" Annja asked. "That sounds utterly engrossing and frightening at the same time."

"Oh, it is," Thomson said. "I was up late one night last week reading over his latest brief. Truly incredible suggestions. Of course, some of them will take time to win over the more temperate members of senior staff, but I think there's a good chance they'll eventually be implemented."

Garin tried to grin. "You flatter me, sir. But I appreciate your support and that of your staff."

"Not at all, not at all."

Annja smiled. "Maybe you could show me those briefs sometime, Major Braden. I'm always interested in reading up on military doctrine."

Garin eyed her. "Are you now? I wouldn't have believed a woman like you would be interested in such things."

Annja knew he wanted her to drop it, but somehow, she just couldn't. She really enjoyed seeing him squirm. "Oh, military strategy has become something of a hobby for me as of late. I'm working my way through a wonderful book detailing Frederick the Great's campaigns against the Austrians."

The colonel nodded. "You know, I think I read that book last year. It was a wonderful historical piece if I recall."

Annja smiled at him. "Now, don't you go and ruin the ending for me. I can't wait to see how it turns out."

The colonel laughed. "You're too much, Miss Creed. Really, you are."

"Isn't she, though," Garin said. He glanced at the colonel. "Sir, if you don't require any more of me for the moment, I believe I'd like to get a firsthand look at the dig site. It's probably as good a time as any to get down there and see what we might be dealing with."

"Yes, that's fine. But perhaps you can all go down together."

Garin coughed. "Together?"

Zach nodded. "We were just heading down there, as well. You're more than welcome to come along with us."

"Yes," Annja said, "the more the merrier."

Garin sniffed. "Yes, well, that sounds fantastic. Truly." He looked at the colonel. "I'll report back later, then."

"Excellent."

Garin turned and his eyes shot daggers at Annja. "After you," he said quietly.

Annja ducked back outside with Zach and Dave, neither of whom seemed all that interested in Garin. But Annja certainly was. His sudden appearance raised a whole bunch of new questions for her. Chief among them was why was he here? The last she'd heard of his whereabouts, he was somewhere deep in the jungles of Africa, off on a search for some valuable artifact.

And now he was here.

Annja frowned and stopped herself from turning, grabbing him by the parka and throwing him to the ground, demanding to know what the h.e.l.l he was up to. Instead, she kept herself in check as they walked across the compound toward a part that she hadn't seen yet.

Zach and Dave carried the gear they'd brought with them in the Sno-Cat. Garin walked ahead of them, doing his best to stay clear of Annja. She followed in his wake, keeping herself just close enough to be a nuisance.

"Some weather, eh, Major?"

He nodded. "It's awful stuff."

Of course it was. Garin wasn't the biggest fan of the cold and snow. He much preferred a lazy summer day to negative fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Probably it was all he could do not to freak out and lose his cool.

"It's taking me a while to get used to it," Annja said. "But then again, I've only just recently arrived myself."

Garin grunted but said nothing more.

"How long have you been here, Major?"

He stopped and glared at her. "One week."

"Is that so? Sounds like you got down here pretty fast from...well, where were you before this?"

Garin glanced at Zach and Dave. "I'm afraid that's cla.s.sified, Miss Creed. I'm sure you understand that I cannot reveal where I've been or what I've been doing. Security and all."

"Oh, sure." Annja kept on walking. "Just thought it would be a nice way to pa.s.s the time."

"Perhaps later," Garin said. "When we get to know each other a little better. A drink over dinner?"

Zach cleared his throat. "A drink over dinner? This isn't some five-star resort, Major."

Garin nodded. "Yes, of course, I was merely being facetious. Given our surroundings, a little levity is sometimes just the ticket for good conversation."

Dave shook his head but said nothing. Annja knew what he was thinking. Major Braden didn't act or talk much like any major he'd ever met. Garin would have to watch himself. His act might fool Zach and even the colonel, but Annja knew Dave was something else entirely.

They reached the entrance to a wide shelter. Zach paused. "This is it. We go inside and then take the path down into the mountain."

"The colonel," Dave said, "erected this sheltered entrance to try to cut down on the wind blowing into the dig site, stirring up all sorts of sediment and rocks. Plus, it helps keep the temperature much warmer than if we were exposed."

Annja nodded. "Makes good sense."

"Indeed," Garin said.

They ducked into the entrance and were met by two guards who gave them a once-over and then let them pa.s.s without incident. By the back of the shelter, Annja could see a hole roughly ten feet by ten feet going into the mountain itself.

A string of lights led the way and she could see the bulbs disappear into the darkness. She found herself wondering just what might be down there.

"Here." Zach handed her a headlamp. "Bring that hard hat with you. Just in case."

"In case of what?" Annja asked.

"Cave-in."

Annja shook her head. "You sure know how to make me feel nice and safe."

Dave chuckled. "I wouldn't worry about that. If something happens, I'm sure Major Braden here can support the entire cave. Isn't that right, Major?"

"Just like Atlas," Garin said. "I would knowingly sacrifice myself so that you all might live."

Annja laughed now. "Is that so?"

Garin frowned. "It's my duty."

Dave slapped a hat into his hands. "Here, Atlas, be sure you take a piece of cover for your noggin. We wouldn't want any of the rocks in there to smack into your brain."

Garin placed the helmet on his head and then shucked his parka. Annja removed hers, as well. The temperature inside the shelter was warm and Zach a.s.sured them it would get warmer as they headed into the dig site.

"Being out of the wind helps a tremendous amount," he said. "You can actually work up a sweat down there."

Dave checked their equipment. "We're good to go."

Zach nodded. "Shall we?"

He switched his headlamp on and Annja followed suit. Then they started at the entrance and began walking down the slowly sloping path that led them right into the mountain itself.

"It's been bored out pretty well," said Annja. "I wasn't expecting this much clearance."

Dave from behind her said, "They used one of those tunnel machines to break into this part. Basically, they came in here and churned up a whole bunch of the mountain. Not exactly the best way to go about preserving any possible finds."

"That's for sure," Zach said. "Once I came on scene I told them they had to remove the machine and let us work by hand. They grudgingly accepted that, but once the colonel came down, he was much more reasonable about it."

"I'd imagine," Garin said, "that's because the chance that there are more artifacts has convinced him of the necessity to proceed with caution."

"Definitely," Zach said. "And we have ever since."