‘And have you?’ asked Vanderbilt.
‘Nothing. Not a peep from Africa, Asia or the Middle East. There’s nothing to indicate that any state might be involved.’
Vanderbilt cleared his throat. ‘They’re hardly going to tell us about it,’ he said. ‘It won’t make the headlines of the Washington Post.’
‘Like I said, we’ve got no—’
‘I’m sorry to disillusion you,’ Vanderbilt cut in, ‘but you can’t seriously believe that someone who’s capable of running riot in the North Sea and poisoning New York is going to show us his wallet?’
The President’s eyes were slits. ‘The world is changing,’ he said. ‘And that means we need to be able to see into everyone’s wallet. Either those bastards are too smart or we’re too stupid. But no matter how goddamn smart they are, it’s our job to be smarter. Starting from now.’ He turned towards the director of Counter-terrorism. ‘So, how smart are we?’
The director shrugged. ‘The latest warning came from India. It was about Pakistani jihadists trying to blow up the White House. The terrorists are known to us, and there isn’t any danger. We were on to it before the Indians told us and we traced all of the financial transactions. The Global Response Center collects mounds of information on international terrorism every day. It’s true, Mr President. Nothing happens without us getting wind of it.’
‘And it’s all quiet at the moment?’
‘It’s never quiet, but there’s no sign of any serious planning or financial activity. Which isn’t conclusive, I guess.’
The President’s gaze shifted to the deputy director for Operations. ‘I expect your team to step up its efforts,’ he snapped. ‘I don’t care where your agents are posted or what backwater they’re operating in, I’m not going to stand by and see American citizens killed, simply because someone hasn’t done their homework.’
‘Of course not, sir.’
‘And in case any of you have forgotten, we’re being attacked. We’re at war! I need to know who we’re fighting.’
‘Well, take a look at the Middle East, then,’ Vanderbilt called impatiently.
‘We’re doing that already,’ Li said.
The fat man sighed. He didn’t bother to turn; he knew Li didn’t buy his theory.
‘You can always punch yourself in the face to make it look as though you’ve been beaten,’ said Li, ‘but let’s be realistic. It’s all very well claiming that this is about hostile countries taking a swipe at America because they’re intent on protecting their interests; but why would they hurt themselves? Sure, if it’s us they’re after, and it would make sense to distract us by causing trouble elsewhere - but not on that scale.’
‘That’s not how we see it,’ said the director of the CIA.
‘I know. But I see it this way: we’re not the main target. There’s too much going on, and it’s all too extreme. Just imagine the amount of effort it would involve - training thousands of animals, breeding millions of new organisms, triggering a tsunami in Europe, sabotaging the fish stocks, plaguing Australia and South America with jellyfish, and wrecking tankers…No one would stand to gain anything economically or politically. But there’s no denying that it’s happening - and whether Jack likes it or not, the Middle East isn’t exempt. Those are the facts, and I’m not going to join in and pin the blame on the Arabs.’
‘OK, so there’ve been a couple of minor shipping accidents in the Middle East,’ growled Vanderbilt.
‘They weren’t exactly minor, Jack.’
‘Maybe we’re dealing with a megalomaniac,’ suggested the secretary of state. ‘A criminal mind.’
‘That’s more plausible,’ said Li. ‘An individual would be able to shift large amounts of money around and dabble in technology for ostensibly respectable purposes. If you ask me, though, we need to look at it this way - someone sends us a plague of worms, so we invent something to kill them, and so on.’
‘What kind of measures have you taken so far?’ asked the secretary of state.
‘We’ve—’ the defense secretary began.
‘We’ve isolated New York,’ Li interrupted. She didn’t like other people taking the credit for her work. ‘And I’ve just learned that the warnings about crabs in Washington have been confirmed. They’ve been sighted by surveillance drones. We’re going to have to quarantine the city as well. The White House staff should follow the President’s example and leave town for the duration of the crisis. I’ve ordered troops with flame-throwers to surround key coastal cities. In the meantime we’re developing an antitoxin.’
‘Any plans to use submersibles and dive robots?’ enquired the CIA director.
‘No. We can’t release anything into the depths without it disappearing. We don’t have any means of controlling things down there. ROVs, for example, are only connected via cables and, right now, scientists are lowering them into the water, and hauling up a bunch of frayed wires. The ROVs detect a blue glow, then the cables are cut. As for what’s happening to the AUVs, it’s impossible to say. Last week four Russian scientists set off in MIR submersibles. They were all rammed and sunk a thousand metres down.’
‘So we’re abandoning the field?’
‘We’re still trying to cull the worms. At the moment we’re using drag nets to sweep the seabed. We’re also deploying nets in strategic coastal areas to ward off marine life. It’s another of our anti-invasion measures.’
‘That’s a little primitive, isn’t it?’
‘So are the methods of attack. In any event, we’re about to start using sonar to get at the whales. We’re going to deafen them with Surtass LFA. Someone’s got control of the creatures, and it’s high time we responded in kind. We’ll turn up the volume till their eardrums explode. Then we’ll see who’s boss.’
‘That sucks, Li.’
‘If you’ve got a better idea, I’d love to hear it.’
No one said anything.
‘How about satellite surveillance? Is that any help?’ asked the President.
‘Up to a point.’ The deputy director for Operations shook his head. ‘The army is accustomed to searching the jungle for camouflaged tanks. There aren’t many systems capable of identifying objects the size of a crab. OK, so there’s KH-12 and the new generation of Keyhole satellites. We’re also collaborating with the Europeans on Topex/Poseidon and SAR-Lupe - but they use radar, as does Lacrosse. It all comes down to a basic problem: we have to zoom in to detect small objects, which means we have to focus on a limited section of coast. Until we know where the next invasion is likely to happen, we’re almost guaranteed to have our backs turned. General Li has suggested using drones to patrol the coastline, which makes sense, although even drones can’t see everything. The NRO and the NSA are doing their best to come up with information. Maybe some of the transmissions we’ve intercepted will offer a few more clues. We’re using every possible aspect of SIGINT.’
‘Well, perhaps that’s our problem,’ the President said slowly. ‘Maybe we should be focusing a bit more on HUMINT.’
Li repressed a smile. HUMINT was one of the President’s personal hobbyhorses. In security jargon SIGINT stood for signals intelligence, which covered all forms of intelligence-gathering that revolved around the interception of transmissions. HUMINT was all intelligence gleaned through espionage - human intelligence. The President, who was a straightforward guy with no real grasp of technology, liked to look a person in the eye. Even though he commanded the most technologically advanced army in the world, he felt more comfortable being protected by spies crawling through undergrowth than by satellites.
‘Put your guys to work,’ he said. ‘Some are too quick to let computer programs and service switching points do the job for them. I want less programming and more thinking.’
The director of the CIA pressed his fingertips together. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I guess we shouldn’t pay too much attention to the Middle East theory, after all.’
Li glanced at Vanderbilt, who was staring rigidly ahead. ‘I hope you
haven’t been too hasty, Jack,’ she whispered.
‘Save it, Li.’
She leaned forward. ‘Maybe we could talk about something more positive?’
The President smiled. ‘Sounds good. Fire away, Jude.’
‘Sir, the present crisis won’t go on for ever. It’s up to us to think about what happens next. And in the end what really matters is who comes out on top. The world will look different by the time this is over. A number of regimes will have been destabilised - and in some cases we won’t be sad to see them go. The world is indeed facing a terrible threat, but a crisis is also a chance. If we’re unhappy with a particular regime, and something undermines it, maybe we can speed things along and make sure the right successor is in place.’
‘Hmm.’ The President was thinking.
After a moment’s reflection, the secretary of state said, ‘So the question isn’t so much who started this war, but who’s going to come out victorious?’
‘Don’t get me wrong. The civilised world will have to rally together against our invisible foe,’ said Li. ‘If the situation continues, our allies are going to look increasingly to the UN for guidance. That’s fine for the moment. I’m not saying we should push ourselves forward, but we should be waiting in the wings, ready to offer our help. When it comes down to it, we need to win. And anyone who’s ever threatened or opposed us should wind up on the side of the losers. The more we can influence the outcome of the situation, the clearer the divide between victors and losers.’
‘That’s a nice firm standpoint,’ said the President.
There were a few nods of approval, with a hint of irritation. Li leaned back. She’d said enough. In fact, she’d said more than her position on the council warranted, but her words had made an impression. She’d alienated a few guys whose job it was to come up with that kind of stuff, but so what? She’d been well received in Offutt.
‘OK,’ said the President. ‘We should keep that suggestion in mind, but we shouldn’t lose sight of other options. The last thing we want is the rest of the world thinking we’re intent on taking over. How are your scientists progressing, Jude?’
‘In my opinion, sir, they’re our biggest asset.’
‘When can we see some results?’
‘We’re meeting tomorrow. Major Peak will be present as well. I’ve instructed him to leave New York - he can deal with the crisis from here.’
‘It’s time you addressed the nation,’ said the Vice-President.
‘Absolutely.’ The President banged his fist on the table. ‘Our communications team needs to rally the speechwriters. I want something frank, not it’ll-be-all-right-you’ll-see, but something that’ll give them hope.’
‘Any mention of a possible aggressor?’
‘No. I want this handled as a natural disaster. We’re not even sure yet where we stand, and besides, the public is anxious enough. We need to reassure them that we’re doing everything in our power to protect them. And they need to believe that we have that power. That we’re ready and prepared. That we can handle anything. America isn’t merely a place of freedom, it’s a place of safety. No matter what comes out of the ocean, America is safe. They need to believe that. And one more thing: I want you all to pray. It’s God’s country, and He’ll be with us. He’ll give us the power to emerge from this victorious.’
New York, USA
We can’t handle it. That was the only thought in Peak’s mind as he clambered into the helicopter. We’re not prepared for this. Nothing we can do will stem the horror.
The helicopter lifted off from Wall Street heliport and headed northbound through the night air over Soho, Greenwich Village and Chelsea. The city sparkled with light, but you could see at a glance that things weren’t right. Some streets were bathed in the harsh glare of floodlights, and the stream of traffic had stopped. New York was in the hands of the OEM and the army. Choppers were taking off and touching down all over the city and the harbour was closed. The only boats on the East River were military vessels.
They were powerless to help. The death toll kept rising, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The OEM had published reams of regulations and recommendations, but the steady stream of warnings and drills had been in vain. Every household had been instructed to keep a canister of drinking water at the ready, in case of an emergency, but no-one was prepared. In any case, a safe supply of drinking water couldn’t protect people against the toxins rising from drains or wafting up from washbasins, toilets and dishwashers. All Peak could do was herd those who were still in good health out of the danger zone and quarantine them in vast camps. New York’s schools, churches and other public buildings now served as hospitals, and the belt of land surrounding the city was an enormous jailhouse.
He looked to the right. The fire was still blazing in the tunnel. The driver of a military tanker had failed to follow the protocol for securing his gas mask, and had lost consciousness at the wheel. He’d been part of a convoy. The accident had set off a chain reaction: dozens of vehicles had burst into flames. Right now the temperature down there was equivalent to the heat inside a volcano.
Peak berated himself for not having prevented the accident. It was obvious that the danger of contamination would be many times higher inside a tunnel than on the streets, where the toxins could disperse. But how could he be everywhere at once?
If there was anything Peak hated, it was the feeling of powerlessness.
And now it was Washington’s turn.
‘We can’t handle it,’ he’d told Li on the phone.
‘We have to.’
They crossed the Hudson River and made for Hackensack airport, where a military chopper was waiting to take Peak to Vancouver. They left the lights of Manhattan behind them. Peak thought of the scientists’ meeting scheduled for the following day. Would they make any headway? He wished they could at least find a drug that would put an end to the horror in New York, but something told him not to get his hopes up.
Peak leaned back and closed his eyes.
Chateau Whistler, Canada
Li was pleased with herself. In view of the impending Armageddon, it would have been more appropriate to feel anguished or shocked, but the day had been a resounding success. Vanderbilt had been forced on to the defensive, and the President had listened to her advice. After countless telephone calls she now knew all the latest on the apocalypse, and was waiting impatiently to talk to the defense secretary. The sonar offensive would be starting the next day, and she wanted to discuss the deployment of boats. The defense secretary was caught up in a meeting, and wouldn’t be able to talk for another few minutes.
It was approaching two o’clock in the morning when she sat down at the piano to play some Schubert. The telephone rang. She jumped up to answer it. She’d been expecting the Pentagon, so she was thrown by the voice on the line. ‘Dr Johanson! What can I do for you?’
‘Have you got a moment?’
‘Now?’
‘I’d like to speak to you in private.’
‘I’m afraid I’m busy. How about in an hour? I need to make some calls.’
‘Aren’t you curious?’
‘Curious?’
‘You said you thought I had a theory.’
‘Come up to my suite.’
With a smile she replaced the receiver. It was exactly as she had expected. Johanson wasn’t the type to use every last second of a deadline, and he was too well mannered to go back on his word. He had wanted to be the one to decide when he told her, and he’d chosen the middle of the night.
She called the Pentagon switchboard. ‘Postpone my teleconference with the defense secretary by half an hour.’ She changed her mind. ‘Make that an hour.’
Johanson was bound to have plenty to say.
Vancouver Island
Anawak didn’t have much of an appetite after Greywolf’s explanations, but Shoemaker had excelled himself. He’d fried some steaks and concocted an impressive salad, topped with croutons and nuts. They ate on
the veranda. Delaware was careful not to mention her budding relationship, and she was excellent company. She had an inexhaustible supply of jokes, and delivered even the corniest with perfect timing.
The evening was an oasis in a sea of misery.
During the Dark Ages, people had danced and caroused in the streets of Europe while the Black Death raged round them. Although there was no dancing or singing at Shoemaker’s, they talked for several hours without a word about tsunamis, whales or killer algae. Shoemaker told anecdotes about the early days at the Station, and they enjoyed the balmy evening. Relaxing on the veranda, they gazed out over the dark waters of the bay.
Anawak left at two in the morning, but Delaware stayed behind. She and Shoemaker were deep in conversation about old movies and had just cracked open another bottle of wine. They were descending into tipsiness, so Anawak made his way through the night air to the station. He switched on the computer and went online.
Within minutes his search for Professor Kurzweil was rewarded.
As dawn broke, a picture began to emerge
12 May
Chateau Whistler, Canada
Maybe, thought Johanson, this will be the turning-point. Or maybe they’ll think I’m a crazy old fool.
He was standing on the little dais to the left of the screen. The projector was switched off. There’d been a few minutes’ delay as they waited for Anawak, who’d stayed the night in Tofino, but now the delegates were assembled. The front row was occupied by Peak, Vanderbilt and Li. Peak had returned overnight from New York, and looked as though he’d left most of his energy there.
Addressing an audience was second nature to Johanson. He was used to lecturing students and speaking at conferences, occasionally adding his own insights and hypotheses to the standard set of facts. But for the most part standing at a lectern was the easiest thing in the world: you merely imparted the fruits of other people’s research, and answered questions at the end.
Yet this morning he was experiencing the unfamiliar sensation of self-doubt. How on earth could he put across his theory without his audience laughing in his face? Li had conceded that he might be right, so he’d stayed up most of the night, drafting and redrafting his speech. Johanson had no illusions. He was only going to get one shot at this: either he won them over with a surprise attack, or they decided he was nuts.