The Hades Factor - Robert Ludlum

8/12/2019 The Hades Factor - Robert Ludlum

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Covert One 1 - The Hades Factor

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Covert One 1 - The Hades FactorCovert One 1 - The Hades Factor

&RO'O()E

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>?1! &@ FrBda" Octoer 1

oston @assach#setts

@arBo D#Bn st#%ed aonG the #s" downtown street a doar B c#tched Bn hBs shaBnG

hand Bth the Bntense J#rJose oL a %an who new eMact" where he was GoBnG the ho%eess

dereBct swa"ed as he waed and saJJed at hBs head wBth the hand that was not c#tchBnG the

doar He reeed BnsBde a c#t-rate dr#Gstore wBth dBsco#nt sBGns Jastered across oth Lront

wBndows

Tre%BnG he shoved the doar across the co#nter to the cer AdvB AsJBrBn Bs %" sto%ach

I need AdvB

The cer c#red hBs BJ at the #nshaved %an Bn the raGGed re%nants oL an ar%" #nBLor% StB

#sBness was #sBness He reached ac to a sheL oL anaGesBcs and hed o#t the s%aest oM oL

AdvB Po#Qd etter have three %ore doars to Go wBth that one

D#Bn droJJed the sBnGe B onto the co#nter and reached Lor the oM

The cer J#ed Bt ac Po# heard %e #dd" Three %ore #cs No tBc" no shBrt"

OnQ" Got a doar %" headQs reaBnQ oJen Bth a%aBnG sJeed D#Bn #rched across the

co#nter and Graed the s%a oM

The cer trBed to J# Bt ac #t D#Bn h#nG on The" str#GGed nocBnG over a ar oL cand"

ars and crashBnG a dBsJa" oL vBta%Bns to the Loor

'et Bt Go EddBe the Jhar%acBst sho#ted Lro% the rear He reached Lor the teeJhone 'et

hB% have Bt

As the Jhar%acBst dBaed the cer et Go

FrantBc D#Bn tore at the seaed cardoard L#%ed wBth the saLet" caJ and d#%Jed the

taets Bnto hBs hand So%e Lew across the Loor He shoved the taets Bnto hBs %o#th choed

as he trBed to swaow a at once and s#%Jed to the Loor wea Lro% JaBn He Jressed the

hees oL hBs hands to hBs te%Jes and soed

@o%ents ater a Jatro car J#ed #J o#tsBde the shoJ The Jhar%acBst waved the JoBce%en to

co%e BnsBde He JoBnted to @arBo D#Bn c#red #J on the Loor and sho#ted (et that stBnBnG

#% o#t oL here 'oo what he dBd to %" Jace I Bntend to Jress charGes oL assa#t androer"



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The JoBce%en J#ed o#t theBr nBGhtstBcs The" noted the %Bnor da%aGe and the strewn JBs

#t the" s%eed acoho too

The "o#nGer one heaved D#Bn #J to hBs Leet Oa" @arBo etQs tae a rBde

The second Jatro%an too D#BnQs other ar% The" waed the #nresBstBnG dr#n o#t to theBr

Jatro car #t as the second oLLBcer oJened the door the "o#nGer one J#shed down on

D#BnQs head to G#Bde hB% BnsBde

D#Bn screa%ed and ashed o#t twBstBnG awa" Lro% the hand on hBs throBnG head

(ra hB% @ann" the "o#nGer coJ "eed

@ann" trBed to GrBJ D#Bn #t the dr#n wrenched Lree The "o#nGer coJ taced hB% The

oder one sw#nG hBs nBGhtstBc and noced D#Bn down D#Bn screa%ed HBs od" shoo

and he roed on the Jave%ent

The two JoBce%en anched and stared at each other

@ann" Jrotested I dBdnQt hBt hB% that hard

The "o#nGer ent to heJ D#Bn #J Ues#s HeQs #rnBnG #J

(et hB% Bn the car

The" JBced #J the GasJBnG D#Bn and d#%Jed hB% onto the carQs rear seat @ann" raced the

s#ad car Bts sBren waBBnG thro#Gh the nBGht streets As soon as he screeched to a stoJ at thee%erGenc" roo% @ann" L#nG oJen hBs door and tore BnsBde the hosJBta sho#tBnG Lor heJ

The other oLLBcer sJrBnted aro#nd the car to oJen D#BnQs door

hen the doctors and n#rses arrBved wBth a G#rne" the "o#nGer coJ see%ed Jara"ed starBnG

Bnto the carQs rear where @arBo D#Bn a" #nconscBo#s Bn ood that had Jooed on the seat

and sJBed onto the Loor

The doctor Bnhaed sharJ" Then he cB%ed BnsBde Let Lor a J#se Bstened to the %anQs chest

and aced o#tsBde shaBnG hBs head

HeQs dead

No wa" The oder coJQs voBce rose e are" to#ched the son oL a Btch The" aBnQt Gonna

a" thBs one on #s

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eca#se the JoBce were Bnvoved on" Lo#r ho#rs ater the %edBca eMa%Bner JreJared Lor the

a#toJs" oL the ate @arBo D#Bn address #nnown Bn the %orG#e on the ase%ent eve oL thehosJBta



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The do#e doors oL the s#Bte L#nG wBde ater DonQt oJen hB%

Dr ater &ecBc ooed #J hatQs wronG And"W

@a"e nothBnG Dr Andrew Bs saBd nervo#s" #t a that ood Bn the Jatro car scares

the he o#t oL %e Ac#te resJBrator" dBstress s"ndro%e sho#dnQt ead to ood Lro% the

%o#th IQve on" seen that Bnd oL ood Lro% a he%orrhaGBc Lever I heJed treat when I was Bn

the &eace CorJs Bn ALrBca ThBs G#" was carr"BnG a DBsaed A%erBcan Vets card @a"e he was

statBoned Bn So%aBa or so%ewhere ese Bn ALrBca

Dr &ecBc stared down at the dead %an he was ao#t to c#t oJen

Then he ret#rned the scaJe to the tra" @a"e weQd etter ca the dBrector

And ca InLectBo#s DBseases too Dr Bs saBd

Dr &ecBc nodded the Lear naed Bn hBs e"es

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>?XX &@

Atanta (eorGBa

&aced BnsBde the hBGh-schoo a#dBtorB#% the a#dBence oL Jarents and LrBends was h#shed )J

on the rBGht staGe a ea#tBL# teenaGe GBr stood Bn Lront oL scener" Bntended to deJBct the

resta#rant Bn BBa% InGeQs #s StoJ Her %ove%ents were awward and her words ordBnarB"Lree and oJen were stBLL

None oL that othered the sto#t %other" wo%an Bn the LBrst row She wore a sBver-Gra" dress

oL the Bnd the rBdeQs %other at a Lor%a weddBnG wo#d choose toJJed " a ceerator"

corsaGe oL roses She ea%ed #J at the GBr and when the scene ended to JoBte aJJa#se her

caJJBnG ranG reso#ndBnG"

At the LBna c#rtaBn she eaJed to her Leet to aJJa#d She went aro#nd to the staGe door to

waBt as the cast e%erGed Bn twos and threes to %eet Jarents o"LrBends and GBrLrBends ThBs

was the ast JerLor%ance oL the ann#a schoo Ja" and the" were L#shed wBth trB#%Jh eaGerLor the cast Jart" that wo#d ast onG Bnto the nBGht

I wBsh "o#r Lather co#dQve een here to see "o# tonBGht BBe Uo the Jro#d %other saBd as

the hBGh-schoo ea#t" cB%ed Bnto the car

So do I @o% 'etQs Go ho%e

Ho%eW The %other" wo%an was conL#sed

I #st need to Be down Lor a whBe Then IQ chanGe Lor the Jart" oa"W

Po# so#nd ad Her %other st#dBed her then t#rned the car Bnto traLLBc BBe Uo had een



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sn#LLBnG and co#GhBnG Lor %ore than a wee #t had BnsBsted on JerLor%BnG an"wa"

ItQs #st a cod @other the GBr saBd BrrBta"

" the tB%e the" reached the ho#se she was r#BnG her e"es and GroanBnG Two red Lever

sJots showed on her chees FrantBc her terrBLBed %other #noced the Lront door and raced

BnsBde to dBa Z11 The JoBce tod her to eave the GBr Bn the car and eeJ her war% and #Bet

The Jara%edBcs arrBved Bn three %Bn#tes

In the a%#ance as the sBren screa%ed thro#Gh the Atanta streets the GBr %oaned and

wrBthed on the G#rne" str#GGBnG Lor reath The %other wBJed her da#GhterQs Levered Lace

and roe Bnto desJaBrBnG tears

At the hosJBta e%erGenc" roo% a n#rse hed the %otherQs hand eQ do ever"thBnG

necessar" @rs &Bcett IQ% s#re sheQ e etter soon

Two ho#rs ater ood G#shed Lro% BBe Uo &BcettQs %o#th and she dBed

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X?1[ &@

Fort IrwBn arstow CaBLornBa

The CaBLornBa hBGh desert Bn ear" Octoer was as #ncertaBn and chanGeae as the orders oL a

new second Be#tenant wBth hBs LBrst Jatoon ThBs JartBc#ar da" had een cear and s#nn" and

" the tB%e &h"Bs Anderson eGan JreJarBnG dBnner Bn the Btchen oL her Jeasant two-stor"ho#se Bn the est sectBon oL the NatBona TraBnBnG CenterQs La%B" ho#sBnG she was LeeBnG

oJtB%BstBc It had een a hot da" and her h#sand \eBth had taen a Good naJ He had een

LBGhtBnG a heav" cod Lor two wees and she hoJed the s#n and war%th wo#d cear Bt #J once

and Lor a

O#tsBde the Btchen wBndows the awn sJrBners were at wor Bn the aLternoonQs onG

shadows Her Lower eds oo%ed wBth ate s#%%er Lowers that deLBed the harsh wBderness

oL thorn" Gra"-Green %es#Bte "#cca creosote and cactB GrowBnG a%onG the ac rocs oL the

eBGe desert

&h"Bs h#%%ed to herseL as she J#t %acaronB Bnto the %Bcrowave She Bstened Lor the

LootsteJs oL her h#sand co%BnG down the staBrs The %aor had nBGht oJeratBons tonBGht #t

the st#%BnG catter so#nded %ore Be \eBth Ur sBdBnG and #%JBnG hBs wa" down eMcBted

ao#t the %ovBe she Janned to tae oth chBdren to whBe theBr Lather was worBnG ALter a

Bt was FrBda" nBGht

She sho#ted Ua"-Ua" stoJ that

#t Bt was not \eBth Ur Her h#sand JartBa" dressed Bn desert ca%o#LaGe staGGered Bnto the

war% Btchen He was drBJJBnG wBth sweat and hBs hands s#eeed hBs head as BL to eeJ BtLro% eMJodBnG



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He GasJed hosJBta heJ

In Lront oL her horrBLBed e"es the %aor coaJsed on the Btchen Loor hBs chest heavBnG as he

straBned to reathe

Shoced &h"Bs stared then she %oved wBth the sJeed and J#rJose oL a sodBerQs wBLe She

tore o#t oL the Btchen Btho#t nocBnG she "aned oJen the sBde door oL the ho#se neMt to

theBrs and #rst Bnto the Btchen

CaJt &a# Nova and hBs wBLe U#d" GaJed

&h"BsW Nova stood #J hatQs wronG &h"BsW

The %aorQs wBLe dBd not waste a word &a# I need "o# U#d" co%e watch the Bds H#rr"

She whBred and ran CaJtaBn Nova and hBs wBLe were rBGht ehBnd hen caed to actBon a

sodBer earns to as no #estBons In the Btchen oL the Anderson ho#se the Novas too Bn thescene Bnstant"

NBne-one-oneW U#d" Nova reached Lor the teeJhone

No tB%e Nova crBed

O#r car &h"Bs sho#ted

U#d" Nova ran #J the staBrs to where the two chBdren were Bn theBr edroo%s GettBnG read" to

eno" an evenBnG o#t &h"Bs Anderson and Nova JBced #J the GasJBnG %aor ood trBcedLro% hBs nose He was se%BconscBo#s %oanBnG #nae to sJea Carr"BnG hB% the" r#shed

across the awn to the Jared car

Nova too the whee and &h"Bs cB%ed Bnto the rear esBde her h#sand FBGhtBnG ac sos

she craded the %aorQs head on her sho#der and hed hB% cose HBs e"es stared #J at her Bn

aGon" as he Lo#Ght Lor aBr Nova sJed thro#Gh the ase astBnG the carQs horn TraLLBc Jarted

Be an BnLantr" co%Jan" wBth the tans co%BnG thro#Gh #t " the tB%e the" reached the

eed Ar%" Co%%#nBt" HosJBta @a \eBth Anderson was #nconscBo#s

Three ho#rs ater he was dead

In the case oL s#dden #neMJaBned death Bn the State oL CaBLornBa an a#toJs" was %andated

eca#se oL the #n#s#a cBrc#%stances oL the death the %aor was r#shed to the %orG#e #t

as soon as the ar%" JathooGBst oJened the chest cavBt" %assBve #antBtBes oL ood er#Jted

sJra"BnG hB%

HBs Lace t#rned cha whBte He #%Jed to hBs Leet snaJJed oLL hBs r#er Goves and ran o#t

oL the a#toJs" cha%er to hBs oLLBce

He Graed the Jhone (et %e the &entaGon and )SA@RIID Now &rBorBt"

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&ART ONE

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S#dden" worrBed S%Bth too the enveoJe and rBJJed Bt oJen It was a sBnGe sheet oL whBte

JrBnter JaJer no etterhead or ret#rn address

S%Bth"

@eet %e Roc Cree Jar &Berce @B JBcnBc Gro#nds %BdnBGht @onda" )rGent Te no one

S%BthQs chest contracted There was on" one Jerson who caed hB% S%Bth"--- B (rBLLBn He

had %et B Bn thBrd Grade at Hoover ee%entar" schoo Bn Co#ncB #LLs Iowa Fast LrBends

Lro% then on the" had Gone to hBGh schoo toGether coeGe at the )nBversBt" oL Iowa and on

to Grad schoo at )C'A On" aLter S%Bth had Gotten hBs @D and B hBs &hD Bn Js"chooG"

had the" taen dBLLerent Jaths oth had L#LBed o"hood drea%s " oBnBnG the %BBtar" wBth

B GoBnG Bnto %BBtar" BnteBGence wor The" had not act#a" seen each other Bn %ore than a

decade #t thro#Gh a theBr dBstant assBGn%ents and JostBnGs the" had eJt Bn to#ch

FrownBnG S%Bth stood %otBoness Bn the state" o" and stared down at the cr"JtBc words

An"thBnG wronG sBrW the des cer Bn#Bred JoBte"

S%Bth ooed aro#nd NothBnG NothBnG at a e etter e on %" wa" BL I want to catch the

neMt se%Bnar

He st#LLed the note Bnto hBs trench-coat Jocet and strode o#t Bnto the soGG" aLternoon How

had B nown he was Bn 'ondonW At thBs JartBc#ar sec#ded hoteW And wh" a the coa-and-daGGer even to the eMtent oL #sBnG BQs JrBvate o"hood na%e Lor hB%W

No ret#rn address or Jhone n#%er

On" an BnBtBa to BdentBL" the sender

h" %BdnBGhtW

S%Bth Bed to thBn oL hB%seL as a sB%Je %an #t he new the tr#th was Lar Lro% that HBs

career showed the reaBt" He had een a %BBtar" doctor Bn @ASH #nBts and was now a researchscBentBst For a short tB%e he had aso wored Lor %BBtar" BnteBGence And then there was the

stBnt co%%andBnG trooJs He wore hBs restessness Be another %an wore hBs sBn--- so %#ch a

Jart oL hB% he hard" notBced

Pet Bn the Jast "ear he had dBscovered a haJJBness that had GBven hB% Loc#s a concentratBon he

had never eLore achBeved Not on" dBd he LBnd hBs wor at )SA@RIID chaenGBnG and eMcBtBnG

the conLBr%ed acheor was Bn ove Rea" Bn ove No %ore oL that hBGh-schoo st#LL oL wo%en

co%BnG and GoBnG thro#Gh hBs BLe Bn a revovBnG door oL dra%a SoJhBa R#sse was ever"thBnG to

hB%--- Leow scBentBst research Jartner and ond ea#t"

There were %o%ents when he wo#d tae hBs e"es Lro% hBs eectron %BcroscoJe #st to stare at

her How a that LraGBe oveBness co#d concea so %#ch BnteBGence and stee" wB constant"



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BntrBG#ed hB% U#st thBnBnG ao#t her %ade hB% %Bss her a over aGaBn He was sched#ed to L"

o#t oL Heathrow to%orrow %ornBnG whBch wo#d GBve hB% #st eno#Gh tB%e to drBve ho%e to

@ar"and and %eet SoJhBa Lor reaLast eLore the" had to Go Bnto the a

#t now he had thBs dBst#rBnG %essaGe Lro% B (rBLLBn

A hBs Bnterna aar%s were rBnGBnG At the sa%e tB%e Bt was an oJJort#nBt" He s%Bed wr"" at

hB%seL AJJarent" hBs restessness stB was not ta%ed

As he haBed a taMB he %ade Jans

He wo#d chanGe hBs LBGht tBcets to @onda" nBGht and %eet B (rBLLBn at %BdnBGht He and B

went too Lar ac Lor hB% to do otherwBse ThBs %eant he wo#d not Get Bnto wor #ntB

T#esda" a da" ate hBch wo#d %ae \Be#rGer the Genera who dBrected )SA@RIID see

red To J#t Bt %Bd" the Genera Lo#nd S%Bth and hBs LreewheeBnG LBed-oJeratBons wa" oL

doBnG thBnGs aGGravatBnG

Not a Jroe% S%Bth wo#d do an end r#n

Ear" "esterda" %ornBnG he had Jhoned SoJhBa #st to hear her voBce #t Bn the %Bdde oL theBr

conversatBon a ca had c#t Bn She had een ordered to Go to the a B%%edBate" to BdentBL"

so%e vBr#s Lro% CaBLornBa SoJhBa co#d easB" wor the neMt sBMteen or twent"-Lo#r ho#rs

nonstoJ and Bn Lact she %BGht e at the a so ate tonBGht she wo#d not even e #J

to%orrow %ornBnG when he had een JannBnG to share reaLast S%Bth sBGhed dBsaJJoBnted

The on" Good thBnG was she wo#d e too #s" to worr" ao#t hB%

He %BGht as we #st eave a %essaGe on theBr answerBnG %achBne at ho%e that he wo#d arrBvea da" ate and she sho#d not e concerned She co#d te (enera \Be#rGer or not her ca

That was where the Ja"oLL ca%e Bn Instead oL eavBnG 'ondon to%orrow %ornBnG he wo#d

tae a nBGht LBGht A Lew ho#rsQ dBLLerence #t a word to hB%? To% SherBnGha% was eadBnG

the )\ @BcroBooGBca Research EstaBsh%ent tea% that was worBnG on a JotentBa vaccBne

aGaBnst a hantavBr#ses TonBGht he wo#d not on" e ae to attend To%Qs JresentatBon he

wo#d twBst To%Qs ar% to oBn hB% Lor a ate dBnner and drBns Then he wo#d Jr" o#t a the

BnsBde c#ttBnG-edGe detaBs To% was not read" to %ae J#Bc and wanGe an BnvBtatBon to vBsBt

&orton Down to%orrow eLore he had to catch hBs nBGht LBGht

NoddBnG to hB%seL and a%ost s%BBnG S%Bth eaJed over a J#dde and "aned oJen the ac

door oL the ac-eete taMB that had stoJJed Bn the street He tod the caBe the address oL

the HO conLerence

#t as he san Bnto the seat hBs s%Be dBsaJJeared He J#ed o#t the etter Lro% B (rBLLBn and

reread Bt hoJBnG to LBnd so%e c#e he had %Bssed hat was %ost noteworth" was what was

not saBd The L#rrow etween hBs rows deeJened He tho#Ght ac over the "ears tr"BnG to

LBG#re o#t what co#d have haJJened to %ae B s#dden" contact hB% thBs wa"

IL B wanted scBentBLBc heJ or so%e Bnd oL assBstance Lro% )SA@RIID he wo#d Go thro#GhoLLBcBa Govern%ent channes B was an FI sJecBa aGent now and Jro#d oL Bt 'Be an" aGent

he wo#d re#est S%BthQs servBces Lro% the dBrector oL )SA@RIID



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On the other hand BL Bt were sB%J" Jersona there wo#d have een no coa-and-daGGer

Instead a Jhone %essaGe wo#d have een waBtBnG at the hote wBth BQs n#%er so S%Bth

co#d ca ac

In the chB" ca S%Bth shr#GGed #neasB" #nder hBs trench coat ThBs %eetBnG was not on"

#noLLBcBa Bt was secret Ver" secret hBch %eant B was GoBnG ehBnd the FI ehBnd

)SA@RIID ehBnd a Govern%ent entBtBes a aJJarent" Bn the hoJes oL BnvovBnG hB% too Bn

so%ethBnG candestBne

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CHA&TER



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TO

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Z?X> A@ S#nda" Octoer 1[

Fort DetrBc @ar"and

'ocated Bn FrederBc a s%a cBt" s#rro#nded " western @ar"andQs Green roBnG andscaJe

Fort DetrBc was the ho%e oL the )nBted States Ar%" @edBca Research InstBt#te Lor InLectBo#s

DBseases \nown " Bts BnBtBas )SA@RIID or sB%J" as the InstBt#te Bt had een a %aGnet Lor

vBoent Jrotest Bn the 1Z`s when Bt was an BnLa%o#s Govern%ent Lactor" Lor deveoJBnG and

testBnG che%Bca and BooGBca weaJons hen &resBdent NBMon ordered an end to those

JroGra%s Bn 1Z`Z )SA@RIID dBsaJJeared Lro% the sJotBGht to eco%e a center Lor scBence

and heaBnG

Then ca%e 1ZZ The hBGh" co%%#nBcae Eoa vBr#s aJJeared to have BnLected %one"s

d"BnG at a JrB%ate #arantBne #nBt Bn Reston VBrGBnBa )SA@RIIDQs doctors and veterBnarBans

oth %BBtar" and cBvBBan were r#shed to contaBn what co#d er#Jt Bnto a traGBc h#%an

eJBde%Bc

#t etter than contaBn%ent the" Jroved the Reston vBr#s to e a GenetBc %BB%eter dBLLerent

Lro% the eMtre%e" etha straBns oL Eoa baBre and Eoa S#dan @ost B%Jortant was that the

vBr#s was har%ess to JeoJe That eMcBtBnG dBscover" s"roceted )SA@RIID scBentBsts Bnto

headBnes across the natBon S#dden" Fort DetrBc was aGaBn on JeoJeQs %Bnds #t thBs tB%e

as A%erBcaQs Lore%ost %BBtar" %edBca research LacBBt"

In her )SA@RIID oLLBce Dr SoJhBa R#sse was thBnBnG ao#t these caB%s to La%e hoJBnG Lor

BnsJBratBon as she waBted B%JatBent" Lor her teeJhone ca to reach a %an who %BGht have

so%e answers to heJ resove a crBsBs she Leared co#d er#Jt Bnto a serBo#s eJBde%Bc

SoJhBa was a &hD scBentBst Bn ce and %oec#ar BooG" She was a eadBnG coG Bn the

wordwBde whees set Bn %otBon " the death oL @a \eBth Anderson She had een at)SA@RIID Lor Lo#r "ears and Be the scBentBsts Bn 1ZZ she was LBGhtBnG a %edBca e%erGenc"

BnvovBnG an #nnown vBr#s Aread" she and her conte%JorarBes were Bn a Lar %ore JrecarBo#s

JosBtBon? ThBs vBr#s was Lata to h#%ans There were three vBctB%s--- the ar%" %aor and two

cBvBBans--- a oL who% had aJJarent" dBed ar#Jt" oL ac#te resJBrator" dBstress s"ndro%e

]ARDS^ wBthBn ho#rs oL one another

It was not the tB%BnG oL the deaths or the ARDS BtseL that had rBveted )SA@RIID %BBons dBed

oL ARDS each "ear aro#nd the Janet #t not "o#nG JeoJe Not heath" JeoJe Not wBtho#t a

hBstor" oL resJBrator" Jroe%s or other contrB#tBnG Lactors and not wBth vBoent headaches

and ood-LBed chest cavBtBes

Now three cases Bn a sBnGe da" had dBed wBth BdentBca s"%Jto%s each Bn a dBLLerent Jart oL



16/322


17/322

Lro% the wa

She J#GGed the hose Bnto her s#Bt Bth a #Bet hBss the aBr ad#sted Bn the %assBve sJace s#Bt

A%ost LBnBshed she #nJ#GGed the aBr hose and #%ered thro#Gh a staBness stee door Bnto

the aBr oc oL 'eve Fo#r whBch was Bned wBth noes Lor water and che%Bcas Lor the

deconta%BnatBon shower

At ast she J#ed oJen the door Bnto 'eve Fo#r The Hot bone

There was no wa" she co#d r#sh an"thBnG now As she advanced each steJ Bn the ca#tBo#s

chaBn oL JrotectBve a"ers she had to tae %ore care Her one weaJon was eLLBcBent %otBon

The %ore eLLBcBent she was the %ore sJeed she co#d ee o#t So Bnstead oL str#GGBnG Bnto the

JaBr oL heav" "eow r#er oots she eMJert" ent one Loot anGed Bt #st rBGht and sBd Bt Bn

Then she dBd the sa%e wBth the other

She wadded as Last as she co#d aonG narrow cBnder-oc corrBdors Bnto her a There she

sBJJed on a thBrd JaBr oL ateM Goves careL#" re%oved the sa%Jes oL ood and tBss#e Lro%the reLrBGerated contaBner and went to wor BsoatBnG the vBr#s

Over the neMt twent"-sBM ho#rs she LorGot to eat or seeJ She Bved Bn the a st#d"BnG the

vBr#s wBth the eectron %BcroscoJe To her a%ae%ent she and her tea% r#ed o#t Eoa

@ar#rG and an" other LBovBr#s It had the #s#a L#rr"-a shaJe oL %ost vBr#ses Once she had

seen Bt GBven the ARDS ca#se oL death her LBrst tho#Ght was a hantavBr#s Be the one that had

Bed the "o#nG athetes on the Navao reservatBon Bn 1ZZ )SA@RIID was eMJert on

hantavBr#ses One oL Bts eGends \ar Uohnson had een a dBscoverer oL the LBrst hantavBr#s to

e Bsoated and BdentBLBed ac Bn the 1Z>s

Bth that Bn %Bnd she had #sed B%%#noottBnG to test the #nnown JathoGen aGaBnst

)SA@RIIDQs Lroen an oL ood sa%Jes oL JrevBo#s vBctB%s oL varBo#s hantavBr#ses Lro%

aro#nd the word It reacted to none ed she ran a Jo"%erase chaBn reactBon to Get a Bt

oL DNA se#ence Lro% the vBr#s It rese%ed no nown hantavBr#s #t Lor L#t#re reLerence

she asse%ed a JreB%Bnar" restrBctBon %aJ an"wa" That was when she wBshed %ost Lervent"

that Uon was wBth her not Lar awa" at the HO conLerence Bn 'ondon

Fr#strated eca#se she stB had no deLBnBtBve answer she had Lorced herseL to eave the a

She had aread" sent the tea% oLL to seeJ and now she went thro#Gh the eMBtBnG Jroced#re

too JeeBnG awa" her sJace s#Bt GoBnG thro#Gh deconta%BnatBon Jroced#res and dressBnGaGaBn Bn her cBvBBan cothes

ALter a Lo#r-ho#r on-sBte naJ--- that was a she needed she tod herseL LBr%"--- she had

h#rrBed to her oLLBce to st#d" the testsQ notes As the other tea% %e%ers awaened she sent

the% ac to theBr as

Her head ached and her throat was dr" She too a otte oL water Lro% her oLLBce %BnB-

reLrBGerator and ret#rned to her des On the wa h#nG three Lra%ed Jhotos She dran and

eaned Lorward to conte%Jate the% drawn Be a %oth to co%LortBnG BGht One showed Uon

and herseL Bn athBnG s#Bts ast s#%%er Bn arados hat L#n the" had had on theBr one andon" vacatBon The second was oL Uon Bn hBs dress #nBLor% the da" heQd %ade Be#tenant coone

The ast JBct#red a "o#nGer caJtaBn wBth wBd ac haBr a dBrt" Lace and JBercBnG #e e"es Bn a



18/322

d#st" LBed #nBLor% o#tsBde a FBLth @ASH tent so%ewhere Bn the IraB desert

@BssBnG hB% needBnG hB% Bn the a wBth her she had reached Lor the Jhone to ca hB% Bn

'ondon--- and stoJJed The Genera had sent hB% to 'ondon For the Genera ever"thBnG was "

the oo and ever" assBGn%ent had to e LBnBshed Not a da" ate not a da" ear" Uon was not

d#e Lor severa ho#rs Then she reaBed he was Jroa" aoLt now an"wa" #t she wo#dnQt

e at hBs ho#se waBtBnG Lor hB% She dBs%Bssed her dBsaJJoBnt%ent

She had devoted herseL to scBence and so%ewhere aonG the wa" she had Gotten eMtre%e"

#c" She had never eMJected to %arr" Fa Bn ove JerhaJs #t %arr"W No Few %en wanted

a wBLe osessed wBth her wor #t Uon #nderstood In Lact Bt eMcBted hB% that she co#d oo at

a ce and dBsc#ss Bt Bn GraJhBc coorL# detaB wBth hB% In t#rn she had Lo#nd hBs endess

c#rBosBt" BnvBGoratBnG 'Be two chBdren at a BnderGarten Jart" the" had Lo#nd theBr LavorBte

Ja"%ates Bn each other--- we s#Bted not on" JroLessBona" #t te%Jera%enta" oth were

dedBcated co%JassBonate and as Bn ove wBth BLe as wBth each other

She had never nown s#ch haJJBness and she had Uon to than Lor Bt

Bth an B%JatBent shae oL her head she t#rned on her co%J#ter to eMa%Bne the a notes Lor

an"thBnG she %BGht have %Bssed She Lo#nd nothBnG oL an" sBGnBLBcance

Then as %ore DNA se#ence data was arrBvBnG and she contBn#ed to revBew Bn her %Bnd a the

cBnBca data so Lar on the vBr#s she had a stranGe LeeBnG

She had seen thBs vBr#s--- or one that was BncredB" sB%Bar--- so%ewhere

She wraced her raBn D#G thro#Gh her %e%or" Rooted thro#Gh her Jast

NothBnG ca%e to %Bnd FBna" she read one oL her tea% %e%ersQ reJorts that s#GGested the

new vBr#s %BGht e reated to @ach#Jo one oL the LBrst dBscovered he%orrhaGBc Levers aGaBn

" \ar Uohnson

ALrBca J#shed none oL her #ttons #t oBvBaW

&er#

Her st#dent anthroJooG" LBed trBJ and---

VBctor Tre%ont

Pes that had een hBs na%e A BooGBst on a LBed trBJ to &er# to coect Jants and dBrts Lor

JotentBa %edBcBnas Lor what co%Jan"W A Jhar%ace#tBca LBr% anchard &har%ace#tBcas

She t#rned ac to her co%J#ter #Bc" entered the Internet and searched Lor anchard She

Lo#nd Bt a%ost at once--- Bn 'onG 'ae New Por And VBctor Tre%ont was JresBdent and ChBeL

OJeratBnG OLLBcer now She reached Lor her Jhone and dBaed the n#%er

It was S#nda" %ornBnG #t GBant corJoratBons so%etB%es eJt theBr teeJhones oJen a

weeend Lor B%Jortant cas anchard dBd A h#%an voBce answered and when SoJhBa ased



19/322

Lor VBctor Tre%ont the voBce tod her to waBt She dr#%%ed her LBnGers on the des tr"BnG to

contro her worrBed B%JatBence

At ast a serBes oL cBcs and sBences on the Lar end oL the Bne were Bnterr#Jted " another

h#%an voBce ThBs tB%e Bt was ne#tra toneess? @a" I as "o#r na%e and #sBness wBth Dr

Tre%ontW

SoJhBa R#sse Te hB% BtQs ao#t a trBJ to &er# where we %et

&ease hod @ore sBence Then? @r Tre%ont wB sJea wBth "o# now

@s R#sseW OvBo#s" he was cons#tBnG the na%e handed to hB% on a Jad hat can I do

Lor "o#W HBs voBce was ow and Jeasant #t co%%andBnG A %an cear" acc#sto%ed to eBnG

Bn charGe

She saBd %Bd" Act#a" BtQs Dr R#sse now Po# donQt re%e%er %" na%e Dr Tre%ontW

CanQt sa" I do #t "o# %entBoned &er# and I do re%e%er &er# Tweve or thBrteen "ears aGo

wasnQt BtW He was acnowedGBnG wh" he was taBnG to her #t GBvBnG nothBnG awa" Bn case

she was a o seeer or Bt was a so%e hoaM

ThBrteen and I certaBn" re%e%er "o# She was tr"BnG to eeJ Bt BGht hat IQ% Bnterested

Bn Bs that tB%e on the CaraBo RBver I was wBth a Gro#J oL anthroJooG" #nderGrads on a LBed

trBJ Lro% S"rac#se whBe "o# were coectBnG JotentBa %edBcBna %aterBas IQ% caBnG to as

ao#t the vBr#s "o# Lo#nd Bn those re%ote trBes%en the natBves the others caed the @one"

ood &eoJe

In hBs arGe corner oLLBce at the other end oL the Bne VBctor Tre%ont Let a ot oL Lear U#st as

#Bc" he reJressed Bt He swBveed Bn hBs des chaBr to stare o#t at the ae whBch was

shB%%erBnG Be %erc#r" Bn the ear"-%ornBnG BGht On the Lar sBde a thBc JBne Lorest

stretched and cB%ed to the hBGh %o#ntaBns Bn the dBstance

Anno"ed that she had s#rJrBsed hB% wBth s#ch a JotentBa" devastatBnG %e%or" Tre%ont

contBn#ed to swBve He eJt hBs voBce LrBend" Now I re%e%er "o# The eaGer ond "o#nG

ad" daed " scBence I wondered whether "o#Qd Go on to eco%e an anthroJooGBst DBd

"o#W

No I ended #J wBth a doctorate Bn ce and %oec#ar BooG" ThatQs wh" I need "o#r heJ IQ%

worBnG at the ar%"Qs BnLectBo#s dBseases research center at Fort DetrBc eQve co%e across a

vBr#s that so#nds a ot Be the one Bn &er#--- an #nnown t"Je ca#sBnG headaches Lever and

ac#te resJBrator" dBstress s"ndro%e that can B otherwBse heath" JeoJe wBthBn ho#rs and

Jrod#ce a vBoent he%orrhaGe Bn the #nGs Does that rBnG a e Dr Tre%ontW

Ca %e VBctor and I see% to reca "o#r LBrst na%e Bs S#san Sa" so%ethBnG BeW

SoJhBa

OL co#rse SoJhBa R#sse Fort DetrBc he saBd as BL wrBtBnG Bt down IQ% Gad to hear "o#

re%aBned Bn scBence So%etB%es I wBsh IQd sta"ed Bn the a Bnstead oL #%JBnG to the Lront



20/322

oLLBce #t thatQs water over a onG-aGo da% ehW He a#Ghed

She ased Do "o# reca the vBr#sW

No CanQt sa" I do I went Bnto saes and %anaGe%ent soon aLter &er# and Jroa" thatQs wh"

the BncBdent escaJes %e As I saBd Bt was a onG tB%e aGo #t Lro% what I reca oL %"

%oec#ar BooG" the scenarBo "o# s#GGest Bs #nBe" Po# %#st e thBnBnG oL a serBes oL

dBLLerent vBr#ses we heard ao#t on that trBJ There was no shortaGe I re%e%er that %#ch

She d#G the Jhone Bnto her ear Lr#strated No IQ% certaBn there was thBs one sBnGe aGent that

ca%e Lro% worBnG wBth the @one" ood &eoJe I dBdnQt Ja" a ot oL attentBon at the tB%e

#t then I never eMJected to end #J Bn BooG" %#ch ess ce and %oec#ar StB the oddness

oL Bt st#c wBth %e

_The @one" ood &eoJeQW How Barre IQ% s#re IQd reca a trBe wBth s#ch a coorL# na%e

as that

)rGenc" LBed her voBce Dr Tre%ont Bsten &ease ThBs Bs vBta CrBtBca eQve #st receBved

three cases oL a vBr#s that re%Bnds %e oL the one Bn &er# Those natBves had a c#re that wored

a%ost eBGht" Jercent oL the tB%e--- drBnBnG the ood oL a certaBn %one" As I reca thatQs

what astonBshed "o#

And stB wo#d Tre%ont aGreed The acc#rac" oL her %e%or" was #nnervBnG &rB%BtBve

IndBans wBth a c#re Lor a Lata vBr#sW #t I now nothBnG ao#t Bt he Bed s%ooth" The wa"

"o# descrBe what haJJened IQ% certaBn IQd re%e%er hat do "o#r coeaG#es sa"W S#re"

so%e wored Bn &er# too

She sBGhed I wanted to chec wBth "o# LBrst e have eno#Gh Lase aar%s and BtQs een a onG

tB%e sBnce &er# Lor %e too #t BL "o# donQt re%e%er Her voBce traBed oLL She was terrB"

dBsaJJoBnted IQ% certaBn there was a vBr#s &erhaJs IQ contact &er# The" %#st have a record

oL #n#s#a c#res a%onG the IndBans

VBctor Tre%ontQs voBce rose sBGht" That %a" not e necessar" I eJt a o#rna oL %" trBJs

ac then Notes on the Jants and JotentBa Jhar%ace#tBcas &erhaJs I otted down

so%ethBnG ao#t "o#r vBr#s as we

SoJhBa eaJed at the s#GGestBon IQd aJJrecBate "o#r ooBnG RBGht awa"

hoa Tre%ont Gave a war% ch#ce He had her The noteoos are stored so%ewhere Bn

%" ho#se &roa" the attBc @a"e the ase%ent IQ have to Get ac to "o# to%orrow

I owe "o# VBctor @a"e the word wB FBrst thBnG to%orrow Jease Po# have no Bdea how

B%Jortant thBs co#d e She Gave hB% her Jhone n#%er

Oh I thBn I now Tre%ont ass#red her To%orrow %ornBnG at the atest

He h#nG #J and rotated once %ore to Gae o#t at the rBGhtenBnG ae and the hBGh %o#ntaBnsthat s#dden" see%ed to oo% cose and o%Bno#s He stood #J and waed to the wBndow He

was a ta %an oL %edB#% #Bd wBth a dBstBnctBve Lace on whBch nat#re had Ja"ed one oL her



21/322

%ore Bnd" trBcs? Fro% a "o#thQs oversBed nose Gaw" ears and thBn chees he had Grown

Bnto a Good-ooBnG %an He was now Bn hBs LBLtBes and hBs Leat#res had LBed o#t HBs Lace was

a#BBne s%ooth and arBstocratBc The nose was the JerLect sBe--- straBGht and stronG a LBttBnG

centerJBece Lor hBs ver" EnGBsh Lace Bth hBs tan sBn and thBc Bron-Gra" haBr he drew

attentBon wherever he went #t he new Bt was not hBs dBGnBt" and attractBveness that JeoJe

Lo#nd so aJJeaBnG It was hBs seL-conLBdence He radBated Jower and ess-ass#red JeoJe

Lo#nd that co%JeBnG

DesJBte what he had tod SoJhBa R#sse VBctor Tre%ont %ade no %ove to Go ho%e to hBs

sec#ded estate Instead he stared #nseeBnG at the %o#ntaBns and Lo#Ght oLL tensBon He was

anGr" and anno"ed

SoJhBa R#sse @" (od SoJhBa R#sse

ho wo#d have tho#GhtW He had not even recoGnBed her na%e BnBtBa" In Lact stB dBd not

re%e%er an" oL the na%es oL that BnsBGnBLBcant Btte st#dent Gro#J And he do#ted an"

wo#d reca hBs #t R#sse had hat Bnd oL raBn retaBned s#ch detaBW OvBo#s" the trBvBawas too B%Jortant to her He shoo hBs head dBsG#sted In tr#th she was not a Jroe% U#st a

n#Bsance StB she %#st e deat wBth He #noced the secret drawer Bn hBs carved des too

o#t a ce Jhone and dBaed

An e%otBoness voBce wBth a LaBnt accent answered PesW

I need to ta to "o# VBctor Tre%ont ordered @" oLLBce Ten %Bn#tes He h#nG #J

ret#rned the ce Jhone to the oced drawer and JBced #J hBs reG#ar oLLBce Jhone @#rBeW

(et %e (enera CasJar Bn ashBnGton

+++++++++++++++++++

CHA&TER



22/322


THREE

+++++++++++++++++++

Z?1! A@ @onda" Octoer 1

Fort DetrBc @ar"and

As e%Jo"ees arrBved at )SA@RIID that @onda" %ornBnG word #Bc" sJread thro#Gh the

ca%J#sQs #BdBnGs oL the weeendQs Lr#Btess search to BdentBL" and LBnd a wa" to contaBn so%e

new Ber vBr#s The Jress stB had not dBscovered the stor" and the dBrectorQs oLLBce ordered

ever"one to %aBntaBn %edBa sBence No one was to ta to a reJorter and on" those worBnG Bn

the as were eJt Bn the ooJ ao#t the aGonBBnG #est

@eanwhBe reG#ar wor stB had to e done There were Lor%s to e LBed e#BJ%ent to e

%aBntaBned Jhone cas to e answered In the serGeant %aorQs oLLBce SJecBaBst Fo#r HBdeo

Taeda was Bn hBs c#Bce sortBnG %aB when he oJened an oLLBcBa-ooBnG enveoJe e%aoned

wBth the )S DeJart%ent oL DeLense oGo

ALter he read and reread the etter he eaned over the dBvBder etween hBs c#Bce and that oL

SJecBaBst FBve Sandra f#Bnn hBs Leow cer He conLBded Bn an eMcBted whBsJer ItQs %"

transLer to OBnawa

Po#Qre BddBnG

eQd GBven #J He GrBnned HBs GBrLrBend @Bo was statBoned on OBnawa

etter te the oss rBGht awa" Sandra warned It %eans teachBnG a new cer to dea wBth

the Godda%ned asent%Bnded JroLessors we Got here SheQ e JBssed @an the"Qre a o#t oL

theBr %Bnds toda" an"wa" wBth thBs new crBsBs arenQt the"W

Screw her SJecBaBst Taeda swore cheerL#"

Not Bn %" worst nBGht%are SGt @a Heen Da#Ghert" stood Bn her oLLBce doorwa" o#d

"o# care to steJ Bn here SJecBaBst TaedaW she saBd wBth eMaGGerated JoBteness Or wo#d

"o# JreLer I eat "o# senseess LBrstW

An B%JosBnG sBM-Loot onde wBth the sho#ders to oLLset a her whBste-Jrod#cBnG c#rves the

serGeant %aor ooed down wBth her est JBranha s%Be at the LBve-Loot-sBM Taeda The cer

h#rrBed o#t oL hBs c#Bce wBth a nervo#s show oL Lear not entBre" Laed Bth Da#Ghert" as

eLBtted an" Good serGeant %aor "o# were never L#" s#re "o# were saLe

Cose the door Taeda And tae a seat

The sJecBaBst dBd as Bnstr#cted



23/322

Da#Ghert" LBMed hB% wBth a GB%et e"e How onG have "o# nown ao#t the JossBBBt" oL thBs

transLer HBdeoW

It ca%e o#t oL the #e thBs %ornBnG I %ean I #st oJened the etter

And we J#t Bt Bn Lor "o# what a%ost two "ears aGoW

Pear and a haL at east RBGht aLter I ca%e ac Lro% eave over there 'oo SerGeant BL "o#

need %e to stBc aro#nd awhBe IQ e---

Da#Ghert" shoo her head DoesnQt oo Be I co#d do that BL I wanted to Bth her LBnGer she

staed a %e%o on her des I Got thBs E-%aB Lro% the DeJart%ent oL the Ar%" ao#t the

sa%e tB%e "o# %#stQve oJened "o#r etter 'oos Be "o#r reJace%entQs aread" on her wa"

Co%BnG Lro% InteBGence Co%%and over Bn \osovo no ess She %#stQve een on a Jane

eLore the etter even Got to the oLLBce Da#Ghert"Qs eMJressBon was tho#GhtL#

Po# %ean sheQ e here toda"W

Da#Ghert" Ganced at the coc on her des A co#Je oL ho#rs to e eMact

ow thatQs Last

Pes Da#Ghert" aGreed Bt s#re Bs The"Qve even c#t trave orders Lor "o# Po#Qve Got a da" to

cear o#t "o#r des and #arters Po#Qre to e on a Jane to%orrow %ornBnG

A da"W

etter Get at Bt And est oL #c HBdeo IQve eno"ed worBnG wBth "o# IQ J#t a Good reJort Bn

"o#r LBe

PessBr er SerGeant And thans

StB a Btte st#nned Taeda eLt SerGeant @aor Da#Ghert" conte%JatBnG the %e%o She was

roBnG a JencB etween her hands and starBnG oLL Bnto sJace as he enth#sBastBca" d#%Jed o#t

hBs des He reJressed a war whooJ oL vBctor" He was not on" tBred oL eBnG awa" Lro% @Bo

he was esJecBa" tBred oL BvBnG Bn the )SA@RIID Jress#re cooer He had een thro#Gh Jent"oL e%erGencBes here #t thBs new one had ever"one worrBed Even scared He was Gad to Get

the he o#t

++++++++++

Three ho#rs ater SJecBaBst Fo#r Adee SchweB stood at attentBon Bn the sa%e oLLBce Bn Lront oL

SerGeant @aor Da#Ghert" She was a s%a r#nette wBth a%ost ac haBr a rBGBd carrBaGe

and aert Gra" e"es Her #nBLor% was B%Jeccae wBth two rows oL %eda rBons showBnG

servBce overseas Bn %an" co#ntrBes and ca%JaBGns There was even a osnBan rBon

At ease SJecBaBst



24/322

SchweB stood at ease Than "o# SerGeant @aor

Da#Ghert" read her transLer JaJers and sJoe wBtho#t ooBnG #J \Bnd oL Last wasnQt BtW

I ased to e transLerred to the DC area a Lew %onths aGo &ersona reasons @" coone tod

%e an oJenBnG had s#dden" co%e #J at DetrBc and I #%Jed at Bt

Da#Ghert" ooed #J at her A Btte over#aBLBed arenQt "o#W ThBs Bs a acwater Jost A s%a

co%%and not doBnG %#ch and never GoBnG overseas

I on" now BtQs DetrBc I donQt now what "o#r #nBt Bs

OhW Da#Ghert" raBsed a ond e"erow There was so%ethBnG too coo and co%Josed ao#t

thBs SchweB e weQre )SA@RIID? )S Ar%" @edBca Research InstBt#te Lor InLectBo#s

DBseases ScBentBLBc research A o#r oLLBcers are doctors vets or %edBca sJecBaBsts e even

have cBvBBans No weaJons no traBnBnG no Gor"

SchweB s%Bed That so#nds JeaceL# SerGeant @aor A nBce chanGe aLter \osovo esBdes

havenQt I heard )SA@RIID Bs on the c#ttBnG edGe worBnG wBth Jrett" dead" Hot bone

dBseasesW So#nds Be Bt co#d e eMcBtBnG

The serGeant %aor coced her head It Bs Lor the docs #t Lor #s BtQs #st oLLBce ro#tBne e

eeJ the Jace r#nnBnG Over the weeend there was so%e Bnd oL e%erGenc" DonQt as an"

#estBons ItQs none oL "o#r #sBness And BL an" o#rnaBst contacts "o# reLer the% to J#Bc

aLLaBrs ThatQs an order Oa" thereQs "o#r c#Bce neMt to f#BnnQs Introd#ce "o#rseL (et

setted and f#Bnn wB rBnG "o# #J to sJeed

SchweB ca%e to attentBon Than "o# SerGeant @aor

Da#Ghert" rotated her JencB aGaBn st#d"BnG the door that had #st cosed ehBnd the new

wo%an Then Da#Ghert" sBGhed She had not een co%Jete" tr#thL# Atho#Gh there was

Jent" oL ro#tBne there were %o%ents Be thBs when a oL a s#dden the ar%" dBdnQt %ae a

da%n Bt oL sense She shr#GGed e she had seen stranGer thBnGs than an ar#Jt shBLt Bn

Jersonne that %ade oth transLerrBnG JartBes haJJ" She #ed f#Bnn ased Lor a c#J oL

coLLee and J#t o#t oL her %Bnd the atest a crBsBs and the stranGe Jersonne transLer She had

wor to do

++++++++++

At 1>[ ho#rs SerGeant @aor Da#Ghert" oced her c#Bce door JreJarBnG to eave the

e%Jt" oLLBce #t the oLLBce was not e%Jt"

The new wo%an SchweB saBd IQd Be to sta" and earn as %#ch as I can BL thatQs a rBGht

SerGeant @aor

FBne IQ te sec#rBt" Po# have an oLLBce e"W (ood 'oc #J when "o#Qre LBnBshed Po# wonQt

e aone That new vBr#s Bs drBvBnG the docs cra" I eMJect so%e oL the% wB e on ca%J#s anBGht IL thBs Goes on %#ch onGer the"Qre GoBnG to start GettBnG cantanero#s The" donQt Be

%"sterBes that B JeoJe



25/322

So IQve heard The s%a r#nette nodded and s%Bed See Jent" oL actBon and eMcBte%ent

at Fort DetrBc

Da#Ghert" a#Ghed I stand corrected she saBd and went o#t

At her des Bn the sBent oLLBce SJecBaBst SchweB read %e%os and %ade notes Lor another haL

ho#r #ntB she was s#re neBther the serGeant %aor nor sec#rBt" was co%BnG ac to chec on

her Then she oJened the attache case she had ro#Ght BnsBde d#rBnG her LBrst coLLee rea

hen she had arrBved at Andrews ABr Force ase thBs %ornBnG Bt had een waBtBnG Bn the car

assBGned to her

Fro% the case she wBthdrew a sche%atBc dBaGra% oL the Jhone BnstaatBons Bn the )SA@RIID

#BdBnG The %aBn oM was Bn the ase%ent and Bt contaBned connectBons Lor a the Bnterna

eMtensBons and JrBvate o#tsBde Bnes She st#dBed Bt onG eno#Gh to %e%orBe Bts JosBtBon Then

she ret#rned the dBaGra% cosed the case and steJJed Bnto the corrBdor carr"BnG Bt

Bth Bnnocent c#rBosBt" on her Lace she ooed careL#" aro#nd

The G#ard BnsBde the Lront entrance was readBnG SchweB needed to Get Jast hB% She Bnhaed

eeJBnG herseL ca% and GBded sBent" aonG the rear corrBdor to the ase%ent entrance

She waBted No %ove%ent or noBse Lro% the G#ard Atho#Gh the #BdBnG was consBdered hBGh

sec#rBt" the JrotectBon was ess to eeJ JeoJe o#t than to shBed the J#Bc Lro% the etha

toMBns vBr#ses acterBa and other danGero#s scBentBLBc %aterBas that were st#dBed at

)SA@RIID Atho#Gh the G#ard was we traBned he aced the aGGressBve edGe oL a sentr"

deLendBnG a a where toJ-secret war weaJons were created

ReBeved that he re%aBned enGrossed Bn hBs oo she trBed the heav" %eta door It was oced

She too a set oL e"s Lro% the case The thBrd one oJened the ase%ent door She Jadded

so#ndess" downstaBrs where she wo#nd Bn and o#t a%onG GBant %achBnes that heated and

cooed the #BdBnG s#JJBed sterBe aBr and neGatBve Jress#re Lor the as oJerated the

JowerL# eMha#st s"ste% s#JJBed water and che%Bca so#tBons Lor the che%Bca showers and

handed a the other %aBntenance needs oL the %edBca co%JeM

She was sweatBnG " the tB%e she ocated the %aBn oM She set the attache case on the Loor

and wBthdrew Lro% Bt a s%aer case oL toos wBres coor-coded connectBons %eters swBtchBnG#nBts BstenBnG devBces and %BnBat#re recorders

It was evenBnG and the ase%ent was #Bet #t Lor the occasBona snaJ G#rGe and h#% oL the

JBJes and shaLts StB she Bstened to %ae s#re no one ese was aro#nd Nervo#s enerG" sent

chBs across her sBn arB" she st#dBed the Gra" was At ast she oJened the %aBn oM and

went to wor on the %#tBt#de oL connectBons

++++++++++

Two ho#rs ater ac Bn her oLLBce she checed her teeJhone attached a %BnBat#re sJeaer-earJhone set LBJJed a swBtch on the hBdden contro oM Bn her des drawer and Bstened

Peah IQ e here at east two %ore ho#rs IQ% aLraBd Sorr" hone" canQt e heJed ThBs vBr#s Bs



26/322

a ear The whoe staLLQs on Bt Oa" IQ tr" to Get there eLore the Bds Go to ed

SatBsLBed her BstenBnG and rero#tBnG e#BJ%ent was worBnG she cBced oLL and dBaed an

o#tsBde Bne The %ae voBce that had contacted her ast nBGht and GBven her Bnstr#ctBons

answered PesW

She reJorted? InstaatBon Bs co%Jete IQ% connected to the recorder Lor a Jhone cas and

IQve Got a Bne on %" set to aert %e to an" Lro% the oLLBces "o#Qre Bnterested Bn ItQ connect %e

wBth the sh#nt to BnterceJt cas

Po# were #noservedW Po# are #ns#sJectedW

She JrBded herseL on her ear Lor voBces and she new a the %aor anG#aGes and %an" %Bnor

ThBs voBce was ed#cated and hBs EnGBsh was Good #t not JerLect A non-EnGBsh sJeech

Jattern and the s%aest trace oL a @Bdde-Eastern accent Not Israe Iran or T#re" &ossB"

S"rBa or 'eanon #t %ore Be" Uordan or Ira

She LBed the BnLor%atBon Lor L#t#re reLerence

She saBd OL co#rse

That Bs we e aert to an" deveoJ%ents that concern the #nnown vBr#s the" are worBnG

on @onBtor a cas Bn and o#t oL the oLLBces oL Dr R#sse 'Be#tenant Coone S%Bth and

(enera \Be#rGer

ThBs o co#d not ast too onG or Bt wo#d eco%e too rBs" The" wo#d Jroa" never LBnd

the od" oL the rea SJecBaBst Fo#r Adee SchweB SchweB had no nown reatBves and LewLrBends o#tsBde the ar%" She had een seected Lor those reasons

#t SchweB sensed SerGeant @aor Da#Ghert" was s#sJBcBo#s vaG#e" dBst#red " her arrBva

Too %#ch scr#tBn" co#d eMJose her

How onG wB I re%aBn hereW

)ntB we do not need "o# Do nothBnG to ca attentBon to "o#rseL

The dBa tone h#%%ed Bn her ear She h#nG #J and eaned Lorward to contBn#e La%BBarBBnGherseL wBth the ro#tBnes and re#Bre%ents oL the serGeant %aorQs oLLBce She aso Bstened to

Bve conversatBons Bn and o#t oL the #BdBnG and %onBtored the BGht on the des Jhone that

wo#d aert her to cas Lro% the R#sse wo%anQs aorator" For a %o%ent she was c#rBo#s

ao#t what was so B%Jortant ao#t Dr R#sse Then she anBshed the tho#Ght There were

so%e thBnGs Bt was danGero#s to now

+++++++++++++++++++

CHA&TER



27/322


FO)R

+++++++++++++++++++

@BdnBGht

ashBnGton DC

ashBnGtonQs %aGnBLBcent Roc Cree Jar was a wedGe oL wBderness Bn the heart oL the cBt"

Fro% the &oto%ac RBver near the \enned" Center Bt wo#nd narrow" north to where Bt

eMJanded Bnto a wBde stretch oL woods Bn the cBt"Qs #JJer Northwest A nat#ra woodand Bt

ao#nded Bn hBBnG BBnG horse traBs JBcnBc Gro#nds and hBstorBca sBtes &Berce @B where

TBden Street Bntersected each DrBve was one oL those hBstorBca and%ars An od GrBst%B Bt

dated Lro% Jre-CBvB ar da"s when a Bne oL s#ch %Bs ordered the cree It was now a

%#se#% r#n " the NatBona &ar ServBce and Bn the %oonBGht a Ghost" artBLact Lro% a

Larawa" tB%e

Northwest oL the %B where the r#sh was thBc Bn the shadows oL ta trees B (rBLLBn waBted

hodBnG a hBGh" aert Doer%an on a tBGht eash Atho#Gh the nBGht was cod (rBLLBn sweated

HBs war" Gae scanned the %B and JBcnBc Gro#nds The see doG snBLLed the aBr and Bts erect

ears rotated BstenBnG Lor the so#rce oL Bts #nease

Fro% the rBGht Bn the Genera dBrectBon oL the %B so%eone aJJroached The doG had ca#Ght

the LaBnt so#nds oL a#t#%n eaves eBnG cr#nched #nderLoot onG eLore the" were a#dBe to

(rBLLBn #t once (rBLLBn heard the LootLas he reeased the anB%a The doG re%aBned

oedBent" seated ever" ta#t %#sce #BverBnG eaGer

(rBLLBn Gave a sBent hand sBGna

'Be a ac Jhanto% the Doer%an sJranG oLL Bnto the nBGht and %ade a wBde cBrce aro#nd

the JBcnBc Gro#nds BnvBsBe a%onG the o%Bno#s shadows oL the trees

(rBLLBn desJerate" wanted a cBGarette Ever" nerve was on edGe ehBnd hB% so%ethBnG s%aand wBd r#sted thro#Gh the #nderr#sh So%ewhere Bn the Jar a nBGht ow hooted He

acnowedGed neBther the so#nds nor hBs nerves He was hBGh" traBned a co%Jete

JroLessBona and so he %aBntaBned watch vBGBant and #n%ovBnG He reathed shaow" so as

to not revea hBs Jresence " co#ds oL whBte reath Bn the cod nBGht aBr And atho#Gh he eJt

hBs te%Jer #nder contro he was an anGr" worrBed %an

hen at ast 't Co Uonathan S%Bth ca%e Bnto vBew strBdBnG across the oJen area Bn the sBver-

#e %oonBGht (rBLLBn stB dBd not %ove On the Lar sBde oL the JBcnBc Gro#nds the Doer%an

went to Gro#nd BnvBsBe #t (rBLLBn new he was there

Uon S%Bth hesBtated on the Jath He ased Bn a hoarse whBsJer BW



28/322

In the #%ra oL the trees (rBLLBn contBn#ed to concentrate on the nBGht He Bstened to the

traLLBc on the near" Jarwa" and to the cBt" noBses e"ond NothBnG was #n#s#a No one ese

was Bn thBs Jart oL the %assBve Jreserve He waBted Lor the doG to te hB% otherwBse #t he had

res#%ed hBs ro#nds aJJarent" satBsLBed too

(rBLLBn sBGhed He steJJed o#t to the edGe oL the JBcnBc Gro#nds where the %oonBGht %et the

shadows HBs voBce was ow and #rGent S%Bth" Over here

Uon S%Bth t#rned He was #%J" A he co#d see was a vaG#e shaJe waverBnG Bn the %oonBGht

He waed toward Bt LeeBnG eMJosed and v#nerae atho#Gh he dBd not now to what

BW he Growed Is that "o#W

The ad Jenn" (rBLLBn saBd BGht" and ret#rned deeJ Bnto the shadows

S%Bth oBned hB% He Bned wBBnG hBs e"es to ad#st #Bc" At ast he saw hBs od LrBend

who was s%BBnG at hB% B (rBLLBn had the sa%e ro#nd Lace and and Leat#res S%Bthre%e%ered atho#Gh he ooed as BL he had ost ten Jo#nds HBs chees were Latter and hBs

sho#ders aJJeared heavBer than #s#a sBnce hBs torso and waBst were sB%%er HBs rown haBr

h#nG %Bd-enGth B%J and #nr#" He was two Bnches shorter than S%BthQs sBM Leet--- a Good-

sBed stronG-ooBnG stoc" %an

#t S%Bth had aso wBtnessed B (rBLLBn %ae hB%seL aJJear ne#tra ordBnar" rea" as BL he

had #st Gotten oLL wor Lro% a Lactor" o asse%BnG co%J#ter Jarts or was on hBs wa" to the

oca caLe where he was the head ha%#rGer LBJJer It was a Lace and od" that had stood hB%

Bn Good stead Bn ar%" BnteBGence and Bn the FI %onBtorBnG covert oJeratBons eca#se #nder

that and eMterBor was a sharJ %Bnd and Bron wB

To S%Bth hBs od LrBend had awa"s een so%ethBnG oL a cha%eeon #t not tonBGht TonBGht

S%Bth ooed at hB% and saw the star Iowa Loota Ja"er and %an oL oJBnBons He had Grown

#J to e honest decent and darBnG The rea B (rBLLBn

(rBLLBn hed o#t hBs hand Heo S%Bth" (ad to see "o# aLter so onG ItQs ao#t tB%e we

ca#Ght #J hen was Bt astW The Drae Hote Des @oBnesW

It was &orterho#ses and &otosB eer #t Uon S%Bth dBd not s%Be at the Good %e%or" as he

shoo (rBLLBnQs hand ThBs Bs a he oL a wa" to %eet hat have "o# Got "o#rseL BntoW Is Bttro#eW

Po# %BGht sa" (rBLLBn nodded hBs voBce stB BGht #t never %Bnd that rBGht now How the

he are "o# S%Bth"W

IQ% LBne S%Bth snaJJed B%JatBent ItQs "o# weQre taBnG ao#t HowQd "o# now I was Bn

'ondonW Then he ch#ced No never %Bnd St#JBd #estBon rBGhtW Po# awa"s now Now

whatQs the---

I hear "o#Qre GettBnG %arrBed FBna" Lo#nd so%eone to ta%e the cowo"W Sette down Bn thes##rs raBse Bds and %ow the awnW



29/322

ItQ never haJJen S%Bth GrBnned SoJhBaQs a cowo" herseL Another vBr#s h#nter

Peah That %aes sense @BGht act#a" wor (rBLLBn nodded and Gaed oLL hBs e"es as

restess and #neas" as the now-BnvBsBe Doer%an As BL the nBGht %BGht eMJode Bnto La%es

aro#nd the% HowQre "o#r JeoJe doBnG on the vBr#s an"wa"W

hBch vBr#sW e wor on so da%n %an" at DetrBc

B (rBLLBnQs Gae stB traversed the %oonBGht and shadows oL the Jar Be a tan G#nner

searchBnG Lor a tarGet He BGnored the sweat coectBnG #nder hBs cothes The one "o# were

assBGned to BnvestBGate ear" Sat#rda"

S%Bth was J#ed IQd een Bn 'ondon sBnce ast T#esda" Po# %#st now that He swore

ao#d Da%n That %#st e the Qe%erGenc"Q SoJhBa was caed Bn ao#t whBe we were taBnG

IQve Got to Get ac--- He stoJJed and Lrowned How do "o# now DetrBcQs Got a new vBr#sW

Is that what thBs Bs a ao#tW Po# LBG#re the" tod %e a ao#t Bt whBe I was awa" and now "o#

want to taJ %e Lor BnLor%atBonW

(rBLLBnQs Lace reveaed nothBnG He scr#tBnBed the nBGht Ca% down Uon

Ca% downW S%Bth was Bncred#o#s Is the FI so Bnterested Bn thBs JartBc#ar vBr#s that the"

sent "o# to J#%J %e Bn secretW ThatQs da%n st#JBd Po#r dBrector can ca %" dBrector ThatQs

the wa" these thBnGs are done

(rBLLBn LBna" ooed at S%Bth I donQt wor Lor the FI an"%ore

Po# donQtW S%Bth stared Bnto the stead" e"es #t now there was nothBnG there B (rBLLBnQse"es Be the rest oL hBs Leat#reess Lace had Gone e%Jt" The od B (rBLLBn was Gone and Lor

a %o%ent S%Bth Let an ache Bn the JBt oL hBs sto%ach Then hBs anGer rose ever" sensor oL hBs

%BBtar" and vBr#s-h#nter eMJerBence so#ndBnG o#d" hatQs so sJecBa ao#t thBs new vBr#sW

And what do "o# want BnLor%atBon LorW So%e sea" taoBdW

IQ% not worBnG Lor an" newsJaJers or %aGaBnes

A conGressBona co%%Bttee thenW S#re what etter Lor a co%%Bttee ooBnG to c#t scBence

L#ndBnG than #sBnG an eM-FI %an S%Bth too a deeJ reath He dBd not recoGnBe thBs %an

who% he had once tho#Ght oL as hBs est LrBend So%ethBnG had chanGed B (rBLLBn and (rBLLBnwas showBnG no sBGns oL reveaBnG an" oL Bt Now (rBLLBn see%ed to want to #se theBr LrBendshBJ

Lor hBs own ends S%Bth shoo hBs head No B donQt te %e who or what "o#Qre worBnG Lor

It doesnQt %atter IL "o# want to now ao#t an" vBr#ses Go thro#Gh ar%" channes And donQt

ca %e aGaBn #ness "o#Qre %" LrBend and nothBnG %ore DBsG#sted he staed awa"

Sta" S%Bth" e need to ta

Screw "o# B Uon S%Bth contBn#ed toward the %oonBGht

(rBLLBn Gave a ow whBste

S#dden" a arGe Doer%an o#nded Bn Lront oL Uon S%Bth SnarBnG Bt sJ#n to Lace hB% S%Bth



30/322

Lroe The doG Janted a Lo#r Jaws BLted hBs %#e and Growed onG and deeJ HBs sharJ

teeth GBstened whBte and %oBst so JoBnted that wBth one sash the" co#d tear o#t a %anQs

throat

S%BthQs heart th#ndered He stared #n%ovBnG at the doG

Sorr" (rBLLBnQs voBce ehBnd hB% was a%ost sad #t "o# ased BL there was ad tro#e

e there Bs--- #t not Lor %e

As the doG contBn#ed to %ae ow Grows oL warnBnG Bn hBs throat S%Bth re%aBned B%%oBe

eMceJt Lor hBs Lace He sneered Bn conte%Jt Po#Qre sa"BnG IQ% Bn so%e Bnd oL tro#eW (Bve

%e a rea

Pes (rBLLBn nodded ThatQs eMact" what IQ% sa"BnG S%Bth" ThatQs wh" I wanted to %eet #t

BtQs a I can te "o# Po#Qre Bn danGer Rea danGer (et the he o#t oL town Last DonQt Go ac

to "o#r a (et on a Jane and---

hat are "o# taBnG ao#tW Po# now da%n we IQd never do that R#n awa" Lro% %" worW

Da%n hatQs haJJened to "o# BW

(rBLLBn BGnored hB% 'Bsten to what IQ% sa"BnG Ca DetrBc Te the Genera "o# need a

vacatBon A onG vacatBon O#t oL the co#ntr" Do Bt now and Get as Lar awa" as JossBe

TonBGht

That wonQt c#t Bt Te %e whatQs so sJecBa ao#t thBs vBr#s hat danGer a% I BnW IL "o# want

%e to act IQve Got to now wh"

For ChrBstQs sae (rBLLBn eMcaB%ed osBnG hBs te%Jer IQ% tr"BnG to heJ (o awa" (o Last

Tae "o#r SoJhBa

eLore he had LBnBshed sJeaBnG the GrowBnG Doer%an ar#Jt" BLted hBs Lront Jaws oLL the

Jath and whBred andBnG nBnet" deGrees so#th HBs Gae BndBcated the Lar sBde oL the Jar

(rBLLBn saBd soLt" VBsBtors o"W He Gave a hand sBGna and the doG raced Bnto the trees

(rBLLBn t#rned on S%Bth and eMJoded (et o#t oL here Uon (o Now He dashed aLter the

Doer%an a stoc" shadow %ovBnG wBth BncredBe sJeed

@an and doG vanBshed a%onG the thBc trees oL the dar Jar

For a %o%ent S%Bth was st#nned as Bt Lor hB% B was aLraBd or Lor hB%seLW Or Lor oth oL

the%W It aJJeared hBs od LrBend had taen a Great rBs to warn hB% and to as hB% to do what

neBther wo#d have once consBdered--- aandon o and acco#ntaBBt"

To Go thBs Lar BQs ac had to e sa%%ed #J aGaBnst a ver" #n"BedBnG wa

hat Bn (odQs na%e was B (rBLLBn %BMed #J BnW

A shBver shot #J S%BthQs sJBne A J#se at hBs te%Je eGan to thro B was rBGht He was Bn

danGer at east here Bn thBs dar Jar Od haBts resetted the%seves on hB% Be a onG-



31/322

LorGotten coa HBs senses Grew ac#te and he eMJert" s#rve"ed the trees and awns

He sJrBnted awa" aonG the edGe oL the dar trees whBe hBs %Bnd contBn#ed to wor He had

ass#%ed the wa" B had Lo#nd hB% was thro#Gh FI channes #t B was no onGer Bn the FI

S%BthQs sta" at the Braha% Hote had een nown on" to hBs LBancge to hBs oss and to the

cer who had %ade hBs trave arranGe%ents at Fort DetrBc No wa" wo#d an" oL the% have

reveaed hBs whereao#ts to a stranGer no %atter how convBncBnG the stranGer was

So how had B--- a %an who caB%ed to e o#t oL Govern%ent--- %anaGed to earn where he

had een sta"BnG Bn 'ondonW

++++++++++

An #nBGhted ac B%o#sBne #red Bn the shadow oL the od %B near the TBden Street

entrance to Roc Cree Jar Aone Bn the acseat sat Nada a-Hassan a ta %an wBth a dar

Lace as narrow and sharJ as a hatchet He was BstenBnG to hBs s#ordBnate Steve @add#M whoeaned BnsBde the wBndow reJortBnG

@add#M had een r#nnBnG and hBs Lace was red and sweat" IL B (rBLLBnQs Bn that Jar @r a-

Hassan heQs a Godda%n Ghost A I saw was the ar%" doc taBnG a wa He reathed hard

tr"BnG to catch hBs reath

InsBde the #M#r" car the ones and hoows oL the ta %anQs Lace were deeJ" Joced the

%ar oL a rare s#rvBvor oL the once-dreaded s%aJoM HBs ac e"es were hooded cod and

eMJressBoness I have tod "o# eLore @add#M "o# wB not asJhe%e whBe "o# wor Lor

%e

He" sorr" Oa"W Ues#s Chr-

'Be a cora strBBnG the ta %anQs ar% snaed o#t and hBs onG LBnGers ca%Jed on @add#MQs

throat

@add#M went Jast" wBth Lear and he %ade stranGBnG so#nds as he Bt oLL the c#rse StB the

#nsaBd s"aes h#nG Bn the darness thro#Gh an o%Bno#s sBence FBna" the hand on hBs

throat reaMed a LractBon Sweat drBJJed oLL @add#MQs Lorehead

The e"es BnsBde the car were Be %Brrors GBstenBnG s#rLaces no one co#d see ehBnd The voBce

was deceJtBve" #Bet Po# wBsh to dBe so soonW

He" the scared %an saBd hoarse" "o#Qre a @#sB% hatQs wronG wBth---

A the JroJhets are sacred Araha% @oses Ues#s A

Oa" oa" I %ean Ues- @add#M #aed as the caw tBGhtened on hBs throat HowQ% I

sQJosed to now thatW

For another Bnstant the LBnGers s#eeed Then the ta %an et Go HBs ar% wBthdrew &erhaJs

"o# are rBGht I eMJect too %#ch Lro% st#JBd A%erBcans #t "o# now now "es and "o# wB



32/322

not LorGet aGaBn It wasnQt a #estBon

heeBnG @add#M GasJed S#re s#re @r a-Hassan Oa"

The sharJ-Laced %an a-Hassan eMa%Bned @add#M wBth hBs cod %Brrored e"es #t Uon S%Bth

was there He sat ac Bn the Goo% oL the car taBnG soLt" as BL to hB%seL O#r %an Bn

'ondon LBnds S%Bth chanGed hBs LBGht and was %BssBnG Lro% 'ondon a da" Po#r %en JBc hB%

#J at D#es #t Bnstead oL drBvBnG ho%e to @ar"and he co%es here At the sa%e tB%e o#r

estee%ed coeaG#e sBJs awa" Lro% o#r hote and I Loow hB% to thBs vBcBnBt" eLore he e#des

%e Po# LaB to LBnd hB% Bn the Jar #t Bt Bs a stranGe coBncBdence wo#dnQt "o# sa"W h" Bs the

assocBate oL Dr R#sse here BL not to %eet o#r @r (rBLLBnW

@add#M saBd nothBnG He had earned %ost oL hBs ossQs #estBons were sJoen ao#d to so%e

#nseen Jart oL hB%seL Nervo#s" he et the sBence stretch Aro#nd the B%o and the two %en

the wBd Jar see%ed to reathe wBth a BLe oL Bts own

Event#a" a-Hassan shr#GGed &erhaJs I a% wronG &erhaJs Bt Bs a %ere coBncBdence and(rBLLBn has nothBnG to do wBth wh" Coone S%Bth Bs here It does not rea" %atter I s#JJose

The others wB tae care oL Coone S%Bth "esW

Po# Got Bt @add#M nodded e%JhatBca" No wa" he Gets o#t oL DC

+++++++++++++++++++

CHA&TER



33/322


FIVE

+++++++++++++++++++

1?! A@ T#esda" Octoer 1!

Fort DetrBc @ar"and

In her oLLBce SoJhBa R#sse LBced on her des a%J and coaJsed Bnto her chaBr wear" and

Lr#strated VBctor Tre%ont had caed thBs %ornBnG to reJort that nothBnG Bn hBs &er# o#rnas

%entBoned the stranGe vBr#s she had descrBed or the IndBan trBe caed the @one" ood

&eoJe Tre%ont was her est o#tsBde ead and she was devastated he had een #nae to

heJ

Atho#Gh she and the rest oL the DetrBc %BcroBooG" staLL had contBn#ed to wor aro#nd the

coc the" were no coser to resovBnG the threat Josed " the vBr#s )nder the eectron

%BcroscoJe the new vBr#s showed the sa%e Go#ar shaJe wBth haBrBe Jrotr#sBons oL so%e oL

Bts JroteBns %#ch Be a L# vBr#s #t thBs vBr#s was Lar sB%Jer than an" BnL#ena %#tatBon and

Lar %ore dead"

ALter the" had LaBed to LBnd a %atch a%onG the hantavBr#ses the" had recheced @ar#rG

'assa and Eoa even tho#Gh those reated Bers had no %BcroscoJBc sB%BarBtBes to the

#nnown vBr#s The" trBed ever" other BdentBLBed he%orrhaGBc Lever The" trBed t"JhoBd

#onBc JaG#e Jne#%onBc JaG#e %enBnGBtBs and t#are%Ba

NothBnG %atched and thBs aLternoon she had LBna" BnsBsted (enera \Be#rGer revea the vBr#s

and enBst the aBd oL the CDC and the other 'eve Fo#r BnstaatBons wordwBde He had stB een

re#ctant there were stB on" the three cases #t at the sa%e tB%e the vBr#s aJJeared to e

tota" #nnown and hBGh" etha and BL he dBd not tae the JroJer steJs and a Jande%Bc

res#ted he wo#d e resJonsBe So Gr#%BnG he had LBna" ac#Besced and sent oLL L#

eMJanator" %e%os and ood sa%Jes to the CDC the SJecBa &athoGens ranch oL HO

&orton Down Bn the )\ the )nBversBt" oL Anvers Bn eGB#% (er%an"Qs ernard Nocht

InstBt#te the sJecBa JathoGens ranch oL the &aste#r InstBt#te Bn France and a the other 'eveFo#r as aro#nd the Goe

Now the LBrst oL the reJorts were co%BnG Bn Lro% the other Hot bone as Ever"one aGreed the

vBr#s see%ed Be a hantavBr#s #t %atched nothBnG Bn an" oL theBr data ans A the reJorts

Lro% the CDC and the LoreBGn aoratorBes showed no JroGress A contaBned desJerate BL

BnLor%ed G#esses

In her oLLBce tBred to the %arrow SoJhBa eaned ac Bn her des chaBr and %assaGed her

te%Jes tr"BnG to ward oLL a headache She Ganced at her watch and was shoced to see the

tB%e (ood (od Bt was near" [? A@

orr" Bnes L#rrowed her row here was UonW IL he had arrBved ho%e ast nBGht as sched#ed



34/322

he wo#d have een Bn the a toda" eca#se oL her LrantBc wor sched#e she had not

tho#Ght too %#ch ao#t hBs asence Now desJBte her tBredness and headache and her BnBtBa

worrBes ao#t Uon she co#d not heJ s%BBnG She had a Lort"-one-"ear-od LBancg who stB had

a the c#rBosBt" and B%J#sBveness oL a twent"-"ear-od ave a %edBca %"ster" Bn Lront oL Uon

and he was oLL Be a racehorse He %#st have Lo#nd so%ethBnG LascBnatBnG that had dea"ed

hB%

StB he sho#d have caed " now Soon he wo#d e a L# da" ate

@a"e \Be#rGer had ordered hB% so%ewhere Bn secret and Uon co#d not ca ThatQd e #st

Be the Genera Never %Bnd she was UonQs LBancge IL the Genera had sent Uon oLL she wo#d

earn ao#t Bt wBth the rest oL the staLL when the Genera was Good and read" to anno#nce Bt

She sat #J Bn her chaBr thBnBnG The scBentBLBc staLL was worBnG thro#Gh the nBGht even the

Genera who never Jassed #J an oJJort#nBt" to e notBced Bn the rBGht wa" Ar#Jt" L#rBo#s

and anMBo#s ao#t Uon she %arched o#t headBnG Lor hBs oLLBce

++++++++++

rBG (en CavBn \Be#rGer &hD was one oL those BG eeL" %en wBth o#d voBces and not

too %an" raBns the ar%" oved to raBse to the ran oL coone and then Lreee there These

%en were so%etB%es to#Gh and awa"s %ean #t had Lew JeoJe sBs and ess dBJo%ac"

The" tended to e caed # or #c So%etB%es oLLBcers wBth those nBcna%es %ade hBGher

ran #t the" were s%a LeBst" %en wBth BG aws

HavBnG achBeved one star e"ond what he co#d reasona" have eMJected rBGadBer (enera

\Be#rGer aandoned act#a %edBca research Bn the head" B#sBon oL rBsBnG to L# Genera wBthtrooJ co%%and #t to ead ar%Bes the servBce wanted s%art oLLBcers who co#d wor we

wBth the necessar" cBvBBan oLLBcBas \Be#rGer was so #s" Jro%otBnG hB%seL he dBd not see hBs

s%artest %ove was to e BnteBGent and tactL# As a res#t he was now st#c ad%BnBsterBnG an

Brreverent GanG oL %BBtar" and cBvBBan scBentBsts %ost oL who% dBd not tae we to a#thorBt" Bn

the LBrst Jace JartBc#ar" not to narrow-%Bnded o%ast Be \Be#rGerQs

OL the #nr#" ot 't Co Uon S%Bth had t#rned o#t to e the %ost Brreverent the %ost

#ncontroae the %ost BrrBtatBnG So Bn answer to SoJhBaQs #estBon \Be#rGer eowed I

s#re as he dBdnQt send Coone S%Bth on an" assBGn%ent IL we had a sensBtBve tas heQd e the

ast one IQd send eMact" eca#se oL st#nts Be thBs

SoJhBa was as Lrost" as \Be#rGer was choerBc Uon doesnQt J# _st#ntsQ

HeQs a L# da" ate when we need hB% here

)ness "o# Jhoned hB% how wo#d he now we needed hB%W SoJhBa snaJJed Even I dBdnQt

now how ad the sBt#atBon was #ntB I started eMa%BnBnG the vBr#s Then I was #s" Bn the a

orBnG IQ% s#re "o# re%e%er what thatQs Be The tr#th was she do#ted he had an"

%e%orBes oL the Jress#res and eMcBte%ent oL a wor eca#se she had heard that even Bn

those da"s he had JreLerred to sh#LLe JaJers and crBtB#e other scBentBstsQ notes She BnsBstedUon %#st have a reason Lor eBnG ate Or so%ethBnG he canQt contro Bs detaBnBnG hB%



35/322

S#ch as what DoctorW

IL I new I wo#dnQt e wastBnG "o#r va#ae tB%e Or %Bne #t BtQs not Be hB% to e ate

wBtho#t caBnG %e

\Be#rGerQs LorBd Lace sneered IQd sa" BtQs ver" %#ch Be hB% HeQs a Godda%n JBrate ooBnG

Lor the neMt chest oL God and he awa"s wB e Tae %" word Lor Bt heQs r#n Bnto an

_BnterestBnGQ %edBca Jroe% or treat%ent or oth and %Bssed hBs LBGht Face Bt R#sse heQs a

Godda%n oose cannon and aLter "o#Qre %arrBed "o#Qre GoBnG to have to dea wBth that I donQt

env" "o#

SoJhBa co%Jressed her BJs LBGhtBnG a stronG desBre to te the Genera eMact" what she tho#Ght

oL hB%

He stared ac Bd" #ndressBnG her Bn hBs %Bnd He had awa"s Bed ondes It was seM" the

wa" she J#ed ac her Jae haBr Bn a Jon"taB He wondered whether she was ond

ever"where

hen she %ade no answer he went on Bn a %ore concBBator" voBce DonQt sweat Bt Dr

R#sse HeQ t#rn #J soon I hoJe so an"wa" eca#se we need ever"one we can Get on thBs

vBr#s I s#JJose "o# have nothBnG to reJortW

SoJhBa shoo her head To e Lran IQ% ao#t o#t oL Bdeas and so Bs the rest oL the staLL The

other as are str#GGBnG too ItQs ear" #t a weQre GettBnG so Lar Lro% ever"one Bs neGatBves

and G#esses

\Be#rGer taJJed hBs des Bn Lr#stratBon He was a Genera so he Let oBGated to doso%ethBnG Po# sa" thBs Bs a tota" #nB#e vBr#s oL a t"Je never seen eLoreW

ThereQs awa"s a LBrst one to e dBscovered

\Be#rGer Groaned ThBs co#d r#Bn an" chance he had to rea o#t oL the %edBca Ghetto and

%ove Bnto Bne co%%and

SoJhBa was st#d"BnG hB% @a" I %ae a s#GGestBon (eneraW

h" notW \Be#rGer saBd Btter"

The three vBctB%s we have are wBde" seJarated GeoGraJhBca" s two are ao#t the sa%e

aGe whBe one Bs %#ch "o#nGer Two are %ae one Bs Le%ae One Bn actBve servBce one a

veteran and one cBvBBan How dBd the" Get the vBr#sW hat was the so#rceW It has to have een

centered so%ewhere The odds are astrono%Bca aGaBnst three o#treas wBthBn twent"-Lo#r

ho#rs oL the sa%e #nnown vBr#s tho#sands oL %Bes aJart

As #s#a the Genera dBd not Get Bt hatQs "o#r JoBntW

)ness we eGBn to see other vBctB%s centered Bn one oL the three ocatBons we have to LBndthe connectBon a%onG the three we do have e need to start BnvestBGatBnG theBr Bves For

Bnstance %a"e the" were a Bn the sa%e hote roo% Bn @Bwa#ee sBM %onths aGo @a"e



36/322

thatQs when a three contracted Bt She Ja#sed At the sa%e tB%e we sho#d co% the

%edBca records Bn the three areas Lor sBGns oL JrevBo#s BnLectBons that co#d have Jrod#ced

antBodBes

At east Bt was a JosBtBve steJ and Bt wo#d %ae \Be#rGer oo as BL he was actBnG decBsBve"

IQ Bnstr#ct the staLL to eGBn at once I want "o# and Coone S%Bth to L" o#t to CaBLornBa LBrst

thBnG Bn the %ornBnG to ta to the JeoJe who new @aor Anderson Is that cearW

&erLect" (enera

(ood 'et %e now when S%Bth decBdes to ret#rn to wor IQ% GoBnG to chew hBs ass

So %ad she co#d not even eno" the sJectace oL \Be#rGer actBnG o#t hBs Ho"wood

conceJtBon oL a to#Gh no-nonsense A%erBcan hero SoJhBa staed o#t oL hBs oLLBce

In the corrBdor she ooed #J at the wa coc? 1?X` A@ Fresh worr" overwhe%ed her Had

so%ethBnG haJJened to UonW here was heW

++++++++++

[?X A@

ashBnGton DC

As he drove hBs s%a TrB#%Jh thro#Gh the nBGht cBt" Uon S%Bth %#ed what B (rBLLBn had

tod hB% tr"BnG to co%Jrehend even the #nsJoen hBnts

B saBd he had eLt the FI Vo#ntarB" or " re#estW

EBther wa" B was connected so%ehow to a new vBr#s sent Lro% so%e ar%ed Lorces #nBt Lor

)SA@RIID to st#d" &roa" Lor the a BdentBL" and s#GGest the est %ethod oL treat%ent To

S%Bth Bt so#nded ro#tBne--- one oL the vBta tass Fort DetrBc had een estaBshed to hande

StB B (rBLLBn caB%ed S%Bth was Bn danGer

HBs traBned Doer%an saBd %ore ao#t (rBLLBnQs state oL %Bnd than an" words he had #ttered

OvBo#s" (rBLLBn eBeved there was JerB and not #st Lor Uon #t Lor hB%seL

ALter theBr %eetBnG Uon had %ade hBs wa" careL#" aonG the JarQs dar Jaths stoJJBnG oLten

to %et Bnto the trees to %ae certaBn he was not eBnG Loowed hen at ast he had reached

hBs restored 1Z` TrB#%Jh he had ooed careL#" aro#nd eLore GettBnG Bn the car then had

drBven so#th o#t oL the Jar headBnG awa" Lro% @ar"and and ho%e the oJJosBte oL what a

J#rs#er wo#d eMJect DesJBte the ate ho#r traLLBc had een %oderate Not #ntB the deJths oL

nBGht so%etB%e aro#nd !? A@ wo#d the #stBnG %etroJoBs LBna" Grow wear" and Bts

%aBn arterBes e%Jt"

At LBrst he had tho#Ght a car was JacBnG hB% So he had t#rned corners sJed #J and soweddown and wo#nd hBs wa" to D#Jont CBrce and FoGG" otto% and then north aGaBn It had

taen hB% %ore than an ho#r oL drBvBnG #t now he Let certaBn no one was LoowBnG hB%



37/322

StB warB" watchBnG he t#rned so#th aGaBn thBs tB%e on BsconsBn Aven#e TraLLBc was ver"

BGht here and street a%Js cast wBde "eow Joos oL B#%BnatBon aGaBnst the dar nBGht He

sBGhed wearB" (od he wanted to see SoJhBa @a"e Bt was saLe at ast to Go to her He wo#d

cross the &oto%ac and tae the (eorGe ashBnGton &arwa" to !ZX north--- headBnG to

@ar"and To SoJhBa U#st thBnBnG ao#t her %ade hB% s%Be The onGer he was Gone the

%ore he %Bssed her He co#d not waBt to hod her Bn hBs ar%s He was nearBnG the rBver and

drBvBnG tBred" etween (eorGetownQs onG rows oL trend" o#tB#es eeGant oostores

LashBonae resta#rants ars and c#s when a %a%%oth tr#c Bts enGBne r#%BnG J#ed #J

Bn the eLt ane neMt to hBs s%a car

It was a sBM-whee deBver" tr#c the Bnd that dotted ever" etwa" and Bnterstate aro#nd

ever" cBt" Lro% the AtantBc seaoard to the &acBLBc coast At LBrst S%Bth wondered what a tr#c

was doBnG here sBnce #sBnesses and resta#rants wo#d not oJen Lor deBverBes Lor another

three or Lo#r ho#rs InterestBnG" neBther the ca nor the whBte carGo sectBon dBsJa"ed a

co%Jan" na%e address oGo soGan Jhone n#%er or an"thBnG to %ar what Bt was

deBverBnG or Lor who%

ThBnBnG onGBnG" oL SoJhBa S%Bth dBd not dwe on the tr#cQs #n#s#a anon"%Bt" StB the

events oL the evenBnG had actBvated the LBne" honed sense oL danGer he had deveoJed over

the "ears oL JractBcBnG %edBcBne and co%%andBnG at the Lront Bnes where vBoence co#d er#Jt

%Bn#te to %Bn#te where death was cose and rea where dBsease waBted to strBe Lro% ever"

h#t and #sh Or %a"e so%e %ove%ent actBon or so#nd BnsBde the tr#c had ca#Ght hBs

attentBon

hatever Bt was a sJBt second eLore the ehe%oth vehBce s#dden" J#ed ahead and %oved

to c#t oLL S%BthQs sJorts car S%Bth new Bt was GoBnG to do Bt

AdrenaBne oted hB% HBs throat tBGhtened Instant" he assessed the sBt#atBon As the tr#c

t#rned Bnto hB% he "aned hBs steerBnG whee to the rBGht HBs car sBdded and o#nced #J over

the c#r and onto the deserted sBdewa He had not een GoBnG a that Last--- #st thBrt" %Bes

an ho#r--- #t drBvBnG on a sBdewa not even a wBde one Be thBs at thBrt" %Bes an ho#r was

BnsanBt"

As the tr#c roared aonGsBde he Lo#Ght to contro hBs car Bth eMJosBve crashes he

sBdeswBJed a %aBoM and Btter Bn and s%ashed a tae oLL Bts Jedesta He careened Jast the

cosed sBent doors oL shoJs ars and c#s Darened wBndows Lashed Jast Be Bnd e"eswBnBnG at hB% SweatBnG he Ganced eLt The h#Ge tr#c contBn#ed to Jarae hB% o#t on the

street waBtBnG Lor a chance to ore Bn aGaBn and s#ash hB% aGaBnst the Lacade oL a #BdBnG He

saBd a sBent Jra"er oL thans that the sBdewa was e%Jt" oL JeoJe

DodGBnG trash cans he saw the tr#cQs JassenGer-sBde wBndow s#dden" ower A G#n arre

thr#st o#t aB%ed dBrect" at hB% For an Bnstant he was terrBLBed TraJJed on the sBdewa the

tr#c ocBnG the aven#e Lro% hB% he co#d neBther hBde nor evade And he was #nar%ed

hatever theBr Jans had een earBer now the" were co#ntBnG on shootBnG hB% dead

S%Bth taJJed hBs rae and swerved so the th#G Bn the tr#c ca wo#d have to contend wBth ashBLtBnG tarGet as he trBed to LBnd hBs aB%



38/322

Sweat eaded on S%BthQs row Then Lor an Bnstant he Let a sense oL hoJe Ahead a" an

BntersectBon HBs hands were whBte on the steerBnG whee as he J#shed the TrB#%Jh toward Bt

U#st as he acceerated the G#n Bn the tr#c LBred The noBse was eMJosBve #t the #et was

too ate It asted across the TrB#%JhQs taB and shattered a store wBndow As Gass #rst Bnto

the aBr S%Bth Bnhaed sharJ" That had een too da%n cose

He Ganced warB" aGaBn at the G#n arre as Bt o#nced Bn the tr#cQs oJen wBndow Fort#nate"

he was cosBnG Bn on the BntersectBon A an stood on one corner whBe retaB #sBnesses

occ#JBed the other three

And then he had no %ore tB%e The BntersectBon was B%%edBate" ahead and thBs %BGht e hBs

on" chance He too a deeJ reath (a#GBnG dBstance careL#" he sa%%ed hBs raes As the

TrB#%Jh sh#ddered he sw#nG the steerBnG whee sharJ" rBGht He had on" seconds to chec

the tr#c as hBs Leet sJorts car swerved awa" oLL onto the cross street #t Bn those Lew

%o%ents he saw what he had hoJed Lor? The vBctB% oL Bts own sJeed the tr#c h#rted ahead

down the aven#e and o#t oL sBGht

EM#tBnG BnsBde he G#nned to L# sJeed hBt the raes aGaBn and t#rned another corner thBs

tB%e onto a eaL" street oL FederaBst row ho#ses He drove on t#rnBnG %ore corners and

watchBnG hBs rearvBew %Brror the whoe tB%e even tho#Gh he new the onG tr#c co#d not

JossB" have %ade a )-t#rn desJBte the BGht traLLBc oL the ate nBGht

reathBnG hard he stoJJed the car at ast Bn the ac" shadows oL a ranchBnG %aGnoBa on a

dar resBdentBa street where @s @ercedeses and other artBLacts oL the rBch BndBcated that

thBs was one oL (eorGetownQs %ost eBte neBGhorhoods He Lorced hBs hands Lro% the steerBnG

whee and ooed down The hands were tre%BnG #t not Lro% Lear It had een a onG tB%esBnce he had een Bn tro#e Be thBs--- vBoent tro#e he had not antBcBJated and dBd not want

He threw ac hBs head and cosed hBs e"es He Bnhaed deeJ" a%aed as awa"s at how

#Bc" ever"thBnG co#d chanGe He dBd not Be the tro#e Pet there was an oder Jart oL

hB% that #nderstood Bt That wanted to e Bnvoved He tho#Ght hBs co%%Bt%ent to SoJhBa had

ended a that Bth her he had not see%ed to need the o#tsBde JerB that Bn the Jast had

aLLBr%ed he was L#" actBve" aBve

On the other hand at thBs JoBnt he had no choBce

The Bers Bn the tr#c who had attaced hB% had to e Jart oL what B (rBLLBn had trBed towarn hB% ao#t A the #estBons he had een %#BnG ever sBnce eavBnG theBr %BdnBGht

%eetBnG ret#rned?

hat was so sJecBa ao#t thBs vBr#sW

hat was B hBdBnGW

arB" he shoved the car Bnto Gear and drove onto the street He had no answers #t %a"e

SoJhBa dBd As he tho#Ght that hBs chest contracted HBs %o#th went dr" A terrBe Lear shot

Bce Bnto hBs veBns

IL the" were tr"BnG to B hB% the" co#d e tr"BnG to B her too



39/322

He Ganced at hBs watch? [?[ A@

He had to ca her warn her #t hBs ce Jhone was stB at hBs ho#se He had seen no co%JeBnG

reason to tae Bt to 'ondon So now he needed a Ja" Jhone #Bc" HBs est chance wo#d e

on BsconsBn Aven#e #t he dBd not want to rBs another attac Lro% the tr#c

He needed to Get to Fort DetrBc Now

He hBt hBs Gas Jeda r#shBnG the TrB#%Jh toward O Street Ta trees Jassed Bn a #r Od

VBctorBans wBth theBr ornate scrowor and sharJ" JoBnted rooLs oo%ed over the sBdewas

Be Ghost ho#ses Ahead was an BntersectBon wBth a%JBGht sJBBnG across Bt Bn sBver-Gra"

sJashes S#dden" car headBGhts aJJeared ahead rBGht sJotBGhts Bn the dar nBGht The car

was aJJroachBnG the sa%e BntersectBon as S%BthQs TrB#%Jh #t Lro% the oJJosBte dBrectBon and

at twBce the sJeed

S%Bth swore and checed the crosswa #nded aGaBnst the coo nBGht aBr a soBtar"JedestrBan had steJJed oLL the sBdewa As the %an swa"ed and sanG oLL-e" Lro% too %#ch

whBse" he staGGered toward the other c#r swBnGBnG hBs ar%s Be a to" sodBer S%BthQs chest

tBGhtened The %an was headBnG heedess" Bnto the Jath oL the acceeratBnG car

The dr#n JedestrBan never ooed #J There was a s#dden screa% oL raes HeJess" S%Bth

watched as the sJeedBnG carQs Lender str#c hB% and he Lew ac ar%s wBde Btho#t

reaBBnG Bt S%Bth had een hodBnG hBs reath eLore the dr#n co#d and Bn the G#tter S%Bth

sa%%ed hBs raes At the sa%e tB%e the hBt-and-r#n drBver sowed Lor a %o%ent as BL J#ed

and then r#shed oLL aGaBn vanBshBnG aro#nd the corner

The Bnstant hBs TrB#%Jh stoJJed S%Bth was o#t oL the car and r#nnBnG to the Laen %an A the

nBGht so#nds had dBsaJJeared Lro% the street The shadows were onG and thBc aro#nd the

artBLBcBa B#%BnatBon oL the BntersectBon He droJJed to hBs ha#nches to eMa%Bne the %anQs

Bn#rBes #st as another car aJJroached ehBnd hB% he heard a screech oL raes and the car

stoJJed esBde hB%

ReBeved he BLted hBs head and waved Lor heJ Two %en #%Jed o#t and ran toward hB% At

the sa%e tB%e S%Bth sensed %ove%ent Lro% the Bn#red %an

He ooed down? How do "o# LeeW-- And Lroe Stared

The vBctB% was not on" aJJraBsBnG hB% wBth aert soer e"es he was JoBntBnG a (oc

se%Ba#to%atBc JBsto wBth a sBencer #J at hB% ChrBst "o#Qre a hard %an to B hat the he

Bnd oL doctor are "o# an"wa"W

+++++++++++++++++++

CHA&TER



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SI

+++++++++++++++++++

[?> A@

ashBnGton DC

A Jart oL Uon S%Bth was aread" Bn the Jast ac Bn osnBa and hBs #ndercover stBnt Bn East

(er%an" eLore the wa ca%e down Shadows %e%orBes roen drea%s s%a vBctorBes and

awa"s the restessness Ever"thBnG he had tho#Ght he had J#t ehBnd hB%

As the two stranGers J#ed o#t weaJons and sJed toward hB% thro#Gh the BntersectBonQs BGht

S%Bth Graed the wrBst and #JJer ar% oL the th#G at hBs Leet eLore the %an co#d react

S%Bth eMJert" J#shed and J#ed LeeBnG the tendons and oBnt do eMact" what he wanted

The %anQs eow snaJJed He screa%ed and ered and hBs Lace t#rned whBte and twBsted Bn

JaBn As he Jassed o#t the (oc Le to the Jave%ent A thBs haJJened Bn seconds S%Bth Gave

a GrB% s%Be At east he dBd not have to B the %an In a sBnGe %otBon he scooJed #J the

weaJon roed onto hBs sho#der and ca%e #J on one nee wBth the JBsto coced He LBred

The sBenced #et %ade a JoJ

One oL the two %en r#nnBnG at hB% JBtched Lorward twBstBnG Bn aGon" on the cod Jave%ent

As the %an Graed hBs thBGh where S%BthQs #et had entered the second %an droJJed

esBde hB% '"BnG on hBs e" he BLted hBs head as BL he were on a LBrBnG ranGe and S%Bth were a

statBonar" tarGet BG %Bstae S%Bth new eMact" what the %an was GoBnG to do S%Bth

dodGed and hBs attacerQs sBenced G#nshot #rned Jast hBs te%Je

Now S%Bth had no choBce eLore the %an co#d shoot aGaBn or ower hBs head S%Bth LBred a

second tB%e The #et eMJoded thro#Gh the attacerQs rBGht e"e eavBnG a ac crater ood

Jo#red o#t and the %an JBtched Lacedown %otBoness S%Bth new he had to e dead

HBs J#se throBnG at hBs te%Jes S%Bth #%Jed #J and waed ca#tBo#s" toward the% Hehad not wanted to B the %an and he was anGr" to have een J#t Bn the JosBtBon where he

had to Aro#nd hB% the aBr see%ed to stB vBrate Lro% the attac He Gaed #Bc" #J and

down the street No Jorch BGhts t#rned on The ate ho#r and the sBenced #ets had eJt

secret the a%#sh

He J#ed an ar%"-Bss#e eretta Lro% the B%J hand oL the %an he had shot Bn the e"e and

wBth Btte hoJe checed hBs vBta sBGns Pes he was dead He shoo hBs head dBsG#sted and

reGretL# as he re%oved weaJons Lro% the reach oL the two Bn#red %en The %an wBth the

roen eow was stB #nconscBo#s whBe the one wBth the #et thro#Gh hBs thBGh swore a

strBnG oL c#rses and Gared at S%Bth

S%Bth BGnored hB% He h#rrBed ac toward hBs TrB#%Jh U#st then the nBGht roced wBth the



41/322


42/322

re%ovBnG sweat HBs heart see%ed to th#nder

Two %Bn#tes three %Bn#tes

A shadow e%erGed Lro% the trees and ran toward the eLt sBde oL the BG ho#se

Then a second ran toward the rBGht sBde

S%Bth Bnhaed Th#Gs cBvBBan or %BBtar" were JredBctae Btho#t %#ch B%aGBnatBon theBr

tactBca Bdeas were r#dB%entar"--- the dBrect charGe oL the # or the sB%Je r#se oL a

schooo" #arterac who awa"s ooed the oJJosBte wa" Lro% where he Bntended to throw

the Loota

The two cosBnG Bn Be JBncers Bn the nBGht were etter than %ost #t Be C#ster at 'Btte BG

Horn or 'ord Che%sLord at Isandhwana aGaBnst the b## the" had done hB% the Lavor oL

sJBttBnG theBr Lorces so he co#d tae the% on one at a tB%e He had hoJed the" wo#d

The oder Jadded aro#nd the %ansBonQs rBGht sBde etween Bt and the Gaeo That was a

rea Lor S%Bth As the %an contBn#ed on S%Bth creJt toward hB% Lro% ehBnd He steJJed on

a twBG It was a soLt snaJ #t o#d eno#Gh to aert the attacer S%BthQs heart see%ed to stoJ

The %an whBred aro#nd JBsto rBsBnG to LBre

S%Bth acted Bnstant" A sBnGe JowerL# rBGht LBst to the throat Jara"ed the voca cords a

sweeJBnG arc oL rBGht eG s%ashed a sBe-tweve shoe to the sBde oL the %anQs head and he

droJJed #Bet"

S%Bth sBd ac Bnto the Gaeo

One two %Bn#tes

The %ore ca#tBo#s oL the JaBr %aterBaBed Bn a Jatch oL %oonBGht etween the Gaeo and the

Laen %an He had had the sense to cBrce hBs Jartner o#t oL sBGht #t that was where hBs

B%aGBnatBon ended and he h#rrBed to nee over the Laen %an

Uerr"W Ues#s what--- S%BthQs aJJroJrBated eretta s%ashed across the ac oL the ent head

S%Bth draGGed oth #nconscBo#s %en Bnto the Gaeo Cro#ched over the% he Janted as heBstened to the nBGht The on" dBstBnctBve so#nd was oL a dBstant car headBnG so#th Bth reBeL

he eLt the Gaeo and oJed thro#Gh the shadows oL ho#ses and trees ac the wa" he had

co%e As he neared the BntersectBon where he had een attaced he sowed and Bstened

aGaBn The on" noBse was what so#nded Be the sa%e car drBvBnG Bn the oJJosBte dBrectBon thBs

tB%e north

On eows and nees a JBsto Bn each hand he crawed to wBthBn a Lront "ard oL the

BntersectBon The sJrBnBnG oL Jared cars on eBther sBde had not chanGed and hBs TrB#%Jh stB

waBted at the c#r where he had eLt Bt to Go to the aBd oL the Lae vBctB% No one was Bn sBGht

There was no wa" the sBM-wheeer tr#c co#d have Lo#nd hB% LBrst on BsconsBn Aven#e and

then here No one had that Bnd oL #c Pet the tr#c the car and the dr#n had created a



43/322

dBversBon BntendBnG hBs death

The" had to have nown eMact" where he was

He waBted as the %oon went down The nBGht Grew darer a arGe ow h#nted thro#Gh the

trees and the dBstant car contBn#ed to drBve so#th then north then so#th aGaBn sow" %aBnG

Bts wa" coser to the BntersectBon

SatBsLBed that no one was #rBnG there S%Bth #%Jed #J and ran to hBs TrB#%Jh He too a

s%a LashBGht Lro% the Gove co%Jart%ent and sBd #nder the carQs rear And there Bt was No

B%aGBnatBon no orBGBnaBt" The rBGht L#nne oL hBs LashBGht reveaed a trans%Btter no arGer

than hBs th#%naB attached to the carQs #ndercarrBaGe " a JowerL# %BnB-%aGnet The tracBnG

devBceQs reader was Jroa" Bn the tr#c or wBth the short heav" eader

He LBced oLL the LashBGht sBJJed Bt Bnto hBs Jocet and re%oved the tracBnG devBce He

ad%Bred the creatBvBt" that had %an#Lact#red s#ch deBcate enGBneerBnG As he crawed o#t

Lro% #nder the TrB#%Jh he notBced the car he had een %onBtorBnG was a%ost at theBntersectBon He net esBde the TrB#%Jh watchBnG The car was %ovBnG sow" as the drBver

JBtched newsJaJers Lro% hBs roed-down wBndow onto the awns and drBvewa"s oL the

neBGhorhood

The drBver %ade a )-t#rn

S%Bth stood #J and whBsted As the car sowed Bn the BntersectBon he ran toward the oJen

wBndow Can I #" a JaJer Lro% "o#W

Peah s#re IQve Got so%e eMtras

S%Bth reached Bnto hBs Jocet Lor chanGe He droJJed a coBn ent to JBc Bt #J and wBth a coo

s%Be he st#c the %Bcrotrans%Btter to the carQs #ndercarrBaGe

StraBGhtenBnG he too the newsJaJer and nodded Thans I aJJrecBate BtQ

The car drove on and S%Bth #%Jed Bnto the TrB#%Jh He Jeeed awa" hoJBnG hBs trBc wo#d

occ#J" hBs assaBants onG eno#Gh Lor hB% to reach SoJhBa #t BL these attacs where Jart oL

what B (rBLLBn had warned hB% wo#d haJJen the" new who he was and where to LBnd hB%

And where to LBnd SoJhBa

++++++++++

!?> A@

Fort DetrBc @ar"and

The reJort Lro% the &rBnce 'eoJod Ins

Date post:	03-Jun-2018
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The Hades Factor - Robert Ludlum

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