«Okay. Today’s April 8th you say? Okay.» He snapped his fingers and pointed. «Here’s something. Four days ago, on April 4, an Allied patrol should have snapped pictures of the Auschwitz concentration camp. That’s still a secret, so there’s no way I could have known that. You can check that out today.
«But here — this is better. Tomorrow Soviet troops will fully liberate Sevastpool — they’ll drive the Nazis out. It’ll be a complete victory, though a hard-won one.
«And I can even do better than that: I can tell you about a freak accident that will occur ahead of time. The sort of thing nobody could every predict or fake. Tomorrow, an RAF pilot named Nicholas Alkemade will be shot down over Germany. He’ll bail out at four thousand feet with no parachute — and he’ll live because the trees will break his fall.
«And two days later, on April 10, Mount Vesuvius will erupt. At 6:19 AM, local time. There. How could I fake that?»
Hardin nodded. «Well. We’ll see what happens, shall we?»
Damn right, Bantam breathed. Damn right.HOURS LATER, there was yelling outside his cell door. He could barely make it out.
«Listen, Hardin, I’m going in there. I’m going to ask him questions my way.»
«No, no. I’m afraid I can’t allow — “
«That leg penetrated our security perimeter! I want to know how! And he shows up at a space facility wearing a space suit? By my Newgate knockers, I want to know why! Was he planning on sharping the ship?» This was a gruff voice, Bantam wasn’t sure, but it sounded like General Veerspike.
«He says he just wants a cure to a plague we’re developing here.» That was Hardin’s voice. «Tell me. Are we developing such a thing?»
«Don’t be ridiculous!» the man snapped. «Look. You may be in charge of the civilian space program but I’m — “
«And I have discretion to make calls I feel are appropriate. Your orders are to service us — “
«He is a security issue. He doesn’t fall under your — “
«All base operations fall under our supervision. You’ll find that even security issues are left to our discretion.»
There was a pause and then, «For now.»FOR ANOTHER three days, Bantam was left alone. They’d given him an isolated cell with no windows or bed — just a sink and a toilet. They called it ‘The Salt Box’. Whenever he was moved, it was with a hood on his head: he was not allowed to see anything.
He was blasted with a hose for a shower, and then deloused, as though he were in an insane asylum.American Hero, he repeated to himself. I will be an American Hero. When he returned with the cure for the Shadow …
And then, after a blur of days, he was back in the interrogation room again. Hardin had returned, along with his two guards. But this time, another man Bantam recognized was with them.Even with these odd uniforms, the rank was recognizable.
«The name’s Veerspike,” the man said, seeing Bantam’s eyes on his shoulder «General Victor Veerspike.»
«Sir,” Bantam said, rising involuntarily before being yanked back by his cuffs. «Apologies sir, the Captain finds himself unable to properly salute.»
«Captain Bantam,” Veerspike said. He watched Bantam very closely for a long moment — and then dumped out the contents of a sack he had been carrying. An iPad and an iPhone tumbled out onto the table.
«Are these the items you told Doctor Hardin about?»
Bantam’s eyes lit up. Finally!
«Yes, sir! If may be permitted, these can prove everything I’m saying is true.»
Veerspike cocked an eyebrow. «Uncuff one hand. Will one hand be sufficient to operate these … apparatus?»
Bantam nodded vigorously. «Yes, yes. More than … sufficient.» These people and their batty phrases, Bantam thought vaguely.
As soon as his hand was free, Bantam flipped on the iPad.
But nothing happened. He flipped the switch and hit the button a few times. Oh no. Had it lost it’s charge? He’d made sure to keep it topped off, even keeping it hooked up to the capsule’s electrical system …
He tried the iPhone with the same result: nothing.
Either the Volzstrang Wave had somehow depleted it or one of Veerspike’s men had unwittingly run it down.
Well, not a problem: Easily fixed. He’d brought plugs with him and transformers for several kinds of electrical systems. «The battery’s dead. I’ll have to plug it in to make it work. Doctor Hardin. Is there a plug nearby?»
Veerspike and Hardin exchanged confused glances. «Plug?» Veerspike said.
«It’s out of juice,” Bantam explained. More looks of confusion. «Ah.» They didn’t know the word juice. «I just need an electrical outlet.»
At the word, electrical, all the men in the room showed signs of recognition. They knew the word. But something about it also made them wince.
Hardin leaned forward, clearly angry about something. «What are you trying to do?»
«I’m trying to prove my story. Trust me, once you see this, you’ll never doubt me again.»
«Are you saying your devices are … electrical?»
Bantam nodded. «Yeah. They are. Why?»
Tired glances were exchanged all around.
Hardin leaned in close, seething with anger and embarrassment.
«Electricity is a myth. Like Greek fire. It does not exist. Are you trying to provoke General Veerspike. Is that it?»
Bantam was taken aback. What was going on? «Why — no, of course not.»
«Then can you please demonstrate your devices?»
«I can’t. Not without — without, well … power.»
Hardin pulled away, annoyed.
«Okay fine.» Bantam persisted. «What about the Soviets? They took Sevastpool, right? And Nicholas Alkemade — the RAF pilot I told you about, he was shot down, right on schedule, yes? And he lived?»Hardin shook his head. Veerspike snorted in disgust.
«No,” Veerspike said icily. «None of those things happened. Not even close.»
No?
«Now you listen to me,” Veerspike growled. «I’ve been patient up until now. I’ve let the scientists go easy on you. But even they can see their trust was misplaced.» He glanced over at Hardin. «Now I want answers, or so help me I will put the Devil’s claw on you. Why did you break into this base?»
«General. Sir. I’m telling the truth. If you can contact General Coralbee, he can — “
«There is no General Coralbee!» Veerspike exploded. «There is no ‘electricity’! Nothing you’ve said has any basis in fact! I’d say you were a lunatic, but somehow you got around all of our security measures.»IT WENT ON like this for hours. The same questions, the same answers. In the end, Bantam was exhausted beyond belief and locked back in his dark cell.
He passed out as soon as he hit the floor.
So this time, he missed the voices outside.
«Did you tell him?» Hardin asked.
«Tell him what?» Veerspike said.
«That Vesuvius did erupt. Exactly as he predicted.»
Veerspike growled: «So add that to the list of questions he hasn’t answered yet. I don’t like things I don’t understand, Hardin.»
«Patience, General Veerspike,” Hardin said. «There is something very interesting going on here. It is worth investing some time to discover what it is. Would you say he is … dangerous? A threat you can’t handle?»
Veerspike seemed taken aback. «Him? No. But that’s the only reason we haven’t tortured the truth out of him.»
Four: Cliff Cleveland, Astronaut
BANTAM AWAKENED in a new room.
This time, he was in a bed. A really, really comfortable bed. The room itself was sumptuous and Victorian.
But to his surprise, he saw an open window that led to a vast balcony.
With no bars, Bantam noted.
He rolled to get out of bed, but found his arm restrained. Not by leather bindings: a needle had been stuck in his arm. He was on an I.V. drip.
«Tut!» a voice snapped. Bantam turned his head. Nobody was there. «Up here!» Bantam looked up: a blond buzzcut with a lantern jaw was hanging upside down. His knees were hooked around a pneumatic tube that ran across the ceiling. He wore a wide grin that Bantam gathered immediately was permanently plastered on his face.