“I’m not your type,” Dane said.
Ignoring him, the agent reached into Dane’s pocket and drew out the pouch that held the Atlantean crystals. He tossed the bag to Wilson, who upended the contents into his hand. He held the crystals out, letting the light dance off their surface.
“What do these do?”
“I found them on the floor and thought I’d add them to my rock collection.” Pain blossomed through Dane’s skull as the man behind him struck him at the base of his skull with the butt of his rifle. Dane grimaced but didn’t fall or even cry out.
Smiling, Wilson pocketed the crystals.
“We’ll take you to the Bishop. If, by the time we get there, you haven’t decided to come clean, we’ll cut pieces off of your girl until you tell us what we want to know.”
Dane and Bones exchanged glances. Bishop Hadel was here? Dane made up his mind then. If he decided escape was impossible, he’d find a way to kill Hadel.
The Dominion’s operatives escorted them, at gunpoint, through the Atlantean complex. They passed through empty rooms, and others where alien-looking artifacts lay on shelves or in the strange, hexagonal alcoves. This place would be a treasure trove of information if they could ever get away, but Dane scarcely considered the thought. Rage burned hot inside him. His failure to protect Jade and Sofia was almost more than he could bear.
Bishop Hadel stood in the midst of a massive chamber — the largest they’d seen since entering the underground city. Dane took in his surroundings. This room was clearly the model for the Atlantean temples they’d discovered. It had the same exact layout as the others, down to the pyramid-shaped facade at the back. But it was what stood at the center that separated it from the other sites they’d uncovered.
A circle of crystal spikes, each twice a man’s height and breadth and tilted inward so that their points almost touched, stood behind a ring of gleaming silver metal reminiscent of the Stonehenge-like altars in the temples. A silver hand, its palm open, rose from the altar.
The bishop paced back and forth, staring at the crystals.
Another man, large and powerfully-built, stood nearby. He turned his gaze on Dane and Bones as they entered the room. His green eyes bored into Dane.
“Who are these people?” he snapped.
Before anyone could reply, Bishop Hadel turned on his heel and stalked toward the captives. His hands trembled and there was a gleam in his eyes that bordered on manic. Dane had seen Hadel on television and in pictures, but the man always seemed so calm and self-assured. What he’d seen down here had unhinged him.
“I know who they are.” Hadel’s voice shook. “The Indian is Uriah Bonebrake, which makes this one,” he pointed a trembling finger at Dane, “Dane Maddock.” He lowered his voice. “You two have a knack for stepping on my toes. I ordered you killed months ago, but we couldn’t locate you. And now, here you are.” He laughed, a cold cackle that echoed in the stone chamber. “Did you imagine you would stop us from setting off the Revelation Machine?”
Dane glowered at him, but remained silent. If Hadel planned to set off the machine, the situation was worse than he had feared. Of course, now that he saw the device, if that’s what this crystal circle was, he realized it wasn’t something that could be carried away. If Hadel wanted to use it, he’d have to do it here.
“Bishop,” Wilson began, “he had these with him.”
The bishop took the pouch containing the Atlantean stones, looked inside, and smiled. “I think we now have what we need.” He leaned in close to Dane until their faces were inches apart. “Are you ready to die?”
Dane didn’t speak, didn’t think. Instead, he head-butted Hadel across the bridge of the nose.
Hadel cried out in pain and reeled away, his hands unable to hold back the crimson flow that streamed down his chin and dripped onto the stone floor.
Behind him, the Dominion operative clubbed Dane across the back of his head with the butt of his rifle. Dane dropped to one knee, his head swimming. Hadel was about to use the machine. What could he do?
The big, green-eyed man hurried to Hadel’s side, but the bishop shook him off.
“I’m fine, Robinson. Just keep an eye on these three in case they try anything else.” His broken nose still dripping blood, he turned and headed for the machine.
“Shall I kill them?” Robinson asked.
“No. Let them see it happen. I want them to feel their failure deep in their bones before they die.”
“With all due respect,” Robinson said, “I don’t think we should try the machine until we’re certain of what it does.”
Hadel turned a beatific smile in Robinson’s direction. “I know what it does. It will bring about the end of times, as promised in the Book of Revelation.”
Robinson swallowed hard. “I understand, but we should learn to control it before we use it.”
“Control? You do not presume to control the power of God.”
Dane’s vision cleared and he noticed the guards behind Jade and Bones shift uncomfortably. The time was drawing near and the only possible action would be desperate and likely fatal. Of course, if Hadel discharged the machine, the result would be the same. As Dane planned his last, desperate attack, Hadel continued to rant.
“You saw what lies in this place. Abominations! The earth must be cleansed of this filth.”
Robinson tried to argue but Hadel went on.
“This world has become an abomination. Our faith is persecuted daily as people bow to the altars of science and government. Imagine what the idolaters would make of what we’ve found here. They would use it as evidence,” he spat the word, “against the truth of our Lord.” His voice fell to a hoarse grunt. “Better they die in the Lord than live in confusion.”
The bishop turned again and, as he approached the machine, the crystals in his hand began to flicker. He knelt before the machine and began to recite the Lord’s Prayer.
“Robinson?” one of the guards said.
“Stand firm.” Robinson ordered. “He is about the Lord’s work.”
Hadel laid a gleaming crystal in the silver hand rising from the altar. It snapped into place and began to glow. Behind the rail, the giant crystals that formed the machine also began to glow.
High above, unnoticed by anyone except Dane, crystals set in the stone began to glimmer as Hadel laid more crystals into place. With each one, the machine shone brighter and the crystals in the ceiling sparkled.
Soon, Dane recognized their shape. He took another glance in the direction of the machine, and then back up at the crystals in the ceiling. He now understood the machine’s purpose.
As the bishop made to place the last stone, Dane stole a glance at Bones and Jade. Their eyes met and he mouthed instructions. He didn’t know for certain if they understood, because, just then, the last crystal clicked into place and the world exploded in blue light.
Chapter 49
“Where the hell are you, Maddock?” Tam stood, hands on hips, staring at the small hotel that stood in the middle of the Richat Structure. They’d found plenty of footprints and tire tracks, but no sign of Maddock or the others. Until they’d arrived, she hadn’t appreciated how vast this place was. “I shouldn’t have sent him in ahead of us.”
She looked up as Greg and Professor emerged from the hotel.
“There’s a body inside,” Greg said, “but no sign of our people.”
“Do you think they were here?” Tam asked.
Greg shrugged. “No way to tell.”
“Damn! If Willis and Matt don’t find any sign of them, I guess we’ll follow the tire tracks and hope it’s them.” Tam sighed. “And that’s another dollar in the jar, too. Working with those two is going to break me.”