Simon nodded. “Right before you freed me, Mr. McCann stated that he wanted to know where the creatures had originated from and how we could get rid of them. I advised you that I could answer those questions for you if you freed me, and now I have. I’ve told you where they came from. Sadly, at this stage, there’s no way to rid the Earth of them. Our planet is finished.”
“Turning into water,” Novak said. “Getting sucked into this other dimension—this… What did you call it?”
“The Great Deep.”
“Yeah. That. So what you’re saying is that we’re pretty much fucked.”
“At this point, I’m afraid so. There are still individuals out there who are valiantly trying to save the planet. A biochemist named Steve Kazmirski, for example. He has a theory about how to reverse the White Fuzz. He believes that if he can obtain a pure sample of a protein that is essential in the machinery that replicates the White Fuzz’s DNA, then he can stop it with drugs. If the DNA can’t replicate, the fungus can’t grow, and therefore, will stop liquefying everything it touches.”
“Is he right?” Gail asked.
“I don’t know. The White Fuzz is supernatural in origin, but his theory is scientifically sound. Sadly, Mr. Kazmirski will never get a chance to learn if it would have worked, because it’s already too late.”
“At least he’s trying to do something.”
“My group were trying to save the planet, as well. Black Lodge defends humanity.”
“You did a hell of a job,” McCann muttered.
“As I explained to Gail earlier, we ended up divided. Half of Black Lodge wanted to enact an old ritual that called for the sacrifice of a human infant. Summoning Leviathan and Behemoth—opening a doorway for them to enter our world, required the sacrifice of an infant. A number of our members believed that banishing them and closing the doorway would require the same thing. They learned of several surviving infants—one in Australia, one in Illinois, and one or two elsewhere, and went in search of them. The other half of my group labored to stop them. We were convinced that there was another way to banish Behemoth and Leviathan, seal the gate, and undo the damage caused by the cultists. Regrettably, we wasted too much time in-fighting when we should have been acting together, and now it’s too late. Behemoth and Leviathan have both moved on to another version of Earth—another level.”
“I can’t accept that,” Gail said. “There has to be a way. Thousands of years of human history—all of our struggles and achievements. It can’t just be over!”
Simon’s smile was sad. “The planet is already destroyed. It’s already being absorbed. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do.”
“But you said you could save us! Were you lying, just so we’d free you?”
“No, I told the truth. I can save us. I just can’t save the planet.”
Gail scowled. “You’re not making any sense.”
“I told you before that there are other realities—other versions of Earth. The cult in Baltimore opened the doors to other dimensions and brought both Behemoth and Leviathan through. I can do the same. We can escape to another world. A version of Earth where this hasn’t happened yet. But we’re running out of time.”
“Why?”
“Because opening a doorway into the Labyrinth isn’t my forte. There were some in my organization who were quite adept at it. I was not one of them. But there are certain places on Earth—places of great power—and in those areas, my skill won’t matter. In those places, on spots such as Stonehenge, the great Serpent Mound, and the area known popularly as the Bermuda Triangle, the doorways already exist. All we have to do is go through one of them.”
“Are we near one?” Novak asked, looking up from the fire.
“Not near, as in, close by. But I can guide us to the nearest one, yes.”
Gail leaned forward, staring at Simon intently. “Where?”
“An area in Central Pennsylvania called LeHorn’s Hollow. It is undoubtedly under water by now, but the doorway should still be there. All we have to do is reach it.”
CHAPTER 56
“Let me see if I’ve got this right.” McCann’s sarcastic tone was unmistakable. “We’re somewhere over what we think is Kentucky right now. All we have to do is hop in our little boat, cross the ocean to Pennsylvania, avoid getting eaten by all the different monsters, and then dive down to the bottom of the sea and go through this door. Shit, what are we waiting for? Let’s go. That sounds easy enough.”
If Simon was offended, he gave no indication. “I didn’t say it would be easy, Mr. McCann. I only said that I could do it. I can save us. But we’re running out of time. We should leave soon.”
“We’re not going anywhere until we’ve slept,” Gail said. “Novak’s still hurt, and McCann, you ought to rest up from earlier, too. And Simon, no offense, but you don’t look like you’re in any condition to go anywhere. Not after how we found you.”
Simon smiled. “I heal quickly. But you are correct. I think we could all do with a bit of sleep. By morning, I’ll feel right as rain.”
Gail, McCann and Novak all winced at the unintentional pun.
“Sorry,” Simon apologized. “I suppose I could have chosen a better phrase.”
“I’ll take watch,” Gail said. “There’s no sense in all of us staying awake.”
“Bullshit.” Novak shifted around, trying to sit up. Doing so elicited a groan. He slumped back down again.
“You need your sleep,” Gail chided him. “So does Simon. I’ll stand watch.”
“I can help,” McCann offered. “You take the first half and I’ll take the second.”
Gail hesitated. She was reluctant to give McCann that much responsibility, especially considering the erratic behavior he’d been exhibiting since their encounter with the living island. It seemed strange to her that it had all happened just a short time ago—the creature, the disappearance of the ship, and everything else that had happened. Events had conspired to lead them here, to this refuge of a madman and his prisoner—a prisoner who might be their only hope. Gail had never believed much in fate or providence, but the events of the last twenty-four hours made her wonder.
It occurred to her how insane Simon sounded. Not his voice or tone, both of which were perfectly pleasant and rational. It was the words themselves that sounded crazy. Secret paramilitary occult organizations and doorways to alternate universes were the stuff of fiction. But then again, so were the plethora of monsters they’d encountered. If she wanted fantasy, all she had to do was look outside. Even the weather was unnatural.
She realized that McCann was staring at her, waiting for her response. She smiled.
“That’s okay, really. You should get some sleep, too. You almost drowned today.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted. “Stop treating me like a baby.”
There was an edge in McCann’s voice that wasn’t normally there, and Gail wondered once more what was going on inside of him.
“How about this? I’ll take the first shift and you go to sleep. When I get tired, I promise that I’ll wake you up. Does that sound fair?”
McCann shrugged. His expression was sullen. “I guess.”
Gail checked their boat and made sure it was still secure. Then she turned to the fire, relishing the warmth.
“We should put this out, I guess.” Her voice rang with regret. “No sense in attracting whatever might be lurking outside overnight.”
“I concur,” Simon said. “And don’t fret, Gail. I can always start another come morning.”
Snuffing the flames, she nodded. As the ashes hissed and smoked, Gail felt a deep sense of loss. The warmth had brought comfort and a long-missed feeling of normality. With the fire gone, the cold and dampness seemed to creep back into her joints almost instantly. She sat down wearily in front of the open door and stared out into the darkness, listening to the waves and the rain. Soon, Novak began to snore behind her. McCann soon followed. When she turned to look at Simon, she couldn’t be sure if his eyes were closed or not. They seemed to be, yet there was a glint in the shadows. He sat still and his breathing was rhythmic and shallow. She turned her attention to the ocean again, and wondered how the hell they’d get across it in their rinky-dink boat with only a few weapons and supplies.