“Let’s just start with the United Kingdom. Hurricanes off the coast of Scotland. A terror attack in Southampton. Wildfires in East Ireland. Hospitals in Kingston upon Hull flooded with calls from people suddenly in the final stages of cancer, heart disease, you name it. And do you know when all this started?”
“There have been reports of these disasters sporadically in different countries for the last six months—”
“They started ten minutes ago.” He scrolled down on the site. “Let’s check in on the Middle East. The coast of Yemen: Hurricanes. In Pakistan, Islamabad started burning like someone poured gasoline on the streets. Northern Kazakhstan: All of the residents of the Hotel Hizhina died when a car drove up and tossed in a truckload of bombs into the lobby. Lebanon: Overwhelmed with people barely able to breathe because of chest infections. In the last ten minutes.”
Mark pointed to a map of the world. “It’s the same now on every coast of Africa. Australia’s been battling these disasters for days now, but it’s now happening on the corners of every continent and heavily populated country. China, Russia, they have multiple accounts of the same disasters. On the four corners of the largest populations.”
“People are dying in all these countries, and you’re worried that we won’t be able to keep up with competing regimes? You have alien technology using our planet as a weapons testing site—”
“We have to make sure that there’s an America left if Syria finds one of the four.”
“My God, General, shouldn’t basic survival of our people be at the top of your list of concerns—”
“I’ll tell you what I’m concerned about. What I’ve been concerned about since the moment I was assigned to take over this shadow agency: that the SSA is operating in every nation in every world practically unchecked. So everyone has the same intelligence, and once the four are identified, their militaries will be thinking the same. That’s what worries me.”
“But they can’t be controlled. They can’t be used as weapons—”
“Unless we find William. And all the different branches of the SSA around the world have the intelligence that he is considered the conduit. So don’t think we’re the only ones after him all this time. Imagine if another superpower gets to him first. We did have him, until your family got involved. We suspect your nephew is operating not by his own will. We tried to bring him in, remove whatever it is within them all to stop this. Now, he’s left us no choice.”
“I know him. He’s smart, and he’s trying to stop this. He’s worried about what they can do.”
“He’s a college dropout who mows lawns and can control people with unstoppable weapons. I’ll keep the security of this nation in our hands, if you don’t mind.”
He looked out the window. “We are at the end of this, Senator. You will have to choose whether to uphold your sworn duty to serve the people of this country or put your family first. I think I know how you will choose.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows. “No husband. No children. No family of your own. Your entire life is devoted to amassing power. If the world survives this, you could be president one day. And that, of course, will all depend on whether or not you can make some hard decisions.”
“What I can do? I have no way of finding him. Surely you aren’t thinking of using me as some kind of bait? Because I can tell you, he’s not especially fond of me at the moment.”
“Of course not. But your mother, your sister, your family friend back there. That’s a different story. He’s quite fond of them. Which is why you will convince them to help us bring him in. Just so it’s clear, the commander in chief agrees this must be done. If you’d like, I can get him on the phone.”
Kate crossed her ankles. “Funny, General. I’ve used the same threat myself in the past when I’ve needed someone to follow my direction.”
“Then you understand that our president is not a man to piss off. He’s been made aware that while the San Joaquin Valley has been evacuated, there are still people inside. It’s been difficult to track with the fires, but thermal imaging shows a small pocket of people moving. We’ve been keeping watch on them. We’ll be landing at Beale Air Force Base and then taking helicopters to their current location. We have men stationed nearby.”
“How can anyone exist in that?” she asked.
“The fires ignite in random locations, but it’s clear whoever is starting them has no grasp on what he can do. There are still pockets that haven’t been touched. And in one of those areas, we’ve identified a farmer who we think has been secretly working illegals until the fires reach his land. We think that farmer is our fourth. And we just need your nephew to get to him to know for sure. It’s the only reason we haven’t moved in on your nephew’s plane, which landed about an hour ago. We’re tracking him at this moment.”
“You can’t just let my twenty-two-year-old nephew wander into a wildfire, for Christ sake. He’ll never survive—”
“Senator, we are keeping watch on him from various fire trucks that he no doubt believes are fighting the fires. Frankly, I’m growing weary of chasing your relatives. If you need another reason,” he said, scrolling to the second major headline on CNN’s page. “SENATOR’S WIFE OFFERS PROOF OF ALIEN COVER-UP.”
The general glowered. “I just haven’t determined yet which member of your family is more of a threat. You must convince your mother to speak with us. Tell us where Don Rush is; he could be a real threat if your nephew activates him. As could your mother, obviously. And she hinted that she knows what is within them that gives them this weapon. We must know that.”
“I told you, she won’t discuss it with me. She says she will only tell William.”
“Which is another reason why we must contain him. But realize this, Senator: He has the ability to activate them. We know that the ones abducted in the past year survive even after they unleash their weapons. But all those returned from the abductions all those years before… do not. I know you’ve read the files. If he triggers your mother, all those around her could die. And she, for certain, will.”
“Are you sure?” Quincy asked, looking over the steering wheel. “You’re sure he’s out there?”
The landscape beyond the windshield was completely covered in a dark haze. From their perch on the rim of the valley, it was impossible to see where the fires started and ended. Twice now, a fire truck had gone screaming past them.
They’d gone unnoticed once again because of Quincy. An older-model pickup truck was waiting for them at the private runway. He’d had it delivered using one of his private accounts, just as he had done to rent the plane, knowing his corporation was desperate to find him and would be monitoring all his accounts they were familiar with.
They’d rushed from the plane into the truck, afraid of seeing the rest of Quincy’s security, which he hadn’t paid off or, even worse, government agents. But they’d gotten away without incident, hoping the truck allowed them to attempt to blend in with the farmers who could only drive by the fires and watch their livelihood burn.
“I can sense him,” William said. “But I don’t know where. Out there, somewhere. But we can’t just drive into that smoke—”
The pressure was suddenly so strong in his head that he doubled over. He covered his head, struggling to keep the dream from seizing control to draw him in.
“Fight it,” Jane said, her hand on his back.
After a few moments, he sat back, his face hurting from the strain. He felt Lily’s hand on his arm. He reached up and patted her hand.