Ben said, “One thing I don’t get. If your theory holds true, why aren’t we the dominant strain? I mean, isn’t that how evolution is supposed to work? If one mutation helps a lineage survive, it carries on further, and so forth?”
“I can answer that,” Aliana said.
“Okay, how?”
“When I ran tests among your earlier blood samples I discovered that you have a much lower fertility rate.”
Ben’s face reddened. “What? I’m infertile?”
“No, you’re just not as fertile as the next person. But that’s okay. Think about it. If you’re going to live to be a hundred and fifty, on average, then it’s not as vital to pop out kids as it is for us. Replacement fertility rates are 2.1 children per human reproductive pair, at an average lifespan of 71.66 years, globally speaking. You’d need half as many children, just due to the fact that you’re going to live twice as long. Only, in your case, you might live five or ten times as long. I have no idea.”
They discussed the various theories throughout the storm, bandying around ideas about where to go from here and what to do, and whether or not such a genetic mutation was a blessing or a curse to humanity.
Sam discussed the labyrinth in Bolshoi Zayatsky, Russia, and that he was still waiting to hear from Tom and Genevieve about what they found there because his cell phone had died, and now Tom’s phone was out of area — or perhaps, the blizzard had damaged the cellphone towers.
In the end, Sam pulled up a couch, and caught up on some much needed rest.
Chapter Fifty-Three
The storm ceased as fast as it had erupted.
The clouds had been washed away, revealing a sky that was a hundred different shades of red, pink, blue, and deep purple. The streetlights glittered in the dusk like diamonds, catching the hard-frozen crystals on the snow.
Special Agent Ryan Devereaux breathed heavily.
This was it. He had found out that Sam and Ben were with Aliana Wolfgang at her research lab just before the blizzard took effect. He had wanted to race in and capture Ben before the storm, but it was too risky. If anything should have happened, it would have been too easy for Ben to disappear in the storm.
No, he’d made the right decision.
Now everything was set up. The blizzard had done most of the work for him, making sure to contain everything.
The Wolfgang Research and Development Lab was positioned on the u-shaped bend of the Souris River between 3rd Avenue NW and Sixth Street NW. His team had blocked off 3rd Avenue, effectively trapping them within the u-shaped bend. The river was frozen, so it could theoretically be crossed, but being in the open it was easy to guard, and with the sudden rise in water level due to the blizzard, it had made the entire river unstable and nearly impassable. This left the bridge on 3rd and 6th as the only means of escape.
Both bridges now had snow plows parked on them, making it impossible for anyone to pass.
Devereaux had no doubt his SWAT team would go in and capture him, but it was nice to know Ben was confined, even if he did slip out of the building.
He put on his flak jacket.
“All right, on my count, we storm the building…”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Sam picked up the landline in Aliana’s office and called Elise.
Elise said, “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to get through to you for hours!”
“The battery went on my phone. What’s up?”
“I’ve reviewed the footage from the labyrinth at Bolshoi Zayatsky that Tom and Genevieve obtained.”
“And?”
“Inside it was riddled with ancient texts by the Master Builders. Some of these were translated into Russian, which Genevieve could translate. But parts were missing. I’ve deciphered some of the Master Builder text myself. They keep referring to the Phoenix Plague. Something that will inevitably wipe out the human race, allowing a new race to rise from the ashes.”
“Sounds like a theme eternal, doesn’t it?”
Elise wasn’t in the mood for jokes. “Sam!”
“Yes?”
“There was something else, too…” Elise’s voice hardened. “We got it all wrong. We’re in a lot more danger than we first thought.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
Sam looked at Ben across the room. Their eyes met and Sam held the contact just that little bit longer than what was considered normal.
Ben asked, “What is it?”
He held up the landline phone. “This is Elise, my computer hacker. She needs to talk to you.”
“Me? What does your hacker want with me?”
“She’s one of the smartest people you’ll ever meet. I suggest you listen to what she has to say carefully.”
Sam turned to Aliana. “Is there another way out of this building? Preferably one that people don’t know about?”
“Yeah. There’s a tunnel that runs to the building across the road. It was originally used as an escape route for the nuclear silo and was supposed to be demolished after we bought the property, but my friend inherited the company and we decided to keep the tunnel in case we ever eventually merge. It’s a pharmaceutical company and we’ve used the tunnel on occasion to share resources when the snow blankets us in.” Aliana’s voice softened. “Why? What’s happened?”
“That was Elise on the phone. She says there are about three hundred law enforcement officers and a SWAT team about to breach your building.”
“Oh shit! All right. I’ll take you downstairs, and then come back up here to try and slow them down.”
“You’re the best.” Sam kissed her on the lips. “Ben, finish up. We’ve got to go!”
Ben hung up the landline. “On my way.”
Sam and Ben followed Aliana to the entrance to a deep set of stairs.
“Follow this all the way to the bottom. There’s a horizontal tunnel. Take it and then go up the other side. I’ll call my friend. She’ll help you escape.”
“She doesn’t even know us. Why would she help us escape?”
“I’ve been friends with her since college. I’d trust her with my life.”
Sam took a deep breath. “And now we’re trusting her with ours.”
“All right,” confirmed Ben.
Sam and Ben ran down the series of steep spiral stairs, taking two to three steps at a time. The bottom opened to a horizontal tunnel. They raced across it and then climbed the stairs at the opposite end that mirrored the ones they had descended.
At the top of the stairs they were greeted by Aliana’s friend.
She was a petite blonde woman who looked very young, with pretty blue eyes, dimples, and a soft, sweet voice. “Quick, this way.”
Sam nodded a curt, “Thank you.”
He and Ben followed her at a brisk walk.
In her office, she swiped her ID card and waited for the elevator. Sam swept her office with his eyes, surprised to see the layout was almost identical to Aliana’s. His gaze landed on a collection of picture frames on a desk.
One of them took his breath away. It was a picture of an older man, standing beside a red Chevrolet Camaro. Sam knew at a glance, that it was a second generation, RS/SS. He knew this, of course, because he’d been in that very car earlier that morning.