“A mine runs under this lake. It once provided large amounts of gold to the world, but was abandoned decades ago, as it became no longer economically viable. Recent geological surveys, however, reveal mammoth lithium stores inside that mine. They’re big. Very big. Nearing fifty times the amount of currently known lithium around the globe.”
“You think this will cause a third world war?”
Adebowale nodded.
Sam asked, “Over lithium? Are you kidding me?”
Adebowale stared at him. His eyes fixed. “Do you realize how valuable lithium’s about to become?”
“I don’t know. Judging by your look, I guess very. Other than batteries, and crazy people, what is it used for?”
“Just that. Do you know what batteries are currently in big demand?”
Sam said, “Electric Vehicle batteries.”
Adebowale nodded. “Current predictions suggest nearly twenty-five percent of all cars sold within the next decade will be entirely electric. That’s good news for the planet, but how do you think they’re going to make that many lithium ion batteries?”
“I didn’t know lithium was so rare?”
“It wasn’t. Not in the quantities we once used it for. But now we’re talking about changing the game entirely. Do you know how many lithium mines there are in all of North America?”
“Ten or Twenty?” Sam took a wild guess.
“One.”
“You’re kidding me!”
“Don’t look so shocked. Ethiopia, Venezuela, Germany and Australia currently have the highest lithium reserves. The total of all of which is insufficient to meet the expected demand of the next decade.”
“And now we can add the Democratic Republic of Congo to the list — with potentially fifty times the lithium reserves of the rest of the planet.”
“Which is going to make it the most valuable piece of soil on earth.”
“And it’s currently being run by some despot. If we let him succeed, any number of countries are going to want to make deals with him. And if he doesn’t deal, there will be war. It needs to be protected.”
“But we’ll never be able to do that with General Ngige in power.”
Sam said, “You have the weapons. You have the support of nearly eighty percent of your people. Why haven’t you started the counter rebellion?”
Adebowale closed his eyes as though he was thinking. When he opened them he spoke with the slow confidence of a man born to lead. His deep voice resonating with divine patience and logic. “The time to overthrow the corrupt rebellion is almost here. A rebellion takes time and patience. You need to wait until the situation has boiled to breaking point, and the people are ready to fight.”
“Are the people ready?”
“Yes.”
“Then why hasn’t the USK attacked?”
“Because they are waiting?”
“For what?”
Adebowale sighed. He looked like he was in physical pain. “Nearly five thousand of their brethren to be released.”
“From where?”
“As general Ngige ran through the cities of the DRC, wreaking havoc, he took prisoners. Those prisoners are now being forced to work in the largest lithium mine the world has ever seen.”
“So. Rebel then. Free your people and lead them to victory!”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Why not?”
“The mine is buried beneath Lake Tumba.”
Sam asked, “Which means if you attack?”
Adebowale said, “General Ngige will detonate a bomb in a tunnel below the lake — drowning at least five thousand of my kinsmen.”
“So how could it be achieved?”
“I have a plan.” Adebowale smiled. It looked unnaturally kind coming from such a brutal face. “But I’m afraid I’m going to need your help, once more.”
Chapter Eighty-Five
Sam climbed four sets of stairs and entered the bridge. Matthew sat at his navigation table, studying a series of charts for the West Coast of Africa.
Matthew glanced up. “Welcome back, Sam.”
Sam said, “Thanks. Have you seen Elise around?”
“She’s in her computer room, down below.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Sam ran down the series of stairs until he reached Elise’s computer room. The door was slightly ajar and he knocked on it, before entering a moment later. She was sitting at a desk with four computer screens simultaneously connected, and she typed a steady staccato of data into the keyboard.
He asked, “What are you doing?”
Elise smiled at him. “I’m searching for all known information on the Lake Tumba mine.”
“Good.” He took a seat opposite to her. “Did the Secretary of Defense approve of the plan?”
“No. She wouldn’t hear of it.”
“So why are we looking at the maps of the Lake Tumba mine?”
Elise grinned. It was halfway between innocent and diabolical. “I realized, we’re just going to have to adjust the plan. Same premise as before, but much less people involved. Complete deniability for the U.S. Department of Defense. Just you, Tom and Genevieve. You follow his plan to free the prisoners from the mine, and he says the rebellion will start.”
Sam nodded. He could work with those conditions. He stood up to leave, and stopped. He heard the distinct sound of a small diesel turning over, followed by the subsequent sound of the anchor links running through the bow roller and into the chain locker. He’d heard the anchor raised thousands of times and couldn’t possibly confuse the sound with any other. He shook his head. He’d spoken to Matthew less than ten minutes ago and was told they’d remain where they were for the next week while they planned their siege of the DRC Lithium Mine.
Matthew stepped into the room. “Change of plans.”
Sam stood up. His jaw suddenly tense and fixed. “What’s happened?”
“The Libyan government decided we’ve over-stayed our welcome. We’re being moved on.”
Chapter Eighty-Six
Sam found Zara Delacroix in the mission room, carefully reading each of the individual fifty-eight additional quatrains in the book of Nostradamus.
He asked, “Any luck?”
Zara said, “None whatsoever. Like in 1552 when The Prophecies were first published, none of these make any sense. They’re all gibberish. Even the puzzles I understand, still don’t make any sense.”
“That’s too bad. Keep at it, you’re bright, you’ll work it out. Are you sure we can’t convince you to come with us?” Sam asked. “It’s a noble cause, and Adebowale seems convinced that your two paths are meant to intertwine in this pivotal moment in history.”
She shook her head. “It’s his war, not mine.”
Sam asked, “Where will you go?”
“Paris. There will always be a job waiting for me at the Louvre. Matthew said you’re heading to Malta. If I can hitch a ride with you, I’ll catch a commercial flight from there to Paris.”
“That’s really what you want?”
She nodded. “That’s what I want.”
“What about the Nostradamus equation?”
“I’m going to try and forget about Nostradamus and his damned predictions. He told me he only saw the visions in fleeting time glimpses, and had no idea how I was supposed to stop the extinction of humanity. Maybe you were right, maybe he really was nothing but a charlatan? Either way, it doesn’t matter.” She pulled out her medallion and stared at the island she’d nicknamed Infinity because of its shape similar to the mathematical symbol for infinity. “I asked Elise and Matthew to search various databases of known islands, and this one doesn’t exist anywhere. And neither does the Nostradamus equation. So, I’m out. Maybe Nostradamus got this one wrong, this time.”
“And Mikhail?”
“What about him? You said yourself he’s dead. No point me dying for the memory of a temporary lover.”