Andy nodded and sat forward. “That’s interesting, and maybe only a coincidence, but you know what else is in Kentucky? Mammoth Cave – the largest cave system in the world. It’s about four hundred miles of caves, caverns, and slide holes – some of it still unexplored.”

“How deep?” Abrams asked.

“Deep, but not too deep,” Andy said. “From what I remember, its deepest point is about four hundred feet.” He clicked his fingers. “But there’s a pretty good-sized sinkhole in it…” He looked up, brows raised. “The sinkhole itself has been dated to about thirteen hundred years ago.”

“Look’s like it’s about to drop again. We need to be there, with the entire army if that’s what it takes.” Abrams got to his feet. “Are we done here?”

“No.” Adira, who had been leaning back against the wall, watching everyone, strode to the center of the room. She stood before Matt. “How did Abdul Alhazred put this thing back to sleep?”

Matt shook his head wearily. “I don’t know.”

“Think!” Adira’s voice was like a slap.

“Lighten up.” Tania got to her feet, and the look that passed between the two women bordered on the volcanic.

Matt held up his hand, waving them down. “It’s just that there are some language elements that defy description. I think some of it is Enochian, but it’s not based on any linguistic construct I, or anyone, has ever known. They’re symbols, but I know they have meaning.” He shrugged. “I mean I might know, and just not realize it. Or maybe I just need to look at it from a different perspective…one I don’t fully understand yet.” He had the Al Azif on his lap, his hand on its soft surface. “I need more time.”

Abrams stared for a few seconds, his jaws working. “We have the flight home – fourteen hours, and then, ‘different perspective’ or not, the celestial convergence will be at its peak, and over the USA. Whatever is going to happen will begin there. We will have something we can use to stop this thing rising, or…” he shook his head, face grim “…or we prepare for war.”

Adira paced for a moment, and then turned. “We meet downstairs in twenty minutes.”

“One more thing.” Abrams nodded to Hartogg and stood straighter. “Captain Senesh, we want to thank you personally, and on behalf of the United States, for all your assistance. But if you can get us safely to the airport, then your job is well and truly done.”

Tania smiled, and folded her arms. Hartogg looked pained, clearly bothered with the new orders.

Adira’s face was untroubled, and she just tilted her head. Matt didn’t think for a moment, that Adira thought her job was “done’.

*

Matt felt sickly and weak, the effects of the Book still pulling at him. Baruk was hurriedly packing for him, or rather tossing his stuff into a bag, and pushing it down hard. It didn’t matter, he didn’t have much: most had been lost when the SUV was blown up in the Syrian desert, and what remained was part of his cover story.