“Thank you, sir.” Abrams sat forward. “Our Earth was formed a little over four and a half billion years ago, and the Moon formed about thirty million years after that. At that time, the Earth was nothing but an ocean of magma. When the Moon did coalesce and first form, it was very close to the Earth, possibly as close as twenty thousand miles away – still sounds a lot until you realize that the moon is currently more than ten times that away now. That lunar proximity would have had a tidal effect even on the seas of molten rock.”

Abrams interlocked his fingers on the table. “Once the world cooled, it was another billion years before even single-cell life appeared…and then it took four billion more before the first rudimentary animals evolved. Those missing billions of years have always perplexed scientists – there should have been something…more.” His face was grim. “Now we think there might have been. In this primordial stage of the Earth’s life, we believe there may have been a rise of other life-forms in the nitrogen-rich, high-gravity, high-heat planetary climate. Something that rose to dominate the world, and then, for whatever reason, fell away either into death or long-term hibernation.”

“Below the crust,” said Don Mancino, McAllister’s senior officer.

“Below the crust, below the ocean.” Abrams shrugged. “Whatever this race was, it attained a civilization of sorts and also had a high level of intelligence. Now, the Earth is unique among the terrestrial planets in having a large satellite, and we know the emergence and development of life has been strongly influenced by the presence of the Moon. It affects our oceans and tides. It affects our planetary rotation, and it can even affect our moods. Well, this effect is about to be increased ten-fold by a planetary line-up, a celestial convergence. The planet will be warmer, gravity will be altered, and perhaps the atmosphere itself will change – the higher nitrogen is indicative of the planetary atmosphere of about four billion years ago. In effect, the environment will be altered…”

“Terraforming,” Mancino said, matter of factly. “The environment will be temporarily more primordial.”

Abrams nodded but then turned to Matt. “Now, another piece of the puzzle. Professor Kearns…”

Matt nodded, feeling light headed, the lack of sleep dragging on his frame. From a satchel he pulled free the manuscript he had completed, now bound with simple boards. He opened it, knowing exactly where he needed to go.

“We met a brave man in Syria – a Dr Hussein ben Albadi, the former Doctor of Anthropology at the University of Damascus. He gave his life to impart certain information about the location of an ancient book that foretells the events we are now experiencing.” Matt looked down and saw the words, but then lifted his head, not needing to read, as each of the letters, words and syllables, was imprinted on his mind forever.

“From the darkest core, they will rise. From beneath the rock, beneath the soft earth and slime, they will come. The Great Old One and its armies. Where man rules, sure of himself and comfortable in his vanity, they know we are but caretakers for the true master. It sleeps, powerful, all knowing, and patient beyond time itself. Cthulhu shall rule again.”