“What in goddamn hell is that? Is it a lake, oil or something?” General McAllister asked, his forehead folded into deep clefts over his brows.

Abrams looked from the screen. “We’re not sure what it is. But it’s about ten miles down, for now, and seems to be coming to the surface.”

“That thing is enormous – what the hell size is that mass?” Don Mancino asked.

Abrams exhaled and looked at the screen. “It covers a distance of approximately five miles.”

“Five fucking miles?” McAllister said, his face turning beet red all over again. “What happens when it gets to the surface?”

Matt felt like he was going to black out, and felt Abrams hand still grip his forearm. He closed his eyes. “Have you not been listening? When they rise, it will be the end of us all.”

“How much time?” Mancino asked.

Matt opened tired eyes. “The peak planetary convergence is tonight – in about twelve hours.” He smiled sadly. “It will be a new dawn for Cthulhu…and the last for humanity.” He slipped out of consciousness.

Chapter 18

Adira Senesh sat in the hard wood and plastic chair, staring straight ahead, and with one wrist handcuffed to the armrest. The two police guards, Deck and Bill, she had learned, stood a dozen feet back against the opposite wall, facing her. Both had grown tired of trying to eyeball the tall woman, and now spent their time chatting, while occasionally glancing in her direction. Time passed at a glacial speed.

She focused, thinking through what needed to be done. Drummond had eluded them and was in the possession of the original Book. The traitor Captain Tania Kovitz had been worried that Matt Kearns had read it – whatever it still contained, and whatever it was that Kearns could not yet understand, must have extreme value to them. They had traversed oceans and countries to maim and kill to ensure they took it from them…just so they couldn’t read it – bottom line, if they wanted it, then she wanted it more.

Major Abrams had dealt her out of the game – she’d expected that. Now it was time to change things up. She looked up, her eyes half lidded. “Water.”

“What?” The guard closest to her, the one called Deck, turned to frown at her.

“Water. Thirsty.”

Deck looked at his partner after a moment and shrugged.

“Please, I’m thirsty.” She stared straight ahead again.

Bill shook his head. “Forget it. She’s not leaving the room, and neither are you. You want to give her something, then she can have the rest of yours.” He turned to stare hard at Adira.

Okay, she thought. So you are the tough one then. She looked up, her expression one of defeat and fatigue. She slumped, making herself small in the chair.

“So thirsty,” she pleaded.

Deck reached into his pocket and pulled out a half-full plastic bottle of Mountain Lake Water, and unscrewed the cap. He held it out.