Mancino whistled. “Let’s hope that does it. What about fallout?”

Decker exhaled and his lips compressed momentarily. “We can expect a mushroom cloud rising to forty-seven thousand feet with a contamination plume expanding to a diameter of sixty-two miles within ten minutes.” He looked at each of the men, his jaw set. “Conservative estimates are that it will onward expand at more than two-twenty miles per hour, and that around a hundred miles of the state will be significantly contaminated, and a thousand square miles of land mildly contaminated.”

“Jesus Christ.” Mancino grimaced. “That’s most of Kentucky – four and a half million people. We need to get them out.”

Decker nodded slowly. “We’re gonna do our best.” His face was grave. “But if this thing starts to break through, then either the B83 drops, or we say goodbye to everyone and everything on the planet anyway.”

McAlister blinked a few times. “Then I pray we don’t have to use it.”

Chapter 19

Charles Drummond and Tania stood in an antechamber, outside a huge door, awaiting their audience. The Father would not be rushed, would not be at anyone’s beck and call. Two of the shaven-headed priests stood up against the wall, their eyes on the floor – they didn’t move or even seem to breathe. Since the two had led them into the room, it was if they ceased to be alive.

Tania held the Al Azif under one arm and shivered despite the heat.

Drummond looked across at her and smiled. “Don’t be nervous. You are given a great honor to meet the Father; not many of our flock even know he exists. In fact, not many would even get to meet me, let alone know about me.”

She grinned nervously. “I just don’t know what to expect. Maybe I’m just overexcited to meet someone who has actually communed with the Great Old One,” she said, trying hard to stop her teeth chattering.

Drummond watched her face for a moment – he could almost smell her fear. The freckles across her nose and cheeks were more prominent against the cold pallor of her skin.

“Like I said, he asked to see you…perhaps a reward is in order. Your service as a sleeper agent, working within the military for nearly ten years, has been exemplary. We couldn’t have monitored the Americans or obtained the Book without you.” He nodded and smiled again. “Whatever you receive, it will be a gift; just remember that.”

She sucked in a deep, juddering breath.

Another thirty minutes passed before one of the priests stepped forward and opened the door, and pointed. Drummond steadied himself, and once again, was nearly overwhelmed by the rank fishy odor. He almost chortled at the thought of what the woman was experiencing, it being her first time. He half turned.

“Follow my lead, bow your head, and do not look at the Father unless he asks you to.”

Tania nodded jerkily and stepped forward on stiff legs. The huge familiar figure was already waiting for them. The cowl pulled over the large head was a portal into utter darkness. The Father beckoned them to the ground before him, and Charles immediately went to his knees. Tania followed.