Matt was glad they were there…and on his side.

“Berry, Hartogg, load em up, we’re moving out in fifteen.” Abrams dismissed them, and with a brief “HUA!” the men spun and then disappeared out the front.

Abrams approached the small doctor, his hand out. “I appreciate everything you have done. Thank you; I hope we see you again.”

Albadi took his hand and shook it. “I hope so too. Good luck, and I pray you are not too late.” The doctor held onto the major’s hand. “There is one more thing. I also pray this is all the raving of a lunatic, but I fear it is not. And if it is not, then the servants of the Old One also exist and will be already here.”

“The Shoggoth?” Matt said.

Matt noticed Albadi’s eyes were fearful, and he wondered what else the man knew that he wasn’t telling them.

“The army behind the gate,” Andy said folding his arms and turning away.

“And you think they are here now?” Matt asked.

Albadi nodded. “These things were the slaves and servants of the Old Ones. They built the giant cities, gathered food for them, fed them, cared for them…and protected them.”

Abrams exhaled forcefully. “Can they be killed?”

Albadi shrugged. “Are they even alive as we understand it?”

Andy spun back to them. “Well, that’s just great.” He went to turn away again and then stopped dead. “Hey, you said they fed the Old Ones. You mean they’ll feed them us?”

Albadi’s face was blank. “They feed them meat. And in this age, man is the most abundant food source. So yes, Mr Bennet, they will feed them us.”

Andy groaned. “Frank, my partner, was grabbed by something under the earth…in the Iowa earth-drop.” He shook his head, eyes downcast. “From what I understand, all the holes, once the land drops, anyone unfortunate enough to be inside the drop area is never seen again – they vanish.” He winced and rubbed his forehead. “Oh God, I feel sick.”

Matt narrowed his eyes. “Looks like food gathering has already commenced.”

Tania came over and placed a hand on Andy’s shoulder. “We need to make sure this stops, now.”

Abrams lifted his voice. “First thing we need to do is stop spooking ourselves.” He looked at his watch. “We’ve got a long way to go, and all over potentially hostile terrain.” He looked Andy and Matt in the eyes. “As civilians I can’t order you to come with us. But, I think we’ll need you – both of you.”

Matt turned to look at the mountains of old books. Staying made sense, and he could spend his time exploring ancient works that he might never get to see again. A feeling of comfort spread through him as he looked over the piles of ancient books. Staying made a lot of sense. Going with Abrams made no sense at all. He’d seen what happened when people got involved in these insane military-type missions – they died, and damned horribly.