-James Hawkson, aboard King’s Transom at sea.’

Neal read the handwriting he had seen on so many notes back at the Institute. His heart sank for Madeline as he handed her the sealed envelope, knowing that its contents were, no doubt, meant for her.

She took it, looking back at him after reading its cover.

“Do you want me to leave you alone?” he asked.

“Don’t you dare.” she snapped, instantly regretting her tone. But he nodded understandingly and she duly ripped open the envelope. Inside was a note, and sure enough it began:

‘Dear Madeline,

I hope I am the fool you have always thought I am. I hope you are reading this while I laugh in embarrassment next to you. No doubt Neal will give me a mountain of crap for being so paranoid. I really hope I am that much of a fool.

If I am paranoid then the proverbial alarm bells that have been screaming in my head since we saw what was lying down there will be just the result of spending too much time with lunatic scientists like you and Neal.

But deep down I fear they aren’t baseless. If you are reading this without me it means that I have not made it home, and then I will not have put these files in this bag for no reason. If we have not made it home there is a chance, I suppose, that the boat sank for some innocent reason, but if you believe for one moment that this crew can’t get this ship into port from here then you are a bigger fool than I.

I worked just as hard as you on that probe, and I know what its results mean. We have found something beyond important, and the pattern of where it and its friends landed is very, very worrying. I believe we have found something very dangerous. Something not-from-here has gone to great lengths to hide their arrival. They clearly possess a level of technology we don’t if they can get here from wherever they are from, and I have to imagine they won’t like us finding evidence that they have come.

We must tread very carefully with this information. If something has stopped me and Laurie from getting back to you then you must assume that that same something will be watching both of you too.

Tell no one, show no one, be careful. Hand all this to Admiral Hamilton directly and then go away and enjoy your life. Don’t get involved.

Of course, I may be a fool. I hope I am a fool. But if I am not, if the worst has happened, don’t be a fool as well.

I love you.

Yours forever,

-James’

Madeline handed Neal the letter, hung her head, and wept.

Chapter 18: Friends in High Places