“Uncle Karl saved my life, but I'm afraid we were both on our last legs when you and Joe dropped down out of the sky. I'm puzzled. I thought NUMA studies the oceans.”

“That's exactly why I'm here. There have been some strange disturbances in the sea that could have something to do with something your grandfather published. It was a set of equations called the Kovacs Theorems.”

“I don't understand.”

“You said Lazlo Kovacs theorized that electromagnetic transmissions could be used to trigger a polar shift. In the future.”

“Yes, that's right.”

“Well, the future is now.”

“Who would want to do something like that? And why?”

Austin spread his hands. “I'm not sure. When we get back to Washington, I have someone Id like you to talk to. Maybe you can sort things out.”

“I was hoping to stop in Fairbanks first.”

“I'm afraid there isn't time for that. There may be a great deal at stake here.”

“I understand. Even if I'm not responsible for what is going on, my family has had a hand in it, according to what you've told me. I'll do everything I can to set things right.”

“I knew you'd say that. We'll make landfall tomorrow. A NUMA plane will take us back to Washington. My colleagues Gamay and Paul Trout have a town house in Georgetown, and I'm sure they'd be very happy to put you up. NUMA will foot the bill for any clothes you need.”

Karla did an unexpected thing. She leaned across the table and kissed Austin lightly on the lips. “Thank you for all you've done for me and for Uncle Karl. I don't know how I can repay you.”

Austin would normally have responded to an opening from a beautiful and intelligent woman like Karla with an invitation to dinner. But the move so surprised him that the best he could manage was a polite “You're welcome” and a suggestion that they get some sleep.

Karla told him that she wanted to stay up a few minutes longer, and that she'd see him in the morning. They shook hands and said good-night. As he left the mess hall, Austin looked back. Karla was resting her chin on her hands, apparently deep in thought. For all his philosophical reading, Austin was at a loss when it came to the working of fate. The gods must be laughing themselves to tears at their latest practical joke. They had locked the secret that could save the world in the finely sculpted head of a lovely young woman.

NUMA 6 - Polar Shift

33

GANT CONSIDERED the final moments of the foxhunt as the most sublime. The riotous red jackets, the horn blowing, the raucous tallyhos and the thundering hooves were merely a prelude to the moment of the truth that came when the baying hounds caught the terrified animal and tore it to bloody shreds.