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Back The Desert of Glass Save as PDF
Chapters (84)
  1. BY MICHAEL C. GRUMLEY
  2. Prologue
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. EPILOGUE
  82. II
  83. III
  84. IV

“You’re probably the only one who does, which is why I’ve been calling.  I was worried something had happened to you.”

“I just needed some time.”

“I’m happy you’re okay.”

“You don’t have to worry, Angela.  I’m not… you know.”

She watched as a couple strolled past.  “Well, that was one of the reasons.  To make sure you’re okay.”  She turned and picked up her purse.  “The other reason was to show you something.”

“What’s that?”

She reached in and retrieved a thick manila envelope.

Rickards looked at her curiously and then at the envelope until she pushed it forward and into his hands.

He took it and studied it before flipping it over.  “What is this?”

Angela didn’t answer.  Instead, she motioned to the envelope and waited until he’d opened the flap and pulled out the top piece of paper.

It took only a moment for his expression to change and his eyes to widen as he read the paper.

He didn’t speak, but instead read the entire page.  Then, when he’d finished, he sat in stunned silence.

“Is this real?”

“Yes.”

“From Mike Morton?”

“Yes.”

“How is that possible?”

“Look at the date on that email.  He sent it the night we met. I’m guessing he had a satellite connection or something.”

“But…”

“I know.  I couldn’t believe it, either.”

Rickards repeatedly blinked at the sheet before finally pulling out the rest of the papers inside, page after page filled with what looked to be computer data and mathematical computations, including images from different maps.

He turned to Angela.  “How long have you had this?”

“Since I got back.”

“Have you told anyone?”

“No one else would believe me.  Only you.”

“And this is why you’ve been calling me?”

She winked.  “One of the reasons.”

3

3

“Something tells me you haven’t been idle,” said Rickards.

She grinned.  “I’ve located the person Mike references in his letter.”

“Who is it?”

“An old colleague who worked at NASA with him.  Maybe on the same project.”

“Mike said no one else believed him.”

Angela shrugged.

“So who is he?”

“His name is Leonard Townsend.  He’s retired and teaches college math and physics.”

“Have you contacted him?”

“No.”

“But you plan to.”

“I was waiting to talk to you first.”

Rickards returned the pages to the envelope and sighed, leaning back against the wooden bench.  “Another location.”

“Sounds like it.”

“That does what?”

She shook her head.  “I have no idea.”

After a long pause, Rickards took a breath and exhaled slowly.  “I say leave it alone.”

“What?”

“Angela,” he said, turning, “you do understand the significance here.”

“I do.”

“Are you sure?  Because what we already know is enough to change everything.”

“I understand that.”

“Then you also understand it’s only a matter of time before others find out.”

“Yes.”

He held up the papers.  “And you still want to find this?”