‘Remote viewing is a mental faculty that allows an individual to describe a target or event that is hidden from our normal senses by distance, shielding, or time. In essence, it’s the phenomenon of clairvoyance or telepathy.’

‘Sounds like hocus-pocus to me.’

‘A typical first reaction. The hypothesis behind the art is that all knowledge exists in a vacuum of pure energy. Remote viewers have the ability to tap into this realm. I can assure you from my own experiences at STARGATE that the phenomenon is quite real and governed by a well-structured scientific protocol.’

A chill runs down her spine as she recalls Evelyn Strongin’s words: ‘To understand inter-dimensional communication, you must first accept that we are surrounded by energy, and energy is everything, it is only our perception within the universe that changes.’

‘You’re here to recruit Jacob.’

‘Easy,’ Chaney says. ‘I merely wanted the major to meet both boys and evaluate them.’

‘Why? Why do they need to be evaluated? Why can’t you just let them be?’

‘Dom, a few days ago, Jacob sent Rabbi Steinberg to Washington to warn me of an assassination attempt.’

‘What?’

‘His information led to the arrest of one of Air Force One’s crewmen, a racist nutcase who would have blown up Air Force One and everyone on board.’

‘My God …’

‘It’s no secret the twins are special. There’s no harm in seeing just how special.’

‘Ma’am, it’s very possible your boys possess the gift of psychotronic perception. If that’s true, then my department can help them realize this gift to its fullest.’

‘For what purpose? So they can spend the rest of their lives locked up in some windowless chamber, telling the CIA what the North Koreans are up to? No—I won’t have it.’

‘Dominique, open your eyes. There are groups out there—religious zealots, Mesoamerican fanatics—that may be planning an attack on your compound as we speak. If Jake or Manny could see them coming—’

‘God, I hate this, I am so tired … fine, just do it … do whatever the hell you have to do. Test them. Poke and prod them if you have to. Take more DNA samples, hell, put them in a goddam bottle—’

‘Dominique—’

‘My sons have become the world’s sideshow, Ennis, and it’s my fault. So just do whatever you have to do and get it over with!’

She storms off, leaving the two men alone.

Lilith?

Jacob? Two pinpoints of azure blue twinkle back at him from beyond the white haze. Where have you been? I call out for you every day.

It’s not always easy for me to enter. Evelyn says I have to get my adrenaline pumping in order to find my way in.

Who’s Evelyn?

Evelyn Strongin. You’d like her. She’s a psychiatrist, she had a near-death experience years ago. I want her to teach me how to communicate with my dead father.