BISENTIENT, page 30
She padded towards the narrow stairs. As she got to the top, she thought it was odd that there wasn’t a light on downstairs. Whoever it was was moving about in the dark. Maybe spooks can do that she thought. But she couldn’t so she flicked on the lights at the top of the stairs. The figure she saw at the bottom of the stairs wasn’t Patterson. It wasn’t Zach either. As she turned the light on the figure spun towards it. It was a long, angular face and as it looked up at Angie the mouth seemed to draw out and back into something like a snarl. Without even realising she had done it, she screamed. A completely reflex action born of sudden and all enveloping terror. As she was expelling the piercing sound she saw the gun in the figure’s hand. He turned towards her and the gun was moving up to face her as she lurched away and ran towards her room. A loud bang was followed by an almost imperceptible puncturing sound as the bullet ripped through the old lathe and plaster ceiling of the landing. As Angie reached the door to the bedroom CJ was already out of bed and tearing at her rucksack. Below in the living room, Zach had been wrenched from a restful, dreamless sleep by the pandemonium. It took him a second or two to realise that there was a man standing in the hall that wasn’t Patterson. As he registered this the man headed up the stairs. Zach threw off the blankets and looked around in a panic for some sort of weapon. He settled on the first thing that came to hand from the fireside tools and headed to the hall and the stairs.
Angie charged into the bedroom and spun around shutting the door and leaning on it.
“There’s someone out there!” she shouted. “And they’ve got a gun!”
CJ had found the can of mace and was joining Angie by the door as the door itself moved inwards before pushing back with Angie’s weight. CJ joined her and leant her weight to the door. They both listened intently. After a second they heard a creak from the landing. The intruder was moving away from their door. They both had the same thought, but CJ was the first to vocalise.
“Gail!” she blurted and they both stepped back from the door and flung it open.
As they crashed out of the door onto the landing, they saw Oculus standing outside the room where Gail’s body lay in its protective but delicate cocoon. As they looked, they saw Zach reach the top of the stairs beyond Oculus, brandishing a metal bar with a wicked looking curved hook and spike on one end. For an instant time stood still. Angie and CJ locked eyes with Oculus and Zach took in the scene before him. Then Oculus raised his gun towards the two women but CJ was already taking a stride towards him and unloading a torrent of mace directly into his hollow eyes. The jet from the canister seemed almost to push Oculus backwards but it would be the sudden excruciating pain that did that. He uttered a horrendous cry that was part animal and dropped the gun to bring both hands to his burning eyes. Zach took a huge swing with the poker and the glancing blow caught the very side of Oculus’ head and bounced off his shoulder. Turning towards Zach, Oculus charged him and catching him mid-chest knocked him backwards. Zach’s foot missed the top stair and his weight crashed against the wall as he bounced back across and hit the banister. His flailing hands caught the banister and helped slow his fall, but he still toppled backwards and thumped down the stairs until he reached bottom, on his back and temporarily winded.
CJ continued to empty the can of mace towards Oculus who cried out again and began to wildly strike out with his hands, unable to see through the pain. Angie was riveted to the spot and frozen completely by fear. She had realised that Zach had been knocked down the stairs but she also knew that this man, if he was a man, was still there and seemed more dangerous than ever. She wanted to go to Zach, to help him, but her muscles wouldn’t respond. As she watched the appalling scene before her, CJ had finally emptied her mace and cast the canister aside. Within a split second, she took a step towards Oculus and aimed a passable karate sidekick, using all the force she could muster, into his stomach. Oculus bent double under the attack and staggered backwards. CJ followed up with another kick, this one less cultured but effective enough to send Oculus beyond the top of the stairs. Grasping at thin air, Oculus resembled, for an instant, those cartoon characters caught with no support before they plunge. Oculus plunged, legs and arms windmilling to arrest the fall but failing. He struck the stairs halfway down and slid the rest of the way, his shoes thudding as they slipped from stair to stair.
Zach had pulled himself up and was standing close to the foot of the stairs as Oculus crashed to the bottom. Zach had dropped the poker as he fell and couldn’t see it. He watched in surprise and horror as Oculus raised himself from the floor and turned his twisted face towards him. Streaks of mace fell from his sunken eyes and down his cheeks, giving him the appearance of a demonic clown. As Zach watched, Oculus drew his knife from its sheath. The engraved blade glinted in the moonlit hall. Before Zach had a chance to move, Oculus had sprung towards him. Zachs’ only instinct was to stop the hand with the blade. Both his hands shot to Oculus’ right hand that held the knife. One of Zach’s hands grasped the wrist but the other had landed on the blade. The pain Zach felt was instant but somehow subdued. He knew he needed to stop this man and if he relented at all, he was going to die. Oculus’ forward motion caused them both to coalesce and fall backwards onto the hall floor. Oculus’ left arm was reaching for Zach’s face, the bony fingers clawing for a hold. Zach was bracing his bare feet on the wood floor and trying to lift Oculus and roll over. Over Oculus’ shoulder Zach thought he saw CJ coming down the stairs, but his only thought was to stop the broad bladed knife from finding a way into his body. Zach felt Oculus’ breath on his face as they rolled but as Zach emerged from under the other’s weight, he felt the knife shift position; glancing down he suddenly kicked his legs out from under himself and leaned down with all his weight.
When he thought about it later, he couldn’t recall if he had felt the knife sink into Oculus’ abdomen. He just remembered that the pressure on him eased, his assailant’s body seemed to suddenly relax and he rolled off him onto the cool woodblock floor of the cottage hallway. Again, he couldn’t remember closing his eyes but the next thing he recalled was CJ shaking him and shouting. As he opened his eyes, he just saw CJ descend on him and clutch him to her, pressing a teary cheek against his.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
BRABERSON CHECKED HIS phone but there was no waiting message.
“And you have no idea how this man found you?” he asked Zach, CJ and Angie, who were sat side by side on the long sofa in Bartholomew’s living room.
“None.” said Zach, as he looked down while Angie carefully tied off the bandage around his cut hand.
“You think this man could be part of a secret society that is active in this ‘Realm’?” said Braberson.
“Yes.” said Zach. “Raymond told me that they had been having issues with them. One of them had been following him. Knew where his bookshop was as well.”
Braberson motioned for one of the two young men in suits, standing near the hall doorway to come over. He whispered something and the man left.
“Why do you think that man was here?” asked Braberson.
“Raymond was sure that these occultists meant harm to Gail…Ms Hartston.” replied Zach.
“The woman upstairs, that you moved here and that was removed from Lievesham?”
“Yeah.”
Braberson was really not on top of the situation. He had no idea what the significance of this woman was. He knew she had been a candidate for their experimental program. but his knowledge of the technical details was sketchy at best. In his mind they had been trying to establish if there was a way to communicate over long distances and if so, to synthesise the mechanism so that it could be implanted. Now he seemed to be faced with the prospect of some sort of parallel world and by chance their technology seemed to enable moving between them. He needed to inform Carver of the latest developments. His team could finish the cleanup here.
“What’s going to happen to us now?” asked CJ. “Is it safe to stay here?”
“We will take steps to relocate Ms. Hartston to a secure facility.” said Braberson. “But we have no way to be sure if this man acted alone.”
“He looked like he was on something.” said Zach. “Maybe crystal meth or something, he’s only skinny but he was very strong. There was something about his eyes and his face. He didn’t look normal.”
“That’ll come out in the postmortem.” said Braberson. “You have somewhere safe you can go?”
“Sure.” said CJ, unwilling to volunteer anything further.
Braberson’s phone emitted a sharp metallic jingle. He answered it. He said nothing then stabbed the end call icon.
“Looks as if your visitor made another call earlier tonight.” began Braberson. “Bartholomew was assaulted at his bookshop.”
“Is he okay?” asked Zach.
“He’ll have a sore head for a few days but other than that yes. That’s probably how this character found you.”
“Where are you taking Ms Hartston?” asked Zach.
“She’ll be quite safe Zach, we’ll put her in the facility you absconded from initially.” Braberson smiled at Zach, who didn’t look particularly reassured.
“Just for her safety.” said Zach. “Nothing else?”
“She seems to be a valuable individual.” said Braberson. “I have no intention of interfering. We will keep her safe and well.”
Zach looked at Braberson but couldn’t tell if he should trust his former boss or not. He had little choice in the matter.
“Zach, please take this.” said Braberson, drawing a new phone from his coat pocket and offering it to Zach. “It’s a direct line to me.”
Zach took the phone, aware that it was a means to track him but also aware that he knew several ways to avoid that. It could mean they could summon the cavalry if things got hairy again. It also seemed that Braberson wasn’t going to take him into custody. He thought it best to play along.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
THE OLD SHIP was rolling gently on the calm sea. In the rear cabin there was a lull in the conversation. Puffy white clouds glided silently past the small windows with the sun glinting off the gentle, rolling wake to stern.
“You’re sure this Braberson can be trusted?” asked Plater.
“I think so.” began Zach. “He knows Gail is important.”
“He seems to have acted reasonably so far.” said Bartholomew. “I think right now I am more concerned that we haven’t had more communication from Molly.”
“Yes, the test of that machine has happened now.” said Gail.
There was another pause while everyone considered why Molly hadn’t sent another message.
“Maybe she hasn’t been able to find a chance to get outside.” said Plater.
“If the device is ready for whatever it is they intend it’s getting more dangerous to be there.” said Zach.
“Unfortunately, our communication is one way.” mused Bartholomew.
“I can try to get in there.” said Plater. “We have to do something, we can’t just leave her.”
“Can’t the authorities do something?” asked Zach. “Braberson knows about this stuff right?” He looked across at Bartholomew.
Batholomew nodded. “Yes, they are aware of the device but that is here in the UK. Perhaps the US don’t know about it.”
“So much for the special relationship.” muttered Zach.
“Exactly how much does this Braberson know about the CoR, Daniels and the device?” asked Gail.
“Well I can’t be sure.” said Bartholomew. “But he was extremely interested in the device and he must be aware of Daniels, with the profile he has now.”
“But does he know they are all connected? Does he know about the mountain base?” said Gail.
“I don’t know, do you think we should tell him?” said Bartholomew. “I’m not sure what he could do.”
“He could get the cousins involved for a start.” said Zach. “You’d think the CoR would be on the alphabet organisations’ radar anyway but they might be missing some pieces. They could probably bust the whole place.”
“They might just bomb it if they think it is really dangerous.” said Plater. “It wouldn’t matter that Molly was in there.”
There was another tense silence.
“Let me explain to Braberson what we think’s going on.” said Zach. “Like it or not he could be our best way to help Molly.”
“Be sure to stress that we have someone on the inside.” said Plater, feeling he needed to get across the risk in involving the authorities at this stage. “Molly could provide vital information. She’s an asset, in their vocabulary. Make sure they know.”
Zach nodded.
Plater desperately wanted to suggest an alternative, do something himself to help but he had to admit to himself that involving Braberson, the UK authorities and then the US authorities was probably Molly’s best chance. He felt helpless then angry then returned to being worried.
“Alright.” said Gail. “Unless anyone has any better ideas?”
Nobody did.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
IT WAS NIGHTTIME in Washington DC and the bustling seat of government was in a quieter period. It never stopped entirely, of course and across the city office lights burned. In one office, with an antique desk light the only illumination, Faith Cantrell was replaying the video call she had just completed with James Carver and his man, Braberson. It seemed that she and they were behind in their understanding of the significance of the device and its purpose. Beyond a strange group of people relying on what used to be thought of as the supernatural or magic and unfortunate souls too ill to live a normal life.
Her worst fears were seemingly confirmed that some outside or alien force really did exist and mean humanity harm. Despite her involvement for more than twenty years, Faith Cantrell had always harboured doubts, wishes even, that the theories put forward weren’t right. The theories that formed the basis of the secret organisation she belonged to. The theories that proposed that much of humanity’s spiritual side had become the tool of this alien intelligence intent on the destruction of humanity. If this device in the mountains really was some sort of bridge that might allow these aliens to travel to earth, it could be the end.
Her thoughts wandered to her daughter, living in Seattle, and her two grandchildren, Mark, aged four, and Eleanor just turning eight. What if there was no world for them to grow up in? What if some malevolent race exterminated them before they had the chance to grow up and fall in love, see some of the beauties of this planet and maybe have families of their own?
She knew what she had to do. The mountain base must be destroyed, the device must be destroyed. The woman Molly was brave. She’d done a great job but like all agents, she couldn’t take precedence. Sure, she wasn’t a professional as Cantrell was more used to dealing with, but individuals in these equations rarely tipped the balance. The needs of the many had to be the priority.
She was happy with her decision. She had been clear to Carver. “…we’ll do all we can to get the woman out of there.” As she’d said it, she’d meant it too, when she’d said it. Her finger paused, just for a second, over the phone keypad before dropping onto the numbers and quickly dialing.
“Richards.”
“Sleeping Beauty.” said Cantrell in a hoarse whisper.
“At once ma’am.” said Richards.
The sun had dipped below the horizon but the glow had yet to fade from the Western sky. Nighttime creatures of the hills were stirring and preparing their never ending search for food. High above, a United Airlines jet left a faint trail in the darkening blue. To the East, about thirty klicks from the main entrance to Redemption, two Little Bird: MH-6 helicopters lifted into the air and began heading west flying low.
“Sleeping Beauty en route.” said the lead pilot into his comms.
Inside each helicopter were fourteen canisters with hazard warning labels and six men wearing blackened faces and mission-specific kit. The aircraft were low enough to kick up dust from the ground but also very hard to spot, even from an elevated vantage point, with the natural undulations of the terrain.
As the helicopters approached two klicks from Redemption they split to circle the base of the hill within which the alien machine lay dormant. Within two minutes of each other both craft landed, disgorged their cargo and left the way they had come. The two teams of men ran through another comms and equipment check before separating into pairs and collecting canisters. Each pair then moved off to locate the rough-hewn ventilation shafts casually disguised on the slopes above.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
THE SLIGHT FIGURE closed the door quietly. Nothing moved in the room, least of all the figure bound to the gurney in the centre. After a moment's thought, the figure picked up a medium scalpel from an array of bladed instruments arranged in neat rows on a neighbouring trolley and stood, looking down at Molly James. The figure leaned forwards and placed one hand over Molly’s mouth. Almost immediately Molly convulsed and was awake. Wide eyes stared up at the figure who held a single finger to their lips. Slowly Molly relaxed and the tension slipped from her body. Dawn Moran quickly cut the cable ties that held Molly to the gurney and helped her into a sitting position.
