Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming
Once the plane came to a stop, Ed swung his cabin chair around, handed his PDA to Alex and said, “They got it.”
Reading Ed’s response, Alex replied, “It sure looks like it.”
Natalie unbuckled, rose to her feet and asked, “What happened?”
Ed pointed to the screen. “Major Reeves forwarded the calibrated signal to us and I forwarded the signal to Satellite Command. They immediately got a lock on...”
Alex interrupted, “Multiple signals.”
Ed explained to Natalie, “Al suspects a powerful signal is emanating from a giant phoenix they found inside the Teton Mountains.”
Natalie had a confused look.
Alex leaned back, wiped his forehead, and explained, “
Ever since this crisis began, statues of a giant phoenix have been found—one under Iraq, another under Lake Titicaca, and now inside the Tetons.”
Ed crossed his arms. “Satellite Command is now picking up the exact same powerful signal from multiple locations all over the planet.”
Ed allowed Natalie to see the message and she replied, “But the...” she paused and refocused on the message, “...the signals are aimed directly into outer space.”
Ed exchanged glances with Alex and pulled up a page as he tilted his head in semi-approval. “My dear,” he said, always careful how much he shared with the uninformed, “modern astronomers were virtually embarrassed to discover that ancient stargazers from thousands of years ago knew about planets beyond Saturn before they did, and not just that, but the presence of an unknown planet that they are only vaguely aware of even today.”
She glanced at Alex, then back at Ed, and replied, “I don’t understand. What do ancient stargazers have to do with this?”
Ed turned the page so she could read it. “While we were in flight, I was decoding the signal that Al and Major Reeves discovered. The language used is the exact same language that we and archaeologists have been digging up for decades.”
She glanced down and read the message. “This looks Greek to me.”
Ed continued, “I am not finished yet, but I believe it is going to be a message to tell something or someone it is now time to return.”
“Then,” Alex said, “the Brotherhood is going to bring the planet into a final war of Armageddon early so they can return.”
“This is crazy,” Natalie said.
“Yes, it is,” Ed said, “but it’s beginning to make sense.”
“Especially,” Alex said, “if that is an actual message for them to return.”
Ed was about to reply when another message came in on his PDA. He read it and tossed it over to Alex.
He caught it and read the message. He looked up. “This is not good.”
“No, it’s not,” Ed said, immediately shuffling through his papers. He pulled out the map they used earlier and flattened it out on the table.
“Okay, what happened?” Natalie asked urgently.
Ed placed his finger on the map. “I just received a message from Vance that Al Robek is lost and flowing as part of the river they discovered inside the Teton mountain range.”
Alex continued, “It also indicates that Vance and Major Reeves are badly burned.”
“Oh, my God,” Natalie said.
Alex quickly scrolled through the pictures of the map table and zoomed in on a square marker they estimated was in the Teton Mountains.
“Ed, if that message is accurate, you were right about the river channel.”
“The shibboleth,” Natalie added.
“Apparently so,” Ed replied, tracing his finger on the map. “As accurately as I can, I am attempting to determine where this river channel ends.”
“By the looks of it,” Alex said, leaning in close, “it’s a fairly straight path to the Great Salt Lake in Utah and to another marker.”
“Meaning something is most likely underground there,” Ed said.
Natalie leaned in to the map, “But that is hundreds of miles. Could he survive that?”
Ed continued comparing the map and the picture of the table and replied, “If this river is similar to the one we found in Lebanon, then he is traveling bloody fast, but if anyone can survive, Al Robek can.”
Alex placed his finger on the map, “Ed, I have an idea. You go inside the mountain and direct a rescue operation from there. I will head to...” he moved his finger to Salt Lake City... “...to find whatever is beneath there and intercept that river.” He then pointed to the pyramid marker near Mt. Shasta in California, “...because if we don’t, that is his next stop.”
“What about me?” Natalie asked.
Alex continued, “I want you to head back to Gap Mills, and organize an excavation of that cemetery. I have a feeling something fascinating is below it.”
Ed stood up, gathered his papers, and said, “Meanwhile Alex, you need to translate and decipher the writing below the White House lawn. It may help us locate the next bomb.”
Alex reached out and shook Ed and Natalie’s hands. “Time is of the utmost importance. Good hunting.”
Ed and Natalie rapidly gathered their belongings and exited the plane.