Area 51: The Grail-5 by Robert Doherty Read Free Book Online Page B

turned to Quinn. "What else?"
    The major hit another command. The map changed to show the southeast Pacific. "The shield is still protecting Easter Island. What remains of Task Force 78, with the addition of Task Force 79 and the aircraft carrier USS
    Stennis, has backed off to a range of three hundred kilometers north of the island. We've lost all contact with the submarine USS Springfield. It is assumed it has been taken inside the shield and is lost to us. Official policy now is to stand off and watch, which doesn't please the Navy much.
    "However," Quinn continued, "the last transmission from Springfield had some interesting data in it." He hit a switch and a large map of Easter Island appeared on the screen. "We think they found a hole in the shield wall. When the Washington hit the island, it tore up a big part of the ocean floor as it bottomed out. We think there is a very small gap in the shield where it cut through the floor."
    "Can we get in?" Turcotte asked.
    "Possibly," Quinn said. "But, as I said, official policy is to stand off and do nothing."
    47

    "That doesn't do Kelly Reynolds any good," Turcotte said. "Can you get some SEALs?"
    "I can't even get us MPs at the moment," Quinn said.
    "That's because the Pentagon knows who's asking and what they're for,"
    Turcotte said. "We still have the ST-8 clearance by presidential decree, right?"
    Quinn nodded. ST-8 was the highest clearance possible and meant that orders issued using it had to be fol-owed as if they came from the National Command Authority.
    "Then I'll just issue an order to get us some SEALs."
    'To do what?" Quinn asked.
    "Infiltrate Easter Island." Turcotte pointed at the screen. "It's a job the SEALs are trained for. Go in under the shield, see what's going on, rescue Kelly, and ;et back. I'll bet there's a SEAL team on board one of he ships of Task Force 79. Plus, I don't think the Navy will put up too much of a fight over the mission. I've got a feeling they want to know what's happening to the Washington and their people."
    "It's worth a shot," Quinn said.
    "And the Giza Plateau?" Turcotte had already moved on to more pressing issues.
    "Satellite imagery shows it wrapped up even tighter with troops since your assault. The Egyptian government has closed it off and is complaining to whoever will listen that the United States violated their sovereignty."
    "We have to go back," Turcotte said.
    "That might be difficult," Quinn noted.
    "Of course it will be difficult," Turcotte said. "But there's always a way."
    "What about the manuscript?" Mualama said.
    Quinn stood. "It's in the conference room."
    48
    Turcotte paused. "I need a minute."
    Quinn nodded and went into the conference room. Yakov put a large paw on Turcotte's shoulder. "Are you all right, my friend?"
    "No," Turcotte said.
    "I would have been worried if you said you were," Yakov said. "No one is all right. Only the smart people know that though. Especially now."
    "Especially now," Turcotte acknowledged. "Give me just a minute and I'll join you."
    "Da."
    Turcotte waited until Yakov and Che Lu disappeared. He walked down the hallway to the latrine. There was no one inside. He sagged back against the door, feeling the exhaustion of constant tension in every fiber of bis being.
    He slid down to his knees, then sat on the floor, his back still against the door. He put his right hand out, opened it wide, and stared at the scarred flesh. He could see the pregnant woman who died just before he grabbed the red hot muzzle of his team leader's gun in Germany as if it had just happened.
    Another second earlier and she—and her unborn child—would still be alive.
    The fingers of his left hand traced over the scar tissue in the palm of his right hand, remembering his failure. And his most recent failure had cost the lives of three men. Finally, he stood. He shoved the door open and went to the conference room. Inside was one other person beside Quinn, Mualama, Che Lu, and Yakov. Larry Kincaid was their