The Portal (A Delphi Group Thriller Book 2) (41 page)

He looked at Brett. “I need everyone to get inside.”

Amanda stepped forward. “Zane, we can’t leave Rod and Landon behind.”

“We have no choice. I have good reason to believe that this place will be a blackened pancake in a little over two minutes. And if we’re here when that happens,
none
of us will get out of here alive.” He sighed deeply. “Look, we’ll retreat to a safe distance, and if somehow I was wrong, we’ll come back. That’s the best I can do.”

Her eyes were moist with emotion, but she seemed to understand.

“Okay, people, let’s go!” Zane shouted.

Now aware of the urgency, everyone climbed into the chopper. Amanda and Max joined the soldier who was treating Katiya. Zane noticed that the anthropologist’s eyes were now open. Once everyone was inside and secure, Carmen barked orders to the pilot. Seconds later, the engine roared and the rotors began to oscillate with more speed.

Zane sat at the open door, his legs dangling outside the bird. He was unable to move or speak. He couldn’t stop thinking about the two soldiers who were still out there on the mountain. He wanted both back, even Tocchet. In all likelihood he was guilty, but Zane still held out hope that it was all a big misunderstanding.

One of the pilots turned and got Zane’s attention. “Sir, we’re ready for takeoff.”

Zane signaled his approval.

The bird rocked slightly as it lifted off of the ground.

“Wait!” Amanda shouted. “What’s that?”

Zane lifted a palm toward the cockpit. “Stop!”

The pilot kept the chopper in place while Zane looked in the direction Amanda was pointing. A shadowy figure was moving toward them through the fog. Zane reached back and removed his Glock, and two of the soldiers lifted their rifles.

The figure continued toward them with speed. Zane slid his finger off the trigger and squinted, trying to figure out who it was.

“Osak!” Brett shouted.

Zane could hardly believe his eyes. The boy ran toward them. As he drew closer, Zane could see that Bennett was draped over his back.

Amanda cried out with delight.

Osak stopped just beyond the rotors, afraid to go any farther. Zane hopped off the bird then ran out and took Bennett from the boy. The soldier patted his knee, indicating he couldn’t walk.

As they ran back, Zane carrying Bennett, he asked, “Have you seen Tocchet?”

The soldier’s eyes said everything. Zane wanted more information but knew there wasn’t time to listen to an explanation. After handing the Green Beret to another soldier, he turned back toward Osak. He gestured for him to come, but the boy shook his head and backed away.

“We have less than a minute, sir,” Keiko shouted.

Suddenly someone hopped to the ground and ran out to the boy.
Max.
The linguist spoke to him in a loud voice then pointed back at the chopper. At first the boy seemed confused, but finally a look of understanding spread across his face. Apparently Max had been able to convince him that his life depended on getting inside the strange metal bird.

The two ran toward the chopper. Amanda stepped out, helping the boy into the bay.

After everyone was inside, Zane looked at the pilot and said, “Get us out of here.”

The pilot nodded, and the chopper rose straight into the air. Everyone stiffened as it rose through the fog. Zane looked over at Osak. His eyes were the size of saucers, and his arms and shoulders trembled with fear.

Zane was about to get an update on the time from Keiko then decided against it. What did it matter? Either they would make it or they wouldn’t. The time she was keeping wasn’t precise anyway.

Seconds later, the chopper broke out of the fog and into the night sky. Hundreds of stars appeared in every direction, and the edge of the Milky Way sparkled on the horizon.

As the chopper began to move horizontally, Zane pulled his legs back inside and slid the door shut.

“
What is that?
” Brett asked, pointing at something in the distance.

Everyone crowded up against the window.

Zane looked out over the horizon. Finally, he saw what Brett was referring to. A thin sliver of brightness appeared in the distance. It slowly grew wider, as though a door to another dimension were being opened.

“Good grief,” Amanda whispered.

“What is it?” Brett asked.

“It looks like some kind of portal,” Amanda said.

“Look… down there,” Jorge said.

Zane lowered his eyes. The dark triangular form of the alien ship rose toward the light. It was moving so quickly that it seemed like it was being sucked upwards by some celestial vacuum. Moments later, it slid into the light and the portal closed, transitioning the night sky back to darkness.

Suddenly Zane caught a flash on the summit below. It began as a point of light then expanded into a towering fireball.

They must have left an explosive device behind,
he thought.
They knew their outpost was breached, and they wanted to destroy any remaining evidence of their presence
.

Zane turned and shouted for everyone to hold on.

Seconds later, the chopper was rocked violently by the blast wave. The big bird tilted on its side, shaking from the impact. There were yells and screams as everyone rolled toward the bay door.

After rocking dangerously, the bird finally righted itself and continued on, shooting out over the dark jungle below.

One Week Later

Key Largo, Florida

ZANE WATSON PLACED the last of the four drinks on the tray then left the kitchen and exited the house through the sliding glass door. The sun had almost sunk below the horizon as he stepped out onto the deck and closed the screen panel behind him.

The sound of soft conversation greeted him as he made his way over to the semicircle of chairs. He approached the one on the far left first. A brown-haired woman was seated there, her beautiful features flickering in the light of a nearby tiki torch. He extended a pineapple martini. “Dr. Mills.”

“Why thank you, Dr. Watson,” she said.

He moved two chairs down and handed Brett Foster a bottled beer.

“Thank you, sir,” he replied.

Zane then approached the last chair and lifted a glass off the tray. “And finally, a non-alcoholic watermelon and kiwifruit splash for our nondrinking resident Christian.”

“Thank you,” Amanda said, taking the glass from him. “Hey, I did have two glasses of wine. I just have my limits. Any more and I might start dancing.”

Brett snapped his fingers and pointed at the house. “Zane, another glass of chard for the lady, please.”

Amanda popped his arm playfully.

After setting the tray down on the table, Zane took his beer and sank into the seat next to Katiya. She reached over and gave his hand a little squeeze out of the sight of the others.

“I still can’t get over this view,” Amanda said.

Zane nodded in agreement as he looked out at the private cove behind the home. It was encircled by palm trees, their limbs swaying gently in the evening breeze. In the distance, the last sliver of sun sat on the ocean, casting a few final rays of orange and lavender across the water.

“It must be nice to have rich friends,” Brett said. “So how did you swing this place again?”

“Let’s just say we’ve developed a bartering system,” Zane said. “I maintain his planes. I clean them, service the engines… I do whatever’s necessary to keep them purring like kittens.” He waved his hand toward the cove. “In return, he lets me enjoy this little slice of heaven. Oh, and I also get to use his condo in Breckenridge if I’m in the mood for a change in climate.”

Brett shook his head. “The southern tip of Florida or the mountains of Colorado? It must be horribly stressful trying to make up your mind.”

“I think you’re getting the better end of that barter,” Katiya said.

Zane smiled and took another sip. The four sat for a few minutes in silence, enjoying the view. Suddenly Zane heard the sound of flapping wings. He looked up and saw several white ibis soaring across the cove before disappearing into a grove of palms.

Brett looked at Katiya. “So, you really believe the grays were fallen angels? Considering your profession, I might have expected a different answer.”

Katiya kept her eyes fixed on the sunset. “I only said it was possible, which is a big move for me. I have to follow the facts where they lead. As you know, I’m not a particularly religious person.” She took a sip of her martini and set the glass down on the table. “But through my years of research, I have come to believe in the supernatural. The evidence for another realm of existence is overwhelming, and I accepted that long before our little trip into the jungle.” She looked at Brett. “As for the grays, I can’t rule out the possibility that they were some sort of alien species either. But everything we discovered, particularly what was in that temple, points to the biblical narrative.”

Brett’s eyes narrowed. “So you’re saying they built that temple?”

Amanda addressed him. “Katiya and I have discussed this over the last few days. We believe the Nephilim built all of the stone structures we encountered. The bridge, the mountain tunnels, and the temple.”

“Remember the Nephilim were incredibly large,” Katiya added. “Both the ancient texts and the historical record indicate many were in excess of fifteen feet tall. It would’ve taken immensely large beings to transport some of those stones to the mountain summit.”

Amanda nodded in agreement.

Brett looked at Amanda. “You mentioned that the fallen angels descended on Mount Hermon. Let’s assume for argument’s sake that story is true. How did their offspring, the giants, end up in South America?”

“That’s a good question,” Amanda said. “Many believe there was a global diaspora of Nephilim after the Israelites conquered the Levant. I’m sure you remember God instructing them to wipe out the tribes living there.” After Brett nodded, she continued. “You may also remember that the Israelites weren’t completely successful in carrying that out. Some of the Nephilim fled on foot to places like Egypt. Others boarded boats that took them to points as far away as North and South America.”

Brett gave her a skeptical look.

Amanda continued. “As Katiya said, the presence of massive skeletons across the globe has been confirmed time and time again.”

“Assuming they were there, why did the Nephilim build that temple?” Brett asked.

“The statues clearly show there was fallen angel worship at the site,” Katiya said. “My guess is they probably led the local tribes in fallen angel worship. In fact, it looks as though that temple might still be in use… or was in use, I should say.” She took another sip of her martini then set the glass down.

“Who knows,” Zane added. “That might somehow explain how the Dawanis became so evil.”

Katiya looked at him. “I told Amanda that very thing on our way down here.”

“You know, I saw something interesting on that hologram on board the ship,” Zane said. “There were red dots scattered across the earth. I wonder what that meant?”

Katiya’s brow furrowed. “Did you notice where they were located?”

“No. Actually, wait, that’s not true. I do remember seeing a large pulsating one over northern Brazil, which I assumed showed the location of the craft.”

“I’m still in the alien camp,” Brett said. “And what you’re describing sounds like some sort of navigation system.”

As the group fell silent, Zane looked out over the water. The sun had dipped below the horizon.

Finally, Amanda cleared her throat and said, “We all saw that portal open up. I think the red dots indicated portals. I would love to have seen where they were.”

“That’s a good point,” Brett said.

Amanda scooted her chair around so that she was facing the others. “As a Christian, I believe we’re living in the last days. Jesus said in Luke that there would be signs in the sun, moons, and stars. It makes me wonder if he was speaking of portals being opened. He said things would be so bad that men would faint from terror, afraid of what would come upon the world.”

Zane was about to respond when he felt his cell vibrating against his thigh. A second later, the sound of classical music filled the air. He reached into his pocket for his phone.

Brett laughed. “That’s your ring tone?”

“You know, that’s
really
old school, Zane,” Amanda said.

“That’s because I’m an old guy, Amanda.” He looked at the name of the incoming number and engaged the call. “Well, if it isn’t Miss Carmen Petrosino.” He put the phone on speaker so everyone could hear.

“Hey!”

“What’s up?” Zane asked.

“Just a little pissed and needed to vent.”

Zane frowned. “Really? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Ross. He—”

“Wait, I thought you were down at the beach.”

“I was. I went down to Ocean City with some friends. That is until Ross called.”

Zane lifted his eyebrows. “Uh-oh.”

“Yeah, he manages to reach me, and the next thing I know I’m having to cut my vacation short.”

“Why?”

“I had to fly to Romania on a wild-goose chase.”

“What?” Zane frowned. “So you have to get right back on another plane?”

Carmen gave a long sigh. “I’m so tired, I feel like I could sleep for days.”

“So, what was going on in Romania?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And that’s the whole point. Some farmers were hearing strange noises in a few remote mountain valleys, so Skinner and I were handpicked to go hike around out in the middle of nowhere. I told Ross it was just the movement of tectonic plates, but he wouldn’t believe me. He was convinced the sounds were somehow connected to what was going on in Brazil. He kept referring to it as a European portal.”

“So let me guess, it
was
tectonic plates?”

“Of course!”

Zane gave a chuckle. “Well, at least Romania is a neat place. Been there several times.”

“Speaking of which, where are you? I was surprised you didn’t come with us.”

Zane felt his face flush. “I’m… I’m taking a little break.”

“So was I. Ross didn’t call you?”

Zane hesitated for a moment. “To be honest, I told him I was going to be in an area without cell reception. I gave him the address so he could send someone out if he absolutely had to get in touch.”