Lemuria by Burt Clinchandhill (most popular novels of all time .txt) 📗

a very trustful man. He only trusts the people around him with pieces of information, so no one has the complete picture.”

“And you didn’t inform your government or the local government? Police perhaps?” Bishop asked.

“There’s no outside communication,” Jenifer answered. “Believe me, we tried. Mulder has the only working satellite phone on the island, and there’s no email or Internet.”

“And simply escape?” De Cremonese asked. “There doesn’t seem to be much of any security.”

“And then?” Fawcett shrugged. “You must have seen it yourself. The nearest inhabited island is still sixty miles away. That’s quite a swim. Now, if you’re finished questioning us for now, maybe this is a good time to do what you came here to do.”

“To be honest,” Bishop said. “I came here to get Jennifer, and I think I’ve succeeded at that. So maybe I just want to find a way back to the helicopter, off this island and take you home.” He turned to Jennifer.

“But that’s not what I want to do, Matthew. Mulder is using and holding a lot of people against their will. I’m sure that’s not what you want to hear. If I know you just a little, you’re curious enough to want to see for yourself what, exactly, he’s up to.”

“I’m with you,” De Cremonese stated.

Bishop thought for a short moment. “You know what you’re planning isn’t safe?”

Jennifer nodded.

Bishop sighed. “All right then. Let’s find the man and see what we can do, but if there’s any shooting, we run. Agreed?” He looked around the room.

“There are no guns on the island,” Fawcett replied. “Mulder hates guns.”

“What kind of criminal hates guns?” Bishop asked. “All right, what’s the plan?”

Fawcett tapped the screen again, and the multi-camera view to the entrance of the structure reappeared. He swiped right over the screen, back to the menu. “Wait,” Jennifer called out. “Go back.”

“What?” Fawcett asked.

“Go back to the images of the entrance.”

Fawcett swiped left again. “What is it? Did you see something?”

Jennifer rose from the bed and walked to the screen. She meticulously checked the thirty-two small screens, row by row. “There,” she pointed about halfway on a screen.

Fawcett touched the small window and it immediately enlarged to full screen. On the screen, six people—four of them in what looked like military or police uniforms—scoured the hallways. As they turned a corner, they disappeared from view.

“Stay with them,” Jennifer ordered.

“Who are they?” De Cremonese asked.

Fawcett worked the screen with both hands. In a few seconds, he found the small group of people again and tagged them. “The AI will now keep the view in sync with them.” On the left side of the screen, the group stayed in camera view as they moved further into the structure. “And to answer your question, I have no idea who they are.” On the right side, several smaller images appeared, crowded with people roaming hallways and spaces. “You see, a number identifies everyone known to the system.” He pointed to a yellow number ‘floating’ above everyone’s head.

“How many people are there?” Bishop asked, walking closer to the screen.

“About one hundred personnel and some four hundred test subjects,” Fawcett answered.

“Tribe members, you mean?” De Cremonese asked.

Fawcett nodded.

“Can you zoom in?” Bishop asked, pointing to the screen with the group of unnumbered people.

“Sure.” Fawcett brought the image of the group closer.

Bishop cocked his head and leaned closer to the screen.

“You see something?” De Cremonese asked.

Bishop kept his eye on the screen and waved him closer.

De Cremonese stood next to him and gazed at the group.

“It’s hard to see with the image mostly on the back and from above, but isn’t that...?” Bishop pointed to the two people not in uniform.

“It’s a man and a woman, I think.” De Cremonese took a small step back. “Are those your friends?

“I think so.”

“The same ones I met in Indonesia?” Fawcett asked.

“The ones from the NSA?” Jennifer added.

“The NSA and NRO,” Bishop corrected. “And, yes, the same ones.”

“Loyal friends,” Fawcett deducted. “Following you all over the world.”

“And they brought the police,” De Cremonese said.

“Or army, or something,” Jennifer added.

“There’s a rocket,” De Cremonese called out, pointing to the screen. On the screen, a colossal rocket—with its steamy exhausts coming from the side—was standing with its nose almost against the steel tube structure that supported the ceiling. On the support tower, an elevator was bringing people up to the rocket.

“That’s the launch bay,” Jennifer explained. “Mulder will be there.”

“Does he have a number?” Bishop pointed to the vast amount of numbers floating over the screen like ants on a hill.

“He’s the only one who doesn’t have a number,” Fawcett explained.

“So, what now?” De Cremonese asked.

“Change of plans,” replied Fawcett. “I suggest we split up. Father, you come with me, and Jennifer, you take the professor to the launch bay. We’ll find and intercept your friends and meet you there at the south entrance, and together we’ll confront Mulder.”

“What then?” De Cremonese asked.

Fawcett shrugged. “Then, I guess we try to stop him from whatever he’s doing.”

“All right,” Bishop agreed. “Let’s do this. After you.” He gestured to the door.

“I’ll see you later,” De Cremonese said before leaving the room with Fawcett.

“Do you trust him?” Bishop asked Jennifer.

She thought for a second. “You know, I think I do. I thought about it before, but I can’t figure out why he would lie. There is no upside in lying for him. In any case, if we’re serious about stopping Mulder, this is our only chance.”

“I guess you’re right.” He cocked his head. “You lead the way.”

For the next few minutes, they snaked through the concrete web Mulder had created. As they passed the assembly hall, Bishop stopped for a second and feasted his eyes on its vastness. The ninety thousand-square-foot construction was as high as it was wide and long. The walls and ceiling were carved out of rock and re-enforced with steel tubing, leaving the red rockface behind it visible. On both sides of the lower level, empty glass cubicles filled the sides. The floor was carved