David Dun - The Black Silent

"Ernie tells me you're back doing a job when you're supposed to be chasing babes or fishing or something."

"That seems to be what I'm doing, although there is a babe here." That got a sidelong glance from Haley.

"I opened one of the files," Grogg said. "One's a bitch and I haven't been able to open it yet, even with all the horsepower of the Brain and all her links. But I'll tell you what I did open."

"Let's hear it."

"According to this document, Ben Anderson is giving the magic antiaging stuff to a bunch of people. I could read you certain portions of the introduction to this report and you'd get the idea."

"Go ahead."

Sam motioned for Haley to hunker down with him; she brought her ear close enough to the phone to hear what Grogg said.

"Okay," Grogg began, "it starts with a bunch of letters to the government. They all address at least three different parties: Homeland Security, the FBI, and Health and Human Resources. A few are copied to NOAA. Anderson lays out a program called ARCLES, and then he refers to certain meetings they've had and conference calls… okay… and then he says that he'll deliver the information-ARCLES, the secrets of the Archaea-that the government wants if the government agrees to do certain things in certain different, um, arenas. Anderson wants promises, commitments, even legislation.

Oh, and funding. It goes on for pages-antiaging, undersea mining, climate programs, energy programs, protection from terrorism and natural disasters. Not surprisingly, it costs a hell of a lot of money. He wants the government to spend megabillions."

"Is there a government response?" Sam asked.

"Lots of them. But I don't see anywhere that the government says they'll do what he wants. I just went to the most recent correspondence and they aren't saying they'll comply. And he says that he won't cooperate until they reach an agreement on every item."

"The disasters? They involve methane?"

"Yeah. But the climate-change thing seems to be Anderson's main focus."

"And the mining is for methane?"

"Yeah."

"And what about the aging treatment?" asked Sam.

"There's a ton on that," said Grogg. "Here, let me read you something.

"The government must commit to a set of immutable principles regarding allocation of the

Arc regimen for aging before impaneling any commission. The goal of the commission would be to develop regulations based on the principles, and to interpret the principles in regard to particular situations, and to make specific allocation decisions. Scientific achievement and contributions to humanity are to be the seminal principles controlling allocation.

Wealth can neither be an allocation criterion nor a disqualifier."

Grogg snorted. "No wonder the government's not game." Then he went on reading:

"The second prerequisite for the release of all information is that the government agree to comply with the manifesto. There must be an honest, binding commitment and a commensurate dedicated budget to the following three endeavors: (1) implementing serious experimental methane recovery from the deep ocean and coal deposits and alternative-energy development with a plan to make the United States foreign-petroleum independent within two decades; (2) an honest evaluation of the risks of methane escapement either through natural means or terrorist acts and a commensurate public education program which we see as crucial to mustering the national will; and (3) research into controlling greenhouse gases by farming the ocean for plankton and related research into long-term climate control."

"God," Sam said. "Ben has been busy."

Haley just shook her head, still stunned at how little Ben had shared with her.

"Okay," Grogg resumed, "that's the last of what Ben says to the government." He then launched into the government reply:

"It is premature to set forth principles of allocation regarding your Arc regimen. Before anything is done, appropriate, FDA-monitored trials must be conducted first with animals, then with people. After trials the next step must be to undertake a study, incorporating the research trials, that can be provided to appropriate committees of the Congress so that they may formulate legislation, if appropriate.

"Obviously the government cannot authorize the immediate use of the Arc regimen on human subjects. Please know that any such subjects will run the risk of an interruption in the treatments.

"Though the government can make no assurances, the FDA would be likely to expedite your application for experimental trials, providing you agree to a full and open disclosure of the science involved.

"As to the other matters, you will need to submit your impressive body of theoretical work for peer review; once that is complete, your suggestions regarding methane mining, energy policy, safety, and climate control can be presented to the legislature.

"Then the government drones on about constitutional democracies, the rule of law, and the like," Grogg said. "I'll take some time with this stuff and try to figure out what's really going on."

"Do that. In the meantime we'll try not to get shot."

"Please be careful," Grogg said in a moment of utter sobriety.

In his gut Sam dreaded the situation in the lodge. Frick had beaten him to the building, which, in all likelihood, housed the majority of Ben Anderson's secrets, if not Ben Anderson himself.

"I can't believe that all this was going on and I never knew it. I just don't get why he wouldn't tell me," Haley said. "I know I said he was trying to protect me, but this is so big… Who did he think would protect him?"

"I understand how you feel," Sam said, hoping he wouldn't sound too blunt. "Let's hope there's still time to get to Ben and talk it over with him."

"Still, though-"

Sam turned and took her gently by the shoulders. "Haley, I don't mean to dismiss your feelings, but I don't want you dead either. It would help me a great deal if you would go back a few hundred yards into the woods and sit down and not move." Before she could protest, he continued. "Call Grogg if I don't come back. He can try to call Ernie in transit."

She didn't blink. "Not a chance."

"You're going no matter what I say?"

"Absolutely. Unless you have something even more dangerous that needs doing."

Sam shook his head, wondering at this woman.

"Sam, this is my problem as much as yours."

He stood, and motioned for her to follow.

"If you don't stay right behind me," he said, "I'll tie you to a tree."

Sam picked the spot closest to the forest, which was the back of the lodge, and crept toward a window. Haley followed like she was his shadow.

The longer the silence in the building continued, the greater his concern, and he'd told Haley as much.

The first window was a back bedroom with no one inside. There was, however, an open suitcase, clothes hanging in an open closet, and shoes in the corner. An open book lay facedown on the nightstand.

They crouched and moved to the next window, that of a corner bedroom, its inner door open. Through the door Sam could see into a large living area with a ceiling that appeared to rise for two stories all the way to the roof. Peering for another ten or twenty seconds, Sam was sure he saw the foot of a man lying down, probably on his side, in the living area. His arm went around Haley's shoulder before he realized he was holding her.

He hurried with her back the way they had come and beyond the first bedroom window to the next bedroom. Once again the door was open and this time Sam could see through to the great room, where at least two bodies lay on the floor.

"It's time to go inside." "Let's go," she said. "I wish you'd stay out here."

"One of us is hard of hearing," Haley whispered. "And it's not me because I'm staying right behind you. As instructed." They circled to the front, saw no one around the parked vehicles, and tried the front door. Sam opened it and immediately he felt light-headed.