before he was twenty. What a horrible way to spend the
rest of one's life, Kelly thought.
World War II. The last good war. Her dad had served in
the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to
the CIA. He'd jumped into Italy during the last year of the
136 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 137
war and worked with the partisans. Running the hills with a ing shift of workers. He was glad that he was going to be
band of renegades licensed to kill Germans and take what able to get out of here. First thing he would do in Las
they needed by force. Then he'd worked in Europe as the Vegas after getting his arm sewn up was call Duncan on the
war closed out, helping with the war crimes trials. Much of number he had memorized. He wanted to get everything
what he saw there had soured him on mankind. off his chest. Then hopefully he could leave all this behind.
Peace had never been the same. He'd turned to the slow He noticed an old man come on board, accompanied by
death of the bottle and lived with his memories and his two younger men whose demeanor suggested they were
nightmares. Kelly's mom had retreated into her own brain bodyguards for the first man. Despite the fact that they
and shut out the outside world. And because of them Kelly were the only other passengers on board, the old man took
had grown up fast. She wondered if her dad had still been the front row of seats on the other side of the plane from
alive, if his liver had lasted a little longer, how the affair at Turcotte. The bodyguards, apparently satisfied there were
Nellis would have turned out. She might have been able to no immediate threats, sat down a few rows back as the
go to him for help. At the very least, she would have con- plane's door was shut by the same hard-faced man who had
sidered what he would have done instead of blazing her greeted Turcotte with the breathalyzer a little less than
own path to destruction. He certainly would not have forty hours ago. That man disappeared into the cockpit.
bought into Prague's line so naively. He would have told "They are fools," the old man muttered in German, his
her to approach the bait very slowly and to watch out for gnarled hands wrapped around a cane with a silver handle.
the hook. Turcotte ignored him, looking out the window at the
The only legacy she had from her dad was his stories. base of Groom Mountain. Even this close--less than two
But she was his legacy and that was more than she could hundred meters away--it was almost impossible to tell that
say for herself at forty-two. No children and not much of a there was a hangar built into the side of the mountain.
career to counterweight that. As she walked to the airport,
Kelly felt an overwhelming depression. The only thing that Turcotte wondered how much money had been poured into
kept her going was Johnny. He needed her. this facility. Several billion dollars at least. Of course, with
She stopped in an all-night market and bought two packs the U.S. government having a covert black budget some-
of cigarettes and a lighter. where between thirty-four and fifty billion dollars a year,
he knew that was just a drop in the bucket.
"They will all die, just like they did last time," the old man
said in perfect German, shaking his head.
AREA 51 Turcotte looked over his shoulder. One of the body-
Turcotte strapped himself into the plane seat and tried to guards was asleep. The other was engrossed in a paper-
get comfortable. He'd spent the last two hours, since leav- back.
ing the underground control room, alone, waiting in a "Who will die?" Turcotte asked in the same language.
small room off of the hangar, until they rolled out the stairs The old man started and then looked at Turcotte. "Are
to load the 737 to fly into Las Vegas and pick up the morn- you one of Gullick's men?"
138 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 139
Turcotte lifted his right hand, exposing the blood-soaked that we can bridge centuries of normal development by
fabric. "/ was." simply flying the mothership. They think we can have the
"And now who are you?" stars right away without having to make the technological
At first Turcotte thought he had translated poorly, but breakthroughs to do it." Von Seeckt sighed. "Or, perhaps
then he realized he had it right, and he understood. It was more importantly, without the societal development."
a question he had struggled with all through the dark hours Turcotte had seen enough the past couple of days to
of the morning. "/ don't know, but I am done here." accept what Von Seeckt was saying at face value. "What's
The old man switched to English. "That is good. This is so bad about just flying the thing? Why are you saying it's a
not a place to be. Not with what they plan, but I am not threat to the planet?"
sure any distance will be enough." "We don't know how it works!" Von Seeckt said, stamp-
"Who are you?" ing the head of his cane down on the carpet. "The engine is
The old man inclined his head. "Werner Von Seeckt. incomprehensible. They are not even sure which of the
And you?" many machines inside is the engine.
"Mike Turcotte." "Or there may be two engines! Two modes of propul-
"I have worked here since 1943." sions. One for use inside of a solar system or inside a
"This is my second day," Turcotte said. planet's atmosphere and the other once the ship is outside
Von Seeckt found that amusing. "It did not take you significant effect of gravity from planets and stars. We sim-
long to get in trouble," he said. "You are going to the ply don't know, and what if we turn the wrong one on?
hospital with me?" "Does the interstellar drive create its own wormhole and
Turcotte nodded. "What were you talking about earlier? the ship is pulled through? Maybe. So, maybe we make a
About everyone dying?" wormhole on earth--not good! Or does it ride the gravita-
The engine noise increased as the plane taxied toward tional waves? But in riding, does it disturb them? Imagine
the end of the runway. "Those fools," Von Seeckt said, what that could do. And what will it do if we lose control?
gesturing out the window. "They are playing with forces "And who is to say the engine will still work properly? It
they don't understand." is a flaw of inductive logic to say that just because the
"The flying saucers?" Turcotte asked. bouncers still work that the mothership will work. In fact,
"Yes, the saucers. We call them bouncers," Von Seeckt what if it is broken and turning it on makes it self-de-
said. "But even more, there is another ship. You have not struct?"
seen the large one, have you?" Von Seeckt leaned over and spoke in a lower voice. "In
"No. I've only seen the ones here in this hangar." 1989 we were working on one of the engines from the
"There is a bigger one. Much bigger. They are trying to bouncers. We had removed it from the craft and placed it
figure out how to fly it. They believe if they can get it to in a cradle. The men working on it were testing tolerances
work they can take it into orbit and then back. Then there and operating parameters.
will no longer be any need for the space shuttles, but more "They found out about tolerances! They turned it on and
importantly they believe that it is an interstellar transport, it ripped out of the cradle holding it. They had not repli-
14 A R E A 5 1
0 ROBERT DOHERTY 141
cated the control system adequately and lost the ability to knowledge I brought with me. His chain-reaction experi-
turn it off. It tore through the retaining wall, killing five ment gave them the raw material. I gave them the technol-
men. When it finally came to a stop it was buried sixty-five ogy."
feet into solid rock. It took over two weeks to drill into the "You did?" Turcotte asked. The plane was gaining alti-
rock and remove it. It wasn't damaged at all. tude. "How did you know--
"I have seen it before. They never learn. I understood Von Seeckt raised his cane. "Another time for that story,
the first time. There was a war. Extreme measures were maybe. We worked nonstop until 1945. We thought we had
called for then. But there is no war now. And all the se- it right, just like they think they understand the mother-
crecy! Why? What are we hiding all this for? General Gul- ship. The difference was that there was a war then. And
lick says it is because the public will not understand, and even so, there were many who argued we should not test
his cronies produce all sorts of psychological studies to the bomb, but everyone in power was tired. Then Roose-
back that up, but I do not believe it. They hide it because velt died. They hadn't even briefed Vice President Truman.
they have hidden it for so long that they can no longer Their great secrecy almost cost them there. The secretary
reveal what they have been doing without saying that the of state had to go and tell him about the bomb the day
government has lied for so many years. And they hide it after the President died.
because knowledge is power and the bouncers and the "After understanding the significance of what he was
mothership represent the ultimate power." told, Truman gave the go-ahead to test. But I don't think
The plane was gathering speed and moving down the they fully informed him of the potential for disaster, just as
runway. "It all used to make sense," Von Seeckt said. "But they keep the President in the dark now. We took a chance
this year something changed. They are all acting very then."
strangely." Von Seeckt muttered something in German that
Turcotte had cued into something Von Seeckt had said. Turcotte didn't catch, then he continued in English. "They
"What do you mean the 'first time'?" have a presidential adviser on the Majic committee, but
"I have worked for the government of the United States there is much they do not tell her. I know they have not
a very long time," Von Seeckt said. "I had a certain"--Von told her about the Nightscape missions. They believe this
Seeckt paused--"knowledge and expertise that they operation here, and much else that is secret in the govern-
needed so they, ah, recruited me in mid-1942. I came out ment, is beyond the scope of the politicians who can be
here to the West. To Los Alamos, in New Mexico." gone in four years."
"The bomb," Turcotte said. Turcotte didn't respond to that. He had long ago decided
Von Seeckt nodded. "Yes. The bomb. But in 1943 I that the country was run by bureaucrats who stayed in their
moved to Dulce, New Mexico. That is where the real work slots for decades--not by politicians who came and went.
went on. Los Alamos, they worked off of the information At least he was beginning to understand why Duncan had
we gave them. sent him in to infiltrate Nightscape.
"It was all very, very secret. They pieced it all out. Fermi "On the sixteenth of July, in the year of our Lord 1945,
had already done the first piece even before they had the at five-thirty in the morning, the first atomic weapon made
142 ROBERT DOHERTY 143
AREA 51
by man was detonated. We placed it on a steel tower in the God down there below us and someone has to stop them.
desert outside of Alamogordo Air Base. No one quite There are four days before they try to run up the mother-
knew what was going to happen. There were some--some ship to full power. Four days. Four days until Armaged-
of the finest minds mankind has ever produced--who be- don."
lieved the world would end. That the bomb would start a Turcotte asked several questions but Von Seeckt
chain reaction that would not stop until it consumed the wouldn't answer. The rest of the trip was made in silence.
planet. Others thought nothing would happen. Because it
was even riskier than history thinks. We were playing with
technology we had not developed!" McCARREN AIRPORT, LAS VEGAS
That confused Turcotte. He had always understood that
the U.S. had developed the A-bomb from scratch. He It was still dark. Kelly waited in the terminal, staring out at
didn't have time to focus on that because Von Seeckt was the runway. A plane roared overhead, and in the runway
still talking. lights she could see the red stripe painted down the side.
"It was children playing with something we hoped we The plane touched down but didn't turn toward the termi-
understood. What if a simple mistake had been made? nal. It pulled off to an area about a quarter mile away,
What if we had connected the red wire where the blue wire behind a fence with green slats. Show time.
was supposed to go? And even if it did work we weren't Kelly ran through the main terminal dodging tourists
quite sure of the limitations! and burst outside. She slid into the rental car she'd left at
"Do you know what Oppenheimer said he was thinking the curb, stuffing the ticket that had been placed on the
about that morning?" Von Seeckt didn't wait for an an- windshield into her pocket. Following the airport service
swer. "He was thinking of the Hindu saying: 'I am become road, she paralleled the green fence, stopping as she
death, the shatterer of worlds.' And we had. It went just as neared a gate in it. She shut down the engine and turned
planned. We had death under our control--because it did off the lights. There was the faintest glow of dawn on the
not start a chain reaction and it didn't just sit there on the horizon.
tower and do nothing. It worked." "What now?" she asked herself. She opened one of the
"Why are you telling me this?" Turcotte asked. packs she had bought and lit up. The first breath in was
"Because I think you are done here, as you say. And I awful, tearing down her throat. She felt lightheaded and
am dying. And there is nothing left for me." nauseated. The second was better. "Three years down the
Von Seeckt was silent for a few minutes, the plane rising tube," she muttered.
up into the early-morning darkness. "Because I have lived A bus pulled up to the gate and it swung open, admitting
in ignorance and fear for all my years but now I have noth- the vehicle. Kelly opened the door, stubbing out the ciga-
ing to fear. I am dead even as you see me, but it is only now rette. Just before the gate shut, a van with darkened win-
in looking back with a different perspective that I know I dows pulled out.
was dead all those years." He turned. "Because you are "Shit," Kelly said, jumping back in the car. As it turned
young and have a life ahead of you. And they are playing the corner she got the car started and followed. The van
144 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 145
turned onto Las Vegas Boulevard and headed north. They styled silver hair and expensive glasses. He appeared to be
passed the Mirage, Caesars Palace, and other famous casi- in good shape and was coldly efficient in bedside manner.
nos that lined the street. At the edge of town the van made "Strip down to the waist," Cruise ordered.
a right into the main gate for Nellis Air Force Base. Turcotte remembered Prague's nickname for him--
Kelly made a quick decision and followed, merging into meat. He was beginning to feel more and more like that
the flow of early-morning work traffic entering the post. was apropos. Hell, Turcotte thought as he watched Dr.
The air policeman waved her to a halt as she had expected, Cruise prepare a needle with painkiller, he'd have sewn the
because she had no access sticker on her rent-a-car, but she wound up himself if he'd had access to the proper medical
was prepared. equipment. He'd been hurt worse on training exercises.
"Could you tell me how to get to the public affairs of- "Have you seen the pilot who was injured?" Turcotte
ficer?" she asked, holding up her press card as the line of asked as Cruise slid the needle into his side.
cars piled up behind her. She could see the van still ahead. "Yes."
The air policeman hurriedly gave her directions and Turcotte waited a few seconds but there was nothing fur-
waved her through, keeping the flow of traffic going. Kelly ther. "How is he?"
had watched the van and followed in the direction it had "Fractured skull. Some bleeding on the brain. He was
gone. lucky whoever was with him didn't take his helmet off, or
She was surprised to see it parked outside a building he wouldn't have made it here alive."
next to the post hospital. Kelly drove past, looped around, Luck had nothing to do with it,
then parked in the lot outside a dental clinic across the Turcotte thought to him-
street. self. "Has he regained consciousness?"
The side door of the van slid open and two men in black "No." Cruise put the needle down and picked up a
windbreakers stepped out, then an old man leaning on a charged surgical needle. He seemed quite preoccupied
cane, followed by a fourth man wearing a dirty and torn with some other thoughts.
black parka. Turcotte watched with detachment as Cruise began to
The four disappeared into a door. Kelly leaned back and sew the edges of the tear on his side together. He consid-
exercised what her dad had told her was the most impor- ered his situation. If Prague had suspected him, then the
tant trait a person could have--patience. word hadn't been passed along, because the two guards
were obviously for Von Seeckt. That meant he was home
Inside the hospital annex the man in the white coat was free as soon as he was done here.
curt and to the point. "I'm Dr. Cruise. Please take a seat in "Wait here," Doctor Cruise ordered after he'd finished
examining room two, Professor Von Seeckt. You," he said, putting a bandage on the arm. He went into the office next
pointing at Turcotte, "follow me." They left the watchdogs door. The door swung shut but the latch didn't catch and it
in the waiting room. was left slightly ajar. Looking at the mirror above the ex-
Turcotte followed the doctor into examining room one. amining table, Turcotte could see into the office. Cruise
Turcotte estimated Cruise to be in his fifties, with carefully was at the sink, washing his hands. Then the doctor placed
AREA 51 147
146 ROBERT DOHERTY
both hands on the edge of the sink and stared in the mir- "This wouldn't happen to be something that causes pul-
ror, saying something to himself. monary failure, would it?"
Turcotte thought that quite odd. Then Cruise reached "No," Cruise said, his eyes wide and staring down at the
into a pocket inside his coat and pulled out a needle with a gleaming metal and glass tube.
plastic protective cover over the tip. He stared at the nee- "Then there's no problem if you get a dose," Turcotte
dle, removed the cover, then took a deep breath and said, pushing the point into Cruise's neck.
headed out of the office, through the far door, handling the Sweat was pouring down Cruise's face as Turcotte's
needle very gingerly. thumb poised over the plunger.
Turcotte hopped off the examining table and slowly "No problem, right, Doctor?"
opened the door to Cruise's office. He looked about. There "Don't. Please. Don't," Cruise whispered.
was some paperwork on the desk. Turcotte noticed a folder Von Seeckt didn't seem too surprised by any of these
with Von Seeckt's name neatly printed on the label. He events. He was putting his shirt back on. "What is in it, Dr.
flipped it open. Cruise? My friend with the needle, he has had a hard night.
The top document was a certificate of death signed by I would not provoke him into doing anything rash."
Cruise with today's date in the top right block. Cause of "It's insulin."
death: pulmonary failure. "And please tell me what that would have done to me?"
Turcotte twisted the knob and threw open the door to Von Seeckt asked.
examining room two. Cruise froze, the needle a few inches "An overdose would cause your heart to stop," Cruise
away from the old man's arm. "Don't move!" Turcotte or- said.
dered, drawing his 9mm Browning High Power from his "Your death certificate is filled out on the good doctor's
hip holster. desk," Turcotte said, looking at Von Seeckt. "He already
"What do you think you're doing?" Cruise blustered. signed it. The only thing blank was your time of death, but
"Put the needle down," Turcotte said. it was dated today."
"I'll report you to General Gullick," Cruise said, care- "Ah, after all these years." Von Seeckt shook his head.
fully putting the syringe down on the countertop. "And you are a doctor," he added, shaking his head at
"What is going on?" Von Seeckt asked in German. Cruise. "I knew General Gullick was evil, but you should
"We'll find out in a second," Turcotte said, keeping the know better. You swore an oath to preserve life."
muzzle of his pistol on Cruise as he walked over and "Gullick ordered this?" Turcotte asked.
picked up the needle. Cruise almost shook his head, but thought better of it
"What's in it?" he asked. given the steel needle in his throat. "Yes."
"His treatment," Cruise said, his eyes on the syringe. Turcotte slid the needle out, but before Cruise could
"It won't harm you, then, will it?" Turcotte asked with a even draw a deep breath, he slammed his elbow up against
nasty smile, turning the point toward Cruise's neck. the doctor's temple. Cruise crumpled to the ground uncon-
"I'm--I--no, but--" Cruise froze as the tip touched his scious.
skin.
148 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 149
"Thank you, my friend," Von Seeckt said. He pulled his Von Seeckt leaned over and pointed at a small device
jacket on and picked up his cane. "And now?" under the steering column. "Electronic theft protection,"
"And now we get the hell out of here," Turcotte said. he explained. "There's a small conductor that is placed
"Follow me." there. Without it, no electrical power. They have begun
He opened the door and stepped out into the waiting installing--"
room, pistol first. There was only one guard there, reading "All right, all right," Turcotte cut in. He hadn't seen the
a magazine. He looked up and kept very still. driver take it out and it wasn't on the key ring. He looked
"Keys to the van," Turcotte ordered. "With your left back at the front door of the clinic. A shadow crossed his
hand." peripheral vision--the other guard coming around the cor-
The guard slowly took the keys out of his pocket. ner of the building.
"Put them on the table, then get on your knees, face to Then it all fell apart. The front door opened and the
the wall." The man complied. other guard staggered out, pistol waving about, firing,
"Get them, Professor," Turcotte said. He edged toward blinking blood out of his eyes.
the door, keeping his weapon on the guard. "Where's your Turcotte kicked open the driver side door. "Get out!" he
partner?" yelled to Von Seeckt. He fired three rounds quickly, delib-
The man kept silent, which is what Turcotte would have erately high, causing both guards to drop to the ground.
done in his position. Turcotte slammed the barrel of his
pistol down on the back of the man's head and he dropped "Jesus!" Kelly flicked her cigarette out the window and
to the floor. started the car's engine. The man who had just fired swung
"Let's go." Turcotte carefully opened the outside door around and looked at her, his eyes piercing right through
and looked out. Because of the tinted windows he couldn't the windshield from twenty feet away, then he spun about
tell if the other guard was inside the van, which was and fired again at the black-jacketed men. Too high, Kelly
parked. Turcotte stuck the hand with the gun inside his thought, and that decided her.
parka pocket. He walked out with Von Seeckt, straight up With a squeal of rubber she peeled out of the parking
to the van, and slid the side door open. Empty. "Get in." lot. She drove to the near side of the van, slamming on the
brakes and skidding to a halt. "Get in!" she yelled, leaning
On the other side of the street Kelly watched the two men over and throwing open the passenger door.
get into the van, the younger of the two holding a gun in The man with the gun shoved the old man in, following
his hand. She shifted her eyes and watched the other man, right behind. "Go! Go! Go!" he exhorted her.
the guard who had come outside to smoke a few minutes Kelly didn't need the advice. She fishtailed out of the
ago, turn around and start walking toward the front of the parking lot. The two men ran out into the road behind,
building. firing. A group of airmen waiting outside the dental clinic
ran for cover.
Turcotte turned the key and nothing happened. He tried There were a few plinks as bullets hit the trunk. Kelly
again. "Fuck," he muttered. took the next corner with her foot still pushing down on
150 ROBERT DOHERTY
the accelerator. They were out of sight of the two gunmen. 13
The main gate to the base was four blocks directly ahead.
"Steady through the gate," the man with the pistol said.
"We don't want to attract attention."
"No shit, Sherlock," Kelly replied.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
T-11O HOURS, 2O MINUTES
"So, Mr. Mike Turcotte and Professor Werner Von Seeckt,
are you the bad guys or the good guys?" Kelly asked. Her
hand shook as she lit a cigarette. "You don't mind, do
you?" she asked, indicating the cigarette.
"If I was younger, I'd have one myself," Von Seeckt said.
They were seated in her hotel room, belated introductions
having just been made.
"Why were you following us?" Turcotte demanded. "You
didn't just happen to be in that parking lot."
"I'm not telling you a thing, until you tell me who you
are and why those guys were shooting at you," Kelly said.
Von Seeckt was looking at a piece of paper he'd pulled
out of his coat. "To answer your first question, as you
Americans say, we are the men in the white hats."
"And the guys back at Nellis," Kelly asked, "--the men
in the black hats? Who are they?"
"The government," Turcotte said. "Or part of the gov-
ernment."
"Let's try this one more time," Kelly said. "Why were
they shooting at you?"
Turcotte gave a concise explanation of the events of the
previous twenty-four hours, from Area 51 to Devil's Nest,
152 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 153
back to the Cube, to the hospital annex and Doctor "Yes. And I've got a place in Phoenix that we can stop at
Cruise's attempt to kill Von Seeckt. on the way," Kelly said.
"Whoa!" Kelly said when he came to a halt. "You expect Turcotte sat down on the couch and rubbed his forehead.
me to believe that?" He had a massive headache and it was getting worse. His
"I don't give a shit what you believe," Turcotte said. side ached and he was tired. "No. We don't go anywhere,"
"Hey, don't get smart with me," Kelly said. "I saved your he said.
ass back there." "You can stay here," Kelly said. "I'm going after
"You only saved our ass if what I just told you was the Johnny."
truth," Turcotte replied. To his surprise Kelly laughed. "We need to stay together," Von Seeckt said in German.
"Good point." "Why?" Turcotte asked.
"So, I've told you our story," Turcotte said. "Why were "Hey!" Kelly yelled. "None of this talking around me."
you there?" "I was just telling my friend that we need to stick to-
"I'm looking for a friend of mine who has disappeared gether," Von Seeckt said.
trying to infiltrate Area 51, and you got off the shuttle "No," Turcotte said. "I'm done with this. I've done my
plane from that place. I didn't plan on getting caught in a duty and now it's time for someone else to deal with this."
gun battle. Have you heard about a reporter named Johnny He grabbed the phone.
Simmons getting picked up trying to get into Area 51 two "Who are you calling?"
nights ago?" "None of your business," Turcotte said. He began to dial
"There was a lot going on that night," Turcotte said. He the number that Duncan had given him. On the eighth
glanced at Von Seeckt. digit the phone went dead. He looked up to see Kelly hold-
"If he disappeared trying to get into Area 51," Von ing the cord, which she had unplugged from the wall.
Seeckt said, "he is either dead or he has been taken to a "It's my phone," she said.
government facility at Dulce, New Mexico." "This isn't a game!" Turcotte slammed the phone down.
Turcotte remembered Prague mentioning that place. "I know it isn't a game," Kelly replied just as loudly. "I
"I don't think he's dead," Kelly said. "The man who was just got shot at. My best friend has disappeared. He"--she
with him--a guy named Franklin--he was reported killed pointed at Von Seeckt--"almost was murdered. I don't
in a car crash that night. If they were going to kill Johnny, think anyone in this room thinks it's a game!"
it would have been just as easy for them to put him in the "Plug the phone back in." Turcotte spaced the words
car with Franklin. I think he's still alive and that means we out.
have to go to New Mexico." "No."
"Wait a second . . ." Turcotte began, but Von Seeckt As Turcotte began to stand, Kelly held up a hand. "Lis-
was nodding his head. ten to me. Before any of us does anything, let's get on the
"Yes, we must go to New Mexico. There is something same sheet of music."
there at Dulce we will need. Can you take us there in your "I agree," Von Seeckt said.
car?" "Who said we were voting?" Turcotte asked. He walked
154 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 155
over to the room door and opened it. Screw these people, he "And if you run it, your friend is dead," Turcotte
thought. He was tired and hurting and wanted nothing couldn't help throwing in.
more than to forget all about Area 51 and this entire mess. "Your phone call doesn't appear to have cheered you
He'd done his job and it had almost cost him his life. They up," Kelly said.
couldn't ask any more of him. Turcotte didn't reply.
He went down to the lobby and over to the first phone "We must do this ourselves," Von Seeckt said.
booth. Using his own phone credit card he dialed Duncan's "Do what?" Turcotte snapped.
number. It rang three times, then it was picked up, but the Von Seeckt looked at the piece of paper in his hand and
answer wasn't at all what he'd expected. read. " 'Power, sun. Forbidden. Home place, chariot, never
A mechanical voice came on. "You have dialed a num- again. Death to all living things.' "
ber that has been disconnected. Please check the number "What?" Turcotte was totally confused.
and dial again." "May I please use your phone?" Von Seeckt asked Kelly.
Turcotte punched in the ten numbers again. He was cer- "Certainly," Kelly said.
tain he had them right. And received the same response. "How come you're letting him call?" Turcotte asked.
"Fuck!" he hissed as he slammed the phone down, earning "He said please," Kelly replied.
himself a dirty look from a woman two phones over. "Wait one," Turcotte said to Von Seeckt, holding up his
He went to the elevator. Had the number been bogus to hand. "I'm pretty much in the dark here, like she is. But
start with? Or had he been cut off after going in? What the we're all in the same shit pile. I know what happened in
hell was going on? Nebraska. And I saw what they tried to do to you at the
He opened the door. Kelly barely looked up. She was medical annex. And I saw what they have in those hangars
grilling Von Seeckt. "But how did the government get the back there at Area 51, but I don't know what the hell is
bouncers? And why are they hiding them and pulling all going on. Before you make any phone calls, tell us what is
this deception shit? And what was the small sphere that going on."
made Turcotte's helicopter crash? And why were they try- "They are going to try to engage the propulsion unit of
ing to kill you if you were one of them--one of Majic-12?" the mothership on the fifteenth of this month. I fear that
"Because they have gone too far," Von Seeckt said. "Are when the engine is engaged there will be disaster."
going to go too far," he amended. "In four days they will "I know that--" Turcotte began.
cross the line." "Mothership?" Kelly cut in, which necessitated a brief
description by Von Seeckt.
"What line?" Kelly asked.
"Welcome back, my young friend," Von Seeckt said. "How will engaging the engine be a disaster?" Kelly
asked.
"Have you decided to stay with us?" "I do not know exactly," Von Seeckt said. "But there is
"I haven't decided anything," Turcotte muttered. He someone who might. Which is why I need to use the
slumped down in one of the chairs by the window. phone." He looked at Kelly. "Let me have the address of
"This is the biggest story in years," Kelly said. this place we will be stopping at in Phoenix." Kelly gave it
156 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 157
to him and Von Seeckt dragged the phone into the bed- Gullick moved on. "Two. This 'foo fighter.' Admiral
room suite and closed the door behind him. Coakley?"
Turcotte frowned but bowed to the situation. "Thanks "I have three ships en route to the location where it went
for the ride." down. One is the USS Pigeon, a submarine rescue ship. It
"Better late than never," she said. has the capability to send a minisub down to the bottom at
"What?" that location."
"Forget it." She pointed at the closed bedroom door. "Is "ETA and time to recover?" Gullick asked.
he on the level?" "ETA in six hours. Recovery--if they find it and it is
"Your guess is as good as mine," Turcotte said. intact--inside of twenty-four," Coakley responded.
"Great." "What do you mean if they find it?"
"It's a small object, General," Coakley explained. "It dis-
appeared in deep water and we're not even sure it's still
there."
THE CUBE, AREA 51 "You will find it," Gullick said.
General Gullick steepled his fingers and looked around the "Yes, sir."
conference table. Dr. Cruise was holding an ice pack to his "Sir . . ." Quinn paused.
temple. The other members of the inner circle were also "What?" Gullick snapped.
there. Dr. Duncan, naturally, had not been informed of the "What if this foo fighter wasn't the only one? The re-
meeting. ports we have from World War II indicate multiple sight-
"Priorities," Gullick said. "One. Mothership run-up and ings. There were three flying with the Enola Gay."
propulsion engagement. Ferrel?" "What if it isn't the only one?" Gullick repeated.
"On schedule," Doctor Ferrel said. "We're analyzing the "The pattern we observed with this one that went down
data from the run-up." in the Pacific indicated that it was waiting somewhere in
"What about the physical effect that Dr. Duncan com- the vicinity here and picked up Bouncer Three departing
plained about?" the Area."
Ferrel shook his head. "I don't know. She was the only "So?" Gullick said.
one affected. The only change in variables was that she is "Well, sir, then there might be another one of these foo
female." fighters in the vicinity here and it might interfere when we
"What?" Gullick said. run the mothership test flight. Obviously, the foo fighters
"Maybe the wave effect of the engine affects females are clued in to our operation here in some manner."
differently." General Gullick considered this. He had spent a lot of
"Is it significant?" Gullick asked. time worrying about the test flight. This was a new wrinkle,
"No, sir." and he struggled to deal with it. "Do you have any sugges-
"Any foreseeable problems?" tions, Major?"
"No, sir." "I think we ought to check and see if there is another
158 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 159
one around. The last one reacted to a bouncer flight. If surviving members of the Nightscape mission debriefed at
there is another one about, maybe it would react to an- the MSS via SATCOM. It appears that there was a civilian
other bouncer flight, except this time we would be more contact just as Bouncer Three arrived at the objective in
prepared." Nebraska and the foo fighter interfered. Captain Turcotte
Gullick nodded. "All right. We can't afford to have any- was on board Major Prague's helicopter. Prague's bird
thing go wrong on the fifteenth. Let's prepare a mission for stayed behind to deal with the civilians."
tonight. Except have two bouncers ready. One as bait, the "There was no report of civilians. No report at all," Gul-
rest of one's life, Kelly thought.
World War II. The last good war. Her dad had served in
the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to
the CIA. He'd jumped into Italy during the last year of the
136 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 137
war and worked with the partisans. Running the hills with a ing shift of workers. He was glad that he was going to be
band of renegades licensed to kill Germans and take what able to get out of here. First thing he would do in Las
they needed by force. Then he'd worked in Europe as the Vegas after getting his arm sewn up was call Duncan on the
war closed out, helping with the war crimes trials. Much of number he had memorized. He wanted to get everything
what he saw there had soured him on mankind. off his chest. Then hopefully he could leave all this behind.
Peace had never been the same. He'd turned to the slow He noticed an old man come on board, accompanied by
death of the bottle and lived with his memories and his two younger men whose demeanor suggested they were
nightmares. Kelly's mom had retreated into her own brain bodyguards for the first man. Despite the fact that they
and shut out the outside world. And because of them Kelly were the only other passengers on board, the old man took
had grown up fast. She wondered if her dad had still been the front row of seats on the other side of the plane from
alive, if his liver had lasted a little longer, how the affair at Turcotte. The bodyguards, apparently satisfied there were
Nellis would have turned out. She might have been able to no immediate threats, sat down a few rows back as the
go to him for help. At the very least, she would have con- plane's door was shut by the same hard-faced man who had
sidered what he would have done instead of blazing her greeted Turcotte with the breathalyzer a little less than
own path to destruction. He certainly would not have forty hours ago. That man disappeared into the cockpit.
bought into Prague's line so naively. He would have told "They are fools," the old man muttered in German, his
her to approach the bait very slowly and to watch out for gnarled hands wrapped around a cane with a silver handle.
the hook. Turcotte ignored him, looking out the window at the
The only legacy she had from her dad was his stories. base of Groom Mountain. Even this close--less than two
But she was his legacy and that was more than she could hundred meters away--it was almost impossible to tell that
say for herself at forty-two. No children and not much of a there was a hangar built into the side of the mountain.
career to counterweight that. As she walked to the airport,
Kelly felt an overwhelming depression. The only thing that Turcotte wondered how much money had been poured into
kept her going was Johnny. He needed her. this facility. Several billion dollars at least. Of course, with
She stopped in an all-night market and bought two packs the U.S. government having a covert black budget some-
of cigarettes and a lighter. where between thirty-four and fifty billion dollars a year,
he knew that was just a drop in the bucket.
"They will all die, just like they did last time," the old man
said in perfect German, shaking his head.
AREA 51 Turcotte looked over his shoulder. One of the body-
Turcotte strapped himself into the plane seat and tried to guards was asleep. The other was engrossed in a paper-
get comfortable. He'd spent the last two hours, since leav- back.
ing the underground control room, alone, waiting in a "Who will die?" Turcotte asked in the same language.
small room off of the hangar, until they rolled out the stairs The old man started and then looked at Turcotte. "Are
to load the 737 to fly into Las Vegas and pick up the morn- you one of Gullick's men?"
138 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 139
Turcotte lifted his right hand, exposing the blood-soaked that we can bridge centuries of normal development by
fabric. "/ was." simply flying the mothership. They think we can have the
"And now who are you?" stars right away without having to make the technological
At first Turcotte thought he had translated poorly, but breakthroughs to do it." Von Seeckt sighed. "Or, perhaps
then he realized he had it right, and he understood. It was more importantly, without the societal development."
a question he had struggled with all through the dark hours Turcotte had seen enough the past couple of days to
of the morning. "/ don't know, but I am done here." accept what Von Seeckt was saying at face value. "What's
The old man switched to English. "That is good. This is so bad about just flying the thing? Why are you saying it's a
not a place to be. Not with what they plan, but I am not threat to the planet?"
sure any distance will be enough." "We don't know how it works!" Von Seeckt said, stamp-
"Who are you?" ing the head of his cane down on the carpet. "The engine is
The old man inclined his head. "Werner Von Seeckt. incomprehensible. They are not even sure which of the
And you?" many machines inside is the engine.
"Mike Turcotte." "Or there may be two engines! Two modes of propul-
"I have worked here since 1943." sions. One for use inside of a solar system or inside a
"This is my second day," Turcotte said. planet's atmosphere and the other once the ship is outside
Von Seeckt found that amusing. "It did not take you significant effect of gravity from planets and stars. We sim-
long to get in trouble," he said. "You are going to the ply don't know, and what if we turn the wrong one on?
hospital with me?" "Does the interstellar drive create its own wormhole and
Turcotte nodded. "What were you talking about earlier? the ship is pulled through? Maybe. So, maybe we make a
About everyone dying?" wormhole on earth--not good! Or does it ride the gravita-
The engine noise increased as the plane taxied toward tional waves? But in riding, does it disturb them? Imagine
the end of the runway. "Those fools," Von Seeckt said, what that could do. And what will it do if we lose control?
gesturing out the window. "They are playing with forces "And who is to say the engine will still work properly? It
they don't understand." is a flaw of inductive logic to say that just because the
"The flying saucers?" Turcotte asked. bouncers still work that the mothership will work. In fact,
"Yes, the saucers. We call them bouncers," Von Seeckt what if it is broken and turning it on makes it self-de-
said. "But even more, there is another ship. You have not struct?"
seen the large one, have you?" Von Seeckt leaned over and spoke in a lower voice. "In
"No. I've only seen the ones here in this hangar." 1989 we were working on one of the engines from the
"There is a bigger one. Much bigger. They are trying to bouncers. We had removed it from the craft and placed it
figure out how to fly it. They believe if they can get it to in a cradle. The men working on it were testing tolerances
work they can take it into orbit and then back. Then there and operating parameters.
will no longer be any need for the space shuttles, but more "They found out about tolerances! They turned it on and
importantly they believe that it is an interstellar transport, it ripped out of the cradle holding it. They had not repli-
14 A R E A 5 1
0 ROBERT DOHERTY 141
cated the control system adequately and lost the ability to knowledge I brought with me. His chain-reaction experi-
turn it off. It tore through the retaining wall, killing five ment gave them the raw material. I gave them the technol-
men. When it finally came to a stop it was buried sixty-five ogy."
feet into solid rock. It took over two weeks to drill into the "You did?" Turcotte asked. The plane was gaining alti-
rock and remove it. It wasn't damaged at all. tude. "How did you know--
"I have seen it before. They never learn. I understood Von Seeckt raised his cane. "Another time for that story,
the first time. There was a war. Extreme measures were maybe. We worked nonstop until 1945. We thought we had
called for then. But there is no war now. And all the se- it right, just like they think they understand the mother-
crecy! Why? What are we hiding all this for? General Gul- ship. The difference was that there was a war then. And
lick says it is because the public will not understand, and even so, there were many who argued we should not test
his cronies produce all sorts of psychological studies to the bomb, but everyone in power was tired. Then Roose-
back that up, but I do not believe it. They hide it because velt died. They hadn't even briefed Vice President Truman.
they have hidden it for so long that they can no longer Their great secrecy almost cost them there. The secretary
reveal what they have been doing without saying that the of state had to go and tell him about the bomb the day
government has lied for so many years. And they hide it after the President died.
because knowledge is power and the bouncers and the "After understanding the significance of what he was
mothership represent the ultimate power." told, Truman gave the go-ahead to test. But I don't think
The plane was gathering speed and moving down the they fully informed him of the potential for disaster, just as
runway. "It all used to make sense," Von Seeckt said. "But they keep the President in the dark now. We took a chance
this year something changed. They are all acting very then."
strangely." Von Seeckt muttered something in German that
Turcotte had cued into something Von Seeckt had said. Turcotte didn't catch, then he continued in English. "They
"What do you mean the 'first time'?" have a presidential adviser on the Majic committee, but
"I have worked for the government of the United States there is much they do not tell her. I know they have not
a very long time," Von Seeckt said. "I had a certain"--Von told her about the Nightscape missions. They believe this
Seeckt paused--"knowledge and expertise that they operation here, and much else that is secret in the govern-
needed so they, ah, recruited me in mid-1942. I came out ment, is beyond the scope of the politicians who can be
here to the West. To Los Alamos, in New Mexico." gone in four years."
"The bomb," Turcotte said. Turcotte didn't respond to that. He had long ago decided
Von Seeckt nodded. "Yes. The bomb. But in 1943 I that the country was run by bureaucrats who stayed in their
moved to Dulce, New Mexico. That is where the real work slots for decades--not by politicians who came and went.
went on. Los Alamos, they worked off of the information At least he was beginning to understand why Duncan had
we gave them. sent him in to infiltrate Nightscape.
"It was all very, very secret. They pieced it all out. Fermi "On the sixteenth of July, in the year of our Lord 1945,
had already done the first piece even before they had the at five-thirty in the morning, the first atomic weapon made
142 ROBERT DOHERTY 143
AREA 51
by man was detonated. We placed it on a steel tower in the God down there below us and someone has to stop them.
desert outside of Alamogordo Air Base. No one quite There are four days before they try to run up the mother-
knew what was going to happen. There were some--some ship to full power. Four days. Four days until Armaged-
of the finest minds mankind has ever produced--who be- don."
lieved the world would end. That the bomb would start a Turcotte asked several questions but Von Seeckt
chain reaction that would not stop until it consumed the wouldn't answer. The rest of the trip was made in silence.
planet. Others thought nothing would happen. Because it
was even riskier than history thinks. We were playing with
technology we had not developed!" McCARREN AIRPORT, LAS VEGAS
That confused Turcotte. He had always understood that
the U.S. had developed the A-bomb from scratch. He It was still dark. Kelly waited in the terminal, staring out at
didn't have time to focus on that because Von Seeckt was the runway. A plane roared overhead, and in the runway
still talking. lights she could see the red stripe painted down the side.
"It was children playing with something we hoped we The plane touched down but didn't turn toward the termi-
understood. What if a simple mistake had been made? nal. It pulled off to an area about a quarter mile away,
What if we had connected the red wire where the blue wire behind a fence with green slats. Show time.
was supposed to go? And even if it did work we weren't Kelly ran through the main terminal dodging tourists
quite sure of the limitations! and burst outside. She slid into the rental car she'd left at
"Do you know what Oppenheimer said he was thinking the curb, stuffing the ticket that had been placed on the
about that morning?" Von Seeckt didn't wait for an an- windshield into her pocket. Following the airport service
swer. "He was thinking of the Hindu saying: 'I am become road, she paralleled the green fence, stopping as she
death, the shatterer of worlds.' And we had. It went just as neared a gate in it. She shut down the engine and turned
planned. We had death under our control--because it did off the lights. There was the faintest glow of dawn on the
not start a chain reaction and it didn't just sit there on the horizon.
tower and do nothing. It worked." "What now?" she asked herself. She opened one of the
"Why are you telling me this?" Turcotte asked. packs she had bought and lit up. The first breath in was
"Because I think you are done here, as you say. And I awful, tearing down her throat. She felt lightheaded and
am dying. And there is nothing left for me." nauseated. The second was better. "Three years down the
Von Seeckt was silent for a few minutes, the plane rising tube," she muttered.
up into the early-morning darkness. "Because I have lived A bus pulled up to the gate and it swung open, admitting
in ignorance and fear for all my years but now I have noth- the vehicle. Kelly opened the door, stubbing out the ciga-
ing to fear. I am dead even as you see me, but it is only now rette. Just before the gate shut, a van with darkened win-
in looking back with a different perspective that I know I dows pulled out.
was dead all those years." He turned. "Because you are "Shit," Kelly said, jumping back in the car. As it turned
young and have a life ahead of you. And they are playing the corner she got the car started and followed. The van
144 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 145
turned onto Las Vegas Boulevard and headed north. They styled silver hair and expensive glasses. He appeared to be
passed the Mirage, Caesars Palace, and other famous casi- in good shape and was coldly efficient in bedside manner.
nos that lined the street. At the edge of town the van made "Strip down to the waist," Cruise ordered.
a right into the main gate for Nellis Air Force Base. Turcotte remembered Prague's nickname for him--
Kelly made a quick decision and followed, merging into meat. He was beginning to feel more and more like that
the flow of early-morning work traffic entering the post. was apropos. Hell, Turcotte thought as he watched Dr.
The air policeman waved her to a halt as she had expected, Cruise prepare a needle with painkiller, he'd have sewn the
because she had no access sticker on her rent-a-car, but she wound up himself if he'd had access to the proper medical
was prepared. equipment. He'd been hurt worse on training exercises.
"Could you tell me how to get to the public affairs of- "Have you seen the pilot who was injured?" Turcotte
ficer?" she asked, holding up her press card as the line of asked as Cruise slid the needle into his side.
cars piled up behind her. She could see the van still ahead. "Yes."
The air policeman hurriedly gave her directions and Turcotte waited a few seconds but there was nothing fur-
waved her through, keeping the flow of traffic going. Kelly ther. "How is he?"
had watched the van and followed in the direction it had "Fractured skull. Some bleeding on the brain. He was
gone. lucky whoever was with him didn't take his helmet off, or
She was surprised to see it parked outside a building he wouldn't have made it here alive."
next to the post hospital. Kelly drove past, looped around, Luck had nothing to do with it,
then parked in the lot outside a dental clinic across the Turcotte thought to him-
street. self. "Has he regained consciousness?"
The side door of the van slid open and two men in black "No." Cruise put the needle down and picked up a
windbreakers stepped out, then an old man leaning on a charged surgical needle. He seemed quite preoccupied
cane, followed by a fourth man wearing a dirty and torn with some other thoughts.
black parka. Turcotte watched with detachment as Cruise began to
The four disappeared into a door. Kelly leaned back and sew the edges of the tear on his side together. He consid-
exercised what her dad had told her was the most impor- ered his situation. If Prague had suspected him, then the
tant trait a person could have--patience. word hadn't been passed along, because the two guards
were obviously for Von Seeckt. That meant he was home
Inside the hospital annex the man in the white coat was free as soon as he was done here.
curt and to the point. "I'm Dr. Cruise. Please take a seat in "Wait here," Doctor Cruise ordered after he'd finished
examining room two, Professor Von Seeckt. You," he said, putting a bandage on the arm. He went into the office next
pointing at Turcotte, "follow me." They left the watchdogs door. The door swung shut but the latch didn't catch and it
in the waiting room. was left slightly ajar. Looking at the mirror above the ex-
Turcotte followed the doctor into examining room one. amining table, Turcotte could see into the office. Cruise
Turcotte estimated Cruise to be in his fifties, with carefully was at the sink, washing his hands. Then the doctor placed
AREA 51 147
146 ROBERT DOHERTY
both hands on the edge of the sink and stared in the mir- "This wouldn't happen to be something that causes pul-
ror, saying something to himself. monary failure, would it?"
Turcotte thought that quite odd. Then Cruise reached "No," Cruise said, his eyes wide and staring down at the
into a pocket inside his coat and pulled out a needle with a gleaming metal and glass tube.
plastic protective cover over the tip. He stared at the nee- "Then there's no problem if you get a dose," Turcotte
dle, removed the cover, then took a deep breath and said, pushing the point into Cruise's neck.
headed out of the office, through the far door, handling the Sweat was pouring down Cruise's face as Turcotte's
needle very gingerly. thumb poised over the plunger.
Turcotte hopped off the examining table and slowly "No problem, right, Doctor?"
opened the door to Cruise's office. He looked about. There "Don't. Please. Don't," Cruise whispered.
was some paperwork on the desk. Turcotte noticed a folder Von Seeckt didn't seem too surprised by any of these
with Von Seeckt's name neatly printed on the label. He events. He was putting his shirt back on. "What is in it, Dr.
flipped it open. Cruise? My friend with the needle, he has had a hard night.
The top document was a certificate of death signed by I would not provoke him into doing anything rash."
Cruise with today's date in the top right block. Cause of "It's insulin."
death: pulmonary failure. "And please tell me what that would have done to me?"
Turcotte twisted the knob and threw open the door to Von Seeckt asked.
examining room two. Cruise froze, the needle a few inches "An overdose would cause your heart to stop," Cruise
away from the old man's arm. "Don't move!" Turcotte or- said.
dered, drawing his 9mm Browning High Power from his "Your death certificate is filled out on the good doctor's
hip holster. desk," Turcotte said, looking at Von Seeckt. "He already
"What do you think you're doing?" Cruise blustered. signed it. The only thing blank was your time of death, but
"Put the needle down," Turcotte said. it was dated today."
"I'll report you to General Gullick," Cruise said, care- "Ah, after all these years." Von Seeckt shook his head.
fully putting the syringe down on the countertop. "And you are a doctor," he added, shaking his head at
"What is going on?" Von Seeckt asked in German. Cruise. "I knew General Gullick was evil, but you should
"We'll find out in a second," Turcotte said, keeping the know better. You swore an oath to preserve life."
muzzle of his pistol on Cruise as he walked over and "Gullick ordered this?" Turcotte asked.
picked up the needle. Cruise almost shook his head, but thought better of it
"What's in it?" he asked. given the steel needle in his throat. "Yes."
"His treatment," Cruise said, his eyes on the syringe. Turcotte slid the needle out, but before Cruise could
"It won't harm you, then, will it?" Turcotte asked with a even draw a deep breath, he slammed his elbow up against
nasty smile, turning the point toward Cruise's neck. the doctor's temple. Cruise crumpled to the ground uncon-
"I'm--I--no, but--" Cruise froze as the tip touched his scious.
skin.
148 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 149
"Thank you, my friend," Von Seeckt said. He pulled his Von Seeckt leaned over and pointed at a small device
jacket on and picked up his cane. "And now?" under the steering column. "Electronic theft protection,"
"And now we get the hell out of here," Turcotte said. he explained. "There's a small conductor that is placed
"Follow me." there. Without it, no electrical power. They have begun
He opened the door and stepped out into the waiting installing--"
room, pistol first. There was only one guard there, reading "All right, all right," Turcotte cut in. He hadn't seen the
a magazine. He looked up and kept very still. driver take it out and it wasn't on the key ring. He looked
"Keys to the van," Turcotte ordered. "With your left back at the front door of the clinic. A shadow crossed his
hand." peripheral vision--the other guard coming around the cor-
The guard slowly took the keys out of his pocket. ner of the building.
"Put them on the table, then get on your knees, face to Then it all fell apart. The front door opened and the
the wall." The man complied. other guard staggered out, pistol waving about, firing,
"Get them, Professor," Turcotte said. He edged toward blinking blood out of his eyes.
the door, keeping his weapon on the guard. "Where's your Turcotte kicked open the driver side door. "Get out!" he
partner?" yelled to Von Seeckt. He fired three rounds quickly, delib-
The man kept silent, which is what Turcotte would have erately high, causing both guards to drop to the ground.
done in his position. Turcotte slammed the barrel of his
pistol down on the back of the man's head and he dropped "Jesus!" Kelly flicked her cigarette out the window and
to the floor. started the car's engine. The man who had just fired swung
"Let's go." Turcotte carefully opened the outside door around and looked at her, his eyes piercing right through
and looked out. Because of the tinted windows he couldn't the windshield from twenty feet away, then he spun about
tell if the other guard was inside the van, which was and fired again at the black-jacketed men. Too high, Kelly
parked. Turcotte stuck the hand with the gun inside his thought, and that decided her.
parka pocket. He walked out with Von Seeckt, straight up With a squeal of rubber she peeled out of the parking
to the van, and slid the side door open. Empty. "Get in." lot. She drove to the near side of the van, slamming on the
brakes and skidding to a halt. "Get in!" she yelled, leaning
On the other side of the street Kelly watched the two men over and throwing open the passenger door.
get into the van, the younger of the two holding a gun in The man with the gun shoved the old man in, following
his hand. She shifted her eyes and watched the other man, right behind. "Go! Go! Go!" he exhorted her.
the guard who had come outside to smoke a few minutes Kelly didn't need the advice. She fishtailed out of the
ago, turn around and start walking toward the front of the parking lot. The two men ran out into the road behind,
building. firing. A group of airmen waiting outside the dental clinic
ran for cover.
Turcotte turned the key and nothing happened. He tried There were a few plinks as bullets hit the trunk. Kelly
again. "Fuck," he muttered. took the next corner with her foot still pushing down on
150 ROBERT DOHERTY
the accelerator. They were out of sight of the two gunmen. 13
The main gate to the base was four blocks directly ahead.
"Steady through the gate," the man with the pistol said.
"We don't want to attract attention."
"No shit, Sherlock," Kelly replied.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
T-11O HOURS, 2O MINUTES
"So, Mr. Mike Turcotte and Professor Werner Von Seeckt,
are you the bad guys or the good guys?" Kelly asked. Her
hand shook as she lit a cigarette. "You don't mind, do
you?" she asked, indicating the cigarette.
"If I was younger, I'd have one myself," Von Seeckt said.
They were seated in her hotel room, belated introductions
having just been made.
"Why were you following us?" Turcotte demanded. "You
didn't just happen to be in that parking lot."
"I'm not telling you a thing, until you tell me who you
are and why those guys were shooting at you," Kelly said.
Von Seeckt was looking at a piece of paper he'd pulled
out of his coat. "To answer your first question, as you
Americans say, we are the men in the white hats."
"And the guys back at Nellis," Kelly asked, "--the men
in the black hats? Who are they?"
"The government," Turcotte said. "Or part of the gov-
ernment."
"Let's try this one more time," Kelly said. "Why were
they shooting at you?"
Turcotte gave a concise explanation of the events of the
previous twenty-four hours, from Area 51 to Devil's Nest,
152 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 153
back to the Cube, to the hospital annex and Doctor "Yes. And I've got a place in Phoenix that we can stop at
Cruise's attempt to kill Von Seeckt. on the way," Kelly said.
"Whoa!" Kelly said when he came to a halt. "You expect Turcotte sat down on the couch and rubbed his forehead.
me to believe that?" He had a massive headache and it was getting worse. His
"I don't give a shit what you believe," Turcotte said. side ached and he was tired. "No. We don't go anywhere,"
"Hey, don't get smart with me," Kelly said. "I saved your he said.
ass back there." "You can stay here," Kelly said. "I'm going after
"You only saved our ass if what I just told you was the Johnny."
truth," Turcotte replied. To his surprise Kelly laughed. "We need to stay together," Von Seeckt said in German.
"Good point." "Why?" Turcotte asked.
"So, I've told you our story," Turcotte said. "Why were "Hey!" Kelly yelled. "None of this talking around me."
you there?" "I was just telling my friend that we need to stick to-
"I'm looking for a friend of mine who has disappeared gether," Von Seeckt said.
trying to infiltrate Area 51, and you got off the shuttle "No," Turcotte said. "I'm done with this. I've done my
plane from that place. I didn't plan on getting caught in a duty and now it's time for someone else to deal with this."
gun battle. Have you heard about a reporter named Johnny He grabbed the phone.
Simmons getting picked up trying to get into Area 51 two "Who are you calling?"
nights ago?" "None of your business," Turcotte said. He began to dial
"There was a lot going on that night," Turcotte said. He the number that Duncan had given him. On the eighth
glanced at Von Seeckt. digit the phone went dead. He looked up to see Kelly hold-
"If he disappeared trying to get into Area 51," Von ing the cord, which she had unplugged from the wall.
Seeckt said, "he is either dead or he has been taken to a "It's my phone," she said.
government facility at Dulce, New Mexico." "This isn't a game!" Turcotte slammed the phone down.
Turcotte remembered Prague mentioning that place. "I know it isn't a game," Kelly replied just as loudly. "I
"I don't think he's dead," Kelly said. "The man who was just got shot at. My best friend has disappeared. He"--she
with him--a guy named Franklin--he was reported killed pointed at Von Seeckt--"almost was murdered. I don't
in a car crash that night. If they were going to kill Johnny, think anyone in this room thinks it's a game!"
it would have been just as easy for them to put him in the "Plug the phone back in." Turcotte spaced the words
car with Franklin. I think he's still alive and that means we out.
have to go to New Mexico." "No."
"Wait a second . . ." Turcotte began, but Von Seeckt As Turcotte began to stand, Kelly held up a hand. "Lis-
was nodding his head. ten to me. Before any of us does anything, let's get on the
"Yes, we must go to New Mexico. There is something same sheet of music."
there at Dulce we will need. Can you take us there in your "I agree," Von Seeckt said.
car?" "Who said we were voting?" Turcotte asked. He walked
154 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 155
over to the room door and opened it. Screw these people, he "And if you run it, your friend is dead," Turcotte
thought. He was tired and hurting and wanted nothing couldn't help throwing in.
more than to forget all about Area 51 and this entire mess. "Your phone call doesn't appear to have cheered you
He'd done his job and it had almost cost him his life. They up," Kelly said.
couldn't ask any more of him. Turcotte didn't reply.
He went down to the lobby and over to the first phone "We must do this ourselves," Von Seeckt said.
booth. Using his own phone credit card he dialed Duncan's "Do what?" Turcotte snapped.
number. It rang three times, then it was picked up, but the Von Seeckt looked at the piece of paper in his hand and
answer wasn't at all what he'd expected. read. " 'Power, sun. Forbidden. Home place, chariot, never
A mechanical voice came on. "You have dialed a num- again. Death to all living things.' "
ber that has been disconnected. Please check the number "What?" Turcotte was totally confused.
and dial again." "May I please use your phone?" Von Seeckt asked Kelly.
Turcotte punched in the ten numbers again. He was cer- "Certainly," Kelly said.
tain he had them right. And received the same response. "How come you're letting him call?" Turcotte asked.
"Fuck!" he hissed as he slammed the phone down, earning "He said please," Kelly replied.
himself a dirty look from a woman two phones over. "Wait one," Turcotte said to Von Seeckt, holding up his
He went to the elevator. Had the number been bogus to hand. "I'm pretty much in the dark here, like she is. But
start with? Or had he been cut off after going in? What the we're all in the same shit pile. I know what happened in
hell was going on? Nebraska. And I saw what they tried to do to you at the
He opened the door. Kelly barely looked up. She was medical annex. And I saw what they have in those hangars
grilling Von Seeckt. "But how did the government get the back there at Area 51, but I don't know what the hell is
bouncers? And why are they hiding them and pulling all going on. Before you make any phone calls, tell us what is
this deception shit? And what was the small sphere that going on."
made Turcotte's helicopter crash? And why were they try- "They are going to try to engage the propulsion unit of
ing to kill you if you were one of them--one of Majic-12?" the mothership on the fifteenth of this month. I fear that
"Because they have gone too far," Von Seeckt said. "Are when the engine is engaged there will be disaster."
going to go too far," he amended. "In four days they will "I know that--" Turcotte began.
cross the line." "Mothership?" Kelly cut in, which necessitated a brief
description by Von Seeckt.
"What line?" Kelly asked.
"Welcome back, my young friend," Von Seeckt said. "How will engaging the engine be a disaster?" Kelly
asked.
"Have you decided to stay with us?" "I do not know exactly," Von Seeckt said. "But there is
"I haven't decided anything," Turcotte muttered. He someone who might. Which is why I need to use the
slumped down in one of the chairs by the window. phone." He looked at Kelly. "Let me have the address of
"This is the biggest story in years," Kelly said. this place we will be stopping at in Phoenix." Kelly gave it
156 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 157
to him and Von Seeckt dragged the phone into the bed- Gullick moved on. "Two. This 'foo fighter.' Admiral
room suite and closed the door behind him. Coakley?"
Turcotte frowned but bowed to the situation. "Thanks "I have three ships en route to the location where it went
for the ride." down. One is the USS Pigeon, a submarine rescue ship. It
"Better late than never," she said. has the capability to send a minisub down to the bottom at
"What?" that location."
"Forget it." She pointed at the closed bedroom door. "Is "ETA and time to recover?" Gullick asked.
he on the level?" "ETA in six hours. Recovery--if they find it and it is
"Your guess is as good as mine," Turcotte said. intact--inside of twenty-four," Coakley responded.
"Great." "What do you mean if they find it?"
"It's a small object, General," Coakley explained. "It dis-
appeared in deep water and we're not even sure it's still
there."
THE CUBE, AREA 51 "You will find it," Gullick said.
General Gullick steepled his fingers and looked around the "Yes, sir."
conference table. Dr. Cruise was holding an ice pack to his "Sir . . ." Quinn paused.
temple. The other members of the inner circle were also "What?" Gullick snapped.
there. Dr. Duncan, naturally, had not been informed of the "What if this foo fighter wasn't the only one? The re-
meeting. ports we have from World War II indicate multiple sight-
"Priorities," Gullick said. "One. Mothership run-up and ings. There were three flying with the Enola Gay."
propulsion engagement. Ferrel?" "What if it isn't the only one?" Gullick repeated.
"On schedule," Doctor Ferrel said. "We're analyzing the "The pattern we observed with this one that went down
data from the run-up." in the Pacific indicated that it was waiting somewhere in
"What about the physical effect that Dr. Duncan com- the vicinity here and picked up Bouncer Three departing
plained about?" the Area."
Ferrel shook his head. "I don't know. She was the only "So?" Gullick said.
one affected. The only change in variables was that she is "Well, sir, then there might be another one of these foo
female." fighters in the vicinity here and it might interfere when we
"What?" Gullick said. run the mothership test flight. Obviously, the foo fighters
"Maybe the wave effect of the engine affects females are clued in to our operation here in some manner."
differently." General Gullick considered this. He had spent a lot of
"Is it significant?" Gullick asked. time worrying about the test flight. This was a new wrinkle,
"No, sir." and he struggled to deal with it. "Do you have any sugges-
"Any foreseeable problems?" tions, Major?"
"No, sir." "I think we ought to check and see if there is another
158 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 159
one around. The last one reacted to a bouncer flight. If surviving members of the Nightscape mission debriefed at
there is another one about, maybe it would react to an- the MSS via SATCOM. It appears that there was a civilian
other bouncer flight, except this time we would be more contact just as Bouncer Three arrived at the objective in
prepared." Nebraska and the foo fighter interfered. Captain Turcotte
Gullick nodded. "All right. We can't afford to have any- was on board Major Prague's helicopter. Prague's bird
thing go wrong on the fifteenth. Let's prepare a mission for stayed behind to deal with the civilians."
tonight. Except have two bouncers ready. One as bait, the "There was no report of civilians. No report at all," Gul-