puter had an abstract on the book. Sebottendorff had Nabinger opened his eyes and went back to the abstract
taken the ancient myth of Atlantis and the myth of Thule on the book. Apparently the book had been destroyed and
and reinvented them with his own sick motivations. information about it suppressed because Hitler wanted
According to Sebottendorff, Thule was reported to have
68 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 5 1 69
people to think all his ideas had begun with him and were formation that he always carried with him when he went
not borrowed from other sources. overseas to work. In the back were several pages of docu-
Nabinger decided to press on for a bit along the present ment protectors, each sized to hold twelve business cards.
avenue of research. A search on Atlantis brought a large He found the card of Helen Slater, the woman from Bimini
number of references--over three thousand. Obviously the who had spoken at the conference. He removed it and put
Germans had not been alone in their interest. Nabinger it in his breast pocket.
searched the titles until he found one that seemed to give Nabinger hit the F-3 key to print out the article and
an overview of the history of the fabled continent. moved on to another article. This one described a nine-
Atlantis was often regarded as a myth mentioned in orig- teenth century American congressman, Ignatius Donnelly,
inal source only by Plato. Most historians thought Plato who had published a book called Atlantis: The Antediluvian
had made the tale of Atlantis up to stress a point and that World, which had been a best-seller in its own time. Don-
it was only a literary tool. For those who did think it repre- nelly's hypothesis was based on similarities between pre-
sented an actual place, the fingers pointed to various loca- Columbian civilizations in America and Egypt. Nabinger
tions. Some believe it to be the island of Thera in the felt like he was reading the beginning of his own unpub-
Mediterranean, which was destroyed by a volcanic erup- lished paper on the high runes. Both cultures had had
tion. The crater of the volcano Santorini had been investi- pyramids, embalming, a 365-day calendar, and a mythology
gated by leading oceanographers, searching for clues. about an ancient flood. Donnelly's theories had been torn
Others placed it in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The apart by scientists of his own day, which didn't surprise
Azores were mentioned--the Lake of the Seven Cities on Nabinger. The same connection had been made by people
the island of Sao Miguel was a body of water in a volcanic in this century and received the same chilly reception,
crater. The main city of Atlantis was supposed to lie be- which was the major reason Nabinger's paper was still un-
neath that lake, or so the supporters of that site claimed. published.
Nabinger scanned down, skipping most of the middle of Done with that article, he decided to get back to what
the article, looking to see what the latest theories were. had led him here: the cross-reference with the Nazis and
Recent discoveries of large stones closely fitted together Atlantis. The Nazis had launched expeditions during World
off the islands of Bimini in the Bahamas had caused quite a War II to the cold wastelands on both ends of the earth, in
bit of excitement several years previously and the enigma search of both Atlantis/Thule and relics such as the Holy
of their creation and location had never really been ade- Grail. And also to Central America, where there were
quately explained. That struck a bell with Nabinger. A pyramids, not quite as large or of the exact same design as
speaker at an archeological conference he had attended those in Egypt, but with high runes also.
the previous year had been from Bimini and had spoken of Nabinger stroked his beard. What had the Nazis found
the site. And, if he remembered rightly, there were high that had led them back to the Great Pyramid and to a
runes there, too, that couldn't be deciphered. chamber that had been undisturbed for over four thousand
Nabinger put his briefcase on the table next to the com- years? Had they broken the code on the runes and found
puter and dug through. He had a binder in there with in- out important information? Was there something written
Lff* 8
7O ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 71
in these other locations about the pyramids? If Kaji's story Curses against interlopers in the monuments of ancient
was true, at' the very least they had found information that Egypt were not unknown. Did this curse relate to what Von
had told them of the lower chamber. Seeckt had taken out of the pyramid? And why had the
Nabinger cleared the screen and went back to the word Allies hidden all record of the invasion of the pyramid and
search. He slowly typed in the name Kaji had given him: the discovery of the lower chamber? It had to be something
much more important than some simple archeological find.
There was a way to find out. The end of the article stated
Von Seeckt. that Von Seeckt was still alive and living in Las Vegas.
Nabinger turned off the computer and stood. Budget be
One hit. Nabinger accessed the article. It was a fifty-year damned, there was a mystery here, and he was the only one
anniversary article about the atomic bomb being dropped who was on its trail. He left the university library and
on Hiroshima. It detailed the development of the atomic walked into the nearest travel agency to book a return
bomb during World War II. Nabinger scanned down. Von flight to the States that evening, with one stop en route to
Seeckt's name was listed as one of the physicists who had see Slater in Bimini.
worked on development and testing of the bomb. Once he knew when he would be arriving, he rang
But Von Seeckt had been with Germans, according to through the long-distance operator to information in Ne-
Kaji. How had he ended up in America in the middle of vada. There was a Werner Von Seeckt listed and Nabinger
the war? And why had the Germans brought a nuclear copied down the number. After he'd dialed it, he found
physicist into the Great Pyramid? And, most importantly, himself talking to voice mail. As the beep sounded, Nab-
what had Von Seeckt discovered and carried out of the inger quickly composed his message:
lower chamber in 1942? "Professor Von Seeckt, my name is Peter Nabinger. I
work with the Egyptology Department at the Brooklyn
Nabinger's fingers halted over the keyboard as some-
Museum. I would like to talk to you about the Great Pyra-
thing he had written earlier in the day came back to him. mid, which I believe we have a mutual interest in. I just
He reached into his backpack and pulled out his deciphered some of the writing in the lower chamber,
sketchpad. He'd been working on the panels in the lower which I believe you visited once upon a time and it says:
chamber that stood at the head of where the sarcophagus Power, sun. Forbidden. Home place, chariot, never again.
had once been. The partially deciphered rune text was Death to all living things. Perhaps you could help shed some
there in pencil: light on my translation. Leave me a message how I can get
hold of you at my voice-mail box," and Nabinger left his
POWER SUN number.
FORBIDDEN
HOME PLACE (???) CHARIOT (???) NEVER
AGAIN
(???) DEATH TO ALL LIVING THINGS
AREA 51 73
immediately flanked by two men wearing black wind-
breakers and khaki slacks, their eyes hidden behind wrap-
around sunglasses.
They hustled him into a waiting car and headed to the
airstrip at Nellis Air Force Base, where a small black heli-
copter waited to whisk him back to the northwest. As the
helicopter lifted off, Von Seeckt leaned back in the thinly
padded seat and contemplated the terrain flitting by under-
neath. The American desert had been his home for over
fifty years now, but his heart still longed for the tree-cov-
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA ered slopes of the Bavarian Alps, where he had grown up.
T-133 HOURS He had always hoped he would see his homeland before he
died, but now, today, he knew he wouldn't. They would
"About a year, give or take six months, without treatment.
never let him go, even after so many years had passed.
With treatment you can add perhaps another half a year."
He unfolded the piece of paper on which he had written
The old man didn't blink at Dr. Cruise's pronounce-
the message he had taken off his answering service while
ment. He nodded and rose to his feet, a black cane with a
waiting in Cruise's office. Power, sun. Forbidden. Home
wide silver handle grasped in his withered left hand.
"Thank you, Doctor." place, chariot, never again. Death to all living things. He re-
"We can start the treatments tomorrow morning, Profes- membered the Great Pyramid.
sor Von Seeckt," Dr. Cruise hastily added, as if to cushion Von Seeckt leaned back in the seat. It was all coming
his earlier words. around again, like a large circle. His life was back where it
"That is fine." had been over fifty years ago. The question he had to ask
"Would you like something--" Cruise paused as the old himself was whether he had learned anything and whether
man held up his hand. he was willing to act differently this time.
"I will be fine. This is not a surprise. I was informed this
would most likely be the case when I was hospitalized ear-
lier this year. I just wanted to confirm it, and I also believe THE DEVIL'S NEST, NEBRASKA
I was owed the respect of your telling me yourself. My T--132 HOURS
security will take me home."
"I'll see you at the meeting later this morning," Cruise Underneath the camouflage netting that Turcotte had
said, stiffening at the implied rebuke in Von Seeckt's helped rig during darkness, the mechanics made the three
words. helicopters ready for flight, folding the rotors out and lock-
"Good day, Doctor." With that Werner Von Seeckt ing them in place. The pilots walked around, making their
made his way out into the hallway of the hospital and was preflight checks.
74 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 75
On the perimeter of the primitive airstrip Turcotte was was good news. The old man had long ago outlived his
lying on his stomach in the middle of a four-hour guard usefulness.
shift, looking down the one asphalt road that led up to the Gullick shifted his attention to the youngest person in
airstrip. The road was in bad shape. Plants and weeds had the room, who was sitting to his immediate right. She was a
sprouted up through cracks, and it seemed obvious this small, dark-haired woman with a thin face, dressed severely
place had been abandoned for quite a while. That didn't in a sharply cut gray suit. This was Dr. Lisa Duncan's first
mean, of course, that someone in a four-wheel-drive vehi- meeting, and while inbriefing her on the project was one of
cle couldn't come wandering up and stumble over their the two priorities on the meeting schedule, it was not the
mission support site. Thus Turcotte's orders to apprehend primary one in Gullick's mind. In fact, he resented having
anyone coming up the road. to take time out at such a critical juncture in the project to
The question that still had not been answered--albeit get a new person up to speed.
Turcotte had not asked it out loud--was what mission this There was also the fact that Dr. Duncan was the first
site was set up to support. Prague had given orders through woman ever allowed in this room. But, since Duncan was
the night, but they had been immediate ones, directed filling the chair reserved for the presidential adviser, it paid
to the security of this location, not shedding any light on at least to give the appearance of respect. The fingers of
what they would be doing once the sun went down this Gullick's left hand lightly traced over his smooth skull, ca-
evening. ressing the skin as if soothing the brain underneath. There
was so much to do and so little time! Why had the previous
adviser been reassigned? Duncan's predecessor had been
an old physics professor who had been so enraptured by
THE CUBE, AREA 51 what they were doing upstairs in the hangar that he had
T-13O HOURS, 3O MINUTES been no trouble.
The conference room was to the left of the control center A week ago Kennedy, the CIA representative, had been
as one got off the elevator. It was soundproofed and swept the first to notify Gullick of Duncan's assignment and this
daily for bugs. The Cube had never had a security compro- visit. Gullick had ordered the CIA man to look into
mise and General Gullick was going to insure that the rec- Duncan's background. She was a threat; Gullick was con-
ord remained intact. vinced of that. The timing of her sudden assignment and
A large, rectangular mahogany table filled the middle of this first visit couldn't be coincidental.
the room with twelve deep leather chairs lining the edges. "Good afternoon, gentlemen--and lady," Gullick added
with a nod across the table. "Welcome to this meeting of
Gullick sat at the head of the table and waited silently as
Majic-12." Built into the arm rest of his chair was a series
the other chairs were filled. He watched as Von Seeckt of buttons and Gullick hit one of them, lighting up the wall
limped in and took the chair at the other end of the table. behind him with a large-scale computer image. The same
Gullick had already been briefed by Dr. Cruise on the con- image was displayed on the horizontal console set into the
firmation of Von Seeckt's terminal condition. To Gullick it tabletop just in front of Gullick for his eyes only:
76 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 77
INBRIEF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER Reconaissance Organization. The NRO is the agency
through which our funding is directed.
CURRENT STATUS OF BOUNCERS "Dr. Ferrel, professor of physics, New York Institute of
Technology. Our chief scientific counsel and in charge of
CURRENT STATUS OF THE MOTHERSHIP our reverse engineeering work.
"Dr. Slayden, project psychologist, Majic-12.
PROJECTED TEST OF THE MOTHERSHIP "Dr. Underbill, aeronautics, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Our expert at flight.
"This is today's schedule." Gullick looked around the "Dr. Cruise, MD."
table. "First, since we have a new member, introductions Gullick wasted no further time on the people. "I would
are in order. I will begin from my left and go around the like to welcome Dr. Duncan to our group for the first
table clockwise. time." He looked down the table at her. "I know you have
"Mr. Kennedy, deputy director of operations, the Cen been given the classified inbriefing papers on the history of
tral Intelligence Agency. Our liaison to the intelligence the Majic-12 project, so I won't bore you with that informa-
community." Kennedy was the youngest man in the room. tion, but I would like to run through some of the highlights
He wore an expensive three-piece suit. If they weren't a of our operation as it currently stands.
quarter mile underground he'd probably have been wear- "First, everything and anything to do with the project is
ing sunglasses, Gullick thought. He didn't like Kennedy classified Top Secret, Q Clearance, Level 5. That is the
because of his age and his aggressive attitude, but he most highest classification level possible. Majic-12, which is the
certainly needed him. Kennedy had thick blond hair and a official designation for the people around this table, has
dark tan that looked out of place with the other men at the been in existence for fifty-four years. Not once in all those
conference table. years have we had a security breach.
"Major General Brown, deputy chief of staff, Air Force. "Our primary mission is twofold. First is to master flying
The Air Force has overall administration and logistics re- the bouncer disks and reverse-engineer their propulsion
sponsibility for the project and for external security. system." He flicked a button and an image of nine silvery
"Major General Mosley, deputy chief of staff, Army. disks appeared, lined up in a massive hangar. It was hard to
The Army supplies personnel for security support. tell details from the photo, but five of the disks appeared to
"Rear Admiral Coakley, assistant director, Naval intelli- be identical to one another, while the other four all dif-
gence. The Navy is responsible for counterintelligence. fered slightly.
"Dr. Von Seeckt, chief scientific counsel, Majic-12. Dr. "We have been flying bouncers for thirty-three years and
Von Seeckt is the only man in this room who has been with keep double flight crews current on their operation. But we
the project from the beginning. have not had as much success discerning their method of
"Dr. Duncan, our latest member, presidential adviser to propulsion." He glanced down the table and arched an
Majic-12 on science and technology. eyebrow.
"Mr. Davis, special projects coordinator, National "I'm current on that research," Duncan said.
78 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 79
Gullick nodded. "We are continuing flights of the bounc- "And we still don't understand the bouncers' propulsion
ers to keep the flight crews current and also to continue systems!" Von Seeckt threw in.
tests on the propulsion system and their flight characteris- "But we're flying the bouncers and using them," Doctor
tics. We have several prototypes of the bouncer engine, but Ferrell, the physicist, said. "And we are getting closer every
have not yet succeeded in engineering one that functions day to figuring them out."
adequately," he said, understating the massive problems "It is dangerous to play with tools we don't understand!"
they had encountered over the years and eager to get past Von Seeckt cried out.
the failures of the past and on to the future. "Is this test dangerous?" Duncan asked, calm in contrast
"Our second purpose--the mothership--is a different to Von Seeckt's wavering and excited voice.
story altogether." An elongated black cigar shape ap- Gullick looked across the table at her. Just before this
peared on the screen, again nestled inside a hangar with meeting he had studied the classified file Kennedy had
rock walls. It was impossible to tell the scale of the ship amassed on her. He knew more about her than she proba-
from the photo, but even in the two-dimensional projection bly remembered about herself. Thirty-seven, twice di-
it gave the impression of being massive. vorced, a son in private high school back in Washington, a
doctorate in medical biology from Stanford, a successful
"For all these years the mothership has defied our best
career in business, and now, due to her friendship with the
scientific minds, but we finally believe we have gained
First Lady, a political appointee to perhaps the most sensi-
enough knowledge of the control system to activate the tive post in the administration. Of course, Gullick knew,
propulsion system. That is currently our number-one prior- the President didn't fully comprehend the importance of
ity in the project. It will-- Majic-12. And that was one of the Catch-22's of the secrecy
"It will be a disaster if we activate the mothership," Von surrounding the project. Because they couldn't really tell
Seeckt cut in, looking at Duncan. "We have no clue how it anyone what was going on, they were often neglected in the
operates. Oh, these fools will tell you we understand the big scheme. But there were ways around that and the mem-
control system, but that has nothing to do with the me- bers of Majic-12 had long ago perfected those ways.
chanics and the physics of the engine itself. It is like invit- "Ma'am," Gullick said, reverting to the military form of
ing a man into the cockpit of an advanced nuclear bomber addressing a woman, "everything is dangerous, but test-
and believing that the man can operate the bomber be- flying is probably the most dangerous occupation in the
cause he can drive his car and the yoke of the bomber is world. I flew experimental aircraft early in my career. Over
very much like the steering wheel of the car. It is mad- the course of a year at Edwards Air Force Base, eight of
ness." the twelve men in my squadron were killed working out the
Gullick's left eyebrow twitched but his voice was calm. bugs in a new airframe. And here we are dealing with alien
"Thank you, Dr. Von Seeckt, but we have been over all technology. We didn't design these craft. But we do have
that ground already. We will never understand the mother- an advantage," Gullick added. "We are dealing with tech-
ship if we do not attempt to investigate it. That is the nology that works. The largest danger I faced as a test pilot
method we have used on the bouncers and--" was getting the technology up to speed so it would work.
80 ROBERT DOHERTY 81
AREA 51
Here we know these craft fly. It is a matter of figuring out "There's quite a bit that I don't understand," Lisa
how they fly." Duncan said as soon as the room was clear.
Gullick turned his chair slightly and pointed at the "There's quite a bit we don't understand," General Gul-
mothership sitting in its cradle of steel beams. "We are lick amended. "The technology we are working with here is
currently slightly over one hundred and thirty hours from overwhelming at times."
the first test flight. But before we attempt that, we simply "I'm not talking about the technology," Duncan said.
are going to start it up and see what happens. That is the "I'm talking about the administration of this program."
reason this meeting is scheduled for today: so you can see "Is there a problem?" Gullick asked, his voice chilling
for yourself in a few hours that there is no danger. To use the room.
Dr. Von Seeckt's analogy--but in the proper perspective-- Duncan was blunt. "Why the secrecy? Why are we hid-
we are simply going to put our man in the pilot's seat and ing all this?"
have him turn the engines on and then off. The craft won't Gullick relaxed slightly. "Numerous reasons."
go anywhere. And our man is not a child. We have the best "Please enumerate them," Duncan said.
minds in the country assembled here working on this proj- Gullick lit a cigar, ignoring the NO SMOKING signs that
ect." adorned the walls of the Cube conference room. Govern-
Von Seeckt snorted. "We had the best minds back in ment bureaucracy found itself into even the most secret of
eighty-nine when--" locations. "This program began during World War II, and
"That's enough, Doctor," Gullick snapped. "The deci- that was the reason it was initially classified. Then there
sion has been made. This is an information briefing, not a was the Cold War and the requirement to keep this tech-
decision briefing. At thirteen hundred hours local time to- nology--what we did understand of it--out of the hands of
day the mothership's engines will be turned on for ten sec- the Russians. One study by our staff even found a high
onds and then immediately turned off. The decision has possibility that if the Russians ever discovered that we had
been made," he repeated. "Now, shall we move on with the this technology it would upset the balance of power and
briefing?" It was not a question designed to be answered they might launch a preemptive nuclear strike. I would say
with anything but assent. that's a damn good reason to keep this secret."
For the next thirty minutes the meeting went as sched- Duncan pulled a cigarette out of her purse. She pointed
uled with no further interruptions. Gullick formally at the ashtray for Gullick's cigar. "Do you mind?" She
brought it to a close. "Dr. Duncan, if you would like, you didn't wait for an answer as she lit up. "The Cold War has
might want to take a tour of the hangar and our other been over for over half a decade, General. Keep counting
facilities and be present when we conduct the test on the the reasons."
mothership." A muscle twitched on the right side of Gullick's jaw.
"I would like that very much," she replied, "but first I'd "The Cold War may be over, but there are still nuclear
like a moment alone with you." missiles pointed at this country by foreign countries. We
"If you would excuse us, gentlemen," Gullick said. "Des- are dealing with technology here that might totally change
ignated personnel, please wait outside," he added. the course of civilization. That is sufficient--'
AREA 51 83
82 ROBERT DOHERTY
money has been poured into this project and the return has
"Could it be," Duncan cut in, "that all this is classified been minimal."
simply because it's always been classified?" "If we fly the mothership," Gullick said, "it will all be
"I understand what you're saying." Gullick attempted a worth it."
disarming smile that didn't work. He ran a finger over the Duncan stubbed out her cigarette and stood. "I hope so.
file folder that held Kennedy's report on Duncan and re- Good day, sir." She turned on her high heels and walked
strained an impulse to throw it at her. "It would be easy to out the door.
see the secrecy surrounding Majic-12 as simply a leftover As soon as she was gone, the Majic-12 men in uniform
from the Cold War, but there are deeper implications and the representatives from the CIA and NRO came back
here." in. All attempt at being cordial slipped from Gullick's de-
"Such as?" Duncan didn't wait for an answer. "Could meanor. "Duncan's fishing. She knows there something
part of those deeper implications be that this project had more going on."
been founded illegally? That the importation of people "We need to have Slayden give her the data on the im-
such as Von Seeckt to work in it--in direct violation of law plications of revealing the project," Kennedy said.
and a presidential order in force at the time--and other "I told her about Slayden's briefing and she's got his
activities since then would open up personnel involved in written report already," Gullick said. "No, she's looking for
this program to criminal prosecution?" something more."
The glowing red numbers set into the desktop next to "Do you think she has something on Dulce?" Kennedy
the computer screen read T-130H/16M. That was all that con- asked.
cerned Gullick. He'd talked to a few of the others about "No. If there was any suspicion about that, we'd know
how to handle Duncan and now it was time to start with about it. We're wired into every intelligence apparatus this
what they had come up with. country has. It has to be something else."
"Whatever happened fifty years ago is not our concern," "Operation Paperclip?" Kennedy asked.
he said. "We are worried about the impact publicizing this Gullick nodded. "She made a point of mentioning that
program will have on the general population. Von Seeckt and others were recruited illegally. She knows
"Dr. Slayden, the program psychologist," Gullick said, too much. If they pull on that thread too hard, this whole
"is on our staff for this very reason. As a matter of fact, we thing might unravel."
will have a briefing from Dr. Slayden at eight A.M. on the Kennedy pointed at the folder. "We can go hard with her
twelfth. He'll be able to explain things better then, but if we need to."
suffice it to say that the social and economic implications "She's the President's representative," General Brown
of revealing what we have here at Area 51 to the public are warned.
staggering. So staggering that every president since World "We just need time," Gullick said. "I think Slayden's
War II has agreed that the utmost secrecy should surround psychobabble will keep her occupied. If not"--Gullick
this project." shrugged--"then we go hard." He looked down at the
"Well, this president," Duncan said, "may think differ- computer screen and changed the subject. "What's the
ently. The times are changing. An immense amount of
84 ROBERT DOHERTY 85
AREA 51
status of Nightscape 96-7?" Gullick asked the director of THE DEVIL'S NEST, NEBRASKA
Naval intelligence. T-13O HOURS
"Everything looks good," Admiral Coakley answered. "What's that?" Turcotte asked.
"The MSS is secure and all elements are in place." The man in the gray flight suit looked up. "Laser firing
"What about the infiltration by that reporter and the system," he said shortly, snapping shut the metal case on
other person last night?" Gullick asked. the sophisticated machinery that had drawn Turcotte 's at-
"We've cleaned it all up and there's an added benefit to tention.
that situation," Coakley said. "That other fellow's name Turcotte had never seen a laser that was packed suitcase
was Franklin. A UFO freak. He's been a pain in the ass for size, but the technician did not seem amenable to discuss-
a long time working out of his house in Rachel. We no ing the technology. Another question to add to all the oth-
longer have to worry about him. He's dead and we have an ers.
adequate cover story in place." "Get some sleep. You'll need the rest," Prague said, ap-
"How did they get inside the outer perimeter?" Gullick pearing suddenly at his shoulder. "We'll be ready to move
demanded, not appeased at all. after dark and you won't get any sleep for a while." Prague
"Franklin unscrewed the antennas from the sensors on smiled. "Sleep good, meat, " he added in German.
either side of the road," Coakley replied. "We got that off Turcotte stared at him for a second, then walked over to
a cassette recorder we found on the reporter." where the other off-shift security men were dozing in the
"I want that system replaced. It's outdated. Go with laser shade offered by several trees. He grabbed a Gore-Tex bivy
sensors on all the roads." sack and slid into it, zipping it up around his chin. He
"Yes, sir." thought about everything he had seen so far for about five
"And the reporter?" minutes, wondering what Prague had been told about him.
"He's been transferred to Dulce. He was a freelancer. He finally decided he didn't have a clue what was going on
We're working on a back story for his disappearance." or what Prague knew, and switched his brain off.
"It won't happen again," Gullick said, his tone of voice As he fell asleep, his mind shifted to other scenes.
indicating it was not a question. Prague's final words in German echoed through his brain
"Yes, sir." and Turcotte fell into an uneasy slumber with the echo of
"What about Von Seeckt?" Kennedy asked. "If he gunfire and German voices screaming in fear and pain.
makes any more trouble, Duncan might start asking more
questions."
Gullick rubbed the side of his temple. "He's become a THE HANGAR, AREA 51
liability. We'll just have to move up his medical timetable. T-129 HOURS, 4O MINUTES
We'll take care of the good doctor and insure he won't
cause any more problems. He outlived his usefulness to Lisa Duncan had read the figures and studied the classified
this program a long time ago. I'll talk to Dr. Cruise." photos, but they had not prepared her for the sheer size of
86 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 87
this operation. Flying into Area 51 on board one of their in the political winds. Majic-12 was another one, albeit
black helicopters, she had been impressed with the long much more secretive. The issue, though, was why were
runway and the aboveground base facilities, but that im- Gullick and the others in such a rush to fly the mothership?
pression had been dwarfed by what was hidden out of That issue and other disturbing rumors about Majic-12 op-
sight. erations that had sifted their way back to Washington was
Taking the elevator up from the Cube, she and her scien- the reason Duncan was here. She already had some dirt on
tific escorts entered a large room carved out of the rock of the program, as she'd indicated to Gullick; but that was
Groom Mountain. This was the hangar, over three quarters past dirt, as he'd indicated in return. Most of the men in-
of a mile long and a quarter mile wide. Three of the walls, volved in Paperclip were long dead. She had to find out
the floor, and roof--one hundred feet above their heads-- what was presently happening. To do that she had to pay
were rock. The last side was a series of camouflaged sliding attention, so when her guide spoke up, she put away her
doors that opened up onto the north end of the runway. worries.
The true size of the hangar could only be seen on the "This is the hangar we built in 1951," Professor Un-
rare occasions, like now, when all the dividers between the derbill, the aeronautics expert, explained. "We've added to
various bays were unfolded and a person could look it over the years." He pointed at the nine silvery craft
straight through from one end to the other. Duncan won- parked in their cradles. "You have all the information on
dered if they had done that to impress her. If they had, it how and where we found the bouncers. Currently, six are
was working. operational."
She was still bothered by her confrontation with General "What about the other three?" she asked.
Gullick. She'd been briefed for the job by the President's "Those are the ones we're working on. Taking apart the
national security adviser, but even he had seemed uncer- engines to see if we can reverse-engineer them. Trying to
tain about what was going on with Majic-12. It actually understand the control and flight system along with other
wasn't that surprising to Duncan. In her work with medical technology."
companies she'd often had to deal with government bu- She nodded and followed as they walked along the back
reaucracy and found it to be a formidable maze of self- of the hangar. There were workers on each of the craft,
propagating, self-serving structures to negotiate. As Gul- doing things whose purpose was unclear. She had indeed
lick had made very clear: Majic-12 had been around for studied the history of these craft, which seemed simply to
fifty-four years. The unspoken parallel was that the Presi- have been abandoned in various places some time in the
dent whom Duncan was working for had been around for past. From the conditions of the locations they were found
only three. She knew that meant that the members of in, the best guess had been about ten thousand years ago.
Majic-12 implicitly believed they had a greater legitimacy The craft themselves seemed not to have aged at all.
than the elected officials who were supposed to oversee the There had been very few answers about the origin or
project. purpose or original owners of the craft in the briefing pa-
The CIA, NSA, the Pentagon--all were bureaucracies pers. Something that didn't seem to concern the people out
that had weathered numerous administrations and changes here very much. That bothered Duncan, because she liked
88 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 89
thinking in analogies and she wondered how she would feel be the site of the first atomic tests early in World War II,
if she had left her car parked somewhere and came back when the surveyors found that the readings on some of
later to find that it had been appropriated and someone their instruments were being affected by a large metallic
was taking the engine apart. Even though the bouncers had object. They pinpointed the location, dug, and found what
been abandoned long ago, centuries might be just a day or we now call the mothership in Hangar Two. Whoever left
two in the relative time scale of the original owners. the ship here had the technology to blast out a place big
"Why does everyone out here call them 'bouncers'?" she enough to leave it and then cover it over."
asked. "In the briefing papers they were called 'magnetic- Duncan let out an involuntary gasp as the train exited
drive atmospheric craft' or 'MDAC' or simply 'disks'. the tunnel and entered a large cavern, a mile and a half
Underbill laughed. "We use the 'MDAC for scientific long. The ceiling was over a half mile above her head and
people who need a fancy title. We all call them 'disks' or made of perfectly smooth stone. It was dotted with bright
'bouncers.' The reason for the latter, well, wait till you see stadium lights. What caught her attention, though, was the
one in flight. They can change directions on a dime. Most cylindrical black object that took up most of the space. The
people who watch them think we call them 'bouncers' be- mothership was just over a mile long and a quarter mile in
cause they do seem to suddenly bounce off an invisible wall beam at the center. What made the scale so strange was
when they change direction--that's how quick they can do that the skin of the ship was totally smooth, made up of a
it. But if you talk to the original test pilots who flew them, black, shiny metal that had defied analysis for decades.
they called them 'bouncers' because of the way they got "It took us forty-five years before we were able to break
thrown around on the inside during those abrupt maneu- down the composition of the skin," Ferrel, the physicist
vers. It took us quite a while to come up with the technol- said, as they exited the tram. "We still can't replicate it, but
ogy and flight parameters so that the pilots wouldn't be we finally knew enough about it to at least be able to cut
injured when they had the aircraft at speed."
through it."
Underbill pointed at a metal door along the back wall.
"This way, please." Duncan could now see scaffolding near the front--if it
The door slid open as they approached, and inside was was the front and not the rear--of the mothership. The
an eight-passenger train on an electric monorail. Duncan ship itself rested on a complex platform of struts made of
taken the ancient myth of Atlantis and the myth of Thule on the book. Apparently the book had been destroyed and
and reinvented them with his own sick motivations. information about it suppressed because Hitler wanted
According to Sebottendorff, Thule was reported to have
68 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 5 1 69
people to think all his ideas had begun with him and were formation that he always carried with him when he went
not borrowed from other sources. overseas to work. In the back were several pages of docu-
Nabinger decided to press on for a bit along the present ment protectors, each sized to hold twelve business cards.
avenue of research. A search on Atlantis brought a large He found the card of Helen Slater, the woman from Bimini
number of references--over three thousand. Obviously the who had spoken at the conference. He removed it and put
Germans had not been alone in their interest. Nabinger it in his breast pocket.
searched the titles until he found one that seemed to give Nabinger hit the F-3 key to print out the article and
an overview of the history of the fabled continent. moved on to another article. This one described a nine-
Atlantis was often regarded as a myth mentioned in orig- teenth century American congressman, Ignatius Donnelly,
inal source only by Plato. Most historians thought Plato who had published a book called Atlantis: The Antediluvian
had made the tale of Atlantis up to stress a point and that World, which had been a best-seller in its own time. Don-
it was only a literary tool. For those who did think it repre- nelly's hypothesis was based on similarities between pre-
sented an actual place, the fingers pointed to various loca- Columbian civilizations in America and Egypt. Nabinger
tions. Some believe it to be the island of Thera in the felt like he was reading the beginning of his own unpub-
Mediterranean, which was destroyed by a volcanic erup- lished paper on the high runes. Both cultures had had
tion. The crater of the volcano Santorini had been investi- pyramids, embalming, a 365-day calendar, and a mythology
gated by leading oceanographers, searching for clues. about an ancient flood. Donnelly's theories had been torn
Others placed it in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The apart by scientists of his own day, which didn't surprise
Azores were mentioned--the Lake of the Seven Cities on Nabinger. The same connection had been made by people
the island of Sao Miguel was a body of water in a volcanic in this century and received the same chilly reception,
crater. The main city of Atlantis was supposed to lie be- which was the major reason Nabinger's paper was still un-
neath that lake, or so the supporters of that site claimed. published.
Nabinger scanned down, skipping most of the middle of Done with that article, he decided to get back to what
the article, looking to see what the latest theories were. had led him here: the cross-reference with the Nazis and
Recent discoveries of large stones closely fitted together Atlantis. The Nazis had launched expeditions during World
off the islands of Bimini in the Bahamas had caused quite a War II to the cold wastelands on both ends of the earth, in
bit of excitement several years previously and the enigma search of both Atlantis/Thule and relics such as the Holy
of their creation and location had never really been ade- Grail. And also to Central America, where there were
quately explained. That struck a bell with Nabinger. A pyramids, not quite as large or of the exact same design as
speaker at an archeological conference he had attended those in Egypt, but with high runes also.
the previous year had been from Bimini and had spoken of Nabinger stroked his beard. What had the Nazis found
the site. And, if he remembered rightly, there were high that had led them back to the Great Pyramid and to a
runes there, too, that couldn't be deciphered. chamber that had been undisturbed for over four thousand
Nabinger put his briefcase on the table next to the com- years? Had they broken the code on the runes and found
puter and dug through. He had a binder in there with in- out important information? Was there something written
Lff* 8
7O ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 71
in these other locations about the pyramids? If Kaji's story Curses against interlopers in the monuments of ancient
was true, at' the very least they had found information that Egypt were not unknown. Did this curse relate to what Von
had told them of the lower chamber. Seeckt had taken out of the pyramid? And why had the
Nabinger cleared the screen and went back to the word Allies hidden all record of the invasion of the pyramid and
search. He slowly typed in the name Kaji had given him: the discovery of the lower chamber? It had to be something
much more important than some simple archeological find.
There was a way to find out. The end of the article stated
Von Seeckt. that Von Seeckt was still alive and living in Las Vegas.
Nabinger turned off the computer and stood. Budget be
One hit. Nabinger accessed the article. It was a fifty-year damned, there was a mystery here, and he was the only one
anniversary article about the atomic bomb being dropped who was on its trail. He left the university library and
on Hiroshima. It detailed the development of the atomic walked into the nearest travel agency to book a return
bomb during World War II. Nabinger scanned down. Von flight to the States that evening, with one stop en route to
Seeckt's name was listed as one of the physicists who had see Slater in Bimini.
worked on development and testing of the bomb. Once he knew when he would be arriving, he rang
But Von Seeckt had been with Germans, according to through the long-distance operator to information in Ne-
Kaji. How had he ended up in America in the middle of vada. There was a Werner Von Seeckt listed and Nabinger
the war? And why had the Germans brought a nuclear copied down the number. After he'd dialed it, he found
physicist into the Great Pyramid? And, most importantly, himself talking to voice mail. As the beep sounded, Nab-
what had Von Seeckt discovered and carried out of the inger quickly composed his message:
lower chamber in 1942? "Professor Von Seeckt, my name is Peter Nabinger. I
work with the Egyptology Department at the Brooklyn
Nabinger's fingers halted over the keyboard as some-
Museum. I would like to talk to you about the Great Pyra-
thing he had written earlier in the day came back to him. mid, which I believe we have a mutual interest in. I just
He reached into his backpack and pulled out his deciphered some of the writing in the lower chamber,
sketchpad. He'd been working on the panels in the lower which I believe you visited once upon a time and it says:
chamber that stood at the head of where the sarcophagus Power, sun. Forbidden. Home place, chariot, never again.
had once been. The partially deciphered rune text was Death to all living things. Perhaps you could help shed some
there in pencil: light on my translation. Leave me a message how I can get
hold of you at my voice-mail box," and Nabinger left his
POWER SUN number.
FORBIDDEN
HOME PLACE (???) CHARIOT (???) NEVER
AGAIN
(???) DEATH TO ALL LIVING THINGS
AREA 51 73
immediately flanked by two men wearing black wind-
breakers and khaki slacks, their eyes hidden behind wrap-
around sunglasses.
They hustled him into a waiting car and headed to the
airstrip at Nellis Air Force Base, where a small black heli-
copter waited to whisk him back to the northwest. As the
helicopter lifted off, Von Seeckt leaned back in the thinly
padded seat and contemplated the terrain flitting by under-
neath. The American desert had been his home for over
fifty years now, but his heart still longed for the tree-cov-
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA ered slopes of the Bavarian Alps, where he had grown up.
T-133 HOURS He had always hoped he would see his homeland before he
died, but now, today, he knew he wouldn't. They would
"About a year, give or take six months, without treatment.
never let him go, even after so many years had passed.
With treatment you can add perhaps another half a year."
He unfolded the piece of paper on which he had written
The old man didn't blink at Dr. Cruise's pronounce-
the message he had taken off his answering service while
ment. He nodded and rose to his feet, a black cane with a
waiting in Cruise's office. Power, sun. Forbidden. Home
wide silver handle grasped in his withered left hand.
"Thank you, Doctor." place, chariot, never again. Death to all living things. He re-
"We can start the treatments tomorrow morning, Profes- membered the Great Pyramid.
sor Von Seeckt," Dr. Cruise hastily added, as if to cushion Von Seeckt leaned back in the seat. It was all coming
his earlier words. around again, like a large circle. His life was back where it
"That is fine." had been over fifty years ago. The question he had to ask
"Would you like something--" Cruise paused as the old himself was whether he had learned anything and whether
man held up his hand. he was willing to act differently this time.
"I will be fine. This is not a surprise. I was informed this
would most likely be the case when I was hospitalized ear-
lier this year. I just wanted to confirm it, and I also believe THE DEVIL'S NEST, NEBRASKA
I was owed the respect of your telling me yourself. My T--132 HOURS
security will take me home."
"I'll see you at the meeting later this morning," Cruise Underneath the camouflage netting that Turcotte had
said, stiffening at the implied rebuke in Von Seeckt's helped rig during darkness, the mechanics made the three
words. helicopters ready for flight, folding the rotors out and lock-
"Good day, Doctor." With that Werner Von Seeckt ing them in place. The pilots walked around, making their
made his way out into the hallway of the hospital and was preflight checks.
74 ROBERT DOHERTY
AREA 51 75
On the perimeter of the primitive airstrip Turcotte was was good news. The old man had long ago outlived his
lying on his stomach in the middle of a four-hour guard usefulness.
shift, looking down the one asphalt road that led up to the Gullick shifted his attention to the youngest person in
airstrip. The road was in bad shape. Plants and weeds had the room, who was sitting to his immediate right. She was a
sprouted up through cracks, and it seemed obvious this small, dark-haired woman with a thin face, dressed severely
place had been abandoned for quite a while. That didn't in a sharply cut gray suit. This was Dr. Lisa Duncan's first
mean, of course, that someone in a four-wheel-drive vehi- meeting, and while inbriefing her on the project was one of
cle couldn't come wandering up and stumble over their the two priorities on the meeting schedule, it was not the
mission support site. Thus Turcotte's orders to apprehend primary one in Gullick's mind. In fact, he resented having
anyone coming up the road. to take time out at such a critical juncture in the project to
The question that still had not been answered--albeit get a new person up to speed.
Turcotte had not asked it out loud--was what mission this There was also the fact that Dr. Duncan was the first
site was set up to support. Prague had given orders through woman ever allowed in this room. But, since Duncan was
the night, but they had been immediate ones, directed filling the chair reserved for the presidential adviser, it paid
to the security of this location, not shedding any light on at least to give the appearance of respect. The fingers of
what they would be doing once the sun went down this Gullick's left hand lightly traced over his smooth skull, ca-
evening. ressing the skin as if soothing the brain underneath. There
was so much to do and so little time! Why had the previous
adviser been reassigned? Duncan's predecessor had been
an old physics professor who had been so enraptured by
THE CUBE, AREA 51 what they were doing upstairs in the hangar that he had
T-13O HOURS, 3O MINUTES been no trouble.
The conference room was to the left of the control center A week ago Kennedy, the CIA representative, had been
as one got off the elevator. It was soundproofed and swept the first to notify Gullick of Duncan's assignment and this
daily for bugs. The Cube had never had a security compro- visit. Gullick had ordered the CIA man to look into
mise and General Gullick was going to insure that the rec- Duncan's background. She was a threat; Gullick was con-
ord remained intact. vinced of that. The timing of her sudden assignment and
A large, rectangular mahogany table filled the middle of this first visit couldn't be coincidental.
the room with twelve deep leather chairs lining the edges. "Good afternoon, gentlemen--and lady," Gullick added
with a nod across the table. "Welcome to this meeting of
Gullick sat at the head of the table and waited silently as
Majic-12." Built into the arm rest of his chair was a series
the other chairs were filled. He watched as Von Seeckt of buttons and Gullick hit one of them, lighting up the wall
limped in and took the chair at the other end of the table. behind him with a large-scale computer image. The same
Gullick had already been briefed by Dr. Cruise on the con- image was displayed on the horizontal console set into the
firmation of Von Seeckt's terminal condition. To Gullick it tabletop just in front of Gullick for his eyes only:
76 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 77
INBRIEF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER Reconaissance Organization. The NRO is the agency
through which our funding is directed.
CURRENT STATUS OF BOUNCERS "Dr. Ferrel, professor of physics, New York Institute of
Technology. Our chief scientific counsel and in charge of
CURRENT STATUS OF THE MOTHERSHIP our reverse engineeering work.
"Dr. Slayden, project psychologist, Majic-12.
PROJECTED TEST OF THE MOTHERSHIP "Dr. Underbill, aeronautics, Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Our expert at flight.
"This is today's schedule." Gullick looked around the "Dr. Cruise, MD."
table. "First, since we have a new member, introductions Gullick wasted no further time on the people. "I would
are in order. I will begin from my left and go around the like to welcome Dr. Duncan to our group for the first
table clockwise. time." He looked down the table at her. "I know you have
"Mr. Kennedy, deputy director of operations, the Cen been given the classified inbriefing papers on the history of
tral Intelligence Agency. Our liaison to the intelligence the Majic-12 project, so I won't bore you with that informa-
community." Kennedy was the youngest man in the room. tion, but I would like to run through some of the highlights
He wore an expensive three-piece suit. If they weren't a of our operation as it currently stands.
quarter mile underground he'd probably have been wear- "First, everything and anything to do with the project is
ing sunglasses, Gullick thought. He didn't like Kennedy classified Top Secret, Q Clearance, Level 5. That is the
because of his age and his aggressive attitude, but he most highest classification level possible. Majic-12, which is the
certainly needed him. Kennedy had thick blond hair and a official designation for the people around this table, has
dark tan that looked out of place with the other men at the been in existence for fifty-four years. Not once in all those
conference table. years have we had a security breach.
"Major General Brown, deputy chief of staff, Air Force. "Our primary mission is twofold. First is to master flying
The Air Force has overall administration and logistics re- the bouncer disks and reverse-engineer their propulsion
sponsibility for the project and for external security. system." He flicked a button and an image of nine silvery
"Major General Mosley, deputy chief of staff, Army. disks appeared, lined up in a massive hangar. It was hard to
The Army supplies personnel for security support. tell details from the photo, but five of the disks appeared to
"Rear Admiral Coakley, assistant director, Naval intelli- be identical to one another, while the other four all dif-
gence. The Navy is responsible for counterintelligence. fered slightly.
"Dr. Von Seeckt, chief scientific counsel, Majic-12. Dr. "We have been flying bouncers for thirty-three years and
Von Seeckt is the only man in this room who has been with keep double flight crews current on their operation. But we
the project from the beginning. have not had as much success discerning their method of
"Dr. Duncan, our latest member, presidential adviser to propulsion." He glanced down the table and arched an
Majic-12 on science and technology. eyebrow.
"Mr. Davis, special projects coordinator, National "I'm current on that research," Duncan said.
78 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 79
Gullick nodded. "We are continuing flights of the bounc- "And we still don't understand the bouncers' propulsion
ers to keep the flight crews current and also to continue systems!" Von Seeckt threw in.
tests on the propulsion system and their flight characteris- "But we're flying the bouncers and using them," Doctor
tics. We have several prototypes of the bouncer engine, but Ferrell, the physicist, said. "And we are getting closer every
have not yet succeeded in engineering one that functions day to figuring them out."
adequately," he said, understating the massive problems "It is dangerous to play with tools we don't understand!"
they had encountered over the years and eager to get past Von Seeckt cried out.
the failures of the past and on to the future. "Is this test dangerous?" Duncan asked, calm in contrast
"Our second purpose--the mothership--is a different to Von Seeckt's wavering and excited voice.
story altogether." An elongated black cigar shape ap- Gullick looked across the table at her. Just before this
peared on the screen, again nestled inside a hangar with meeting he had studied the classified file Kennedy had
rock walls. It was impossible to tell the scale of the ship amassed on her. He knew more about her than she proba-
from the photo, but even in the two-dimensional projection bly remembered about herself. Thirty-seven, twice di-
it gave the impression of being massive. vorced, a son in private high school back in Washington, a
doctorate in medical biology from Stanford, a successful
"For all these years the mothership has defied our best
career in business, and now, due to her friendship with the
scientific minds, but we finally believe we have gained
First Lady, a political appointee to perhaps the most sensi-
enough knowledge of the control system to activate the tive post in the administration. Of course, Gullick knew,
propulsion system. That is currently our number-one prior- the President didn't fully comprehend the importance of
ity in the project. It will-- Majic-12. And that was one of the Catch-22's of the secrecy
"It will be a disaster if we activate the mothership," Von surrounding the project. Because they couldn't really tell
Seeckt cut in, looking at Duncan. "We have no clue how it anyone what was going on, they were often neglected in the
operates. Oh, these fools will tell you we understand the big scheme. But there were ways around that and the mem-
control system, but that has nothing to do with the me- bers of Majic-12 had long ago perfected those ways.
chanics and the physics of the engine itself. It is like invit- "Ma'am," Gullick said, reverting to the military form of
ing a man into the cockpit of an advanced nuclear bomber addressing a woman, "everything is dangerous, but test-
and believing that the man can operate the bomber be- flying is probably the most dangerous occupation in the
cause he can drive his car and the yoke of the bomber is world. I flew experimental aircraft early in my career. Over
very much like the steering wheel of the car. It is mad- the course of a year at Edwards Air Force Base, eight of
ness." the twelve men in my squadron were killed working out the
Gullick's left eyebrow twitched but his voice was calm. bugs in a new airframe. And here we are dealing with alien
"Thank you, Dr. Von Seeckt, but we have been over all technology. We didn't design these craft. But we do have
that ground already. We will never understand the mother- an advantage," Gullick added. "We are dealing with tech-
ship if we do not attempt to investigate it. That is the nology that works. The largest danger I faced as a test pilot
method we have used on the bouncers and--" was getting the technology up to speed so it would work.
80 ROBERT DOHERTY 81
AREA 51
Here we know these craft fly. It is a matter of figuring out "There's quite a bit that I don't understand," Lisa
how they fly." Duncan said as soon as the room was clear.
Gullick turned his chair slightly and pointed at the "There's quite a bit we don't understand," General Gul-
mothership sitting in its cradle of steel beams. "We are lick amended. "The technology we are working with here is
currently slightly over one hundred and thirty hours from overwhelming at times."
the first test flight. But before we attempt that, we simply "I'm not talking about the technology," Duncan said.
are going to start it up and see what happens. That is the "I'm talking about the administration of this program."
reason this meeting is scheduled for today: so you can see "Is there a problem?" Gullick asked, his voice chilling
for yourself in a few hours that there is no danger. To use the room.
Dr. Von Seeckt's analogy--but in the proper perspective-- Duncan was blunt. "Why the secrecy? Why are we hid-
we are simply going to put our man in the pilot's seat and ing all this?"
have him turn the engines on and then off. The craft won't Gullick relaxed slightly. "Numerous reasons."
go anywhere. And our man is not a child. We have the best "Please enumerate them," Duncan said.
minds in the country assembled here working on this proj- Gullick lit a cigar, ignoring the NO SMOKING signs that
ect." adorned the walls of the Cube conference room. Govern-
Von Seeckt snorted. "We had the best minds back in ment bureaucracy found itself into even the most secret of
eighty-nine when--" locations. "This program began during World War II, and
"That's enough, Doctor," Gullick snapped. "The deci- that was the reason it was initially classified. Then there
sion has been made. This is an information briefing, not a was the Cold War and the requirement to keep this tech-
decision briefing. At thirteen hundred hours local time to- nology--what we did understand of it--out of the hands of
day the mothership's engines will be turned on for ten sec- the Russians. One study by our staff even found a high
onds and then immediately turned off. The decision has possibility that if the Russians ever discovered that we had
been made," he repeated. "Now, shall we move on with the this technology it would upset the balance of power and
briefing?" It was not a question designed to be answered they might launch a preemptive nuclear strike. I would say
with anything but assent. that's a damn good reason to keep this secret."
For the next thirty minutes the meeting went as sched- Duncan pulled a cigarette out of her purse. She pointed
uled with no further interruptions. Gullick formally at the ashtray for Gullick's cigar. "Do you mind?" She
brought it to a close. "Dr. Duncan, if you would like, you didn't wait for an answer as she lit up. "The Cold War has
might want to take a tour of the hangar and our other been over for over half a decade, General. Keep counting
facilities and be present when we conduct the test on the the reasons."
mothership." A muscle twitched on the right side of Gullick's jaw.
"I would like that very much," she replied, "but first I'd "The Cold War may be over, but there are still nuclear
like a moment alone with you." missiles pointed at this country by foreign countries. We
"If you would excuse us, gentlemen," Gullick said. "Des- are dealing with technology here that might totally change
ignated personnel, please wait outside," he added. the course of civilization. That is sufficient--'
AREA 51 83
82 ROBERT DOHERTY
money has been poured into this project and the return has
"Could it be," Duncan cut in, "that all this is classified been minimal."
simply because it's always been classified?" "If we fly the mothership," Gullick said, "it will all be
"I understand what you're saying." Gullick attempted a worth it."
disarming smile that didn't work. He ran a finger over the Duncan stubbed out her cigarette and stood. "I hope so.
file folder that held Kennedy's report on Duncan and re- Good day, sir." She turned on her high heels and walked
strained an impulse to throw it at her. "It would be easy to out the door.
see the secrecy surrounding Majic-12 as simply a leftover As soon as she was gone, the Majic-12 men in uniform
from the Cold War, but there are deeper implications and the representatives from the CIA and NRO came back
here." in. All attempt at being cordial slipped from Gullick's de-
"Such as?" Duncan didn't wait for an answer. "Could meanor. "Duncan's fishing. She knows there something
part of those deeper implications be that this project had more going on."
been founded illegally? That the importation of people "We need to have Slayden give her the data on the im-
such as Von Seeckt to work in it--in direct violation of law plications of revealing the project," Kennedy said.
and a presidential order in force at the time--and other "I told her about Slayden's briefing and she's got his
activities since then would open up personnel involved in written report already," Gullick said. "No, she's looking for
this program to criminal prosecution?" something more."
The glowing red numbers set into the desktop next to "Do you think she has something on Dulce?" Kennedy
the computer screen read T-130H/16M. That was all that con- asked.
cerned Gullick. He'd talked to a few of the others about "No. If there was any suspicion about that, we'd know
how to handle Duncan and now it was time to start with about it. We're wired into every intelligence apparatus this
what they had come up with. country has. It has to be something else."
"Whatever happened fifty years ago is not our concern," "Operation Paperclip?" Kennedy asked.
he said. "We are worried about the impact publicizing this Gullick nodded. "She made a point of mentioning that
program will have on the general population. Von Seeckt and others were recruited illegally. She knows
"Dr. Slayden, the program psychologist," Gullick said, too much. If they pull on that thread too hard, this whole
"is on our staff for this very reason. As a matter of fact, we thing might unravel."
will have a briefing from Dr. Slayden at eight A.M. on the Kennedy pointed at the folder. "We can go hard with her
twelfth. He'll be able to explain things better then, but if we need to."
suffice it to say that the social and economic implications "She's the President's representative," General Brown
of revealing what we have here at Area 51 to the public are warned.
staggering. So staggering that every president since World "We just need time," Gullick said. "I think Slayden's
War II has agreed that the utmost secrecy should surround psychobabble will keep her occupied. If not"--Gullick
this project." shrugged--"then we go hard." He looked down at the
"Well, this president," Duncan said, "may think differ- computer screen and changed the subject. "What's the
ently. The times are changing. An immense amount of
84 ROBERT DOHERTY 85
AREA 51
status of Nightscape 96-7?" Gullick asked the director of THE DEVIL'S NEST, NEBRASKA
Naval intelligence. T-13O HOURS
"Everything looks good," Admiral Coakley answered. "What's that?" Turcotte asked.
"The MSS is secure and all elements are in place." The man in the gray flight suit looked up. "Laser firing
"What about the infiltration by that reporter and the system," he said shortly, snapping shut the metal case on
other person last night?" Gullick asked. the sophisticated machinery that had drawn Turcotte 's at-
"We've cleaned it all up and there's an added benefit to tention.
that situation," Coakley said. "That other fellow's name Turcotte had never seen a laser that was packed suitcase
was Franklin. A UFO freak. He's been a pain in the ass for size, but the technician did not seem amenable to discuss-
a long time working out of his house in Rachel. We no ing the technology. Another question to add to all the oth-
longer have to worry about him. He's dead and we have an ers.
adequate cover story in place." "Get some sleep. You'll need the rest," Prague said, ap-
"How did they get inside the outer perimeter?" Gullick pearing suddenly at his shoulder. "We'll be ready to move
demanded, not appeased at all. after dark and you won't get any sleep for a while." Prague
"Franklin unscrewed the antennas from the sensors on smiled. "Sleep good, meat, " he added in German.
either side of the road," Coakley replied. "We got that off Turcotte stared at him for a second, then walked over to
a cassette recorder we found on the reporter." where the other off-shift security men were dozing in the
"I want that system replaced. It's outdated. Go with laser shade offered by several trees. He grabbed a Gore-Tex bivy
sensors on all the roads." sack and slid into it, zipping it up around his chin. He
"Yes, sir." thought about everything he had seen so far for about five
"And the reporter?" minutes, wondering what Prague had been told about him.
"He's been transferred to Dulce. He was a freelancer. He finally decided he didn't have a clue what was going on
We're working on a back story for his disappearance." or what Prague knew, and switched his brain off.
"It won't happen again," Gullick said, his tone of voice As he fell asleep, his mind shifted to other scenes.
indicating it was not a question. Prague's final words in German echoed through his brain
"Yes, sir." and Turcotte fell into an uneasy slumber with the echo of
"What about Von Seeckt?" Kennedy asked. "If he gunfire and German voices screaming in fear and pain.
makes any more trouble, Duncan might start asking more
questions."
Gullick rubbed the side of his temple. "He's become a THE HANGAR, AREA 51
liability. We'll just have to move up his medical timetable. T-129 HOURS, 4O MINUTES
We'll take care of the good doctor and insure he won't
cause any more problems. He outlived his usefulness to Lisa Duncan had read the figures and studied the classified
this program a long time ago. I'll talk to Dr. Cruise." photos, but they had not prepared her for the sheer size of
86 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 87
this operation. Flying into Area 51 on board one of their in the political winds. Majic-12 was another one, albeit
black helicopters, she had been impressed with the long much more secretive. The issue, though, was why were
runway and the aboveground base facilities, but that im- Gullick and the others in such a rush to fly the mothership?
pression had been dwarfed by what was hidden out of That issue and other disturbing rumors about Majic-12 op-
sight. erations that had sifted their way back to Washington was
Taking the elevator up from the Cube, she and her scien- the reason Duncan was here. She already had some dirt on
tific escorts entered a large room carved out of the rock of the program, as she'd indicated to Gullick; but that was
Groom Mountain. This was the hangar, over three quarters past dirt, as he'd indicated in return. Most of the men in-
of a mile long and a quarter mile wide. Three of the walls, volved in Paperclip were long dead. She had to find out
the floor, and roof--one hundred feet above their heads-- what was presently happening. To do that she had to pay
were rock. The last side was a series of camouflaged sliding attention, so when her guide spoke up, she put away her
doors that opened up onto the north end of the runway. worries.
The true size of the hangar could only be seen on the "This is the hangar we built in 1951," Professor Un-
rare occasions, like now, when all the dividers between the derbill, the aeronautics expert, explained. "We've added to
various bays were unfolded and a person could look it over the years." He pointed at the nine silvery craft
straight through from one end to the other. Duncan won- parked in their cradles. "You have all the information on
dered if they had done that to impress her. If they had, it how and where we found the bouncers. Currently, six are
was working. operational."
She was still bothered by her confrontation with General "What about the other three?" she asked.
Gullick. She'd been briefed for the job by the President's "Those are the ones we're working on. Taking apart the
national security adviser, but even he had seemed uncer- engines to see if we can reverse-engineer them. Trying to
tain about what was going on with Majic-12. It actually understand the control and flight system along with other
wasn't that surprising to Duncan. In her work with medical technology."
companies she'd often had to deal with government bu- She nodded and followed as they walked along the back
reaucracy and found it to be a formidable maze of self- of the hangar. There were workers on each of the craft,
propagating, self-serving structures to negotiate. As Gul- doing things whose purpose was unclear. She had indeed
lick had made very clear: Majic-12 had been around for studied the history of these craft, which seemed simply to
fifty-four years. The unspoken parallel was that the Presi- have been abandoned in various places some time in the
dent whom Duncan was working for had been around for past. From the conditions of the locations they were found
only three. She knew that meant that the members of in, the best guess had been about ten thousand years ago.
Majic-12 implicitly believed they had a greater legitimacy The craft themselves seemed not to have aged at all.
than the elected officials who were supposed to oversee the There had been very few answers about the origin or
project. purpose or original owners of the craft in the briefing pa-
The CIA, NSA, the Pentagon--all were bureaucracies pers. Something that didn't seem to concern the people out
that had weathered numerous administrations and changes here very much. That bothered Duncan, because she liked
88 ROBERT DOHERTY AREA 51 89
thinking in analogies and she wondered how she would feel be the site of the first atomic tests early in World War II,
if she had left her car parked somewhere and came back when the surveyors found that the readings on some of
later to find that it had been appropriated and someone their instruments were being affected by a large metallic
was taking the engine apart. Even though the bouncers had object. They pinpointed the location, dug, and found what
been abandoned long ago, centuries might be just a day or we now call the mothership in Hangar Two. Whoever left
two in the relative time scale of the original owners. the ship here had the technology to blast out a place big
"Why does everyone out here call them 'bouncers'?" she enough to leave it and then cover it over."
asked. "In the briefing papers they were called 'magnetic- Duncan let out an involuntary gasp as the train exited
drive atmospheric craft' or 'MDAC' or simply 'disks'. the tunnel and entered a large cavern, a mile and a half
Underbill laughed. "We use the 'MDAC for scientific long. The ceiling was over a half mile above her head and
people who need a fancy title. We all call them 'disks' or made of perfectly smooth stone. It was dotted with bright
'bouncers.' The reason for the latter, well, wait till you see stadium lights. What caught her attention, though, was the
one in flight. They can change directions on a dime. Most cylindrical black object that took up most of the space. The
people who watch them think we call them 'bouncers' be- mothership was just over a mile long and a quarter mile in
cause they do seem to suddenly bounce off an invisible wall beam at the center. What made the scale so strange was
when they change direction--that's how quick they can do that the skin of the ship was totally smooth, made up of a
it. But if you talk to the original test pilots who flew them, black, shiny metal that had defied analysis for decades.
they called them 'bouncers' because of the way they got "It took us forty-five years before we were able to break
thrown around on the inside during those abrupt maneu- down the composition of the skin," Ferrel, the physicist
vers. It took us quite a while to come up with the technol- said, as they exited the tram. "We still can't replicate it, but
ogy and flight parameters so that the pilots wouldn't be we finally knew enough about it to at least be able to cut
injured when they had the aircraft at speed."
through it."
Underbill pointed at a metal door along the back wall.
"This way, please." Duncan could now see scaffolding near the front--if it
The door slid open as they approached, and inside was was the front and not the rear--of the mothership. The
an eight-passenger train on an electric monorail. Duncan ship itself rested on a complex platform of struts made of