Invasion

Cassy was first through the door followed by Jonathan and then Pitt. Jesse pulled the door shut behind himself.

"Come on!" he whispered harshly. He rapidly descended a flight of metal stairs, and ran along a corridor until he came to a door to the outside. On a series of pegs next to the door were yellow rain ponchos with hoods. Quickly he tossed one to each of the others and told them to put them on, including the hoods.

Everyone complied. Cassy asked who he'd seen.

"The chief of police," Jesse said. "And I know for sure he's one of them."

Once again typing the combination onto a keypad, Jesse opened the door to the outside. The group stepped out onto the tarmac. They were directly below the jetway for gate 5.

"See that luggage train over there?" Jesse said as he pointed. It was a tractor-like vehicle hitched to a string of five baggage carts. It was parked about fifty feet away. "We are going to walk over there real casual like. The problem is we'll be visible from the windows above. Once there you all are going to climb into one of the baggage cars. Then, God willing, we'll ride back to terminal A, not C."

"But our car is at terminal C," Pitt said.

"We're leaving the car," Jesse said.

"We are?" Jonathan asked. He was shocked. It was his parents' car.

"Damn right we are," Jesse said. "Let's go!"

They got to the baggage cart without incident. Everyone was tempted to look up into the windows, but no one did.

Jesse started the engine while the others climbed aboard. They were thankful for Jesse's decisive authority. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as the baggage train twisted around like a snake and then headed for terminal A.

They passed a few airline workers, but no one challenged Jesse's performance. They arrived at terminal A baggage claim without incident. There, they again benefited from Jesse's knowledge of the airport layout and procedure. Within minutes they were outside on the arrival level waiting for the airport bus.

"We'll take the bus back to the city center," Jesse said. "I can get my car from there."

"What about my parents' van?" Jonathan asked.

"I'll take care of it tomorrow," Jesse said. The sound of a huge jet thundered overhead, making conversation momentarily impossible.

"That must have been them," Jonathan said as soon as he could be heard above the din.

"Now if they can only find receptive people at the CDC," Pitt said.

"They have to," Cassy said. "It could be our only chance."

Beau was occupying the master suite at the chateau. There were French doors over a balcony that looked down on the terrace and the swimming pool. The doors were ajar and a soft night breeze rustled the papers on the desk. Randy Nile and a few of his more senior people were there, going over the work that had been accomplished that day.

"I'm really pleased," Randy said.

"So am I," Beau said. "Things couldn't be going better." He ran his hand through his hair and his fingers touched the area of altered skin behind his right ear. He scratched it, and it felt good.

The phone rang and one of Randy's assistants answered. After a quick conversation he handed the phone to Beau.

"Captain Hernandez," Beau said happily. "Good of you to call."

Randy tried to hear what the captain was saying, but he couldn't.

"So they are on their way to the CDC in Atlanta," Beau said. "I'm glad you called to let us know, but I assure you there won't be a problem."

Beau disconnected but did not hang up the receiver. Instead he dialed another number with a 404 area code. When the call was answered Beau said: "Dr. Clyde Horn, this is Beau Stark. That group of people I told you about today is on their way to Atlanta as we speak. I imagine they'll be at the CDC tomorrow so handle them as we discussed."

Beau replaced the receiver.

"Do you expect any trouble?" Randy asked.

Beau smiled. "Of course not. Don't be silly."

"Are you sure you should have let that Cassy Winthrope leave today?" Randy asked.

"Goodness, you are a worry wart tonight," Beau said. "But yes, I'm sure. She's been rather special to me, and I decided I didn't want to force her. I want her to embrace the cause voluntarily."

"I don't understand why you care," Randy said.

"I'm not sure why I do either," Beau admitted. "But enough of this talk. Come outside! It's almost time."

Beau and Randy stepped out onto the balcony. After a glance up at the night sky, Beau stuck his head back inside the room and asked one of the assistants to go down and turn off the underwater lights in the pool.

A few minutes later the pool lights went out. The effect was dramatic. The stars were much more intense, especially those in the galactic core of the Milky Way.

"How much longer?" Randy asked.

"Two seconds," Beau said.

No sooner had the words escaped from Beau's lips that the sky lit up with a profusion of shooting stars. Literally thousands of them rained down like a gigantic firework display.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Beau said.

"Marvelous," Randy said.

"It's the final wave," Beau said. "The final wave!"

14

8:15 A.M.