jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第31章

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　〃You　were　the　only　one　who　noticed　it？〃
　〃You　think　I'm　crazy；　don't　you！〃　Kenny's　voice　was　filled　with　venom。　〃Of　course　the　other　guys　noticed　it。　You　think　it　could　rain　corn　and　not　be　noticed？　You're　the　crazy　man；　not　me。〃
　〃What　did　you　mean　when　you　said　you　notice　things　other　people　don't？〃
　〃Jack　and　Robbie　thought　it　was　strange；　but　I　knew　it　was　more　than　that。　I　knew　it　meant　something。〃
　〃A　sign？〃
　〃What　do　you　take　me　for？　Some　kind　of　New　Age　guru？　I　just　knew　that　corn　doesn't　fall　from　the　sky　for　no　reason。〃
　Terry　realized　he　had　the　wrong　point　of　view。　He　assumed　Kenny　would　have　a　mystical　interpretation；　like　most　people　who　prophesied　the　end　of　the　world。　Terry　started　over。　〃It　must　have　been　more　than　the　corn。　You　must　have　had　more　clues　than　that。〃
　〃Oh　sure。　I　used　to　read　these　books　when　I　was　a　kid。　You　know；　books　about　strange　things；　UFO　sightings；　dinosaurs　in　Africa；　stuff　like　that。　There　were　even　stories　about　stuff　falling　out　of　the　sky。　Mostly　ice；　but　some　animals；　frogs；　fish；　even　seeds。　It　was　fun　to　read　about　this　stuff　but　I　never　thought　it　was　true。　I　always　just　figured　a　tornado；　or　an　airplane；　or　something　dropped　this　stuff。　After　the　corn　fell　on　me　I　began　thinking　about　these　things　differently。　I　started　checking。　These　things　really　did　happen。　But　I　couldn't　put　it　together。　Not　by　myself。　Not　until　I　met　Dr。　Piltcher。　He　and　Dr。　Coombs　knew　there　was　something　to　it　。　。　。　and　the　others。　It　was　Dr。　Coombs　that　found　the　Zorastrus　manuscript。　He　knew　it　was　ing；　he　just　didn't　know　when　。　。　。　not　exactly　when。〃
　Kenny　paused；　lost　in　thought。　His　face　was　still　facing　the　window　but　Terry　could　see　his　reflection　and　his　eyes　were　unfocused　and　glassy。
　〃You　finally　figured　out　why　it　was　happening；　didn't　you？　You　and　the　others。〃
　〃Not　for　a　long　time。　We　just　kept　researching　all　the　strange　incidents　we　could　find。　The　regular　papers　don't　report　most　of　this　stuff　anymore。　Used　to；　though。　I　found　stuff　going　back　over　a　hundred　years；　but　Dr。　Piltcher　and　Dr。　Coombs　showed　me　it　had　been　going　on　longer　than　that。　Zorastrus　knew　something　was　ing　and　predicted　it；　but　we　still　couldn't　make　the　model　work。　Then　it　came　together　。　。　。　started　to　e　。　。　。　Phat　and　me　。　。　。　it　was　the　flowers　that　did　it。〃
　Kenny's　voice　faded　out　after　he　said　〃flowers。〃
　〃The　flowers　。　。　。〃　Terry　probed　gently。
　〃Flowers…just　fell　from　the　sky…〃　Kenny's　tongue　began　running　back　and　forth　over　his　lips。　The　seat　belt　sign　came　on　before　Terry　could　ask　another　question；　but　it　didn't　matter。　Kenny　was　gone。　His　eyes　were　fixed　and　glassy。　They　maneuvered　him　away　from　the　window　and　then　lifted　his　arms　to　buckle　him　in。　Like　a　wax　model；　they　remained　suspended　until　Terry　put　them　down　onto　the　armrests。
　They　were　still　there　when　the　EMTs　came　to　load　him　onto　a　stretcher　and　wheel　him　off　the　plane。
　Bill　and　Terry　climbed　into　a　waiting　van。　When　Bill　finally　spoke；　he　was　clearly　disappointed。
　〃I　was　hoping　for　more。〃
　〃He　caught　us　by　surprise。　We　weren't　quite　ready。　Still；　he　gave　us　something。　You　ever　heard　of　a　Dr。　Piltcher　or　Dr。　Coombs？〃
　〃No；〃　Bill　said。　〃Who　was　that　other　one？　Phat？　I'll　put　some　people　on　it。　If　they　were　like　Kenny　they　might　be　holed　up　in　a　cave　somewhere；　maybe　with　their　relatives。　I'll　have　someone　research　that　name。　The　prophet。　What　was　his　name？〃
　〃Zorastrus。〃
　〃Yeah；　ever　hear　of　him？　Me　neither。　What　was　it　he　said　about　things　falling　from　the　sky？　Flowers　and　corn　from　the　sky？　You　think　Portland　and　New　York　were　buried　by　something　from　the　sky？　That's　not　what　the　reports　say。　They　say　gone；　and　gone　is　a　lot　different　from　buried。〃
　〃No；　but　I　remember　something　about　flowers　falling　from　the　sky。in　one　of　those　books　of　his　。　。　。　no；　one　of　those　articles。　He　said　the　flowers　were　the　clue。〃
　The　bags　of　articles　from　Kenny's　room　were　in　the　back　of　the　van；　and　Bill　and　Terry　opened　them；　searching　for　the　file　folder。　They　found　it　in　the　bundle　they'd　made　from　the　bedspread。
　Terry　read　the　article　aloud；　but　nothing　in　the　article　gave　them　a　clue　to　what　had　happened。　A　mother　and　her　five…year…old　daughter　were　sitting　in　a　park　in　Hiroshima；　Japan；　when　it　began　to　rain　flowers…the　flowers　were　wildflowers；　with　grasses；　mostly　white　flowers；　but　some　of　other　colors　too。　Although　the　shower　lasted　less　than　a　minute　it　was　enough　to　nearly　bury　the　little　girl。　No　one　could　explain　where　the　flowers　came　from。　When　Terry　finished；　he　felt　the　same　tickle　he　felt　before　in　Kenny's　room。
　Bill　shook　his　head。　〃I　get　nothing；　Terry。　How　about　you？　Read　it　again。〃
　The　van　kept　starting　and　stopping　in　traffic。　Reading　in　a　car　always　made　Terry　sick　to　his　stomach；　but　now　he　felt　particularly　ill。　He　ignored　the　creeping　nausea；　still；　the　second　reading　added　nothing；　the　tickle　was　still　there。
　〃Bill；　let's　try　brainstorming。　We'll　take　turns　saying　whatever　es　to　mind。　Don't　try　to　judge　your　ideas。　Let　any　idea　our。　I'll　start。　Flowers　from　the　sky。〃
　〃You　mean　like　word　association？　Tulips？〃
　〃Anything。　Park；　people；　picnic。〃
　〃Mother；　daughter；　family；　apple　pie　。。。　make　that　sushi。〃
　〃Japan；　Hiroshima　。　。　。〃
　〃World　War　II；　Nagasaki。〃
　The　tickle　turned　to　an　itch　and　then　into　an　idea。
　〃The　bomb？　You　think　the　bomb　did　this？〃
　〃That's　the　first　thing　I　thought　of；　Terry；　but　fission　bombs　don't　drop　flowers　on　people。　These　bombs　fry　people；　not　decorate　them。　If　there　is　a　connection　then　maybe　there's　an　article　about　something　falling　on　Nagasaki。　I　wonder…where　did　that　　fall　on　Kenny？〃
　They　split　up　the　articles　looking　for　something　from　Nagasaki　but　found　nothing。　They　then　looked　for　articles　from　cities　near　the　now　closed　Nevada　nuclear　test　site；　but　to　no　avail。　They　were　still　searching　the　books　when　the　van　stopped。
　Terry　helped　bring　Kenny's　things　into　a　brick　town　house　indistinguishable　from　many　other　such　D。C。　structures。　There　was　no　sign　on　the　front　of　the　building；　and　no　guards　stood　in　the　lobby；　but　Bill　had　to　use　an　elevator　key　to　get　to　the　floor　he　wanted。　There　the　doors　slid　open　to　two　armed　airmen　who　questioned　them　thoroughly。　Bill　was　given　a　badge；　but　Terry　had　to　have　his　photo　ID　made　on　the　spot。
　Bill　knew　his　way　around　and　led　Terry　to　a　conference　room。　He　had　the　guards　spill　the　bags　onto　the　oversize　table　and　then　began　sifting　through　the　contents。　He　found　the　puter　disks；　and　the　hard　drive；　then　led　Terry　down　the　hall　through　another　security　check　and　into　a　room　filled　with　puter　terminals　and　work　stations。　One　station　was　occupied　by　a　pretty　black　woman　who　didn't　look　much　older　than　Terry's　daughter；　Carolyn。　She　smiled　when　Bill　headed　directly　for　her。　She　wasn't　wearing　a　uniform　but　Bill　called　her　Lieutenant　Gillespie。
　〃I　thought　you　were　on　vacation；　sir。〃
　〃I　was；　but　something　brought　me　back。〃
　〃It　wouldn't　be　a　few　missing　cities；　three　air　bases；　an　aircraft　carrier　group；　not　to　mention　the　loss　of　the　ELF　system？〃
　Terry　had　a　sudden　urge　to　run　to　the　nearest　airport　and　catch　a　flight　home。　One　missing　city　had　bee　two；　and　now　a　〃few。〃　Bill　must　have　been　equally　shocked　but　merely　said　calmly；　〃I　need　an　analysis　of　these　as　soon　as　possible。〃　As　always；　he　was　the　consumate　professional。
　〃Colonel；　I'll　give　if　highest　priority；　but　it　will　take　at　least　several　hours。〃
　Bill　and　Terry　waited　while　Lieutenant　Gillespie　copied　the　disks　and　the　files　from　the　hard　drive。　When　she　returned　them　Bill　asked　her　if　she　had　ever　heard　of　an　ancient　prophet　called　Zorastrus。
　〃I've　heard　of　Zorro；〃　she　said　with　a　smile。
　Bill　thanked　her　and　then　led　Terry　through　another　door。　At　the　end　of　a　hall　Bill　turned　into　a　room　that　was　filled　with　puter　parts　and　repair　equipment。　He　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the　counter　man　and　then　led　Terry　to　the　back；　past　shelves　filled　with　parts。　In　a　small　room　filled　with　more　bits　and　pieces　of　puters　was　an　Asian　man　of　about　thirty；　with　thick　black　hair　and　rumpled　clothes。　His　nose　was　six　inches　away　from　a　puter　screen。　Several　Styrofoam　cups　of　old　coffee　surrounded　him。　Monitors；　puters；　and　keyboards　were　lying　everywhere。　The　beeps　of　a　puter　game　filled　the　room。
　〃Phil；　I　need　a　favor。〃
　Phil　punched　the　tab　button　with　his　little　finger　and　the　game　froze　on　the　screen。
　〃Official　or　unofficial？〃
　〃An　unofficial　favor　but　official　business。〃
　〃Classified；　top　secret　stuff？〃　Phil　asked　eagerly。
　〃Tip　top　secret。　I　shouldn't　even　be　showing　it　to　you。〃
　〃All　right！　Let　me　see。〃
　Bill　handed　him　two　boxes　of　disks　and　the　hard　drive。　Phil　soon　had　a　screen　full　of　icons。
　〃What　gives？　You　promised　me　something　secret。　This　isn't　even　access　protected。　No　challenge；　no　deal。〃
　〃The　challenge　is　figuring　out　what　it　all　means。　No　one　else　has　been　able　to　figure　it　out。〃
　〃No　one？〃　Phil　asked　hopefully。
　〃Two　CIA　cryptographers　got　canned　because　they　couldn't　figure　it　out；〃　Bill　lied。
　〃Hot　damn。　I'm　on　it。　What　should　I　look　for？　A　message？　Diagrams？　Plans？〃
　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　send　you　down　the　wrong　path。　I'll　check　back　with　you。　Call　me　if　you　get　something。〃
　They　started　to　leave；　but　then　Bill　turned　back。
　〃Hey；　Phil。　You　ever　hear　of　Zorastrus？〃
　〃Yeah；　the　prophet　of　Babylon；〃　Phil　said　without　taking　his　eyes　from　the　puter　screen。　〃Pretty　astute　guy。　Not　as　well　known　as　Nostradamus。　Probably　because　his　career　got　cut　short。　Some　of　his　short…sighted　contemporaries　thought　he　was　a　little　too　smart。　They　put　him　in　a　pit　and　stoned　him。〃　Phil　looked　up　at　Bill　and　Terry　with　a　serious　face。　〃Does　he　have　anything　to　do　with　what's　happened？　He　made　some　pretty　scary　predictions。〃
　〃Don't　know；　Phil。　Honestly。〃
　As　they　left；　Bill　directed　Terry　to　a　phone　so　he　could　call　his　daughter；　Carolyn；　who　was　full　of　questions　Terry　couldn't　or　wouldn't　answer；　but　otherwise　she　was　fine。　After　assuring　Carolyn　he　would　call　as　soon　as　he　found　out　about　John；　Terry　caught　up　with　Bill。
　〃You　really　think　that　Phil　will　turn　up　anything？〃
　〃Terry；　there's　two　ways　to　pick　a　lock。　One　is　to　work　through　it　systematically。　Start　with　zero　right；　zero　left；　zero　right；　and　then　try　zero　right；　zero　left；　one　right。　Eventually　you　will　open　that　lock。　Lieutenant　Gillespie's　people　will　do　it　that　way。　Phil…well；　he's　an　unguided　missile　with　an　uncanny　record　of　hitting　targets；　targets　he　wasn't　aiming　for。　He　knew　about　Zorastrus；　didn't　he？〃
　〃So　why　is　he　fixing　puters？〃
　〃Partly　by　choice；　but　mostly　because　he's　the　biggest　blabbermouth　in　the　service。　He　couldn't　keep　a　secret　if　his　life　depended　on　it；　but　in　this　case　it　doesn't　matter。　Even　God　couldn't　cover　this　up。〃
　
　28。　THE　BROOD
　
　The　lost　age　of　Man　will　be　the　great　transfiguration　and　society；　and　the　world；　will　never　be　the　same；　I　can　see　no　further　ages；　not　because　they　will　not　e；　but　because　the　future　is　confused。
　…The　Prophecies　of　Melchi…Zedek
　
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　　Colter　was　the　first　out　of　the　RV　in　the　morning；　looking　for　a　place　to　relieve　himself。　But　as　soon　as　he　stepped　out　he　star