The Genesis Illusion

Chapter 21

Dropping instinctively to the floor with both eyes clamped shut, Paul realized someone entered the building. They'll see me here for sure. After re-opening his left eye, he spied the only cover within reach, the mound of sacks piled in the center of the room. He slithered like an eel out of water, with the sample container stuffed in his pants, across the smooth concrete floor clinging to the sacks for protection. The stack was only about three feet high so it didn't offer much cover.

The clopping of shoes meeting the floor divulged someone walking in his direction. Paul froze lying face down afraid to take a peek. The sound of steps got closer and closer. It's just one person. Paul moved around the stack hugging the sacks to the side farthest from the steps. The unknown person strolled past him toward the rear of the warehouse.

Paul used only his left eye. The right, containing the night-vision contact, was watering profusely from the glare of the bright lights amplified a thousand-fold by his invention. I'll keep moving around the stack to stay out of view.

As the stalker reached the rear of the space, Paul heard the door to the meeting room open. Lucky I got out of there. Maybe they're here for the EMP document? No, it's three o'clock in the morning. For God's sake, what in the hell would anyone be doing here this time of the night? A reflected light flashed on the ceiling above Paul's head. They must have turned on the room light and left the door open. I could make a run for it now. They're in the room and a probably wouldn't see. But then I'd be at the door and the guards outside are undoubtedly awake now.

Paul elected to stay where he was until his nemesis left the building. The reflected light disappeared and Paul heard the steps again coming in his direction. This time they approached from the rear of the room. He prepared to move around the stack in the opposite direction. But instead of retracing their steps Paul heard the steps coming around the other side of the stack. Damn it, I need to get around to the other side before they see me.

Paul, with no time to turn around, crawled backward around the stack. Before his head could disappear behind the corner of the stack, he saw Sam glaring right at him. Christ Almighty, he saw me for sure. Not knowing what to do Paul clung to the sack waiting for Sam to come around. What am I going to tell him when he asks me why I'm here? The truth, I guess, he seems to be on my side, trying to stop the carnage of the senseless Arcadia crusade.

"We're on the same side," Paul muttered.

Oh shit, did I say that out loud? After what seemed like several minutes of silence, but in reality was only a few seconds, the sound of steps echoed off the floor. Walking away? He's not even going to... The steps stopped.

A loud thud alarmed Paul, still hiding behind the sacks. What's that? Sounds of a struggle lured Paul to peek out from his lair. A masked man sitting on Sam's back had him pinned to the floor with his face turned in Paul's direction. The attacker attempted to grasp Sam's arms that were thrashing wildly at his sides. Should I help? Paul didn't want to risk exposing himself but Sam?

Paul leapt up screaming as loud as he could, running toward the masked man who grasped a large combat knife holding it above his head ready to strike. Jolted by Paul's war-screech he stopped. Confused, he rammed Sam's head into the concrete floor, jumped up and dashed out the door. Sam gazed at Paul for a second before his eyes closed and he lay still. Knocked out?

After checking Sam's vital signs, Paul followed the same escape path as the assailant. His thoughts swirled with unanswered questions. Who was that guy? Someone wants Sam dead. Why didn't the guards respond? Once outside he spotted the guards at each corner of the building slumped, comatose, on the equipment they protected unaware of the night's events. Drugged?

Apprehensive that the assailant might be waiting to ambush him, Paul's eyes darted from side to side as he jogged away from the warehouse. He worried about Sam both his health and what he might think about him being in the warehouse. I'm sure he'll be fine. Unable to do anything about either, he focused on the analysis of the substance from the sack.