Christopher David Petersen [A Weapon of Atlantis (epub)

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.“Check out this emerald-colored disk,” he said, holding it out for Javi to examine.“Its center is also cloudy, just like the diamond disk.I’m betting they used these stones as some kind of fuse.”Javi shined his flashlight on the exposed section of the engine.Inside, he noticed several small cavities that matched the size of the disks on the ground and in their hands.He bent over and matched one up against the small pocket.“A perfect fit,” he announced.Jack shined his light on a panel that leaned against the wall behind them.The opening in the engine matched the panel’s size perfectly.“Look at this engine panel,” he pointed.“Whoever was working on this must have removed it, laid it against the wall, then continued on with the disks.”“It boggles my mind: we’re staring at the last moments this craft was ever worked on, seven thousand years ago,” Javi responded.“I think what will boggle my mind more is to see this wingless hunk of metal fly.I still don’t see anything that suggests lift or thrust, the two main components of flight,” he said, shaking his head in amazement.“I’m sure the guys from NASA will be thinking the same,” Javi concurred, then added, “It’s quite possible they could have this thing flying tomorrow.Just imagine the sight.”Jack bent down and picked up several stones from the floor.With each one, he examined it with his flashlight, inspecting it for defects, then pocketed the ones that appeared cloudy and flawed.“Jack, what’re you doing?” Javi asked with growing concern.“This ole crate ain’t going nowhere with blown fuses,” he joked.“I’m going to see about having them remade.”“Jack, I know this sounds a bit rigid but the boys from NASA explicitly asked us not to touch anything.They are in essence forensic scientists, so anything we disturb from its natural state, will make it that much harder for them to understand the problem.”Jack thought about Javi’s words and nodded simply in understanding, placing the stones back on the floor where he found them.“And speaking of NASA, have you given any thought about how much we tell them about the Araean’s secret weapon?”Javi shook his head.“Not yet.I’m hoping to steer them away from it until we know more.We have to ask ourselves: if they truly did create some form of deadly weapon, do we really want the world to have it? The last thing this planet needs is another weapon of mass destruction.”“You know, maybe it’s not such a bad thing if the world knows about it.Although the invention of the atomic bomb might be considered bad, technological advancements that came as a result of it, weren’t.Whatever this weapon is, our world might be better off knowing than not,” Jack reasoned.Javi shrugged.“It is a dilemma… one, I’m sure we’ll have to considered long and hard about.”“We may not have that kind of time,” Jack countered.Javi nodded.“I know.Once we start to translate the hieroglyphics for them, it’ll only be a matter of time before they can do the translations themselves.”“Maybe the weapon will turn out to be nothing,” Jack speculated.Javi stared knowingly, his eyes filled with warning.“Do you really think that?” he asked.Jack’s face filled with dread.No further response was necessary.Chapter: 3Javi and Jack stood outside their utility trailer and listened to the sound of rotor blades approaching.They narrowed their eyes and squinted in the sunlight.Just above the horizon, they watched a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter approach from the north.Within minutes, the aircraft circled over the camp, then landed on a flattened area of ice.“Time to meet the pros,” Javi announced.With the blades winding to a stop, they hurried across the frozen landscape to the now disembarking men.Helping them off the helicopter, Spec.Agent Byron Price and Spec.Agent Alex Hammond stood at the doorway and steadied the three scientists as they stepped down onto the snow.“I’m Javier Arista and this is my colleague Jack Roberts,” Javi said, extending his hand as he approached.“We’re from NASA,” the tallest man responded, pumping Javi’s hand with enthusiasm.“I’m Roger Burns and these are my colleagues Stan Williams and Fred Carpenter [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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