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She told him, not deleting or soft-pedaling a single detail, including how Bautu
had died and the findings of the autopsy. Boro, already numb with shock and
grief, didn't react, except to reach for the vodka bottle.
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"There is only one conclusion," said Brigid. "The ring worn by the Tushe Gun is
actually some kind of surgical instrument which directly delivers the implant
into a subject's or victim's brain."
Sverdlovosk quickly translated, and Boro took a shuddery swallow of the vodka.
His voice rough with anger and pain, he demanded from the Russian, "Who
would have made such a monstrous thing?"
The question was echoed in English.
Staring at Sverdlovosk, Kane said, "I think you know, Colonel. I think you've
always known more about it than you've let on."
"You think correctly." The Russian ran a hand over his deeply lined forehead.
"There was far more to the report on Kosloff's 1923 expedition to Kharo-Khoto
than was ever released, and I read the unexpurgated documents in their entirety.
He submitted the theory with a substantial degree of verification that a major
civilization once existed in the Gobi, predating even Sumeria. The Gobi
civilization was said to have been technologically advanced, and the desert upon
which it sat was once lush with vegetation.
"Kosloff hypothesized that the civilization, of which Kharo-Khoto was the hub,
perished due to atomic radiation. Geologists who visited the region later
discovered traces of radiation. Evidently the source of the radiation is in the
vault and once more active."
Sverdlovosk paused, wetting his lips with his tongue. "Kosloff's theory which
was rejected by his scientific contemporaries was that the Gobi civilization
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Axler, James - Outlanders 02 - Destiny Run
was created by a nonhuman race. It was a theory I would have rejected, as well,
except that I had access to predark KGB records detailing military encounters
with so-called flying saucers and entities known as the Grays."
"The Archons," stated Brigid.
"Yes, the Archons. Russian troops occupying Berlin during the close of World
War II came across evidence of their alliance with the Nazis. Most of that
evidence was on paper, scientific developments geared toward secret weapons,
and it was appropriated by the Allies. A deal was struck with elements of the
Third Reich's intelligence community to absorb their technological and principal
scientific establishment. Thus was born the Totality Concept researches, and the
Cold War between my country and yours. However, the Stalinist government
had in its possession something more substantial than documents."
Sverdlovosk scanned the expectant faces around the table. "Yesterday, in
passing, I mentioned Tunguska. Does the word have any meaning to any of you?"
There were head shakes and mumbled negatives.
"Except for the nukecaust, it was the greatest explosion of destructive forces
ever recorded in Russia. Just after dawn, on June 8, 1908, a monstrous fireball
was first spotted over the Gobi, scorching its way across the sky. People in
southern Russia saw it next, describing it as a huge cylinder, glowing a bluish
white. At 7:17 that morning it exploded over the Tunguska River region in
Siberia. People as far away as forty miles from the epicenter of the blast were
burned, bowled over, killed by the shock wave. Closer to the river the
devastation was even worse. Acres of forestland, herds of deer were instantly
vaporized."
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Axler, James - Outlanders 02 - Destiny Run
"What was it?" Brigid asked. "A meteorite?"
"Meteors leave craters. There wasn't one. Investigators at the site reported
finding unusual pieces of shiny metal scattered around. People and animals
within 250 miles of the area contracted a strange disease, from which they
eventually perished. Of course, the scientists of the day did not recognize the
symptoms of rad poisoning."
Sverdlovosk smiled slightly. "As usual there was much political turmoil in
Russia at that time, so a thorough examination of the site was not undertaken
until the end of World War II, nearly forty years later. The material found in
Berlin was the impetus for the new investigation.
"At Tunguska, scientists found a canister buried deep within the earth. It was a
lifeboat-type contrivance and held three creatures in a form of cryogenic stasis.
Only one was successfully revived. According to the report, it telepathically
imparted that their craft had intended to land in the Gobi. Their mission was a
search and rescue, but their propulsion systems malfunctioned. The crew raced
against time to save their ship, but they lost. A little less than a mile above
Tunguska, the craft exploded into oblivion."
"What happened to the survivor?" asked Kane.
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