The Code - Genesis - Book I (11 page)

He continues, “The Mayans were the only ancient civilization to understand the concept of zero.  They must have created it based on variations of light and quantum physics.” 

“You came here about numbers and physics?  It’s
3 a.m.
, Professor…” Natan shakes her head, “You’re worse than my section chief.  Look, my office hours are from
9 a.m.
to
10 p.m.
  Learn them, Professor, and try me then.”  Natan tries to push Josh toward the door.

Josh explains more. “Agent Natan.  I’ve input the binary code into my computer and found another encryption.  It’s incredible…my computer can’t seem to break it.  Do you know what this means?” 

“You need a new computer?” she counters.

“It’s revolutionary, Agent Natan.  We must find my bag.”

“Tomorrow, Professor?”

He tries to break through once more, “Agent Natan, listen to me.  Please.  This is very important.”  Natan focuses.  Josh continues, “I found a binary code hidden by the Mayans within these symbols from thousands of years ago when computers didn’t exist…that neither I, nor the university computer, can seem to crack.”

A bewildered Natan stands looking at him. “It is tomorrow,” he says.

Inside a graduate dorm room, Josh’s bag sits on a dining room table.  Amanda’s fingers trace the seams that lead to the opening of the bag.  She slowly unfastens the latch and opens the bag as she pulls out the pages.  Amanda looks down at the pages in her hand, slowly reviewing them one by one. 
Mayan encryptions.  What are you involved in, Josh?

Part III

Prevention

Chapter Seventeen

August, 1984

A younger
Alice
stands in the early 1
980s style kitchen of William’s
home.  Yellow wallpaper accentuates the light green appliances
Alice
leans against as she attempts to console William, Natan’s adoptive father. “Bill.  I’m so sorry.  I know this has been so difficult for you.”  William cups his hand over his face as he begins to sob. 
Alice
approaches, placing her hand around his back, and rubs him in condolence.

William collects himself, wiping the tears away.  “I never cry.”

“It’s okay,”
Alice
consoles.

A young Natan stands hidden, peaking around the doorway.  She is shocked to see her adoptive father cry.

Alice
attempts to reassure him. “I have my days.”

“It’s been six months,” he says. “You’d think I’d be able to deal with her not being here now.”

“I miss her too.” 
Alice
watches his reaction.  “How’s Katie handling it?”

“She’s been through so much, yet she’s as stoic as can be.  It’s surprising, actually.”

“It must run in the adoptive family.  But I can see she’s hurting,” she replies.

“There’s no doubt that she must be.  Would you mind talking to her, Alice?”

“Of course not, Bill.  Any time.”

“I really appreciate that…”  William’s face reveals more than he’s discussing.

Alice
digs deeper, “Something else on your mind?”

“Uh…well, I didn’t want to bring this up again…” his voice trails off.

“What is it?”
Alice
probes.

“
Alice
, did you follow up on that information I gave you?” he asks.

Alice
realizes what he means. “Oh.”  She shifts uncomfortably, backing away a bit. “I still haven’t found anything, Bill.  We went through the car with a fine toothed comb.  Everything was working properly.” 
             
             

             
William shakes his head in disbelief.

Alice
continues, “Car accidents happen all the time.” 
Alice
reaches out to touch William’s shoulder.  “Bill, I think if you stop looking for an outside conspiracy, you may be able to begin the healing inside.”

William pulls away, affirming his point. “I just know there’s something to this.”

Alice
continues, “We went over everything.  There were
no
mechanical issues.  Why do you keep hanging on to this?”

“It’s…it’s something that Katie said,” he replies.

Young Natan perks up at her name as she stares from a distance.

“Something Katie said?  What are you talking about?”
Alice
questions.

             
William recollects to a memorable night months before.  In the late evening, in a dimly lit room, Natan sleeps in her bed as William approaches.

William continues his story to
Alice
as he replays the night in his mind. “The night before Jacqueline’s accident, I went to her room to tuck her in.  You know since we adopted her, she always thought that was silly, her being eleven and all.  She thought she was an adult because she surpassed ten.
 
“Ten-year-olds don’t need tuck-ins,” she said.  I was on the phone longer than I expected and when I got to her room…she was already asleep.”

“Bill, you’re rambling here.  What are you talking about?”
Alice
probes him.

He continues,
“I went to kiss her goodnight on the forehead and she spoke to me…I thought I woke her, but she was still sleeping.
  Her
body
was tense
and she
was
covered in sw
eat.” 
Alice
locks eyes with
William
as he continues
, “I shook her and she wouldn’t wake up.  It was like…she was lost somewhere…lost in another place…another world.”

“What did she say?”
Alice
asks.

             
Natan leans up in the bed, eyes closed, and utters, “Prevent it.  Not an accident.”  William stands speechless as he watches his adoptive daughter.

July 29, 2006
 

The words echo in
Alice
’s mind as she sits at her desk returning from her visit to the past, from the bridges of her memory.  She looks down at a file in front of her.  Jacqueline Natan’s file sits in front of her, complete with accident photos and all.  The file reads “Case Closed.”

Chapter Eighteen

Natan sits in a chair in her therapist’s office, across from
Christine
.  A readied
Christine
has a clipboard and pen in hand to take notes. “Are you still having the dreams?” she asks Natan.

Natan fidgets. “Yes,” she replies.

Christine
jots notes. “You’re still a little nervous about being here, aren’t you?”
             
             
“Is it that noticeable?” Natan asks. 
Christine
nods her head yes.

“I’m sure with time it’ll get better…” Natan tries to focus on the positive.

“As with most things,”
Christine
responds, putting down her pen.  “I’d like to discuss your dream a little further.  Let’s see if we can trace this back a bit.  Do you know when you began having dreams?” 
Christine
picks up her pen again.

Natan lets her mind drift for a moment, then responds, “I’ve had dreams ever since I was little.  But, this series of dreams lately has been happening for about six months.”

“Well, let’s start with the most obvious.  What was going on in your life six months ago?”
Christine
asks.

Natan reflects, “Hmmm…I had just returned from
Boston
…”

Christine
’s pen is in overdrive. “And, what were you there for, work or pleasure?”

“It was for work,” Natan answers. 

“Why don’t you walk me through the events that led you there.”

Natan eyes
Christine
’s clipboard. “You sure this is confidential?”

Christine
looks up at Natan. “Of course…unless you intend to hurt yourself or someone else…or abuse is involved, mum’s the word.”

“Would you mind not writing this down?”

Christine
sets the clipboard off to her side. “No problem.”

Natan begins her story, “My department had gotten information that there was an impending terrorist threat, targeting an east coast city.  The F.B.I. helped the N.S.A. narrow a possible occurrence to one of four cities…
New York
,
Philadelphia
,
D.C.
, or
Boston
.  Four units were assembled to be dispatched to the four locations.  Surprisingly, I was chosen to head one.” 

“You didn’t expect to receive this assignment?”
Christine
asks.

“I knew that I was up for more responsibility, but it was a bit shocking… in a good way.” Natan replies.

“That’s understandable,”
Christine
says. “Take me through it.”

Natan remembers the beginning.

6 Months Earlier

Marsh sits in his office behind his desk as Natan stands at attention in front of him, holding paperwork.  He watches Natan’s shocked expression as she reviews the pages. “Never thought you’d move up the ranks so quickly?” he asks.
             

             
Natan scans her paperwork in awe.  “Well, I definitely didn’t expect this,” she replies.

“Congratulations, Agent Natan.  You’re one of four, including myself, and I’ve already briefed the others.”  Marsh stands.  “You have a few minutes to review the file and then you can meet me in the Intelligence room to discuss additional details.”

“Yes, Sir.”  Marsh leaves Natan to ponder.

             
Inside the therapist’s office, Natan sits across from
Christine
. 
Christine
probes further, “How did that make you feel, Natan?”

             
Natan replies, “Elated.  Proud…afraid.”

             
“Go on,”
Christine
encourages.

Natan remembers.

Marsh stands in the front of a room full of agents.  Natan, Knight, Alice, and

several other agents sit listening to plans to thwart the attack.

Marsh begins his briefing, “Homeland Security picked up an Al Queda operative who leaked a time line for the possible terrorist attack on the east coast and passed it on to the bureau and to us.  With the bureau’s help, we’ve been able to narrow down the cities to D.C.,
Philadelphia
,
New York
, and
Boston
.”  Marsh points to a map behind him.  “We’ve also been able to narrow the time period down to a forty-eight hour window which begins in…”  Marsh looks down at his watch, “Twelve hours.”

Agent Kalin, a cocky, overconfident, self-proclaimed sexist stands up to address Marsh.  “Chief Marsh.  Who gets the privilege of heading up the units this go round?”

Marsh continues, “I know several of you have been vying for lead position, but three agents have been pre-selected…”

Kalin interrupts Marsh, “Only three, Sir?”

Marsh continues, “Johnson, Daniels, Natan, and I will lead the four units.  I’ll be taking D.C. so I can stay close to base for any immediate necessity.”

             
Natan stands, interrupting Marsh, “I’d like to take
Boston
, Sir.”

“Daniels was assigned to that area, Natan,” Marsh replies.

             
Agent Daniels, the only guy to ask Natan out on more than one occasion and continuously survive the defeat, stands in the background.  “That’s okay,
Chief.  I can switch with her…
as long as she remembers this favor in the future.”  He winks at Natan.  As usual, Natan ignores his advances.