Read Online Mine: The Arrival by Brett Battles - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Brett Battles
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on!”
“I promise all your questions will be answered very soon, but first—”
“No! You will tell me why I have been brought here, and you will do so right now.”
Durant took a deep breath, looking at Kozakov as if he were a petulant child. “I am very much counting on our relationship being a good one. We will be working very closely with each other, after all. I would hate to start off by having you taken to one of our cells until you’re ready to cooperate, but I will do it in a heartbeat.”
He stared at Kozakov, waiting.
Kozakov wanted to continue wrapping himself in his armor of righteous indignation, but as much as he hated admitting it, he knew his position was a hopeless one. Through clenched teeth, he said, “What questions?”
The interrogation that followed contained queries of the most personal nature. Kozakov had no idea how this man knew things that Kozakov was sure his own intrusive government was unaware of. Kozakov answered everything truthfully, more because he was stunned than out of any desire to cooperate.
After he replied to a particularly intimate question about the woman he’d almost married, his inquisitor closed the file and said, “Excellent.” Again, Durant held out his hand. “It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Kozakov. We are so happy to have you here with us.”
Worn down by the questioning, Kozakov shook the man’s hand. “Now can you tell me why I’m here?”
“It will be easier to show you.”
E LEVEN
A FTER THE ELEVATOR doorsopened, Durant led Kozakov into a long hallway where a new soldier waited to take the place of the man they’d left at the top. Given the perceived speed of descent and how much time it had taken, Kozakov estimated they were at least two hundred feet below the surface.
“If you’ll come this way,” Durant said, motioning down the hall as if there were another direction they could have taken.
“Why is it so cold?” Kozakov asked. Even without artificial heating, an area this far underground should have had a more moderate temperature.
“It’s necessary for the work we’re doing.”
“And what is that work?”
Durant grinned. “I envy you for what you’re about to see. You only get one first time, after all.”
The hall ended at a T-bone intersection, with the new corridor curving off in both directions. They went left.
“Is there no one else down here?” Kozakov asked. With the exception of the guards, he hadn’t seen a soul since they’d stepped out of the elevator.
“There is,” Durant replied. “But our staff is limited to only those we absolutely need. It makes for a more secure environment.”
The hallway ended at a heavy metal wall. Durant moved to the corridor wall and pressed his hand against it. A panel popped open and revealed several rows of switches. Durant began flipping them in a seemingly random order. When he finished, the wall swung inward.
Durant smiled and motioned at the open doorway. “After you.”
Kozakov knew he should have been upset, but his curiosity drowned out his anger before it could build up any steam. He peered through the doorway, but could see only a short corridor that seemed to jut to the left. More interesting was the door itself.
“Steel?” he asked, stepping across the threshold.
“A variant. Something we had made specifically for our needs.”
Kozakov raised an eyebrow. He would have liked to examine the door more closely—materials were, after all, his specialty—but Durant was already moving past him so he followed. Interestingly, the guard did not accompany them.
When they were on the other side, Durant opened another panel and flicked several switches. The door swung shut. Kozakov couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever pass through it again.
“This way.”
Durant led him into a large, square room at least as tall as it was wide, and then across to a thick door similar to, though larger than, the one they’d just come through. The inner
“I promise all your questions will be answered very soon, but first—”
“No! You will tell me why I have been brought here, and you will do so right now.”
Durant took a deep breath, looking at Kozakov as if he were a petulant child. “I am very much counting on our relationship being a good one. We will be working very closely with each other, after all. I would hate to start off by having you taken to one of our cells until you’re ready to cooperate, but I will do it in a heartbeat.”
He stared at Kozakov, waiting.
Kozakov wanted to continue wrapping himself in his armor of righteous indignation, but as much as he hated admitting it, he knew his position was a hopeless one. Through clenched teeth, he said, “What questions?”
The interrogation that followed contained queries of the most personal nature. Kozakov had no idea how this man knew things that Kozakov was sure his own intrusive government was unaware of. Kozakov answered everything truthfully, more because he was stunned than out of any desire to cooperate.
After he replied to a particularly intimate question about the woman he’d almost married, his inquisitor closed the file and said, “Excellent.” Again, Durant held out his hand. “It is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Kozakov. We are so happy to have you here with us.”
Worn down by the questioning, Kozakov shook the man’s hand. “Now can you tell me why I’m here?”
“It will be easier to show you.”
E LEVEN
A FTER THE ELEVATOR doorsopened, Durant led Kozakov into a long hallway where a new soldier waited to take the place of the man they’d left at the top. Given the perceived speed of descent and how much time it had taken, Kozakov estimated they were at least two hundred feet below the surface.
“If you’ll come this way,” Durant said, motioning down the hall as if there were another direction they could have taken.
“Why is it so cold?” Kozakov asked. Even without artificial heating, an area this far underground should have had a more moderate temperature.
“It’s necessary for the work we’re doing.”
“And what is that work?”
Durant grinned. “I envy you for what you’re about to see. You only get one first time, after all.”
The hall ended at a T-bone intersection, with the new corridor curving off in both directions. They went left.
“Is there no one else down here?” Kozakov asked. With the exception of the guards, he hadn’t seen a soul since they’d stepped out of the elevator.
“There is,” Durant replied. “But our staff is limited to only those we absolutely need. It makes for a more secure environment.”
The hallway ended at a heavy metal wall. Durant moved to the corridor wall and pressed his hand against it. A panel popped open and revealed several rows of switches. Durant began flipping them in a seemingly random order. When he finished, the wall swung inward.
Durant smiled and motioned at the open doorway. “After you.”
Kozakov knew he should have been upset, but his curiosity drowned out his anger before it could build up any steam. He peered through the doorway, but could see only a short corridor that seemed to jut to the left. More interesting was the door itself.
“Steel?” he asked, stepping across the threshold.
“A variant. Something we had made specifically for our needs.”
Kozakov raised an eyebrow. He would have liked to examine the door more closely—materials were, after all, his specialty—but Durant was already moving past him so he followed. Interestingly, the guard did not accompany them.
When they were on the other side, Durant opened another panel and flicked several switches. The door swung shut. Kozakov couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever pass through it again.
“This way.”
Durant led him into a large, square room at least as tall as it was wide, and then across to a thick door similar to, though larger than, the one they’d just come through. The inner
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