Read Online The Day of the Nefilim by David L. Major - Free Book Online Page B

grid. Other points would become communication nodes, and yet others would monitor and survey, refine and redirect.
    In short, the demands of a power structure, both political and physical, would be met with ease.
    Over time, the influence of the eight victims, two in each of the four sites, would dissipate, like batteries going flat, and they would need to be replaced, the whole ceremony being re-enacted. And thus, the General reflected, was born, among all the races that the Nefilim had dominated, the copycat ritual of sacrifice; the necessity of providing the earth a yearly offering of blood and life energy.
    He remembered that the Secretary-General wanted to see some Nefilim. He went to the one that, for want of better instruction, he regarded as their leader, and passed on the request for a meeting. The Nefilim studied him for a few seconds, as if seeking information from his physical appearance, then accepted.
    He made sure that the creature knew that more soldiers were on the way. For some reason, it made him feel better.
    * * *
    The General led his party straight to the surface, expecting the helicopters to arrive at any moment. As it was, they were late, and it would be an hour before the black shapes came floating over the horizon like dark wasps, hugging the treetops.
    Thead used the time to think. There could be a career opportunity here if he played it right. The natives were obviously bent on making some sort of deal with the Nefilim.
    It was a new angle, he had to admit. Over the years, he’d heard of different ways of dealing with them, but an alliance of equals was a new one. Maybe there was more to these humans than met the eye. Or less. They were either very smart or very stupid.
    He was sure that he didn’t like the General, who was far too rough for a scientist and intellectual such as Thead. Still, for the sake of science, you do what you must do, he thought. No sacrifice is too great.
    He hoped he wouldn’t have too much direct contact with the Nefilim, who had a habit, he’d heard, of not distinguishing between their friends and their enemies. Whatever. Science and scholarship, they were the main things… he had responsibilities to truth and knowledge. He was above politics.
    ‘You may well be above politics…’
    The words leapt from nowhere into Thead’s mind. He started, his heart jumping. He looked around and saw the glowing eyes of one of the Nefilim mocking him. Thead felt disconsolate at the thought that he didn’t know how long he had been the object of the creature’s attention.
    ‘ But I shouldn’t worry,’ the voice in his head continued. ‘Someone will find a job for you.’
    Thead said nothing and looked away.
    * * *

Sahrin goes exploring, and finds some company
     
    BELOW GROUND, they had arrived at the area where the Nefilim had appeared. Sahrin stayed near the entrance to the chamber, keeping watch in case anyone came down the tunnels.
    The floor was carpeted with shards of broken rock. Whatever substance had covered the arrays of controls had peeled off the walls like paint blistering in heat, and slumped onto the floor in pools of slime.
    The room was empty. The Nefilim had gone, as were the corpses of Kali and the sergeant. There were marks in the dust, left by their heels as they had been dragged away. The trails disappeared into the darkness, into which Sahrin looked uncertainly.
    In the chamber, the control panels, still alive, flickered coldly. There was no movement and no sign of life.
    “What’s all this about?” Reina asked, looking in wonder at the hieroglyphs and lights.
    “This room contains the mechanisms with which the Nefilim control their energy system,” Bark answered. “As for why they would want to do that, we definitely don’t have time to go into that, except to say that it’s in their nature. There’s no sign of Thead here. He was here with one of your soldiers and some of the Nefilim when we left. I’d guess that he’s most likely with