«Sure. I thought maybe you could use a dedicated lab space — a facility where you can actually
Katherine stared at her brother in shock. «But, Peter, those experiments
«Nothing is impossible, Katherine, and this building is perfect for you. The SMSC is not just a warehouse of treasures; it’s one of the world’s most advanced scientific research facilities. We’re constantly taking pieces from the collection and examining them with the best quantitative technologies money can buy. All the equipment you could possibly need would be here at your disposal.»
«Peter, the technologies required to run these experiments are — »
«Already in place.» He smiled broadly. «The lab is done.»
Katherine stopped short.
Her brother pointed down the long corridor. «We’re going to see it now.»
Katherine could barely speak. «You. . you built me a lab?»
«It’s my job. The Smithsonian was established to advance scientific knowledge. As secretary, I must take that charge seriously. I believe the experiments you’ve proposed have the potential to push the boundaries of science into uncharted territory.» Peter stopped and looked her squarely in the eyes. «Whether or not you were my sister, I would feel obliged to support this research. Your ideas are brilliant. The world deserves to see where they lead.»
«Peter, I can’t possibly — »
«okay, relax. . it was my own money, and nobody’s using pod five right now. when you’re done with your experiments, you’ll move out. besides, pod five has some unique properties that will be perfect for your work.»
Katherine could not imagine what a massive, empty pod might offer that would serve her research, but she sensed she was about to find out. They had just reached a steel door with boldly stenciled letters:
POD 5
Her brother inserted his key card into a slot and an electronic keypad lit up. He raised his finger to type his access code, but paused, arching his eyebrows in the same mischievous way he always had as a boy. «You sure you’re ready?»
She nodded.
«Stand back.» Peter hit the keys.
The steel door hissed loudly open.
Beyond the threshold was only inky blackness. . a yawning void. A hollow moan seemed to echo out of the depths. Katherine felt a cold blast of air emanating from within. It was like staring into the Grand Canyon at night.
«Picture an empty airline hangar waiting for a fleet of Airbuses,» her brother said, «and you get the basic idea.»
Katherine felt herself take a step backward.
«The pod itself is far too voluminous to be heated, but your lab is a thermally insulated cinder-block room, roughly a cube, located in the farthest corner of the pod for maximum separation.»
Katherine tried to picture it.
«Pretty far. . a football field would fit easily in here. I should warn you, though, the walk is a little unnerving. It’s exceptionally dark.»
Katherine peered tentatively around the corner. «No light switch?»
«Pod Five is not yet wired for electricity.»
«But. . then how can a lab function?»
He winked. «Hydrogen fuel cell.»
Katherine’s jaw dropped. «You’re kidding, right?»
«Enough clean power to run a small town. Your lab enjoys full radio-frequency separation from the rest of the building. What’s more, all pod exteriors are sealed with photo-resistant membranes to protect the artifacts inside from solar radiation. essentially, this pod is a sealed, energy-neutral environment.»
Katherine was starting to comprehend the appeal of Pod 5. Because much of her work centered on quantifying previously unknown energy fields, her experiments needed to be performed in a location isolated from any extraneous radiation or «white noise.» This included interference as subtle as «brain radiation» or «thought emissions» generated by people nearby. For this reason, a university campus or hospital lab wouldn’t work, but a deserted pod at the SMSC could not have been more perfect.
«Let’s go back and have a look.» Her brother was grinning as he stepped into the vast darkness. «Just follow me.»
Katherine stalled at the threshold.
«Peter?» she called.
«Leap of faith,» he called back, his voice already fading away. «You’ll find your way. Trust me.»
Silence.
Tentative, she inched forward blindly.
That was three years ago.
Now, as Katherine arrived at the same heavy metal door, she realized how far she had come since that first night. Her lab — nicknamed the Cube — had become her home, a sanctuary within the depths of Pod 5. Exactly as her brother had predicted, she had found her way through the darkness that night, and every day since — thanks to an ingeniously simple guidance system that her brother had let her discover for herself.
Far more important, her brother’s other prediction had come true as well: Katherine’s experiments had produced astonishing results, particularly in the last six months, breakthroughs that would alter entire paradigms of thinking. Katherine and her brother had agreed to keep her results absolutely secret until the implications were more fully understood. one day soon, however, katherine knew she would publish some of the most transformative scientific revelations in human history.
The steel door hissed open.
The familiar hollow moan was accompanied by the same blast of cold air. As always, Katherine felt her pulse rate start to climb.
Steeling herself for the journey, Katherine Solomon glanced at her watch as she stepped into the void. Tonight, however, a troubled thought followed her inside.
CHAPTER 12
Capitol police chief trent anderson had overseen security in the u.s. capitol complex for over a decade. a burly, square-chested man with a chiseled face and red hair, he kept his hair cropped in a buzz cut, giving him an air of military authority. he wore a visible sidearm as a warning to anyone foolish enough to question the extent of his authority.
