Down Read Online Free Page A

“Say anything more and you’re dead.”
    Van Assen kept his mouth shut as the men ran by them.
    After the squad had passed outside, Sanjay said, “Take us to Director Mahajan.”
    “I got you in,” van Assen replied. “That’s all you get. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you get close enough to kill the director.”
    “No one said anything about killing him.”
    “Sanjay, we need to go,” Kusum said.
    Sanjay grabbed van Assen’s arm. “Take us to Director Mahajan.”
    “Go to hell.”
    “If that is how you want it, fine.” Digging his fingers into the Dutchman’s bicep, Sanjay pulled him to the nearest door along the corridor. “What is on the other side?”
    “How should I know? I’ve only been here a day.”
    Before Sanjay could stop her, Kusum opened the door. The room beyond was dark.
    “An empty meeting room,” she said.
    Sanjay shoved van Assen through the opening and flipped on the light. As soon as Kusum shut the door, he said to the Dutchman, “Last chance.”
    “They’ll hear the gun. You’ll never get away.”
    “I do not think they’ll hear anything.” Sanjay grabbed the gun by the barrel and swung the butt into the side of the man’s head as hard as he could.
    Van Assen dropped to the ground like a stone.
    “Did you kill him?” Kusum asked.
    “I hope so. Come on. We need to find Mahajan.”
    __________
     
    T HE GROUND FLOOR of NB551 consisted of a handful of rooms the size of the one they’d left van Assen in, and one much larger space filled with neat rows of crates and boxes and equipment on trailers.
    Several Project Eden members ran between the rows, heading toward the center of the room. Sanjay and Kusum melted into the terrified crowd and ran with it as another of the makeshift bombs went off outside. Though the sound was muffled and distant, the anxiety level of those around them spiked, several yelling in surprise and fear.
    Sanjay soon saw that the others’ destination was a bank of elevators almost dead center in the room. As he and Kusum arrived, one of the cars opened and disgorged a dozen security guards carrying assault rifles and looking more concerned than determined.
    “Clear the way!” a guard yelled. “Get to the sides, goddammit!”
    Most of the crowd complied, but a few who either decided to ignore the order or were just deafened by their panic quickly found themselves knocked to the ground, the lucky ones nursing only bruised ribs instead of head wounds from a rifle butt.
    As soon as the guards were gone, the crowd surged forward, sweeping Sanjay into the elevator. He twisted around, looking for Kusum, but didn’t see her. As the doors closed, he found himself in the middle of the car with barely enough room to breathe.
    When they began to descend, a man asked, “Does anyone know what’s going on? What were those explosions?”
    “Someone’s blowing holes in the perimeter wall,” another responded.
    “Are you sure?” a surprised voice asked.
    “Saw it myself.”
    “Who would do that?”
    No one seemed to have an answer. In fact, Sanjay sensed they were all baffled by the attack, like it was something inconceivable.
    It was several seconds before the elevator slowed and a soft female voice announced, “Level one.”
    When the doors opened, about a third of those packed inside pushed their way out.
    “Here?” Kusum whispered in Sanjay’s ear.
    He turned and nearly pulled her into an embrace when he saw her, but restrained himself and shook his head. “Not yet.” Though he had no way of knowing for sure, his gut told him Mahajan would likely be on a lower level.
    The doors shut again, and those remaining spread themselves out to fill the newly vacated space. When the elevator stopped for a second time, Kusum glanced at Sanjay but he shook his head again.
    The majority of those remaining exited, leaving only three of their colleagues behind. Until now, none of the Project Eden people had even noticed the two imposters, but as