The Doomsday Box Read Online Free Page A

remarked, as if reading his thoughts. “But I remember Jack Mullan telling me that when Project Rainbow was at its height, there were three thousand people down there—scientists, armed forces personnel, clerical, and catering staff. It was like a small town. Jack—Admiral Mullan—had the time of his life running it. Pity he’s not here to see the project revived.” He hesitated, then turned to Opal. “I don’t know if it makes any difference to you, young lady, but your target is deep underground—the whole place was built to withstand a nuclear hit.”
    Like the Shadow Project , Michael thought.
    Carradine said, “It won’t make a difference.” He pointed to a section of the map. “This is our target—right?”
    â€œThat’s right. The rift chamber itself is intact, but it’s sealed four sides top and bottom with specially reinforced concrete. We’re drilling through here.” He pointed. “Approaching from the southwest.”
    â€œIs that all those big bulldozers and things we saw coming in?” Fuchsia asked.
    The colonel shook his head. “No, that’s part of our cover operation to mask any vibration or noise and give us an excuse to move in heavy machinery. We’re supposed to be doing renovations on the base with a view to giving it back to the air force. But the real work is underground. We have an industrial auger down there, biggest SOB you’ve ever seen. We were just a few hours off the chamber when the alarm went off. We stopped drilling, of course.”
    â€œWe’ll go in from where you stopped,” Carradine said decisively. “Opal doesn’t like projecting through solid objects, so the shorter the distance she has to travel, the better. I assume you’ve still got an electrical feed into the sealed chamber?”
    The colonel nodded. “Sure thing. Otherwise the alarm couldn’t have gone off.”
    â€œWe’ll have to switch some lights on, or she won’t be able to see. Apart from that . . .” Carradine trailed off vaguely. “I can’t think of any other preparations.”
    â€œWhen can we do it?” Saltzman asked him.
    â€œI’m expecting some equipment from Langley,” Carradine said. “We can go when it arrives.”
    â€œThere was a crate delivered for you a couple of hours ago,” the colonel said. “Arrived just before you did.”
    Carradine glanced at Opal, who nodded slightly. “In that case, Colonel,” Carradine said briskly, “if you can show me the way, we can go now.”

Chapter 5
Opal, Underground Base, Montauk
    T ell me something, Mr. Carradine, if it’s not classified information,” Colonel Saltzman said. “Why four operatives?”
    Carradine smiled slightly. “I guess your clearance is high enough for me to answer that, Colonel. We flew four operatives across because remote viewing is a two-person job. Opal here will do the viewing, but Michael’s her partner and acts as her anchor—it stops psychological damage while she’s out of the body. It’s a technical thing. It has to do with the energies our equipment generates.”
    Opal liked the way Mr. Carradine had described Michael as her partner, even though it only meant they worked together on Project operations. Colonel Saltzman said, “What about the other two?”
    â€œBackup,” Mr. Carradine told him. “This is too important an op to leave anything to chance. Danny’s as talented at the work as Opal, although he’s not as experienced. And Fuchsia”—the smile widened slightly—“well, you mustn’t judge a book by the way it dresses, Colonel.”
    They were walking together, all six of them, through the deserted corridors of the old Project Rainbow complex. Their footsteps echoed eerily and the whole place was in gloom, but the power was on and some minimal