Page 80 of Eruption

Briggs nodded.

“Whatever you need to do to protect that cave, whatever you and your peoplethinkyou’re doing, you need to do more,” Mac said. Then: “Does Rivers know about this?”

“He’s the one who told me to call you,” Briggs said.

“I need to get to work,” Mac said.

Mac and General Rivers weren’t scheduled to meet until six a.m., but it had to happen sooner than that. It wasn’t easy to run in a hazmat suit, but Mac managed to stay upright as he went down the road to his jeep. He grabbed his phone, called Rivers, and told the general he’d see him in his office after he’d scrubbed himself down.

“That sounded like an order,” Rivers said.

“Only because it was.”

“You’re still working for the army,” Rivers said.

“And how’s that working out for me so far?”

CHAPTER 55

U.S. Military Reserve, Hawai‘i

In the office the general had taken over for the duration, Rivers said nothing about the situation on the ground involving dead soldiers who’d basically exited the Ice Tube under a death sentence.

And who might have made a stop or two before they arrived at their party cabin in the woods above Hilo.

“I fought wars in the Middle East,” Rivers said. “I lived in a world of IEDs and lunatics with explosives strapped to their chests. And I sit here now knowing how close this eruption is, and I feel like this whole island has become a potential roadside bomb.”

He put his elbows on his desk and his face in his hands.

“And now, on top of that, because some of the people in my command thought the rules didn’t apply to them, I might have abudding pandemic on my hands,” Rivers said. “Except with this one, you get burned to a fucking crisp.”

Mac had changed back into his sweater and jeans. His hazmat suit had been collected. He had been checked and rechecked for radiation and pronounced clear.

For now,he thought.

“Do we tell the others about what I just witnessed?” Mac asked Rivers. “And do you tell them about the body in the cave?”

“Not even at gunpoint,” Rivers said.

“I hate keeping things from my team,” Mac said.

“They need to focus on what’s about to happen at the top of that mountain,” Rivers said.

“You’re right.”

The smallest of smiles crossed Rivers’s lips. “Had to happen eventually.” He got up and went to get more coffee. “I’m bringing boats into the Port of Hilo starting this morning,” Rivers said. “We need to evacuate as much of the town as we can.”

“The entire town?” Mac said.

“We don’t have enough time for that,” Rivers said. “We’re using your schematics, going through the areas that we think are most vulnerable and telling people they need to leave. The way they do on the mainland when there’s a hurricane coming.”

“I can’t disagree with that,” Mac said.

Rivers shrugged. “Martial law,” he said. “And I’m the marshal.”

“You’re doing what you need to do,” Mac said. “I assume you always have.”

The general sat back down and said to Mac, “I needyou,Dr. MacGregor, now more than ever. Maybe even more than I thought I did.” Before Mac could respond, Rivers held up a hand. “I’m a fast learner,” he said. “Always have been, all the way back to the academy. First in my fucking class. I’m a smart bastard. Butreallysmart bastards know what they don’t know and knowwhen they’re out of their depth.” He smiled, barely. “You see where I’m going with this?”