Free The Colony: A Novel by A. J. Colucci Page B

respond, Russo said, “That’s an excellent idea. Tomorrow I expect your lists of problems and solutions—I don’t want any more deaths on my watch.”
    The group rose in quiet murmurs.
    Kendra nearly bumped squarely into Agent Cameron. “Smiling Dan,” she said with sarcasm.
    He handed her a map of the bunker. “You’ll need this. It’s a diagram of the entire complex.”
    She stared at the long tunnels and tiny chambers. “Looks like an ant colony.”
    “You can enter any of these rooms. Cafeteria, laboratory, computer room, laundry, everything you’ll need.”
    “Everything but sky.”
    “You won’t be leaving for a few days. Cell phones don’t work but the mayor has an outside line in his office. All the computers have Internet connections, carefully monitored by a security team. I can escort you outside for emergencies only.”
    “Thanks, Dan.” Paul took Kendra by the elbow. “I think she’s all right for now.”
    Agent Cameron smiled through straight white teeth. “Paul O’Keefe, right? Belong to a few radical organizations.”
    “I guess. If you consider Greenpeace radical.”
    “Scientists for the Preservation of Earth. Americans for Responsible Government.”
    “Your point?”
    Cameron looked at Paul, his eyes icy and emotionless. “No point, Doctor.”

 
    CHAPTER 12
    THE SMELL OF FORMALDEHYDE was a comforting memory to Kendra as she checked out the laboratory. The squared walls were painted white and the lab was well stocked. There were bottles of dead ants with their legs to the ceiling and live ones feverishly cleaning antennas. Microscopes, beakers and test tubes lined black lacquer counters. Inside an open closet she could see a stack of boxes containing ant-proof suits labeled BUG OUT , and she wondered if there was a field trip in her future.
    And then there was Paul. Despite the underlying rage of being kidnapped, Kendra felt excited to be near him again. There was no denying the fluttering in her stomach. It felt less like butterflies than a flock of seagulls fighting over the last clam. She was disgusted at the way she licked her lips to make them glossier, instead of turning on her heels and walking out.
    “Well, well,” she said smugly. “Everything we need to save an entire city.”
    “I stocked the place myself.”
    “An actual electron microscope,” she quipped. “Guess you thought of everything.”
    “Yes,” he answered, eyeing her from head to toe. “I did.”
    She finally snapped. “Paul, what the hell is going on!”
    The spell was broken.
    “You heard what they said.”
    “I heard an utterly preposterous story. The very idea that ants can be trained like—like circus monkeys is ridiculous.” She folded her arms and blurted, “I don’t know why you chose me of all people to assist you, but if you were hoping for a cheery reunion, it’s too late. You blew it.”
    “I blew it? You’re the one who ran off to the desert. Besides, it didn’t take you long to get over me and move on to the next guy.”
    “Are you talking about Jeremy?” Her cheeks flushed. “That was a corporate merger.”
    “It was a merger, all right. The ant community is pretty small, Kendra. You had an affair.”
    “It’s not an affair when your divorce papers are sitting in the mailbox.”
    Paul was getting mad. “Can you forget about yourself for a moment?” he shot back. “We’re having a little problem here with some very scary insects.”
    Kendra let out a bark of laughter. She had already decided she wanted no part of this charade. It had been her view for quite some time that the world was going to hell and she had no intention of wading into the mess. National politics over oil, taxes and health care had reached the brink of insanity. Global warming. Genocide. Jihad. A neglectful husband. Mutant ants from hell sounded like just another man-made catastrophe.
    “I understand you’re angry,” he said, trying to sound calm.
    “ Angry?” Kendra was fuming. “Why