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ageddon,” Vernon said.
Emerson nodded. “Under ideal conditions, so to speak.”
Riley looked at Emerson in the rearview mirror. “You know a lot about strange matter.”
Emerson shrugged. “I’ve been told on occasion I’m a strange man.”
“We study strange matter at the Keck Observatory,” Alani said. “Astronomers believe that on a cosmic level, exotic matter is much more common than normal matter and was probably created during the early stages of the universe. Around ninety-six percent of the universe is exotic matter. It’s just that none of it, before now, was ever discovered on the earth.”
Riley saw the outline of Wayan Bagus’s ATV ahead through the fog and slowed down.
“That doesn’t exactly explain how the National Park Service got their hands on it,” Riley said.
“I have a working theory, but it will have to wait,” Emerson said. “We’re about to get company. I can hear ATVs on the trail behind us.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Emerson quickly transferred the Penning trap to Wayan Bagus’s ATV.
“Here’s the plan,” Emerson said. “They don’t know we have a second ATV, and they’re going to assume we’ll try to outrun them down the mountain.”
Riley looked down the mountain. The undulate terrain looked very steep and treacherous.
“Do you think we can outrun them?” she asked.
“Doubtful,” Emerson said. “That’s why Alani, Vernon, and Wayan Bagus will take the ATV with the Penning trap up the mountain to the summit and hide out at the Keck Observatory while you and I act as decoys and lead them down the mountain.”
“What about the unexploded ordnance?” Riley asked. “It’s one thing if we blow up. It’s another if the entire island of Hawaii is destroyed.”
Emerson nodded. “The bad guys won’t be looking for Alani and Vernon’s ATV, so they can drive at a safe speed, sticking to the Jeep trail and main roads.”
“And what about us?” Riley asked.
“We’ll be off-road, speeding down the mountain in the fog at breakneck speeds, trying to avoid hitting any explosives.”
Riley rolled her eyes. “That’s a relief. I was afraid we’d be doing something dangerous.”
“Be careful,” Vernon said. “Pay attention to your unagi.”
The three of them took off down the Jeep trail and disappeared into the fog. Riley and Emerson buckled in and waited.
“The dogs won’t chase the fox unless they are allowed to pick up its trail,” Emerson said.
Riley cut her eyes to Emerson. “Have you ever been to a fox hunt? Nine times out of ten it ends up badly for the fox.”
Four sets of headlights shone through the cloud cover, and seconds later Riley could make out four ATVs loaded to the gills with Rough Rider soldiers.
“Do you know how to drive one of these things off-road?” Emerson asked.
“I’m the daughter of a small-town Texas sheriff, and I have four brothers,” Riley said. “What do you think?”
She gunned the engine and took off down the mountain, fishtailing through the lava cinders before getting her bearings.
Emerson looked behind them. The four sets of headlights were still in pursuit.
“They took the bait,” Emerson said. “The good news is that they’re coming after us. The bad news is that they appear to be gaining on us.”
Riley checked the speedometer. “We’re going forty miles per hour. I’m driving blind in this fog. Any faster, and I’m afraid we’ll lose control of the ATV.”
