AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"What is your name?" she asked, in a tone of authority.
"My name is Dirk Pitt," he said brazenly, actually stupidly, he thought, studying her eyes for a reaction.
There was none. She had not been advised of his menacing actions toward the family. "My little friend here is Al Capone."
"Rosa Wolf," she identified herself.
"A great honor, Miss Wolf," Pitt said, "to be associated with your family's great venture. The Ulrich Wolf is a glorious masterwork. My friend and I were recruited from the United States Marines only two weeks ago. It is indeed a privilege to serve a family that has created such an extraordinary work of genius."
"My cousin Karl was the driving force behind the construction of the Ulrich Wolf and our other three Fourth Empire floating cities," Rosa sermonized from pride, obviously pleased with Pitt's praise. "He assembled the world's finest naval architects and marine engineers to design and construct our vessels, from the blueprint stage to completion, under a cloak of extreme secrecy. Unlike most large cruise liners and supertankers, our ships have no single hull but employ nine hundred watertight sealed compartments.
If, during the massive surge expected from the coming cataclysm, a hundred cells are damaged and flooded on any of our vessels, they will sink no more than ten inches."
"Truly astounding," said Giordino, acting enthralled. "What is the power source?"
"Ninety ten-thousand-horsepower diesel propulsion engines that are geared to push the ship through the water at twenty-five knots."
"A city of fifty thousand inhabitants capable of moving around the world," said Pitt. "It doesn't seem possible."
"Not fifty thousand, Mr. Pitt. When the time comes, this ship will carry one hundred and twenty-five thousand people. Between them, the other three vessels will carry fifty thousand people, for a total of two hundred and seventy-five thousand, all trained and educated to launch the Fourth Empire from the ashes of archaic democratic systems."
Pitt fought the urge to instigate a heated debate, but he turned his attention out the window of the train.
He watched as a landscaped park of at least twenty acres unfolded along the tram tracks. He was repeatedly stunned by the impact of such an immense project. Bike and jogging paths wound through trees and ponds with swans, geese, and ducks.
Rosa noticed his captivation by the pastoral scene. "This is one of a network of parks, leisure and recreation areas, that total five hundred acres. Have you seen the sport facilities, swimming pools, and health spas yet?"
Pitt shook his head. "Our time has been limited."
"Are you married, with children?"
Recalling his conversation with the security guard, Pitt nodded. "A boy and a girl."
"We have recruited the world's finest educators to teach in and direct our schools, from the nursery level through college-level courses and postgraduate studies."
"That is very comforting to know."
"You and your wife will be able to enjoy theaters, educational seminars and conferences, libraries, and art galleries filled with historical art treasures. We also have compartments housing the great artifacts passed down from the ancient ones, so that they can be studied while we wait for the earth's environment to regenerate itself after the coming cataclysm."
"The ancient ones?" asked Pitt, playing dumb.
"The civilization our grandfathers discovered in Antarctica, called the Amenes. They were an advanced race of people who were destroyed when Earth was struck by a comet nine thousand years ago."
"I'd never heard of them," Giordino played along.
"Our scientists are studying their records so we can learn what to expect in the coming months and years."
"How long do you think it will take before we can begin our work on land?" asked Pitt.
"Five, perhaps ten, years before we can go forth and establish a new order," explained Rosa.
"Can a hundred and twenty-five thousand people subsist that long?"
"You're forgetting the other ships," she said boastfully. "The fleet will be totally self-supporting. The Karl Wolf has fifty thousand acres of tilled soil already planted with vegetables and fruit orchards. The Otto Wolf will carry thousands of animals for food as well as breeding. The final ship, the Hermann Wolf, was built purely for cargo. It will haul all the equipment and machinery to construct new cities, roads, ranches, and farms when we are able to walk the earth again."
Giordino pointed up to a digital sign above the doors. "K Section coming up."
"A great pleasure meeting you, Ms. Wolf," said Pitt gallantly. "I hope you will remember me to your cousin Karl."
