Page 230 of Silent Target

After this.

We return to the terminal.

A file has opened by itself.

On the screen is the Black Banner symbol.

Beneath it, a single message appears.

FIRST CIRCLE COMPROMISED.

SUCCESSION PROTOCOL ACTIVE.

54

EVIE

Fathom disconnects the terminal’s power.

The screen goes black.

No one moves.

“What happened?” Rook asks.

Fathom checks every physical connection.

“The file used an internal trigger.”

“Can it transmit?”

“No. This system is completely isolated.”

“Then how did it know the First Circle was compromised?”

“It didn’t. The condition was built into the archive. When we accessed certain files, the succession protocol activated.”

Cobra folds his arms. “We woke it up.”

“Basically.”

Fathom restores power.

The Black Banner message returns.

A folder appears beneath it.

No title.

Only the three concentric circles stamped on Charles Whitmore’s journal.

Rook looks toward me.

“Open it?”

“Not yet.”

I retrieve the journal and search the succession section.