Dan Brown - Deception Point

Praise for the novels of Dan Brown

DECEPTION POINT

[DECEPTION POINT has] enough twists and surprises to keep even the most seasoned readers guessing.

Vince Flynn, New York Times

bestselling author of Separation of Power

Dan Brown handles the intrigue and action wellhis research is impeccable.

Daily News (New York)

A taut, fast-paced, barn-burner of a book. There are no weaknesses in the story or storytelling.

St. Petersburg Times

Brown is among the most intelligent and dynamic of authors in the thriller genre. In this dazzling high-tech adventure, he has skillfully blended his own wit and style with the rip-roaring adventure of Cussler and the modern technology of Clancy. Highly recommended.

Library Journal

Brown has an impressive grasp of his material. He is a more astute storyteller than most of his brethren in the thriller vein.

Kirkus Reviews

This is pretty exciting stuff. Brown certainly does have a knack for spinning a suspenseful yarn.

Booklist

In the world of page-turning thrillers, Dan Brown holds a special place in the hearts of many of us. A writer whose research and talent make his stories exciting, believable, and just plain unputdownable.

Otto Penzler, Amazon.com (A Penzler Pick)

An exciting techno-thriller that contains cleverly incorporated scientific knowhow. A powerfully chilling thriller. A superb masterpiece.

Harriet Klausner

A good political story, a good love story, and a good thriller.

Wisconsin State Journal

This book moves with breakneck speedthe many twists and turns will keep the reader up late. DECEPTION POINT is interesting, fun, and as suspenseful as an election full of dimpled chads.

dcmilitary.com

Excellent and enjoyable. This is a thriller with an outstanding blend of sophisticated military and scientific details and believable characters. The author is at his best.

Sullivan County Democrat

ANGELS & DEMONS

Angels & Demons is one hels of a bookI had a hard time putting it down. An intriguing, imaginative, and very suspenseful read.

Dale Brown, New York Times

bestselling author of Battle Born

Brown sets an explosive pace through Rome. Twists and shocks that keep the reader wired right up to the last revelation.

Publishers Weekly

Life-or-death cliff hangers, thrilling cat-and-mouse maneuvers, romance, religion, science, murder, mysticism, architecture, and action. GO!

Kirkus Reviews

[A] frantic-paced, pulse-pounding thriller that rivals the best works of Clancy and Cussler. The action-packed tale takes readers on an exciting adventure that feels perilously real. Angels & Demons is one reading experience that the audience will never forget.

Midwest Book Review

Its brilliant! These characters have depth. The plot is twisty, turny, slippery, and surprising. As for the endingWOW.

New Hampshire Sunday News

Books by Dan Brown

Angels & Demons

Digital Fortress

Deception Point

fm

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. logo

POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Copyright 2001 by Dan Brown

Originally published in hardcover in 2001 by Pocket Books All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

ISBN: 0-7434-7543-7

POCKET and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Visit us on the World Wide Web:

http://www.SimonSays.com

Acknowledgments

With warm thanks to Jason Kaufman for his superb guidance and insightful editorial skills; Blythe Brown for her tireless research and creative input; my good friend Jake Elwell at Wieser & Wieser; the National Security Archive; the NASA Public Affairs Office; Stan Planton, who continues to be a source for information on all things; the National Security Agency; glaciologist Martin O. Jeffries; and the superb minds of Brett Trotter, Thomas D. Nadeau, and Jim Barrington. Thanks also to Connie and Dick Brown, the U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project, Suzanne ONeill, Margie Wachtel, Morey Stettner, Owen King, Alison McKinnell, Mary and Stephen Gorman, Dr. Karl Singer, Dr. Michael I. Latz of Scripps Institute of Oceanography, April at Micron Electronics, Esther Sung, the National Air and Space Museum, Dr. Gene Allmendinger, the incomparable Heide Lange at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, and John Pike at the Federation of American Scientists.

Authors Note

The Delta Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Space Frontier Foundation are real organizations. All technologies described in this novel exist.

If this discovery is confirmed, it will surely be one of the most stunning insights into our universe that science has ever uncovered. Its implications are as farreaching and awe-inspiring as can be imagined. Even as it promises answers to some of our oldest questions, it poses still others even more fundamental.

President Bill Clinton, in a press conference following a discovery known as ALH84001 on August 7, 1997

Contents

Prologue

Death, in this forsaken place, could come in countless forms. Geologist Charles Brophy had endured the savage splendor of this terrain for years, and yet nothing could prepare him for a fate as barbarous and unnatural as the one about to befall him.

As Brophys four huskies pulled his sled of geologic sensing equipment across the tundra, the dogs suddenly slowed, looking skyward.

What is it, girls? Brophy asked, stepping off the sled. Beyond the gathering storm clouds, a twin-rotor transport helicopter arched in low, hugging the glacial peaks with military dexterity.

Thats odd, he thought. He never saw helicopters this far north. The aircraft landed fifty yards away, kicking up a stinging spray of granulated snow. His dogs whined, looking wary.

When the chopper doors slid open, two men descended. They were dressed in fullweather whites, armed with rifles, and moved toward Brophy with urgent intent.

Dr. Brophy? one called.

The geologist was baffled. How did you know my name? Who are you?

Take out your radio, please.

Im sorry?

Just do it.

Bewildered, Brophy pulled his radio from his parka.

We need you to transmit an emergency communiqu. Decrease your radio frequency to one hundred kilohertz.

One hundred kilohertz? Brophy felt utterly lost. Nobody can receive anything that low. Has there been an accident?

The second man raised his rifle and pointed it at Brophys head. Theres no time to explain. Just do it.

Trembling, Brophy adjusted his transmission frequency.

The first man now handed him a note card with a few lines typed on it. Transmit this message. Now.

Brophy looked at the card. I dont understand. This information is incorrect. I didnt

The man pressed his rifle hard against the geologists temple. Brophys voice was shaking as he transmitted the bizarre message.

Good, the first man said. Now get yourself and your dogs into the chopper.

At gunpoint, Brophy maneuvered his reluctant dogs and sled up a skid ramp into the cargo bay. As soon as they were settled, the chopper lifted off, turning westward.

Who the hell are you! Brophy demanded, breaking a sweat inside his parka. And what was the meaning of that message!