'What kind of measures have you taken so far?' asked the secretary of state.

'We've-' the defense secretary began.

'We've isolated New York,' Li interrupted. She didn't like other people taking the credit for her work. 'And I've just learned that the warnings about crabs in Washington have been confirmed. They've been sighted by surveillance drones. We're going to have to quarantine the city as well. The White House staff should follow the President's example and leave town for the duration of the crisis. I've ordered troops with flame-throwers to surround key coastal cities. In the meantime we're developing an antitoxin.'

'Any plans to use submersibles and dive robots?' enquired the CIA director.

'No. We can't release anything into the depths without it disappearing. We don't have any means of controlling things down there. ROVs, for example, are only connected via cables and, right now, scientists are lowering them into the water, and hauling up a bunch of frayed wires. The ROVs detect a blue glow, then the cables are cut. As for what's happening to the AUVs, it's impossible to say. Last week four Russian scientists set off in MIR submersibles. They were all rammed and sunk a thousand metres down.'

'So we're abandoning the field?'

'We're still trying to cull the worms. At the moment we're using dragnets to sweep the seabed. We're also deploying nets in strategic coastal areas to ward off marine life. It's another of our anti-invasion measures.'

'That's a little primitive, isn't it?'

'So are the methods of attack. In any event, we're about to start using sonar to get at the whales. We're going to deafen them with Surtass LFA. Someone's got control of the creatures, and it's high time we responded in kind. We'll turn up the volume till their eardrums explode. Then we'll see who's boss.'

'That sucks, Li.'

'If you've got a better idea, I'd love to hear it.'

No one said anything.

'How about satellite surveillance? Is that any help?' asked the President.

'Up to a point.' The deputy director for Operations shook his head. 'The army is accustomed to searching the jungle for camouflaged tanks.

There aren't many systems capable of identifying objects the size of a crab. OK, so there's KH-12 and the new generation of Keyhole satellites. We're also collaborating with the Europeans on Topex/Poseidon and SAR-Lupe – but they use radar, as does Lacrosse. It all comes down to a basic problem: we have to zoom in to detect small objects, which means we have to focus on a limited section of coast. Until we know where the next invasion is likely to happen, we're almost guaranteed to have our backs turned. General Li has suggested using drones to patrol the coastline, which makes sense, although even drones can't see everything. The NRO and the NSA are doing their best to come up with information. Maybe some of the transmissions we've intercepted will offer a few more clues. We're using every possible aspect of SIGINT.'

'Well, perhaps that's our problem,' the President said slowly. 'Maybe we should be focusing a bit more on HUMINT.'

Li repressed a smile. HUMINT was one of the President's personal hobbyhorses. In security jargon SIGINT stood for signals intelligence, which covered all forms of intelligence-gathering that revolved around the interception of transmissions. HUMINT was all intelligence gleaned through espionage – human intelligence. The President, who was a straightforward guy with no real grasp of technology, liked to look a person in the eye. Even though he commanded the most technologically advanced army in the world, he felt more comfortable being protected by spies crawling through undergrowth than by satellites.

'Put your guys to work,' he said. 'Some are too quick to let computer programs and service switching points do the job for them. I want less programming and more thinking.'

The director of the CIA pressed his fingertips together. 'Well,' he said, 'I guess we shouldn't pay too much attention to the Middle East theory, after all.'

Li glanced at Vanderbilt, who was staring rigidly ahead. 'I hope you haven't been too hasty, Jack,' she whispered.

'Save it, Li.'

She leaned forward. 'Maybe we could talk about something more positive?'

The President smiled. 'Sounds good. Fire away, Jude.'

'Sir, the present crisis won't go on forever. It's up to us to think about what happens next. And in the end what really matters is who comes out on top. The world will look different by the time this is over. A number of regimes will have been destabilised – and in some cases we won't be sad to see them go. The world is indeed facing a terrible threat, but a crisis is also a chance. If we're unhappy with a particular regime, and something undermines it, maybe we can speed things along and make sure the right successor is in place.'

'Hmm.' The President was thinking.

After a moment's reflection, the secretary of state said, 'So the question isn't so much who started this war, but who's going to come out victorious?'

'Don't get me wrong. The civilised world will have to rally together against our invisible foe,' said Li. 'If the situation continues, our allies are going to look increasingly to the UN for guidance. That's fine for the moment. I'm not saying we should push ourselves forward, but we should be waiting in the wings, ready to offer our help. When it comes down to it, we need to win. And anyone who's ever threatened or opposed us should wind up on the side of the losers. The more we can influence the outcome of the situation, the clearer the divide between victors and losers.'

'That's a nice firm standpoint,' said the President.

There were a few nods of approval, with a hint of irritation. Li leaned back. She'd said enough. In fact, she'd said more than her position on the council warranted, but her words had made an impression. She'd alienated a few guys whose job it was to come up with that kind of stuff, but so what? She'd been well received in Offutt.

'OK,' said the President. 'We should keep that suggestion in mind, but we shouldn't lose sight of other options. The last thing we want is the rest of the world thinking we're intent on taking over. How are your scientists progressing, Jude?'

'In my opinion, sir, they're our biggest asset.'

'When can we see some results?'

'We're meeting tomorrow. Major Peak will be present as well. I've instructed him to leave New York – he can deal with the crisis from here.'

'It's time you addressed the nation,' said the Vice-President.

'Absolutely.' The President banged his fist on the table. 'Our communications team needs to rally the speechwriters. I want something frank, not it'll-be-all-right-you'll-see, but something that'll give them hope.'

'Any mention of a possible aggressor?'

'No. I want this handled as a natural disaster. We're not even sure yet where we stand, and besides, the public is anxious enough. We need to reassure them that we're doing everything in our power to protect them. And they need to believe that we have that power. That we're ready and prepared. That we can handle anything. America isn't merely a place of freedom, it's a place of safety. No matter what comes out of the ocean, America is safe. They need to believe that. And one more thing: I want you all to pray. It's God's country, and He'll be with us. He'll give us the power to emerge from this victorious.'

NEW YORK, USA

We can't handle it. That was the only thought in Peak's mind as he clambered into the helicopter. We're not prepared for this. Nothing we can do will stem the horror.

The helicopter lifted off from Wall Street heliport and headed northbound through the night air over Soho, Greenwich Village and Chelsea. The city sparkled with light, but you could see at a glance that things weren't right. Some streets were bathed in the harsh glare of floodlights, and the stream of traffic had stopped. New York was in the hands of the OEM and the army. Choppers were taking off and touching down all over the city and the harbour was closed. The only boats on the East River were military vessels.