“Our organization,” Simon said, staring into the flames, “deal with the things the rest of humanity is unequipped to battle. Things like what is currently occurring outside.”
“What is occurring outside?” Gail asked. “Where did the rain come from? And all these… monsters?”
“It’s global warming,” Novak said. “I mean, it’s got to be, right?”
“No.” Simon shook his head. “It’s not global warming. It’s magic run amok. And I would appreciate it greatly if you’d allow me to tell this story without interruption. We’ve delayed long enough as it is, and there is much to tell.”
Gail and Novak apologized simultaneously, and Simon continued.
“There are thirteen entities—supernatural beings—neither demon nor angel, but something far older and far more powerful, whose only goal is the complete destruction of all creation and existence. They are older than our universe and they intend to be here still when our universe is gone. Are any of you familiar with string theory or alternate dimensions?”
All three nodded.
“Good. Believe me when I tell you, there are other Earths than the one we occupy. There are other Mars and Jupiters and Milky Way galaxies, as well. Everything in our own universe—every star and every atom—has myriad duplicates in other planes of existence. The Thirteen seek to destroy all of these dimensions, or levels, as my people call them. Like any other power, the Thirteen have those who worship and serve them, including here on our own Earth. A cult in Baltimore who was loyal to their cause managed to unleash two of the Thirteen—Leviathan and Behemoth. Behemoth takes the form of a monstrous worm and Leviathan takes the form of a giant, squid-headed abomination. They are the source of many of our legends—dragons, the Kraken, and the like. Loosed upon our planet, Leviathan and Behemoth have been hard at work, along with their spawn. Neither will rest until this Earth is utterly destroyed. As we speak, their minions overrun the planet. The seas are full of Leviathan’s children. On what little land is left, Behemoth’s worms leave behind a disease—a fungal infection that turns solid matter into water. You’ve probably seen signs of this.”
“The White Fuzz,” Gail said.
“Indeed. The Book of Job tells us that ‘The waters wear the stones and wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth, and destroy the hopes of man.’ Although much of the Bible’s content has been perverted, re-written, and obfuscated by mankind, that particular passage still rings true. Everything around us—this building, your boat, ourselves… all solid matter—will eventually transform into water. Thales, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, called this the First Principle. He proposed a cosmological doctrine—the foundational principles of existence, based upon the belief that the world had originated from water. He believed that the entire universe was nothing more than a giant ocean that he referred to as the Great Deep. Earth formed by solidifying from the water on which it floated. One day, it would return to such. Obviously, we know that the universe isn’t an ocean, but when you consider what is happening outside, his theory that the planet would revert back to water isn’t that far off.”
Novak cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to get this straight. You’re saying that all matter on this planet is slowly turning into water?”
“Yes. Forget the supernatural aspect of what I’m saying and look at it scientifically for a moment. One of the first laws of physics is that matter cannot be created nor destroyed. It can only change form. Matter on our planet is slowly changing into water.”
“But if that’s true,” Novak said, “then maybe the water around us isn’t getting higher. Maybe the ground is actually liquefying.”
Simon opened his mouth to respond, but McCann cut him off.
“That’s bullshit. If the planet is turning into water, then what keeps all that water from floating out into space?”
“The planet still has a core,” Novak reminded him. “It’s still rotating on its axis, so we still have gravity. Picture a big bucket of water. If you tip it over on its side, the water spills out, but if you spin the bucket as you tip it over, the water stays inside because of the centrifugal force. So we’d be okay until the planet’s core began to liquefy.”
“We won’t simply float off into space,” Simon said. “The Earth is changing form, yes, but as that happens, the Great Deep is absorbing it. Thales was partially correct about the existence of such a place. The Great Deep does exist, but not on Earth. It is another dimension, one composed of nothing but water—a vast, supernatural sea. The Great Deep is Leviathan’s home. As our planet slowly liquefies, it is being absorbed by The Great Deep. The barriers between our dimensions are weak right now. Our plane of existence is crossing over into the Great Deep. Picture two sheets of paper. One of them is the Earth. The other is the Great Deep. Now slowly place one sheet of paper atop the other, until they are lined up evenly, appearing as one sheet rather than two. That is what is happening to our planet.”
“So how do we stop it?” Gail asked.
“We don’t,” Simon said. “We can’t.”
Wow! Bad-ass Brian. Really really great stuff you’re writing.
Man, another excellant chapter. The thirteen have been wrecking havoc on many planes. I hope they are able to figure away to stop Behemoth and Leviathan. There has got to be a way to reverse these affects. To put a damper on the Thirteens plans and make them pay for what they are doing. If God caused the destruction of their universe, then he should send some guardians or something to fight these things off. He caused this.
Outstanding chapter, see no chance for the planet, however maybe our band of brave survivors will find away to escape into one of the other 13 planes of existence. Or maybe things will end badly for all…….It wouldn’t be Brian’s first time making that happen.
I hope this one has an ending that doesn’t end with everyone dead and the earth destroyed. Just ONE Brian! Please! I know you can do it!
Sugar: Castaways had a happy ending!
I seem to remember someone escaping from one of his books and then he was sent back… I wonder whatever happened to Sarah and Henry.
They’ve had a pretty rough time. Please make them rock stars and supermodels if they make it to another universe
Hey Brian,
I just finished Castaways last night, and the “happy” ending was most unexpected. Great book again dude, throw in the odd survivor that doesn’t get killed OR throw a loved one out of a window and that will keep my guessing next time.
I’m telling everyone in the UK who will listen to read your work.
If only for your sake more people listened to me……
All Hail, Brian!
All the tie-ins from your books are outstanding!
Ok so here is a question…if the 13 are beings that co-exist with “God” and apparantley “God” is letting them destroy is universes..
…who created all of them then? A Greater God? Who do the 13 ultimatley believe created them..who is their God?
Rich R. – See my novel Ghost Walk for the answer to this question (and the answer to several more). It’s too much to go in to in the short space allowed here in the comments section.
Been underway forever. This is a great break from ship life… I’m going to have to make some kind of diagram or something so I can tie everything and everyone together. (Just finished Darkness at the edge of town recently)… this is insane. So much info. Like trying to put a multi-dimensional puzzle together with missing pieces.
Jeepers….. More info and it seems and more we get, the less hope our little heros have.
@Brian So did Urban Gothic. I thought it was a happy ending in retrospect.
Just wanted to say thanks for this bad-ass serial. I just finished The Conqueror Worms last week,came to the website for the first time,and am treated to this sequel to an awesome book. Thanks again,I,m going to start reading Castaways.
After reading Darkness on the Edge of Town I dont think the two survivors from Castaways actually fared very well.
thanks for the new chapter. you are the best horror writer that i have ever read ,and i have read quite a few . people have compaired you to stephen king ,but to me you have passed him way back .you are the best..
I agree with mitch.
yes, Castaways DID have a happy ending, but that wasn’t a worldwide epidemic.
I will always read your books no matter what the ending! YOU ROCK!
Damn! MR. Keene you are such an asshole! (But I mean that with the greates amount of respect!) your cliffhangers leave me with such an insatiable thirst for more that I get headaches ahahaha. Seriously though, thank you very much for sharing this with us for free. I am a great fan, and wish to one day see my personal favorite (The Rising, City of the Dead) become a live action movie, animation, or a miniseries so as not to leave out any of the story line. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Thank you again and I hope you enjoyed your 4th of July.
Just got caught up and wanted to say thank you for sharing this with us. Cant wait to see the next one.
hey brian excellent work got every novel you’ve ever written two quick questions, will we ever see any bad-ass heroes from this black lodge group in future stories and in ghoul vamphyir’s get mentioned…will we see any after or during a gathering of crows?
Yes, a Black Lodge team are among the main characters in Clickers III: Dagon Rising. And yep, a vampire novel called With Teeth is forthcoming in 2011.
Dude, fucking amazing. just got a copy of kill whitey today and am almost finished. any chance of second printings for your rising and conqueror worms short stories?
Without a doubt the best G**D** horror writer out there! Thanxs for all of them! Hope you’ve been thinking about another zombie series (your walking dead are the most believable I’ve ever come across – and I’ve read tons)! Keep up the awesome job – we love you!
You are right Wolf ,Brians zombie novels are the best and would make a very good movie.
Hey Brian- huge fan of yours- just wanted to let you know how pissed I am to have missed out on Clickers
really want to read it…anyway, love all your books- City of the Dead and the Rising especially. When will chapter 55 come out?
wolf/mitch your right the rising and city of the dead should already be movies, as far as im concerned. i mean come on they made mr&mrs smith and that was well…anyways, yep those to novels kick absolute ass ,but im really looking forward to with teeth. i cant wait to see brian’s take on vampires and whether they drink blood for sustenance or life force to be sent back to the realm of the thirteen. oooh so many possibilities roll on 2011
Is Brian ok ? It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen a new chapter. I guess running his empire is very demanding.
Do we have a date when the next chapter is to arrive ?
http://www.briankeene.com/?p=4451
What the heck is going on??!! Its been FOREVER since I’ve been able to read a new chapter! Don’t keep me waiting any longer Brian…come on, out with it!!
Did you click the link in the comment above yours?
Sorry…I missed the link the 1st time around:)
It’s refreshing to see a sequel to “The Conqueror Worms.” Thank you for the free material. I’m looking forward to seeing the conclusion.
To be honest, I think that it’s finally time that the word “NEW” was removed from beside Chapter 44. It now seems a cruel and mocking descriptor.
I realize that the Story is a free gift to fans which makes it hard to complain, but having been sucked in by the story, only to have it jolt to a jarring and unexpected halt in the middle of a climactic scene, apparently never to be continued again, is a bitter pill.
Fridays used to fill me with glee when I beheld a new instalment of “Deluge”. Now I’m filled with disappointment every Friday when I hope for a new Chapter only to see that there is still no forward progress. The story has lost all momentum and I begin to fear that it will never again regain it’s speed.
Hey, Mr. Keene – This is my second post on your website (I know, I know, I’m a heathen. My first post was on the “Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury” vid) and just wanted to post a BIG THANK YOU!! Just finished your latest installment of “Deluge” #54 (read it in two days – I’m a slow reader). Great Googly Moogly, what a blast. As always, your writing is epic. I’ve been reading your books since “The Rising” and have enjoyed everyone of them. I’ve been a huge H.P.Lovecraft fan since the age of six when I read “Rats In The Walls” back in 1965 and love all your references to the Cthulhu Mythos throughout. “Deluge” has, and is, a fast paced read. Great character development, great suspense. Sorry to hear about all the problems you’ve had this past year – so to Dennis, chill man, The Keene will get back to the story when he is able! Again, thanks for this story.