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“Okay,” Albert said, “Okay, noe have to tell Sam”

TWENTY-ONE

18 HOURS, 23 MINUTES

JACK STRAINED AGAINST the door

It was built strong Very strong Steel in steel

But it creaked and groaned, and Jack could see the sea

His strength was shocking to him He’d done very little to learn to control it He hadn’t really tested ithe had it because it was not, it never would be, part of who he really was

Jack had grown up being a brain He liked being a brain He wore the geek label proudly He had no interest in being soainst the door, he ondering if there wasn’t an electronic control of soht be Wondering whether he could cut a wire, or solder another wire, and open the door Wondering whether it ht be computer-controlled, in which case it would be a question of hacking

Those thoughts engaged Jack’s ave Jack pleasure

Pushing on a steel door like some kind of ox? That was stupid It hat stupid people did And Jack was not stupid

“Keep at it, Jack,” Caine encouraged hiive”

Jack heard Diana saying to Drake, “I told you he was strong And you thought you’d just go and pick hi him to Coates? Hah”

The door would give way in another few seconds, Jack could feel it

“When it goes, Jack, you need to drop to the floor,” Caine said

Jack would have asked why, but the exertion was popping the veins in his neck, squeezing his lungs, bulging his eyes, and generallyin conversation