CHAPTER SIX — THE BUS AT THE GATE

The bus stood beside the mountain entrance with its engine running and twenty-seven visitors gathered beneath a banner promising an exclusive first ascent.
Most were not investors.
They were regional journalists, travel influencers, and prospective tour partners invited by ClearPath.
A woman wearing a gold scarf was handing out disposable cameras as souvenirs.
Daniel climbed from Priya’s truck and recognized Marcus near the rear door.
Marcus had one hand raised, trying to convince several guests to remain behind the barrier.
“Where is the host?” Priya demanded.
A ClearPath employee pointed toward the summit office.
“Mr. Bell said the opening group would go up first.”
“It will not,” Priya replied.
“The gate is closed.”
The employee blinked.
“We received confirmation at six thirty.”
“From whom?” Daniel asked.


“Vanessa Vale’s office.”
Daniel felt his stomach tighten.
He took the confirmation sheet the employee offered.
Vanessa’s name was printed below a message stating that the demonstration itinerary remained approved.
It was time-stamped while Daniel had been driving to the warehouse.
He tried calling her.
The call went to voicemail.
Priya walked to the bus and explained that the planned ride had been suspended pending an engineering review.
Several guests complained about travel costs.
A photographer asked whether there had been an accident.
Priya answered that no accident had occurred and the company was avoiding one.
An older visitor thanked her and sat down.
Another guest demanded to speak with the founder.
Daniel moved through the crowd, checking the head count and making sure nobody had wandered toward the loading doors.


Marcus helped direct people toward an indoor waiting area.
“Vanessa sent another approval,” Daniel said quietly as they passed each other.
Marcus stopped.
“She promised me she wouldn’t.”
“You shouldn’t have believed that promise.”
“Neither should you have.”
Daniel continued toward the platform.
The words stung because they were true.
A metal door stood ajar near the loading area.
Beyond it, a young attendant was trying to guide four guests onto a short demonstration ramp.
“Stop there,” Daniel called.
The attendant turned.
“Mr. Bell told us to show them the cabin.”
“The base display is that way.”
“He said the executive group gets the real view.”
Daniel held the door open while the guests turned around.
One of them, a tall man with a leather portfolio, asked whether Daniel was the new operations director.
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Then I’d like to know if this equipment is safe.”
“The cabin is undergoing tests, and we are not boarding passengers today.”
“That wasn’t in the invitation.”
“It should have been.”
The man studied Daniel for a moment.
“That’s an unusually expensive answer for your first day.”
“It’s less expensive than a bad decision on the mountain.”
The man nodded and walked away.
At eight ten, Elise Marlow arrived at the gate.
She found her staff redirecting guests and Adrian arguing with Priya beside the banner.
“We promised a demonstration,” Adrian insisted.
“We promised a safe demonstration,” Priya replied.
“If we cancel, these people will think the entire project is a failure.”
“They can think what they like,” Elise said.
“The technical sign-off comes first.”
Adrian looked toward Daniel.
“This is a complicated operation, and our new colleague has only been here one morning.”
“That doesn’t make the gate less broken,” Daniel answered.
A few nearby guests heard him.
One began recording with a phone.
Elise turned toward the group.
“There will be a complete explanation at nine,” she announced.
“For now, please come inside.”
Adrian’s face changed when he realized the founder would speak personally.
The public demonstration he had been selling was slipping away.
But Daniel saw something else behind the man’s anger.
Adrian kept glancing uphill toward the maintenance road.
“What’s on the summit?” Daniel asked Priya.
“The platform and the upper station.”
“What else?”
“Our backup power cabinet.”
“Why does he keep looking up there?”
Priya followed his gaze.
Then she picked up her radio.
“Kieran, where’s the spare sensor assembly?”
The response came with a burst of static.
“It was in the service crate ten minutes ago.”
“Is it still there?”
Kieran didn’t answer immediately.
“No,” he said.
“Someone moved it.”