by SJ Hailey
Just as they reached the main group, yelling at them to move there was an ear-splitting boom accompanied by a cracking and splintering of rock.
The stone slab cracked in the centre, the shaped charges that Luis Alfredo had applied directing all their force into the ancient stone, the forced fracturing causing it to collapse under its own weight.
From his position above Laurent and Luis Alfredo watched the few seconds it took for the stone to fill the space below, dust and debris flying up at them sixty feet above. One of the stone pillars dislodged from its enclave, dragged across the front by the bulk of the rapidly descending covering slab. The forty-foot pillar was leaning against its old neighbour, propped up like a drunken man late at night.
‘A job well done Luis Alfredo. Now we must meet my friends back at the river.’
Inside the cave full of choking dust it was totally dark. Most people rarely experience complete darkness; there is always some light in the world, artificial or even moonlight. But in true darkness you can hold your hand in front of your face, you know it is there but your eyes cannot see it. For some people this is truly unnerving and they can quickly become hysterical, which was exactly what Kevin was doing. Jacob reassured him, when he saw the blue glow and realised where it was coming from. Both Katherine and Osvaldo Rodrigo had something glowing around their necks.
‘Katherine is that your necklace glowing?’
‘Yes Jacob, but so is Osvaldo Rodrigo‘s?’
When Katherine removed her necklace and held it in front of her, Osvaldo Rodrigo doing the same, they had identical necklaces.
‘Where did you get that Katherine?’
‘Jacob gave it to me, it was my mother’s; she died and left it to me when I became eighteen.’
‘Then your mother was Noami De La Castillo?’
‘Yes she was. How would you know that?’
‘I will tell you soon, for now we need to move further into the cave, have any of you got torches?’
As he said it three torches came on, Kevin holding one, but still shaking with adrenaline.
Osvaldo Rodrigo led them into the cave; Jacob’s torch illuminated the interior, a neatly carved tunnel, lined with smooth black stone that did not reflect any of the light. The tunnel lasted for about twenty feet before opening into another room with the sound of flowing water. Osvaldo Rodrigo touched a nearby wall with his necklace, and a large blue glow began to emit from the roof above, coating the room in a pale light.
‘This is the entrance to el complejo, or the complex as you would say.’
Kevin looked around, saw no entrance, but a stone trough of water entered from the outside wall, passed by them and out through the other wall. It was ten feet wide, perhaps six feet deep and flowed very fast, the finished stone was in sections but cut so precisely there were no obvious leaks. He cast a piece of wood from the floor into it, and it raced away through the wall in seconds. ‘How do we get out? There is no entrance, and our exit just collapsed!’
‘Kevin, patience you do not have your sisters composure.’
‘How did you know Katherine was my sister?’
‘I know many things, and some I will share with you soon.’
‘Okay I am pissed off with this enigmatic bullshit, get us out this room!’
Jacob put a hand on Kevin’s shoulder and looked towards Osvaldo Rodrigo, ‘Look, we are all tired, just show us the entrance. I am sure everyone will relax when they get out of this confined space.’
Osvaldo Rodrigo nodded in agreement, and moved to the inside wall, placing his hand on a stone block, and pushing it in. The block did not appear different to all those surrounding it, but it moved into the wall. Vibrations of something moving could be felt beneath their feet. Then silence, the water in the trough stopped flowing, quickly drained, and on the interior wall they could see the white glare of daylight.
‘Now Kevin, how would you like the best ride in the park?’
TWENTY TWO
Elements Institute Base Camp
Enzi attacked the campsite just after nine, the sun had been up since six thirty. After the information on the experience of Jacob Mathias, Enzi was cautious that he not tip the situation to his disadvantage. As expected there was no phone coverage or operational radios in the area, even his would not respond. However this was irrelevant as all his men had instructions and maps of the camp, updated following Jones’ reconnaissance the previous night.
They left the boats downriver, two men on each; the remaining twenty encircled the camp, securing all the possible exits. Enzi announced himself from his boat in the river, ‘people of this camp, you are requested to line up outside your dining hall, please do so quickly and compliantly or you will be dealt with most severely.’
People came out hesitantly, seeing men with guns, many retreated back into the dining room, some shouting and screaming could be heard. Enzi anticipated this and waited, ‘You will not be harmed if you come out voluntarily, however I cannot guarantee your safety should you resist.’
Some people gingerly ventured out, the gunmen gestured to line up on the walkway. Some people including Michael and Evelyn were more savvy and waited.
‘My name is Chui Enzi, and I just require some information you have, if you could come out Evelyn that would be most helpful.’
The group of people were stunned, how did he know their names? Evelyn came out, Michael standing at her side.
‘What do you want Mr Enzi.’
‘Chui please, all I require is all the information and artefacts from the Chinese junk you have found.’
‘That is a lot of information.’
‘Oh I have time.’
‘We have some others upriver, they will be back soon.’
Enzi admired Evelyn guile trying to throw him off guard, but with a half-smile he quashed her gamble.
‘My dear Evelyn, if you refer to Jacob and Laurent then I am afraid they will not be returning.’
With a gesture of his hand a small team of five men lead by Mr Jones, clambered into one of the powerboats and sped off upriver, a substantial wake washing the banks.
‘Now Evelyn, the information or do I have to be more persuasive?’
‘No you do not, come up here.’
As Enzi stepped off his boat and onto the short pier, a shot hit the man behind him, his throat exploding in a spray of crimson, Enzi dodged concerned about his suit. The man fell back into the boat clutching his wound, the volume of blood showing he would die soon.
Enzi did not need to gesture to his henchmen, they had already seen the muzzle flash give away the shooter’s position, by the dining room window. He was shot in the head, his corpse falling back into the room, the men and women in the group shaken, some crying.
‘If anyone else is tempted to get creative, then let me be clear. For every one person you shoot, I will shoot two!’
With that they shot a second man, he was not a threat, just standing next to Evelyn, one of the local workmen at the dig. He fell back, a single hole in his forehead, black with blood.
Enzi moved confidently up the ramp, the people moved aside without hesitation, repulsed at his presence. He stood in front of Evelyn, he was a good foot taller than her, and used his height to intimidate her.
‘You may be polite Mr Enzi, but you are no gentlemen.’
‘I am sorry you think that, now the information.’
Enzi spent the next three hours checking the information and his men removing and stowing some selective artefacts on their boat, giving Jones time to get upriver and get everything else they needed.
Teddy Steenberger was still working on The Wasp when Enzi had arrived. He has spent his time observing the tragic events. He kept quiet and assessed the size of the force, and their reaction to anyone resisting them. He decided to play the waiting game, let them get what they came for and move off. Teddy’s main concern was further loss of life, as for Jacob upstream, he knew the big man could look after himself, but he was still worried.
Archer had rowed upriver during the night, stowed his boat and managed to get some sleep in it despite the jungle noises. He awoke naturally with the sunrise at six thirty a.m. had a ration pack breakfast and proceeded on foot towards camp, arriving a few minutes after Enzi. He was wearing full combat fatigues and face paint, his M4 with day optics and suppressor would allow him to view and take out targets without giving away his position.
He circled around the camp and came into the area by the generators, some distance from camp and secluded from view. Enzi had ignored this area, Jones informing him it was unmanned and of no real threat. Of course he had not seen the green tarpaulin covering The Wasp, in the night it was virtually invisible beneath it. Archer could see Teddy crouched behind the tarp, his eyes glued to a small pair of green binoculars; he walked up behind him and sat down waiting for him to become aware. When Teddy relaxed his stare and turned to rest his back he saw Archer sitting six feet away, his white eyes glaring out from his face paint.
‘Jesus! Don’t creep up on a man of my years like that. Is that you Archer?’
‘Yes Teddy. How did you know?’
‘Same eyes as your mother.’
Archer seemed wounded by the mention of her name, and Teddy continued to whisper. ‘You know your father is up river and these bastards are going after him too?’
‘I tried to get here to warn him, but my transportation was not as reliable as I am used to.’
‘Yes, I know what you mean, miss the efficiency of the army do you?’
‘I do today. So where is Enzi?’
‘Is that the tall fellow stupid enough to wear a suit in the jungle?’
‘That’s him.’
‘He is up in the lab with Evelyn. He has already had two people shot.’
‘He didn’t do it though, delegated I bet?’
‘Yeah, some of the heavies he brought along.’
‘Enzi does not get his hands dirty, gets others to kill for him. He enjoys the power but not the act.’
‘Nice. So how many more with you?’
‘Er, just me and you Teddy.’
‘Well shit, there is no way we can take them all on, and there are more up river.’
‘We wait, see what their move is, we can always go after them in the boats afterwards.’
‘The boats we have are never gonna keep up with those beasts they have, but I have something that will.’
Teddy patted the green tarp, Archer accepted Teddy’s recommendation, he had known him for years and his word was oak.
Enzi was in the lab, two men standing adjacent to Evelyn and her team, guns trained on their chests, his phone buzzed, surprising him. Evelyn could only hear his side of the conversation.
‘Yes, it is proceeding as planned. No I have all the items, they are cataloguing now. The other team should return shortly, then we will have all four of them, the details of the location will be in the translation.’
She had stopped working, and this had been seen by Enzi, he ended his call and walked over to her, brushing the armed guard aside. ‘Evelyn, if you think listening to me on the phone will benefit you or your people, you are sadly mistaken. Get back to work!’
The increase in volume caused her to jump, her nerves rattled by the shooting earlier, but she proceeded to complete her work thinking of Michael. She realised Michael could help her, even when not in the room.
Archer noticed the guards reorganising, changing positions, ‘They are getting ready to move.’
Enzi’s men began to bring the teams back out onto the walkways, lining them up so they were all visible from the boats below. Enzi exited the lab area, Evelyn behind him glancing across to the Communications area and spotting Michael, the relief on her face obvious, and something else. Archer’s attention was drawn to the two men in the boat, changing weapons for a 50 cal. Machine gun, not the close combat SMG’s. ‘Teddy I don’t like this.’
When Enzi returned to his boat, all the items he required were stowed. He addressed the group, ‘Please do not pursue us, and to ensure you do not.’
A round of gunfire into the canoes by the riverside, they sank rapidly into the silt below.
‘I am leaving some of my colleagues with you to ensure you do not contact anyone until we are away.’
With that the entire armed group mounted the waiting boats, leaving just four spread around the camp to oversee their prisoners.
The boats sped off down river with little care on the damage their wakes were causing, Enzi retiring into his cabin to examine some of the artefacts himself.
‘Looks like we have an opportunity, but I know Enzi, once these people are of no use, that .50 cal is going to be turned on them.’
‘Well you know as well as I do, that ain’t gonna happen.’
‘Right Teddy, if I take the three this side, can you take out the one on the far right?’
‘Wait Archer, listen.’
Over the background noise of the jungle and the distant roar of Enzi’s departing vessels, there was something else, drawing closer. A third boat rounded the corner at full throttle, the men aboard appeared triumphant. They had left from upriver sometime before, speeding without caution to rendezvous with Enzi.
Teddy recognised one of the passengers, even with the rapid procession of the boat, he cursed under his breath, ‘Laurent that traitorous bastard!’
‘Who was that Teddy?’
‘That was Christophe Laurent, former head of this dig, and ex fiancé of Katherine.’
‘Katherine is here? And engaged?’
‘Yes she is here, upriver with your father, and she was engaged. Caught him cheating again, punched him out yesterday, good left hook.’
Archer smiled, ‘I know from childhood that Katherine doesn’t tolerate fools.’
‘Right Archer. If they have left Jacob upriver, something has gone very wrong.’
‘And despite me worrying about him, you know Dad can look after himself.’
‘What about the rest of the group?’
‘Focus on here and now, then I will worry about Dad.’
‘Right Archer my boy, let’s do this.’ Teddy took Archer’s suppressed handgun and moved quietly and slowly off to the right to get within thirty feet or so from the sentry. Archer remained by the hovercraft, he could see all targets from this position; with their spacing could take two out in quick succession. Teddy took out his sentry, a shot snapping his head back. Archer took his cue, the man on the lower deck was head shot backwards onto the walkway. The second and third men were talking upstairs sharing cigarettes. They were unaware of their fallen comrade on the walkway below.
One lit up getting smoke in his eyes, the burning sensation caused him to turn and shut them. Archer shot the man who had lit his cigarette and then shot the blinded one before he could regain his vision. He moved off up to the walkway, while Teddy circled around from the other side heading for the dining room. Archer opened the door to the lounge where half of the team were kept. ‘Afternoon everyone, you all okay.’
The lack of response and awe from the group prompted Archer, ‘Sorry I am Archer Mathias, apologies for the makeup, y’all ready to get out of here?’
The group rose as one, just as Teddy came in behind Archer, ‘The second group are fine.’
‘Good. Teddy get someone to clear up the camp and get everything onto the Arcadia when Enzi realises his men are not responding he will come back.’
‘What about your father, I still can’t raise him?’
‘Anyone here technical, I need to find a jammer; that is what’s stopping us, they must be an override for them to still use their phones.’
Michael had reunited with Evelyn, who shoved him towards Archer, ‘I can find it.’
‘Good, do it and disable it so we can call out and get more boats, use the sat phone in case they are monitoring the radios.’
‘Archer, my name is Evelyn, something else. They have taken the artefacts we have, but I managed to slip a tag into one, we use it for shippi
ng home. Michael can give you a handheld tracker.’
‘Nice work Evelyn.’
Michael handed Archer his tracker from his belt, and kissed Evelyn on the cheek, she blushed in response.
‘Teddy will that hovercraft of your get us after Enzi?’
‘Oh yes, easily but we need to leave now.’
‘Fine, let’s go.’
‘Not without me, I want to get that Laurent!’
Debra Sharpe was in the door, already replacing her handgun in its holster, ‘I told Katherine she should have shot him.’
Teddy piped up ‘And you did say it on more than one occasion. Archer Mathias meet Debra, Katherine’s right hand, woman.’
‘Pleasure. Well get on-board Debra, the more the merrier.’
Archer, Teddy and Debra ran across the walkway down to the hovercraft, Teddy had removed the tarp and was about to start the engines when a breathless Michael arrived. ‘I found the jammer.’ A small black box in his hand the top forcibly removed. ‘You need to know where this came from.’
‘Why is that important?’
‘Because Archer it is US military issue, I have a friend who designs these, believe me you are dealing with someone who has access to top hardware.’
‘Thanks Michael, good to know. Stand clear now.’
Archer pulled down the gull wing door to the cockpit, watching Michael as he ran back across the walkway.
‘Great so now we have African gunmen, with US military hardware in the South American jungle, stealing Chinese relics?’
‘Debra when you put it like that, it sounds complicated.’ Debra joined in Archer’s laughter as Teddy turned the hovercraft towards the water. ‘Archer go into that locker at the back got some toys you might find handy.’
The hovercraft was already a mile downriver when Archer opened the chest in the back, he was surprised by the contents.
‘Teddy, where did you get this?’
‘Got hijacked by pirates in South China Sea last year; talked my way out of it by fixing their engine. They gave me that as a thank you, nice guys really.’