by P. W. Child
“Trust Sam to make normal references sound dirty.” Purdue sighed in amusement while Nina chuckled. “You’ll change your tune old boy,” Purdue shouted. “Once you taste my Ayu-Dag Cahors you’ll be begging for more.”
Nina raised an eyebrow and gave Purdue a suspicious look. “Okay, that time you made it dirty.”
Purdue looked ahead proudly as he started up to the first corridor. “I know.”
When they joined Sam, the three of them walked back up to the hallway stairs to reach the ground floor. Purdue hated that they were both so secretive about his guest. Even his own butler withheld this from him, which made him feel like a frail child. He could not help but feel slightly patronized, but knowing Sam and Nina, he realized they simply wanted to surprise him. And Purdue was spot-on, as always.
They saw Charles and Patrick having a word just outside the drawing room. To their rear, Purdue noticed a stack of leather satchels and a badgered old coffer. When Patrick saw Purdue, Sam, and Nina ascend the stairs to the ground floor, he smiled and gestured for Purdue to come back to the meeting. “Did you bring the wine you so bragged about?” Patrick asked mockingly. “Or did it get stolen by my agents?”
“God, I would not have been surprised,” Purdue muttered jokingly as he passed Patrick.
When he entered the room, Purdue gasped. He did not know whether to be charmed or alarmed by the vision before him. The man who stood by the hearth smiled warmly, his hands locked obediently in front of him. “How have you been, Purdue Effendi?”
17
Foreplay
“I can’t believe my eyes!” Purdue exclaimed, and he was not kidding. “I just can’t! Adjo! Are you really here, my friend?”
“I am, Effendi,” Adjo Kira replied, feeling rather flattered at the billionaire’s delight in seeing him. “You seem very surprised.”
“I thought you were dead,” Purdue said sincerely. “After the ledge where we were fired upon…I was convinced they’d killed you.”
“They did regretfully kill my brother, Effendi,” the Egyptian lamented. “But that was not your doing. He was shot while driving a Jeep to rescue us.”
“I hope the man got a proper burial. Trust me, Adjo, I shall pay restitution to your family for everything you did to help me get out of the clutches of both the Ethiopians and those goddamned Cosa Nostra fiends.”
“Excuse me,” Nina interrupted respectfully. “May I enquire who exactly you are, sir? I must concede that I am a bit lost here.”
The men smiled. “Of course, of course,” Purdue chuckled. “I forget that you were not with me when I…procured,” he looked at Adjo with a mischievous wink, “the counterfeit Ark of the Covenant from Aksum in Ethiopia.”
“Do you still have it, Mr. Purdue?” Adjo asked. “Or is it still in that godless house in Djibouti where they tortured me?”
“Oh my God, they tortured you too?” Nina asked.
“Yes, Dr. Gould. Prof. Medley’s husband and his trolls were to blame. I must admit, even though she was present I could see that she did not approve. She is dead now?” Adjo asked eloquently.
“Aye, she was regrettably killed during the Hercules expedition,” Nina affirmed. “But how did you get involved with that excursion? Purdue, why did we not know about Mr. Kira?”
“He was held by Medley’s people to find out where I was with the relic they so coveted, Nina,” Purdue explained. “This gentleman is the Egyptian engineer who helped me flee with the Holy Box before I brought it here – before the Vault of Hercules was sought.”
“And you thought he was dead,” Sam filled in.
“Correct,” Purdue confirmed. “That’s why I was dumbfounded to see my ‘late’ friend standing alive and well in my drawing room just now. Tell me, dear Adjo, why are you here, if not just for a rekindled reunion?”
Adjo looked a little uncomfortable, uncertain of how to explain, but Patrick volunteered to fill everyone in. “Actually, Mr. Kira is here to assist you in returning the artifact to the rightful place you stole it from, David.” He cast a quick reprimanding glance at the Egyptian before continuing the clarification so that everyone could get up to speed. “As a matter of fact, he was coerced by the legal system in Egypt to do so, fueled by the insistence of the Archaeological Crimes Unit. The alternative would have been a prison sentence for aiding a fugitive and accessory, for stealing a valuable historical artifact from the people of Ethiopia.”
“So, your punishment is similar to mine,” Purdue sighed.
“Except that I would not be able to pay that fine, Effendi,” Adjo clarified.
“I should think not,” Patrick agreed. “But you would not have been expected to, either, being an accessory as opposed to being the main perpetrator.”
“So, this is why they’re sending you along, then, Paddy?” Sam asked. He was clearly still bothered by Patrick’s inclusion in the expedition.
“Yes, I suppose. Although all expenses are covered by David as part of his penalty, I am still expected to accompany you all to make sure that there is not more skullduggery afoot that might result in a bigger crime,” he explained with brutal honesty.
“But they could have sent any senior field agent,” Sam replied.
“Yes, they could have, Sammo. But they picked me, so let’s just do the best we can and get this shite sorted, hey?” Patrick suggested, patting Sam on the shoulder. “Besides, it will give us a chance to catch up on the past year or so. David, shall we imbibe while you explain the course of this upcoming expedition?”
“I like the way you think, Special Agent Smith,” Purdue smiled, holding the bottle up as prize. “Now, let’s sit down and first make note of the necessary special visas and permits we will need to get past customs. After that we can work out the best route, with the expert help of my man Adjo Kira here, and proceed with the charters.”
For the rest of the afternoon and up until late evening the group planned and plotted their return to the land where they would have to face the disdain of locals and the ill words of guides until their mission could be accomplished. It was wonderful for Purdue, Nina, and Sam to be back together in Purdue’s massive historic manor, not to mention being in the company of the two respective friends to make it just a bit more special this time round.
By the next morning, they had everything planned and each was burdened with the task of assembling their own gear for the trip, along with checking that their passports and travel documents were correct by order of the British Government, Military Intelligence, and the Ethiopian delegates, Prof. Imru and Col. Yimenu.
The group gathered briefly for breakfast with the stern eye of Purdue’s butler upon them, should they need anything from him. For once Nina did not notice the silent conversation between Sam and Purdue as their eyes locked across the large rosewood table while Lily’s cheerful classic rock anthems echoed far away in the kitchen.
After the others had gone to bed the evening before, Sam and Purdue had spent the few hours of privacy between them exchanging ideas on how to expose Joe Carter for the world to see, while at the same time toppling a large chunk of the Order for good measure. They’d agreed that the task was difficult and would take some time to set up, but they knew they would have to organize some sort of trap for Carter. The man was not stupid. He was calculating and spiteful in his ways, therefore the two had to take time to think through their plans. They could not afford to leave any ties unchecked. Sam had not told Purdue of the visit from MI6 agent Liam Johnson or what he had disclosed to the visitor that night, when he warned Sam of his conspicuous spying.
Not much time was left in the way of plotting Karsten’s downfall, but Purdue was adamant that they could not rush things. For now, though, Purdue had to concentrate on getting the courts off his case so his life could return to relatively normal for the first time in many months.
First, they had to arrange for transportation of the relic in a locked container, secured by customs officials under the watchful eye of Special Agent Patrick Smit
h. He practically carried Carter’s authority in his wallet with every step taken on this trip, something the high commander of MI6 would not readily approve of. In fact, the only reason he’d dispatched Smith on the trip to oversee the Aksum Expedition was to get rid of the agent. He knew Smith was too closely acquainted with Purdue to be overlooked through the Black Sun’s scope. But Patrick, of course, did not know this.
“What on earth are you doing, David?” Patrick asked when he walked in on Purdue busy working in his computer lab. Purdue knew that only the elitest of hackers and those with extensive knowledge in computer science would know what he was devising. Patrick was not thus inclined, therefore the billionaire hardly winked when he saw the agent enter the laboratory.
“Just putting something together I have been working on since before my absenteeism from my labs, Paddy,” Purdue explained cheerfully. “There are still so many gadgets I must complete, fixing the glitches and such, you know. But I figured since my expedition party has to wait for government approval before we go, I may as well get some work done.”
Patrick walked in casually, now more than ever realizing what a true genius Dave Purdue was. His eyes were inundated with inexplicable contraptions he could only imagine were extremely intricate in their workings. “Very good,” he remarked, standing in front of one particularly tall server box to watch the little lights bustle to the hum of the machine inside. “I do admire your stamina at these things, David, but you would never catch me near all these motherboards and memory cards and stuff.”
“Ha!” Purdue smiled, not looking up from his work. “What is it then, Special Agent, that you excel at besides shooting the flame off a candle at an astonishing distance?”
Patrick chuckled. “Oh, you heard about that?”
“I did,” Purdue replied. “When Sam Cleave gets drunk, you are usually the subject of his elaborate childhood tales, old boy.”
Patrick felt flattered at the revelation. With a humble nod, he stood looking at the floor to take in his mental image of the crazy journalist. He knew exactly what his best friend was like when he got pissed and it was always a great party with much hilarity. Purdue’s voice escalated in volume through the flashbacks and merry memories Patrick entertained in his mind just now.
“So, what is it that allures you most when you are not working, Patrick?”
“Oh!” the agent snapped out of his reminiscence. “Um, well, I do enjoy wires.”
Purdue looked up from his programming screen for the first time, trying to unravel the mysterious statement. Turning to face Patrick, he exhibited an expression of bewildered curiosity and said simply, “Wires?”
Patrick laughed.
“I am a climber. I enjoy rope and wire to keep me fit. As Sam may or may not have told you before, I’m not much in the way of a thinker or mentally motivated. I would much rather engage in the physical strain of climbing, diving, or martial arts,” Patrick elaborated, “than to learn more about an obscure subject or savvy myself in the webs of physics or theology, regrettably.”
“Why, regrettably?” Purdue asked. “Certainly with only philosophers in the world we would not be able to build, explore, or basically construct engineering genius. It would stay on paper and be pondered over without people who physically did the scouting, don’t you agree?”
Patrick shrugged, “I suppose. Never thought much on it before.”
Just then, he realized that he just mentioned the subjective paradox and it made him giggle sheepishly. Still, Patrick could not help but be intrigued by Purdue’s diagrams and codes. “Come on, Purdue, teach a layman something about technology,” he coaxed as he pulled up a chair. “Tell me what you are really doing here.”
Purdue gave it a moment’s thought before responding in his usual well-founded confidence. “I’m building a security device, Patrick.”
Patrick smiled mischievously. “I see. To keep MI6 out in the future?”
Purdue returned Patrick’s impish grin and amicably bragged, “Yes.”
You are almost right, old cock,Purdue thought to himself, knowing that Patrick’s insinuation was dangerously close to the truth, with a twist, of course. Wouldn’t you love to mull this one over if you only knew that my device is made especially for MI6 to suck on?
“I am?” Patrick gasped. “Then tell me how it wor…oh, wait,” he said cheerfully, “I forgot, I’m included in the dreadful organization you are combatting here.” Purdue laughed with Patrick, but both men shared undisclosed wishes they could not reveal to one another.
18
Across the Heavens
Three days later the group boarded a Super Hercules rented by Purdue, having had a select group of men under Col. Yimenu’s supervision load the precious Ethiopian cargo.
“Will you be coming with us, Colonel?” Purdue asked the grumpy, but passionate old veteran.
“On the expedition?” he asked Purdue abruptly, although he appreciated the wealthy explorer’s cordiality. “No, no, not at all. That onus is on you, son. You must make your amends alone. At the risk of being rude, I would rather not engage in social conversation with you, if you don’t mind.”
“That’s alright, Colonel,” Purdue replied respectfully. “I understand completely.”
“Besides,” the veteran continued, “I wouldn’t want to go through the turmoil and pandemonium you’ll have to face when you return to Aksum. You’ve earned the hostility you will be facing, and quite frankly, if anything should happen to you while you are delivering the Holy Box, I would not exactly think it an atrocity.”
“Wow,” Nina remarked from where she was sitting in the open ramp flap, having a smoke. “Don’t hold back.”
The colonel leered at Nina. “Tell your woman to mind their own business too. Insurrection from females is not tolerated in my land.”
Sam switched on his camera and waited.
“Nina,” Purdue said before she even reacted, hoping she would abandon whatever hell she was urged to unleash on the judgmental veteran. His eyes stayed locked on the colonel’s, but his eyes closed when he heard her get up and approach. Sam just smiled from his vigil inside the belly of the Hercules while he pointed the lens.
The colonel watched the petite hellcat walk towards him with a smile, flicking her nail over her cigarette butt as she moved. Her dark hair fell wildly over her shoulders and the slight breeze swept the locks around her temples over her piercing brown eyes.
“Tell me, Colonel,” she said quite gently, “do you have a wife?”
“Of course I do,” he replied sharply, keeping his eyes on Purdue.
“Did you have to abduct her or did you just have your military lackeys mutilate her genitals so that she wouldn’t know that your performance is as rotten as your social decorum?” she asked plainly.
“Nina!” Purdue gasped, turning to look at her in shock while the veteran exclaimed, “How dare you!” behind him.
“Sorry,” Nina smiled. She took a nonchalant puff of her cigarette and blew the smoke in Col. Yimenu’s face. “My apologies. I shall see you in Ethiopia, Colonel.” She started back toward the Hercules, but turned halfway to finish what she wished to say. “Oh, and on the flight there I shall take really good care of your Abrahamic abomination over here. Don’t you worry.” She pointed at the so-called Holy Box and gave the colonel a wink before disappearing into the blackness of the vast cargo hole of the plane.
Sam stopped his recording and tried to keep a straight face. “You know they would put you to death over there for what you just did,” he teased.
“Aye, but I didn’t do it over there, now, did I, Sam?” she mocked. “I did it right here on Scottish soil using my heathen disobedience to any culture that disrespects my gender.”
He chuckled and packed away his camera. “I caught your good side, if that is any consolation.”
“You bastard! You recorded that?” she wailed, grabbing at Sam. But Sam was much bigger, faster, and stronger. She had to settle for his word that he would not show i
t to Paddy, otherwise he would throw her off the excursion for fear of persecution by the colonel’s people once she arrived in Aksum.
Purdue apologized for Nina’s uttering, although he could not have given a better low blow. “Just keep her well guarded, son,” the veteran growled. “She is small enough for a shallow grave in the desert where her voice would be made still for good. And not the best archaeologist would be able to analyze her bones even in a month.” With that he started towards his waiting Jeep on the opposite side of the large flat apron of the airport at Lossiemouth, but before he could go far Purdue stepped in front of him.
“Colonel Yimenu, I might owe your country recompense, but do not for a moment think you can threaten my friends and walk away. I will not tolerate death threats against my people – or myself for that matter – so please, a word of advice,” Purdue seethed in a serene tone that implied slow-burning fury. His long index finger lifted and stayed afloat between his face and Yimenu’s. “Do not tread on the smooth cover of my turf. You will find that you are so light as to elude the spikes below.”
Patrick suddenly shouted, “Right, everyone! Get ready for take-off! I want all my people cleared and accounted for before we close up, Colin!” He barked orders without ceasing, so that Yimenu felt too annoyed to continue his threats against Purdue. Soon after, he was hastily tramping to his vehicle under the cloudy cold of Scottish skies, tugging at his jacket to fight the chill.
In mid-command, Patrick stopped shouting and looked at Purdue.
“I heard that, you know?” he said. “You are a suicidal son of a bitch, David, talking down to a king before you are due in his bear pen.” He stepped closer to Purdue. “But that was the coolest fucking thing I have ever seen, mate.”
With a pat on the billionaire’s back, Patrick continued to address one of his agents to sign off on a sheet attached to the man’s clipboard. Purdue wanted to smile as he bowed forward slightly on entering the plane, but the realness and crude manner of Yimenu’s threat on Nina was on his mind. It was yet another thing he would have to keep his eye on at the same time as keeping track of Karsten, MI6’s dealings, keeping Patrick in the dark about his boss, and keeping them all alive while they replaced the Holy Box.