by Alex Lukeman
"I'm surprised ISIS hasn't gone after the Sphinx by now," Nick said. "It's a perfect target. Think of the publicity if they blew it up."
"Assholes," Lamont said.
"Yeah. Assholes with guns and Semtex," Ronnie said.
Elizabeth rapped her pen on her desk. The hard sound came through the phone.
"Let's stay focused. Selena, are you positive your translation is accurate?"
"The only way to be sure is to find the archive."
"Under the Sphinx."
"Yes. We have to investigate it."
"It's been hidden for thousands of years."
"There's a sealed passage in the great pyramid. We can get to it through that."
"Good luck getting permission to open it up," Nick said.
"Who said anything about getting permission?"
"What sealed passage?" Elizabeth asked.
"The Egyptians found a hidden entrance in the great pyramid last year. They think it leads to a tunnel going to the Sphinx. We should get into the pyramid and open it. If there is a passage there, it will take us to the archive."
"If that's where it goes," Elizabeth said. "Let me be sure I understand you. You want to go into one of the biggest and most important historical attractions of the ancient world and break into a sealed entrance without getting caught. Then you want to follow a passage that might or might not be there to an archive that might not exist and discover what may be only a figment of someone's vivid imagination. Is that about it?"
"More or less."
"That is absolutely crazy."
"I wouldn't put it that way," Selena said. "I'd look at it as a challenge."
"A challenge?"
Nick interrupted. "It might not be too difficult, Director. Tourism is way off because of ISIS. If you can get us into the country without being arrested, we can bribe our way into the pyramid. The guards have been letting people in there for years who wanted to spend a night inside. We could be one more group of dumb foreigners. Selena's Arabic will help. A little C4 will get us into that passage."
"You're awfully quick to blow things up," Elizabeth said. "Now you want to damage a world monument."
"It's the only way to do it."
They waited while Elizabeth thought about it.
"There was an item in the morning brief two days ago. It looks like ISIS is planning a major attack in Egypt."
"How does that help?" Selena asked.
"For the moment the Egyptians are back to being our friends. I could offer to assist in preventing it."
"They may be acting like friends for now but I wouldn't count on it for much longer," Nick said. "Besides, they have their own counterterrorism unit."
"I know the general who runs internal security. I think I can convince him to let you enter the country. If he wants it done, it will happen."
Someone knocked on the cabin door. Nick opened it. It was John, the second mate.
"Take a look outside," he said.
Nick went over to the porthole. Not far away, the surface of the ocean churned and roiled. The air smelled of sulfur.
"Better come to the communication room," John said.
"Director, I have to go. Something's happening."
"Keep me posted," Elizabeth said.
They followed the mate to the communications room.
"What's up?" Nick said.
Sexton pointed at the ROV monitor. "Take a look."
The robot was outside the pyramid, about a quarter-mile from the ship. Yesterday there had been one or two vapor columns rising near the base of the massive structure. Now there were more than a dozen. It looked as though the seafloor near the pyramid was bulging.
"Is that what's making the disturbance on the surface?"
"You figured it out in one," Sexton said. "Something's getting ready to blow down there. Probably a volcano."
"A volcano?"
"Looks like it. Vicky, bring the rover home."
"What about the one we lost?" she asked.
"I don't want to lose this one too. If nothing happens down there we'll come back for it another time."
Vicky worked the joystick. The ROV backed away from the pyramid.
"What happens if it blows?" Selena asked.
"It depends. It's a long way down. It would take a really big eruption to sink us, but I'm not going to risk it. We're leaving."
Lamont pointed at the screen. "Something's happening."
Wide cracks appeared in the seabed, glowing with a malevolent, fiery red. The cracks spread outward from the pyramid.
"I think the pyramid's moving," Selena said.
"It can't move," Nick said. "How could it move?"
As they watched, the massive structure began to tilt. The seafloor around it split open. Then the pyramid began to slip away into the Atlantic abyss. It slid out of sight in a cloud of silt and steam. A glowing red column of molten lava fountained up from the shattered seabed.
The feed from the camera went dark.
Sexton ran to the bridge, yelling orders. Nick and the others followed him. By the time they got there the big diesels that drove Sexton's Dream had powered up and settled to a steady vibration.
"All ahead full. Flank speed."
"Flank speed, aye," the helmsman answered.
The ship began to move. The surface of the ocean foamed and curled. Suddenly a tall geyser of superheated water shot into the air. The column reached its peak and fell back., Scalding water and steaming rocks dropped onto the boat, a black rain from hell.
A glowing rock smashed through the skylight over the bridge and struck the second mate, knocking him to the deck. He screamed as his clothes caught fire. Two of the crew ran to help. Fires started on deck, where more rocks had landed.
Sexton yelled, "Get those fires out!"
A wave that looked as big as a house rushed toward them.
"Hang on!" Nick shouted
"Holy shit," Lamont said.
The wave struck the Sexton's Dream. The ship heeled over, sending everything that wasn't tied down flying through the air. Water cascaded over the decks and through the open door of the bridge. Slowly the ship righted itself.
Ahead lay the Tolstoy. The wave struck the bigger ship and swept across the decks. It continued on, subsiding as it moved away from the ships. Soon it was invisible. As it crossed the ocean it would build force until it became a tsunami.
"Whoa," Ronnie said.
The Russian ship appeared to have taken little damage. As the Tolstoy receded behind them. Selena saw Valentina come out onto the deck below the bridge.
The two sisters looked at each other as the distance between them increased.
CHAPTER 44
Valentina called General Vysotsky and told him what had happened.
"We sent an ROV down. There's nothing left. The pyramid and everything else is gone."
"Der'mo."
"The Americans have sailed."
"We're tracking them," Vysotsky said. "They're heading back to Cairo. The pictures you sent of the writing in that pyramid are being translated as we speak."
"My sister has done that by now. Harker's people will act on whatever they discovered. The Tolstoy is still out of commission. I need to get back to the mainland."
"I agree. A helicopter will retrieve you and Major Rostov. It should arrive within the hour."
"Can't we leave her here?"
"Much as I would like to, it isn't an option. Orlov is watching. He's playing me against Volkov. He also has his eye on you, to see how you handle the situation. You're stuck with Rostov for now."
"What are my orders? "
"This mission has been a fiasco for Rostov. The only thing she has to show for the deaths of her men are those pictures. If they provide new information to lead to the archive, the two of you will pursue it. In that case her best chance to redeem herself with Volkov is to sabotage us. You will be there to stop her."
"I understand."
"You will arrive in Egypt before the Amer
icans. Follow them. Do not allow yourself to be seen. If Rostov interferes, eliminate her. If you do, make sure it looks like an accident. You understand?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, sir."
"That's better. Keep me informed."
Valentina put her phone away as Rostov approached.
"I have just spoken with General Volkov," Rostov said. "It seems we must continue working together."
"A helicopter is coming for us."
"So he told me."
"We'll be waiting for the Americans when they arrive," Valentina said. "What they do next will determine our own actions."
"A sensible plan."
"I'm glad you agree. For now we will observe."
"And if they have found the archive?"
"Then they will go there and we will follow them," Valentina said.
"And then?"
"What do you think we should do, Rostov?"
"Once we're certain they are in the right place, we should intervene."
"Intervene?"
"We can't let them send anything back."
"How do you propose to stop them?"
"If necessary, we kill them."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Has it occurred to you that there will be retaliation if we kill them?"
"There's nothing the Americans can do. There may be a few incidents with our operatives outside the country. Of course that has more significance for your department than for mine. Aside from that, nobody's going to start a war because of a few dead spies."
Rostov smiled at her.
"I can see you don't like the idea. Is it because your sister is among them? I'm sure Moscow would be interested to see you put loyalty to an American spy above patriotism."
"Do not question my loyalty, Rostov. If I were you, I'd be more concerned about losing everyone under your command. It shows bad judgment. But that's nothing new for you."
"You think Vysotsky can protect you," Rostov said. "You could be right. But what if you aren't? You have much to learn, Antipov."
We'll see who has much to learn, Valentina thought.
In the distance she heard the throp throp throp of a helicopter approaching.
CHAPTER 45
General Basu Karimi's enormous gut was only the outward sign of his large appetites. Food was the least of his addictions. Karimi was fond of thin women, morphine and expensive liquor, though the last two were frowned upon by his religion. His face was broad, pocked with acne scars, his lips swollen and purplish from the digestive problems that arose from his gluttony. Thick black hair was slicked back on his moon-shaped head. His hands were almost dainty for such a coarse man, the nails manicured and covered with clear polish.
General Karimi was chief of the Egyptian secret police, the most feared and hated man in Egypt, a man whose name was used to frighten disobedient children. His uniforms were tailored to fit his huge girth and adorned with rows of medals. He looked like an Egyptian version of Hermann Goering. Like Goering, Karimi was a shrewd and dangerous man.
In the great political game playing out in the Middle East between America and Russia, Karimi was an important player. He'd grown rich accepting what he called "charitable donations" to secure his influence. Washington and Moscow both thought he was on their side and useful, if corrupt. The only side Karimi was on was his own.
When his aide told him Elizabeth Harker was on the phone, he felt a glow of satisfaction. His bank account was about to grow fatter. Whatever she wanted, it would not come cheaply. That she wanted something, he was sure. Why else would she call?
"Director Harker. It has been too long since I had the pleasure of hearing your voice."
In Virginia, Elizabeth put the Egyptian general on the speaker so Stephanie could listen. Karimi's voice oozed false charm. Stephanie pointed a finger at her mouth and made a gagging gesture. Elizabeth almost broke out laughing but stopped herself in time.
"General. Thank you for taking my call. I trust you are well?"
"My health is good, Allah be praised. Director, you have been very naughty. Your operatives created many problems for me in Marsá Matruh. It was very bad for business. I am unhappy."
"I am desolated by your unhappiness, General. Please accept my apologies. I'm sure some compensation can be arranged for your inconvenience. Perhaps a donation to one of your charities would help soothe your discomfort?"
"Your generosity is not unappreciated, Director."
"A contribution will be made in the regular way," Elizabeth said.
"Excellent," Karimi said.
"I'm glad to clear up any misunderstanding about what happened before. However, that's not why I'm calling. We have information ISIS is planning an attack near Cairo. I felt that because of your official role you should be aware it."
ISIS was a sore point for General Karimi. They were a spreading cancer, creating problems throughout the country. Karimi was under pressure to expose their followers and arrest them.
"Those lunatics are always planning trouble. We have handled them successfully in the past. How accurate is this information?"
"Of the highest accuracy. The attack will come soon. We believe it is aimed at your president. It's to our mutual advantage to prevent them from succeeding. I would like to assist you."
Now we're getting to it, Karimi thought.
"What kind of assistance?"
"I would like to send in my team. After the unfortunate events at the hotel, I need your cooperation for them to enter your country. They will not get in your way. Whatever they discover will immediately be made available to you."
"What do you think they can find out that my agents cannot?"
"ISIS has ties into the Western community in Egypt. My people have a much better chance of rooting out those connections than you do."
"I would say that depends on the situation." Karimi's voice was hard.
Elizabeth was well aware of Karimi's interrogation methods.
"We believe ISIS is ready to put their plan into action. There isn't much time for, uh, traditional techniques to be effective. My people are very good at what they do. You have nothing to lose and you will have the assistance of my government helping you without any appearance of dependence on the West. Needless to say, a large contribution to your favorite charity would be appropriate."
It was what Karimi needed to hear.
"I'm sure something can be arranged."
"In that case, I'll arrange the transfer of funds immediately. My team will arrive tomorrow. It's a pleasure to do business with you, General."
"I am always happy to help, Director."
After the call, Karimi leaned back in his chair and considered his options. He didn't believe for a minute that Harker wanted to assist him in thwarting a possible terrorist attack. She had some other goal in mind. The Americans were usually quite obvious in their manipulations but Harker was a different sort. Of course she was a woman, and all women were devious in their thinking.
Whatever she was after was certain to interest the Russians. Karimi had no reservations about playing one side against the other. He took out a small, black notebook and turned pages until he came to the entry he was looking for, a man who could be counted on to make a sizable donation in return for useful information.
He picked up his secured phone and called General Volkov in Moscow.
CHAPTER 46
There were no problems entering Egypt. They booked into a hotel on the edge of the Giza complex. The Great Pyramid of Khufu filled the view outside the windows of Nick and Selena's room. The lesser pyramids of Khafre and Menakaure were visible as well.
Lamont and Ronnie came in. Lamont went over to the window.
"That must've been pretty impressive when it was new," he said.
"Still is," Ronnie said.
Selena pointed at the peak. "You can still see some of the white limestone they used to cover it when it was new. The facing was stripped off and used for buildings in Cairo."
/> "Let's figure out what we're going to do," Nick said.
Selena opened up her laptop. "I talked with Stephanie on the way here. She sent me plans of the pyramid and an article about that sealed entrance. You see the long descending passage? What we're after is about halfway between ground level and the pit, on the left as you're going down. That's in the direction of the Sphinx."
"I thought the Sphinx was in front of the Great Pyramid," Ronnie said.
"No. It's at the end of a buried causeway that leads from the pyramid of Khafre. That's the next one over."
"I've never seen the pyramids except in pictures," Lamont said.
"You'll get a good look at them this afternoon," Nick said. "We'll hire a guide and do an initial recon."
"We have time for lunch before that?" Lamont said.
CHAPTER 47
Karimi's aide came to the open door of his office.
"General, the Russian woman is here."
"Send her in."
Karimi belched and thought about his growing bank account. The call to General Volkov had been most productive.
The aide escorted the woman into Karimi's office and left, closing the door. His eyes wandered over her body. She was tall and thin, the kind of look that appealed to him. Her black hair was cropped short over cold, black eyes. He could see no jewelry. She was attractive in a harsh way, all angles and planes. He wondered if the rest of her was as hard as her face.
"General. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I am Major Katerina Rostov."
"General Volkov told me about you, Major. Please, sit down. I can give you ten minutes."
Katerina smiled at him.
"General Volkov speaks of you with admiration," Rostov said.
Bullshit, Karimi thought.