Magic Lantern
Page 19
‘We have got to act quickly. Freya wants Tara alive. I am certain of that because I know why. She believes Tara can take her to the Triskell. But Freya’s top priority is to stay alive and free. So she will kill Tara if she feels cornered. We have no choice. I’m going in.’
Paul, his forehead furrowed in thought, placed a restraining hand on Robert’s arm.
‘Hold on, Robert. We need to be wary of acting on impulse. The Gavrinis trip was a whim and look where it has got us. Think it through! The tunnel is an obvious trap. There is only one exit and it’s facing us. Freya needs out and Tara is her hostage – her exit strategy. So Tara is safe for now. But if you go in, it’s a narrow passage and there is a bullet with your name on it waiting for you. I’m not going to let that happen.’
Nico chipped in. ‘Going in there was not a great option for Freya, but she was standing in a widely exposed area that offered no cover. She had no choice. It was go into the passage, or surrender or run and die. I don’t think surrender figures on her list. So... she made a rational choice. Paul is right – she has to come out at some point. So we wait and negotiate.’
Kireg, who was rubbing the bruise on his head and had been watching events in astonishment, spoke up.
‘Actually, what you say is not strictly true. There is another way in.’
Chapter 71
Gavrinis, France, 3 November 2014, 13:20
Tara shuffled deep into the passage with Freya poking and pushing her forward. When they reached the central chamber Freya ordered her to sit down and shut up. The room was small, much smaller than at Rosnaree and with a flat instead of a corbelled roof. Trapped with the woman at such close quarters Tara felt her fear ebb away. She could see the old woman was ruthless and vicious but she was also human, and old and potentially frail. Tara might yet get a chance to overpower her. The woman also intrigued her because she felt sure that she had wanted her to escape that night at La Roche. Tara considered Freya’s requests. She obeyed the first and ignored the second.
‘Freya, the game is up. You need to surrender now. We can negotiate your freedom. You haven’t killed anyone. You can say Erik forced you to comply. It is your only viable option. If you kill me you won’t make it ten yards out there, even if you do surrender, because Robert will kill you regardless. Believe me! He is a soldier. They don’t hesitate.’
Freya, her clothes dusty and her hair moist with sweat, eyed Tara warily.
‘As I said, shut up. I am not planning to kill you. Not unless I have to. I want you alive. What’s more, you are also my passport out of here.’
Tara started praying in a low voice hoping it would unnerve Freya. It did. Freya screeched at her.
‘I said shut up! Didn’t I? Your Christian God won’t help you now.’
‘How do you know?’ Tara shouted back. ‘He saved me the other night. You don’t really think I just struck lucky, do you? He guided me out of your midst. And I will pray now and He will come!’
Contempt was written on Freya’s face.
‘You delude yourself. In such matters you are a novice. I am not. Believe me this is not about the Christ Entity. He is a minor player. Of course he is real to you. Your belief sustains him but he is merely a minor God in the pantheon. He is drained of elemental power by the rationalist Greek philosophy that his followers draped him in. This is about the Mórríoghain. Can’t you see? It is so obvious. You are an intelligent woman. Do I have to spell it out? The Triple Goddess is us! You, me and your niece. The old woman, the fruitful woman and the child! The Moon Goddess! We can invoke the Mórríoghain and she will come. We can tap into the real creative power of the universe – the female principle. The power of life – in birth and in death! At least Kirsten got that bit right.’
She emitted a low cackle. Tara challenged her in return.
‘I don’t follow. The Mórríoghain would come to what purpose? You can’t replace Pascal. What are you going to do? Become his father’s new business partner? ‘
‘I am not sure yet. There is history between Evrard and me which makes it difficult for me to handle him. But I do what needs doing. That is the way to survive and thrive. You could do with learning that, Tara. Get rid of your ladylike qualms. They hold a person back. You ought to realise that. From my research on you I think you know exactly what I mean. You were a senior executive in Bradley Raven Associates in Boston and you don’t get that high without having a ruthless streak. You earned big money. Those skills could be useful to Evrard. Don’t look so surprised – your generation leaves a trail a mile wide on the web. The price of your vanity on social networks is exposure – and people like me are watching.’
The intelligent eyes were following her as the woman spoke and Tara felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny. Freya continued.
‘But I am not interested in just money or running a business. Think more broadly, Tara. I am interested in jointly unleashing the power of the Mórríoghain and the Triskell. We can do this! This is a unique moment in world history. Together we can create a triumvirate – Freya, Tara and Aoife – of unprecedented female power. It will be a new feminist era. You and I are kindred spirits, both gifted with powers of crossing the Veil. We will work together and exert power over men! Overthrow the patriarchy that has ravished and raped the female principle and the planet for millennia! We will enslave them for a change!’
She paused, shuffling up closer to Tara and said in a lower tone.
‘Don’t tell me you don’t want that. I sense it in you. Men have betrayed you. It shows in your eyes – this very moment, I can see the hurt there. I remember now – Newton! Wasn’t that his name? He betrayed you but you have a lot to learn and I can teach you. I remember my father’s betrayal – that first time – as he and my brother took turns to rape me. Like you I was hurt and lost. But you have to learn and move on, Tara. What you need to do is to learn from Newton. Think about what he did, how he did it. And do it yourself in turn to others. What about lover boy Robert? Think about how to betray him. Imagine the exquisite joy of crushing his hopes. Power comes from grasping opportunity, Tara. Not from your Christian sharing – all that stupid proportionality and measuredness. The Mórríoghain asserts and commands – gives and takes as she chooses. Nothing constrains her!’
Tara listened in disbelief. She was unnerved by Freya’s knowledge of her life, her insight into her innermost thoughts and horrified by the depth of distortion in the woman’s world view. In her, intelligence and evil combined like twin batteries fuelling an unstoppable explosive device. Yet, unbelievably, something about the woman appealed strongly to Tara, a visceral affinity of shared giftedness and experience of betrayal. Each of them blessed and cursed with the gift of paranormal sensitivity. But Tara knew the path Freya was laying out would lead to chaos, just as surely as Pascal’s path would have. The pursuit of power had completely warped these people. Freya was playing with an elemental force that was blind to reason and would sweep her along to self-destruction as surely as Pascal had done.
A gut instinct of self-interest told Tara to befriend the old hag, to save herself that way, by pretending to agree with her. Yet she hesitated. She might yet need to play along, but first she would do the opposite. She would test Freya’s logic and resolve. She thought of what Aoife had said to her yesterday. The child had an insight into how close Tara had come to death, through the exercise of free will, in choosing to be with her. She was growing up far faster than her years merited. These people had wreaked havoc. Freya would have to pay a high price for any co-operation from Tara. She was done with passivity towards these people. They only respected strength.
‘You are wrong, Freya. Your cause is hopeless. But you are not. You have the free will to choose the better path! Turn a new leaf with me, now!
She reached out and grasped Freya’s hand. ‘Come, we can pray together. His love is awesome.’
Freya recoiled from her touch as though stung and she responded angrily.
‘You stupid cunt! How dare you think I
would embrace your snivelling, sentimental Christ Creature. He disgusts me! A weak and servile God? I don’t think so!’
She pistol-whipped Tara savagely if ineffectively until simple survival obliged Tara to cringe from her. Tara had not expected such ferocity. Freya hissed at her.
‘That’s better. Be quiet, I need to think! And you think about what I have said about us. Think very carefully. It is time to get real, Tara. Work with me and get your hands dirty alongside me. Your life depends on it!’
Tara was still smarting from the assault but was nonetheless satisfied. She had unsettled the woman. And strangely, although she had no gun, she felt in some ways that she had the upper hand. She was going to talk her way out of this and bring Freya around in the process. The woman could mentor her in the path ahead, once Tara had turned her. Freya must have so much experience of handling and honing the gift over the years. A trickle of blood dripped from Tara’s chin and she wiped it with her hand. She just hoped Freya’s atavistic streak wouldn’t go too far in the meantime.
Chapter 72
Gavrinis, France, 3 November 2014, 13:21
All eyes were expectantly on Kireg, including Robert’s. It had never occurred to him that there might be another way into the megalithic tomb. Passage tombs usually only had a single entrance. Kireg proceeded to explain what his words meant.
‘There is a temporary research tunnel that was initiated in May around the back of the mound. I am friends with the archaeologists leading the dig. I visited it in June. That’s how I know.’
‘Could Freya know that?’ Robert asked.
‘Possibly,’ said Kireg. ‘It’s not a state secret but is not widely known. It depends if she had prior knowledge we were coming here and could have researched the site. If she had spoken with the local archaeologists they would have talked about it. Something had shown up on the geomagnetics. It turned out to be a further small chamber. A satellite of the main one. Not as interesting as the main one but you know archaeologists. If something is there they have to dig it out.’
‘Then Freya doesn’t know. I only decided to come here yesterday. Even if she has a tap on my phone, she is unlikely to have tracked down the archaeologists that quickly,’ said Robert emphatically. ‘Can we get in that way?’
‘I don’t see why not. I can show you. It takes about fifteen minutes to edge your way in. Where it joins the central chamber it is camouflaged on the interior with a curved mock stone face. It is quite realistic, specially moulded from heavy duty plastic, so you wouldn’t readily notice it from the inside. Not unless you looked carefully.’
‘Right, I will go in that way with Kireg,’ announced Robert. ‘And try and get behind Freya and surprise her.’
Holà! Robert,’ Paul interjected. ‘We need to think this through. As far as we know Freya’s preference is to keep Tara alive. So for starters I will order in a professional negotiator. And we need food and drink for them. The question is what will Freya’s terms be?’
Nico spoke quietly but thoughtfully. ‘She will want a boat, or more likely a helicopter, to enable her escape. A chopper would be perfect. We wouldn’t be able to chase her. She could get away gratuito. Like a bird.’
Robert’s voice jumped in, tensely.
‘Yes, and with Tara. But I am afraid it is even worse than that. She mentioned Aoife. She wants the child as well. She will threaten harm to Tara to ensure we hand over the child. So we need a Plan B toute suite.’
A stunned silence ensued. The thought of Aoife being involved again was deeply shocking. The debriefing doctors had asked for a further week to work with her, such was their disquiet. The level of trauma she had experienced was causing serious concern. All talk of a swift return to Ireland had been abandoned.
Eventually Nico spoke. ‘Robert is right. That fact changes everything. We need to intervene. And do so soon. Before a siege psychology is set up.’
Paul raised his eyebrows. ‘Que de difficultés! That’s a high–risk strategy. Tara could get killed. These things can go wrong, especially in confined places. But I agree – we cannot play the child into a negotiation. It is out of the question. Which in turn places Tara in greater danger. Anyhow, first off we need to play the negotiation card. Let Freya see that we are taking steps. She will expect that.’
He looked around the group who all nodded their agreement. ‘OK, Teresa, I want you to take control here. With Nico supporting. In about thirty minutes call in and make contact with Freya. Pass her a walkie-talkie phone. That way she can communicate with us but not with anyone else as the receivers are single wavelength. Start by building a rapport with her. She will reject your overtures but at intervals go back and start again. We should be able to get a professional negotiator here within two hours, maybe less. Then gradually hint at offering to negotiate a safe passage to her. She has to believe she can get away.’
‘Understood,’ Teresa replied. ‘I have done hostage situation training. What about you?’
‘I am Plan B, along with Kireg who knows the passage. We will go in.’ Paul replied simply.
‘What about me?’ Robert asked in a raised voice, ‘Shall I play chess with one of your honchos?’
Paul sighed. ‘Robert, you are emotionally involved. Leave it to us.’
‘No way! That is not going to happen. Yes, I am emotionally involved but you forget I am a trained soldier. I can handle this. Just like I did at La Roche.’
Paul was silent. Robert was going to say more when Teresa spoke up.
‘He is right, Paul. He is trained in a way we policemen aren’t. He is your shock trooper. You need that. Use him.’
Paul looked at Robert.
‘Merde! You realise Tara may die? Can you accept that eventuality?’
Robert’s eyes locked on the secret policeman.
‘Of course, Paul. It is a probability. I know that. But going in gives me a chance to even the odds. What I couldn’t handle would be not going in.’
Paul was silent a moment, his lips pursed in hesitation. Then he stood up and slapped Robert on the shoulder.
‘Ah bon. You are right. I am convinced. You are in.’
Paul reached into his pocket. ‘But I give the orders, OK? Here take this. You will need it.’
Robert nodded in assent and turned his gaze to the gun. It was a Glock 19, with distinctive finger grooves on the front strap of the pistol grip and a single cross pin above the trigger. Robert quickly inspected it with satisfaction and then nodded at Paul.
‘Thanks, reckon I will.’
‘OK, let’s find this entrance. And work out what the hell Plan B is en route. Teresa, I will leave Nico and three officers with you. Stay in touch by phone. OK?’
With that Paul, Robert, Kireg and two other security men set off. They found the entrance to the research tunnel hidden behind a wooden fence. The door was padlocked so their first task was to snap through it with a pair of large security cutters. Thankfully the lock came off clean in a single attempt. The three men edged in along the tunnel which was about the width of a bulky man and about five foot tall. It was lined with timber slats and reminded Robert of a First World War tunnel he had visited on the Somme. But that had solid walls, cut through chalk. Here he had to stoop the whole way and imagined the wooden walls suddenly collapsing and trapping them, soil engulfing them. He followed Kireg, conscious of the darkness, the silence and the heat. The air was thin and warm and it was evident that the tunnel had not been used in a while. When they reached the satellite chamber and Robert saw the now-familiar curved carvings on the huge stones, he realised one thing. He had a bellyful of megalithic tombs and if he never saw another one in his life it would be too soon. Up ahead he saw Kireg turn and use his pencil torch to illuminate three fingers. Three metres. They were almost there.
Robert desperately hoped their plan, hastily concocted on their short trek around the mound, would work. Trouble was, it was a bit crazy. Desperate measures, you might say, clutching at straws.
Chapter 73
After a time Freya regretted her explosion of violence which had reduced Tara to silence. Freya’s mind was made up. She needed to work further on the Irishwoman and talk her around. She would negotiate an escape for them both and lever the child into the deal. Tara would be useful in dealing with Evrard, Pascal’s father, as well. Freya knew he liked the company of beautiful women. Or at least he liked fucking them. They flattered his pathetic male ego. Once she had some control over Tara she would persuade her to open her legs for him. Or perhaps keep him on a hook for a while? Make him beg first? There were lots of possibilities.
A more immediate question was how long to leave it before initiating contact with the people outside the tomb. She glanced at her watch – twenty eight minutes had elapsed since they had sought refuge in the corridor - then at Tara. The small long-life illumination device that Erik had given her emitted enough light for her to be able to locate and monitor her captive. It was time to break the silence.
‘Soon we will go back out. But only to the doorway. You understand? Run and I will kill you. I have nothing to lose.’
Tara said nothing. She was seated cross-legged, with her head resting on folded arms. Freya probed.
‘Are you deaf? Have you lost your tongue?’
‘I’m fine here, you go. My Lord will protect me. You are the one who is lost – alive or dead! You are old and frail, Freya. You’re too old for this lark. I am praying quietly, you know. He will come for you. I’ll bet if you were here on your own you would know that and be prey to terrors. The only thing waiting for you is Hell! But it doesn’t have to be like that. I can expose you to the Power of Christ. You will see for yourself. It is not snivelling and sentimental. It is majestic and supreme – like the power of a thousand suns radiating rays of unquenchable love. And with it comes the richest of gifts including wisdom, prophecy and miraculous powers. There is room and a role for Seers such as us, Freya. Believe me!’