“And how are you going to help me?” she asked.
“I’m going to tell you where a great treasure is.”
Her eyes lit up. “A treasure? Here?”
Richard put his finger to his lips. “I’ll tell you everything, but first you have to tell the soldiers that you didn’t see anything when they ask. Understand?”
She nodded and smiled. “I like you. You seem like a nice man.”
“I like you too, Indira. Now hurry along.”
Richard watched her race across the courtyard and engage the Reichswehr operatives in conversation. After she finished talking, one of the agents called for the others and they exited the fort.
Richard sighed and slumped against the wall.
“At least they’re gone,” David said. “Though you had to lie to a little girl.”
“Who said I was lying?” Richard said.
“You’re going to tell her where the treasure is?” David asked as he chuckled. “Look, I’m not complaining. The Germans are gone, but you had to lie to her to make them go away.”
“Just forget about it,” Richard said. “Let’s get downstairs and sit tight. We’re almost home free. All we have to do now is wait for the Germans to come back.”
Chapter 34
WILHELM EYED HIS SOLDIERS and considered the information they’d just delivered. He paced around the pub, throwing back the rest of his drink before slamming his glass down on the bar.
“So, let me see if I understand this,” Wilhelm said. “You scoured the fort and didn’t see them but just decided to come back and report this to me?”
The soldiers nodded.
“We searched everywhere, and they’re not there,” one of the men said.
“I told you not to come back until you found them,” Wilhelm said. “I know they’re still there, lurking in the shadows and laughing at you fools.” He grunted and gestured for another drink. “It seems like my wolfsrudel has been defanged by these young Americans.”
Reinhard, who had been outside, strode in with a familiar man. “Sir, I have some other news for you.”
Wilhelm grunted and took another swig of his drink. “What is it now?”
“Do you remember Sandeep?” Reinhard asked.
“The man who threw us into this state of disarray?” Wilhelm asked. “How could I forget him?”
“He has something to tell you,” Reinhard said.
“Out with it,” Wilhelm said with a growl.
“I know where the treasure is,” Sandeep said.
“And how do you know this?” Wilhelm demanded.
Sandeep took a deep breath. “Because I overheard the two Americans talking tonight as they were sneaking through the city. They were pulling a cart that had a blanket thrown over the top.”
“It’s got to be the treasure, sir,” Ludwig said.
“And you’re certain they’re there now?” Wilhelm asked Sandeep.
He nodded. “I watched them take the long winding path, merging into a line with all the other men taking supplies to Fort Jaigahr.”
Wilhelm poured some tobacco into his pipe and lit it. “Yet my men were just there and they found nothing.”
“With all due respect, sir, perhaps they should search again. I know what I saw.”
“Very well then,” Wilhelm said before turning to Ludwig. “Get the woman and bring him too. We need to get moving.”
* * *
A HALF HOUR LATER, Wilhelm trudged up the hill with the rest of his men as well as Sandeep and Sarita. Neither one of them said a word as they followed Wilhelm’s men. After talking their way inside the gates, Wilhelm asked Sandeep to lead them to the object that the Americans were hiding.
“How do we know this isn’t a trap, sir?” Reinhard asked.
“We don’t,” Wilhelm said. “But we do know that there are only two of them and a dozen of us. You should appreciate those odds.”
Once they reached the center of the courtyard, the men fanned out, forming three teams of four soldiers each.
“This isn’t necessary,” Sandeep said. “I know where they planned to hide the treasure.”
Wilhelm shook his head and wagged his finger at Sandeep. “You don’t know what is necessary and what isn’t in the frontlines of war. You must take precautions to make sure your enemies aren’t planning to ambush you.”
The search lasted for an hour without anything of significance being found.
“Happy now?” Sandeep asked.
“You can never be too cautious,” Wilhelm warned. “Now, where is that treasure?”
“Follow me,” Sandeep said.
With all the troops reunited in the main courtyard, Sandeep walked briskly toward a stairwell and then descended to the lower level. He led them to the room full of cisterns and came to a stop next to one labeled number nine.
“It’s in here,” Sandeep said as he pointed to the water and then took a step back.
“Fetch it for us then,” Wilhelm said.
Sandeep hesitated before he glanced at Sarita. She gave him an approving nod. He dipped his hands into the water and moved them around. After a few seconds, he hoisted a small chest to the surface.
Wilhelm scowled. “That can’t be all. I know there was more than that.”
“They said they were going to hide everything in the castle after they spread some of the wealth throughout the city,” Sandeep said.
“That’s why no one has come forward with information about their whereabouts,” Wilhelm said, shaking his fist angrily. “They’re bribing the people.”
Sandeep nodded. “I’d much rather get a reward of five hundred pounds than a worthless artifact.”
Wilhelm smiled. “Well, these artifacts are far from worthless. In fact, they’re quite priceless.”
He knelt next to the chest and prepared to open it.
“No!” shouted Sarita. “Don’t open it. That chest is cursed.”
Wilhelm glared back at her. “What is it this time? Some silly Hindu belief of yours?”
“There’s a symbol etched on the top,” she said, her hands quaking. “If you remove anything from that chest, you will die.”
Wilhelm sighed as he staggered to his feet. “Klaus, Hans, please come here and show this woman that there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
The two Reichswehr agents walked up to the chest and hunched over it. Klaus lifted the lid, while Hans plunged his hands inside to pick up some of the jewels. He held them out for Wilhelm to see and then Sarita.
“See,” Wilhelm said. “Your tales of superstition are nothing more than—“
Hans crumpled to the floor and started to shake. The jewels bounced on the stone, scattering in every direction.
“It’s cursed, I tell you,” Sarita said, her voice trembling. “If we don’t get out of here now, we might all end up dead.”
Klaus laughed. “Come on, Hans. That isn’t funny.”
“He’s not joking,” Sarita said. “He was struck down for trying to steal from that chest. And if any of you dare try it as well, you will suffer the same fate.”
Wilhelm eyed her closely. “Your magic tricks won’t work on us. Klaus, grab some of the gold and give Sarita a piece.”
Klaus hesitated.
“Do it now!” Wilhelm roared.
Klaus’s hands shook as he reached inside to retrieve a few pieces of the treasure. However, as he turned around to present the handful of riches to Sarita, he collapsed and began convulsing on the floor.
“Why don’t you believe me?” Sarita asked. “We’re all going to die.”
Wilhelm stamped his foot. “I don’t know how you’re doing this, but I’m not going to stand by and watch you make fools of us all. Now, you come over here and pull out a few pieces of gold.”
Sarita shook her head and walked backward. “It’s cursed. I can’t do it.”
“Oh, yes, you can,” Wilhelm sneered as he grabbed her by her arm. “And you will.”
Chapter 35
RICHARD H
AD ENJOYED watching the Reichswehr soldiers fall the moment they touched the treasure, but Wilhelm’s sudden demand that Sarita retrieve a piece of gold changed that. Richard’s mood went from satisfaction to sheer terror. If Wilhelm discovered the seizures were being induced by a poison Sarita concocted, he would likely kill her and figure out another way to extra the fortune from the box.
“We can’t let her do that,” Richard whispered as he turned toward David. “They’ll figure it out and make off with the loot, not to mention probably kill Sarita on their way out.”
“I agree, but what can we do about it?” David asked. “We can’t do anything without costing us our lives.”
Richard shrugged. “I’m going in to help her.”
“You can’t do that,” David said, grabbing hold of Richard’s arm. “That’d be suicide.”
Richard ripped his arm away from David and glared at him. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going to feel bad about leaving you if you do something this stupid,” David said.
“There’s nothing stupid about what I’m going to do. But I still need your help.”
“Wait, let’s think about this.”
“There’s nothing to think about. All I need you to do is create a diversion.”
“And when do you want me to do that?” David asked.
“You’ll know when. Just watch.”
Richard eased onto the floor and walked into the illuminated portion of the room where everyone could see him. He raised both hands in the air.
“I’ll do it,” Richard said.
The remaining Reichswehr operatives swung around in his direction, training their weapons on Richard.
“You’ll do what, Mr. Halliburton?” Wilhelm asked.
“I’ll fetch the treasure for you.”
“I should have you shot right now,” Wilhelm said. “We’d be long gone by now if it weren’t for your constant meddling in our affairs.”
“You mean your thievery of ancient artifacts?”
Wilhelm grunted. “Maybe I will just shoot you right here. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about you ever again.”
Richard shrugged. “You could, but do you really want to do that when none of your men have the courage to remove the massive fortune inside that chest? Now that I think about it, I didn’t see you volunteering either.”
“Empty the treasure into that sack now,” Wilhelm said. “And when you’re done, you can show me where the rest of the jewels and coins are.”
“Everything that’s valuable is in that chest. All the other items were meaningful to archeologists but not worth much.”
“So you know the secret to removing objects from that chest?” Wilhelm said.
“I hope so,” Richard said. “I never took anything out. I only put things in it.”
“And here you are, riding in at the last moment like the chivalrous knight to save the damsel in distress,” Wilhelm said. “Something seems amiss to me.”
“What can I say,” Richard said. “You trapped me inside when you entered the room, and I had nowhere else to go.”
Wilhelm chuckled as he circled around the chest. “I have to admit that attempting to hide the treasure back here was rather clever. But never underestimate the power of a bounty.”
“Or the greed of human nature,” Richard said.
“Enough,” Wilhelm said with a growl as he kicked the sack toward Richard. “Empty the treasure in here now.”
Richard took a deep breath and plunged his hand into the chest. Opening his palm, he revealed a pair of coins.“See,” he said with a wide grin. “There was nothing to be afraid of.”
Before Richard could say another word, he fell onto the ground and started convulsing and seizing.
* * *
DAVID WATCHED FROM the shadows, waiting for the right moment to create a diversion. With Sarita in danger, he knew he couldn’t wait much longer before taking action.
Damn you, Richard.
“It’s cursed, I tell you,” Sarita said again. “I warned you all, but no one would listen to me.”
Wilhelm spun toward her. “I’m willing to sacrifice one more person to prove your theory right—you.”
“No, I can’t. I don’t want to die.”
Wilhelm grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the box. Then he cocked his pistol and held it to her head.
“Please, don’t kill me. I have a daughter at home who needs me.”
Wilhelm grabbed her by her hair and put his mouth next to her ear. “Empty the chest,” he growled.
Reinhard stepped forward. “Sir, is this really necessary? Why don’t we just take the box and figure this out later? We don’t need to make any orphans tonight.”
Wilhelm glanced at Reinhard. “Since when did you become concerned about orphans?”
“Since I know my children are now just a heartbeat away from becoming orphans themselves.”
Wilhelm studied Reinhard. “You know then?”
Reinhard nodded. “The letter fell out of your coat pocket, the letter addressed to me. How could you keep that from me?”
“I was trying to keep you focused,” Wilhelm said. “The future of our nation should be more important to you than ever now that your wife is gone.”
“That’s not how a good leader behaves.”
“We’ll finish this later,” Wilhelm said, trying to hold Sarita still as she squirmed in his grasp.
“No, we’re going to finish this right now,” Reinhard said, raising his weapon and training it on Wilhelm. “You are going to empty that chest.”
“This is not the time to challenge my authority,” Wilhelm said, grabbing Sarita and holding her in front of him. “This woman is going to empty the treasure for us, and you’re going to stand down.”
Wilhelm held Sarita’s right arm and forced it toward the chest.
David figured that was his cue and started screaming and yelling from the darkness. The commotion made all the Reichswehr agents, including Wilhelm, freeze as they looked in David’s direction to figure out what was happening.
At that moment, Richard rolled over and snapped the box shot. Then he kicked Wilhelm in the chest, freeing Sarita. Richard grabbed her wrist and pulled her with him as they vanished into the darkness.
A pair of shots rang out before the members of the Reichswehr unit went scrambling after them.
“That was quite the performance,” David said as they ran. “You had me fooled there for a minute.”
Richard relinquished his grip on Sarita and hugged the box against his chest. “Take her out of here, and get her some place safe.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll think of something. Now go.”
Chapter 36
RICHARD OFTEN WONDERED if he’d ever tire of flirting with danger, a temptress whose appeal was cloaked in a rush unlike any other human experience. However, he never raised such questions during those times when he was enraptured by her beauty. Instead, he preferred to drink in the moment. And getting chased by ten Reichswehr troops through an Indian fortress at night while toting a treasure chest was a sadistic thrill, sending endorphins coursing through his veins.
Despite his unmitigated joy, Richard’s legs burned as he raced along the breezeways, illuminated only by the pale moonlight overhead. He sucked in another breath while scanning the next path he wanted to take. The Germans were gaining on him, though he’d managed to dash around a corner and leave them guessing as to which way he went.
Two bullets whizzed past his head, alerting him to the fact that he was no longer out of sight. The operatives were closing fast, and he needed to do something to get away.
The gunshots echoed off the walls, sending the British security guards scrambling to the center of the fortress to investigate. Richard darted around the corner and raced toward the holding pond that was about one hundred yards square. After one deep breath, he dove into the water, clutching the chest. He came up for air and took note of his location befor
e letting go of the box and plunging underneath the water again. Despite staying submerged, a couple bullets hit nearby.
Richard strained as he stroked his way to the other side. About halfway across, he felt the urge to take a breath. But he resisted, knowing that the Reichswehr agents were just waiting to fire at him. Meanwhile, voices shouted above. He couldn’t determine what was being said, but he could sense the anger in those words.
After about a minute, Richard thrust his hand out in front of him, contacting the wall. He paused before bobbing to the surface and quickly tried to ascertain the situation.
British security personnel stood at the edge above and yelled across the water. On the other three sides, Reichswehr agents all had their weapons trained on Richard.
“Those men are trying to kill me,” Richard said before ducking down.
He waited a few more seconds to determine if the agents were going to start shooting at his location. When he figured out that they weren’t, he eased back up and glanced around. The Germans were gone.
“What did you do?” one of the guards asked.
“Those men are German soldiers operating illegally outside the Treaty of Versailles,” Richard said as he wiped water away from his face. “They were trying to steal an ancient treasure hidden in this fortress.”
“And you stopped them—all on your own?”
“I had some help,” Richard said. “A lot actually. But you can’t let them get away with this.”
The guard gestured toward the other nearby men, who broke into pursuit of the Reichswehr troops.
“And where’s this treasure now?” he asked.
“I’ll get it for you,” Richard said.
Richard climbed out and walked around the edge to the spot where he was certain he had dropped the treasure. He returned to the location and dove to the bottom. After remaining underwater for a few minutes, he resurfaced with a scowl on his face.
“That’s odd,” Richard said while treading water.
“What is it?” asked the guard.
“The treasure chest—it’s gone.”
Chapter 37
The Raja's Lost Treasure Page 19