LOST AND FORGOTTEN: Book 2 The Secret Path

by Maurice Barkley

  “Sir,” Alice spoke softly.

  The Director turned, saw Alice in a doorway that should not be where it was and promptly spilled his coffee.

  “Yikes! Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, sir,” she said, while advancing into the room with the rest of us in tow.

  “Now that is a bare faced lie, my dear,” the Director dropped several sheets of paper toweling on the rug, “but it’s a great way to make an entrance. I see you’ve brought along the whole crew plus one.”

  “This is Amy, our guide,” Alice said. “I’m sorry Amy, but I forgot to ask you your last name.”

  “It’s Basset, as in hound, Ms. Dance,” she replied.

  “Pleased to meet you, Amy,” the Director said. “And now, Alice, rather than me questioning you, why don’t you fill me in on your remarkable entrance?”

  Alice gave Amy the floor and she quickly and accurately told the story of the service tunnels.

  “Thank you Amy,” the Director said. His eyes hardened momentarily. “You speak well. This is not welcome news, but I’m very grateful to you. It’s highly disturbing to learn that the building contains unmonitored tunnels and building maintenance hasn’t bothered to inform me. Is there any more we should know?”

  “Sir, all of the tunnels have motion activated cameras. They’re all tied into a large computer in the basement. The hard drives are humongous and they keep the records for several months.”

  “Amazing,” the Director looked at Alice. “I think that I need a sit down with Ms. Bassett. She seems to be aware of many things around here.”

  Not one to hide her light under a basket, Amy interjected. “I’m in pre law, sir. I’ll be applying here for permanent employment as soon as I graduate.”

  “Perhaps we can speed things up a bit,” the Director said. “Look, Amy, I’m dismissing you for now because we have to discuss some cloak and dagger stuff. Tell your supervisor I need to see you around ten tomorrow morning. I seem to have neglected a group of employees who are vital to the maintenance of this facility so I want to pick your brain some more. Is that all right with you?”

  “Yes sir, thank you,” she said, “and thank you all, you’ve been very nice to me.”

  With that she exited by the regular door while flashing us a big smile.

  “Make yourselves comfortable,” the Director said, while finding a seat for himself.

  He looked at Alice with one eyebrow raised. “Let us now talk about Mr. Rectum.”

  We all broke up. It was too good. The man forgave us with humor. When the laughter subsided, he told us that he had made some decisions about the two bastards.

  “I’m keeping Bruno,” he said. “I need at least one rotten bastard. He has been useful on occasion, but he never knows it. He’s a clever man, and if he can’t find out what you are doing, it’s safe to say that nobody else can. If I do hear anything accurate from Bruno about what you are up to, then naturally that will reflect poorly on your performance and I may need to reconsider your current relatively free hand. I’m transferring Rector. He thinks I will severely punish James and he also thinks that his transfer is a promotion. It’s really an ineffective parking place for him until we finish our current job. After that, I’ll tell him to retire. In short, I have canned the shithead, so you can all relax.

  We’ve now rendered three bad men ineffective. All three are bad in different ways. The more your work progresses, the more you will have to be on guard. Now, Morgan Bruno is pompous and seemingly unfeeling, but his defects arise from an inferiority complex. He is a good manager if you have a thick skin.

  “Mr. Rector—I don’t know his first name, is mean and unfeeling. He is cold and calculating, a born schemer, concerned only with personal gain and profit.

  “Last is the late and unlamented Roy Kilbourne. He had all of Rector’s characteristics plus he lacked a conscience. The man was greedy, utterly selfish and had many other negative qualities. He could easily kill. Rector might, but I doubt that Bruno would.

  “Back to business,” he said, while referring to his notebook. “Still no luck on the bar of soap, but good fortune has blessed this operation from the start and it continues. I must tell you that Amisi has delivered a ton of valuable information. We still have fragmented data, but it’s apparent that that something very strange went on a few thousand years ago. We’re talking lost civilizations or little green men. Somebody was giving the Ancient Egyptians technology.” The Director paused to let this sink in. The room was dead silent until he spoke again. “The ship that will search for and hopefully recover the submarine happened to be working just east and south of Trinidad and Tobago. This ship has capabilities that I can’t talk about. Our experts here have plotted a likely search grid for them and they will be there in less than two hours. The search area is partially in international waters, but just to be safe a missile frigate will be nearby to create a diversion if necessary.

  “The idea is to find and if possible raise the sub. They should be able to lift it into their internal hull, or whatever they call it. I’d like to get people in there while the ship is in transit to Mayport. I need to know from you what to look for, once they’re inside.”

  “Aside from the obvious loot,” Alice replied, “the searchers should be looking for any surviving maps or written material and anything to identify those who were on board. It would be helpful to have someone there who knows all about that particular vessel. He should look for any objects that are not standard equipment for such a ship.”

  Alice paused so it was my turn, “How about sending Carl Manheim? He’s seen and examined everything in the map room. It’s just possible he might spot something that fits and he reads German.”

  “I like the idea,” the Director said. “Alice?”

  “Me too,” she replied. “I have to admit that he’s a very talented individual so we should use him where we can.”

  The Director nodded while activating his cell phone. “Carole? Yes. Find Carl Manheim. He’s somewhere in the building. I need to see him right away.” He paused. “She is? Good, have her go get him. Thank you Carole.” He looked at us. “Our Ms. Basset was on standby in the lobby. I just hope she doesn’t fetch Carl by way of the tunnels. You know, I kind of like the man. He brings out the Errol Flynn in all of us.”

  Harry and I were the only ones to chuckle.

  “Sir,” I said, “you need to send these youngsters back to college for a major in history.”

  “Yes,” he said, “I forget to make allowances. Anyway, I think that covers the submarine activity. Amisi is doing a bang up job in Egypt, so now we need to discuss the Hollow Mountain. Talk to me.”

  “Although we’re still figuratively working in the dark,” Alice said, “we do have some ideas. We’ll all be dragging in quite a load this time because we can’t have people running in and out for supplies. Our want list is complete and is loaded onto Harry’s big airplane. Incidentally, Harry will be joining us in the Mountain.”

  “I will?” Harry said. “Sounds like fun.”

  “Who else is strong enough to carry my handbag?” Alice said. “It’ll be a nice change for you to go from the sky to a hole in the ground.”

  “Sez you,” Harry muttered. “Who’s going to watch my plane while I’m grubbing around underground?”

  “Now you know that Nora will be perfectly safe,” the Director said.

  “NORA?” we all said in unison.

  M1 added, “You never told us your aircraft had a name.”

  “And just who is this Nora?” Alice asked.

  Harry replied, “Someday, if you get me really drunk, I might tell the story, but for now only the Director and I know the awesome truth.”

  “Aw, come on Harry, no fair,” M2 wailed.

  “We never keep secrets from you,” I said.

  “Hardly ever,” M1 agreed.

  M-2 kept the ball rolling. “Not too often—only now and then.”

  “Children,” Alice broke in, “time to come in from th
e playground. Remember where we are.”

  “Here’s a thought,” I said. “How about we use Anna Manheim? She could get back in her glider and stand guard while we’re inside. I doubt that we could ever get her back in the tunnels, but her experience there shouldn’t impact her flying ability.”

  “I don’t know where she is right now,” the Director said, “but I’ll see she gets the offer. By the way James, during her debriefing she kept referring to you as her rescuer. I don’t know that it means anything, but just so you know.”

  My gang was grinning at me.

  “Oh, for crumbs sake,” I moaned. “The legend grows, along with the fiction. Don’t none of you ever mention this to Batts.”

  “When this is over,” the Director said, “I’ll buy all of us a Friday dinner at BVs, but for now, if that’s all, you had better go pack your bags. The dance is not over. By the way, there are now thirty-one people in the loop. This includes the president. Security is very tight, but the pressure is building. There are many people who will want to take over or at least get a piece of this pie. Remember this—even though it’s history, you are exploring the world of the Nazi. They may be dead and gone, but their evil remains. Regardless of their character, those people were very talented—scientists, engineers and who knows what other specialties. If they’re out there somewhere, they’ve had over half a century to develop their mischief. They may have reverse engineered any number of alien devices. Keep a sharp watch.”

  The Director’s cell phone played the Dragnet theme. I think we all recognized it. “Yes, Carole?” he said. “Good, send him in.”

  When Carl opened the door, I saw Amy right behind him. Her face told me that she wanted to come in with him. I wiggled a finger at her and told her we were discussing secret stuff. She stuck out her tongue and resumed her seat as I closed the door. Although he had a worried expression, he looked a lot better than he did when we delivered him here. He knew he’d avoided any punishment for his escapade, but still he was anxious to please.

  When he heard of his new assignment, his face lit up like one of the beer signs in the window at BVs. With a different escort, he went on his way a happy man. I would have to have a talk with him sometime about his transparent and expressive face. The man could never win at poker.

  As we made ready to leave, the Director opened his brief case and without comment, handed Alice a small stack of what, at first glance, looked like coasters. She looked at them, turned away and we heard her sniff as she tried to control herself. When she recovered, she turned and gave each of us one of the little disks. Mine was an embroidered shoulder patch—midnight blue with a gold rim. In the center of each was a large and elegant gold letter “D” and in the center of the letter was a small musical note. We all watched as the Director received one of Alice’s giant hugs.

  We shook hands once more and took our leave via the regulation door, knowing the Director would soon correct the access situation in the service tunnels.

  CHAPTER 7

  Once again, good old Alice offered to take her crew to dinner. I still had no clue as to my pay grade and where the money was. I decided to let it pass for now because I had no need for cash as long as my friends were nearby.

  “Tonight we have time enough to go the Cathedral,” she said, as we walked along. “I had thought to go back to Bruce’s Steak Park, but I think you’ll enjoy this new to you place.”

  M1, who had been there before, agreed. “It’s also a great place to sit and talk.”

  I was bringing up the rear when I noticed a motion to my back. I looked around and there was little Amy with a sheepish smile on her face.

  “Hey kids,” I said. “Look who wants to join the Band.”

  “Amy,” Alice said, “what’s going on?”

  She blushed a flaming crimson. “Dunno.” After a long pause, she looked from me to Alice. “I like you guys. You’re the most fun people in this whole place. I don’t know for sure, but I think you lead the life that I would like to lead. I know it sounds dumb, but I’m not standing here because I’m afraid to take chances.”

  I noticed that M1 was looking rather intently at our new friend, but things like reading silent signals produce a fog in my brain.

  Alice looked at the rest of the Band one at a time, then turned to Amy. “How old are you kiddo?”

  “I’ve got ID that says I’m twenty-one and I will be in about two months.”

  “Since this is a non-business dinner,” Alice said to us, “I vote that Amy joins us. All in favor say jailbait.”

  With that settled and our headcount up to six we blew out of the building and squeezed, quite illegally, into a local taxi. The driver, obedient to our leader, delivered us to a big, semi-ornate brick building located somewhere. Everyone was talking so much that I don’t remember hearing a complete sentence. My sense of direction in this town remained kaput, but I didn’t much care.

  The outside of the brick building that housed the restaurant revealed nothing about the interior except for a brass plaque near the heavy arched door that said simply, “The Cathedral”. Alice pulled an ornate silken rope and a very genuine looking monk opened the door and welcomed us. He wore a simple brown robe with its hood thrown back to reveal a very well cut tonsure. The entrance was the start of a small tunnel that went on through the building. I lost count of the many curtained alcoves, cubbyholes and side passageways. Nowhere did I see a room larger than about fifteen feet from wall to wall.

  Just past the entrance, we had to stop at the first curtained alcove to place our drink orders. Inside the small room were four closed booths that looked like confessionals. I went in my booth and sure enough, there was a kneeler in front of an elegant screened window.

  “Hello,” I said, as I knelt down.

  “Welcome, sir. What is your order?”

  “I’m not sure of the name,” I said. “It’s Dubonnet, gin and a generous twist of lemon.”

  “Ah,” the voice said, “the Queen’s drink. Very good, sir.”

  “Could you make it a double?” I asked.

  “Certainly, sir, but the Queen would not approve.”

  The voice had told a joke, but I couldn’t decide whether to laugh or not, so I just said, “I’m sure the gracious lady is not here tonight.”

  “Enjoy your evening, sir.”

  That sounded like a dismissal, so I said thank you and left the booth. I waited and watched as Amy exited her booth with a smug smile. I thought to myself that I would talk to her and Carl at the same time about hiding emotions. Playing poker with those two wouldn’t be fair to them.

  Three or four short tunnels later, we found seats around a large oval table. Backlighted, stained glass windows illuminated the brick walled room. The place smelled terrific. We had hardly cracked a menu before our drinks showed up. Amy had a glass of something yellow and the smug smile was still on her twerp face. We all had our own drinks and it was quite a variety.

  “What is that?” Alice asked, while dipping her finger in my glass for a taste. “Mmmmm, I like it.”

  “Don’t know,” I said. “I only know what’s in it.”

  I forgot to ask the voice if it had a name other than the Queen’s drink. Our waiter was still there so she asked for a glass of whatever I was having. The rest of the sheep did likewise and he left to fill the order. One way or the other we would all have two drinks.

  Alice took a sip of her own drink then said to me, “Now tell us what it is.”

  “It’s Dubonnet, gin and a twist of lemon. No less a figure than her Majesty, the Queen of England has one of these most every day.”

  “I’ve never heard of it,” Alice said. “How did you find it?”

  “A wandering beachcomber introduced it to me.”

  Amy had inserted herself between M1 and M2, looking from one to the other “Are you guys married?” As soon as she said it, she realized her goof and favored us with another blush.

  “I’m busy, but available,” M2 said, over the rim of
his glass.

  M1 wanted to respond, but couldn’t think of anything. That face I could read.

  “Why do you ask?” Alice inquired.

  “Oh, you know—just idle conversation. I’m sorry, it’s not my business.”

  “Not at all, not at all,” Alice said. “We’re all friends here and everyone at this table is single except for James. Mrs. Cagney is on vacation somewhere in the north of Africa.”

  “So your name is James Cagney?”

  “Yep.”

  “James Cagney,” she repeated. “How cool is that?”

  “You know about JC?” I asked.

  “Who doesn’t,” she said. “On you the name is unusual. You look more like someone from India.”

  “James has been on an assignment that required a dip in a dye bath.” Alice chimed in. “In two weeks or so he’ll fade to his normal pasty white.”

  Amy took a sip of her yellow drink. “Holy cats, you guys must do very interesting stuff.” She looked at me with an impish grin. “You dirty rat.”

  The resulting laughter was so loud that our waiter came in and courteously reminded us where we were.

  “I hope I’m not being too nosey,” Amy said, “but I just love this. You live in a magic place.”

  Our waiter arrived with the fresh set of drinks and a promise to return in a few minutes for our food order.

  M1 lifted his new glass and proposed a toast. “To the Dance Band, Long may we waltz.”

  Amy tipped her glass. “I get it. Ms. Dance, it’s you isn’t it? It’s your band and I’m sitting here among the members.”

  Alice lowered her glass. “That’s right, Amy, and when we’re outside of the workplace, please call me Alice. We’re all on a first name basis.”

  She then proceeded to introduce the rest of the first names and the naming of the two Ms.

  “My turn for a toast.” M2 stood up. “To Jesus, may he forever dine on fish and catnip.”

  As soon as she set her glass down, Amy looked at M2. “Help, I’m on the outside looking in.”

  “James,” M2 said, “please clear away the cobwebs for our guest.”