“Correction, I finished translating it.” The Scrivener picked up his notes and read from them. “‘Past the golden road of Boreas, where his islands kill the sea, seek the great river’s mother. Her reliquary holds the key.’”
“Hey, you made it rhyme,” Rabten noted appreciatively.
“Reliquary?” the Pythia echoed with suspicion. “Your secret Minoan decoder ring came up with a word like ‘reliquary’?”
“Not precisely. It was the closest word in English which matched the intent of the riddle. A reliquary is a container or depository for sacred objects. During the Middle Ages, reliquaries were used to house the bones of saints.”
“Or, in our case, the Bones Of The Mother?”
“Yes, I think that’s what the Minoans were implying.”
“So maybe all five artifacts have to be collected together in the same place before we can get to the Sage Stone,” the Pythia speculated.
“The riddle does say ‘the reliquary holds the key’,” Griffin concurred.
“But the riddle doesn’t help explain the gems,” Rabten noted.
“It doesn’t help explain much of anything.” Cassie tried not to sound too crestfallen.
“I understood only one word—Boreas.” Griffin tossed his legal pad back on the desk.
“You mean like the north wind?” the Pythia asked.
The Scrivener nodded. “I see you remember.” Turning to Rabten, he said, “In a previous riddle, the Minoans made reference to the anemoi—deities who control winds which blow from the four cardinal directions. Boreas is the god in charge of the north wind. In terms of our current riddle, the allusion to Boreas may simply mean that we must search north of our current position.”
“There isn’t too much real estate south of where we are now,” Cassie said.
“But the clue refers to the original location of the artifact at Lugu Lake,” the Scrivener pointed out.
Cassie raised her eyebrows skeptically. “I don’t think that helps. Even if we travel north from Lugu, that still leaves Europe, North America, most of Asia and the top half of Africa.”
“Obviously, a large area to cover,” Griffin agreed.
“This is kind of odd.” Rabten was once more scrutinizing the artifact.
The bottom of the goddess statue wasn’t flat. Instead, it terminated in a series of five rectangular prisms of a grayish cast. They were all bundled together though each one was a different length.
The agent studied the relic intently. “Aside from the weird shape, the base is made of a different metal.”
“It’s an alloy of some sort,” the Scrivener explained. “I suspect it’s much harder than gold.”
“The first time I picked that artifact up, I got a vision,” Cassie elaborated. “I knew that the bottom of the statue was meant to be a pressure point key. When we get to the right location, the key slides into a recessed lock. That’s how we open the secret compartment where the Sage Stone is hidden.” She sighed regretfully. “I tried half a dozen times to get more information by reading the artifact, but this little butterfly goddess doesn’t believe in oversharing.”
“Even though we only have a limited understanding of the artifact itself, the first step is to get a duplicate made.” Griffin’s voice took on a note of concern. “The latest communication from Maddie tells us that the Nephilim will soon be on their way. We have very little time.” Turning to the agent, he asked, “Can you help us?”
Rabten smiled. “It’s what I do. The minute I knew I was coming here to meet you, I started lining up resources. I found somebody in Padang City who can turn the job around in less than a week.”
“Excellent! That is good news indeed.” The Scrivener looked toward Cassie for confirmation but she was staring at the artifact and scowling. “Cassie, did you hear? Less than a week.”
“What?” She gaped at him blankly. “Oh, jeez, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something.” She transferred her attention to Rabten. “Could you make one modification to the copy?” She picked it up. “Cut off the bottom.”
Both men registered surprise.
“You mean lop off the key?” Griffin sounded appalled.
“Exactly. I mean duplicate the artifact down to the last detail but make it stand upright so it looks like a statue.”
“Why?” Rabten still seemed puzzled.
“Guys, think about it. This isn’t just another artifact. It’s the artifact that will take us to the Sage Stone. The Nephilim have been hot on our heels since Day One which means we’ve never gotten a comfortable lead in this race. Do you really want to take the chance that they beat us to the finish line?”
“But surely tampering with the artifact will arouse their suspicions,” the Scrivener objected.
“How?” the Pythia challenged. “None of the other relics had keys attached. The Nephilim won’t think something is missing when they get this one.”
“She has a point,” Rabten admitted.
“At the very least, this will buy us a little time. I don’t even like to think about the possibility that they get to the right spot before we do but Murphy’s Law—”
“Yes, yes, I’m well acquainted with your views on Mr. Murphy, his laws and their various codicils.” Griffin rolled his eyes. “You’ve certainly been living up to your namesake quite a lot lately.”
“Huh?” The field agent looked from one to the other.
“The Cassandra of Greek mythology after whom Cassie is named,” the Scrivener explained. “Apollo, captivated by her beauty, gave her the gift of prophecy. When she rejected his advances, he cursed her so that no one would believe her dire predictions.”
“Yeah, but the takeaway is that even with zero cred she was usually right,” Cassie countered. “All I’m saying is that we’re better off preparing for a worst case scenario. If the Nephilim don’t have the key, it will take them time to figure out how the lock works and how to pick it. Maybe long enough for us to swoop in and grab the Sage Stone.” She glanced questioningly at Griffin.
The Scrivener still appeared unconvinced. “Very well but I do hope you’re right.”
Cassie handed the artifact to Rabten. “Have it made just like I said.”
The agent opened his duffel bag and deposited the relic inside. “I’ll get on this right away.”
“And hurry!” both Cassie and Griffin shouted as he slipped from the room.
Chapter 34—Photo Opportunity
Joshua looked up from the surveillance monitor on his desk in time to see his father entering the spymaster’s office. He immediately switched off the screen and rose to greet the Diviner. “Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“Yes, indeed.” Abraham smiled at him warmly, an unknown experience in Joshua’s memory.
The younger man pulled out a chair and placed it beside the desk. “Please, have a seat.”
Metcalf settled himself and gazed at his son. The smile disappeared as quickly as it had come. “I have a matter of deep concern to discuss with you.”
“Sir?” Joshua felt a mild sense of alarm. “Do you not find the performance of the Order of Argus satisfactory?”
Barely registering the question, the Diviner shook his head. “My visit has nothing to do with that.” He stared vaguely off into space. “I’ve grown concerned of late with the outsiders that have been employed to help the Nephilim.”
“Considering Mr. Bowdeen’s appalling behavior, you certainly have reason to be,” the spymaster agreed. “How can I be of service?”
The Diviner rubbed his jaw, gathering his thoughts. “I’d like you to investigate the activities of Mr. Leroy Hunt.”
“Who?” Joshua asked blankly.
Abraham raised his eyebrows in surprise, finally focusing all his attention on his son. “You aren’t acquainted with Mr. Hunt?”
Joshua belatedly realized who his father meant. “Oh. Is that the Fallen man who is helping Daniel with the tasks you assigned him?”
“Yes, that’s righ
t. However, Mr. Hunt also has other duties. When he isn’t safeguarding Daniel, he is charged with finding my missing wife Hannah.”
“But father,” Joshua protested. “You should have trusted me with a matter like that.”
The Diviner sighed heavily. “Ordinarily that would be true but Hannah has taken refuge among the Fallen. I assumed that one of their kind could find her more easily than a Nephilim might.”
“I see.” The spymaster paused. “But now you have reason to doubt this Mr. Hunt’s abilities?”
“I have reason to doubt his truthfulness,” the old man replied acerbically. “After months of following one lead after another, he’s produced no tangible results at all. It makes me wonder if he’s taking my money under false pretenses. Aside from that, he’s been difficult to reach of late. I don’t know what else he could possibly be doing with his time. He assured me he has no other clients but the Nephilim at the moment.”
“Do you want me to question him?” Joshua asked in surprise. He’d never interrogated one of the Fallen before.
“I want you to search his apartment,” Metcalf said flatly. “To find out if he’s withholding information from me. Let me know what he’s been up to. He’s out of the country with Daniel at the moment. This is the perfect chance to put my mind at ease about his integrity. You are to take charge of this matter personally.”
Joshua nodded. Handling this particular task suited his purposes as well as his father’s. He wished to become indispensable to the Diviner. Bowdeen’s death had been a good start. This new assignment would further solidify his position.
The Diviner slid a piece of paper across the desk toward his son. “This is Mr. Hunt’s address in the city. He lives in an apartment building. I’m sure you can find a way to let yourself in.”
Joshua gave a slight smile. “Of course, sir. I’ll look into this immediately.”
***
The spymaster wasted no time in carrying out his father’s orders. First, he ran a quick background check on Leroy Hunt. Then he changed his Nephilim garb for blue jeans, a sweater and a light spring jacket so that he might blend in easily with the Fallen. An hour later, he pulled his car into a parking space on the quiet block where Hunt lived. He’d had no trouble finding the place. The spymaster took a few moments to study the exterior of the building. It was an older four-story walk-up. The age and size meant there wouldn’t be a doorman or any security cameras to contend with. That was all to the good.
Joshua’s familiarity with the outside world was proving to be surprisingly useful. Much as he despised time spent in the company of the Fallen, he had observed their ways and knew how to mimic their behavior. When he got out of his car and casually strolled through the building lobby, he seemed like any other resident of the area. It was the middle of the day and nobody was around. Presumably the people who lived here were all away at work. Without hesitation, he climbed the stairs to the top floor, scanned the hallway and then picked the lock to Hunt’s apartment.
What he found when he entered the unit took him by surprise. It was neat as a pin. Hunt’s profile had suggested a man of slovenly personal habits. Perhaps all those years spent in the army had given the fellow a sense of discipline. The spymaster wasn’t entirely sure what he was looking for but he instinctively gravitated toward the desk near the living room window. While he waited for Hunt’s computer to power on, he checked through the desk drawers.
Inside he discovered cameras, a laser microphone, recording equipment and monocular spyglasses. Obviously Hunt had been watching someone or possibly several people. When Joshua opened the shallow center drawer, it revealed photos of the subjects of that surveillance. Sitting down in the desk chair, he rifled through the images. The pictures were of a farmhouse in the suburbs and an old woman who presumably lived there. Those images held no meaning for the spymaster but the next one did. It was a picture of his father’s youngest wife Hannah looking into the mailbox of that same farmhouse. She was almost unrecognizable with her make-up and cropped hair—both abominations in the eyes of the Nephilim. She was dressed in a skirt much too short for a modest Consecrated Bride to wear. Joshua’s eyes narrowed in disapproval. She had clearly embraced the ways of the Fallen and taken refuge with an old woman out in the countryside where she thought nobody would find her.
The next photo showed her descending from a school bus. A school bus! As if the wearing apparel and customs of the Fallen weren’t bad enough, Hannah was imbibing the corrupt notions that passed for knowledge in their world. He was appalled. His father would be speechless with rage when he saw these images.
There was one more picture beneath. It caused Joshua to gasp audibly. He always prided himself on maintaining his composure but this image shocked him to the core. In the final photo, Hannah was kissing a boy—a youth of about her own age. They were standing beside an old car. As if her other sins weren’t bad enough, she had completely forgotten her marriage vows. How could she be so lost to heaven that she could forget being sealed to the Diviner as his spouse for all eternity?
Joshua leaned forward over the desk and rubbed his forehead. What did all of this mean? Hunt was plainly aware of the spot where she was hiding. Why hadn’t he given that information to the Diviner? What game was he playing at? The spymaster briefly entertained the notion that Hunt might be blackmailing Hannah in exchange for keeping silent about her whereabouts. Then he dismissed the idea. The old woman in the first picture didn’t look prosperous enough to buy the Fallen man’s cooperation.
He turned his attention to the computer screen. He needed to find out where this farmhouse was located. Opening a browser window, he checked the sites Hunt had visited last. The Fallen man had been looking up an address and map directions to find it. When Joshua checked a street view photo of the location, he knew he’d found the right house. He wrote down the address.
Then he stood and paced around the room, considering how he might best use these facts to his own advantage. While the spymaster would certainly disclose what he’d found to his father, he might also be able to shake his father’s belief that this Fallen man could be trusted. If Hunt were out of the picture, Abraham would have no choice but to send Joshua on these mysterious missions with Daniel in order to protect him. Joshua would become even more central to the plans of the Diviner. Perhaps, if he handled the situation correctly he could eclipse Daniel entirely in his father’s affections. Then, who knew? The title of Scion might yet be his.
Chapter 35—Leroy And The Bandits
Cassie and Griffin marked time fretfully in Padang City while the duplicate artifact was being fabricated. The minute it was ready, they headed back to Lugu Lake to rejoin Rou and Rabten’s twin brother Rinchen. It took several flights and a bus ride over winding mountain roads before they once more found themselves in Luoshui Village. Much to their surprise, Rou and Rinchen were waiting at the bus stop to meet them.
“Hey, guys. What are you doing here?” the Pythia asked.
“No time to talk now.” Rou glanced nervously over her shoulder.
In a low voice, Rinchen said, “I just got word from Maddie. Your friends arrived a couple of hours ago. They’ve got a Chinese Nephilim guide with them who knows the mountain roads and he drove them here. That’s how they shaved a few hours off the travel time from Lijiang. Hunt phoned Metcalf to say they were going to check out the cave this afternoon. For all we know they might already be on their way there.”
“Holy cats!” Cassie exclaimed. “We need to get there first.”
“Yes, we must find a boat right now!” Rou tore off toward the town dock, expecting the others to follow.
“They aren’t staying in this village are they?” Griffin scanned the surrounding hotels warily.
“Nope,” Rinchen reassured him. “We caught a break. They’re at a place on the northeast shore.”
The Scrivener checked his watch. “Nearly three o’clock. Even though we took the early bus from Lijiang, it may not prove to be early enough.”
“Hurry!” Rou was shouting and waving at them from the stern of a pig-trough boat. Its owner was untying the mooring line.
The other three ran to catch up and climb aboard. Since the boat was long and narrow, only one person could fit on each bench. The boatman took the prow. Rou sat on the bench after him, followed by Cassie, Griffin and Rinchen.
In a few moments, they were en route to the cableway across the lake.
Rou dug into her backpack and produced a set of binoculars. “I thought we would need these.” She immediately began scanning the opposite shore.
Cassie turned to face Griffin. “Is it my imagination or did she get amazingly fluent in English since we’ve been gone?”
The Scrivener regarded their guide with a baffled air. “Her language skills do seem to have improved immensely.”
The Pythia called out, “Rou, your English is really good now.”
The girl beamed at Cassie. “Rinchen said I have no need to be embarrassed. He told me my English is perfect.”
“Did he indeed?” Griffin swiveled his head toward the Arkana agent.
Rinchen blushed. “Well, it is,” he protested awkwardly. “She talks better than some American-born Asians I know.”
Griffin shifted forward to whisper in Cassie’s ear. “Apparently, she only needed the proper encouragement to come out of her shell.”
“Such as the brave young Arkana agent sent to protect her?” the Pythia murmured archly.
The two lapsed into amused silence.
“Aiya!” Rou gasped.
“What!” the other three demanded at once.
She put down the binoculars. “Two men climbed into a boat across the lake. One is wearing a cowboy hat.”
“That’s not so unusual around here,” Rinchen countered.
“He is also wearing a denim jacket and a piece of string tied around his neck.”
“You mean a bolo tie?” Cassie asked tensely.
“Perhaps that is what you call it. See for yourself.” The girl pointed across the broad expanse of water toward a speck of a boat just leaving the dock.
Secrets Of The Serpent's Heart (The Arkana Archaeology Mystery Series Book 6) Page 19