‘Did you know he wants me off the case?’
‘I heard.’
‘There’s too much at stake to waste time now.’
‘Just do what you need to do,’ Paddy said. ‘I’ll look after everything at this end.’
William turned his phone off and pocketed it. He could feel Ella’s eyes on him. ‘Get some rest. It’s going to be a long a night,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’ Ella eyed him suspiciously.
‘We’re going to pay a little visit to that bridge.’
‘But you said . . .’ she began, but stopped and smiled. ‘You played him, didn’t you? Just in case.’
‘I take it you do want to come?’ he said with a wry grin.
‘Of course,’ she said brightly.
‘Good. We’ll get about three hours sleep during the journey there. We’ll be dropped off a mile or so from the bridge.’
‘How will we find it?’ Ella quizzed. ‘It’ll be pitch black!’
William smiled. ‘Ever used the latest in military night-vision before?’
Ella raised an eyebrow. She pushed her seat back and shut her eyes. Exhausted, she quickly drifted off to sleep. But her pleasant dreams were short lived.
Chapter 30
1058hrs – Bedfordshire
Alone in his library at Rockcliffe Hall, Hades sat in front of his computer and adjusted the webcam. He put on his headset and made the video call. The encrypted Internet traffic had been routed through anonymising proxies in three different countries. If anyone was monitoring the traffic it would look as if he was contacting a server in China. It wasn’t impossible to trace the traffic to its real destination, but it would take days, if not weeks. Time that Hades knew the authorities didn’t have.
The picture on the large flatscreen TV came on, it showed a long black table with the remaining eleven of the inner circle sat patiently around it. The walls of the large room were made of an uneven brown rock, it looked like they were in a cavern. Hanging down from the three visible walls were six large red flags, two on each wall. Printed on the flags in black was their symbol.
Each person at the table was dressed in an immaculate white uniform. The men wore a thick gold chain around their necks which had a thick gold pendant in the shape of a triangle. Each of the women wore an elaborate gold tiara which sported a bright red oval jewel in the very centre.
At one end of the table was a large TV screen with a high definition webcam on the top. Their heads turned towards it when the connection was made.
‘I’m so pleased to see you all,’ Hades began. The latency was slight, but noticeable, the picture occasionally froze and pixelated. ‘I take it everything is going to plan?’
The one known as Zeus stood up and answered. ‘Yes, of course, Hades. Everyone is here now. We have assembled our security force and the island has been secured, no one comes or goes without authorisation. The chosen have taken their places and are running things as directed. All the slave ships have arrived, the workforce is healthy and all were processed without hitch. Most seem to have accepted their new roles with remarkable enthusiasm. The rest will fall into place soon enough.’
‘They will quickly realise we offer them a better life than the ones they left behind,’ Hades stated arrogantly. ‘And together we will build an impressive, peaceful civilisation for the future generations.’
‘We did have one small incident,’ Hephaestus added giving Zeus a quick side glance. ‘One of the skippers of a transport ship wanted to leave with some of his crew. They became quite violent when we tried to stop them, so our troops took immediate and deadly action. It was witnessed by dozens of the slaves who were still disembarking.’
‘Good, now they will all know how serious we are,’ Hades replied. ‘Word will spread, they will fear us and be more cautious in future. No harm done.’
‘We saw something of concern on the news, it appears that the weapon has been released early,’ Artemis said with a stern tone. Some of the others shook their heads at her, but she ignored them and ploughed on. ‘It would be disastrous if the problem was to be identified too soon by the World Health Organisation, would it not?’
‘An isolated incident,’ Hades replied shrugging off the risk. ‘A dealer jumped the gun by one day. There is nothing to be concerned about. By the time they figure out what is going on it will be too late. Kerberos is looking after things for us.’
‘Strange how it took effect so soon,’ Artemis continued, oblivious to the sighs from the table. ‘There would have been no time for the agent to spread. What good is that?’
A bearded Asian man, the one known as Ares, threw his arms in the air. ‘We’ve been through this before, Artemis. Don’t you ever listen? Our live tests showed that it takes anything between one and seven days to contract the full disease,’ he lectured. ‘The timing is wholly random and unpredictable. That is why it is the ideal weapon for us. It was just unlucky that it took effect so quickly with this first victim.’
Artemis opened her mouth to snap a response back, but, after a look of warning from Zeus, she thought better of it. She folded her arms and sat back in her chair. The conversation moved on and in turn they updated Hades on their progress on various tasks. Eventually, after Hades had been assured that everything was running as it should be, he congratulated them all on a job well done.
‘I have some crucial business to attend to now,’ he said. ‘But whatever happens, I, Cossack and Kerberos will be joining you by Ekranoplan on Sunday.’
In preparation for the journey, Hades had commissioned a Russian maritime engineering company to design and build him an Ekranoplan. Using the ground effect, a slippery cushion of air created between specially shaped wings and the surface of the sea, the craft, which was a cross between and plane and a boat, could reach speeds of four-hundred knots. It was highly fuel efficient and because it flew just a few metres above the sea it was invisible to radar. It was the perfect getaway vehicle.
‘Do not let your lust for the book blind you, Hades,’ Artemis warned. ‘We do not want to lose you at this crucial stage.’
Forcing a smile, Hades looked into the camera. ‘Thank you for your concern,’ he said. ‘But I have everything perfectly under control, the book will be in our hands soon. And don’t underestimate its importance, with it back we will decipher our past and use it to mould our future. And it will be a glorious future. For too long we have suffered the mongrels who have abused this planet for their own corrupt ends. When they are gone we will reset the balance with nature and our planet will heal. From the gardens of our Eden we will emerge into a fresh new world. Our world!’
Saturday
Hemera Khronu ‘day of Cronus’
Chapter 31
0345hrs – Bedfordshire
Dropping like a huge dark rock from the clouds, the Chinook skimmed low over the drop zone in the pitch black of the night. With stomach churning G-force it banked steeply several times until it finally straightened up and rapidly slowed to a hover over the middle of a field. The rear door was already fully open. Two figures dressed in black jumpsuits waited, crouched by the exit. Slowly the craft lowered, when the ramp touched the ground the figures in black both walked briskly down it onto the soft grass. They ran forward in a crouched position and, when they were clear of the rotors, dived down onto the damp ground and waited. Blowing loose grass and water into the air, the Chinook rose and lurched forward. It circled once more around another field before it finally rose up into the clouds and disappeared.
When the silence returned to the field one of the dark figures sat up and scanned the area with thermal imaging binoculars.
‘It’s clear,’ William whispered. He put the binoculars back into his heavy, packed rucksack and slung it over his shoulder. He put his night-vision goggles back on and stood up. ‘Let’s go.’
When Ella took a step forward she immediately lost her balance and held out her arms to steady herself. William grabbed her and steadied her. She adjusted the ni
ght-vision goggles that were strapped tightly to her head.
‘Takes a bit of getting used to,’ he said helping her.
‘I feel nauseous,’ Ella admitted. ‘There’s no depth to my vision.’
The green-black image of the landscape was almost as clear as daylight. Rocks and farm equipment, trees and fences could all be easily made out. But it was all two-dimensional, distance was hard to judge.
‘It will pass quickly. Stay close to me.’
Using the visual directions from the satellite navigation system that integrated into the night-vision goggles, William led the way across the terrain. The display told him that as the crow flew they were just over two kilometres from the target. It was going to be a long and difficult walk across such uneven ground. Ella stumbled a few times before she worked out that she had to adjust her gait to account for the lack of perspective. Despite the cold air, she quickly developed a sweat.
‘How far now,’ Ella panted as they entered a thick forest.
‘A couple of minutes more,’ William said. He put his hand on her shoulder. ‘Just wait here a moment.’
The night-vision was less effective in the wood, its thick canopy blocked most of the ambient light that the device relied on. William switched on the infrared torches that were embedded into the top of their goggles. The infrared light was invisible to the naked eye, but with their goggles on the path ahead was lit up with an eerie green glow. They continued at a reduced pace through the wood.
They heard the stream before they saw it. The peaceful sound of gently running water was strangely calming. No more than three metres wide, the stream looked pretty shallow. The raised banks on each side were less than a metre above the water’s surface. They walked along the bank and followed its winding path hoping that it would lead to them straight to the bridge.
Misjudging a fallen tree that crossed her path, Ella lost her footing and tripped. She tumbled over the edge of the bank and hit the water with a splash. Although it was shallow, she ended up on her back partially submerged in the freezing water. The black jumpsuit was coated with waterproofing, but she gasped when some of the icy liquid seeped down the back of her neck.
‘Are you okay?’ William asked leaping down to help her.
‘Oh, I’m fine,’ she said sarcastically pushing herself up. ‘Cold, tired and now wet through. It’s the best Friday night out I’ve ever had. I should come out with you more often.’
‘Come on.’ William took her hand and helped her up the muddy river bank. ‘It’s not far now. Stay close to me.’
‘I’m really cold,’ Ella complained.
Taking her by surprise, William pulled her close into his chest and vigorously rubbed her back. He gripped her tightly and held her against him. Feeling his warmth she put her arms around him and pulled him in. She felt her pulse rise as they stood together.
‘Better?’ he asked when he finally let her go.
‘Better,’ she said with a slightly embarrassed smile. They continued on their way following the winding river at a safe distance from the edge of the bank.
‘So what would you rather be doing then?’ William asked. ‘Out being wild instead of being out in the wild?’
‘Oh, let me see. Normally I’m out all night getting drunk and sleeping with random men,’ she said sarcastically. ‘It’s what you’re supposed to do on a Friday. Didn’t you know that it was the day of Aphrodite? The Greek goddess of love and beauty, the one the Romans called Venus.’
‘It’s Saturday now in case you hadn’t noticed,’ William teased.
‘Ah, the day of Cronus.’
‘Who was he then?’
‘A Titan, the god of happiness, the Romans called him Saturn. He was the supreme ruler of all the gods until his son, Zeus the god of the sky, led a war against him and the rest of the Titan’s. He won and claimed the throne for himself.’
‘So Fridays are attributed to the sexy god and Saturdays to the happy one? I like the Greek way of thinking,’ William said.
Ella gently nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. ‘Don’t mock them, they were a great race. Their philosophers, astronomers and mathematicians were centuries ahead of everyone else at the time. They knew that the sun was at the centre of our solar system. They even worked out the circumference of earth to the nearest few miles. They invented maps and numerous other things that advanced mankind. But they did have some strange ways.’
‘Like sacrificing animals to their gods,’ William added, ‘and reading the bloody entrails to divine the future.’
‘That and the occasional human child for good measure. But at a time in human history when many tribes were behaving like herd animals, the Greeks had an advanced and vast civilisation. And they could write in great detail, an amazing feat that ensured that the records of their endeavours and beliefs were preserved, unaltered, for the future generations to study. Where would we be without them?’
William reached his hand out to Ella and they both stopped. A few dozen metres ahead they could make out the hazy shape of a bridge.
‘We’re here,’ William said quietly. He crouched down, took off his night-vision goggles and scanned the area with the thermal imager. ‘No signs of life. It’s clear.’
They continued along the river bank until they reached the bridge. Smaller than they had imagined it from the satellite images, it arched low over the river. Built with uneven rounded stones it was covered in moss and ivy. At the far side of it, on the other side of the river, the narrow track road that went over the bridge disappeared up the hill further into the forest.
‘What do you think we should look for?’ Ella asked as they waded through the shallow stream under the arch. It was only just high enough to walk under, William had to duck slightly.
‘I don’t know. Markings, I guess. A plaque, a symbol, or maybe a door of some sort,’ he said. But the underside of the arch was featureless. Just damp, moss covered stone.
They walked around to the other side and inspected the other surfaces. They too were featureless, there was nothing of interest, nothing that could be a message or a clue.
Ella sighed and rested her back against the wall. ‘You sure this is the right spot?’
‘We’re dead on the coordinates,’ William replied after double checking the sat-nav. ‘Come on, let’s see what’s up top.’
They clambered up the steep bank onto the top of the bridge. William was up first and held out his hand for Ella, she took it to steady herself. The single-track farm road that stretched across the bridge was covered with hundreds of tall foxgloves and a carpet of long, wild grasses. William could smell the sweetness of the flowers in the still air, but couldn’t make out their magnificent colours. It was all a mix of green and black to him. On the ground there were no obvious vehicle tracks, it seemed the road hadn’t been used in a long time.
‘Great,’ Ella said downheartedly. ‘What now?’ She sat on the low wall and hugged herself to keep warm.
Scrutinising the ground as he went, William wandered across to the other end. When he reached the other side he noticed one small area to the left by the wall that seemed to be lacking in any overgrowth. He went over to it and crouched down for a closer look.
‘Found something?’ asked Ella looking over.
‘Just an old piece of mangy carpet,’ he said. But as it was out of place he studied the tatty sodden material, then pulled it away. Underneath was a rusty circular manhole cover. ‘Well, look here.’
‘That must be it,’ Ella said as she crouched down next to him.
‘Only one way to find out,’ he said and smiled.
From a hidden ankle sheath, William pulled out his lethal looking service dagger. He dug the long, blackened titanium blade into the side of the metal cover and levered it up until he could get his fingers under it. Made from solid iron, it was heavy. He heaved it out and leaned it against the wall. Underneath was a man sized hole that led down into the darkness. William peered down the shaft and focused the infrared torc
h down it. Metal hand rails led the way to the bottom a few metres below.
‘Ladies first,’ William said with a boyish grin.
‘Ha. I think not,’ Ella replied. ‘Age before beauty.’
Holstering the blade, William climbed into the manhole and made his way down the ladder. After a short descent he jumped onto the damp cobbled floor, lost his footing and fell over. When he picked himself up he saw that the square room he was in was tiny. The four walls were bare stone. He scanned the bleak surroundings. On one wall there was a small hatch, it was locked shut with a chunky heavy duty padlock. A shiny new one, he noted.
‘There’s something down here,’ he shouted up the shaft to Ella. ‘Coming?’
Alone in the cold, Ella didn’t need to be told twice. She clambered down into the bridge’s secret interior. When she was down, William took off their night-vision goggles and switched on a large Maglite torch. When their eyes adjusted to the bright white light they saw that the walls were featureless, there were no markings or writings on them. But the hatch had a symbol scratched onto its surface – the symbol.
Ella looked questioningly at William. ‘So what now?’ she asked. ‘Do you have a hacksaw?’
‘I don’t need one.’
Eagerly, he grabbed the padlock and went to work on it with a lock-pick tool he had taken out of his rucksack. Within a minute he had cracked it, there was a faint click and the lock opened. He pulled it off and discarded it. The hinges creaked as he swung the heavy iron hatch open. Behind it was a long horizontal shaft. He shone his torch down it, it was only just wide enough to crawl through. And it wasn’t for the claustrophobic.
‘You think we’ll fit in there?’ Ella asked as she peered into the tunnel.
‘Only one way to find out,’ William said. ‘Wait here, I’ll shout when I get to the other end.’ He grabbed his rucksack and hauled himself in.
A cloak of darkness closed in on Ella as she watched William drag himself slowly down the tunnel. After about ten metres he reached the end, he dropped into the adjoining chamber and shone the torch back up towards Ella.
The Secret of Hades' Eden Page 25