by Paul Heron
‘Anthony, are you okay?’ Scarlett whispered.
‘I’ll be fine; it’s only about five hundred metres.’
The reality of the situation, the claustrophobic tunnel, the armed men above them, it all became too much. Michael dropped to his knees, dizzy and breathing hard. ‘My heart, I feel like I’m going to die. You see? I’m no hero, I’m just pathetic.’ He tried to take a deep breath. ‘I can hardly breathe.’
‘It’s just panic, sweetheart,’ Scarlett placed her hand on Michael’s shoulder. ‘You’re not used to this sort of thing, like we are.’
Michael heard a whisper in his ear. It was Elisabetta. ‘You are the one, Michael. You are the one Mancini fears the most. That is why they will search for you, high and low. You must not fear them.’
‘Are you okay?’ Scarlett asked as Michael came back.
‘Who, me or Michael?’ Anthony sneered.
‘Lets go,’ Michael said. He wiped tears from his face, realising he had just become the grown man crying like a baby from his dream. As he looked up, he was grateful to see a tiny dot of light at the end of the tunnel.
They were all glad to see the concrete steps that would lead them out into fresh air again.
‘Wait!’ Scarlett said. ‘It’s them.’
Through gaps of the gate, they could see two men in black suits chatting at the end of the passageway, as if expecting them.
They were trapped!
Chapter Eighteen
‘CAN EITHER OF YOU TRANSLATE what the hell they’re saying?’ Anthony whispered.
Michael peered through the gaps in the gate, feeling like a prisoner who was looking behind the doors to his freedom.
‘What are they saying?’
‘It’s hard to understand them; they’re too far away. Wait a minute... quiet...’
Michael and Scarlett both listened, their ears pressed against the gate, nothing but the sound of Anthony’s deep breaths behind them.
‘They’re talking about Mexico; Signor Garcia; a Mexican boy; and...’ Michael stopped.
‘And?’ Anthony whispered.
Scarlett looked at Michael. ‘What if the Gods came back here.’
‘Well we don’t want that. God we certainly don’t want that. The Dark One is not someone I want to meet.’ Anthony whispered, he spoke as if he was telling an old ghost story. ‘My boat, it’s at the lake – but it only fits two people. The motor isn’t powerful enough for all of us. I can wait here. You can take it to the other side of the lake. Ringo’s house isn’t far from there. That’s the good thing about this village being so bloody small. You get to Ringo’s house and he’ll get you out of here for now. You must go.’
A bang echoed down the tunnel, coming from behind them. They saw a light coming from the shop floor’s hatch.
Michael got the gate open. As he craned his head out into the open air, cigarette smoke almost choked him. He was about fifteen meters from the two men, but that was better than nothing.
‘You’re coming with us. You’re not staying here,’ Michael said to Anthony. ‘I can see the lake, and the boat. You two take the boat. I’ll swim the lake and meet you on the other side. I think I can make it. I hope I can make it.’
‘But the boat’s...’ Anthony complained.
‘But nothing, you’re coming with us.’ Michael turned and glared at them both. ‘If it’s my burden to lead this, if I’m being shoved out into the front of all this, then you’ll listen to what I say.’
Anthony didn’t respond.
‘Okay,’ Michael said, sizing up the distance to the lake. There was nobody else around. Just a two hundred yard dash across a grassy picnic area with blocky wooden tables and a multi-coloured playground that was buried in a sandpit. Just the two guards and he knew it was now or never. ‘After I count to three, we run. Scarlett, take my phone, it’ll be no use if it’s soaked.’ He gave one last peek through the gate. ‘Are you both ready?’
They both nodded.
‘Here.’ Scarlett handed Michael the dagger she’d used on the Fomorians at the airport. ‘If you need it, just use it. Don’t think about it.’ She looked at him. ‘You got it?’
‘How will I know that they’re Fomorians and not humans?’
‘You’ll know.’
Michael took a deep breath. He slowly pushed the gate open, lifting it so it didn’t scrape along the ground. Scarlett then Anthony exited the tunnel, making a dash across the grass, weaving in and out through the picnic tables towards the motor boat docked at the edge of the lake.
As it started, the boat’s tiny motor caught the agents’ attention. They turned to see what was happening. Michael lifted a boulder the size of a football and lobbed it at the two, they both scattered. As soon as the boulder left his hands, the appearance of the guards changed. They disappeared into their clothes, then exploded out of them. Both of them now stood looking at Michael. Confirming Scarlett’s suspicions, they weren’t human. They were Fomorians. Big ugly Fomorian giants. Both stood over eight foot tall, as wide as two doorways and as muscular as professional bodybuilders. One of them had huge golf-ball-sized warts all over his naked torso. The other had pinchers as hands. Both had huge orange eyes, that looked as if they were ready to pop out of their heads. The one with the pinchers as hands spoke in Gaelic Irish. Michael understood it to mean: we’re going to kill all of the Tuatha de Danann. The giant took it’s first step towards Michael. Michael knew he couldn’t turn his back and run from them. He’d have to face them. He pulled out the dagger and gripped it tightly in his hand, the blade lengthened itself. The giant lunged for him, trying to grab Michael, but he ducked under the huge arm, getting an overpowering smell of body odour and seaweed and swiped the dagger across the giant’s stomach, instantly causing it to dissolve. The second giant lifted the huge rock which Michael had launched at them. He threw it at Michael. At the same time, Michael threw the dagger at the giant, sending it into a cloud of mist then watched as it evaporated into the air. The dagger dropped to the ground. As he lifted it, he could hear voices coming from the tunnel. He sprinted towards the water.
This water is going to be freezing. He thought on approach.
Anthony took off, guiding the boat towards the other side.
Michael sprinted across the slippery boardwalk. Without time to take off his shoes, and the fact he was running so fast on the slippery surface, he had no grip to slow himself down. He heard someone shout for him to stop, but he’d already committed to the dive. Crashing through the lake’s surface was like hitting a brick wall, his body went into shock with the sudden drop in temperature. He swam below the surface for as long as he could without resurfacing, nothing but dirty green water and the hope that he was going the right direction. Through the green water he felt his eyes were being deceived. As they were showing him Boann, the Irish Goddess of Water. The mystical lady was beckoning for him to continue, to follow in her direction. She was smiling at him. An expression of encouragement, one of a mother coaching her son towards a goal. As he got closer, she dissolved into the green of the water.
He resurfaced. Almost at the shore on the opposite side. Astonished how he'd made it so far so fast. On the sand, he remained in a crouched position, crawling a few feet, and then stood up. Dismissing what he’d just seen. ‘We need to keep moving,’ he said, sputtering and coughing. Shivering, his body felt numb.
‘Ringo’s house is on the Little Camberly Road,’ Scarlett said, gesturing beyond the surrounding Oak trees. ‘Let’s go, it’s just up here, along this pathway. We’ll get you some dry clothes.’
It wasn’t just the cold water that caused him to tremble. Boann, the Irish Goddess of Water appeared to him. He wasn’t sure whether or not to mention it.
‘How the hell did you do that, Michael?’ Anthony asked. ‘You just swam that entire lake under water. In record time.’ He looked at Michael like he was a hero, a monster, a freak. He certainly wasn’t normal.
‘I don’t know. I didn’t think about it; I just did it.
’ Michael said, feeling strange about it, too.
They jogged along the muddy forest path that led to Ringo’s.
A young couple out walking their German Shepherd looked at Michael, drenched and shivering like the participant of a bad joke, no doubt judging him. He was probably the only guy ever to swim that lake in a suit. But Michael, Scarlett and Anthony just continued on their way, with much bigger problems than the opinions of two strangers.
‘I’m wrecked,’ Anthony said, leaning against the trunk of a towering birch tree.
‘It’s not far,’ Scarlett said.
‘Do you have my phone?’ Michael reached out his trembling arm.
‘Here.’ Scarlett handed it to him.
Trying to call Ringo, Michael struggled hitting the buttons.
Scarlett took the phone and made the call. She looked at Michael as the phone rang for what seemed an eternity.
‘Ringo. Thank God. Are you at your house? Is George with you?’
‘He’s here. When we received your message, we knew you’d come here.’
Michael rocked back and forth like someone on the verge of a breakdown.
Scarlett looked at him worriedly. ‘We’re here now, just outside your house, about a hundred yards down the hill.’
‘We’re coming now,’ Ringo said. ‘Hide behind the old stone wall. We’ll be two minutes.’
Scarlett smiled at Michael and Anthony in relief. ‘They’re coming.’
They continued towards the edge of the forest. Michael wanted nothing but a nice warm shower.
Chapter Nineteen
‘HAVE NO FEAR, THE GODS are here!’ Mohammad shouted, his head craning out of the Range Rover's front passenger window.
‘Who’s that fool? He’s attracting too much attention,’ Anthony complained.
The three sprung up from behind the wall and ran into the open.
‘That’s Mohammad,’ Michael laughed over his trembling voice.
Ringo pulled over, braking sharply on the grass verge beside his estate’s twelve-foot high perimeter fence.
‘Good to see our fearless leader is back again.’ Mohammad looked more closely at Michael. ‘What the hell happened to your clothes? Has it been raining?’
Ahmad quickly emerged from the estate in Ringo's blue Maserati, the engine attracting more attention than Mohammad.
George’s face appeared from behind the rear tinted window as it lowered. ‘Scarlett, you and Anthony come with us. Michael, you follow with Ahmad.’
‘Where are we going?’ Michael asked.
‘Just follow us.’ George said.
Michael jumped into the passenger seat of the Italian sports car. ‘Ringo sure has quite a collection of cars,’ Michael mumbled, placing his hands in front of the warm air coming from the vents. He scanned the white leather interior. It had that new car smell. Within seconds, the leather seat was warm. His trembling body felt euphoric.
‘All of the foundation’s vehicles are bulletproof.’ Ahmad said. ‘You’re safe.’ He caressed the gleaming trident badge on the steering wheel as if rubbing a magic lamp. ‘My father donated a lot of money to the Sirani Foundation,’ he said sounding depressed, as if he’d never see them again.
‘What happened to them?’ Michael shouted over the roar of the 4.7 litre engine, keeping up with the Range Rover as it bombed down the treelined country road.
‘My family has worked with the Sirani Foundation for many generations to fight off the remaining vermin that were once part of The Fomorians; them, along with many others around the world. I would bet my life that my parents are under the effect of this drug they’re using, but I don’t know how to help them. My life has revolved around finding them. Until now, Michael, nobody had the potential to expose them,’ he spoke, nodding as if in agreement with his own words. ‘They need to be stopped, but until now, nobody has been able to speak out. Everyone has been too afraid of the consequences. We’re glad Elisabetta has summoned you all earlier than originally planned. I want to know more about you, The One!’
‘Why me?’ Again, Michael struggled to understand why he was chosen. After seeing the Irish Goddess of Water only moments ago, he knew it was either one of two things: either he’d gone insane, or all of it was in fact true.
Ahmad laughed. ‘You need to ask Elisabetta that question. We’d all like to know.’
Michael stared through front windscreen, his eyes fixed on the registration plate of the Range Rover: RINGO 1. He remembered seeing it outside Sir Herbert Noring’s building as he followed Sofia a few moments after they all met. He found it hard to believe it was the day before. It seemed a lot had changed in that one day.
‘I’ll call Sofia,’ Michael said. Noticing the vacant expression on Ahmad’s face, he knew Ahmad missed his family, too. He recognised the bitter fact that he wasn’t the only one involved in something he didn’t want to take part in. And with this, he gained some comfort in the fact he wasn’t alone.
Sofia answered the call after the first ring.
‘Ciao, Sofia, are you in London yet?’
‘Si, we’re here,’ Sofia said.
His face lit up when he heard her voice. ‘Great. As for us, we couldn’t get the book. We went to the shop, but Mancini agents arrived. I saw Jose Garcia, the twin of Alejandro Garcia. Scarlett and I got to the shop, but we were followed. We need to go back later for Scarlett’s car and the book. What’s happening down there?’
‘I’ve managed to get into the office of our friend Mr Cole, and...’ Sofia’s update was replaced by a sudden silence.
‘And? Sofia, are you there?’
‘I’m here, but I can’t really talk,’ she whispered. ‘Marcel and Carolina are talking to someone outside. I think someone heard my phone ring.’
‘Who is it?’ Michael asked.
‘Don’t know, but Carolina’s voice doesn't sound as confident as usual.’
Michael looked over at Ahmad, staring angrily through the windscreen.
Ahmad’s phone rang. It was Ringo. Ahmad connected the call to the car’s sound system. Ahmad had to shout over the roar of the engine. ‘Ringo, Michael’s talking to Sofia. She’s in London, they've reached the destination.’
Sofia came back. ‘I’m looking through the desk of Matt Cole, hold on a second...’
Michael looked at Ahmad; the look of uncertainty that was written all over Ahmad’s face was just how Michael felt. ‘She’s in the office.’ He thought how much trouble they’d get into if she was caught, but was encouraged by her fearlessness. She was certainly willing to put herself out there.
‘She’s a talented young lady to get in there, mustn’t have been easy,’ Ahmad remarked.
‘I’ve found something!’ Sofia whispered. ‘Are you there?’
‘Yes, we’re still here.’ Michael didn’t fancy what was coming next.
‘I’ve got some documents. This is strange, they’ve been doing research into Irish mythology. They’ve also began an investigation into a suspicious device that’s being used to attack the ministry’s security system. I’m guessing it’s L’amico. And it’s no surprise that this document I’m looking at has the signature “A Garcia” from The Mancini Corporation. It gets better. They’re also investigating a Mexican boy – name undisclosed.’
‘That’s great news, well not great, but it’s good to know...’ Michael stumbled over his words.
‘I know,’ Sofia said.
‘Any dirt on the Mancini Corp? We need some proof that they’ve violated our world leaders.’
‘No, but-’ Sofia trailed off.
‘What?’ Michael’s tone lowered.
‘There’s a photograph of Eduardo. The authorities are after him.’
‘Take a photograph of those documents? Then leave them back, they may be useful at some point.’
‘Shush!’ she whispered. ‘I’ll call you back in a minute.’ Sofia hung up.
‘Ringo – are you still patched through?’ Michael said, dropping his phone from his ear. ‘I think
we need to get to London. Has anyone spoken to Eduardo or Ajit?’
‘I’m here,’ Ringo responded. ‘And no, nothing from them!’
‘Okay, Scarlett - you, Anthony, and George should go to your house. The rest of us will go to the university, grab Eduardo and Ajit, then head for London,’ Michael said. ‘We’ll need to bring them to the public’s attention, ASAP. I don’t fancy being fitted up for something and going to prison.’
They pulled over at the side of the road. Scarlett, Anthony, and George drove away in the Maserati, and the rest headed for the university.
Michael’s gut told him that this was going to get worse before it got better. He tried to call Sofia again, hoping for good news.
She answered. ‘I’ve taken pictures of the documents.’
‘Great.’ Michael said.
‘But...’ Sofia replied.
‘What?’ Michael sighed.
‘You know how Marcel and Carolina love to practice their martial arts?’
‘Yes...’
‘Well, it kind of got out of hand quickly down here. Marcel had to restrain two security guards, and Carolina had fun restraining an assistant to the minister of defense. I saw it all, Michael. I’ve never seen anything like it in my entire life; how fast they were, how unstoppable they were. Michael, it was like a ninja movie. They picked through those guards like they were toying with children. We’ve clearly been developed since we came back from The Otherworld.’
Michael agreed. Their martial arts abilities, his own ability to swim so far underwater... There was no other reason for it.
‘Do you think you can hide out somewhere until we arrive?’
‘We’ll find somewhere. We’re walking towards Oxford street now.’
Michael was relieved they were out of the building. ‘Good, better to stay in public. I’ll call you back when we get Ajit and Eduardo.’
‘What’s happening?’ Ringo shouted.
‘They’re investigating Eduardo and the device. They’re also researching Irish Mythology.’