The Second Renaissance Series Boxset

by Paul Heron

  ‘It looks like Elisabetta and Storm,’ Carolina gestured towards it, noticing what Michael was looking at. ‘Or “that creepy lady and weird horse?” right?’ she threw a pillow at Eduardo.

  Sofia looked at the painting. ‘My mother always told me when I was young that Elisabetta had a powerful animal that guarded her most precious creation. She used to say that the creature guarded it ferociously.’ She crossed her legs and brought her knees up closer to herself. It was as if it was story time around a camp fire.

  ‘Come to think of it, when I was growing up, we were told stories of noises of horses coming from the cave at night time,’ Michael said, ‘but it was impossible for horses to be there because of where the mouth of the cave opens onto the sea.’

  ‘So, the sounds of horses that were heard, have been Storm at night time,’ Carolina whispered as if adding a conclusion to the ghost story.

  ‘The Irish myth is true then,’ Ajit said, looking at everyone.

  ‘I’m getting spooked.’ Mohammad joked.

  ‘You’re all so cute, sitting in here cross-legged in a circle as if you’re all talking about who in class fancies who,’ Scarlett teased, walking in and breaking the silence. She pulled her phone out. ‘Let me get a photo of you all.’ She stepped into the corner of the room, adjusting her position for the best shot. ‘I want to build a collection of these moments; they will be worth something one day.’

  ‘Yes, mum,’ Mohammad said sarcastically.

  ‘Hold on one second,’ Marcel fixed his position.

  ‘You want photos of us dressed like this? Mancini agents?’ Michael laughed. ‘The people we’re trying to stop?’

  ‘Of course,’ she said, taking snaps every few seconds. ‘This is a precious moment. You’re all ready to go get the first fragment. And finding you all sitting here chatting like normal is very symbolic...George?’ She yelled out the door.

  George came in with Ringo and Ahmad. ‘What’s going on? Are we interrupting something?’

  ‘Actually, yes, you are,’ Ajit said jokingly. ‘We seem to be involved in some sort of photoshoot.’

  ‘Jump in?’ Carolina shouted. ‘You’re all part of the team, too.’

  It took Ringo a split second to jump in. Ahmad was more reluctant. He wanted his identity to remain private. Until Eduardo shot up, ‘come on, my Syrian amigo,’ and dragged him in.

  ‘Scarlett, you should be in it as well, come on,’ Sofia shouted.

  Scarlett set the camera on it’s timer and ran into the shot during the countdown. They all cheered. George, Ringo, Ahmad, and Scarlett all had big smiles while the other seven pulled funny faces.

  As she checked out the photo, Scarlett laughed, passing it around to everyone else. That moment in the room was priceless. And probably couldn’t have came at a better time. Just as Michael got a look at the photo, the thumping sound of the chopper’s propellers signalled that it was time to go.

  ‘Marcel, your hair’s a mess,’ Michael teased, zooming in on the photo.

  ‘What?’ Marcel yelled, snatching the phone. He smiled and gave a sigh of relief, realising he was joking.

  Mohammad walked over to the window to shout to Alban. ‘That’s not Alban,’ he shouted.

  Michael’s heart jump-started. He sprinted across the room to the window. There was a chopper identical to Alban’s: a stealth looking Black Hawk.

  ‘Relax!’ George shouted. ‘It’s our backup in case we need it. And we’re not flying into Marseille. It’s a short drive, and it’s going to be daylight soon.’ He took the attention in the room as the seven faces relaxed. ‘It’s only our back up. We don’t need any problems today. We’ve been fortunate so far. But we need to get the French fragment into our container...’ He tapped on the bag hanging over his shoulder ‘...ASAP.’ He smiled at everyone. ‘But we’ve got this in the bag, guys, pardon the pun.’ He looked at Ringo and Ahmad. ‘Our two racers will be our chauffeurs for the morning.’

  ‘The cars are ready,’ Ringo said, slapping Michael across the back. ‘Let’s go see Marseille.’

  ‘What are we riding in now? Lamborghini? Ferrari?’ Eduardo joked.

  ‘I wish,’ Ringo said. ‘Not today,’ he laughed. ‘Ford Ranger. 3.2 litre beast. Reinforced and bullet proof. Safer than houses.’ He led the way out the door.

  They all left the house. The time was nine a.m. A short thirty-minute drive would get them to the museum, so they would arrive thirty minutes before it opened at ten.

  Michael, Carolina, and Sofia travelled in the back of Ringo’s Ford with George up front in the passenger seat. Marcel went in the other car with Ahmad, Ajit, Mohammad, and Eduardo. Scarlett travelled with Nicole.

  The early morning drive along the French coast was relaxing. FM 103.6 – Marseille said the weather was going to be scorching hot.

  ‘We can chill on the beach then after we’re done. We may as well enjoy this beautiful country while we’re here,’ Carolina said.

  Michael kept looking at his phone, expecting to hear something from his father. It never came. It couldn’t. He tried to take in the beautiful French countryside, but again, his focus was on the mission.

  ‘Here,’ George said, tossing the backpack with the sealed container to Michael. Michael opened it and pulled out the box that would house the fragment. It was cold steel, painted in matte black. ‘You take it. As soon as you see it, get it in there.’ George told Michael to open it. Their chains were inside ‘Be sure you don’t lose them.’

  ‘Do we know where exactly the fragment is?’ Sofia asked, while at the same time George’s phone went off.

  George laughed. ‘Perfect timing.’ He answered the call, putting it through the car's sound system, killing Ringo’s musical vibes. ‘Doctor. Has Charvet been of any more help?’

  ‘We’ve got it out of him. Don’t ask me any more details.’ The doctor cleared his throat. ‘He’s told me the fragment is located on the ground floor. Just look around, it’ll not take long to find.’ He paused for a second. ‘But George, I’ve heard a report that until he’s found, France is on lockdown. A nationwide curfew has come into effect this morning and anyone seen on the streets will be stopped.’

  ‘That’s going to make it easier for us to get around,’ Michael said sarcastically, watching as they passed the sign saying: “Welcome to Marseille”. They were a matter of minutes away from reaching the museum, their time was running out.

  ‘I've wiped Charvet's memory. He'll have no recollection of talking to any of us. He’ll be in Paris in no time.’ The doctor confirmed. ‘But whether or not there’s still some Fomorian living inside him, only time will tell.’

  ‘That's something. Now, you guys get this bloody fragment.’ George turned and looked at Sofia and Carolina, and then Michael. ‘By any means necessary.’

  Michael looked at Carolina, and then Sofia.

  ‘How long is the flight to Paris?’ Eduardo shouted.

  ‘We can have him in Paris in around one hour and thirty minutes.’

  ‘In that time, we can figure out how to get into the museum,’ Marcel shouted. ‘If there’s a curfew, then there won’t be any staff around, which means we need to break in.’

  ‘Any method we must take, we’re going in for it,’ Scarlett said. ‘George, have you thought about calling in support from Italy? We can't afford to make any mistakes.’

  ‘I have the Italians on standby, but let’s keep the team small. More people, the harder it is to manage.’

  ‘Here we are guys,’ Ringo shouted, approaching the Vialle Charite.

  They pulled into the car park; it was empty. Michael almost wished there were staff. There was an eerie silence to the place. As if it was a trap, and he knew well by now nothing ever ran smoothly.

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‘WE’RE SITTING DUCKS, waiting in this empty car park. It’s only a matter of time before we’re spotted,’ Michael said. ‘I don’t like this. I feel like we're in more danger being stationary. It’s better to keep moving.’


  ‘Ok, what do you suggest?’ George said.

  ‘We stop scratching our asses, and make it happen.’

  ‘We go now? I like it,’ Sofia said.

  ‘Great, let’s go.’ Michael opened the door and got out.

  Sofia jumped out of after him, followed by Carolina. She fixed her jacket, and then spun Michael around and fixed his lapel. ‘I know we're dressed like Mancini agents, but that doesn’t mean you look a mess.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am,’

  The rest of the group joined them.

  ‘Is it just me, or is it too quiet around here?’ Marcel said.

  ‘Yes, it is. Part of me feels like something isn’t right,’ Carolina said, buttoning her suit jacket closed. ‘The first thing I don’t like is wearing these Mancini suits. This has bad luck written all over it.’

  ‘No turning back now,’ Sofia said. ‘Lets go.’

  They ran across the car park towards the museum’s entrance, all going silent as if they'd retreated into their own heads; perhaps all realising in the very building they were headed towards was something that could contribute to the world's destruction or it’s salvation. Depending on who got their hands on it.

  Michael put his headphones in and synced to his mobile. He called Ajit. ‘Can you guys do anything with L’amico?’

  ‘Eduardo and I have spent some travel time working on something. Paris has no satellite coverage for a radius of thirty miles, this will throw off Mancini. They'll think we're in Paris.’ Ajit said. ‘Be quick. Eduardo said he’s coming to meet you all at the door.’

  ‘I love you guys. And that device. Scarlett’s just getting us in now.’

  Eduardo appeared. ‘Let’s go get this fragment,’ he said, buttoning his suit jacket. He continually tugged on his shirt cuffs, pulling them out from under his jacket sleeves.

  ‘Easy, not so fast. We need to silence the alarm,’ Scarlett whispered. ‘It's a good thing the French didn’t think the fragment was valuable otherwise they'd have a much better alarm system than the one they've got.’ She slowly opened to door. ‘Come in and close the door. Wait here. I’ll be back in a second, I’m going to deactivate the alarm.’

  ‘Let’s go,’ Eduardo said, psyching himself up. ‘Let’s go crap on Mancini plans.’ He pushed past the group, nervously following Scarlett into the building.

  The foyer was a lifeless shell. With every step that was taken, the marble floors sent an echo. As soon as everyone was inside, they stopped and shut the door, waiting for Scarlett with the hope that she'd shut the alarm system off in time.

  ‘Ajit,’ Michael whispered. ‘Maybe you guys find a more discreet place to wait. We don’t want police driving past and seeing you parked. And we really don’t know what’s going to happen when we get our hands on this thing.’

  ‘Already thought of that,’ Ajit replied. ‘We’re in an underground car park just around the corner. But we have a clear view of the building. I fixed a camera to a lamppost pointing right at the entrance.’

  ‘Okay, it doesn’t take all of us to go get the fragment.’ He checked the holdall that was slung over his right shoulder like a dead weight, checking the container was inside. ‘Best if we split up.’ He turned and looked around the foyer. Scarlett making her way back, the alarm’s pre-activation beeps had stopped.

  ‘Okay, is everyone good?’ Scarlett asked, rubbing her hands with a big cheesy grin on her face. ‘I’ve forgotten how much fun this is.’

  ‘Scarlett, you’re really attractive right now!’ Mohammad said.

  ‘Focus,’ Sofia hissed. ‘We're not here for chit chat.’

  ‘Okay. Listen up. Sofia, Eduardo, Scarlett, and I will go get the fragment. The rest of you wait here in case someone arrives.’

  ‘Keep your eyes peeled,’ Mohammad said. ‘And don’t worry, we’ve got this covered. Just don’t take too long.’

  ‘Yes, Sir!’ Sofia threw Mohammad a mock salute.

  They made their way through the cold, lifeless building surrounded by French culture. Culture through the arts was something that had a lasting effect on Europe and indeed the world. Many famous artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods would undoubtedly go down in history for their creative contributions. Even Elisabetta herself was to most, simply the same as the rest of them. The only difference was that after creating the sculpture, her work had an unfair advantage.

  They couldn't see the fragment anywhere.

  Until they noticed two mahogany doors – standing around twelve feet in height – with window panes running from top to bottom. As they approached, they seen that the doors led to a private collection of art work.

  Michael looked in. He scanned the room, feeling the pulse in his neck throb.

  The room was filled with old sculptures, pieces of work that had probably been there for generations. Then he saw it resting on top of a polished plinth in the corner of the room. Standing proudly beside an old sculpture of Napoleon.

  ‘Be careful it’s not a trap,’ Scarlett whispered as if they’d just walked onto sacred ground. She pulled her pistol out. ‘Michael, open the container and be ready to put it in. We’re not going to be messing around. Sofia, you go in with him, the rest of us will guard the door.’

  Michael looked at Sofia, she looked at him. ‘Are you ready?’ he asked, grabbing her hand.

  ‘Andiamo,’ she said, walking past him, throwing the door open. Michael looked at the container, then up at her and followed. As the door closed behind them, Michael felt as if they had walked into another world, like when they had entered the Otherworld to meet Elisabetta.

  ‘These sculptures are beautiful,’ he said, looking around the room. ‘Look at this one.’

  ‘Yes, it’s hard to believe these works of art were created such a long time ago.’ She paused. ‘And there it is, a piece of my beautiful ancestor’s art.’

  They both stood and looked at it. Ten feet away stood the French fragment, a perfectly chiselled shape of France, about ten inches in length, resting on a burgundy coloured cushion.

  Michael looked at Sofia; Sofia looked at Michael, both smiling, filled with childish excitement.

  ‘You realise this is our first step to completing the sculpture, defeating Mancini Corporation, and giving something back to Elisabetta?’ Sofia whispered as if the walls had ears.

  ‘Do you realise how dangerous it’s going to be to steal this with Mancini Corporation hunting us down?’ Michael felt the hairs standing on the back of his neck.

  ‘I know.’

  Both fought to contain their excitement.

  ‘I’ll let you handle the first piece. You are, after all, a Sirani.’ Michael nodded his head in the direction of the fragment.

  ‘But you’re Elisabetta’s guy.’ She nudged him with her elbow. She walked over to it with Michael right beside her. Side by side, they stood over it. Michael held the container in both hands with the holdall hanging over his shoulder.

  Sofia slowly reached for it. Her hand trembling, as if it was about to explode. She lifted it. ‘It’s heavy!’ They both looked at it, perfectly shaped like the country they were in. There was a message engraved on a gold plate below. It said in French: A gift from a talented Italian artist to the French people in 1665. A cherished piece of French heritage.

  Sofia looked at Michael and laughed. ‘Are you all listening? I’ve got my hands on the first piece of the sculpture.’

  ‘We suspected so.’ Eduardo came through. ‘We’re picking up interference. That thing is giving off something. Michael try the chant Elisabetta wrote in the book, see what cool stuff it can do.’ Both Eduardo and Ajit could be heard laughing excitedly.

  ‘I can’t think of the chant,’ Michael complained, suddenly feeling his chest tighten. ‘My head’s gone blank. Why can’t I remember it?’

  ‘Check your phones,’ Ajit said. ‘It’s causing something weird to happen to L’amico.’

  Michael pulled his phone out of his pocket and coughed. The screen was scrambled. Blood rushed to h
is head. He momentarily blacked out. Darkness flashed across his eyes. The sound of sea waves crashing rang through his ears. His head went light. He felt as if he was falling down an endless pit. He tried to yell. Then in a flash, his eyes shot open, he was gasping for air as if he’d been submerged under water.

  Sofia was looking at him. ‘What?’

  ‘Lets just get out of here. That thing is giving something off.’

  Sofia set the fragment in the container and Michael shut the lid.

  George shouted through the headphones. ‘We’ve got company. Five cars have just arrived. They're outside the gallery. Get the hell outta there, now!’

  Michael and Sofia turned and ran for the door. Scarlett put her head inside. ‘Don’t come out here, Couture’s arrived.’ She pointed at a fire escape in the far corner of the room. ‘You two go out that way.’

  ‘I’m tired of this!’ Michael kicked a plinth, knocking over a sculpture, sending it crashing to the ground.

  ‘Calm down,’ Sofia hissed. ‘Come on, before they get here.’

  ‘Scarlett, we’ll meet you at the cars,’ Michael shouted as they ran across the room. He threw the holdall over his shoulder and pushed through the fire door into what looked like endless flights of stairs. ‘Out or up?’ he said. ‘They could have the exits covered.’

  ‘We can’t go up. We’ll be trapped then.’

  In a moment of confusion, gunshots coming from the foyer startled them into taking a decision. ‘We’ll go up and get Alban to pick us up if we get trapped,’ Michael shouted. ‘Come on. It’ll be okay.’ He took Sofia by the hand, who reluctantly followed.

  Six flights of steel stairs and they reached the roof. A thick black cloud that looked like it was ready to burst with water blocked out the sun.

  Michael shouted for an answer from any of the others. Silence. He called George and told Sofia to call Scarlett.

  ‘Michael, where are you?’ George shouted. ‘Have you got the fragment?’

  ‘Yes, the fragment’s here with us. We’re on the roof. What’s happening down there?’