“Nima, what on earth was that for? Were you planning to kill me for calling out your—what on earth is that thing doing in your hair?”
“What? Where is it?” Nima tore at her hair frantically.
“This isn’t good at all. I think we camped right on a bug path,” Dean said as his flashlight fell on more than two dozen more insects crawling all over the place. “Quick, everyone pack up and make sure you shake your stuff out.”
In a flash, they had their backpacks ready. Kash stomped on the bugs and crushed them with so much relish. It was his payback to them for ruining his sleep.
“Kash, stop. I smell something, and it isn’t right,” Nima called out.
“Bugs smell, don’t you know? It’s one of their defense mechanisms.” Kash stepped on more bugs.
All of a sudden, their eyes began to water, and they felt like choking. Everyone was coughing uncontrollably.
“We have to get out of here fast,” Dean said in between fits of coughing.
They moved away from the cleft and stumbled blindly onto the main path. They could barely walk upright as they trudged on.
Avi had picked up one of the bugs as they were leaving, and when she began to feel a little better, she took a closer look at it. It had a plastic body and none of the innards of a real insect.
“Guys, I think I found something. Those bugs weren’t some weird cave bugs defending their territory. They are actually small weapons that carried poisonous gases. I think the Russians are on to us, and it won’t be long before they catch us.”
“Uh-oh, here comes their mama!” Kash yelled and stepped back suddenly.
A small drone that looked every inch like a large bug swooped toward them, and everyone took to their heels. They came to a junction, and Boris headed left without thinking. There was no time to ask questions, so the rest of the squad followed him until they came to an aquarium.
They all jumped in immediately in a bid to get away from the drone. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when the drone turned around and flew away. The water was warm and refreshing, but there was no time to enjoy it. The crew quickly washed the dust off their clothes and feet as they planned on what to do next.
“Hey Kash, stop that. You’re giving me the creeps,” Avi protested. She had leaned forward to wash her hair and could not see what was happening behind her. She felt a firmer tug on her leg. She kicked hard to get out of its grip and felt a set of teeth dig into her flesh.
Avi let out a deafening scream, which startled the others. They watched in horror as the water around her turned bright red, and an ugly grey head bobbed on the water’s surface. She quickly swam away but not before she got another bite.
"Crocodiles!" Dean screamed.
In a flash, it seemed several crocodiles had appeared out of nowhere. It was too late to get out of the water now. The only thing to do was fight against many hungry crocodiles thirsting for their blood.
They stomped, punched, and hit the crocodiles with hiking sticks as they made their way out of the aquarium. No one had realized that the exit had shut on their entrance. They were trapped, and there was no way out.
Avi noticed an irregularity in one of the rocks nearby. It looked out of place, like someone had moved it there. The juvenile croc that had bitten her before had returned with its friends, and this time, she was sure they would stop at nothing to pull her under the water with their powerful jaws.
With a sudden rush of energy, she thrashed her way to the rock. She pushed it with all the strength in her and rolled it away to the side. Avi found a lever and pulled it; for all she cared if the cave came crashing on their heads, it was better than being a midnight snack for a bunch of starving crocs.
There was a crack in the wall, and Avi noticed it open up to a small vault. She called out to Dean and the rest, but they were immersed in their crocodile war and couldn’t hear her. There were more crocs coming up out of nowhere, and the water was mixed with blood from humans and reptiles.
Avi shouted a little louder and was able to get their attention. The men fought back the crocs so Nima could get out of the water. They had only a few seconds to get clear of the water.
Angry jaws snapped at the fleshy limbs that kicked about in the water. The fresh blood was a welcome change to the crusty meals they were used to. The fun of chasing and nibbling was exhilarating for the juvenile crocs.
The older crocs knew better than to attack immediately; the wounds and fighting would eventually wear the intruders out. One snap of their powerful jaws was enough to get the meal going for everyone.
Avi found a vault door, and without second thoughts, she tried to open it. She turned the big handle around several times, but her injured hands didn’t help her much.
“Someone help me over here,” she called out frantically.
Kash heard her this time. “Guys,” he called out to Nima and the others, “I think Avi found an escape. We have to get out of here now.”
Kash began to make his way out of the water, but the hungry reptile was not through with him yet. It caught him by the shirt, and Kash yelled. With all the rage in him, Kash punched the crocodile hard on its nose, making it go underwater. He could feel his knuckles cracking from the impact with the tough hide. He punched it twice more, and as soon as he got his chance, he made for the dry surface.
"Thank goodness you're here," Avi said. "Give me a hand, will you?"
“Why are you trying to pry it open when you could just pick the lock?” Kash asked.
“I’ve never come across something like this. Whoever came up with this is way ahead of modern security. It’s not like I haven’t opened vaults before, but there’s no combination here to know what you are dealing with.”
Nima and the rest escaped soon, but Boris got a goodbye kiss on his arm by a vindictive croc who lashed its powerful tail at him. Injured and bleeding, the team struggled to open the vault. The crocs were gradually making their way to the deck.
“Wait a minute, everyone, I think I can try something,” Avi suggested. She took off her wristwatch and placed it beside one of the locks. Changing the time to two o’clock, she got the dial on the side of the lock to move in synchronization with the second hand on her watch. There was a beep, and a green light showed up.
Avi pushed the vault door open, and they all hurried down another dark corridor. It was humid at the entrance, but as they got deeper, the temperature began to drop.
Dean noticed Boris's arm was bleeding, and he was making a trail with his blood. If anyone happened to follow them through the vault, it would not take long to find them. They had to stop and do something about it. Boris continued walking; he was oblivious to the danger he was putting the group in.
“I think we can stop now. Those hungry crocs can’t get to us here even if they teleported. We can have Nima tend to our injuries while we rest.”
“I’m not stopping for anything,” Boris replied. “We have to keep moving. You don’t know what’s out there or how long we can survive this. The Russians could come for us any minute.”
“And I think you are doing a fine job leading them straight to the prey.” Dean pointed to the blood on the ground.
Boris looked at Dean in a way that raised his suspicion. Sooner or later, Dean knew Boris would play the traitor.
“Nima, I think you should get to work. We’ll help where we can.”
Nima set to work immediately cleaning and stitching up the wide gash on Boris’s arm. She instructed Dean and Kash on what to do but left Avi out. It took a long time to stop Boris’s bleeding; it was almost as if he had been cut with a saber.
Boris looked at Nima’s exhausted face as she did her best to treat him. “Will I live, Doctor?” he asked with a slow smile on his tired face.
Nima nodded before she pushed the needle of the syringe through Boris’s skin.
Dean and Kash had a few scratches here and there, and in no time, Nima had them bandaged and ready to go. She feigned exhaustion after fixing her own injurie
s and murmured something about getting some rest.
“What about her?” Kash nodded toward Avi.
Nima pretended not to hear him as she arranged syringes, tweezers, and other equipment back into the box.
“Nima, you haven’t attended to Avi,” Kash reminded her.
Nima sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. She reluctantly passed a bottle of rubbing alcohol and swabs of cotton wool to Avi.
“I don’t need it if that is your piteous gratitude for saving your prejudiced ass from those crocodiles, “Avi snapped.
“You didn’t save me from the crocodiles; I fought my way through like everyone else. And if you are talking about picking that lock back there, that’s why you are on the team. It is your job.”
“And what is your job?” Kash cut in. “What are you doing on this team if you are not rendering full services to everyone? If we hadn't done something about the bee sting back there, she would not have been there to open that vault. Then you'd been torn apart limb by limb for reptilian dinner.”
“I am not touching her!” Nima snapped.
Avi struggled to her feet; her eyes flamed with anger. She looked like she would hit Nima.
“I don’t need you, medic, trashy mouth and all. Next time a situation that requires my skills comes up, do well to stay on the other side of the rescue.”
Avi was cut off by a cough, and she staggered as she tried to keep her composure, but she was spent. Nima watched her coldly as she doubled up and sat down abruptly.
“You are a cold-hearted brute,” Kash spat.
“You can't blame me. That’s what her people turned me into,” Nima retorted.
18
Chapter Eighteen
Yamantau, Russia
May 2019
The distant laughter of children playing and the sweet-smelling fragrance was a welcome change from the musty air and squeaks of critters. The boy led Miles down a path that got brighter as they approached the settlement. It could be seen from the hundreds of small lights that hung outside the various shelters.
Miles's steps had a spring in them; he had not realized how much he had missed being around people in the last few hours. The boy stopped and turned around to face Miles. He pointed to a ledge a few feet from where they stood and ducked. Miles nodded, even though he didn’t understand what the boy meant, and they continued on their way.
As they approached the ledge, Miles felt some hands grab his backpack from him. It was then that it dawned on him that the boy had tried to warn him of impending danger. Miles struggled to keep his bag on, but the pull was stronger, and out of nowhere, he felt something furry jump on him. He tried to free himself from whatever creature had jumped on him and tripped over a small rock. His bag was taken away from him, and he was hurting from the fall.
What a fine welcome, Miles thought. He lifted himself from the ground to see a group of chimps happily scurrying away with their loot. He swore under his breath and ran after them. The chimp carrying the bag tossed it to another chimp and snickered as it scampered up a rock and disappeared out of sight.
“Come back here, you thieves!” Miles shook his fist at them. He tried to climb up the rock after them but slipped and fell.
The boy turned around when he heard the raucous. He frowned at Miles and shook his head at him. Then he pointed at the ledge again and ducked.
“Yeah, you tried to warn me about those highway robbers. Thanks, but it’s too late now. I need to get my bag back.”
The chimps hooted excitedly as they tore Miles’s backpack apart and emptied its contents. He watched in horror while they examined each item and pulled them apart.
“Nooo, put those things down!” he yelled at them.
They flashed their teeth at him and climbed higher, daring him to come after them. One of the chimps picked out a book from Miles’s bag and examined it. Not pleased with what it found, it threw the book at Miles. Some others joined in the game while an older chimp slowly tore the paper containing details of the coordinates to shreds.
Miles was infuriated. He had a lot of respect for animals, but these chimps were getting way out of hand. He threw a rock at the one who appeared to be their leader and barely missed his head. He threw another rock, and they all scattered in different directions. There was only one chimp that stayed back, and it stared down at Miles with a defiant look on its face. Miles watched it closely, waiting for the perfect time to strike. As he raised his arm to hit his target, he felt someone grab his shirt.
The boy was saying something in a language he could not decipher, but from his tone and gesticulations, he sounded angry. He marched away angrily and left Miles to his own devices.
Miles watched the boy as he went down the path toward the village; he was stuck between following him and going to look for the chimps to get his bag.
A small group of women kneading flour stared at Miles curiously when he got into the village. Some children followed him at a safe distance, clapping and singing. Two men stepped in his way and halted his progress.
Unsure about how to respond to the welcome, Miles lifted his hand in a salute and smiled. The man ruffled his head, fingered his nose, and drew down his lips to examine his teeth. They looked at his hands and prodded his chest. Miles was startled by this unusual welcome and wondered what they were up to. What if he had walked right into a group of cannibals, and they were checking him out to see if he had enough flesh to feed them all?
One of the men hugged him and let out a cheer. More men emerged, and Miles found himself hugged by more people than he had ever smiled at on the streets of New York.
The people led Miles to a large chamber, where they made him wait at the entrance until a little girl came outside to see him. As soon as she came out, the singing and cheering stopped. Miles looked around him and noticed the anticipation on the faces of the villagers. He had a feeling he was facing some test, and this moment would determine his fate.
The young girl took him by the hand and led him into the chamber where a life-sized statue bedecked with the finest jewels sat in the center. The statue was carved in the image of a pregnant woman with hair like flaxen gold. A few worshippers stood around her, muttering prayers and incantations. Miles was awed by the sheer beauty of such a masterpiece, but he was disappointed with the size. There was no way something so big was going to fit into his backpack if he ever found it again.
“Mokosh,” the little girl said and pointed to the statue, then at the worshippers. Miles realized she was asking him to join the worship. He obliged and joined the others in chanting, “Mokosh, Mokosh.”
Miles thought he was seeing things when the statue opened its eyes and stared directly at him. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, but that pair of deep blue eyes stared back at him without blinking. His jaw dropped when she stood on her feet and spoke to her worshippers. Mokosh’s poise was so elegant, and her voice dripped with an enchanting melody that was hard to resist.
At Mokosh’s instructions, Miles was taken to one of the smaller chambers outside the temple. There was a warm meal and a beautiful young woman waiting for him. He wondered what had become of the boy who rescued him from the wild cat. The woman led him to a small pool where he would wash himself.
Miles stepped into the water and was thankful for its warmth. He winced as the water stung his bruises, washing away dried blood and invigorating him. He spent a long time in the water, wondering how he would take Mokosh away.
Thoroughly clean and refreshed, Miles came out of the pool and met a pair of curious eyes staring at his naked body. He looked around for his clothes but could not find them anywhere.
If the young woman had thought the stranger handsome when he first appeared in dusty clothes, she was certain he was irresistible now. For the first time, she was glad she had been asked to attend to his needs. Her eyes roved over his naked body hungrily as the water dripped down his fine muscles. None of the men she had seen in all her life held such an appeal.
Miles felt a rush of desi
re gathering at his groin. He could sense the young woman’s eyes tracing every line on his body as he moved toward her. He had not realized how much he had missed a woman’s touch until now. But that was not why he had come to Yamantau. He could have any woman he wanted, but at the moment, he had to focus on the mission. Primal urges could wait for another time.
Miles saw the disappointed look in the woman’s eyes when he picked up a robe and wrapped it around himself. With his back to her, he settled down to his meal of cakes and fruits, hoping the woman would be gone by the time he finished eating. But she sat there patiently until he had swallowed the last morsel.
When he had finished eating, the woman cleared his plates and knelt before him. She showed him a small bowl and touched the bruise on his arm. Miles smiled his approval, and she proceeded to rub the liquid stuff on his injuries. Her hands were so light and sensual. With every touch, Miles found it harder to hold back. He wanted her hands all over him, clinging to him as he unleashed his desire.
Carefully, he took the bowl away from her and placed it beside him. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her slowly. She did not resist him but pulled him closer to herself. She reached for the loose end of the robe and pulled it off his body before she found his hard length that was already yearning for her touch. Miles groaned like a hungry animal as her hands sought and stirred more fire in him.
He undressed her and feasted on her luscious body without restraint. His veins roared with mad desire as he plunged into her. She gripped him harder, urging him on and on as he rode her in waves of pleasure.
_______
Kash bandaged Avi’s wounds as best as he could. Although, it took him several attempts and a little more tearing of the skin than necessary.
“Thanks, Kash.” Avi smiled at him when he was done.
Dean was lost in his thoughts as he studied his torn backpack strap, wondering what to do about it.
“It isn’t that bad, is it?” Avi nodded at Dean, who wore a deeper frown on his face.
Hunt for the Lost Sanctum Page 13
