by Alex Archer
“You were unresponsive when they brought you in here,” Kormi said. “We feared the worst, but your respirations have been slow and steady. So we understood that you were sleeping off a powerful sedative.”
Annja sighed. “None of this makes sense. What is Dunraj up to? He could have blamed this entire thing on his brother and walked away from it all, probably all the richer to boot.”
“If it’s true that he had a twin brother.”
“It is true,” Frank said. “I saw the corpse. And believe me, they looked exactly alike. And the one I saw wasn’t breathing. He was definitely a twin.”
“Then was Dunraj ever here at all?”
“He must have been,” Annja said. “I found a condominium built into the mountain. It looked similar to the style of the reception room that we were in at the welcome party.”
“It makes sense that Dunraj would have tried to make him as comfortable as possible, given the sentence he’d imposed on him.”
“Living his life out inside a mountain?” Annja shook her head. “I almost wonder who the evil one is here. I can’t imagine never seeing the sun. I’m surprised Dunraj’s brother didn’t look albino or something.”
“The fact that Dunraj had a brother would certainly have enabled him to do any number of things and appear to have a watertight alibi. If the sane brother was in Hyderabad, then whatever his crazy brother was up to, it would provide Dunraj with a wonderful excuse.”
“But was it really his brother?”
Frank cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve heard reports of some dictators having clones of themselves made. Not actual clones, per se, but they have people who look approximately like they do undergo plastic surgery and then become body doubles. There have been documented cases. Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il are two who have reportedly used them in the past.”
“I don’t know that it really makes a difference,” Frank said. “Whether it was a twin brother or not, the fact remains that he’s dead. And that leaves Dunraj behind to do God knows what.”
“That’s the big question. What is he up to?”
“Would it be connected with the highway?”
“What highway?” Kormi asked.
“There’s a secret highway under the mountain that connects this place to Hyderabad.”
“You are joking.”
“She’s not,” Frank said. “I rode on the damned thing. It’s a marvel of engineering, that’s for sure.”
Kormi sighed. “When we were recruited, it seemed so honorable. We were defending the sacred lands of Kali. I see now that I have been gravely misled and used as a pawn in another man’s evil scheme.”
“Why were you recruited?” Annja asked. “You said that Dunraj was descended from Thuggee. But is that true?”
“I do not know now what to believe,” Kormi said. “We were all told that Dunraj came from a long line of Thuggee. But that may have simply been to get us to join his cause.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That the lands upon which we now sit were in danger of being destroyed by developers. We would become Kali’s soldiers. We would use fear and terror to make those residents abandon their properties so the land could be turned back to Kali.”
Annja frowned. “I wonder.”
“About what?”
“Dunraj told me that he bought worker silence with money and confidentiality agreements. But he also mentioned there were a few people who wanted to spill the beans on his little underground highway. Wouldn’t it have been easy for him to simply have his band of thugs kill them? The killers would think they were doing it in Kali’s name, but they were actually taking care of a problem for Dunraj. Three less people who knew about his construction project.”
“But the residential development isn’t one of Dunraj’s projects,” Frank interrupted.
“True,” she said. “But imagine if the developer couldn’t sell the units because of the crime. He’d be forced to sell the property or risk foreclosure. And Dunraj could step in, buy the place for dirt cheap and then announce that he had a highway leading back to Hyderabad. The ease of commute would open up this region to a lot more development, and Dunraj would be ideally suited to capitalize on it. He’d sell out in a number of weeks and laugh all the way to the bank.”
“So this was never about worshipping Kali,” Kormi said quietly. “I feel like such a fool.”
“You wouldn’t be the first believer tricked in the name of a god,” Annja said. “History is full of people preyed upon because of their beliefs.”
“I feel terrible about my role in this,” Kormi said. “I believed I was right, and in the end I was just a fool, easily manipulated in doing something horrible for an evil man.”
“You never killed, though, Kormi.” Annja grinned. “And you even tried to help me. That’s got to count for something.”
“I should have been smart enough to see through it,” he insisted. “And now my life is forfeit for the evil I’ve committed on that man’s behalf. Gods have mercy upon my soul.”
“Calm down, Kormi. No one here is casting judgment on your actions. At least not yet. Right now, we’ve got to find a way out of this mess.”
Frank shifted. “I think it’s probably a sure bet that Dunraj will come back shortly, and when he does, I don’t get the feeling he’s going to invite us all up for dinner.”
“He’ll be looking to kill us,” Annja agreed. “He’s got to make sure no one ever gets word of what really happened here. Once we’re dead, that won’t be a problem.”
“What about the workers?”
“What about them? If anyone talks, they’ll either be bought off, threatened with legal action or killed. Possibly, they might even have their hearts eaten. Dunraj has all his bases covered.”
“So, what can we do?” Kormi asked.
“I don’t know.” Annja frowned. “Where was Pradesh when all this went down, anyway?”
“Wasn’t he with you?’ Frank asked.
“No, he said he’d meet us back in Hyderabad. At least, I think that’s what he said.”
“You’re not sure?”
“Frank, I was doped up, fighting off the poison that Dunraj number one had managed to nearly kill me with. My mind wasn’t exactly at its best, you know?”
“Yeah, sorry, Annja.”
“Who is this man you call Pradesh?” Kormi asked.
“Sorry, he’s a police officer with Hyderabad,” she explained. “He came out once Frank got himself back to the city. He’s been a friend of ours since we arrived.”
“You are certain of this?”
“Certain of what?”
“His allegiance. You are certain he is not in league with Dunraj?”
Annja fell silent. She hated to even think of it. But she couldn’t be sure. Pradesh had seemed all too ready to excuse Dunraj’s crimes.
Was it possible?
She had to accept the possibility that it was. Annja sighed. “I don’t know what to believe about Pradesh.”
“I don’t think he is,” Frank said. “He seemed like too good a guy to me.”
Annja shook her head.
“I’ve got a gut feeling about this,” Frank insisted. “Whatever Dunraj is up to, I don’t think Pradesh is involved.”
“You really believe that?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I do.”
They were silent for a moment. And then Kormi asked, “If that is so, then where is Pradesh now?”
But Frank didn’t have an answer for that. “Maybe he’s back in Hyderabad. Hell, maybe he found out about Dunraj, and Dunraj had him shot. He could be anywhere right now. I just know that I feel like he’s on the level. I can’t explain it.”
“Well, I for one hope you’re right, Frank,” Annja said. “Because we could really use a friend on the outside right now.”
“Very true,” Kormi agreed. “It will only be a matter of time before Dunraj returns to exact his vengeance on
all of us. Most especially me.”
“Why you?” Frank asked.
“Because I helped Annja escape. It was my action that set this chain of events in motion. It is my karma to pay for what I did. For what it cost Dunraj. And his brother.”
“Consider it your attempt to make up for the evil you’ve committed,” Annja said. “I’m sure your goddess, Kali, will look upon you with favor for having the bravery to do what you did.”
“But I wonder if that will be the case. Kali is not a forgiving goddess. And she may find my lack of loyalty to Dunraj loathsome. I shudder to think what she will do to me in the afterlife.”
“Well, how about this?” Annja said. “Let’s do our best to make sure none of us heads off to the afterlife.”
“And how will we do that?”
“By fighting back. When Dunraj comes for us, he’s going to get the surprise of a lifetime.”
Chapter 30
As they sat there, Annja’s vision grew more acclimated to the darkness. Frank eyed her. “And just how the hell are you planning on mounting an offensive, Annja? I mean, I’m all for it. This guy’s a real piece of crap. But I don’t see what we can do. He’s got us locked up.”
Annja smiled. “Good point. Is this the same cell?”
“No,” Kormi answered. “We are in a different part of the tunnel system. On an upper level from where you were being held before.”
“But you know how to find your way around still, right?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Annja felt the heavy wood of the cell door and then let her hand wander through the metal bars. “It’s an old bolt lock.”
Frank watched her. “I didn’t know you knew anything about locks.”
Annja drew her hands back through the bars. “Frank, trust me, there are plenty of things you don’t know about me…yet.”
“Yet?”
Annja smiled in the darkness. “Are you guys ready to get out of here?”
Kormi looked at her. “Of course. But are you? You are still fighting off the effects of the poison and the sedative, aren’t you?”
Annja flexed her muscles and did a few deep knee squats. Her heart felt strong. “I think I’m good.”
Frank frowned. “Are you sure you can do this? We might have to fight.”
“That’s what I’m counting on,” Annja said. “I’m tired of waiting for Dunraj. It’s time we took the fight to him.”
“But how will you get us out of this cell?” Kormi asked.
Annja reached into the otherwhere and grasped her sword. Its grayish light illuminated Frank’s and Kormi’s shock at its sudden appearance.
“What the hell?” Frank began.
“Goddess,” Kormi said.
Annja winked at Frank. “Told you there was plenty you didn’t know about me. But I’d better never catch you saying anything to anyone back at the office about this. If you do, then I might have to use it on you, you got it?”
Frank bobbed his head. “Y-yeah. Absolutely.”
“How is it that you have such a weapon as this?” Kormi asked. “It is not natural.”
“You’re telling me,” Annja said.
“How come you didn’t whip that thing out before and make sushi out of Dunraj?” Frank asked.
Annja brought her hands together. “We were tied up, remember? I couldn’t take the sword while my hands were tied behind my back.”
“And on the conveyor belt?”
“Same thing. My hands were stretched flat so I couldn’t grip the hilt of the sword.”
Frank still looked skeptical. “Yeah, but that door is pretty solid.”
Annja studied it. “I’m willing to bet the sword can get us out. You want to see?”
“Hell, yes. Let’s get out of here and find this Dunraj guy.”
Kormi stood. “I am ready, too.”
Annja smiled. “Great, stand back.”
She could see the lock plate on their side. The bars would only go into the wood so far and then she ought to be able to cleave her way through the timbers. They were old and probably wouldn’t put up much resistance.
But first, Annja aimed the tip of her blade directly at the lock and stabbed the sword right through it.
The cell frame shuddered and Annja frowned. The door hadn’t budged.
“Must be stronger than I expected.”
On the second thrust, the lock shattered. Annja grabbed at the bars and swung the door open. “All right, let’s go!”
Annja glanced around them and then back at Kormi. “We need to find Dunraj before he can sic the rest of his men on us. Do you know where he might be?”
Kormi frowned. “I don’t. He could be anywhere in here.”
Annja had a thought. “Take us out the way you took me. I’m willing to bet that Dunraj is hanging out in the condominium.”
Frank looked at her. “He’s got a condo here?”
“You wouldn’t believe it.”
Frank chuckled. “Annja, you just pulled a sword out of nowhere in front of me. There’s probably not a whole lot left I won’t believe.”
Kormi took point. “This way.”
THEY RAN THROUGH A TUNNEL that sloped upward. As they traveled its length, parts of it felt familiar, but it wasn’t until they came to an intersection that she recognized it as the place where they’d almost been surrounded, when she’d been here with Kormi earlier.
“This is where we fought together.”
He nodded. “The exit is just ahead.”
But then Annja heard an alarm—the same alarm as before. “So much for the element of surprise.”
Kormi pushed her ahead. “You know the way. Let’s go!”
They ran toward the exit and outside, where the sun was setting again. It was déjà vu for Annja as she made her way down the game trail.
At any moment, she expected Dunraj’s men to start shooting volleys of lead at her, Frank and Kormi, but nothing came raining down on them.
Annja paused. “They’re not chasing us?”
Kormi looked puzzled. “That is odd. Perhaps they don’t know where we are just yet.”
Frank kept them moving. “Well, let’s not stand here out in the open. How about we get to wherever it is we’re going and try to regain some surprise, huh?”
This time, when she got to the valley with the giant boulder, Annja took care how she stepped. She didn’t want to trip again and risk reinjuring her ankle. It was still causing her pain without a reinjury.
She pointed out the boulder. “The hidden door is under it.”
Frank frowned. “Under it? How do you get under a rock that freakin’ big?”
“There’s a space. You can crawl in and then you’ll find the secret entrance.”
“You’d better go first,” he said. “After all, you’ve got the big ol’ sword, and if anyone is waiting on the other side, it’d be better if you met them.”
This time, she found the door a little easier now that she knew it was there. She slid it open and then let herself down the steep path that brought her back into the mountain.
Behind her, she heard Frank mumbling something about secrets and the mountain. She grinned. Dunraj had certainly turned this place into an enclave that had more secrets than not.
Inside, Annja showed them the passage that led off the room. Frank shook his head. “How did you ever find this?”
“I thought Dunraj’s men were going to chase me, so I kept going. I was worried that if they found me in this room, they’d be able to overwhelm me, so I followed the passageway, and this is where it leads.”
“And there’s another door off this one?”
Annja held her finger to her lips. “The entrance to Dunraj’s condo. Or his brother’s. I don’t know who was using it, but it’s here.”
“How do we get in?”
Annja crouched on the floor of the passage and made her way to the end of the tunnel before she turned and opened the door.
Inside, the condominium was darke
r than before.
Annja stood and let Frank and Kormi through into the palatial surroundings. “What do you think?”
Frank brushed himself off. “Amazing that this could even be inside a mountain.”
“I, too, am amazed,” Kormi said. “The level of luxury here is far removed from the harsh existence we were told to endure.”
“Dunraj’s brother was a hypocrite,” Annja said. “He was far too content telling his followers what they should do and be willing to endure while he himself—uh, or his brother—was living a life of luxury.”
Frank glanced around. “So, if this is where he lives, then why isn’t he here right now?”
Annja frowned. “I thought he would be.”
“So, what—we wait?”
Kormi shrugged. “Dunraj may choose to come back here and take shelter while they look for us. If that happens, we will be able to catch him.”
Annja agreed with Kormi’s suggestion. “Yeah. Let’s set up the ambush. There’s another exit in the bedroom.”
“Another door?”
She nodded. “Through the closet. It leads out and down to the work site. It’s obviously easier to get to the work site from here than it is the other set of tunnels. That’s probably why none of the Thuggee knew about this place.”
Kormi shook his head. “If the others knew of this decadence, they would surely revolt.”
“There will be time for that soon enough,” Annja said. “Now let’s get into position.”
She led them into the bedroom.
“This place is incredible,” Frank said. “How do the windows work?”
“Near as I can figure, he’s got lightbulbs behind them that can dim or brighten depending on the hour of the day. Everything about this place is supposed to convey the idea that it’s a normal apartment.”
“When in reality it’s a prison cell.”
“For a crazy man.”
“I would thank you to not talk so rudely about my kin,” a man said.
The lights came on. Dunraj stood across the bedroom from them, a pistol in his hand.
Annja was about to charge him but he held up his hand. “I wouldn’t be so quick to do that if I were you.”
