“Doctor Reed…”
“Dana.”
“Dana. I am searching for an important artifact that I believe submerged somewhere in the Persian Gulf.”
Primus stopped and Dana thought she was attempting to gauge Dana’s reaction. At this point, Dana didn’t have enough information to provide one. Over the years others had sought her out for similar excursions, usually rich thrill seekers with more money than sense. She doubted this woman fit into that category.
“Go on.”
“I have come to believe a certain artifact, a sword or dagger made from the Tree of Life, is hidden under the waters of the Gulf. It lies just off the coast between the borders of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.”
“The Tree of Life?”
Primus nodded once, sharply. “Yes, the Tree of Life from which God forbid human kind to partake, presumably because it would render them virtually immortal.”
“Umm, correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the Tree of Life supposed to exist somewhere in the middle of the Garden of Eden?”
“I see you know your scripture.”
“I know my mythology,” Dana corrected and then took a larger swallow of wine. “Look, Ms. Primus, no offense. Each to their own. As you pointed out, I’m a scientist. I believe that if you can see and touch something, then it’s real. The rest of it is just theory.”
“Please, call me Lil. I’m not asking that you believe. In fact, a skeptic is exactly what I need. At least I know you’ll keep me honest.”
Dana still had reservations. She surmised Lil could afford such a potentially massive undertaking, but this required more than money. Dana felt it her responsibility to point out the truth. What she did with that advice was up to her.
“Lil, people have searched for the Garden since the beginning of recorded time. No one’s ever found it. What makes you think you can?”
Lil’s shoulders tensed, her expression unreadable. “That is something on which you will need to trust me. Suffice it to say, I recently discovered a clue that points to our destination.”
There was something she wasn’t saying. Dana could tell that she was holding something back. While she owed Lil a lot, Dana didn’t like going into a situation blindly.
“And if I refuse to join your little adventure?”
“That is your prerogative. The area we travel through is extremely dangerous, just as much today as it has been throughout history. I cannot promise a safe journey. However, should we find that which I seek, the rewards will be great.”
Her archaic way of speaking notwithstanding, now Lil had Dana’s attention. Primarily, this had seemed nothing more than a huge waste of time, albeit a highly lucrative one from the offer Lil had made her over the phone. From the way Lil spoke now, there was more to this than a fruitless search and Dana found herself unwillingly intrigued.
“How so?”
Lil glanced around and stopped speaking as their meal arrived. For the balance of the evening, she seemed content to discuss more innocuous topics. Near the conclusion of their meal, Lil ordered a glass of Cognac and settled back in her chair. Her eyes appraised Dana as her hands loosely clasped the crystal between her palms.
Dana resisted holding the amazing blue gaze for long. She felt as though she could fall into Lil’s eyes forever, find every promise she had ever dreamed of. There was a timelessness to this woman she found difficult to fathom. Some would call Lil’s an “old soul.” Dana knew only that she wanted to know more. Not about the journey or her purpose on this trip; she wanted to know more about Lil.
A slow smiled graced Lil’s full lips and Dana realized some of her fascination must have shown through. “May I count you among our group, or should I find someone else?”
“No, I’m in. When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow morning at dawn. Be warned, Dana, this will be dangerous. I will ask you once more before we set out in the morning. That will be your last opportunity to withdraw.”
“I won’t.” Dana was absolutely certain.
“Good. Muhammed will bring you some personal security devices before we begin.”
“I just have one final question. How many others will be joining us for the actual search? I can’t possibly be the only diver on your payroll.”
“True. I have a couple of local divers that will meet us once we arrive in Kuwait. We’ll all set out for the final leg of the journey from there.”
Chapter Eight
Dana took one last look around the luxurious accommodations. Muhammed had arrived a short while ago to collect her belongings and deliver the promised security gear. Her heart beat slightly faster than normal as she checked out her attire in the full-length mirror. A heavy black flak jacket covered her torso and lightweight khaki shirt, leaving her arms bare. Muhammed had helped her adjust the utility belt she wore around her waist. A thigh holster was attached to the belt, along with a water canteen and extra ammunition pouches. All but the canteens were currently empty. Dana had no idea what type of weapon Lil would provide, but the mere sight of these accouterments was almost enough to make her ill. She didn’t like guns and had never used one before.
“A thousand pardons for the interruption. The charges for your room have been settled.”
Dana started at the sound of Muhammed’s voice. He stood by the door though still in the hallway. Dana swallowed hard and spoke through a throat dry with fear. “I’m ready.”
She glanced around as she closed the door, sure this was the last time she would see such comfort for a long while. There were few people around as they headed outside. The sun was just breaking over the horizon but provided enough illumination in combination with the streetlights for Dana to have a clear view of the street. Three military-type cargo trucks lined the curb. A few men with rifles stood guard around the vehicles to prevent the more curious from approaching. Dressed in camouflage clothing and black combat boots, they cut quite the figure. Dana wasn’t sure whether these men were mercenaries or civilians hired expressly for this expedition, but if Lil trusted them with her safety then so did she.
“Good morning.”
Dana turned to see Lil’s smiling face. Even at this early hour, the woman seemed wide-awake and full of barely harnessed energy.
“Hi. Did I miss something? It looks like we’re preparing for an invasion.”
“Not at all. I just like to be prepared. Shall we get started?”
Dana followed Lil toward the front of the short convoy. She couldn’t help but notice the way Lil’s hips swayed gently as she walked. Powerful thighs were encased in desert tan chinos and tucked into the tops of high, brown combat boots. Lil had forgone the tactical vest Dana wore, but she had a similar utility belt clasped around her waist. Her holster held a vicious-looking black handgun. Below the short-sleeved khaki shirt, the muscles in Lil’s forearms rippled. This was a woman in magnificent shape.
When Lil opened the passenger door of the lead truck for her, Dana averted her eyes. She didn’t want to be caught staring. Regardless of Dana’s attempts at subtly, Lil again sported an amused smile. Dana had a feeling that very little escaped her employer’s notice. She felt her face burn as she climbed into the vehicle. Instantly, she noticed a crossbow mounted on the rear glass. A steel bolt was already loaded into the firing mechanism.
Lil joined her a moment later, taking up the driver’s position. After she jammed the key into the ignition, Lil turned toward her. “I told you I would offer one last chance to withdraw. This is it. Are you sure you wish to accompany me?”
“I haven’t changed my mind. I will say that I don’t believe we’re going to find what you’re looking for, but I promise to try to help you in the attempt.”
“Thank you. Now, let’s do something about those empty pouches.”
Lil had yet to start the vehicle and didn’t seem to be in any hurry. Instead, she leaned across Dana’s lap to open the glove compartment. Dana couldn’t resist gently inhaling Lil’s sweet, clean scent. It wasn’t that of perfu
me, soap or any other artificial chemicals. Rather, the scent belonged solely to Lil. Dana’s eyes drifted closed for an instant as she pictured open fields, bubbling brooks and a clear spring day. The image was destroyed when Lil turned to present her with a handgun.
“This is a Glock .40. It is already loaded so please keep your finger off the trigger.”
Dana nervously cleared her throat, hesitating to take the weapon. “As I told Muhammed, I’ve never fired a gun in my life.”
“And hopefully you won’t have to. I’m providing you with this pistol as a security measure, a last resort if you will. This weapon has no safety. It is called a ‘hot weapon’ for that reason. Keep it in the holster and never put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to use it.”
Reluctantly, Dana took the pistol and placed it into the holster without bumbling too much. Once it was secured, Lil provided her with two extra magazines of ammunition and showed her how to install them in the pouches. Apparently satisfied that everything was as it should be for the moment, Lil started the truck and pulled away from the curb. Dana verified that the others were right behind them by looking in the passenger side mirror.
“So what’s with the crossbow? Isn’t that kind of an archaic weapon?”
“From your frame of reference, maybe,” Lil responded mysteriously. “I prefer simpler weapons, however. I think they have an elegance that modern handguns do not. Also, there’s less to go wrong with them if I’m in a tense situation.”
Dana couldn’t argue with that. She couldn’t count the times she’d purchased the latest in technology only to find that the old stuff operated just as well and was far less confusing.
Initially they headed east, but gradually turned south. The entire trip from Istanbul to Kuwait would take around thirty-one hours, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Since they were traveling through an unstable region, Dana realized anything could happen. American soldiers were everywhere throughout the Iraqi and Afghanistan areas, fighting insurgents. The indigenous peoples had been at war off and on throughout the centuries. All in all, Dana was beginning to question her sanity for agreeing to any of this, but she had given her word and she wouldn’t back down now.
“We’ll cross the border into Syria in about fifteen hours. Why don’t you try to take a nap?”
“I’m curious, why didn’t you hire people down near the Gulf for this? We could have flown directly into Kuwait’s airport and left from there. It would have been much faster.”
“True,” Lil allowed. “It also would have drawn more attention to our excursion. Having a rich American arrive and join a heavily armed caravan is not a wise move in such a precarious location. I would prefer not to garner the attention of insurgents or the local government. By driving in and avoiding major nerve centers, we are more…circumspect.”
“I get it. We’re flying below the radar.”
“Precisely. Besides, I have waited a long time to find this artifact and I don’t intend to start making mistakes now.”
With that, Dana allowed conversation to ebb. She rested her head against the door and closed her eyes, concentrating on the feel of stale, hot air blowing through her hair. Hours passed slowly. Eventually, Lil called a halt for a quick breakfast of flatbread and water. It was a far cry from last night’s meal, but Dana wasn’t very hungry. Comparing herself to Lil’s sleek athletic build, she thought she could stand to lose a few pounds anyway. They were on the road again in no time.
The scenery outside major cities was unremarkable. Dana gradually lost herself in thought, planning the dives and what equipment they would need as stunted trees, desert scrub and sand flashed by. The sun tracked across the sky, growing more intense by the hour until even the breeze failed to bring relief. Sweat tracked down Dana’s face and neck before soaking into her collar.
When the radio crackled to life it was so unexpected that Dana started in surprise. The man transmitting sounded excited, frightened and angry, all at the same time. He spoke so rapidly in Turkish that Dana had difficulty understanding the message. Lil’s expression tightened as she reached for the mic. She responded calmly in only a few words before ending the communication.
“It’s all right. One of my spotters is reporting a skirmish between ISIL and Kurdish forces south of Baghdad. It’s nothing that concerns us.”
“At least not for now,” Dana muttered.
Such encounters between Kurdish and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant forces could last for hours or days. The fact that they were due to arrive in the area sometime in the next few days didn’t fill her with a lot of comfort. Added to that fact, Lil’s expression didn’t convey the same reassurance as her words. She seemed tense. Dana felt her stomach flutter in nervous response.
Despite her misgivings, she kept mute. The day passed with Dana jumping at every backfire and lizard that crossed the dusty lane in front of the vehicle. Finally, the sun headed toward the horizon and Lil directed them off of the road. The truck bounced a little as she left the roadway, but Dana felt only relief that this day was drawing to a close.
To her dismay, Lil didn’t allow Dana to relax just yet. While the men set up camp, she motioned for Dana to follow her a short distance from the others. Lil had strapped the crossbow to her back. She didn’t speak, leaving Dana mystified as to her intentions. Along the way, Lil stooped over and picked up a large rock. She placed it on the ground and then turned to Dana.
“I think we should allow you some practice with that weapon, just in case.”
“Oh, right. That’s a good idea. I know I’d certainly feel better about carrying it around.”
“Let’s start with the basics. Pretend that you need to utilize the weapon. The first thing to do is unsnap the holster with your thumb. At the same time, wrap all of your fingers except your index finger around the grip.”
Dana did as instructed, slowly and carefully. Lil kept up a steady stream of encouragement as Dana withdrew the Glock from the new leather. It stuck a bit, but Dana persisted and the holster let go with a squeak.
“First rule, don’t ever aim the muzzle of a weapon at anyone unless you intend to shoot them. Even a supposedly unloaded pistol can be deadly.”
“Got it. What’s next?”
Lil showed her how to aim the weapon and sight down the barrel. She wanted Dana to try to shoot the rock she’d placed upon the ground. The first few shots missed the mark quite impressively. Lil adjusted Dana’s grip, showing her how to push forward with her dominant hand and pull with the off hand to form a crude kind of stabilizing tripod.
“Now squeeze the trigger slowly, don’t yank it. Allow the recoil after the shot goes off to naturally raise the muzzle.”
This time Dana’s shot tossed the rock high into the air. Dana was so excited that she started to turn toward Lil without thinking. She still held the gun with her finger on the trigger. Lil hampered the turn by catching Dana’s right forearm in a firm grasp. While Dana realized Lil was only reinforcing handgun safety, she felt the touch to the core of her being. She shivered in response and Lil released her abruptly.
Lil seemed befuddled by her response. She cleared her throat. “Um…I think you’ve got it now. Why don’t we head back?”
She didn’t wait to see if Dana followed. Having no choice, Dana trudged back to the camp. In the short time they’d been away, a few large, open tents had gone up. A smaller tent stood closer to the fire and camp chairs were scattered about. A fire burned strongly with some of the men gathered around talking. Muhammed sat in the center of the group, poking the fire with a stick. He laughed along with the others when someone apparently told a joke.
Dana could smell something cooking, but she wasn’t sure she was actually hungry.
“Would you like to sit, Doctor Reed?”
Dana smiled and chose a seat beside Muhammed. Her eyes gravitated to the leaping flames as she thought about Lil. There was something mysteriously captivating about the woman. Dana had thought of her often over the last few weeks a
nd now that they were in the same proximity, she could think of little else. She had wanted to believe it was natural considering how crucial their interaction was after Frannie’s death. The innocent contact a few moments ago left her wondering if there wasn’t more to it than that.
Lil was a gorgeous woman by any standards, but Dana typically wasn’t attracted to someone for their looks. She tried to convince herself that it was the characteristic of secretiveness Lil possessed that intrigued Dana, though she couldn’t deny the sheer animal magnetism. The fact that she constantly carried a weapon on her back made her appear like a warrior from a simpler time and was even more attractive. All of that aside, Dana wanted to know more about the woman. She remembered thinking the same thing the previous evening.
“Muhammed, how well do you know Ms. Primus?”
His dark eyes narrowed momentarily, but Dana had trouble reading his expression. The gathering darkness and flickering flames rendered him inscrutable. After a moment, he answered softly. “I have known Lillian for many years. She is a dear friend, yet I feel I know her hardly at all. You must understand that she does not trust easily.”
Dana nodded. She had gathered that on her own. Somehow, she wanted to be someone Lil trusted with her secrets. Her eyes rose from the fire and locked with Lil’s as she came toward them. For only a moment, a fleeting instant, they connected on an unspoken, instinctual level. Dana felt as though she was falling into a well of emotions. Her breath caught and she forgot everything but this woman. Lil stopped, waiting for something that Dana couldn’t fathom. In that evanescent second, she could have sworn she witnessed concern mixed with a healthy dose of desire. Dana trembled, on the cusp of discovering something wonderful. Then Lil’s expression altered and the visible emotions vanished almost immediately to be replaced with bewilderment. Dana’s heart pounded. She wanted to reach out across the distance, to stroke Lil’s cheek, kiss the full lips and witness the deep blue eyes close as Lil moaned her arousal into Dana’s mouth.
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