Emerald Death

by Bill Craig

  Hannigan leveled the MAS 36 he had brought from the wreckage of the plane and fired at the zeppelin, at the men hanging out the hatch firing at Bridget and Gregor. He was rewarded by a body tumbling out the hatch and plummeting towards the ground, quickly passing the pair since it was free falling. The dead Nazi splashed into the earth with a wet thud.

  Bridget dropped to the ground and rolled away from the bottom of the rope. Gregor hit seconds behind her. “Run for the trees!” Hannigan screamed at them both. They scrambled across the ground, heading for the undergrowth. Hannigan fired a few more rounds and ran after them, McKenzie trailing along behind him.

  “Good work, you two,” Hannigan told them.

  “Thanks, Hardluck,” Bridget grinned.

  “Your Hardluck seems to be rubbing off, Michael,” Shotsky told him as they gained the cover of the trees.

  “It happens, pal,” Hannigan grinned.

  “So it does. Michael, your father was a companion of Niles McKenzie and Captain Hawkins. Were you aware of this?” Gregor asked as they moved deeper into the jungle.

  “I knew that he knew Hawkins,” Hannigan replied grimly.

  “McKenzie was one of Hawkins’ most trusted companions during the Great War,” Gregor explained.

  “Interesting,” Hannigan replied. He didn’t really like talking about his father. As much as he loved and respected him, Wild Bill Hannigan had thought he should remain in Greensboro, Indiana, a small town farm boy. Hannigan had known that remaining in Indiana had not been his destiny, however.

  “You’re Wild Bill’s boy?” McKenzie asked suddenly from behind them.

  “Eavesdropping, Padre?” Hannigan asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Not at all,” McKenzie replied.

  *****

  “What is happening?” Wessel demanded, running down the corridor to the cargo bay.

  “The prisoners are escaping!” one of his men shouted back.

  “Stop them!” Wessel ordered.

  “We’ve lost two men already, and the prisoners have already made it into the jungle,” one of his men replied.

  “Go after them! Now! All available personnel after the prisoners,” Wessel commanded.

  “I will lead them,” hissed a voice from behind him. Wessel spun around only to find Ragnarok filling the doorway. No longer was he bent and pitiful. Ragnarok was once more standing tall and brimming with strength. Wessel was puzzled. What could have brought about such a change so quickly?

  “Never underestimate my power, Captain. We are close to the Emerald of Eternity. Our goals are almost achieved. The only man who might possibly stop me is now ahead of us. Lower this ship so we can catch them. The airship is no longer of any use,” Ragnarok announced firmly.

  “As you wish, Herr Doktor,” Wessel replied, maintaining his stance. He brushed past the ancient wizard and headed for the control center. Wessel was aware of Ragnarok’s laughter following him.

  *****

  “How far to this lost city, Padre?” Hannigan asked coldly. He was angry at McKenzie, but he wasn’t about to let the man know how angry he was. Not with the Nazis on their tail. Hannigan still didn’t trust McKenzie not to betray them all at some point.

  “Not far. In fact, we already have an escort,” McKenzie said quietly.

  “What?” Hannigan asked, surprised by the comment. Suddenly men in ancient armor were stepping out of the underbrush. Hannigan counted at least twenty. He and Gregor might be able to take out several of them, but not before they finally fell under the blades of the swords and spears that the men carried.

  “Part of the army of Prester John,” McKenzie replied. One of the men picked that moment to step forward and bark a command at them in a language that Hannigan couldn’t understand. McKenzie rattled off some sort of reply, gesturing behind them.

  “It’s ancient Latin, Hannigan,” Bridget explained, looking a little awestruck.

  “Can you understand what they are saying?” Hannigan whispered.

  “Yes. Dad is telling them about the Nazis and that Horrible Doctor Ragnarok,” Bridget whispered.

  Suddenly the man McKenzie was speaking with straightened. He motioned for them all to follow him as he began to trot off down a well-worn jungle path. “He told them Ragnarok is after the gemstone,” Bridget said grimly.

  “What did he tell them about us?” Hannigan asked, falling into a trot.

  “Not much,” Bridget replied, trotting beside him.

  “Specifics, Bridget,” Hannigan demanded, noting her sudden evasiveness.

  “He told them that you and Gregor are also after the stone, and that he and I have come to help protect it,” Bridget almost choked on the words.

  “I knew he wasn’t playing it straight,” Hannigan growled, his face darkening.

  “Mike, what are you going to do?” Bridget asked, worry tingeing her words.

  “You’ll know when the time comes,” Hannigan replied.

  “Hannigan,” Bridget began, but Hannigan was pulling ahead of her. She found herself wondering if she had not just lost him because of her father.

  *****

  Stepping onto the jungle floor, Ragnarok could feel the power of the Emerald of Eternity pulsing through the very earth itself. The closer he came to it, the more strength he drew from the gemstone. His power was growing as he drew nearer. Niles McKenzie was not far ahead of his group. When he caught up to McKenzie, he would have his revenge!”

  *****

  Hans Wessel watched as Ragnarok disappeared into the jungle with two full squads of his men. The wizard thought that the Valkyrie was out of the action. He was about to find out how wrong he was. Wessel turned to his second in command, Heinrich Dieter. “Send out Alpha Squad. Acquire the emerald and kill Ragnarok. Call us when you have the stone and we will drop in and pull you out,” Wessel commanded.

  “It shall be done,” Dieter snapped off a salute and spun on his heel, hurrying off to do his captain’s biding. Wessel watched him go, then turned and headed for the radio room. He had to make contact with the Kondor Legion and update them on his mission.

  *****

  “McKenzie sold us out,” Hannigan whispered to Gregor Shotsky as he jogged along next to him.

  “How?” Shotsky asked, trying to save his breath for running. He had spent a long time aboard ship and all the sudden exercise was catching up with him.

  “Bridget was able to translate what McKenzie told that guy. He told them that we were after the stone as well as the Nazis and that he was here to protect it,” Hannigan explained.

  “I’ll be ready then, Hardluck. Even now, your luck shapes you,” Gregor said, managing a grin despite the situation.

  “That’s the way it goes. Just be ready when the opportunity arises,” Hannigan said, slowly dropping back from Shotsky.

  Several minutes later they entered a larger path, this one paved with cut stones. Shortly after, they emerged into a clearing and what they saw took their breath away.

  *****

  He had visitors. The first in several years. He had felt their approach from the moment they had entered his domain. One of them he recognized immediately. The Emissary from Rome and three others. Another group followed behind them. He stretched out his senses, searching for information. Lost souls, the last group, and one being of pure Evil. He ran his fingers through his silver hair and walked across the room.

  It had been nearly a millennium since he had first come to the Dark Continent and established his kingdom, following the precepts and teachings of the one called Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. It was the Christ who had told him where to find the stone, the emerald that had allowed his kingdom to prosper and grow. It had allowed him to fulfill his vision and establish a Christian Kingdom among the unbelievers.

  His men had stood against all who had tried to invade his kingdom. They stood strong against the assassins sent by those in Rome who feared him and the power he possessed. They feared the time when he would march out of the jungle to do battle with th
e false prophet, the son of the Deceiver.

  He realized that the Emissary had led the soulless one to him. The demonic entity that craved the fabled stone. He could read the desire of the Emissary’s heart as easy as any other mans. The Emissary hoped that he and the Soulless one would battle to the death and that the Emissary would be able to take the Emerald of Eternity back to Rome.

  Prester John lifted his crown from the table and placed it on his head. It was time to meet his guests. Both groups. Smiling to himself, Prester John left his personal quarters and walked to the throne room.

  *****

  Heinrich Dieter and his men moved through the jungle like ghosts. They had trained in this sort of environment before, trained to be able to move unseen by any watchers, to surround, infiltrate and destroy anyone who opposed them. He was sure Ragnarok was unaware that they followed. The madman was too focused on the emerald and the person he called McKenzie to worry that Wessel might be acting against him. They had seen signs of native watchers, but had slipped past them unnoticed as well. Soon they would reach the fabled lost city and then it would be time to kill Ragnarok and recover the gemstone.

  *****

  Hannigan was impressed by the opulence of the throne room. The city itself had been a marvel to behold, carved from stone; there was not a single seam between the rocks that formed the walls and doorways. In fact the walls appeared to be some sort of quartz, almost pink in nature but the color fluctuated with the light.

  High windows allowed plenty of sunlight to penetrate the interior, and Hannigan spotted more than one mirror reflecting light to other parts, lighting the interior as brightly as the day outside.

  Their escort had moved in tighter around them, and he noted the positions of the guards that were closest to him and how they were armed. They were, he deduced, about to meet the famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) Prester John. The one thing working for Hannigan was the fact that McKenzie feared Prester John, and he had seen little else that the turncoat priest did fear.

  The group was herded in front of a raised dais with a marble throne sitting atop it. A curtain behind the throne parted and a most amazing looking man stepped out from behind it. He stood well over six feet tall, his hair almost silver in color, contrasting greatly with his dark bronze colored skin and strong muscled body. Bright blue eyes carried an aura of vitality despite the impressing of great age that hovered over the man. The head of the escort stepped forward and barked out a few words of the language that Bridget had identified as ancient Latin.

  The new arrival listened intently and nodded. It was then that Hannigan noted the gemstone hanging around the man’s neck. It was a beautifully carved emerald square that flashed with an inner light. It could only be the prize they were trying to keep from the Nazis. The fabled Emerald of Eternity!

  “Greetings, welcome to my home,” the man announced in perfect modern day English. It caught Hannigan by surprise.

  “Greetings, Prester John,” Niles McKenzie said, taking a step forward.

  “Emissary, it has been awhile since you last journeyed to my kingdom. What brings you here?” Prester John asked his eyes burrowing into McKenzie. Hannigan half-smiled as the priest flinched under that direct gaze.

  “There are evil men coming who wish to steal your greatest treasure,” McKenzie announced.

  “Evil is always drawn to power, Emissary,” Prester John replied, his voice low and melodic.

  “And the Emissary is just as bad as the others that are coming,” Mike Hannigan interjected, stepping forward.

  “Who are you?” Prester John asked.

  “The name is Hannigan. I’m a guy who is here to stop the bad guys from getting their hands on the stone around your neck, even if it means stealing it. It’s of no value to me, but both the Catholic Church and the Nazis want the stone for its power. My only goal is to deny that to them, sir. Look into my heart, my soul, and see if I am not telling you the truth,” Hannigan said boldly.

  “Now see here, Hannigan,” McKenzie started. Prester John cut him off.

  “Silence, Emissary! I shall do as he asks. If he speaks the truth, he has nothing to fear. If he lies, or there is any deceit in what he says, he will burn in the flames of hellfire,” The Priest-king said.

  “Come forward, Hannigan.”

  Mike Hannigan stepped forward, closer to the man called Prester John.

  The Priest King reached out and touched his forehead. Hannigan felt a strange warmth wash over him, a sense of peace and well being filled him. Hannigan felt the hand of Prester John move to his chest for a brief moment. Then the touch was gone and the warm feeling faded. Hannigan took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then opened his eyes.

  “You spoke the truth, Michael Hannigan. Named after the Archangel, you are. And so shall you be. You, Emissary, however spoke only in half-truths and lies. You must suffer for your sins!” Prester John said, turning his attention to McKenzie.

  Suddenly gunfire erupted and the escorts started to fall.

  Mike Hannigan dived to the ground, slamming his shoulder into Bridget to knock her out of the line of fire as well.

  Chapter Twenty

  Hannigan grabbed Bridget and rolled with her behind the edge of the dais. He peered over the edge. Prester John stood unharmed and totally relaxed as the Nazi invaders stormed into the room. Ragnarok walked in behind them, strong and powerful.

  “I am here for The Emerald of Eternity!” Ragnarok announced as he stepped up to face Prester John.

  “I know you, Creature of the Void,” Prester John replied calmly. The air seemed to almost thicken around the two beings. Hannigan shook his head. Beings fit more than men, because he was quite sure neither of them was truly human, not anymore.

  “How do you know me, human scum?” Ragnarok sounded surprised.

  “I have seen the faces of every demon spawned in Hell. I have sent many of your kind back to your dark master,” Prester John replied.

  “You will send me nowhere, human scum. But I will have the Emerald of Eternity!” Ragnarok said.

  “Oh really?” Prester John asked, sounding more than slightly amused.

  “I got a feeling this is about to get really ugly,” Hannigan said, his tone hushed.

  “I’ve got to get to Dad,” Bridget said, pushing to her hands and knees.

  “Bridget, out there is the last place you need to go,” Hannigan said, his hand on her shoulder, but she threw his hand off.

  “I have to save Dad,” Bridget said, her voice suddenly cold. She crawled off towards where Niles McKenzie had fallen.

  “That girl is too damned headstrong for her own good,” Hannigan muttered to himself.

  Blue energy was crackling around the form of Doctor Ragnarok. A green glow surrounded Prester John.

  “This can’t be good,” Gregor Shotsky said from his side.

  Hannigan hadn’t even noticed his old friend reaching his side. “I agree, old friend,” Hannigan said. “What do we do now?”

  “Find a way out of here,” Shotsky suggested.

  “No can do pal, at least I can’t. I have to find a way to keep that weirdo in the metal mask from getting that gemstone,” Hannigan replied.

  Energy beams were crackling between Prester John and Ragnarok. While they appeared evenly matched, Hannigan wasn’t so sure that was true. Ragnarok seemed to be absorbing more energy than he was putting out, yet Prester John appeared to be weakening.

  “How can we help him?” Shotsky asked with a sigh.

  “We’ve gotta find a way to disrupt whatever Ragnarok’s doing,” Hannigan said, his eyes searching the room.

  “How do you propose we do that?” Shotsky asked.

  “Those things you made at the Mission, where are they?” Hannigan asked, the germ of an idea forming.

  “Yes, here,” Shotsky handed him one.

  “Give me the rundown on how to work it again,” Hannigan said, not taking his eyes off the two combatants. “Fast!”

  Th
e energy crackling out from Ragnarok was now a dark blue, almost black as it lashed at the fading green glow surrounding Prester John. The Priest-king was fading fast. They had to help him or all would be lost!

  “Twist the end loose, then hit that small button just below the threads,” Shotsky explained. Hannigan’s hands were already in motion, twisting the top of the club-like device loose.

  He pointed it at Ragnarok and hit the button. There was a loud twang as a strongly coiled spring released and the top half of the club shot forward like a rocket. The metal club hit the energy field surrounding Ragnarok, then struck his helmet. White light exploded from the ancient wizard, lashing out like lightning throughout the room. Stones exploded from the wall, crashing down around them all.

  Bright green light flared up after the white light had dimmed. Green fire exploded around Ragnarok, burning him. The metal of his mask smoked as he screamed within it, and then began to turn red and melt.

  Mike Hannigan watched as Bridget and McKenzie scrambled out towards the front entrance that they had entered by.

  He looked at Gregor Shotsky. “The curtain behind the throne. It’s our only hope!” he shouted.

  Together they ran through the entrance. The whole building was shaking, chunks of stone were tumbling from both walls and ceiling

  Running down the corridor, they searched frantically for an exit. Gregor spotted the opening first and dragged him towards it. Both men dived out into the open as a loud rumble sounded from behind them and the lost city began to collapse with a thunderous roar. A thick cloud of dust rose up into the air.

  “Your luck, Michael, it holds true to form,” Gregor chuckled as he rolled to a sitting position.

  Hannigan looked over his shoulder. “Everybody’s a critic,” Hannigan growled.

  “Yes well at least we are alive,” Gregor said.

  “That should count for something,” Hannigan agreed.