The Sage Stone Prophecy (Arkana Archaeology Adventure Series Book 7)

by N. S. Wikarski

  Aboud laughed and shook his head in wonderment. “You’ll never guess what he gave me to work with. He wants to use water bottles.”

  “Water bottles?” the Russian echoed in disbelief.

  “Stainless steel water dispensers. The kind that sports fanatics all seem to carry nowadays. The containers hold half a liter of liquid. The lid is made of hard plastic and the container of brightly colored metal.”

  Vlad continued to peer at him doubtfully.

  The doctor elaborated. “The bottles won’t contain water, of course. Each one will house a pressurized gas canister. The aerosol can be dispensed by a hidden trigger in the lid.”

  “And you say he has ordered enough of these for one hundred and fifty men to dispense. That’s all?”

  “Incredible, isn’t it? I have no idea what my benefactor thinks he can accomplish on such a small scale. Given the power of the virus, it’s ridiculous to use it in this way—like detonating an atom bomb to demolish an ant hill.” Aboud threw his hands up in disgust. “Well, let him go fight his little war! His petty grudges hold no interest for me.”

  “You told me he was crazy.” Vlad nodded sagely. “Now I believe you.”

  “In any case, I must oversee the design and manufacture of the initial batch of containers. Once that’s done, I will be free to leave and we will be free to launch our private venture.”

  “Things are looking up.” The Russian sounded pleased. “I’ll contact our prospective bidders and tell them we will shortly arrange a demonstration for them.”

  “You can expect to hear from me in about a week,” Aboud said. “I’ll call you when my current task is finished. Then we can plan a timetable for the auction.”

  The two men rose and shook hands before departing in opposite directions.

  ***

  A nondescript man wearing a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead watched them go. He removed a small listening device from his ear and then emerged from the shadows of the pavilion. Leroy Hunt claimed the bench the two had vacated in order to ruminate over what he’d just heard. The cowboy was fuming inwardly at Aboud’s description of him. He fought an overwhelming urge to follow the whistle pig to the parking garage and plug him right there as he got into his car. Of course, the preacher would get a mite riled since the doc had a week’s worth of chores ahead of him.

  Leroy glanced at his phone and swiped through the photos he’d just taken. While standing near the edge of the dock among a gaggle of tourists, he’d managed to take some choice shots of the scenery. He’d also managed to capture several close-ups of the two men deep in conversation. Even though he’d bet dollars to donuts that the big Russian was an arms dealer, he still had to ID him. The old man wouldn’t let Hunt make a move until all his ducks were in a row. With a little digging, Leroy would be able to give the preacher the facts he needed. Then the old coot would finally let the cowboy off his chain. It was past time for a junk yard dog like Leroy to go on a tear and howl at the moon. Way past time.

  Chapter 34—Queens Of Denial And Other River Lore

  Cassie paced around her hotel room like a caged bobcat. She hated delays. The digital alarm read 1:50 AM. That meant waiting another ten minutes to find out what an amber necklace had to do with the Arkana’s quest. While at Matushka Ayana’s yurt, Griffin had announced that he knew the location of the golden road of Boreas but then refused to explain himself. He insisted that he needed one uninterrupted hour with his computer and the research staff at the Vault to check his facts. As a result, the group drove back to their hotel in silence and the Scrivener immediately dashed away to consult his sources. Cassie, Daniel and Olga were instructed to come to his room at 2 AM for a full report of his findings. Over the years, the Pythia had become familiar with her partner’s quirks. His buoyant mood meant that he was 95% certain of his conclusions even before verifying them. Nevertheless, Griffin always needed to be 100% certain before he would venture a guess. Since this was his process and he couldn’t be rushed, Cassie resigned herself to fretting and pacing until the hour was up.

  A light tap on the door interrupted her thoughts. Puzzled, she went to answer.

  “Um, hello.” The Scion ducked his head. “I’m sorry to bother you.”

  “No bother.” She held the door wider. “C’mon in. We still have a few minutes to kill before the summit meeting in Griffin’s room. Even though it’s almost two in the morning, I feel strangely awake.”

  Daniel shuddered involuntarily. “I may not sleep for days after Matushka Ayana’s performance.”

  “She really spooked you, huh?”

  The Scion shuffled his feet in embarrassment. “That’s why I came to see you.”

  Cassie pointed to a chair. “What’s on your mind?”

  Daniel slid into one of the seats beside the small dining table.

  Cassie took the chair opposite. She folded her elbows on the table and waited for him to speak.

  The Scion cleared his throat nervously. “I came to say I’m sorry.”

  She tilted her head. “For what?”

  “For my outburst during the ritual.” He smiled bitterly. “I suppose you shouldn’t expect anything else from me. I’ve always been a spineless coward.”

  Cassie scowled. “No, you’re not.”

  This comment brought Daniel up short. He stared at her in disbelief. “Of course I am. I’m always afraid.”

  “So what?” The Pythia shrugged. “Everybody is. Being afraid isn’t what makes a person a coward.”

  The Scion blinked, obviously flummoxed.

  “Look, Daniel. Heroes and cowards both get scared. They should. The big bad world is a dangerous place. Jumping into peril feet first doesn’t prove you’re brave. It only proves you’re too much of an idiot to notice how steeply the odds are stacked against you. Fear is a normal part of life. The only difference between heroes and cowards is what they do with their fears. Cowards get paralyzed. Heroes keep on going, no matter what. Right off the top of my head, I can think of at least three times you acted like a hero.”

  “When?” he demanded eagerly.

  “You didn’t have to help Hannah escape the first time, much less the second. And you didn’t have to cover for Erik at all. You risked your own neck to save people who were in trouble. I’d say that’s the definition of brave.”

  Daniel gave a genuine smile of pleasure. “I never thought of it that way before.”

  “Probably because you’ve had a lifetime of the good old Nephilim smack-down. I’m sure nobody is ever perfect enough for Abraham Metcalf. It’s hard to see your own strong points when somebody else is always digging for flaws. And you’re got something even more important than courage going for you.”

  “What’s more important than having courage?”

  “Having a good heart. You broke the rules to help people in need. That tells me you know the difference between right and wrong. Not the kind of right and wrong that gets preached from a pulpit. It’s the kind that comes from listening to your own conscience. When push comes to shove, I believe you’ll always do the right thing because you’re a decent human being.”

  The Scion colored at the compliment. His eyes darted toward the floor and he hastily offered a counterpoint. “I’m still not proud of my behavior during the shaman’s performance.”

  “Oh, that.” The Pythia waved her hand dismissively. “You got a little freaked out. No big deal.”

  Daniel glanced up, perplexed. “You don’t even seem surprised by my reaction.”

  “That’s because I’m not. Cut yourself some slack. All this paranormal stuff is a lot to take in.” She gave an unexpected laugh.

  “What is it?”

  “I was just remembering my first Pythia vision. My reaction was to jump in my car and burn rubber. I didn’t slow down until I’d put fifty miles between me and the Arkana. It took two whole weeks for me to work up the nerve to come back.”

  “Really?” He seemed encouraged by her admission of frailty.

 
; “Compared to that, you’re handling your first brush with the supernatural pretty well—especially since you were raised by crazy people who told you it was the work of the devil.”

  “Thank you for understanding.” He paused, considering a new thought. “This mystical business is all so strange and frightening and yet your job is to stand right in the middle of it.”

  “It’s rare that I get to stand in the middle of it,” Cassie noted ruefully. “More often than not, I get knocked on my keister.”

  “Yes, I saw a first-hand demonstration at Shaman Rock,” he acknowledged. “These visions must be unpleasant, if not downright painful, but you never shy away from them.” Daniel searched her face intently. “Why?”

  “It turns out that I have a gift, if you want to call it that.” The Pythia shrugged. “I can see things that nobody else can. The Arkana needs my eyes to find pieces of our lost past. The artifacts we recover prove people used to know how to live in peace with each other and with the planet. Someday, when they’re ready to remember, the Arkana will be ready to show them who they were. As long as I can help shed a little more light in a dark world, I’ll keep on riding the wind horse, as Olga might say.”

  “I guess I’m not the only hero in the room,” Daniel kidded her shyly.

  “You’re right about that.” Cassie chuckled. “I never thought false modesty was a virtue.”

  “Still...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “You visit eerie realms that I’d rather not even imagine. How do you stay sane?”

  “That’s easy,” she answered readily. “I’ve got Griffin. He’s never failed to pull me back from the brink.”

  “You two seem very in tune with each other. Are you a couple?”

  She squinted at him uncomprehendingly. “A couple of what?”

  Daniel hesitated. “A romantic couple.”

  Cassie jerked her head back in alarm. “No! Of course not! We’re partners. He’d put his life on the line for me and I’d do the same for him but that doesn’t mean—”

  “I must be mistaken.” The Scion rushed to reassure her. “Everything in your world is so different from the ways of the Nephilim. I’m still learning. Please forgive me if I offended you.”

  “No problem.” Cassie relaxed and grinned wryly. “At least you’re open-minded enough to try to understand us. It’s too bad you don’t have anybody in your own ranks to confide in.”

  “Oh, but I do. I have a friend. He’s not a Nephilim, of course. Nobody in the Brotherhood would consider making sense of the Fallen. Chris is a librarian. He’s the most wonderful person and he’s taught me so much about the wider world. There’s nobody like him—so handsome and so wise.” Daniel’s eyes glowed as he extolled his friend’s virtues.

  The Pythia studied him narrowly. “You have feelings for this guy.”

  “Of course I do.” The Scion seemed stumped by her comment. “He’s my friend and I care about him.”

  “Are you sure you aren’t in love with him?” she hinted gently.

  Daniel leaped out of his chair as if he’d been struck. “That’s absurd! Men don’t feel that way about each other.”

  Unflustered, Cassie gazed up at him. “Sure they do. A whole three per cent of the population is attracted to the same gender.”

  “It’s an abomination that strikes at the very heart of Nephilim principles!” Daniel insisted hotly. “How can a man build his celestial kingdom through another man? My father has excommunicated members of the Brotherhood for such an offense.”

  “Is building a celestial kingdom your dream future?” Cassie asked pointedly. “Or is it your father’s?” She stood and placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Don’t mind me or my hunches. I specialize in reading artifacts and talking to dead people. What do I know about the living?”

  “Sorry I overreacted.” Daniel winced sheepishly.

  “I’m glad you have somebody. This Sage Stone quest is a rough gig. We both need people in our lives we can rely on—people who care about us as much as we care about them.”

  “Yes, we do.” Daniel wavered a moment. “I’d like to believe you and I are friends now, too.”

  “Absolutely.” Cassie gave him a reassuring pat on the back as she turned to check the readout on the alarm. “We’d better get moving. It’s show time.”

  ***

  When Daniel and Cassie reached the Scrivener’s door, it swung open on the first knock.

  “Olga has already arrived. We’ve been waiting for you.” Griffin beamed down at them both.

  Cassie turned to Daniel and confided, “This is a good sign. He’s smiling.”

  Then, addressing the Scrivener, the Pythia said, “You cracked it, didn’t you?”

  “By Jove, you must be psychic,” he observed dryly. “Come in.” He ushered them into the room, rubbing his hands together with anticipation. “I can’t wait to show you.”

  They all gathered around a laptop computer which lay open on the table.

  Griffin took a seat at the keyboard and began typing. “Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present to you the golden road of Boreas.”

  Everyone leaned in and peered at the screen.

  “It’s a map,” Daniel said flatly.

  “It is a map of Poland and Lithuania,’ Olga added.

  “Among other things,” the Scrivener remarked mysteriously.

  “Stop playing around.” Cassie smacked him lightly on the back of the head. “Just point to the spot you want us to look at.”

  Griffin obligingly tapped the screen, indicating a large body of water.

  “That wasn’t hardly helpful,” the Pythia said.

  Daniel read the caption. “‘The Baltic Sea’.”

  “The Baltic Sea,” Griffin echoed. “In ancient times, it was part of an important trade route that originated in Scandinavia, traveled overland through central Europe, and terminated at Venice.”

  “So?” Cassie asked blankly.

  “This particular trade route was devoted exclusively to one item.” Griffin paused for effect. “Amber.”

  “Ah!” Olga exclaimed. “Now I begin to understand.”

  “So when the Minoan priestess gave me an amber necklace...”

  Griffin completed the thought. “It jogged my memory about the ‘Amber Road’.”

  “I’m not sure what that proves exactly,” Daniel demurred.

  “You’ll see in a moment,” Griffin told him.

  “You have to let him take his time.” Cassie whispered in the Scion’s ear. “He loves long explanations.”

  “I’m not actually deaf, you know.” The Scrivener typed another search string. “There, you see?” He pointed to the screen once more.

  The Scion read aloud: “‘The Amber Road transported what was commonly called the gold of the north.’” He paused as the implication struck him. “Boreas is the god of the north wind. So Boreas’ golden road must be a reference to this Amber Road of yours.”

  “Precisely,” the Scrivener concurred.

  “But how can you be sure the Minoans knew about this trade route?” the Scion challenged. “It makes sense that such a road would have existed in Greco-Roman times but we’re talking about 1000 BCE.”

  “This route was active as early as 1600 BCE,” Griffin countered. “At the height of their civilization, the Minoans maintained extensive trade networks and were known to purchase Baltic amber. It has been found in graves pre-dating 1000 BCE.”

  “Sounds pretty convincing to me,” Cassie said.

  “Yes, it does,” Daniel conceded.

  “But you must also bear in mind that our riddle instructs us to go past the golden road of Boreas,” Griffin cautioned. “Therefore, we must look beyond the coastline for our ultimate destination.” He typed a few more keystrokes and brought a new map onscreen showing the northern half of the sea.

  His listeners eagerly scanned the map for clues.

  “There’s nothing there but a dead end.” Daniel seemed nonplussed.

 
“Your choice of words is quite apropos,” the Scrivener commented. “Dead end, indeed. Look here.” He hovered the cursor over the northern edge of the Baltic which terminated in the Bay Of Bothnia.

  “So if the Baltic ends in the Bay Of Bothnia, it dies,” the Pythia said. “Any islands in that area figuratively kill the sea.”

  “It’s much more than proximity alone.” The Scrivener increased the magnification on the screen. “The Lulea Archipelago is a chain of over seven hundred islands at the northernmost tip of the Bay Of Bothnia. These islands have a singular property. Because of fresh water run-off from rivers and streams, the salinity in the archipelago is lower than anywhere else in the Baltic—less than three percent.”

  “So the sea gives way to fresh water and it dies in that place,” Olga said.

  “This sounds like a promising lead.” Daniel gave a hopeful smile. “Is there a great river near the Lulea Archipelago?”

  “I’m very glad you asked that question,” the Scrivener replied archly.

  Cassie rolled her eyes.

  Griffin drew up another screen shot of the area. “Directly to the west of the archipelago is the coastal town of Lulea. It takes its name from the Lule River which empties into the bay there.”

  “So you must follow the great river Lule,” Olga concluded. “But to where?”

  The Scrivener’s jaunty attitude diminished slightly. “That’s where we reach a sticking point.” He moved the screen display to show the westward course of the Lule River. “Its headwaters end at a lake called Akkajaure.”

  “A lake! That has to be a good sign!” Cassie exclaimed.

  “No, it isn’t.” The Scrivener sighed. “The lake is a man-made reservoir and has only existed for the past hundred years.”

  Cassie leaned down and rested her hands on the table next to Griffin. “Looks like it’s time for me to do some digital dowsing.”

  “Digital dowsing?” Daniel repeated skeptically. “You’re going to use your psychic abilities on a computer screen. Does that really work?”