The Mountain Mother Cipher (The Arkana Archaeology Mystery Series Book 2)

by N. S. Wikarski

  “What?” Daniel wasn’t sure he’d heard his father correctly.

  The Diviner turned his eyes to the far wall. In a casual tone he said, “She began to have delusions about the state of your marriage.”

  “Delusions?” the Scion repeated uncomprehendingly.

  “Yes, delusions.” Abraham’s tone remained casual. “Absurd lies that your union had not been consummated.” He didn’t bother to ask Daniel to confirm or deny the statement. “I knew it for what it was. The work of the devil. An attempt to demoralize the people by raising doubts about the Scion.”

  Daniel found himself on the horns of a dilemma. If he leaped to Hannah’s defense he risked exposing his own problematic behavior. Instead he asked, “You didn’t punish her, did you? After all, she’s only a child.”

  Abraham nodded in agreement. “That is why I reassigned her to a man who can keep her vagaries firmly under control. One who can bring her around to a proper way of thinking.”

  Daniel hadn’t even formed the question before his father answered. “I am the only man strong enough to grapple with the demons who are attempting to possess Hannah’s soul.”

  “You!” Daniel echoed, trying to keep the shock out of his voice. Although he had been raised with the practice of older men taking younger wives, a sixty year age difference was obscene. The thought of his father coupling with Hannah made his flesh crawl. “And is Hannah happy with this new arrangement?” he asked tentatively.

  Abraham seemed surprised by the question. “Why shouldn’t she be? As the wife of the Diviner, she will have many advantages.”

  “But did you ask her what she thought about the reassignment?”

  The old man’s puzzled expression remained. “There was no need. She hasn’t complained.”

  Daniel gave a weak smile. “Then I’m sure everything is alright,” he lied.

  His father took his words as a sign of consent. “I am glad, my son, that you see the wisdom of my decision. I confess I should have been distressed if you were going to make some difficulty about the situation.”

  “No father, not at all.” While Daniel was glad to be relieved of the burden of a superfluous wife, he felt nothing but sadness for Hannah’s fate. He needed to let her know that somehow. “May I speak to her?” he asked. “I’d like to say goodbye.”

  Oblivious to the thoughts running through his son’s mind, Abraham smiled magnanimously. “Of course, my boy, of course. I believe she has been scheduled to work in the bakery this week if you wish to seek her out. I’m sure she will be pleased to see you.”

  Daniel believed Hannah’s reaction to seeing him would be anything but pleasure. If he hadn’t abandoned her on their wedding night, she might never have mentioned the incident to anyone. She might have remained safely beneath the notice of the Diviner. The girl couldn’t possibly be happy to be married to a man old enough to be her great-grandfather. This was Daniel’s fault. All his fault. He had already charged himself with the deaths of three people in obtaining his father’s artifacts and now this. He didn’t know how much more guilt his soul could bear. He stood up abruptly. “Do I have your permission to leave now, father?”

  Abraham had refocused his attention on the golden bee. He spoke absently. “Not right now, my son. I’d still like to have a full report of your journey. After that, I think we should spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving. Surely you can postpone your other duties until this afternoon.”

  The Scion lowered himself back into his seat. It seemed his ordeal was to continue. Several more hours of uninterrupted attention from his father. Considering all the misery he had inadvertently caused, it hardly seemed penance enough.

  Chapter 42 – Marital Affairs

  Hannah paused to rub a smudge of flour off her nose. She’d been kneading bread dough for what seemed like hours. Her fingers were beginning to cramp up. She stood at a long butcher block table flanked by a dozen other women engaged in the same occupation. Providing enough daily bread for two hundred people was a time-consuming chore. She happened to glance toward the door of the bakery and dropped the lump of dough she was holding. Daniel was standing there. He hadn’t seen her yet. He was scanning the faces of the women to her right, obviously looking for someone. Looking for her it seemed because when he saw her he gave a little start. Their eyes met. He offered a tremulous smile and motioned for her to join him at the door.

  She hurriedly wiped her hands on her apron and scurried over to where he stood.

  “H…hello,” he began. “How are you?”

  She blushed and looked at the floor. “I’m alright, I suppose.”

  “Will you please come for a walk with me?” he asked.

  Could it be possible? Had something changed? Had he persuaded his father to give her back to him? She hadn’t felt anything like hope for a long time. She nodded.

  They walked down the corridor in silence, their footfalls echoing over the stone floor.

  “Let’s go in here where we can speak privately.” Daniel motioned toward the chapel. It was deserted at this time of day.

  Hannah realized it would be unseemly for her to invite him to her quarters now that she was married to another man.

  They walked down the central aisle together. The irony was not lost on her. The last time they had met in public, it had been to walk down this same aisle on their wedding day. Daniel led her to the front row and indicated that she should sit down with him.

  She complied wordlessly.

  He seemed to have difficulty meeting her gaze. He looked at the floor and asked, “Are you happy with your new marriage?”

  She didn’t know what to say. He was the son of the Diviner. If she told him how she really felt, he might report back to his father. If she didn’t say anything, he might assume she actually wanted to be married to that old man. She hesitated for several more seconds.

  When she didn’t speak immediately, he finally looked at her. The expression on her face must have told him what he needed to know. “I am so sorry this happened to you, Hannah.”

  His apology meant that he wasn’t in sympathy with what his father had done. That was good. Maybe there was a chance to fix things after all. “I’d rather be married to you,” she offered shyly.

  Unfortunately, his reaction wasn’t what she’d hoped for. The blood drained out of his face. “I…uh…” He stammered and cleared his throat. “Um…I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

  “Then why did you want to talk to me?” She was on the point of tears. It seemed she wasn’t to be allowed to break free from her prison after all.

  He steadied himself. “To tell you how sorry I am about all this. If there is anything I can do to make it up to—”

  “But there is.” She cut across his words. “You can tell your father that you want me back!”

  “He would never agree to that,” Daniel protested, squirming in his seat.

  Tears of frustration and despair were running down her face now. “But you could try at least! Maybe it would make a difference!”

  “It wouldn’t,” he countered in a small voice.

  Deep down, she knew he was right. Abraham would never let her go. She wiped the tears away with her apron, leaving streaks of flour on her cheeks.

  “Here now,” he said gently, removing the smudges on her face with his handkerchief. “You mustn’t grieve so.”

  She stared at him as a new thought occurred to her. “You really never wanted to marry me, did you?”

  He dropped his eyes. “No, I’m sorry. That was my father’s idea, not mine.”

  “Then why didn’t you say something to him while there was still time?” she asked plaintively.

  He gave a bitter laugh. “By now you’re familiar with my father’s temperament. He can’t be dissuaded once he’s made up his mind about something.”

  “No, I suppose not,” she agreed in a weak voice, feeling all the hope drain out of her once again.

  He took her hands in his. “Look at me, Hannah.”r />
  She forced herself to return his gaze.

  “I truly am sorry for all of this. I wanted you to know that. If there is anything I can do to make your lot easier to bear, please tell me.”

  She noted the anguish in his expression and believed he was sincere. A frightening and audacious plan began to take shape in her mind but she had to be sure first. She tilted her head, considering. “You’ve been to the Fallen Lands more than any of us, haven’t you?”

  He nodded uncertainly, releasing her hands. “Yes, that’s true. I’ve seen many parts of the outer world. More than almost anybody in the compound except perhaps for father himself.”

  “Is it really as bad as they say? Do people murder each other in the streets? Are all the women painted harlots?”

  Daniel laughed. “No, it’s actually not like that at all. I was surprised when I first saw for myself how things are out there. It’s not as clean as here, and certainly more disorganized with everyone going their own way but the people…” He furrowed his brow. “I don’t know how to explain them. They’re like us only they don’t seem to worry as much.”

  “That doesn’t sound so terrible,” Hannah commented.

  “No, it’s not.”

  His description gave her courage to launch her plan. She tried to keep her next words casual. “You said you wanted to make things up to me. Maybe there is a way.”

  “Anything! Name it.”

  “I think I’d like to know more about the Fallen Lands. How people act and dress and how they travel about. Will you come visit me from time to time and tell me about them?”

  He seemed taken aback. She knew that exhibiting curiosity about the outer world was considered an abomination. A sure sign of the devil’s influence.

  She watched him closely. Everything depended on the next few seconds. Would he realize why she wanted to know and, more importantly, would he help her?

  He stared at her in silence, a look of shock and understanding dawning on his face. And then he seemed to reach a decision in his own mind. “Why yes. I see no harm in that. Of course, I’ll tell you anything you’d like to know.”

  She needed to be sure he wouldn’t betray her so she nudged him one step further. “Can we keep this just between ourselves?”

  He gulped and nodded. “Y…yes. Of course. Just as you say. Between ourselves.”

  She gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you, Daniel. I’ll feel much better about things if you just do that much for me. It will make all the difference.”

  He seemed both relieved that she’d forgiven him and troubled because he must suspect how she was going to use that information.

  “Whenever you want to talk about the Fallen Lands, send for me. I’ll be there. I promise.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead just as he’d done on their wedding night, only this time she fancied there was some genuine emotion behind that kiss. “Goodbye, Hannah. Until next time.”

  “Goodbye Daniel and thank you.”

  He got up and left her sitting alone in the chapel.

  She smiled to herself. All wasn’t lost. She would have her freedom after all. Whether he knew it or not, Daniel was going to help her throw open the gates of hell.

  Chapter 43 –Bugs In The Design

  Abraham entered his secret treasury clutching the small wooden box to his chest. Words couldn’t express the elation he felt. God was good. He was holding in his hands an object believed to be no more than a legend. Like so many of the other so-called mythical artifacts he had collected in this room, the golden bee was quite real. He walked to the table in the center of the treasury and took his most recent acquisition out of its container. He held it up to examine it more closely. Even under the fluorescent lights which seemed to drain the color out of most objects, this one still glowed with an inner fire. An indication of its hidden power.

  He reminded himself sharply of the Lord’s command against worshipping graven images. But he wasn’t worshipping it. He worshiped the deity who had so graciously placed it in his possession. His gaze slid away from the bee to the storage compartments lining the walls. They were almost full now. Only six remained empty. After today, only five. They waited to house the Bones Of The Mother and finally the Sage Stone. Once he possessed the latter, he would be ready to act. Then the world would see a change.

  He had no doubt that Daniel would succeed in acquiring the rest of the artifacts. It was a mark of God’s favor that they had prevailed thus far, even in the face of resistance from the Fallen. The young man who had tried not once, but twice, to steal the relics from the Nephilim had been justly vanquished. No doubt he was burning in hell at this very moment. God was good. He smote down the enemies of the righteous. Abraham uttered a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

  He replaced the golden bee in its container and carried it reverently to a storage compartment in the corner of the treasury. It would remain sealed away here, waiting for its companion pieces. Its very presence however, was a signal to Abraham to move forward with the next phase of his plan. He looked at his wrist watch. The hour was at hand.

  ***

  Doctor Rafi Aboud waited impatiently for his benefactor to arrive. He was used to secrecy in his line of work but this compound out in the middle of nowhere and the people who lived here seemed otherworldly to him. Otherwordly in a way that made him uneasy. Uneasiness was a small price to pay, he reminded himself sternly. In order to be allowed to continue his work, he would have gladly struck a bargain with the devil himself. Aboud noted the time. His host should have been here by now.

  At that moment the office door opened to reveal an old man with a white beard. He was dressed entirely in black.

  “Doctor Aboud?” he held out his hand in greeting.

  The visitor grasped it warily. “You are Abraham Metcalf?”

  “Yes, I’m very glad to meet you. Was your trip difficult?”

  Aboud shrugged. “Flying thousands of miles is never easy.”

  “And your accommodations,” the old man pressed. “Are they sufficient for your needs?”

  “Sufficient, yes,” the visitor agreed. He didn’t much like being surrounded by locked gates but that was a minor inconvenience.

  The old man appeared animated for some reason. He exuded a hectic energy which he only suppressed with difficulty. “May I offer you some refreshment?”

  Aboud wished to keep the meeting short and impersonal. “No, thank you,” he said curtly. “I would like to see the plans for my facility.”

  “Of course,” Metcalf agreed readily. “Here they are.” He picked up a long cardboard tube which had been standing next to his desk and removed the contents. He carried the rolled papers over to a conference table on the other side of the room and spread them out.

  Aboud came to stand beside him, looking at the blueprints over his shoulder.

  “As you can see, the entire laboratory will be underground,” the old man explained. “That will allow you to work in maximum privacy.”

  “That is good,” the visitor agreed. “How many of your people know of this plan?”

  “Very few. Only a handful in fact. There’s no reason why the rest should. I’ve acquired a tract of land a few miles away from the compound. The construction crew will be hired from the outside. They will have no occasion to deal with any of the Nephilim other than the men I’ve selected to supervise this operation. You may come and go as you please.”

  Aboud nodded his approval. So he would be allowed to leave after all. He made a mental note to find alternative living arrangements as soon as possible. Transferring his attention back to the blueprint, he scrutinized every detail of the design. This Metcalf had been careful to follow his instructions. It looked very good. He traced his finger over the main laboratory. The dimensions were much larger than his old facility.

  “I will need assistants,” he said half to himself.

  “My brethren are attempting to locate some of your countrymen whose work was also disrupted. I’m sure we can guarantee a
t least a handful of experienced laboratory technicians.”

  “I will need a dozen.” Aboud’s voice was expressionless. It wasn’t a demand. It was a necessity if the work was to go forward as his benefactor wished.

  Metcalf at first seemed taken aback by the comment. Apparently he wasn’t used to being contradicted. Then he smiled briefly. “Just as you say. A dozen.”

  The doctor returned his attention to the blueprint for a few moments but then he paused as a new thought struck him. “Have you found a supplier for the animals I will need?”

  Metcalf nodded. “Oh yes, that’s all been arranged. Here is the card of the man who will be your contact.”

  He handed Aboud a business card with a name and phone number printed on it. The man’s title indicated that he specialized in laboratory supplies.

  The old man elaborated. “Once the facility is complete, you can contact him and let him know what you require. He assures me that he can get most anything. Cats, dogs, primates.”

  Aboud allowed himself to smile briefly. “That is good. We can institute a breeding program, of course, but that will take time. Initially I will need a very large quantity to test my experiments.”

  “It’s a shame your work was interrupted during the war.”

  The doctor shot Metcalf an incredulous look. The old man seemed to be trying to make conversation. This was hardly a pleasant topic to choose. Aboud thought back to his final days in his homeland. He had been forced to flee his country, one step ahead of the troops. His laboratory was destroyed, and with it his hopes of completing his research. He gave a humorless laugh. “Not only my work was interrupted. My life as well.”

  “I realize it must be difficult adjusting to a new place,” Metcalf offered consolingly.

  Aboud shrugged philosophically. “Here, there. The science is the same. What you are planning to build for me here is much better than what I had in my own country. I can accomplish more in a facility like this one.” He continued to trace the outline of the structure but then his finger stopped. “There is one thing missing from this plan.”