— No, I am going directly to sleep.
— And I'll have some coffee! — A voice from the next room declared.
El’Athar sighed and showed Tarsis his room, went to the kitchen.
There was a beep of the pager.
"Mr Director General awaits you at 12.00. Rada".
The usual message caused a sudden panic attack: the thought that Aine Soph had learned about El’Athar's copied materials from the Ministry of the Interior Affairs flashed in his mind. But El’Athar knew it was impossible. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
His head ached so badly that everything was getting dark in front of his eyes, and the coffee did not help to recover. At night, he drank too much rum, but it was no longer something special. Once Aleph slept El’Athar realized that dark thoughts that had accumulated during the evening in the back of his mind fully occupied his mind. He couldn't get out of his head the video, wounds of the young men, especially a deep cut under the shoulder blade, strange sensations somewhere in the solar plexus, so disturbing and sticky, as if something very important and scary was about to happen, but in fact day after day nothing had happened. It was so sickening that an open bottle of spirits was not long to come up, and on the background of the quiet sniff of Aleph sip by sip, it emptied.
El’Athar wasn't afraid to wake his ward, he turned on the television and blankly watched the spots on the screen, sitting at the edge of the couch on the floor.
Consciousness was clouding with each sip, but was it getting better? Much tormented special agent for many years, so many questions remained unanswered, so many fragments of memories and some strange imagery came to mind, but El’Athar did not understand what they were about, did not remember anything, could not catch a single frame in his head to see it clearly, every time there was only finish left, tart and pinching as if he had forgotten something very important, as if his life had begun a few years ago.
All this did not allow to breathe, and only now, when he first saw the case of "Merkaba" this darkness began to disperse, there appeared hope that it would help him to understand not only the secrets of the government, which had tried many times to destroy him, but the truth itself. El’Athar liked the word 'truth', as if it could answer all his concerns as a key to the enchanted door. Only the nerves were damaged so that only liquor helped with neurasthenia, it had in recent days not only been soothing, but also a good sedative.
At first it seemed that the shower can relieve the severe headache and remove the circumstances of the sleepless night, but it didn't get any better, the sound of running water was only annoying. Maybe it was also the fact that El’Athar recalled that in three days it was Tekhina's birthday. And this was the very moment when he wanted to see her the least of all, and to explain why he did not pick up. To tell Ami that he didn't feel anything for her, and her behavior and falling in love just caused annoyance, would be unpleasant. And, to speak frankly, the company of a TV set, a sofa and a bottle of rum seemed much more attractive to him than their meetings from the very beginning.
What was Tekhina thinking when she got involved in this? Did she really think that someone will just help her with her research? But now to pull Ami out from "Enki" was impossible: Aine Soph was too well aware that he could never find a better specialist in neuroscience.
After showering El'Athar began treating Aleph's wounds, as promised. When finished, he pulled the first available T-shirt stretched under the arms and his favorite jeans. And then he left hurriedly.
Even if not called by Aine Soph El'Athar would still prefer to leave, the feeling of helplessness was too much for him. It was impossible to go back to the past and to get rid of all that Aleph had to endure in the "corner of Dr Moreau". But the agent could not bear to accept the incident. The day before, he was struck dumb like a fish, and the lump in his throat prevented him from breathing, but El’Athar had no choice but to pull himself together.
— Mr Aine Soph? — Rada showed the breathless Special Agent into the office.
— Sit down, El’Athar — said Director General to the agent pointing on the chair across from his desk. — You are late.
— Excuse me, new concerns — sitting, El’Athar shrugged.
— As I promised, a cash award in the amount of one salary was transferred to your account.
— I would in any case fulfill all your orders.
— Caring for Lamashtu is not the responsibility of the security officers.
— I am grateful to you for all that you are doing for me, Mr Aine Soph.
They fell silent. El’Athar staring blankly off into the wall, waiting for Aine Soph to let him go or say something else.
— I have one more errand for you. — During the conversation Mr.
Director General didn't move and did not look at the agent, preferring the pattern on the wooden door of his office.
— I'm ready to start working.
— Trier Lugal wants to return to Greenland to the place of his previous expedition, but you must understand that I cannot send him unattended.
— I see. But I was told to take care of Lamashtu and to look after Dr Ami. What about them?
— Take them with you. Take care please of choosing a signalman and a geologist. I wish these people were not from the "Enki".
— The University of Elam is full of professionals. When?
— Tomorrow morning. This is very important to get back there as soon as possible, El’Athar.
— I understand.
They fell silent again.
— You have removed your name from the archive. How did you manage it?
— I'm not sure that I even have one. Actually, the same as you, Mr Director General.
After just half an hour El’Athar already climbed the stairs of the National University. Faculty of Geology was located in the main building on the main street of the city. A new beautiful building, traditionally for the higher education institutions, was stylized in classicism and fascinated newcomer students at a glance, but the agent was completely indifferent to the architecture, and did not know how glass shopping center differed from the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Half an hour later he was sitting in a small office, talking to two middle aged men who agreed to take part in the expedition. Everything was simple enough: all expenses were undertaken by the research center, salary was more than decent, confidentiality agreement was signed with the information about how to obtain an advanced payment.
El’Athar knew Tekhina was waiting for him in the hall of the Department of Geology and they were only separated by the door. The agent did not see Dr Ami, but understood that she would come immediately, as soon as she had heard about his visit to the university — such behavior was predictable and obvious. Tekhina wanted explanations, but he had absolutely nothing to tell her, not a new word came up in the last two weeks that they hadn't seen each other. Only one way out appeared in his head, and he did not like it, but nothing else came to mind. Damned instruction of the Director General, it pursued him, and declared the love at every opportunity.
— Hello, Tekhina — El’Athar came out the secretariat room.
— Hi, — Dr Ami sat on one of the chairs, placed in the hall.
— I was just going to see you — the agent sat down.
— Why is that? — She smiled.
— There is a case. — El’Athar never looked at Tekhina, preferring to look at the documents signed a few minutes ago. — I am leaving tomorrow.
— For how long?
— For a week. I think that you've heard about the expedition to Greenland.
— Yes, of course, Dr Lugal is going to participate.
— Do you want to go?
— When?
— Tomorrow.
— You're crazy, I have three days before the operation!
— Is it possible to postpone? I have no choice, i have to go. If you go with us, then we'll meet at the military airport at 7:30 in the morning. Take everything that you consi
der important for the research and for a week's stay. — El’Athar stood up and without saying goodbye, was gone, as he still had too much to do, scheduled for that day, to spend precious minutes on doctor Ami.
The agent was already down the stairs to leave the building when something pricked his chest and it became hard to breathe. The old injury reminded of itself, the pain appeared suddenly and became so unbearable that everything darkened before his eyes, and he had to sit on the landing to recover, but with each attempt to inhale it was getting worse.
An image of the man who ten years ago had made the fatal shot, miraculously leaving the future Special Agent alive flashed in his head. Sometimes his chest ached unpleasantly, it was hard to breathe, but there was no such pain for a long time.
It didn't become easier, colorful spots flashed before his eyes, and those cruel, cold eyes, making the shot. As luck would have stairs were empty, there was nobody who could help or do anything at all. A sharp pain resonated in bright flash in his head, and then it was dark. He wanted to clear his throat, but couldn't, as if a lump was stuck in the throat, and so much blood throbbed in his temple, a moment longer, and he would lose consciousness ...
... from the dark a figure in a suit appeared. First a ray of hope flashed, but then everything inside went cold — the figure seemed impersonal, as if it has brought this darkness that enveloped the world, and chest pain. The voice was whispering, disjointed words that did not make sense, but the guest, entrenched in the mind wanted to stay there, making it impossible to open the eyes.
"...I warn you, you know... I always warn you..."
— Hey, are you there? Are you alright? Are you a student? — Some young man stood near the special agent. El’Athar opened his eyes to the bright light that blinded him, he saw only blurred outlines. Little by little, the figure became clearer and the agent looked up, saw the worried face. The pain has receded El’Athar and he tried to breathe deeply, but the cough was finally able to break out of the throat, freeing it from something that hurt to breathe
— Let me call an ambulance! — the young man didn't calm down, but no action was taken in a hurry.
The cough grew stronger, until finally, the agent was able to spit out what was hurting him — a dense clump of tangled black hair. But that was not all, El’Athar continued to cough up to a metallic taste in his mouth. More blood came and he held his mouth shut, but the red thick liquid was seeping through his fingers.
— Fu*** sh** — he heard from the student before he hurried off the ladder, shouting: — Call an ambulance!
El'Athar lay down on the cold concrete floor. He tried to remember the man who had long, straight black hair, but the only person he knew died long ago. The blood continued to drip from his lips, but it was easy to breathe and his eyes closed by themselves. How sleepy he felt. He wanted to sleep so much...
Many employees of "Enki" thought that for El'Athar nothing was impossible, that he was probably a former spy, and everyone knew that if you entered a search engine request to the World Wide Web "El'Athar" it would not find a single mention of him even in databases with restricted access. Over time, it turned out that this name was just an invention of Mr Aine Soph, but then who was that man?
Chapter 14
Early in the morning, when the sun was just rising an ambulance arrived at the military airfield of Anshan. The driver and his assistant opened the car and dropped a wheelchair on the pavement, and then a young man with blond hair left the car. The driver said something to the young man while a person in the wheelchair was sleeping.
— ...are you aware, that he should stay in the hospital? — Nurse almost shouted at the young man and it awakened El'Athar, he tried to look around, but the neck ached unbearably because of the awkward position.
— Yes, I am — Aleph sighed. — But it's not up to me.
— He needs surgery, his lungs would not operate for a long time in this state. If the attacks are repeated, one day he will be simply suffocated.
— No operation! — El'Athar's low voice was hysterical.
— Surprisingly, Mr El'Athar, you are alive and in good health. doctors treating you created a miracle, but you have to take care of yourself, because otherwise it would be in vain. If you continue in the same spirit, you would not last long. You need to stop drinking and working so much, and see a doctor immediately after the return.
— Thank you — Aleph nodded and held his hand to help the agent up. — I'll look after him.
— Yeah, Mr Aleph, look after your brother, because he behaves like a child. — The nurse put the seat in the car.
— Thank you for everything, goodbye. — The young man helped El'Athar as numb legs did not obey, and the agent was slightly limping.
The car drove away, Aleph and the agent went to the control room, it was possible to get on the couch and wait for everyone else.
Gathering at the airport was appointed for half an hour before departure, at 7:30 am. Everyone but Tekhina was on place. Immediately after the conversation with the director El’Athar met with professors of geological and technical faculties of the University of Elam, they agreed to help happily. Agent was accompanied by Aleph, Tharsis refused to give up work and took care of the house during the absence of the owner and his friend.
— Excuse me for being late — Tekhina dragged a huge suitcase with her things. — Do not look at me like that, I'm not late because of that. I had to contact the doctor and postpone the surgery. And here are the tools for research. Basically.
— So you still dared? — asked El’Athar.
— Yeah, — Dr Ami nodded and stared up at Aleph, pouring something underfoot.
Tekhina climbed into the cabin.
— I think she despises you — Aleph grinned. — Since when have you stopped to get along? You had a kind of ...uuuuuuuh... relationship.
El’Athar shrugged in response. He scraped his hair back in a ponytail and walked behind the others on board.
— How long do we fly? — Asked Trier Lugal a co-pilot, a young man with eastern appearance, settling on the seat.
— Six hours. So you can sleep, read or listen to music. I hope everyone took something to eat with them, because you'll get your rations only after landing. — The co-pilot smiled.
— Yes, we know — obviously predisposed to baldness signalman took a huge computer from his tracking backpack. — We have not had time to meet before boarding. My name is Irinae Gellis. I would be glad if I was simply call Irinae. I'm the chief specialist of the department of data and the only one in this country who still knows how to work with the transmission of radio signals in an emergency.
— This is important — adjusting his glasses, joined the conversation the geologist. — Once, during excavations on a small island, we drowned our satellite transmitter. We were cut off from the world. We were fortunate that Irinae was on the expedition, he practically saved us all.
— Yes, — he nodded in agreement. — In our time only the military use radio. But it was enough to get us pulled out.
— Let's hope, the radio would not come in handy — geologist smiled. — By the way, I am Neal, deputy dean of the Faculty of Geology.
— And I am Heth — the co-pilot turned to everyone — and our crew commander, whom you should love and respect, and for the next six hours not act on his nerves is called Julius. Everyone get ready for take-off. We hope for a flight you will not have time to mope. Think that not so long ago it would take us fifteen hours to cover the same distance. And rejoice.
All buckled up.
Two pilots were complete opposites of each other. Julius — a big fifty year old black man with a serious face, while Heth looked no older than thirty, though El’Athar knew that he was in his late thirties. Despite the urgency and lack of time, he chad time to study the cases of everyone, who agreed to this trip. From the file he found out that all Heth's ancestors were from the Far East, it seemed from the country once known as Korea.
The tiny plane had two seats
next to each window and a sufficiently wide passage in the middle. In the first row on the one hand Irinae and Neil sat, on the other — El’Athar and Aleph. Behind them was Tekhina. Dr Lugal sat separately, having put a pile of books on the seat next to him.
— I know you did not take anything with you. Is that right? — Over El’Athar's head appeared a female hand, which was holding two apples. — Aleph, I know you love apples.
— Thank you, Dr Ami — Aleph took fruit and handed one to El’Athar.
— No, thank you, Tharsis seem to have bought me chips and candy. Does someone else eat that?
— I do not think so — Tekhina returned to her book.
— I have not tried chips — Aleph shrugged as usual.
— How can you claim that you do not like to eat, if you have not tried? — outraged the agent.
— I have tried regular food.
— What do you mean? — El’Athar did not immediately realize what it meant.
— When I first appeared in Anshan, I lived with a woman. She made me eat. It was very tasty, but I felt so bad that I tried to throw away everything that was in the refrigerator while she was at work.
Aleph pulled a pad and pencil from his backpack and started to write something. Then he gave the notebook to El’Athar. It said: "Yesterday you came too late and I could not tell you. I was able to translate the record. "
El’Athar took his pencil and wrote the following:
"Did you write down the translation?"
"No, I remember it"
"What can you say? About everything"
"I'm scared"
"Why did not you quit?"
"I promised to help you. And I have to know what is happening "
"Thank you"
"Stay away from Trier Lugal"
"How are your wounds?"
"Better"
Half an hour later Aleph dozed off, and El’Athar moved to Tekhina.
Project Ouroboros Page 7
