[JJ06] Quicksand

by Gigi Pandian

  “Are you all right?” Lane asked me, noticing my bleeding fingers as he finished untying my wrists. “What happened?”

  “I knocked out Dante, but his flashlight conked out on me. I had to make my way along the walls in the dark. I got far enough up to find a window, but they caught up with me.”

  “They’re good,” North said. “I wouldn’t work with them otherwise.”

  “I liked you better when you put a positive spin on everything,” Lane said. “Too bad you’re a pessimist at heart.”

  “He’s also a liar,” I said. With the rope gone from my wrists, I grabbed North’s collar. “It’s your fault I’m back in here.”

  “I’m not lying! We’re in this together.”

  “It’s Marius who’s your boss.”

  “What?” Lane cut in, pulling me away from North. It was a halfhearted attempt. If I’d put up a fight, he wouldn’t have succeeded in stopping me.

  “If North had been honest about Marius being in charge, I would have been more careful to look out for him just now!”

  “Shouldn’t you have been careful regardless?” North admonished.

  I opened my mouth to yell, but was stopped by Sébastien.

  “Fighting isn’t helping.” His authoritative voice came from the corner of the room, where he was tracing the edge of the stones on the wall with his fingers. “If we don’t find a way out soon, we’ll either die from hypothermia or drowning.” He took a step. The water was above his knees.

  “Have you found anything else?” I asked.

  Sébastien shook his head. “I’m three quarters done. There is only the small opening we sent Jaya through, and the hole at the bottom of the room where water is flooding in from the ocean. The lower hole is bigger than I thought, but now it’s full of water.”

  “The hole at the bottom,” I said. “I bet I can fit through it and swim to safety.”

  “Too risky,” Sébastien said. “We don’t know how quickly you would push through. You might drown before you reach the other side of the rock.”

  “We should make North swim through the hole,” Lane said. “I’m sure we can make enough room to get him through.”

  “If only I could swim,” North replied. “Alas, if you send me, you won’t be saving yourselves. All you’d be doing is murdering me.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea right now,” Lane said. “Marius? Really? Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “I was planning on getting out of here alive. It didn’t seem prudent to rat out my boss. When Jaya suggested Dante was faking his personality, I simply failed to correct her. How did you figure it out?”

  “Dante was the one who caught me first,” I said. “He wasn’t any smarter than he was before. Meaning he wasn’t acting. I was easily able to get the upper hand when we fought, and what he said made me question my assumption. But when Marius found me, so much more made sense. His desperation doesn’t have as much to do with the treasure you think you’ll find here. He’s tired of living in the shadows. He was telling me and Lane about the book he’s writing. He’s unhappy with the current state of affairs. It’s made him unstable, more willing to take risks in favor of a bigger payoff, like a famous treasure. I bet he no longer cares if you get caught.”

  North sighed. “Neither of us thought I’d be as successful in this role as I was when we started working together years ago.”

  “Good for you,” I snapped.

  “There’s no need to be nasty because I’m an overachiever.”

  “I’m taking away all your gold stars for never learning to swim.”

  “I’ll go,” Sébastien said softly. “I’m a strong swimmer. I have a chance at making it. If one of us is to risk going through that hole to bring us all to safety, it should be me.”

  “You can’t,” I said. “Of all of us, you’re the one who was dragged into this blindly. You’re the last person who should risk their life—”

  “I’m an old man, Jaya.” He took my shivering hands in his. “I’ve lived a good life. Yours is just beginning. Let me do this for you.”

  CHAPTER 46

  “We’re all getting out of here,” I said. “You’re not risking it, Sébastien. There has to be another way.”

  Sébastien smiled weakly. “What would Sanjay think of me if I didn’t do everything within my power to help you out of here?”

  “You can help. But not by being a martyr.”

  “This is your last chance. Soon, my body will be too cold to swim. All of ours will be.”

  “Can’t you reason with Marius?” I asked North, trying not to focus on the freezing feeling taking over my body. “If you’re telling the truth that Hugo is still alive—”

  “I am.”

  “Then you can convince Marius he doesn’t have to do this.”

  “You weren’t wrong that he’s gone off the deep end.” Water sloshed against North’s waist. It was rising more quickly now. “Bad choice of words under our present circumstances,” he added, his teeth chattering.

  I slipped as a new surge of water forced its way into the room. My head dunked under water, but I was able to right myself. The water was now nearly to my chest. I expected Lane to make sure I was all right after I’d fallen below the water, but looking around the dim room, I didn’t see him.

  “Lane?” I called out. “Lane!”

  Sébastien recited a poetic verse in French under his breath. I wasn’t sure if he was reciting a poem or saying a prayer.

  “We’re buggered,” North whispered. “What good’s a conscience now?”

  “Lane!” I ducked my head under the water, attempting to find him. The solitary lamp in the room didn’t provide enough light to see under water. The salt water stung my eyes, and all I could see was near blackness. It was no use. I returned to a standing position and rubbed my eyes.

  Lane’s head splashed out, and he coughed up salt water.

  “Were you stuck on something?” I asked, making my way to him.

  “Not exactly. The water knocked me off my feet, but it also gave me an idea. The water is coming in forcefully enough that I’m betting it’s the ocean directly on the other side of this room. If we time it with the next surge, we could go underwater and pull on the rock next to where the water is coming in.”

  “The water pressure,” Sébastien said. His voice was weak, and he steadied himself against the wall as he spoke. “We can use the water pressure to our advantage.”

  I wasn’t sure if it was a trick of the light or if everyone’s lips were turning blue. Either way, we didn’t have much time. The water now filled more than half of the room.

  Lane used his watch to time the surges of water. Once we were sure of the timing, we knew when we had to act.

  “Show time,” Lane said. We all ducked our heads under the water and pulled at the stones next to the low hole.

  As I tugged, I felt a great force pushing me away. I tried to hold on, but it was no use. The water was too strong. It flung me backward. Carried along by the force of the water, I crashed into the back wall.

  My head throbbed from being hit yet again, so it took me a moment to realize I was clutching a piece of rock in my hands. Did that mean...

  “Jaya!” Sébastien shouted. “It worked. Let’s go.”

  I was still dazed as Lane swam up to me and led me back to the hole that was now large enough for us all to fit through. “Are you up for holding your breath for a few seconds?” he asked. “We should go before the next rush of water.”

  I nodded and took a deep breath.

  Heavy water swirling around me, I lost all sense of direction. Was I feeling sandy ocean floor or a rough rock wall? Panic seized me. My arms flailed, desperately grabbing for anything real to hold onto.

  A strong hand found mine. It pulled me upwar
d. Cold air hit my face. I opened my eyes to see a starry night sky above and Lane Peters at my side. Braced against the rock face, I was able to stand. The water was up to my chest, and the tide was still rising. I looked around. Solid rock on one side of me, the ocean on the other.

  “Swim this way,” Sébastien’s voice called out. “The tide is shallow here.” Next to him, North was coughing profusely.

  Half walking and half swimming, Lane and I made our way toward Sébastien.

  “Don’t step too quickly,” he added.

  “Why on earth not?” North asked. “We need to get out of here.”

  “Quicksand,” Sébastien said. “Don’t forget the quicksand.”

  “Bloody hell,” North mumbled.

  Since I could no longer feel my fingers or toes, being sucked under quicksand didn’t sound like the worst thing that could happen to me. Still, I heeded his words. Stepping slowly and carefully went against everything my survival instincts were screaming at me, but I was so close to reaching the safety of the shore. I couldn’t fail when I was so close to success.

  “Good,” Sébastien said as Lane and I reached the more solid footing where he and North stood. “Very, very good.”

  “Are you all right?” I asked. He looked as if he was about to fall over. A second later, he did exactly that.

  Lane caught him before he could go underwater.

  “I’m sorry,” Sébastien whispered through chattering teeth. “The cold has seeped into my bones.”

  “Hold on,” Lane said. “We’re almost there.” He heaved Sébastien into a standing position, wincing at the effort. His shoulder wasn’t ready for this. “Jones, I’m going to lead Sébastien to shore. Follow where we step. That way you’ll stay safe.”

  With a semiconscious Sébastien at his side, Lane led the way to shore.

  The tide kept coming. Whenever it approached, we stood still, planting our legs in the sand for stability. We were out of the deepest areas, so I wasn’t expecting the strength of the wave that approached. The warning signs weren’t kidding about strong tides that looked deceptively calm.

  North cried out beside me. The burst of water knocked him off his feet.

  “Help!” he cried out. “I can’t swim.”

  I waded back to him. “Then stand up.”

  “But the water!” He flailed his arms. “It’s higher now!”

  “North, look at me. I’m standing right next to you. The water is below my waist.”

  “Oh. Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” He took my hand and stood up.

  Lane and Sébastien were several dozen yards ahead of us now. They had almost reached the edge of the sand line.

  “We’re falling behind,” I said. “I can’t tell what path they took to reach the shore safely.”

  “Ladies first.”

  I was so busy scowling at North that I didn’t see it coming. All I saw was the expression on North’s face. His eyes opened wide with terror. Before I could turn to see what he was looking at, I was knocked over and forced underwater.

  My first thought was that the tide had come from the wrong direction.

  Strong hands closed around my neck. This wasn’t the tide.

  I hadn’t expected it, so I hadn’t taken a breath of air. I couldn’t stay underwater long. My body begged me for a breath of air. Even underwater, the rote responses from my self-defense training kicked in. Unfortunately, I’d never trained underwater, so my natural offensive moves didn’t work without solid ground. I tucked my arms to my sides, where they could give me more strength. But it was no use. The hands that choked me were too strong. Failing to secure my release with my arms, I switched my focus to my legs. Slowed and blinded by the water, I couldn’t find a weak spot.

  Suddenly, the hands relaxed. Both of us were pushed aside. Was someone trying to pull off my attacker? Lane was too far away. Even though he couldn’t swim, it had to be North. His heroic action gave me the opening I needed to make my escape.

  I wrapped my foot around my attacker’s leg to throw him off balance. The move worked. As he attempted to regain his balance, he loosened his hold on my neck even more. It was my opening to squeeze my arms between his. That broke his hold completely.

  I pulled free and jumped up, gasping for air. Marius stood directly in front of me, his face contorted with rage.

  Behind him, the tiniest hint of sunlight was beginning to peek above the horizon, bringing with it a faint cast of yellow. Soon, a beautiful view would be visible from the Mont. The sight reminded me of something important I’d forgotten. Something that might help me live to see that tableau. Inside the pocket of my jeans was the fragment of stained glass.

  “Peters!” North shouted. “We could use a little help here!”

  As Marius stepped toward me, I grasped the fragment of glass. With one more step, he was upon me. I raised my arm and cut him with the glass. Blood rushed from his cheek as the glass slashed his face.

  He clutched his cheek and stepped back, screaming with frustration.

  “Jaya!” Lane called out from a distance. “Hold on!”

  But I knew he was too far away to help. Moving through the tidal waters would take him too long.

  I clung to the shard of glass so tightly that I felt it pierce the skin of my palm. I wondered if I had it in me to go for his neck the next time Marius came at me.

  I prepared myself for whatever came next, but the seconds stretched on. The expression on Marius’s face changed from anger to confusion. He took a step toward me, but he didn’t advance. He hadn’t been that short before, had he? The water was up to his neck. I stared at him. He wasn’t shrinking. He’d stepped in quicksand.

  “Please,” Marius said, his arms flailing wildly as he realized his predicament. “I’m stuck. Help me. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  “I refuse,” North said, “to work for such an ungentlemanly employer.” He stepped forward toward Marius, his arm outstretched. I watched in horror, certain he was about to push Marius’s head under the water.

  “North,” I said, “don’t—”

  Before he could act, a massive wave swept over us, knocking us off our feet. The force of the water pushed me into something solid. It grunted.

  “We have to go back for him, Lane,” I said in between coughs. My mouth tasted like I’d swallowed a salt shaker.

  “Let him go, Jones. The water is rising too quickly.”

  I looked back. The tide swallowed up the rest of Marius’s head.

  North floated past us. “A little help?”

  I reached out and grabbed his hand.

  “Thank you, my dear. Thank you.”

  My hands linked with Lane and North, we made our way to shore.

  CHAPTER 47

  The sunrise couldn’t have been more heavenly. The storm clouds had passed, and the sun rose above the ocean with Saint Michael watching over us. We stood on solid concrete, wearing dry clothing, warming ourselves in front of a bonfire.

  While Lane, North, and I were making our way back to shore, Sébastien found the energy to let himself into a construction trailer and find clothing we could change into to stave off hypothermia. He also found a phone from which to call the authorities.

  Using scrap wood, North started a bonfire inside a metal trash can. The four of us gathered around the fire and watched the sunrise.

  “Tell us where Hugo is,” Lane said.

  “I’m not revealing his location, but he’ll be free by the day’s end. I give you my word.”

  “You think your word is good enough any more?”

  “Isn’t it? I risked my neck for you lot, and if you didn’t notice, I saved your girlfriend from Marius in the tides. At great personal risk, mind you.”

  “I was doing just fine myself,” I said.
>
  “That’s gratitude for you.”

  “Thank you, North,” I said. “I’m being serious now. I know what you did. You knocked Marius into the water, giving me the opening I needed to get free.” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Well, there’s no need for that.”

  “Shouldn’t we be looking for Dante?” I asked.

  “He’s gone,” North said.

  “What do you mean he’s gone?”

  “Didn’t you see him on shore? He’s smarter than any of us gave him credit for. He saw that all was lost. Unlike Marius, he let it go. The last I saw, he was walking toward the mainland. Just like I’ll be doing as soon as I’m warm enough to walk properly.”

  “The police will be here any minute,” Sébastien said.

  “I’m sure they will,” North said. “I take it you’re all intelligent enough to realize it wouldn’t be prudent to turn me over to them, or to mention me at all. After all, I’m not the one who recently robbed the Louvre. It would be such a shame for them to find out who did.”

  Lane locked his eyes on North’s. “Wouldn’t it, though,” he said, matching North’s accent perfectly.

  “You won’t have to worry about me again. I’m not going to ruin your lives. I’m even going to let you have this treasure.”

  “It’s not any of our treasures,” I said. “The proper authorities will locate it, without doing damage to the Mont. I’m sure you’ll be able to read about it in the papers, then visit it in a museum.”

  “Nobody is going to find it, dear girl,” North said. “You’re welcome to use the papers in my room—I know you already have a key. By the way, that was very nice work, Mr. Renaud.”

  “Thank you,” Sébastien said. “It was good to practice my sleight of hand. I was afraid I might be rusty.”

  “I doubt the information will lead anywhere,” North added. “I’m starting to think the whole thing was a hoax. Expecting anyone to find a secret room through one of the thousands of stones across three crypts? The clue was probably the work of a bored monk having a laugh.”