As they moved deeper into the mountain, the air became thick, damp with moisture. The walls were wet to the touch, though the ground under their feet remained mostly dry. After winding their way through the tunnel for several minutes, the passage opened up into a larger space. As each person left the corridor and entered the giant room, more and more light was cast upon the walls, enabling the visitors to get a better look.
Flashlight beams danced along the grayish-brown walls that extended high to a domed ceiling fifty feet overhead. The rock had been carved out with laser precision. Unlike the jagged passageway through which they’d come, the sides of the enormous room were perfectly smooth.
Jabez’s men set their duffle bags down and produced several battery-operated floodlights. As each lamp was turned on, the incredible sight before them began to piece itself together. Across from the corridor, a mural of astounding detail had been carved into the wall, spanning sixty feet across. The images engraved into the stone depicted a story in a seven stages. All of them featured an enormous boat. In one of the pictures, animals of every kind were lined up in twos, making their way to the ship. Other images displayed eight people in long, flowing robes performing some kind of examination on the animals. Another part of the mural portrayed a bearded man standing on a hill, speaking to a throng of people. The next scene showed the boat on ocean waters.
Below the mural of the flood story, three dark doorways were cut into the wall. But the thing that got everyone’s attention wasn’t the shadowy portals. Strewn across the floor, and the stone steps leading up to the doorways were dozens of bodies.
Firth jumped back at the sight, startled for a man who had surely seen his share of skeletons, given his field of expertise.
The decomposed corpses were decorated in a strange variety of clothing. Some appeared to be warriors from the Bronze Age. Their shields and short swords were still in remarkable condition. A few bodies bore the armor of Roman Legionnaires. Some of their large shields had massive dents in them.
Sean moved slowly across the floor toward the scene. He stopped near a skeleton of a man whose shield bore the Templar cross, his tattered white cloak had darkened with time, and become brittle.
Adriana had stepped away from the group and was checking out a body off to the side. “Sean, you should take a look at this.”
He quickly took a few big steps over to where she was standing and immediately realized what had gotten her attention. At their feet were three corpses in a much lesser state of decay than the others. But it wasn’t just the tissue and bone that had piqued their interest. The bodies were clothed in Russian Red Army uniforms.
“Professor?” Sean got the older man’s attention. He was still standing near the entrance of the room. “How long ago did these men die?”
Firth shuffled over to where Sean and Adriana were standing, Jabez followed closely to see what was going on. The professor slipped straight into research mode as he knelt down with his flashlight in hand and examined one of the bodies.
“Based on the state of decay and the timeframe of when those uniforms were used, it appears they were here sometime in the late 1940s, perhaps early fifties.” He made the statement as if it were irrefutable fact. “But what are they doing here?”
“Interesting you should ask that, Professor?” a new, gravelly voice interjected into the conversation.
Everyone spun around to see who else was in the room. Jabez’s men started to withdraw their weapons, but they couldn’t react fast enough. Five men and a woman in winter coats and black pants were standing in the doorway to the corridor with weapons aimed at the group. From behind them, an old man stepped crookedly through the mercenaries, followed by a taller, narrow figure.
Sean’s face grew grim as he realized they’d just walked right into checkmate. “Lindsey.”
Chapter 51
Armenian Mountains
The air was almost sucked out of the room. Sean cursed himself under his breath for not being more careful. It was starting to become a bad habit. All those years of government work and training were apparently wearing off. The old man stepped toward him as Jabez’s men were forced to lower their weapons slowly to the ground. Lindsey’s men watched them all carefully, making sure no one made any sudden moves. Sean elected not to raise his hands like Firth, a few feet away, choosing instead to keep them at his side.
“How’d you find us?” Sean asked coolly.
“We followed you, of course. Seemingly, as we have been doing for the past few months.” Lindsey’s voice sounded harsh like he’d caught a cold. The cool, damp air of the cavern probably wasn’t helping with that.
“Yeah, you’re pretty good at that,” Sean replied. “And I know a little something about following people.”
Lindsey stopped a few feet short of Sean. The older man was a few inches shorter, and looked up as if assessing his nemesis. “Yes, Mr. Wyatt. I know all about your exploits with Axis. You were quite the little soldier, weren’t you?”
“I was okay at my job.”
Lindsey snorted a quick laugh, which began short fit of coughing. Sean noticed Will Hastings start to move toward the older man, but Lindsey held up a dismissive hand, keeping Will where he was near the door.
“I wonder, how you feel about all the lives you have taken, Sean? Do you have nightmares? Do you feel remorseful about the killing?”
Sean shook his head. “Every life I took was to save another. The people I killed were evil, pure and simple.”
A sinister smile eased across Lindsey’s wrinkled face. He took a step toward the steps leading up to the three doorways then turned around. “It seems you and I aren’t so different after all.”
Sean’s eyebrows lowered, curious as to what the mad man meant.
“You see,” Lindsey went on, “I too, believe that the wicked people of the world should die. It is the work of God to eliminate evil to give the world a chance at redemption, at salvation.”
“Oh, I see,” Sean took a slow step to the side. “You’re talking about your little plan, the one where you send out that super virus all over the globe and kill off ninety percent of the world’s population. That plan?”
Lindsey remained stoic. Sean wasn’t sure if that fact he knew about the virus affected the guy or not.
He pressed the issue further. “Yeah, that plan...not so good, actually.”
“And why is that? You think that I will be infected?” Lindsey shook his head. “I have a plan for that.”
Sean laughed, causing Firth to jerk his head sideways to look at him. The Englishman’s face showed he couldn’t believe Wyatt was actually toying with the guy, despite having six guns trained on him. While the two continued talking, Adriana stood perfectly still. She noticed DeGard moving slowly, as if in a trance, up the steps toward the doorway in the middle.
“No,” Sean answered. “Right now there is a team of Axis agents surrounding your Biosure facility in Atlanta. There’s no way they are going to let that virus leave the building. So, you’re little plan is shut down. It’s over, Prophet. You can kill all of us, but the world will be okay.”
For a moment, Lindsey’s face trembled. Sean figured he’d finally gotten to him. An odd laugh began coming from the man’s face, causing the loose neck skin to jiggle slightly.
“That’s it? You set up a little blockade around my Atlanta facility?” The old man’s tone became mocking, and he raised his hands to add insult. “You do realize that we have warehouses all over the world. I have already given the order for them to ship out the virus immediately. Within twelve hours, planes, trucks, and trains will be delivering those vaccinations all over the world. Atlanta only represented a small fraction of our supply. Sure, if we were able to use it, the virus would spread faster, but you have done nothing but bought a few extra days for a world that will be cleansed of all unrighteousness.”
Sean fought to keep his poker face. He’d known about the other facilities, but assumed either Atlanta had the only supply of the
virus, or that if they could shut that building down, the others would follow quickly. It seems the old man had thought of that. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw DeGard at the top of the steps, creeping toward the center door. He was staring at an inscription in the stone just over the top of the opening.
The thin man wasn’t listening to the banter between Wyatt and Lindsey, instead mesmerized by the words in the rock.
“The treasures of the kingdom of God lie within,” he mumbled, just loud enough for his voice to echo off the walls and reach everyone else’s ears. He turned around and pointed at the top of the portal. “I can’t believe it is true,” his thick accent grew more pronounced. “I was wrong not to believe you. We have found the tree of life. This will be the greatest discovery in the history of the world.” He continued moving, almost involuntarily as he spoke, stepping closer and closer to the darkness within the doorway.
“Are you sure?” Lindsey asked, distracted for a moment from the conversation with Wyatt.
“Oui,” he answered and pointed at the strange engravings over the opening.
The marks were nothing but a series of indentions: vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. Sean knew what they were. He’d seen cuneiform before, though he couldn’t read it. It was the oldest known form of writing in the world, and was extremely difficult to interpret. The fact that the Frenchman knew how was somewhat impressive.
DeGard neared the threshold of the door, only a step away from it now. He shone his flashlight into it, trying to get a better view inside.
“I see a path,” he turned his head back toward the group again. “I think this is the way.” He took another step, this one across the threshold of the doorway.
“DeGard, wait!” Lindsey shouted.
A grinding rumble filled the room for a second followed by a quick thud. The Frenchman’s body flew thirty feet across the room. They all stepped out of the way quickly as the man rolled to a stop in the middle of the dusty floor. His face and torso had been caved in, making him an almost unrecognizable, bloody mess.
Lindsey moved away from Wyatt, inspecting the corpse from a few feet away. Something of incredible force had struck DeGard, killing him instantly. The shock on the old man’s face washed away quickly.
“You just saved me a bullet, Monsieur. Thank you for your service,” he mocked the dead man before turning his attention to the group of Jabez’s men.
“Will,” he called out. “Could you encourage one of these men to test another door?”
Will stepped over to Jabez’s group, and pressed his gun to the head of the first man he came to. “Move,” he ordered.
The young Arab looked to be in his upper twenties. But he showed no fear. His face was resolute as he slowly turned and began walking toward the steps. Will followed him closely, keeping the pistol aimed at the man’s back. When they reached the steps, Will seemed reluctant to follow any further.
The man slowed his pace as he veered to the left, staring into the doorway on that side of the wall. His feet shuffled along the floor as he drew closer to the portal. Everyone in the cavernous room watched closely, holding their breath to see what would happen. Jabez’s lips moved quickly, whispering a silent prayer for his young friend. His eyes were closed as he did, but there was no worry on his face. Sean knew those men had prepared themselves for just such a moment. But he had a sneaking suspicion the young Arab had no idea what he was doing.
The man stopped short of the portal’s threshold and looked up at the Cuneiform inscription. He stared for a few seconds at the confusing engraving. Sean wasn’t sure whether the guy was able to translate the symbols or not. Then, the man took another step forward, crossing a broad line of stone marking the edge of the door. Nothing happened, so he took another step, disappearing into the darkness beyond. Sean let out a relieved breath until a blood-curdling scream stopped it short. The young Arab’s voice trailed off as if he were falling into a deep pit. After a few seconds, the voice was gone completely.
Sean, Adriana, and Dr. Firth all glanced over at Jabez. The man’s eyes had opened wide at the terrifying sound of one of his own screaming. For a few moments, he stood waiting, as if the man would somehow appear back through the doorway. When it didn’t happen, the Arab’s head dropped for a second. His breath came in deep, slow heaves.
Will came back to the group and pointed his gun at another of Jabez’s men. “You’re next. Move!”
“Wait,” Jabez begged.
His request halted Will and caused everyone in the room to look over at him.
“Take me.”
Will hesitated for a moment and stole a quick glance over at Lindsey, asking for permission. When the old man nodded his approval, Will grabbed Jabez by the arm and shoved him toward the steps in the front of the room, sticking his gun out at arm’s length.
Jabez stumbled for a second then caught himself. He looked back at his remaining men then over at Sean and the others. He didn’t say anything, instead offering a slow nod of the head, as if to say goodbye. Then, he turned toward the darkened doorway on the right and began walking toward it again.
As he reached the top step, he stopped for a moment, staring up at the inscription above the cavity. Sean couldn’t hold back any longer. He’d been standing there, watching the man they had only just met, wondering if there was anything he could do to save Jabez.
“Stop,” Sean shouted across the room.
Will turned back to see what the problem was. Lindsey’s other men started for a second, quickly training their weapons on the person who had interrupted.
“Keep going,” Lindsey turned and yelled out the order. Jabez had twisted around, now wearing a confused look on his face.
“No, wait!” Sean insisted. “I’ll do it. I think I can get us through.”
Lindsey’s head swiveled around. He looked skeptical. But he was considering the idea. A silent moment of thought passed before he answered.
“Very well, Sean Wyatt. You may as well die now rather than later.”
Sean raised one hand slowly, pointing at Firth. “I need the professor, just to help me read the inscription over the doorway.”
A look of fear doused the professor’s face. He clearly didn’t want to be brought into this little ruse. He shook his head quickly, desperate not to be involved.
“Fine,” Lindsey said gruffly. “Take him, too. We were going to have to kill him anyway.
“No,” Firth begged, moving back a few steps toward the wall behind him. “This is your mess, Sean Wyatt. Don’t try to drag me down with you.”
Lindsey’s head drooped to the side, tired of the theatrics. “Kaba, if you would?” he pointed a hand at the professor.
The mocha-skinned woman took a few long strides over to Firth then grabbed him by the arm and jabbed the gun into his back. He let out a short howl as he tripped forward.
Sean caught him before the professor could fall over. “It’s going to be fine, Doc,” he whispered in Firth’s ear.
The archaeology professor was still leaning over from his near fall. He looked up into Sean’s eyes, trying desperately to find any reason he should believe the younger man. What he saw was conviction to the point where he realized Sean didn’t care whether he died or not. But he also saw belief.
“I just need you to interpret the Cuneiform for me. You’re one of the few people on this planet that can do it. Just be sure to stand clear of the opening.”
He looked back at Adriana. For the first time he saw a pained expression on her face, one that told him not to go. But he had to. Deep down he knew he had the best chance of getting through the ancient traps.
Firth straightened up. His expression had changed to one of resolve as he nodded slowly. “Alright, Sean.”
Chapter 52
Armenian Mountains
Sean and the professor slowly made their way past where Lindsey stood. The man scowled at them as they went by. He was hunched over slightly. Sean figured years of some spinal problem were likely taking thei
r toll. The two men made their way up the steps as Jabez descended them. The Arab didn’t look ungrateful. Rather, he seemed awed that Sean would make such a sacrifice for someone he’d just met.
Sean had stared death in the face on more than one occasion. One more wouldn’t kill him. He snorted a short laugh at the thought. That’s exactly what it could do. When they reached the top of the steps, they stopped in front of the door on the right.
“What does it say?” Sean asked as they stared up at the symbols etched in stone.
Firth pushed his glasses a little further up his nose while squinting to view the inscriptions. His lips moved silently as he translated the ancient language in his mind. After a minute, he turned to Sean.
“The righteous stand for the right.”
“That’s what it says?” Sean was clearly hoping for more than that.
The professor nodded. “Yes. It would seem there is some sort of riddle at play here. Do you have any idea what it means?”
Sean crossed his arms and lowered his head. The gears in his mind were running at a million miles a second. He thought about humility and what it meant. People who were humble were usually quiet, reserved types. They didn’t get out of line much.
None of those facts seemed to help with his current situation.
“What are you waiting for?” Lindsey shouted. “Go.” He turned back to Kaba and jerked a finger at Adriana. Kaba immediately snagged Adriana’s arm and put her pistol’s barrel to the back of Spaniard’s head.
Will followed suit, taking a few threatening steps toward the stairs to make sure Sean saw his weapon was aimed right at the IAA agent. Will also flashed a menacing grin that begged Sean to make him pull the trigger.
“Either move or get down on your knees and let me put a bullet through the back of your skull,” Will said through clenched teeth. “I want to do it. And I want her to kill your pretty, little girlfriend over there.”
Sean Wyatt Compilation Box Set Page 89
