by J C Ryan
Syria would soon be under Hassan’s complete control, and he had already commenced top-secret exploratory missions into Iraq and Egypt.
Algosaibi was confident that he was betting on the right horse in this race. It was only a pity that the horse would have to be eliminated later. But, until then, he still had a lot of important races to run.
His thoughts were interrupted by his secretary informing him that his emissary, Wasif Tahan, had returned from his visit to the Institute of Scientific Research and Development south of Mecca. Algosaibi was one of the investors and directors of the Institute and as such had sent Tahan on a tour of inspection on his behalf. Now he was here to report his findings.
Tahan was shown into the lounge and welcomed by Algosaibi, who offered him something to eat and drink while inviting him to take a seat. For the next two hours, Tahan gave him a detailed account of his visit and the status of the projects in progress.
Algosaibi’s interest spiked when the conversation turned to the respirocyte project. Tahan narrated about the good work Dr. Devereux was doing, the change of approach, and the rapid progress they had made since she took control of the project. Algosaibi was pleased; at least one part of the late Bin Bandar’s otherwise failed missions was starting to show promising results.
However, with the mention of Dr. Devereux’s name, Algosaibi couldn’t help but feel the anger rising within him again when he thought of her husband, Professor Carter Devereux, who would also be at the Institute were it not for Bin Bandar’s incompetence.
“Wasif,” Algosaibi started. “What is the real state of affairs in the search for the ancient nuclear weapons?”
“Sir, unfortunately, that is the part of my report which is not as encouraging as the preceding. The researchers have many ancient texts they are studying, but I believe they are feeling their way around in the dark. Since the stream of information from Professor Devereux has dried up, they seem to have become directionless.”
Algosaibi shook his head and muttered. “If only Youssef had done a better job when he had the chance …” He had his hands in a steeple under his chin. “We have to get that project back on track. It is a matter of urgency.”
“Yes sir, I agree. Is there anything in particular that you want me to do about that?”
Algosaibi waved his hand. “No, don’t worry about that now; I will take care of it. Thank you very much for your report. You have done a good job.”
Tahan stood, bowed slightly towards Algosaibi and left.
Ibrahimi El Fadl just got his first assignment. I just need to inform him about it. Algosaibi thought with a grin on his face.
He would get Ibrahimi El Fadl and Daiyan Nasser, the Director of the ISRD, to work together to make contact with Nate Gordon of Competitive Response Solutions again. They would have to start collecting information and help them plan the next mission.
The nuclear project was dead in the water without the expertise of Professor Devereux. He had to be captured and moved to the ISRD.
Chapter 17 -
She willed him to find it
Mackenzie was a bit nervous the first few days after Nasser put her in charge of the respirocyte research. It wasn’t that she was uncertain about what had to be done; she had a firm handle on that. No, she was concerned about the reaction from her colleagues, the Three Stooges: Andon, Rameez, and Duyi. Heaven only knew what was to be expected from them.
However, she’d worked with invidious colleagues before and knew it was best not to confront them, but rather to try and get their cooperation. As expected, the three stooges were quite stiff-necked the first few days, but with her professional and friendly approach, she had them wrapped around her little finger within a week or two. Part of their amenable attitude could be ascribed to the fact that they also knew it would take only one word from Mackenzie to have Nasser come down on them like a ton of bricks.
All animal and human experiments were halted immediately, and the animals were removed from their cages. Nasser told her that the animals would be taken good care of and, where possible, set free. Mackenzie doubted that he was truthful but, at least, she wouldn’t have them on her conscience anymore.
She and her new team went back to the drawing board. They started by looking at the texts that Mackenzie found in the Books of the Elders of Medicine. They had to figure out, through trial and error, how to create oxygen-filled microparticles covered with a layer of fatty molecules to use as a transport medium to carry oxygen to the blood. Each molecule had to encapsulate a pocket of oxygen.
There would be significant obstacles to overcome. One of the most challenging was the body’s rejection response to foreign matter, something that was one of the main reasons that the previous experiments didn’t work. It killed the subjects without fail, every time the artificial respirocytes were injected.
Mackenzie insisted that they map out the entire process and document everything. She had them consider every possible angle and side effect before they proceeded. Every now and then one of the stooges would comment about the slow and tedious process. Mackenzie ignored it most of the times but occasionally she had to remind them of the end results of their previous methods and Nasser’s displeasure with them.
Nasser paid them daily visits to find out about their progress and from time to time he would praise Mackenzie and her team for the excellent work they were doing. Nasser was beginning to feel confident that they were now on the right track and that they would produce a pleasing result to the board of directors.
The work and Liam kept Mackenzie’s mind occupied, but thoughts about Carter were never far from her. As the days and weeks passed without seeing or hearing any word of Carter, she began to be plagued by thoughts that threatened to send her into a crippling depressive state. Was Carter still alive? Did they kill him when they captured Liam and me and they aren’t telling me?
Mackenzie had already deduced from Nasser’s vague and evasive answers and body language, whenever she asked when she would be able to see her husband again, that Carter was not at the Institute. That did nothing to relieve her anxiety or help her fight the idea that Carter might be dead. One thing she knew was that she could not allow those thoughts to control her life. It was vital to survive and remain positive for Liam.
Part of her research work was to continue digging in ancient texts to find more information and maybe even the breakthrough she was hoping for since she set out on this quest a few years ago. In this regard, Nasser kept his promise to locate and supply her with copies and in some instances the original texts she wanted.
Someone Mackenzie was not allowed to meet did the translation of the documents. She explained to Nasser that it would be much more productive if she could have the person with her, but Nasser refused, actually getting visibly upset when she asked. Mackenzie knew he was intelligent enough to see the logic of her request, but it was obvious there was another reason for his strange behavior.
Mackenzie’s brain never stopped working on finding a way to get a message out about the fact that she and Liam were alive. But the answer remained elusive. She had no idea where they were, nor had she seen a way to communicate with anyone on the outside. She realized that she could not risk talking to any of her coworkers about it. If she were discovered doing so, Nasser would immediately take Liam away from her.
She was surprised to find a reference to the Sirralnnudam while reading the translations of some ancient Sanskrit texts. Something stirred in her mind when she saw the reference to the book. At first, she didn’t know what her mind was trying to tell her, but as she pondered on it, everything fell into place. I might just have found a way to get a message out of this prison. Her hands were shaking when she filed the document away.
That afternoon, or what her watch was telling her was afternoon; Nasser arrived at her desk for his daily progress report.
“Dr. Nasser I made a fascinating discovery today,” she said. “I found a reference in one of those Sanskrit texts to the Sirralnnudam.”
She paused to allow her words to register.
“So it’s back to haunt us again.” Nasser was shaking his head. “The loss of the Sirralnnudam is such a tragedy. I just wish there was something we could do about it.”
“I have an idea. It is a very longshot, but I think it’s worth a try.”
“What would that be Dr. Devereux?”
“There is the remote chance that the book kept in Armenia was not the only one. I suggest you launch a global search for another copy of it. And by global search I mean get the word out to rare book collectors, libraries, universities, archeologists, private collectors, artifact dealers, and such. Put a big price on a copy of the book. We don’t need the original we only need a readable copy. Who knows, the person who stole the one in Armenia might even come forward for the right price?”
She was glad her smile was hidden behind the niqab when she saw Nasser nod slowly. “I guess it’s worth a try.” He said. “We don’t lose anything and have everything to gain. Let me see what I can organize. But don’t get your hopes up too high yet.” He smiled as he got up.
Mackenzie could feel her hands shaking again with excitement. It was not much, but it was a glimmer of light. She knew a lot of things would have to fall in place for her plan to work, but as Nasser said, it was worth a try. There was nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Nasser was also excited. Maybe, just maybe, Dr. Devereux’s plan could produce results. He would have to get permission to contract Competitive Response Solutions to do the work for them. He needed to speak with Nate Gordon.
That night, after Liam was asleep when she ordinarily set her mind free to wander around Freydis, Mackenzie instead prayed that Carter was alive and that he would discover the copy of the Sirralnnudam on that golden key ring with the hidden flash drive.
She willed him to find it.
Chapter 18 -
What have you got there girl?
The six weeks away from the office did Hunter Patrick a world of good. He felt rested and energized when he took his seat behind his desk again. James gave him a detailed overview of what had transpired during his absence and handed the wheel back to him. James left out the details of the suspicions he and Irene had about the mole inside A-Echelon.
Hunter was glad to hear that Carter was doing well, under the circumstances, and would be returning to Freydis shortly.
James gave him an update on the progress they’d made to find replacements for Mackenzie and Carter. For the latter it proved to be a challenge. James had a few people in mind, but he had to talk to Carter first, to see if he would be prepared to be involved, even if only in an advisory capacity.
When James finished his report, Hunter was satisfied that James had done a sterling job. He ended the meeting with, “Well done good and faithful slave.”
James was glad he could move the burden off to Hunter and get back to work. His first stop was at Irene’s office where they discussed Mackenzie’s and Carter’s replacements. They agreed that James should go and visit Carter at Freydis. He would give Ahote a call first to get an independent opinion of how Carter was actually holding up and if it would be a good time to talk to him about work.
***
Carter made a habit returning to the cave whenever he felt the loss of Mackenzie and Liam beginning to drag him down. He knew that once there, away from everyone, he always gained a clearer insight into how he was feeling and how to move forward again.
Seeking that insight and direction, he was once again visiting the cave, but this time, it was different. This visit left him with a lot more mystery than he’d ever imagined could exist, and he’d known a fair bit in his time.
Having set up his camp, he left the horse free to wander around, knowing it wouldn’t go far and would come when he whistled, he went down to the river for a long and power-inducing swim. Swimming was now part of his routine at the cave, and once more it was followed by the complete freedom he felt without clothes as he raced up and down the grasslands shouting and yelling and forcing his lungs to take in great gasps of pure, untainted air.
Tired out, yet exhilarated, he returned to his camp and settled down to cook something. Later he would meditate.
Strangely it was in these times that he felt closest to Mackenzie and wondered if her ghost was nearby. Although he believed it was nigh on impossible, he sometimes talked to her anyway, hoping that somehow she could hear him, was there with him. But sadly, he never heard an answer, not even a hint of a feeling.
Usually, Keeva and Loki would fall into his routine with him, but things were different this time. He had yet to learn how different.
The first thing Carter discovered when he patted Keeva’s flanks was a small bulge there that had not been present before. He looked carefully at her “Keeva, are you going to have babies?”
She returned his look and moved around a bit so he could feel the other side and under her tummy, yes the bulge was real. The thrill that ran through Carter was incredible. How is it I can feel such joy at Keeva and Loki’s expected family? But I do, and I won’t deny it.
He settled back, leaning against a log he’d brought forward and spread his sleeping bag over. For the moment, all felt right with the world.
Keeva nudged his shoulder; looking up he saw she had something in her mouth. He frowned, “What have you got there girl?”
She dropped it in his lap, turned and went into the cave. Returning a few minutes later with another item, she also dropped this in his lap.
He picked them up. To his surprise one of the things was a favorite hair clasp Mackie thought she’d lost, and the other was a small stuffed teddy bear, somewhat worse for wear, it was Liam’s, also believed to be lost.
He put them on the ground at Keeva’s feet, “You can have them lass, you need something to remember them by too.”
Once again she put them in his lap and stared at him. Loki joined her, watching with deep intent. Carter frowned, what was going on? To see if he could understand more, he once again put the items on the ground further away. Keeva, just as determined, picked them up and gave them back to him, this time licking his hand as she dropped them in his lap, and stopped him from picking them up again.
“Okay, you want me to keep these?” Both wolves stepped back and lay down in their usual place. It occurred to him they were using the cave as their own, which felt right, no doubt Keeva would give birth there when her time came.
A couple of days later after his return from the cave, he went over to Bly and Ahote’s for lunch, taking the curious items with him. Curious, not in themselves, but that Keeva had given them to him.
Putting them on the table after dinner, he told Bly and Ahote about them and asked what they made of the ‘gifts,’ as he was calling them.
Bly picked them up and held them for a moment; her hands tingled ever so slightly. She stood and went out onto the back porch where she could see the wolves. They had followed Carter from his place.
“Don’t they usually go away once you get home, Carter?”
He nodded, “Yes, usually they just go back to being wolves again. Why?”
“Well, they are here now and look as if they have no intention of retiring to the wild just yet.”
Carter and Ahote joined her on the porch. “I haven’t told you yet; Keeva’s pregnant.”
Bly could hear the excitement in Carters voice and nudged Ahote, “Listen to him; you’d think he was going to be a grandfather.”
Had that statement been from anyone else Carter would have shriveled up inside, but Bly saying it just made him grin.
“I’m going to try something, Carter. Take a seat and don’t move okay? Pet, can you go back inside, so Carter is on his own?”
With the arrangement as she wanted it, Bly picked up the two gifts and went over to the wolves. “So, would you like to tell me about these?”
Dark gold eyes sought out her almost black ones as they watched and assessed her. She put the gifts down on the ground, and instantly Keeva pic
ked them up and put them back in Bly’s hands.
“Hmm, so there is more to this than you just wanting a keepsake isn’t there.” She put them on the ground again and stepped back.
Keeva looked long and hard at her; then her attention went to Carter. Several minutes passed before the wolf carefully picked up both items and, breaking every rule in the wolf codebook, went over to the house, up the steps and firmly put them in Carter’s hands.
Once done, she stared at him intently for a moment, then turned, and firmly left, gathering Loki on the way back to the wild.
Carter stared down at his gifts more than a little stunned by the experience. Ahote, who had watched the proceedings from a window, came outside just as Bly sat down on the porch beside Carter.
“Well, I don’t know what to make of this. I would never have believed it had I not seen it happen.” Carter paused thoughtfully. “What does it mean?”
Bly took a deep breath; she didn’t want to tell Carter what she thought. How could she give him any false hope when he seemed to be getting better every day?
Instead, she said. “How will we ever know? I think they feel your pain and sorrow, and this is their way of giving comfort. Trying to tell you they also miss Mackenzie and Liam.”
Carter slowly nodded as he stared out at the trees where the wolves had disappeared.
Ahote stood up “I think it’s time we have something stronger than coffee and give a salute to those magnificent creatures.”
The next day James called Ahote and inquired after Carter “How’s he doing, Ahote? Is there any change in him? Is he getting stronger?”
“Jim you wouldn’t believe how much better he is. He’s been working on his physical fitness program, his meditation, and is walking like he could carry the world on his shoulders.”
