The Night Queen lifted Magda Fischer off the ground. She screamed, kicked and punched, but Yineput did not seem to feel it. She turned and headed toward the pyramid.
“Mags!” John Kane drew a pistol and emptied it into the queen’s back to no effect. He dropped his weapon and tried to tackle the queen around the ankles. Yineput cast a scornful frown down at him and kicked him in the head. Kane went still.
Stone ran to Trinity, who clutched the golden tablet. “I thought we might need this if we’re going to stop this madness,” she said.
“Good call. But first we need to get to safety.”
Stone turned to see one of the warriors charging toward him. He shot the warrior twice in the head, but it only flinched and slowed down for a few seconds before continuing its attack. Stone put his body between Trinity and the warrior as they backed away.
“They’re hard to kill,” Trinity said.
“I noticed.” Stone fired again, struck the warrior’s knee. It stumbled, righted itself, and limped toward him.
“Imagine trying to stop an army of these on the battlefield,” she continued.
“I’d rather not.” An army like this could sweep across north Africa, giving the
Germans control of the Mediterranean coast from Alexandria to Casablanca. And from there it was only a short hop across the Straits of Gibraltar to western Europe. Trapped between the German army to the east and the Night Queen’s forces to the west, France, Belgium and Luxembourg would be crushed like a grape. And that was only the beginning.
Stone fired another shot at the warrior. The bullet struck the creature in the heart. Now he got a reaction. The warrior stopped in its tracks, roared in pain. Stone’s next bullet to the heart caused it to stagger. The third finally brought it down.
“The heart is its vulnerable spot, but one shot won’t do it,” he said.
The Night Queen stood atop the pyramid. She still held Fischer. The actress struggled, tried to break free, but to no avail. Yineput opened her mouth wide and spat out a black cloud.
“What is that?” Trinity asked.
“Nothing good. Of that I’m certain.”
Atop the pyramid, they saw the Night Queen press her lips to Fischer’s. A black cloud surrounded them. Fischer thrashed, then twitched, and finally collapsed. Her limp body thudded down the side of the pyramid and came to rest beside the casket. The queen cried out in ecstasy.
“Where are the others?” Trinity said.
Stone caught a glimpse of red hair on the opposite side of the chamber, moving toward an open passageway.
“Over there. Come on.” He took Trinity by the hand, but before they could take two steps, a trio of Anubis warriors came marching toward them. He couldn’t fight them all. They would have to find another way.
“There’s an empty passageway behind us,” Trinity said. “Let’s go.”
They fled along a dark passageway and the Night Queen’s soldiers followed. They turned a corner, then another, and found themselves inside a room laden with treasure. Barrels and chests overflowed with gold and gemstones. Pottery, statues, and weapons filled the room.
“There’s no way out,” Trinity said.
Stone could hear the approach of the Anubis warriors. Time was running out.
“What is that glowing in your pocket?” Trinity asked.
Stone took out the ushabti and held it up. It shone bright green. “The deeper we go, the brighter it gets.”
“Maybe it’s guiding us somewhere?”
Stone looked around. An open casket leaned against the far wall. Inside stood the mummified remains of a person with an impossibly long snout. Where the wrapping had crumbled, he saw long, sharp teeth.
“That’s some sort of crocodilian.” They ran to the casket. The ushabti burned ever brighter. Stone gave the mummy a quick examination but saw nothing that could help them.
“What’s back here?” Trinity shoved the casket aside. It struck the ground, shattered, and the mummy rolled out onto the floor.
Where the coffin had was an engraving of a crocodile’s head. Inside its mouth, an oval had been carved out. It was the same size and shape as the base of the ushabti.
“They’re coming!” Trinity said. The Anubis warriors were only seconds away.
Stone pressed the base of the ushabti into the hole and twisted. Green fire filled the lines of the engraved crocodile and a section of wall swung back. They didn’t wait to see what was on the other side. Stone grabbed the ushabti and they ducked into the open passageway.
Behind them, the Anubis warriors reached the door just before it slammed shut. One of them shoved its arm through, preventing the door from closing. Stone and Trinity ran.
The passageway sloped down at a steep angle and the air grew warm and damp. With every step the ushabti shone brighter.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction,” Stone said.
“Right direction to do what?” Trinity said. “It would have been nice if Orion had left us some instructions.”
“I guess he trusts us to figure it out.”
“That’s because he never met you. You can be a bit obtuse.”
“That’s unkind.” Stone grinned. “But sometimes accurate.”
“What about Alex and Constance?”
“Hopefully, Hawk got them out of there. But there was nothing we could do surrounded by Anubis warriors.” Stone prayed his friends were all right.
The passageway opened into a vast cavern. Water dripped from stalactites down to an underground lake. Stone columns carved to resemble bundles of reeds were set in the walls all around the chamber. A narrow walkway led to a small marble pyramid in the middle of the lake. They made a run for it.
“What do you expect to find in the pyramid?” Trinity asked.
“I don’t know, but at least the narrow pathway will force the warriors to come at us one at a time.” Privately he thought he didn’t have enough ammunition to hold them off for long.
Interlude 7
Rose seemed to fall in slow motion. The shock and hurt in her eyes was more than Stone could bear. This was the worst thing he had ever done. The fact that he had done it for his country didn’t change the evil nature of the act itself. He watched Rose’s body sink beneath the water and then he turned and ran. He didn’t slow down until he reached the Left Bank.
Stone stopped in front of the Church of Saint-Severin. Suddenly dizzy, he clutched the wrought iron fence that barred the way to the thousand-year-old church, and stared up at its imposing bell tower. He tried to pray, but words failed him.
He didn’t know how long he stood there, trying and failing to ask for forgiveness. Like his grandfather used to say, “The only real apology is changed behavior.” Only a hypocrite asked for forgiveness without making a change.
Finally, he turned and walked away. Soon, this would all be over. He could be his own man. Perhaps then he could earn absolution.
He found a dance hall that was open late and borrowed their phone. He dialed the number he had been given — USA76. It rang twice before someone picked up on the other end.
“I’ve got it,” he said.
“Where are you?” The voice was that of Lemon Face.
Stone gave his location. Five minutes later, a Puegot pulled up to the curb. Stone slid into the back seat and the vehicle pulled away.
“You have it?” Lemon face asked.
Stone kept his eyes straight ahead as he handed over the leather pouch. Lemon Face opened the bag, looked inside, and beamed.
“Well done. You will receive a letter of commendation in your file.”
“Thank you,” Stone said without conviction.
“I know this is not easy. I did the job for many years. I focus on the fact that I’m doing it in the service of something greater than myself.”