"Are you sure you don't have another reason for staying?" her voice cracked.
"Don't be ridiculous, Nina. I can't believe you entertain shite like that," Sam sighed.
"It didn't look like shite in the kitchen," she mumbled.
"Don't be such a bitch. You know you…" Sam stopped right there. He had almost told her how he felt about her and realized in the nick of time what his words were about to reveal.
"I what?" she prompted, with a look of hope on her pretty face, picking up on his thoughts.
"Nothing. Just stop jumping to conclusions out of desperation. You know it's not true," he said, his eyes on the floor in fear that she might read his mind again.
Purdue returned and punched in the code. The door hissed and sprung open. He switched on the light and the sudden brightness of it jerked Nina and Sam out of their subdued intimacy, smothered by their incessant jousting.
"Sergeant, will you be joining us?" he asked, as Sam and Nina entered the lab.
"No, thank you, sir. It does not really pertain to me. Besides, I am very interested in the enticing experiments conducted in this lab," she replied. "I shall wait here."
Purdue smiled to himself. He knew what she was staring at and understood unrequited attention better than anyone.
"Very well," he said, with his open hands stroking the sides of his jacket and went inside.
Nina was impressed by all the space and the high-end computers. There were analyzing instruments, gloves, magnifiers linked to two of the computers and several books on the history of the artifact already placed on the bookshelf. Among all the items she was not going to utilize she noticed old transistor radios and frequency devices, telegraph machines and strangely fashioned sundials in unusual metals.
"This place is so steampunk, Sam," she remarked on her observations. Sam smiled and nodded in agreement. It certainly was. The merging of technology and antiquated industrial machinery, clock wheels and cogs, tarnished metal forged roughly for scientific inventions certainly was interesting and it gave the laboratory a wondrous old-world feel, unlike the cold white medical sting of the other labs.
"So, what do you think, Dr. Gould?" Purdue said, keeping his tone void of any hopeful beckoning for her approval. He wanted to sound indifferent to her decision.
"Obviously I would be here with her, right, Mr. Purdue? After all, I would have to make notes on her discoveries and the historical facts for the piece I'm writing. It is best if I am here as she goes on," Sam added. He had hoped Nina would catch on to his intentions and decide to stay.
"Of course," Purdue said in his trademark cheer, grateful for Sam's backup in persuading the delectable Dr. Gould to stay. "You two would be combining your expertise in this project to tell me all about what we have here and to document every step."
Nina stood in contemplation. The two men waited in anticipation. What she never considered was the measure of peril she would have to concern herself with, knowing what she knew about Purdue's secret station and the unsavory, immoral tests conducted within. It never crossed her mind that leaving to the mainland was not an option, but Purdue had hoped her reluctance would not ignite such unpleasantness.
Calisto sauntered down the corridor in front of Nina's window. The sight of her competition for Sam's affection shifted her decision instantaneously. If she left, she would not only be excluded from all credit due the contributors of this expedition, she would, no doubt, be excluded from Sam's life. Calisto was nothing like her, but in her own tough way she was very appealing to any man and she would have no trouble in seducing the wayward boyish journalist.
"I'll stay," she smiled suddenly, to the delight of both men.
"Fantastic!" Purdue exclaimed, and locked his hands together in elation. He was relieved that the looming threat of silencing Nina was eradicated before it had to be addressed and he nodded to Calisto to notify her that she could stand down now. The three carried on talking inside the lab, discussing the schedule of the inspection and the workings of the software he had created to assist her in her analysis of the relic. The bodyguard took the opportunity to return to the window of the other laboratory. Two scientists were busy examining Johann's eyes, unaware of the woman watching them. Quickly she took a chair and placed it under the peephole of one of the cells. Peeking through it, she could see another man inside, sleeping. He was remarkably tall and his hair was blond. She found it peculiar that he looked so much like Johann. Hastening, she climbed down, checked for any movement and placed the chair under the window of the next cell. Inside was a young girl, aged about nine years, sitting on her bed. She was reading a book on ethnicity. On her bed lay strewn literature on civilizations of ancient Nordic origin and occult roots of the Third Reich. A textbook on physics lay open at her feet, implying her level of intellect at such a tender age.
Calisto swallowed hard. She could not believe what she beheld in front of her. Keeping her presence hidden she whispered to herself, "My God! They did it! They actually managed the absurd." Her entire body trembled as she watched the young girl look up at her with pristine blue eyes filled with an old wisdom. "Jesus! They are creating a new Aryan race!"
Chapter 33
Eickhart planted a slug just off the center of the target. The corner of his mouth curled to one side, impressed that his recent life-changing condition did not much influence his aim. The rifle kicked harder than before though, now that he had no solid stance to steady him and his shoulder ached from the repeated impact of the butt.
Behind him Dieter entered with the stranger he was expecting. Patrick did not merit a look, but the old man spoke while his rifle was reloaded for him.
"Herr Braun, it is wonderful to see you here. I trust your accommodation is in order?" he asked with great authority, but as Patrick replied, the old man pulled the trigger, shattering the silence with barrel thunder.
"It is perfect, thank you," Patrick repeated.
"I trust you will be joining us for a bite?" Eickhart said, as he laid his sight straight ahead of the rifle, but this time Patrick waited for the clap before speaking. They exchanged the obligatory pleasantries before the boss gave the order for his staff to pack up. On their way back up the pathway there was an uncomfortable silence.
"Herr Braun, I would like for us to start today, if you do not mind. This project is urgent and quite rushed, considering the usual time frame of such endeavors," he said, with a deceptive patience ringing in his voice.
"I had a look at your specifications, Herr Eickhart, and I must say, I am just a bit curious. Why the rush?" Patrick asked in his most cordial tone.
Eickhart stopped his wheelchair. He did not turn his head to face the insolent idiot who dared question him. Dieter and Patrick exchanged glances and immediately the spy knew that he made a grave mistake. Dieter cringed somewhat, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.
"I mean," Patrick continued, with no small measure of confidence, "this kind of structure rushed could have catastrophic results and I will not allow that."
Silence persisted among them at the architect's blatant statement. Now Eickhart turned to face him.
"Excuse me?"
"I reiterate — I will not allow any unnecessary hazards on this project in favor of rushing, Herr Eickhart. I have built bunkers before. Yes, I am aware that you are building a bunker, although an extravagant one. I am no fool. But in my business I do not only design and supervise the construction of secret compounds, I also assure the safety of my clients, which is of much more value to me than your money. So if you think me brash for stalling to make sure the structure is impervious to God himself, I am happy to bow out," Patrick rambled in his best authoritarian voice, while inside he shuddered, disbelieving his own words as they came.