'I think this call will be for you.'
Ethan put the phone to his ear. 'Maria? Is that you?'
It was.
Kline woke up lying on his back in the mud.
Surprisingly, he was very comfortable. He'd crawled up the bank yesterday afternoon before passing out.
He sat up, wincing at the pain in his ankle. The falling tower had crushed his leg. The ankle didn't seem broken, but his nerves were firing random notes of agony up his calf whenever he moved it.
How far had the river carried him? A few kilometers, at least. He'd clung to wooden scaffolding most of the way.
The morning sun had breached the tree line across the river. The glare had woken him.
God, what a day yesterday had been. Those animals….
With alarm, Kline realized he probably wasn't out of danger yet. Perhaps he should have let the river carry him further. When a natural bend swept him close to the bank, it had seemed a good time to make land. Apparently the bend had attracted other things.
Kline crawled back to the river's edge to examine the washed up debris.
What is this thing?
Of course! It was the balloon-thing he'd shot at with the pistol he’d found on the guard’s body. The raft had been flying the last time Kline saw it. He found no sign of its original passengers. He'd fired at the balloon seconds before the tower collapsed.
It seemed his shot had hit the balloon, but missed the raft. Lucky for him.
Kline awkwardly dragged the raft in painful spurts back into the water. It grew easier once the water carried his weight. Once fully clear of the bank, he hauled himself into the raft. He lay on his back and looked at the sky.
The current tugged the raft downriver, away from the nightmare of the last twenty-four hours. Whatever else happened, that was good enough for now.
Chapter 20
Ethan spotted Maria leading the kids back to their seats. Too much soft drink in the car on the ride here, Maria had explained. She had been back and forward to the bathroom three times with the kids. His family had front row seats beside Claire and Libby. A little further along chatted Ben McIntosh and Abigail Astrenzi.
Ethan stood off to one side and watched, not entirely sure how he felt. His presentation would be streamed live around the world. He'd given hundreds of lectures before, but never like this. Words couldn't easily describe the discovery, nor the human sacrifice paid to unlock the Plaza's secrets.
He’d labored over the speech. He owed it to Joanne and Nina. He owed it to his family and to himself.
Thinking of Joe and Nina drew Ethan's eyes to the veiled display case. He'd unveil the contents to conclude his speech. Curiosity had drawn several people toward the shrouded case.
One man stood closer than the others. The man's familiar posture caught Ethan's attention. That and his scarred neck.
Wait, he wouldn't dare show up here.
Spader. Standing bold as brass in the foyer.
He won't be alone. Where are the others?
Ethan scanned the hall and found them. Randerson and Fontana hovered beside the display floor entrance. Dale and Merc sat in the back row, closest to the exit. All four men watched Ethan steadily. They covered both the hall’s exits.
Without drawing attention to himself, Ethan wove through the folding chairs to reach Randerson and Fontana.
Fontana spoke first. 'How's it going, chief? You draw quite a crowd.'
Ethan ignored Fontana and spoke to Randerson. 'Are any of you armed?'
'No.'
'Does Fontana have a gun?'
'No.'
'Are you sure?'
'The metal detectors would have gone off,' interrupted Fontana. 'What's your problem? I thought we were all friends now. Seems you forgot to send me an invitation. You hurt my feelings.'
Ethan hissed at Fontana. 'My family is here. You start any trouble and I will kill you myself.'
Fontana rolled his eyes. 'Talk to the boss. I don't know why we're here. I was in the Gallery too, remember? I'd rather forget the place even existed.'
In a way, Ethan knew what Fontana meant. None of them could ever forget. Ethan took a few steps toward Spader, then paused. 'What does he want?'
Randerson shrugged. 'He wouldn't tell us.'
In the seconds it took to reach Spader, Ethan found only one explanation. 'You came to steal it, didn't you? You're going to collect on your investment one way or another.'
Spader turned slowly. 'The arrow? You think I'm here for the gold arrow?'
'Aren't you?'
'I'm not here to steal, Ethan. The opposite, in fact. I'm making a contribution. Merc and Dale cherry-picked the best artifacts from the conservation huts. The packing foam saved them from the flood. We relocated them. They're waiting for you on the museum’s back dock right now.'
'I'm not thanking you for returning things you stole,’ said Ethan.
'If I hadn't stolen them, they wouldn't be safe. Think about that.'
Ethan couldn't bring himself to challenge the morals of Spader's warped logic. Arguing with Spader was fruitless, and Ethan was unsure who he'd be trying to convince, Spader or himself.
Spader added, 'You'll need a weak acid solution to melt the foam, but you seem pretty handy with acid.'
Ethan remembered the smell of Spader's burning flesh. 'I had to do it. It was the only way to save your life.'
'I know. It was weeks before I realized you neutralized the acid with lime powder.' Spader touched his scar. 'Very clever. Brilliant, in fact.'
Ethan shook his head. 'Basic chemistry. Why are you really here?'
'I told you. I'm making a contribution.'
'You didn't need to deliver the artifacts in person. You're taking a big risk. Claire and Libby might see you and call the police.'
Spader raised an eyebrow toward the two chatting women. 'And betray Merc and Dale? I think not. You're underestimating the survival bond. Like the bond between you and I. That's why you lied to the police.'
Ethan and Maria had talked this over at length. At first Ethan thought it was to avoid more bloodshed, but a week after the incident, Ethan still hadn't alerted the authorities about Spader's true identity or motives.
'I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for you,' admitted Ethan. 'I'd be under that silt lake instead of Rourke. Is that why you're here? To hear me admit that?'
'No.' Spader waved to the crowds. 'I'm here like everyone else. I'm here to learn the secret of the Plaza.'
'Then take a seat and listen like everyone else.'
Spader frowned at the crowds. 'I don't want the prepared statement from Professor March. I want the man who burnt through my neck with acid and smashed Rourke's head open. They are two different people.'
Ethan knew exactly what Spader meant. Like the two different men Gordon Merrit had been.
It was disquieting how well Spader understood him. Ethan stood quietly for a moment, deciding whether to indulge Spader or not.
'The core chamber contained two sets of carvings,' said Ethan finally. 'The older carvings revealed the Gallery's true purpose. It was believed that any prayer or request made in the core chamber would be granted.'
Spader raised an eyebrow. 'They thought the chamber granted wishes?'
'More like a direct telephone-line to God,' Ethan corrected. 'They believed the megafauna were Godly manifestations deciding who reached the core chamber. Evidently, whoever reached the core chamber asked for the prosperity of their homeland. Huge pilgrimages travelled to the Plaza. The aristocracy sheltered underground while the messengers entered the Gallery and competed to reach the core chamber.’