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 towards 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 towards 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 towards 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 towards 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 towards 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 towards the darkened doorway on the right and began walking towards 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.”