“Europe’s a big place, mate,” some smartass put in. Drake didn’t recognize the voice.
“I realize that. We don’t have the right intel yet, it’s a fluid operation. Start with Rome. I want you on the mainland.”
Hayden stared at him. “Why Rome?”
He cupped the mouthpiece. “Pretty central. Who knows, the Pythians could even now be leading us up the garden path. If it turns out to be Paris, Crouch can make the hour-long trip on SPEAR’s coin.”
“Done,” Crouch said. “I’ll be in touch when we’ve landed.”
“Thank you. Oh, and guys?”
“Yes?”
“If you have loved ones and relatives, I’d call them before you land.”
Drake ended the call, meeting the eyes of everyone in the room. “What?” he said. “Don’t you feel it too? This is pure fight or die. We’ve been here before, more than once, and I remember every ounce of pain and anxiety and emotion. Every time-sensitive heartbeat.”
The way they all nodded, as solemn as men facing a firing squad, showed him that they felt the same way.
CHAPTER TEN
Hours later, and the SPEAR team was again in touch with Crouch.
Hayden had waited until the ex-Ninth-Division man’s team were cocooned inside a fast jet with full audio and undivided attention before relating all the details. The SPEAR team were working hard inside their HQ, gathering all and any information on everything that might relate to the mission.
“We’re heading to London shortly,” she said. “But despite what we know, we’re still working almost blind. London is a city built on bones; there are dozens of plague pits. Why do the Pythians keep referring to a Pandora plague? How does it all fit? There are clues here, we just have to solve them.”
“Can I just clarify…” a young woman’s voice spoke over the connection. “And sorry, this is Caitlyn Nash. When you say plague pits you’re talking bubonic plague, yes? Like from the Black Death and half the world’s population wiped out?”
“The very same, Miss Nash,” Dahl said. “And may I say, very nice to meet you.”
Drake snorted. “Get out of her pants, Dahl. You’ve enough on your plate satisfying one female.”
“I meant nothing… I’m happily—”
Drake shook his head. “God, you’re such an easy target.”
Alicia broke into their banter with typical aplomb. “Cut it out, you two. Never bloody changes does it? Besides, I get first crack at Miss Nash.”
“Jesus.” Smyth looked like his legs were about to collapse beneath him. Lauren turned to stare. “You carry me out of a battle zone… on your back… and that makes you weak? Men!”
Smyth turned bright red. “I… I… damn.”
Caitlyn’s voice drew them back to harsh reality. “And what exactly do we know about the Pandora myth? Mostly it’s related to the box, which was a lethal gift of the gods to mankind. They say Pandora was the first woman, a punishment from Zeus in retaliation for Prometheus stealing fire from the gods and giving it to men. Pandora was fashioned from clay, a beautiful goddess, then each god gave her a virtue — grace, boldness, persuasion, curiosity, and more.”
Hayden stopped her. “Why do we need to know all this?” Karin, the SPEAR team’s own resident genius, nodded in agreement even though she had probably been about to launch into a similar monologue.
“Because it leads us into how all the sins of the world were loosed and how they might relate to what we’re up against.”
Hayden pursed her lips in surprise. “Okay.”
“Using the name Pandora could be anything from the Pythians employing a simple code word to them using the entire myth as clues to something…”
“Really?” This time Crouch interrupted, sounding interested.
“Of course. Megalomaniacs love revealing their intentions, even if it’s in the form of a riddle. Anyway, once formed the gods gave Pandora a box and told her not to open it.”
Drake made a face. Smyth laughed. Even Dahl grimaced. “Not the best plan.”
“No. And Pandora was tempted, just like Eve with the apple. Do you see now? Pandora is an origin myth. Just like Adam and Eve.”
“An origin myth that’s also an apocalypse myth?” Karin wondered.
“Now you’re with me. Anyway, they say Pandora pretty much invented the phrase ‘curiosity killed the cat’. She opened the box and let loose evil and plague upon the world. Crime. Poverty. Pain. Hunger. Sickness. Vice.”
“I understand.” Karin said. “You’re saying the code word Pandora relates to one of these vices, particularly sickness I would think, and that her story may provide more clues.”
“Exactly. Everything from an origin or apocalypse myth to reasons and locations.”
“We’ll start with the plague pits,” Crouch asserted. “I think somebody should also start investigating how someone might be able to weaponize ancient bubonic plague.”
Karin patted Komodo’s arm. “We can do that. And we already have all agencies tracking down the other Pythians that were named.”
Hayden signed off with a muted goodbye. She turned to address the room. “The pure, uncaring evil of this staggers me. Even today, when we know what goes on in many parts of the world. Even now, I am stunned that wealthy, learned people, no doubt many with families of their own, can do this.”
“A boy born into power, wealth and privilege does not necessarily find it easy to accept,” Dahl said quietly. “He’s born into a predetermined world with predetermined values. He has no freedom, no boyhood or youth. He’s expected to follow a requisite path, laid down by his father and their forefathers. One day… he may rebel.”
Drake blinked at the Swede’s words. “That sounds like it came from the heart, mate.”
“I was privileged,” Dahl said. “And I rebelled. How else do you think I came to be here?”
Drake shrugged softly. “Always wondered why that fancy accent didn’t come with an officer’s placement.”
“Because I became my own man. And went my own way.”
Hayden stared at Dahl. “That doesn’t give anyone the right to commit genocide.”
Dahl glared right back. “Don’t you think I know that? I’m right here beside you, fighting the same fight, remember?”
Kinimaka came forward and put a massive arm around their boss’s shoulders. “Everything all right, Hay?”
Hayden sighed. “I think I need more painkillers.”
Drake stared around the room. “I think the feeling’s pretty universal.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Tyler Webb straightened his laptop, taking care to precisely align each side so it was perpendicular to the edges of his dark oak table, before clicking a button and settling back into his sumptuous seat.
“We are the Pythians,” he said. “What news have you?”
Five mini-screens sat before his eyes, each one filled with the face of a fellow conspirator. This was the first time they had tried video-link, but summoning every member in person whenever they needed a meeting was fast becoming problematic, not to mention annoying.
“Threat level has risen in the three plague cities,” General Stone reported. “No credible reason as to why.”
Webb detected an underlying tone but let it go. Perhaps the general was pushed for time or, more likely, irritated at being turned into Nicholas Bell’s nursemaid. “Don’t they have ways of monitoring chatter?” Webb said off-handedly with a tired gesture. “The threat level goes up and down all the time as a response. I shouldn’t need to tell you that, Stone.”