Project Ouroboros (15 page)

From the archives of the Order of Ophites:

September 18, 2045, after the return of people to Earth.

Supreme Council supported the initiative of Mr Daath to appoint Mr Aine Soph, the Director General of the Research Centre "Enki" who had been faithfully serving the Order for many years and is worthy of an honorary title, a head of the Order of Ophites.

***

Name: Aine Soph.

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of birth: Unknown.

Activities: in 2030, took over a position of  Director General of the Research Centre "Enki" in the city of Anshan, Elam.

Additional information: approximate age — 60 years; skin colour — white; passport data — none.

***

When Aleph came to El'Athar the next evening, he did not recognize the young man at first — instead of a faded T-shirt and jeans he had a shirt and pants on, and bangs, usually hiding half his face, was neatly stacked behind the ears.

— Now you look like a clerk — quipped El'Athar instead of a greeting.

— I had to — Aleph shrugged. — Aine Soph called me to a meeting, and Rada had to buy me a suit.

— How is your life at hers?

— She is always talking about you, and I have to listen, not to offend her.

— So don't.

— I cannot, she's a good girl.

— How is your work in "Enki" going?

— Disgusting. How is your leg?

— Disgusting. I asked to cut it off, but the doctor did not agree. Look, it is clear that you are more suitable for the post of a "catcher" of Lamashtu, but I hate to sit here. — El'Athar was surprised to realize that he said it out loud. He was somehow upset.

Aleph did not answer because he did not know what to say. He thought for a moment and announced what had tormented him for two days:

— I do not understand what to do.

— Find people with the same tattoo on your wrist as you. Moreover they find you. Like Heth, and the twins, and the high Indian girl. What is her name?

— Tau. She works in a restaurant as a manager. Here in Anshan.

— In the same place as Tharsis?

— No, in the other one. But it was him who noticed her.

— Do you know what your tattoo means?

— Yes, of course, it is Sumerian cuneiform. Lama-shtu. But what the second row means, I still do not understand. The others have numbers there. Tharsis has number seventeen.

— If he is seventeen, and you're the first, then it must be number one.

— But there is something else.

— It seems to me that I'll have to do something with my foot, it does not want to heal.

The conversation didn't go smoothly, but neither Aleph nor El'Athar were in a hurry to leave. They were sitting in silence in the living room, El'Athar was drinking tea, Aleph looked down at his feet, constantly removing long bangs behind his ears, as if this was an obsessive state.

— You look disgusting in a suit — El'Athar broke the silence.

— And you in the crown. — Answered Aleph. — It's good that you've worn it only once.

— I sometimes have to wear it as long as you do not rescue me from here. But I see you sitting there, instead of doing anything. Come on, I've found a lot of interesting things in one day. You will find it useful to read it. I hope not only I am interested to find out what's really going on.

Aleph followed him in silence.

— Mr Aine Soph was not the first who was the head of this order, he only took this place after Mr Daath had left it.

— Isn't he the head of the "Elohim"? These strange faceless creatures...

— And even Mr Aine Soph doesn't know who are they.

— And what do you think?

— Puppeteers. The whole network of organizations and projects are under control of Mr Daath. The remaining twelve — do not exist.

— Do not exist?

— I've seen them, too — nodded El'Athar — but something tells me that this is only a screen. This is all nonsense.

— Is this all you have found in the archives?

— Yes. And I'm sure that Mr Aine Soph has left them specifically for me.

— He's on our side?

El'Athar laughed:

— Do not be so naive. Each of us has our own goals.

***

— Dr Tekhina Ami?

— Yes, good afternoon — she smiled at the girl, who came to an appointment to a cozy restaurant.

— Nice to meet you. Did you bring what we have discussed?

— Yes of course. — Dr Ami put the folder on the table — this is the overall research.

— We want to buy the project, not to sponsor it. The price is established by the management. Bargaining is inappropriate. But you will be project manager. Do you have any questions?

— No.

— Then I'll call you. Bye.

She took the folder and left.

— There will be 20 000 denarii on your account within three days — inheritance from the great-aunt in Sweden. During this time you will have to give us all the materials, and then next Monday you will have an appointment with the head of the Research Department.

Short beeps.

Tekhina could not open the front door to the apartment. The key was stuck and did not turn.

— Dr Ami? — she heard the familiar voice of women from the military centre.

— Yes. Sorry, I was late for the meeting.

— Do you have the data?

— Here you go. All that I have is on this memory stick.

— Thank you. See you on Monday. — The girl was gone. She could hear her coming down the stairs, not waiting for the elevator.

Tekhina could not pull the jammed key out.

— Damn it! — Angrily, she kicked the door, and it opened a little.

She had her heart in her mouth.

Tekhina cautiously entered.

A shot.

After a few seconds sounded the second one.

Steps down the stairs sounded again.

***

"To the President of the Republic of Elam Olaf Hakim

Report

It was established that a criminal wanted by us, Jack Getterbørgen, is an employee of the research centre "Enki" where his personal file is classified as "Top Secret". It contains only two paragraphs of text, no precise data is available. An interesting detail: it is called "Project El'Athar."

In addition to the Government of our Republic he is wanted by the government of the three countries: the Federation of the British Isles, the Republic of India and Joint Union of China.

The reward for any information about Jack Getterbørgen reaches 1.5 million denarii.

12/23/2053 "

"The president gave the unofficial order to destroy the data about a man named Jack Getterbørgen in the archives of the Ministry of Interior. As far as we know, this is an order from above, even higher than Council of the UN. "

— Mr President?

— Hello, Mr Daath. How can I serve you this time?

— I would like to thank the President for his decision on Jack Getterbørgen and ask about a service.

— I am listening attentively, Mr Daath.

— Chairman of the UN George Obé has occupied his post for too long.

— But ... you probably have people above the UN ... the President of the Atlantic Alliance is a part of your order.

— You are able to cope with this case better. — Short beeps.

The next morning. 8:00. Airport of Mumbai.

Aleph, in a strict black suit with carefully combed hair, waiting for someone to take him to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of New India.

His clear blue eyes were empty, and his look was tired, he could not sleep on the plane, recalling a trip to Greenland, but young man should look strict — he had a very responsible job. To hide the fatigue and excitement, Aleph put on his sunglasses.

— Mr Getterbørgen? — A young black man walked up to Aleph, affably smiling.

— Hello — Aleph shook his hand.

— I know Jack, it is a pleasure to work with his brother. To be honest, I did not know about you before.

— I found out about Jack recently too. You know, it's a long story...

— I see. Come, I'll take you.

They drove in silence. Aleph looked out the window, admiring the extraordinary view: so much green, many shaggy trees, birds, insects and people. So many people on the streets! And the monkeys — they were everywhere and so different!

In fact, Aleph was delighted, though outwardly he tried to look as calm as possible and indifferent.

— You know — the guy from the ministry said — I think you look like Jack.

— Maybe you have seen him a long time ago? — Aleph smiled.

— Several years ago, he was in New India on a mission.

— He has changed since then.

— I have heard about the Mongolian prison.

"And no one helped him" — Aleph was surprised that he did not say it out loud, although he wanted to.

The smile faded, and monkeys and trees ceased to please the young man remembering the last meeting with El'Athar, how bad he looked, ate nothing but pain killers and sufferred there locked. But his eyes shone when he was showing archival documents! El'Atharu should be a police detective, that was for sure.

The Ministry of the Interior was a high glass building surrounded by the jungle. Security at the entrance struggled with monkeys trying to take away their lunch and did not particularly notice the employees passing by.

— We have constant problems with these macaques. They are simply intolerable, and there is nothing to do with them, not even take them out into the woods. Animal rights protection.

It seemed that there at the Ministry worked as many people as lived in entire Anshan and to get lost was easier than anywhere else. Aleph even stopped to look around in delight, but quickly pulled himself together and went on.

— Mr Minister, Aleph Getterbørgen is here.

— Nice to meet you, sit down. — Minister shook hands with the boy. The black man who accompanied him came out.

The minister reminded Aleph of the late Trier Lugal: a short, dark-skinned and with large grey groomed moustache.

— I hope, Mr Minister, we can come to an agreement soon. — Aleph sat down in a chair offered to him.

— I said I'd let you take away three Lamashtu found in the country, but only in exchange for your brother.

— It's impossible.

— In our country he is a war criminal.

— It's not that he's my brother. Now it is physically impossible. So I suggest you compromise. We will give Jack Getterbørgen to India, but when this will be possible.

— So, you will get Lamashtu and when it becomes possible.

Aleph held himself together with last forces. He was too young and soft for the job. But then there was no choice.

— We can also offer you other international criminals who are in our jurisdiction.

— Do you need these Lamashtu so much? — Minister grinned.

Heck!

— Can I see them? Talk to them?

— After the transaction.

— I need no more than five minutes. I will do everything that depends on me in order for the transaction to take place.

El'Athar, I need your help ...

— Hello, El'Athar? It Aleph.

— Yes, I'm listening.

— Have you found anything interesting?

— A lot of things, such as the fact that the doctor Lugal's wife, Lydia, is in fact, the leader of "the corner of Moreau," Trier was a scientist. I want you to see some documents personally when you come back.

— I guess I'll have to crank out a scam. The Government of New India will give the three Lamashtu only in return for you.

— Are you in India?

— Yes. And I need to pick them up. Tomorrow I will be allowed to see them. During this time I have yet to prepare and find another Lamashtu in Tibet. I know that he is there, I can feel him.

Breath-in, breath-out.

— El'Athar, I need your help.

Two hours later.

— Aleph, everything is ready for tomorrow. — El'Athar spoke quickly, as if someone might hear.

— Thank you. I'm on my way to Tibet.

— Do you coordinate with Mr Director?

— He told me to do whatever it would take. And I'm doing everything I can.

— I did not expect such courage from you.

— I have good motivation.

— Good luck. Have you heard the news?

— Tekhina was killed.

— Yes... — El'Athar sighed.

— I do not know what to say about this. I think...

— ... That I pulled the trigger?

***

Republic of Tibet. The village of Ou-cam.

The village high in the mountains was so picturesque, that Aleph involuntarily held his breath in admiration, looking into the distance on the mountain peaks. Just to think about how high it was breath-taking. Despite all the difficulties, the young man was very happy that he went, because then nothing else mattered.

— Have you heard about Nam Tso? — Aleph stopped a woman on the street. She stared at him in incomprehension.

— Nam Tso — repeated Aleph.

The woman waved her hand, meaning that she would lead the way.

They walked along the street until the last hut in the suburbs.

Aleph knocked and was asked to enter.

— I knew you would come.

A tall, dark man with black hair, closed the door behind Aleph and invited him to sit down.

— Gabriel. — Introduced himself the owner of the house.

— Aleph. — The young man sat on an offered chair. — I have too little time.

— You came for me.

— It depends on if you are ready to go.

— You are the key, you are our leader. I, like the others, will do anything you tell me to.

— I see you've packed your things.

— Of course. Why waste any time.

— Thank you.

— I understand, you need my help.

— Yes, of course.

— And not only in India.

— That's right, too.

Gabriel had a Tibetan passport, at which he immediately bought a plane ticket to Elam.

— You're my assistant — said Aleph, paying for a formal suit for Gabriel. — You've just arrived to help sort out the situation. Jack Getterbørgen is my brother, and he is a war criminal in this country. He was engaged in counter-intelligence for the benefit of the British Isles.

— Clear.

— I'm not sure that they would let you with me to the three Lamashtu kept in prison. I do not know who and how have found them, or why Jack is so important to the government. We call him El'Athar in Elam. This is Jack's second name.

Gabriel froze.

— You know El'Athar? — Aleph was surprised.

— I think so. And I understand why we have to save him.

— Well, then, listen. That's what we will do is...