The Oracle's Message (8 page)

Annja awoke the next morning to gentle breezes and brilliant sunshine spilling into her cabana. The storm clouds had vanished along with the choppy seas and driving rain.

Annja sat up and ran over the previous night’s events in her mind. With Roux running around, she’d have to make sure that Spier didn’t notice. The last thing she wanted was those two worlds colliding in a way that would force her to have to explain how she knew Roux.

She could always describe him as a work colleague or something, but there was no guarantee that Roux would go along with that. He’d delighted in thwarting her actions in the past. No telling what he’d want to do this time around.

After a quick breakfast of an egg-white omelet and oatmeal, Annja headed down to the dock, aware that it was getting late. As she approached the dock, she saw Hans and the rest of the men loading up the boat.

Hans didn’t look up or smile in her direction.

“Good morning,” she said brightly.

He glanced up at her. “I went by your place last night to say hello.” He tossed a bag into the boat. “You weren’t there.”

Annja nodded. “I couldn’t sleep. I went for a walk.”

“Where?”

“All over.”

Hans frowned. “I spent some time walking around, too. I thought that maybe you had gone for a walk so I looked around. I couldn’t seem to locate you.”

“We must have missed each other,” Annja said.

Hans nodded. “I thought so, too. So I waited outside of your cabana until very late. Imagine my surprise when you came back with some old man, wrapped in a blanket and wearing nothing but your lingerie underneath.”

Annja smiled. “Oh, Hans—”

He held up a hand. “Listen, Annja, I know we just met, so I’m not trying to be all possessive here. It’s just that I thought you were different.”

“Trust me, Hans. I’m as different as they come.”

“Well, you can sleep with whomever you want, of course. I just wish you hadn’t chosen to shack up with that guy. Honestly, he looked ancient.”

If you only knew how old, Annja thought. “Hans, trust me, I didn’t sleep with him.”

“Annja, I’m a big boy. I can handle the truth. I know what I saw.”

“You saw what you did, but not for the reasons you think.”

Hans stopped loading the boat. “So, explain it to me, then.”

Annja frowned. How exactly was she going to explain Roux, the dive master, the lack of oxygen, the pearl and all that stuff they were going to see when they returned to the reef? She couldn’t.

“I don’t know that I can,” she said finally.

Hans sighed. “I thought so. Look, just be honest with me, Annja. If you want to fool around, then fine. I’ve done the wild stage of my life. I guess I was looking for a little something more…in-depth than just a good lay.”

Annja smiled. “I didn’t sleep with that guy, Hans. You’ve got to believe me. I can’t tell you everything that’s going on right now. Not because I don’t trust you, but because it wouldn’t make any sense to you. Just give me some time, okay? I promise it will all be clear in a day or two.”

“Yeah, all right. Whatever.” Hans went back to loading the boat. Annja stood there a moment longer.

“So, am I still welcome on the dive?”

“Why wouldn’t you be?”

Annja turned and Spier stood there with a bright smile. He noticed the expression on Hans’s face and sniffed. “Hans, stop acting like a little boy. The woman has a right to be with whomever she wishes. Don’t pout.”

Annja scowled. “You told everyone?”

Hans shrugged. “I was upset.”

“Try devastated,” Mueller said, walking over to grab the oxygen tanks. “Honestly, it got a little embarrassing.”

Gottlieb chuckled. “I think, Annja Creed, that you may have broken our man Hans’s heart with your cruel and calculating sexual escapades.”

Spier leaned closer to Annja. “Hans said he was an old guy. If that’s true, might I interest you in a little dalliance later?”

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Annja stepped back. “I did not sleep with that man last night. Hans saw something he didn’t understand. What looked like an obvious explanation is not what happened at all.”

Spier and the rest of the team stopped. “So, what happened?”

Hans sighed. “She won’t tell me.”

“I can’t,” Annja said.

Heinkel snorted. “
Ja,
she slept with him.”

Annja put her hands on her hips and glared. “I most certainly did not.”

“She’s telling the truth.”

Annja groaned. She turned and saw Roux striding down the ramp toward the dock.

Spier and Hans stopped loading the boat. Spier said something in German to Hans, who only nodded.

Roux came up alongside Annja. “As delightful as a nocturnal interlude would have been—especially for Annja—we did not sleep together.”

Annja rolled her eyes. “You’re as bad as Garin sometimes,” she said under her breath.

“Perish the thought,” Roux said. To Spier he held out his hand. “I’m Roux. Very pleased to meet you.”

“Joachim Spier. Very pleased to meet you. This is Hans, Gottlieb, Heinkel and Mueller.”

Roux shook hands with all of them, but paused with Hans. “She’s telling you the truth, my dear boy. We did not sleep together.”

“Really?”

“Do I look as though I have the constitution to weather such an activity? Honestly, I’m far too old to indulge my libido these days. I live much more of a monklike existence.”

Annja coughed, attempting to cover her uncontrollable laughter.

“And what is it you do?” Spier asked.

“Yes, Roux,” Annja said. “What is it that you do?”

Roux winked at her and then smiled at Spier. “I’m interested in antiquities, of course. I gather you are interested in much the same thing.”

“Do you now? And how would you know that about me?”

Roux smiled. “I make it my business to know about people. Usually long before I meet them.”

Spier glanced at Annja but Roux held up his hand. “Annja had nothing to do with this, I assure you. She and I are old friends. Nothing more.”

“Since when do old friends parade around in their underwear?” Hans grumbled.

“Oh, yes, that,” Roux said. “Well, Annja went for a walk last night and happened to take a rather nasty fall off the dock. She was soaked and I thought she might be swept out to sea.”

“You saved her?” Spier asked.

“Indeed. We were at the far end of the island and I was forced to make a fire to warm her up. Imagine my surprise to find Annja here. We haven’t seen each other in years, and of all the places to turn up, we find each other here.”

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Spier said.

Annja grinned. “A lucky one for me apparently.”

“You must remember to not be so careless,” Spier said. “I hate to think what might have happened to you if your old friend was not nearby to save you.”

“Me, too,” Annja said. But Spier didn’t look like he believed a word that Roux had told him. Despite that, he was warm and welcoming.

“Do you dive, Herr Roux?” he asked.

“I do indeed.”

“Then you must join us on our excursion today.”

Roux stepped forward excitedly. “Are you sure? I’d be honored, of course, but I don’t want to intrude.”

“Nonsense. We can always use another diver along with us. We are exploring a reef near here. It is uncharted and we hope to make some rudimentary surveys of the area to assist other recreational divers who might find it interesting.”

Roux wiped his sunglasses on his T-shirt and smiled. “That’s incredibly thoughtful of you.”

“We do what we can,” Spier said. “Now, you’ll need diving gear, of course.” He waved and Annja turned to see the dive master coming down the walkway. The dive master glanced hurriedly at Roux, who merely smiled at him.

“Yes, Herr Spier?”

Spier pointed at Roux. “Our new friend here requires gear for diving. Can you see to it that he’s outfitted with the necessary equipment?”

“Of course.”

“Excellent.”

The dive master glanced at Roux. “This way, please.”

Roux smiled at Spier and Annja. “I’ll see you shortly.”

Annja watched him turn and walk away. Spier watched, as well, and then regarded Annja. “I don’t trust that man, Annja.”

“That’s probably wise.”

He smiled. “Does he usually make a habit of lying to people he’s only just met?”

“I think it depends on what he’s up to.”

Spier looked at her intently. “And you don’t happen to know what he’s up to, do you?”

“If I had to guess,” Annja said. “I’d say he’s probably after the same thing you are.”

Spier nodded. “Thank you for being honest.”

“I’m just along to see if this thing exists,” Annja said. “I don’t have any agenda for it if we find it.”

Spier glanced up at the dive shack. “But something tells me that your friend Roux there does have an agenda. Is that so?”

“I’ve never known him not to have one,” Annja said.

“Men like him are never without,” Spier said. “I should know.”

Hans glanced at Annja. “Was he lying about…that?”

“No,” Annja said. “That was the truth.”

Hans sighed. “I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. I wasn’t being up front with you because I didn’t know how to tell you what was going on without creating a lot of confusion.”

“I understand.”

Spier nodded at the boat. “Well, now that the two love-birds are back together, I’m sure we can all agree to have a most productive outing? I’d like nothing more than to have a real reason to celebrate this evening over a hearty dinner.”

Hans smiled. “That sounds good.”

Roux came down the walkway already strapped into his oxygen tank and wearing a weight belt. “I’m all set.”

Spier smirked. “Apparently.”

Roux glanced down. “What—am I wearing it wrong?”

“Not at all. It’s just that we don’t usually gear up until we’re at the dive site.”

“Ah.” Roux nodded. “Well, I like to get a head start. I’m simply brimming with excitement about this. And to think, I thought I’d be spending this day trying out windsurfing. This is much better.”

Spier smiled. “I think it will be. Most definitely.”

Annja hopped onto the boat and waited until Roux had settled himself nearby. While Spier and the others finished loading the gear, Annja elbowed Roux. “You know they don’t believe you, right?”

“Of course.”

Annja frowned. “Then why the pitiful charade?”

Roux sighed. “My dear girl, there are times when the appearance of a ruse is more powerful than the ruse itself. Spier will try doubly hard to locate the pearl. That means all I have to do is watch him instead of exerting myself on the hunt itself. It’s much more convenient this way.”

Annja shook her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing. These guys won’t mess about if they think you’re trying to ruin their expedition.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Roux said.

The boat wobbled as the rest of the team clambered aboard. Spier settled himself by the rudder and smiled. “All set?”

Annja nodded.

Spier grinned. “Then let’s be off.”

The reef was fast becoming familiar territory for Annja. When Spier threw the anchor over the side of the boat, they quickly got ready and dropped into the much calmer seas. Annja was amazed at how much better she felt about diving in the daylight than she had the previous night. It had been virtually impossible to see anything without the arc lights that the dive master had set up for Roux.

Annja glanced down at the thought, but all traces of the lights had vanished. She frowned. Roux had probably removed them when he was finished diving last night.

She found it curious he was so eager to go along on this diving trip. That told her he hadn’t found anything during his night dive. If he had, he’d be halfway home by now.

Hans glided near to Annja and winked at her as they descended. Again, life on the reef was abundant and incredibly active. Maybe the storm surges had churned up some extra food. The fish seemed to be out in force.

They drifted ever lower and Annja checked her gauges to make sure she was in good shape. Everything looked fine. Spier and the team broke up as they had the previous day. Annja stayed with Hans and they started for the area where Hans had scraped some of the barnacles off the marble.

Annja was happy about that. She wanted to see if there was anything else there that warranted their attention.

They sank onto the reef and then made their way along it to the far end. Annja noted that Spier had brought along another clipboard and grease pencil for taking notes on the landscape. Also, Heinkel had brought along something that looked like a Shop-Vac. Annja wondered if they were intending to suck away part of the sand.

She and Hans made their way across to the outcropping they’d investigated yesterday. Hans found the location of his scraping and started again. Annja drifted nearby but soon found herself drawn to an opening that looked distinctly like an archway.

The interior was dark and she could see very little. It was large enough to permit entry if she squeezed through. But that would be foolish. The archway might be home to a moray eel or even a small shark. Sticking her head into the darkness would be inviting disaster.

Still, she wanted to see what was inside. All the more because she hadn’t noticed the archway before. She ran her hands along the edge of the arch and found they’d been recently scraped clean.

Roux.

He must have discovered something last night but didn’t have enough time to complete his work. That’s why he wanted an excuse to come back here. She turned toward Hans, but he was engrossed in his work.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Roux looking at her. He pointed at the archway and then produced a flashlight.

Annja shook her head. They couldn’t go in there without letting everyone else know. Roux nodded but Annja ignored him. She waved at Hans when he looked up.

Annja pointed at the archway and then at Roux and his flashlight. Comprehension dawned on Hans’s face and he pointed at the area where Spier was exploring. He swam away to get them, leaving Annja with Roux.

Roux looked annoyed and shot Annja a look that said, This is a bad idea.

But Annja couldn’t simply disappear on Hans and Spier. They’d done nothing to warrant treating them like that. They’d saved her life and they’d looked after her as friends.

Hans came swimming back, followed by the rest of the team. Spier’s eyes widened when he saw the archway.

Roux switched the flashlight on, flooding the archway with light. It appeared to open up once one got past the entrance. Roux led the way inside.

Annja followed close behind and saw that they were in some sort of tunnel. The interior was filled with fish of all kinds. Annja froze when she saw a moray eel poke out of a nearby hole before retreating again.

Hans squeezed her ankle and she looked back with a grin. She was glad there were other people with her.

Roux led them farther into the tunnel, which now descended toward the seafloor. Or what would have been the seafloor if they had stayed out on the reef. But for some reason, this was something entirely different.

The tunnel widened and the water grew warmer. More fish shot past their face masks as Roux’s flashlight illuminated the dark surrounding them.

This would be a horrible place to have to face a shark, Annja decided. With only a little room to maneuver, they’d be at an immediate disadvantage.

But they had yet to see anything more dangerous than the moray eel back at the opening. Maybe the sharks didn’t like the tunnel any more than Annja did.

Their air bubbles drifted toward the top of the tunnel, and then back behind them. They were still descending, but at a gentler grade than at first.

How much farther did the tunnel go on? Annja wondered. And were they even still on the reef itself? Annja checked her oxygen gauge. If the tunnel kept going much farther, they’d have to turn back or else run out of air and die in this murky enclosure.

The path started to shift and ease them up at another angle. As they ascended, their air bubbles rushed ahead of them, seeking the top of wherever they might have been.

Fewer fish swam in this part of the tunnel and the water grew even warmer. Almost to the point of being uncomfortable.

Annja frowned. Strange that it should be so warm here, she thought. What could be causing the temperature to rise so much?

Roux’s flashlight beam bounced off something light ahead. As they approached, Annja saw that it looked like smooth stone.

Roux ran his hand over it and glanced back at the team. As Annja grew near, she glided her hand along it and felt the smooth, cool surface like marble.

It was just like what Hans had unearthed outside on the reef. Were they in some type of ancient structure?

If they were, then there was definitely something to Spier’s story about a lost civilization.

Roux kept leading them ahead.

Annja took another look at her oxygen gauge. They’d be approaching the point of no return soon.

She stopped and waited until Hans and Spier drew closer to her. Annja pointed at her gauge and they nodded. So, they knew. Annja held up her hands asking if they should go any farther or turn back.

She saw the answer in Spier’s eyes. He wanted to go on.

Annja glanced at Hans and he, too, wanted to press on.

I hope you guys know what you’re doing, Annja thought. She turned and kicked to catch up with Roux.

When she did, she tapped him on his ankle. He glanced back at her, perturbed with the interruption, but Annja gestured to his oxygen gauge and he checked it. His expression softened and then he nodded. They had time, he seemed to be saying. Let’s move on.

He turned back and kicked his fins, putting a little distance between him and the rest of the team. Annja hurried to catch up.

And then she saw some measure of ambient light coming from somewhere up ahead. They were still a ways from the source, but Roux switched off his flashlight and stowed it on his gear belt.

They could see better the farther they progressed. Annja made out more of the marble stones that hadn’t been covered by barnacles or algae. The angles were all extremely precise, as if someone had once used a laser to cut the blocks.

But that wasn’t possible, was it?

Annja continued to swim. According to both Spier and Roux, there was a lost civilization at the heart of this mystery. A civilization that had somehow managed to create precision-cut marble blocks and the pearl itself.

Twenty-five thousand years ago.

And then something had happened to destroy that civilization. Annja was familiar enough with the various theories of prehistoric earth, especially where writers of fantastic fiction were concerned. Robert E. Howard’s legendary Conan the Barbarian had lived during such an age. But not even Conan had had access to a laser. Then again, Annja had seen some fantastic things since she’d come into possession of the sword. Things she still struggled to believe, even though she’d seen them with her own eyes.

Roux led them along and the upward angle of the tunnel seemed to be increasing. They swam higher. Annja checked her oxygen gauge again and saw they were reaching a critical point. They would need to turn back soon.

She looked back and saw the concern etched on Hans’s face. Spier still looked excited about what was ahead of them.

Annja was, too, but she was also concerned they wouldn’t make it back.

Where was Roux leading them?

Her legs started to ache from the swimming and even the warm water did little to ease her pain. She saw a few fish but nothing larger than her hand swam this far in the tunnel.

Annja wondered if she was actually starting to sweat underwater, or if that was even possible. The heat in the water seemed to sap her strength. She started to feel woozy.

She wanted Roux to stop. She wanted him to turn around and lead them back out. But he gave no indication that he would ever stop. At least, not until he reached the end of the tunnel.

She cursed him then. Why did he always have to be so driven? And why did she always end up in these situations? She’d come here to relax, not drown in some remote tunnel where no one would ever find her body.

Roux kept pressing forward. The ambient light grew stronger.

Annja saw more marble blocks now, each as precise as the others. They seemed to form giant steps that rose along the same angle of ascension as the tunnel.

Were they almost at the end?

They’d never have enough oxygen to reach it and make it back to the boat safely.

Annja tried to calm herself. Panicking would only use up her oxygen faster. And she couldn’t have that.

Hans swam up next to her and looked concerned. His expression searched her as if asking if she were okay. She gave him a feeble thumbs-up and he nodded.

More light spilled into the tunnel now.

Roux stopped and hovered in the midst of the tunnel. He turned back and waved them all forward.

He pointed.

In the middle of the tunnel, they could see a round opening far above them where the light originated.

Their air bubbles raced toward the opening, and as they watched them ascend, the bubbles broke the surface.

Annja’s heart raced. Finally!

They had to remember proper protocol, however, and despite the fact that they were nearly out of oxygen, they still had to time their ascents accordingly. After all, they had no real idea how deep they’d gone underwater or how much they might have ascended since going into the tunnel.

Roux led the way. Annja watched him journey up the slender tube and then saw Spier head up next. Annja waited until he had reached the top and clambered out of the tunnel before starting up herself.

She watched her bubbles rise.

She tasted stale air.

Again.

Next time, I’m bringing two tanks, she thought. Enough of this crap.

She kicked upward.

She felt her heart starting to race as her body experienced the lack of oxygen. Her lungs felt tight, constricted as they cried out for fresh air.

Annja felt the familiar feeling of blacking out, but clamped down on her mouthpiece and willed herself to keep going.

Stay awake!

Finally, she felt her head break through the surface of the water. She spit out her mouthpiece and sucked in fresh air, grateful—so grateful—to still be breathing.

When she finally climbed out of the tunnel and stood, she couldn’t believe her eyes.