Bright flames erupted across the burial hall as the burning oil atop the mercury in the lakes, rivers, and ocean consumed itself. A rush of air echoed off the walls, like a wave rushing to shore, generating quick heat and bright light.
Malone wasted no time, springing to his feet and joining Cassiopeia as they rushed the hundred feet back toward the break in the chamber wall. They avoided more rivers and lakes, but thankfully the western portion of Qin’s empire was more desert and mountain.
The oil quickly exhausted itself, and the light faded. What remained was a dark cloud seeping up from the floor, and he knew what that deadly waft contained.
Mercury.
“Take a breath and hold it,” he said.
TANG SAW THE TRIPOD CRASH TO THE FLOOR AND THEN FELT heat as the mineral oil ignited in a burst of blinding light. He shielded his eyes with a raised arm. The brother and Viktor did the same.
The unexpected flash left black spots winking in and out, but as his vision settled he saw through the rising clouds of gray-black fog two figures at the far side of the chamber running toward the break in the wall.
“We can’t stay here,” Viktor said.
Tang knew the smoke was toxic and its first wisps were only a few meters away, so he retreated from the archway.
Another crack resounded through the chamber and lights began to explode. He heard an electrical surge and something popped behind him in a shower of sparks.
The junction box into which the cable from outside fed power.
“They’re shorting out,” Viktor yelled.
Then the world went black.
CASSIOPEIA KEPT RUNNING, SENSING THAT THE ELECTRICAL current surging through the mercury had finally backtracked through the lines.
The last thing she saw before all the lights extinguished was the wall, about ten meters away.
She stopped short and heard Malone do the same.
“We have to go,” he whispered.
She exhaled. “Find the wall. The exit was about twenty meters to the right.”
“We might have a minute or so of good air this far over, but we need to hurry.”
Darkness was absolute. She could not even see her hands. Carefully, she groped the air and found the wall with the tip of her gun. The flashlight was still in her pocket, but all that would provide was a perfect target for a spray of bullets through the fog.
“Go,” Malone whispered. “Fast.”
Beams of light erupted from the far side of the hall, the rays threading a path through the cloud, now maybe six feet above the floor and rising.
The beams found the wall and started searching left and right.
For them.
“THEY HAVE TO BE THERE,” TANG SAID.
All three of them used their lights to scan the far side of the chamber for the two figures. The beams were weak, but strong enough.
“Find that opening,” he ordered. “That’s where they were headed.”
The beams continued their dance. One of them located the break in the wall—and then, to its right, a figure.
Heading straight for it.
“There,” he said. “Shoot.”
“HIT THE GROUND,” MALONE YELLED, KNOWING WHAT WAS coming.
The beam had located Cassiopeia just as she’d made it to safety. He decided not to give anyone a free shot.
He took aim across the room and fired at the center of the three lights.
TANG HEARD THE BULLET SLAM INTO THE BROTHER. THE MAN was thrown back by the impact, his light zigzagging in the darkness, his body thudding to the bricks.
Tang immediately retreated behind the archway, as did Viktor on the other side. The mercury cloud was advancing toward them, now only meters away.
They had to leave.
But first.
CASSIOPEIA SAW ONE LIGHT FALL AND TWO OTHERS DISAPPEAR, most likely seeking cover. She sprang to her feet, found the break in the wall with her hand, and slipped inside, a thick slab of stone between her and any more bullets.
Malone, though, was still out there.
“Are you in?” she heard him ask.
“I’m here. Your turn.”
The lights were starting their search again, focused on the opening. But they were noticeably weaker from the fog, which she saw was thickening and advancing toward their end of the hall.
Another thirty seconds and it would be here.
The lights moved away and lowered.
Both locked on Malone.
“THERE HE IS,” TANG SAID TO VIKTOR. “SHOOT HIM NOW.”
Their guns banged.
MALONE SPOTTED THE DARK CLOUD, LESS THAN TEN FEET AWAY. He flattened himself to the floor just as guns fired from the other side of the hall.
He held his breath and the lights stayed just above him.
Standing, even crouching, would be fatal.
But he needed to go.
Now.
CASSIOPEIA AIMED AROUND THE STONE DOOR AND EMPTIED her magazine across the room, firing at the lights.
“Get your ass in here,” she yelled to Malone.
MALONE REALIZED THAT IT WASN’T QUITE THAT EASY. THE beams had retreated from sight with Cassiopeia’s barrage, which he assumed was the whole idea, but it also plunged the scene before him back into absolute darkness. He knew the opening was about eight feet to his right. Still, he had to feel his way across the wall, heading for the sound of her shots.
Repeated clicks indicated that her magazine was drained.
He found the opening, hopped inside, and exhaled.
“We need to get the hell out of here,” he said.
TANG REALIZED THAT COTTON MALONE AND CASSIOPEIA VITT were gone, escaped into the far exit. The fog was nearly upon them, so there was no way to pursue them through the chamber.
He dropped back, as did Viktor.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I have two brothers waiting for them when they emerge from the ground.”
SIXTY
NI CLIMBED FROM THE WELL AND CHECKED HIS WATCH. NEARLY SIX PM. He sucked a few lungfuls of warm, moist air. The rain had stopped.
He replaced the iron plate in the well.
Tang would surely be exiting soon, so he needed to leave. His adversary had come prepared, but so had he.
He found his cell phone and hit a speed-dial key. The number dialed and the connection was made. “I want you here, on site, in the next fifteen minutes.”
He’d brought twelve of his investigators with him, transporting them in a separate helicopter that would have arrived about half an hour after his. They’d been instructed to wait a few kilometers away until contacted.
“We’re on the way.”
“Meet me at the security center, at the administrative buildings, east of the museum.”
He ended the call and headed off.
MALONE LED THE WAY AS HE AND CASSIOPEIA SCAMPERED through the tunnel, back toward where they’d entered. He knew that there were four right angles to traverse, two remaining as they’d already once turned left, then right. He avoided all the doorways leading out, careful to retrace the path they’d used to enter. He’d be damn glad when sky once again loomed overhead.
He still held his gun, which contained a few rounds. Cassiopeia’s was exhausted. They both toted flashlights.
“I appreciate what you did back there,” he said.
“Least I could do.”
“You realize Viktor was on the other side of one of those flashlights.”
“We also know that neither one of us was shot.”
He stopped. “You can’t be serious. You actually think he helped?”
“Cotton, I don’t know what to think. This whole thing seems one double cross after another. All I know is that a four-year-old boy is gone and I can’t get anywhere close to finding him.”
He saw the exasperation in her eyes, and awaited another verbal assault. Instead she drew close and kissed him.
Tender. Sweet. Not a question, more a statement.
“Viktor’s not
you,” she said.
“You think I’m jealous?”
“I think you’re human.”
He was uncomfortable as hell. Feeling emotions was one thing, revealing them was quite another. “We need to get out of here.”