The Atlantis Plague (The Origin Mystery, #2)(48)

David told the story he had come there to tell, and when he had finished, the chief looked away, seeming to contemplate.

In his mind, David began rifling through the chief’s possible questions, mentally preparing responses. But no questions came. The chief stood and left.

Three men rushed into the tent, seized David, and dragged him out toward a communal fire that burned in the center of the makeshift village. The tribespeople gathered as he passed. Just before they reached the fire, David got his feet under him and threw the man on his right off, but the man holding his left arm held tight. David hit him hard in the face and the man released his grip and fell listless into the sand. David turned, but three more soldiers were on him, dragging him to the ground, covering him, holding his arms. Then someone else loomed over him—the chief. Something rushed down, a sword, or a spear. It burned orange and smoke rolled off of it. The chief plunged the burning iron prod into David’s chest, sending waves of searing pain throughout his body and the sickening smell of burning flesh and hair into his nose. David fought not to gag as his eyes rolled back into his head and he lost consciousness.





CHAPTER 43


Immari Sorting Camp

Marbella, Spain


Kate was safe, or so she thought. The tall British soldier, Adam Shaw, had killed the other guard and… he knew her name.

“Who are you?” Kate said.

“I’m the fifth man from the SAS team sent here to retrieve you.”

“The fifth—”

“We had a bit of a disagreement over tactics. I submitted that we should alter our plans after the Immari invasion of Marbella. The other four didn’t listen.”

Kate eyed his uniform. “How did you—”

“There’s a lot of confusion right now. A lot of new faces. We’ve been studying the Immari Army organization extensively. I knew enough to fake it. Getting the uniform was easy. Just had to kill one of them. Speaking of.” He bent over the dead guard. “Help me get his uniform off.”

Kate eyed the dead man. “Why?”

Shaw nodded to her. “Seriously? You want to walk out of here in that? Any idiot can see you sliced up a chef’s jacket, and even if you can’t see it, by God you can smell it a kilometer away. You’re a walking compost heap.”

Kate raised her shoulder and tried casually to sniff the white coat. Yeah, it was less than fresh. The overwhelming stench in the kitchen had apparently numbed her to the smell for a bit.

Shaw handed her the man’s tunic, then stripped off the pants and held those up as well.

Kate hesitated. “Turn around.”

He smiled. “Let me guess, Kate. Two well-shaped boobs, an unnaturally flat stomach, and toned legs. I’ve seen it before, Princess. I had the internet before the plague.”

“Well my body isn’t on the internet, so turn around.”

He shook his head and turned his back to her.

Kate thought he mumbled something about “prudish Americans.” She ignored him as she slipped into the uniform. It was slightly too large, but it would do. “What now?”

“Now I complete my mission—to take you to London. You’ll complete the research, find a cure for this nightmare, and the world will live happily ever after. I’ll get a picture with the Queen, et cetera, et cetera. Assuming you don’t make any other stupid moves, we’ll be okay.”

Kate walked around the dead guard to face Shaw. “There’s a man in here—Dr. Martin Grey. He’s my adoptive father, and the man that made the deal with your government. We have to find him and take him with us.”

Shaw led Kate out of the hallway and into the stairwell. “If he’s in here, he’s either dead or dying. We can’t help him. You’re my mission, not him.”

“He is now. I’m not leaving here without him.”

“Then you won’t leave.”

“And you won’t accomplish your mission. No visit with the Queen.”

He snorted. “I was being facetious. This is serious.”

Kate nodded. “So is this. A man’s life is a stake.”

“No, Kate, billions of lives are at stake.”

“Well none of them raised me.”

Shaw exhaled deeply and motioned to the dead guard in the hall. “The other three are going to come looking for him soon. We need to get out of this building.”

Kate considered Shaw’s words for a moment. “That sounds to me like something you’re going to have to handle.” Kate thought for a moment. She could never search the entire building; she needed somewhere to start. Where would Martin go? He knew the layout of the buildings and the Immari invasion protocol. Her mind flashed to the hotel safe. Could it withstand the fall of the building? No, that would simply trap him there, and his food wouldn’t last—assuming anyone ever dug out the rubble, and that was a long shot. Food. Of course. “When you’re done with the guards, meet me in the kitchen.”

“The kitchen?”

“That’s where Martin is.” She started down the stairwell.

“Wait.” Shaw picked up the guard’s gun and belt, and fastened both around Kate. “Wear this, but try not to use it.”

“Why?”

“It draws attention, for one. And if you’re shooting at someone around here who has a gun, they’re probably a better shot than you are.”