Labyrinth (22 page)

“But together?”

“We just might have a shot,” Kessel said. “But only if we go at them hard and fast.”

“That may be the only thing they don’t expect.” Annja rolled her eyes. “Maybe they think they’ve got us all confused and unsure of ourselves.”

Kessel grinned. “The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m going to do whatever it takes to get us the hell out of here.”

Chapter 25

Annja led Kessel up through the control room, pausing only to show him the banks of video monitors and the cables running all over. “I think this is one of the places they kept tabs on us.”

Kessel frowned. “We really were like guinea pigs, weren’t we?” He shook his head. “I don’t like having my chain jerked without my consent.”

“Neither do I,” said Annja. “But at least this makes it somewhat easier in another way.”

“What way is that?”

“Well, before you weren’t sure how we should play up your role—whether you were still viable as Kessel the mute or not.” She gestured at the video screens. “This pretty much answers that question for us, don’t you think?”

She saw the realization hit Kessel. “If they’ve been watching, then they know I’m talking to you. So, it’s safe to assume they’re aware that I’m an undercover agent.”

“Exactly.”

Kessel grinned. “Good, I never liked playing the role of Greene’s henchman, anyway. This will give him and me some really good quality time to catch up with each other. A little family reunion of sorts.”

Annja frowned. Something about the way Kessel had said that had almost seemed gleeful. As if he was really looking forward to getting his hands on Greene. She shrugged. Tough to blame him for that sentiment. After all, she was feeling pretty much the same way about Fairclough.

And she couldn’t wait to throw him around, old man or not. What he’d done here was unforgivable.

“We need to keep moving,” she said then, suddenly aware of how exposed they were. If the ninja came back, he could cut them both down without expending much energy.

Annja didn’t mind admitting that she was a bit confused why the ninja hadn’t already finished her off. He could have taken me at any time, she thought as they walked out of the control room. And yet, he chose not to.

Nothing seemed to make much sense down in this place. But maybe once they got back to the real world, things would be different. Or at least apparent.

They continued to climb through more tunnels. Kessel grunted every so often behind her. Annja looked back. “You feeling okay?”

“As okay as you’d expect,” Kessel said. “Just a little tough doing this climb right now with my head the way it is.”

“Just think of each step as one foot closer to finding a real doctor.”

Kessel nodded. “Oh, I am. Trust me on that one. It’s just I didn’t expect a little hike to take so much out of me. I’m used to hauling ass around mountains without breaking a sweat. And here we are walking a gentle incline and I’m heaving.”

“You want to take a five-minute break?”

Kessel paused and she could see he was thinking it over. This was a test for him, she knew. Men like Kessel didn’t like to think themselves weak, but he also knew that he had just undergone an invasive procedure and he had to take it easy or risk reinjuring himself.

“Five minutes might be good,” he said finally.

Annja nodded and they hunkered down on opposite sides of the tunnel. She glanced around. “How far away from the surface do you think we are?”

“Not sure,” he said. “I lost track of how deep we were. When we fell through the first room, we could have dropped several stories and not realized it. I don’t know about you but my attention was on biting fish when I fell into the water.”

“Mine, too. But we seem to have climbed back out of the abyss at least somewhat.”

“I wish I knew—” Kessel rubbed his eyes “—where my end goal was, you know? Helps focus my brain on achieving it.”

“Confusion and misdirection are a big part of this maze.”

“No doubt,” he agreed. “Whatever you did to this guy Fairclough, it must have been harsh to make him come up with something like this to torture you.”

Annja sighed. “I honestly can’t remember. When I laid eyes on Fairclough, I had no memory of seeing him before. I can’t recall ever talking with him. And certainly I can’t think of a thing I could have done to warrant this.”

Kessel stared at her. “Well, unfortunately, it’s not so much what you remember, or even if it’s accurate, that counts. It’s what Fairclough thinks you did to him. Or should I say, is convinced you did to him.”

“And that’s what sucks. I wish I knew if it was warranted or not.”

“I’m guessing not.”

She smiled. “Thanks. But I’m not so sure. There have been times in the past where I’ve had to dispense some intense justice.”

“We’ve all been there, Annja.” Kessel pointed a finger at her. “Don’t forget who you’re talking to here. I’ve been in more bloody battles than most people I know who are serving these days. Sometimes, the universe just opens its own alimentary canal and shits silly on you. In those cases, how are you supposed to react? With careful consideration? There’s no time. You do what you’re trained to do and try to get home safely. It’s all any of us can do. We’re human, after all. None of us is perfect.”

Annja watched him for a moment and then smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate you saying that.”

“Not trying to be a self-help guru or anything, just trying to make you see your situation objectively. The nature of the world these days is that it’s full of evil and there are very few who answer the call to check evil’s advance.”

“You did.”

Kessel shrugged. “It’s what I do. I made that choice.” He nodded at her. “But you? I don’t know if you ever had a choice.”

“What do you mean?”

“The sword,” Kessel said. “How did you come by it?”

Annja looked down at the blade in her hand. It lay across her legs like it was taking a rest. “I think the sword chose me for some reason.”

“Exactly. The sword chose you. And you were stuck with it.” He leaned toward her across the tunnel. “Give it to me.”

Annja frowned. “Excuse me?”

“The sword,” he said with a grin. “I want you to give me the sword as a gift. Tell the sword I’m its new owner.”

She shook her head. “I don’t know if I can do that.”

Kessel smiled. “Relax, Annja, I don’t really want it. I just want to see what happens when you try to relieve yourself of that thing.”

“What if it backfires?”

“And does what? Gets up and jumps around by itself, cutting us to shreds?” He laughed. “I doubt very much that’s going to happen. Seriously. Now just try it and see.”

Annja looked down at the sword again. She marveled at the length of its blade and how even in the dim light there was a luminescence about it. It truly was a marvel to behold.

“Annja.”

She blinked. “Sorry.” She closed her eyes and visualized herself giving Kessel the sword.

He will be your new owner, she thought to herself, trying to push the words into the sword. She felt a little silly, but did her best.

When she opened her eyes, the sword was still in her lap. Kessel was still leaning forward.

“Now give it to me.”

Annja gripped the sword and then turned the hilt toward Kessel so he could grab it.

As soon as Kessel touched the hilt, there was a spark and a bang.

Then the sword vanished.

Panic seized Annja. Where did it go? She was relieved to see it hovering back where it always was in the otherwhere. She took it and the sword was back laying across her lap.

She smiled. “I think we just proved your theory.”

“Sure as hell seems like it,” he said. “Well, there’s that settled now. So, hopefully, you know that you aren’t entirely responsible for everything you do.”

“So what—I get a free pass on things if I happen to be a complete bitch sometimes?”

Kessel shrugged. “Not really a free pass. If anything, I’d say you probably have to try even harder than the likes of us mere mortals do. That sword probably comes with its own set of rules and morals.”

Annja nodded. “Lucky me.”

“Would you give it away, if you could?”

Annja sighed. “Oh, hell, I don’t know. I mean, there are times when I can’t stand lugging this thing around anymore. It gets me into all sorts of trouble and then I have to fight my way back home.” She smiled. “But there are also times when I’m damned grateful to have it. And on those days, I can’t think what my life would be like without it.”

Kessel let out a pained groan. “That sounds like just about every other relationship I’ve ever heard about. And here you thought you weren’t ever going to get married.”

Annja started to laugh. “You should do comedy,” she said after a few moments.

He shook his head. “Nah, the thought of standing up on stage terrifies me. I could never do it.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“What?”

“A Navy SEAL and an FBI undercover agent and you can’t get up on stage to make people laugh? That’s ridiculous.”

“Why is it ridiculous?”

“Because your whole life has been about conquering your fears and overcoming obstacles. Hell, you get paid now to act in this role, right?”

“Well, yeah. But getting up in front of people, that’s scary stuff.”

“But you could do it. If you really wanted to.” She hefted the sword. “You’re not like me, Kessel. You’re not beholden to some ancient relic. You could do something completely different with your life and never look back.”

Kessel shook his head. “I’d always look back. I’ve left too many friends behind.”

“Poetic, too,” said Annja. “That could help your stage presence.”

Kessel grinned. “You planning this all out for me now?”

“Someone has to. I leave it up to you and it’ll never happen.”

“Maybe. Just don’t book me any appearances until I get my head back into shape.”

“Worried about your brain?”

“My brain?” Kessel shook his head. “Hell, no. I’m worried about looking like I just walked out of a lobotomy. I can’t go out there with half my head shaved and a hole in my skull. I’ve got my vanity, after all.”

Annja smiled. “I’ll make sure you look good.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Kessel stood. “Well, then, I guess I just found another reason to want to get home.”

Annja pointed ahead of them. “The corridor keeps heading up. You think we’ll find the entrance soon?”