The Belial Stone (The Belial Series) (28 page)

CHAPTER 72

L
aney pulled the threadbare blanket more tightly around her, trying to stave off some of the cold.   She knew it was a wasted effort.  Her teeth continued to chatter and she shivered violently.  The flimsy material could not combat the steadily dropping temperature.

She and the men who’d been working the day shift had been brought back to the sleep enclosure only a few minutes ago.  They’d been given a cup full of what could only be described as gruel.  It seemed to be made of lukewarm water and beef gristle. 

Laney was starving, but she only managed to choke down half of it before giving up.  The man across from her had stared hard at her cup.  She’d handed it to him without a word.  He swallowed it down quickly with a nod of thanks.   After their two-minute dinner, a guard barked at them to go to bed. 

Tom had led Laney to a bedroll and taken the one next to her.  First, though, he’d helped his friend Seeley find a spot.  The man seemed to be only physically present, as if his mind had escaped elsewhere.  In this place, that was probably a blessing.

As Laney curled up on the bedroll, she was sure she would fall asleep as soon as she hit the ground.  Her bones practically wept from exhaustion.  But she hadn’t counted on how hard the ground would be, or how cold.  The bedroll was barely thicker than a bed sheet.  It didn’t seem to keep any of the cold from seeping into her. 

She had been trying to sleep for thirty minutes now.  She was so cold and shivering so hard, it had proven impossible.  She'd tried to hold back the tears, but she didn't have the strength to fight that either.  She felt weak for crying, and selfish.  These men had been here for who knew how long and here she was, crying like a baby, on her first night. 

Hearing a rustle behind her, she glanced over her shoulder.  Tom had moved his bedroll right beside hers, so that his back was to her back.  The man whom she’d given her dinner also moved closer to her, his back now right in front of her.  The men sandwiched Laney between them.  After a few minutes, the cold tremors subsided.  She wasn’t actually warm, but she didn’t fear freezing to death, either. 

Laney mumbled her thanks.  Neither man heard her.  They were already asleep.  And a few minutes, so was she.

CHAPTER 73

A
rthur Priddle paced along the edge of dig site twenty-one.  He’d been hovering around it for most of the afternoon and evening.  Fists clenched, he struggled to keep from yelling at the workers to hurry up.  He’d yelled himself hoarse already.  He’d gone so far as to push one to the ground and kick him in the back when he scratched the megalith with his shovel.

All he’d accomplished was stressing out the workers.  They’d become clumsy and slowed down to compensate.  He was aware enough to realize he needed to pull back.  He towered above them now, practically biting his tongue off to keep from speaking.  It was a Herculean effort on his part. 

The megaliths at this site included more depictions of the Belial Stone than any other site so far.  He was convinced they would find one here. 

If they ever finish excavating it! He glared down at the workers, as if he could will them to work faster. 

He paused in his pacing to wipe his brow with the grimy handkerchief he'd shoved into his back pocket.  The Senator kept pushing him for more results, and didn’t understand that conducting an archaeological dig was not like ordering at a restaurant.  Sometimes you just had to take what you got. 

Today, Senator Kensington had even mentioned replacing him with someone who could get results.  Replace him!  After all the work he’d put into this site.  Well, that simply wasn’t going to happen.  If he had to personally beat each of these workers within an inch of their worthless lives to get results, he’d do it. 

He heard the scrape of a shovel against a hard surface again.  Whirling around to scream at the offender, he noticed a flurry of movement near one of the megaliths.  Grabbing his bag of tools, he clambered down the ramp and made his way to the towering pillar. 

As he approached, he saw that unlike most of the pillars, this one had something jutting out of it.  But the object was smaller than any relief they had seen so far.  Shoving the man who had been brushing the object aside, Priddle carefully pulled his own brush from his pocket and began removing dirt.

He carefully probed the object.  So far, the only objects that projected out from the pillars were animal reliefs, but this was no relief.  It was made of a different material, both hard and smooth.

With reverence, he brushed at the thin layer of dirt that remained.  Slowly, a diamond-shaped object with a crystalline structure, about the siz
e of a softball, was revealed.

“Camera,” he demanded, holding out his hand.  It was placed in his shaking hand.  He’d found it. 
Finally
. 

He quickly took shots of the stone from every angle.   He removed a small chisel and hammer from his tool bag.  Ever so gently, he pried the stone loose. 

Holding it up, he could just make out the crisscrossing patterns within the six-sided figure.  Surprise flooded him.  It was warm to the touch.  Rummaging in his bag, he pulled out a piece of burlap.  With infinite care, he wrapped the stone, still able to feel its warmth through the fabric. 

He nestled it to his side and headed back up the ramp.  He would call the Senator immediately.  No one was going to replace him now.

CHAPTER 74

K
ensington arrived at the dig site just before five a.m.  He’d been awoken by his aid thirty minutes ago. At first, he’d yelled at the man for interrupting his sleep.  When he’d found out that Priddle had called from the dig site and wanted him out there, he’d yelled at the man for not waking him sooner. 

Ignoring the workers who crossed his path, he strode through the enclosure entrance and towards the RV.  Not bothering to knock, he threw open the door and climbed in. 

The brightness of the trailer was blinding.  Once his eyes adjusted, he focused on Priddle, who was sitting at the table, a jeweler’s monocle to his eye.

“You’ve found it?” he asked eagerly.

Priddle looked up and smiled.  “Yes, sir.  In site twenty-one, just like I predicted.”

“Let me see it.”   He demanded, moving to sit opposite Priddle at the table, careful not to jar his injured arm. 

Priddle placed the jeweler’s loupe on the table and handed over the crystal.  Kensington took it reverently. 

“It’s warm,” he said with surprise. 

Priddle nodded.  “I’ve done some preliminary readings and the heat seems to be generated by constant vibrations within the stone.

“Is it a form of acoustic resonance?”

Priddle couldn’t conceal his surprise.  Kensington bristled at the look.  These academics always thought they were the only ones with a brain.

“Actually, I think it is.  The readings I’ve conducted so far suggest that the energy stored in this small crystal is immense.   I’m not an expert in this area, but I’d say you’ve found an incredible source of renewable energy in this stone.”

Kensington held up the stone.  “You’ve done well.  With this stone, America will achieve its greatest heights.” 
And I will lead them there
, he thought smugly.  This was proof that he was destined to lead.  This stone was put here for him to find, and to help bring America back to its former greatness.

Priddle glanced behind the Senator.  “Will Mr. Gideon be joining us?”

“No,” the Senator said firmly, still staring into the crystal.  “Mr. Gideon is no longer a part of this project.”

CHAPTER 75

G
ideon drove his black Mercedes SL550 down the private drive towards his home.  He’d spent the last few hours in the company of an accommodating woman over in Beaver Creek.  He smiled at the memory of her silken generosity.  He smiled even wider as he recalled her eyes as the life drained out of them. 

The interlude had distracted him, for a few hours, from the search for the stone.  He couldn’t believe that they still hadn’t uncovered one at the site.  Was it possible he had miscalculated?  That there was actually no stone to be found? 

He pulled to a stop in front of his home.  No.  They would find the stone.  It was just a matter of time.

Before exiting his car, he took a moment to appreciate the beauty of his home.  He might actually miss this place, he thought as he walked to his front door. 

Pulling out his electronic key, Gideon felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle.  He wasn’t alone.  Without giving any indication of his awareness, he dropped his keys and lowered himself to the ground to pick them up.  Sliding his hand underneath his jacket, he felt the grip of his handgun. 

A whisper of a sound and a shadow came from around the corner of the house.   

Bullets slammed into the front door behind him.  He threw himself to the ground and rolled behind one of the columns at the entryway.  He peeked out.  The man had taken refuge behind his car. 

Gideon lay down on the ground and peered underneath the car.  He could see the man’s foot just beyond the front tire.  Lining up his shot, he pulled the trigger.  The man howled in pain and fell, his whole body now exposed to Gideon’s view.  He emptied two more bullets into the man’s face and chest.  The yelling stopped. 

Sensing movement to his left Gideon rolled to his feet and swung around.  A second shooter was coming around the other side.  The man was caught out in the open.

“Amateur,” Gideon muttered disgustedly.  He shot the man twice in the chest. 

As the man dropped, Gideon stalked towards him, keeping his gun trained.  He kicked the man’s weapon away and looked at his would-be assassin.  The man was gasping for breath. 

He calmly shot him in the face.  A face he recognized.  He was one of Kensington’s private security detail. 

He strode over to the man in the driveway.  He was already past help.  Wishing he could kill him again, he emptied the rest of his clip into him.

He stomped to the front door and kicked it open, breaking the door frame.  Seething, he stopped, looking around his home with narrowed eyes.  How dare he. Who does he think he’s dealing with? And only sending two men to kill me?  That’s just insulting.

He paused, halfway into his living room.  Why would Kensington make this move now?  It was bold.  And Kensington was never bold, except when he felt he held all the cards.

He turned to his right and walked over to his bar.  He pulled a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue off the shelf.  Pouring himself two fingers worth, he downed it before re-filling his glass.   The drink warmed his throat. 
Ah, Kensington.  You foolish man.  You’ve found the stone, haven’t you?
   

He emptied his glass.  Placing it back on the counter, he looked around his home.  It had been a good refuge.  But if all went well, this would be the last time he saw it. 

Smiling, he turned and walked back out to his car. 

CHAPTER 76

I
t was just before dawn as the assault team crept towards the enclosure.  They had broken into two groups of fifteen men.  The first group, led by Henry, took out the truck patrols.  The second group, led by Jake, hightailed it to the enclosure. 

Patrick watched behind him for the first group to join them.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw them appear from the darkness.  Together, the two groups advanced on the enclosure.  So far they’d been lucky.  They hadn't encountered any guards.  They must all be at the compound itself. 

Patrick’s pulse quickened as the enclosure came into view.  A wind blew towards them, bringing the scent of body odor and death.  The thought of Laney being held in there chilled him to the bone.  He gripped his Glock more securely.  He would get her out.  Nothing was going to stand in his way. 

He nearly tripped as he counted the guards at the site.  They seemed to have tripled in number.  He shoved aside the doubts that tried to crowd his mind.  They would succeed.   They would get Laney and Tom out of there. 

Patrick watched Yoni move towards the transformer, using the shadows as cover.  Almost time.  In one minute, Yoni would blow the transformer and back-up generator.  The darkness and chaos would, hopefully, provide the assault team with enough time to subdue most of the guards. 

Patrick crawled up next to Jake.  Making the sign of the cross, he said a little prayer for the upcoming assault.  He hoped that Gideon was nowhere nearby.  This was going to be tough enough without that obstacle.

He looked over at the sleeping cage where Laney slept.  He had to hold himself back from springing for it. 

Jake reached over and grasped Patrick’s shoulder.  “It’s okay, Patrick.  We’ll get her out.”

Patrick looked into Jake’s eyes and read the commitment there.  Jake would not let Laney be harmed.  He was as determined to get her out as he was. 

He nodded.  “Yes, we will.  And Tom, too.”

The radio beeped and Yoni’s voice called out softly.  “Ready to go.  All teams in place?”

The teams all called in their affirmatives. 

Yoni counted down.  “Darkness in 3, 2, 1.”