Labyrinth
“Is he in a coma?”
“I think he’s asleep,” Jonas said. “Let me see if I can do something to bring him around.”
Annja watched as Jonas leaned in and adjusted one of the taps on the IV bag. The drip slowed and then Jonas tapped Fairclough on the shoulder. “Wake up, old man. Got someone here to see you.”
“Quite the wake-up call,” said Annja with a frown. “Your bedside manner is horrible.”
“I didn’t hire him for his bedside manner,” Greene snapped. “His skill with toxins is incredible.”
“Should I call him Dr. Poison?”
“Jonas is fine,” Jonas said. He tapped Fairclough again. “Can you hear me?”
Fairclough shifted under the blankets and his eyelids fluttered slightly. A croak escaped his mouth.
“Does the poison make him sick?” Annja asked.
“It’s actually a stronger version of what I shot you with,” Greene explained. “It’s a bit like being very drunk without the nausea and vomiting.”
Jonas blanched. “I’m not good with vomit.”
Annja cocked an eyebrow. “You’re a medical doctor and you can’t stand the sight of vomit?”
“Never could,” said Jonas. “And anything to do with urine or feces is out, too. Just freaks me out, man.”
Annja filed that nugget away. Knowing that Jonas had weaknesses could come in handy. In the meantime, she looked at Fairclough as he started moving. His eyes rolled open and he squinted in the bright light.
Greene nudged the bed. “Come on, Reggie. Wakey-wakey. You see who we went and found for you?”
Annja leaned closer. “Mr. Fairclough? I’m Annja Creed.”
Fairclough’s eyes rolled to Annja and he seemed to focus on her for a moment. Annja watched a glint appear in his eyes. He seemed to recognize her. But for the life of her, Annja couldn’t figure out where she might have known him from.
“Annja Creed.” Fairclough’s voice rasped as if he hadn’t had a drink in days.
Annja looked at Greene. “Can you at least get him some water?”
“Sure, we’re not complete savages here.” He nodded to Jonas, who reached for a glass of what appeared to be water on the bedside table. He put the straw up to Fairclough’s lips.
Annja watched as Fairclough drank and then sputtered some of it back out with a sharp cough. He looked like hell and, even if she didn’t know he was being poisoned, she would have thought he had some serious health issues.
Fairclough managed to take in some more water and then pushed Jonas away with one of his hands. There was anger in his eyes as he recognized Jonas and Greene.
But he smiled at Annja. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
Annja felt embarrassed. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t. I wish I did, but I just can’t place you. Have we met before?”
“Indeed,” Fairclough said. He looked at Jonas. “Help me sit up, you ignorant errand boy.”
Jonas glanced at Greene, who nodded. Jonas helped Fairclough into a better position, at which point Fairclough backhanded Jonas across the mouth. It was a sudden flash of Fairclough’s character, and it caught both Jonas and Greene completely by surprise.
Jonas reeled away, clutching his face. Annja saw a line of blood start to trickle down and grinned. “Looks like he hasn’t quite been neutralized just yet, huh?”
Jonas looked at Greene. “That bastard hit me!”
Fairclough looked quite pleased with himself, but Annja saw that the exertion had cost him a lot of his strength. She might not have remembered him, but she admired his resolve.
Greene nodded at the door to Jonas. “Go get that cleaned up.”
“You want me to leave you here alone?”
“Kessel’s out front. And I don’t think Annja’s going to try anything right now. She’s too interested in what our host has to say.”
Jonas left and Greene added, “I should remind you that if you try anything, it won’t go down well for you.”
“No need to repeat yourself,” Annja said. “I’m well aware of what you’re capable of. After all, I’ve already seen you kill three innocent people today. I’d say that qualifies you for scumbag of the month.”
Greene smiled. “Talk to him. Convince him to give me the book and you might just go home alive.”
Fat chance of that, Annja thought. There was no way in hell Greene would let her walk out of here. But she put that concern out of her mind for the time being. She’d deal with that eventuality when she had to. Worrying about it now was a waste of time and energy.
Fairclough reached out for her hand and she let him take it. “Come closer, Annja.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb the IV dip. She wondered what would happen if she ripped the thing out. Would it somehow injure Fairclough more? Would it kill him?
She couldn’t risk doing anything just yet. “I’m here,” she said.
“A few years ago at a history conference on the Egyptian influence on world history, you gave a talk on the Late Period’s Thirtieth Dynasty that was truly compelling.”
Annja squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Egypt is one of my passions, you see. And it was thrilling to hear such a talk coming from someone like you. I mean, I’ve seen that dreadful TV show—”
Annja held up her free hand. “I’m nothing like the other host, I assure you.”
“And I realized that, after you gave your presentation. I actually tried to say thanks, but you were whisked away immediately after your talk. I thought you might have had a family emergency or something so I didn’t pursue you.”
“No family emergency,” Annja said. “Just another relic that someone wanted me to chase down for them.”
“And now you’re here.”
“Because you sent them to bring me here.”
The old man bit his lip and looked away from her. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I shouldn’t have put you in danger.” He began to cough weakly, and Annja brought the glass with the straw back to his mouth. He drank, but didn’t say anything more.
Annja looked around, giving him time to compose himself. “You have a lovely home.”
“I wish you were seeing it under better circumstances. Unfortunately, one never knows what sort of riffraff will drop by unexpectedly.”
She smiled. “I had that same thing riffraff drop by on me earlier today. Rather rude of them.”
“Indeed,” Fairclough said. “But we are where we are and must endeavor to make the best of a bad situation. These lads want something of mine very badly, as I understand it.”
“A book. Greene said it was called the Tome of Prossos?”
Fairclough nodded and another short cough escaped him. “An early record of human history up until the great conflagration at Alexandria.”
“How is it that you have a copy? It was my understanding that all the books in the library were incinerated beyond retrieval.”
“They were,” he confirmed. “But there was also a movement afoot to make copies of all the texts in the library in case the unfortunate happened. Foresight that proved to be too late to save most of the texts. However, the Tome of Prossos was already copied.”
“And you have this copy?”
Fairclough inclined his head. “I have the only copy in existence. And I hope to have it in my possession awhile longer, mind you.”
Greene chuckled. “You don’t know what to do with it. The knowledge in that book shouldn’t belong to only one man. You’ve got to let the world have it. It belongs to the planet.”
Fairclough looked at him. “You’re a hypocrite on top of everything else. As if my releasing it would signal the great reformation you so fervently wish. You’d hoard the book yourself, using what its pages speak of to further your own ends.”
“My own ends are to benefit the planet,” Greene said.
“Are they?”
“Of course.”
“Then why don’t I simply release the book to the public over the internet? Would you have a problem with that?”
Greene shifted. “Well, yes, I would. But not because I wouldn’t have control of the book, but because its power would be usurped by corporations and other greedheads.”
Fairclough waved him away. “Bah! You don’t know half of what the book contains.”
“Well, neither do I,” Annja said. “Is this why you asked to see me? Because of the book? If that’s the case, would you mind filling me in on the details?”
Fairclough smiled at her. “It’s quite simple. As you know, the tome contains a written account of the history of the world, from its creation—according to Prossos—to mankind’s ascent through the Egyptian dynastic ages. It’s a marvelous read, provided you understand it.”
He glanced at Greene. “And let me just say for the record—you will not understand it.”
“I’ll take that chance,” Greene replied.
Fairclough looked back at Annja. “The real treat about the tome is that it also contains within its pages a codex that reveals a method for healing the planet in times of duress.”
“Meaning what, exactly? You can cure the planet?”
Fairclough’s smile grew. “Imagine knowing how to reduce the toxicity in the environment. That is what the book contains, and that is what I believe our good friend Greene here really wants it for. He doesn’t want to learn from the lessons of history so much as be the savior of the world.”
Greene shrugged. “Sure, I could stand with being called a savior. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?”
“You could be so much more than just a savior,” Fairclough said. “Provided you knew what to do.”
Annja cleared her throat. “How do you solve the codex?”
Fairclough shrugged. “I haven’t been able to crack that yet. It’s one reason I opted for retirement, so I could work on just that. It would have been nice to give the secret back to the world.”
Greene sighed. “All right, enough of this. Tell her where the book is so we can get it and leave this place. It makes me sick just thinking how much money it must’ve taken to buy this joint.”
Fairclough gripped Annja’s hand tighter. “You know as well as I do that he’ll never let either one of us out of here alive.”
“I was thinking about that.”
Greene frowned.
“Having seen what I saw today,” Annja continued, “I don’t doubt you’d kill us as soon as you could.”
Greene did his best to hide a smirk. But he failed and looked away. Annja frowned. She looked back at Fairclough. “I think we can take that as an indicator of what we’re in for.”
Fairclough nodded. “Exactly. So you can see that I really have no reason to reveal the book’s hiding place.”
“I’m still not sure why you asked to see me, but—” Annja lowered her voice “—I might be able to do something about this situation. However, I’d need to get to the book first if we have any hope of nullifying the poison in your veins.”
Fairclough looked at her hard. “Are you sure?”
Annja nodded. “Yes.”
“It won’t be easy. I took steps to protect the book and make sure it wouldn’t ever be stolen from me.”
“A security system?”
“Something like that,” Fairclough said. “I’d rather hoped never to have to use it, but when they broke into my house the other day, I had no choice. I was barely able to get it protected before they took me hostage.”
“All right,” said Annja. “So how do I disarm it?”
Fairclough waggled his eyebrows. “It’s not really something you can decode. You have to find your way through the maze.”
“Maze?”
“Yes,” he said. “The book is hidden at the center of a maze I designed under my estate.”
Chapter 6
Greene started laughing. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Fairclough looked at him and sighed. “I’d expect nothing less from someone like you. It always amazes me how little those who claim to stand for ideals actually think.”
“You’re telling me there’s a maze underneath this house?” Greene shook his head. “How in the world did you manage to construct that?”
“I hired people to excavate the area and build it to my precise specifications.”
“But what’s the point?” Annja asked. “I mean, no offense, but if you wanted some elaborate security system, there are plenty to choose from. You could hire someone to design you a completely unique system.”
“I’ll tell you why,” Greene said. “Because he’s gotten too much into the pages of some of his books apparently.”
Fairclough regarded him. “I had the maze built because I didn’t trust the security systems everyone else uses. Electronics can be defeated. Ciphers and codes don’t matter a whit to me. But genuine ingenuity is a prize I value above all else. Needless to say, most of the ruffians who would steal the book don’t possess even a fraction of it.”
Greene started forward. “Keep the insults up, old man, and I’ll—”
“Kill me?” Fairclough laughed. “Seems to me you’re already doing that, you ignorant pup. Now be quiet while I talk to this wonderful woman here.”
Greene looked as if he might be tempted to hit Fairclough.
Annja held up her hand. “All right, so what’s the deal with the maze? Do I just go down there and find my way to the center of it to retrieve the book?”
“That would be too easy,” Fairclough said. “I had to make it difficult to discover and even tougher to get through.”
“So, what happens when I get in there?”
Fairclough looked pained and glanced at the IV drip as if aware his time was very possibly fleeting. “There are puzzles you’ll need to figure out.”
“Puzzles?”
“Challenges,” Fairclough clarified. “Think of them that way. They’re tests, of course, and unfortunately the penalties for failing them are rather…absolute.”
“Absolute? What does that mean? Deadly?”
Fairclough nodded. A wave of pain washed over his face. “I’m sorry for putting you through this, Annja. You don’t deserve it.
“I had wanted to warn you that the copy of this book exists—because of your understanding of Egyptian history—but I never expected…”
“I won’t argue that point,” Annja said. “Can’t you just shut the thing down?” she asked.
“No.” Fairclough’s voice sounded weaker. “For reasons that will become obvious once you enter the maze.”
Annja looked skeptical. “You’re not giving me much to go on here.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“How do I get into the maze?”
Fairclough coughed. “There is an entrance in the barn behind the third horse stall. I don’t have horses any longer, but I’ve kept the barn there. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finding your way in.”
“All right.” Annja sighed. “But listen, couldn’t you just give me the answers to the challenges?”
But Fairclough’s eyes rolled back in his head. Greene felt his neck for a pulse. “He’s passed out. Probably from the pain.”
“Can’t you reduce it?” She chafed the old man’s hand.
Greene shrugged. “Well, yeah, I could. But why would I?”
“So I can get more answers out of him. So I can have a better shot at finding your precious book.”
Greene smiled. “He told you what you needed to know.”
“Hardly. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this thing. ‘Reasons that will become obvious once you’re in the maze’? I mean, what’s that about?”
Greene shook his head. “I don’t know and I don’t really care. But you’d better get going.”
Jonas came back into the room. He glanced at Fairclough. “He pass out from the pain again?”
“Seems to have,” Greene said. “You know the old coot has himself a maze underneath this place?”
Jonas stepped back. “For real? That’s pretty wild.”
“You two should come with me,” she said. “That way, when the maze kills you, I’ll only have to deal with Kessel when I come back up with the book.”
Jonas laughed. “Man, you’re funny, Annja. I like the way you unload those barbed comments like that. It’s kinda hot.”
“You’re a buffoon.” She looked at Greene. “Let me guess—you’re going to stay up here while I do all the work, right?”
“Well, I need to be here and so does Jonas so he can monitor our patient.” He smirked. “However, since you seem to have developed a liking for Kessel, you’ll be glad to know he’s going with you.”
Annja’s brows furrowed. “He’ll get in my way.”
“I doubt it. I think you might find him useful.”
“How so?”
“I suppose it depends on what sort of challenges Fairclough has put into the maze, but Kessel is incredibly strong and adept at killing things. If you come across guard dogs for example, he can dispatch them quickly.”
“You know this for a fact?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time we’ve come across attack dogs, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Fine,” Annja said. “The sooner I get down there, the better. I want to go home and forget this day ever happened.”
Greene smiled. “And I want that book. You’d do well to remember that when you start thinking about getting the better of Kessel. I’ve already instructed him to simply kill you if you give him reason to suspect anything is amiss, and try to get the book himself.”
“He wouldn’t find it without me.”
Greene shrugged. “I wouldn’t be so cavalier. Kessel is remarkably intelligent. Just because he doesn’t have a tongue doesn’t mean he can’t read. And he reads a lot. Last year he read several hundred books on a wide range of topics.”
“So, what you’re saying is he’s not just a mean-looking killer. There’s a real intellect behind all that brawn.”
“Exactly.”
Annja smirked. “Yeah, well, we’ll see if you’re right.”
“Yes, we will.”
Annja studied Fairclough in the bed. He hadn’t shown signs of coming back around. Jonas followed her gaze and sighed.
“The pain takes him after a while. One of the symptoms of this particular toxin. He’ll be out for a good long time.”
Greene smiled. “Unless, of course, we increase the dosage of the poison into his bloodstream.”
“Why would you do that?” Annja asked.
“Because you’re not moving fast enough,” he said. “You’re on the clock here, Annja.”
Jonas checked his watch. “As I said, I can monitor the flow of toxin into his body. But after a certain time, we won’t be able to undo the damage.”
Green glanced at Jonas. “How much longer does our antiquated bookseller have to live?”
Jonas looked at his watch. “I’d estimate no more than twelve hours. That’s the maximum time I can reverse the damage.”
“What’s happening to him now?” Annja asked.
“His neurological system is being ravaged but the effects at this point are temporary. An increase in the dosage will accelerate the damage and make it irreversible.”
“And if you stop the flow into him?”
Jonas smiled. “It’s not that easy, Annja. It’s not as though you can simply rip the IV out and expect a full recovery.”
Damn, Annja thought.
“He needs to receive the counterdrug to this one to make a full recovery.”
“You have it?”
“Of course we have it.” Greene nodded to Jonas. “Show her.”
Jonas brought out a small black doctor’s bag and unzipped it. Reaching in, he pulled out a different IV bag. “This is the drip that will reverse the effects of the drug on Fairclough.” He eyed Annja. “You don’t know how to administer an IV, do you?”
“I can’t stand needles.”
“Ah, good,” Jonas said. “Then you will obviously need to keep me around after you get the book.”
Annja smiled at Greene. “How about that? Your doctor just sold you out.”
“He did no such thing.”
“Sure sounded like it.” Annja glanced around. “Where’s the automaton you call Kessel?”
“Waiting outside the door,” Greene said, “although if I were you, I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss him that way. He’s very touchy about his condition.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Are we done here?”
Greene nodded. “Twelve hours. You have a watch?”
“Must have forgotten it back when you kidnapped me.”
Greene unstrapped his and tossed it to Annja. She turned it over and looked at it closely. “A fake Rolex?”
“What about it? Keeps good time.”
Annja held it up. “Another hypocrisy. You like the way it looks.”
“I like the way it keeps time.”
“I’ll bet you have a few real ones back home in your underwear drawer.”
Jonas shook his head. “We both got one when we were in Hong Kong to protest the environmental impact of recycled computer parts. There’s nothing special about them, but they do keep decent time.” He rolled up his sleeve and Annja saw he wore one, as well.
Annja checked Greene’s watch and made a note of the time. “Fine, but when I come back, you’d better have that bag rigged and ready to go.”
“We will.”
Annja fixed them both with a long, hard glare. “One more thing—this isn’t over. When I return, we’re going to have a serious discussion about your little organization and its stated goals for killing innocent people.”
Greene waved her off. “Whatever makes you feel good, Annja, that’s fine. Now run along. Kessel is waiting.”
Jonas grinned. “Have fun.”
Annja frowned and walked out of the room. Kessel stood just outside, as Greene had promised.
“You coming with me?” she asked.
Kessel nodded.
“All right, then. Let’s get to it.”
Chapter 7
Kessel led Annja back down the carpeted corridor and broke left near the entrance, taking her through a massive kitchen that could have easily handled the workload of two restaurants. Annja marveled at the shining cookware and six-burner cooktops with names she recognized from the fanciest restaurants. She whistled quietly. Fairclough certainly knew how to live.
A single heavy door led from the kitchen out to the backyard. But yard wasn’t quite the appropriate name for the sprawling lawn that greeted them. Floodlights illuminated a pair of tennis courts in the distance, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a beautiful flagstone patio area complete with its own outdoor kitchen and bar area.
Annja frowned. Fairclough didn’t seem like the type to do much entertaining and yet this home seemed custom-made for it. Then again, it would provide interesting cover for his underground maze. Perhaps he’d invested in this elaborate setup to simply help hide the book he sought to protect.
Either way, the place was luxurious and amazing. Annja found herself staring in wonder at the carefully trimmed plants and bushes they passed.
Kessel, for his part, seemed unmoved. He simply kept striding ahead toward a distant spot concealed behind a low rise in the yard. As they crested the grassy slope, Annja saw the outline of a large building and assumed this was the barn.
It looked old, in stark contrast to the rest of the estate. She could tell by the clapboard weathered to a fine slate gray that it had been built more than a hundred years ago.
Kessel stopped in front of the main door and pointed. Annja glanced at him. “You’re not going to get the door?”
He just stared at her.
Annja sighed. “Look, if you’re coming into the maze with me, we need to get some basic communication down. I take it you’re familiar with hand signals?”
Kessel didn’t respond for a moment but then finally nodded once.
“All right, then, we’ll go with those. And improvise if something comes up we can’t describe, okay?”
Kessel nodded again, this time a little faster. Annja grunted and pulled on the massive wooden door.
It creaked and then swung open. The smell of horses and hay enveloped her and she sneezed twice. So did Kessel, and it was the first time Annja heard him make any sort of noise.
“I’ll walk out of here with a massive allergy attack if I’m not careful,” Annja said. Kessel grunted behind her and she turned. “See? That’s not too much to ask, is it? We might even get along, you and I.”
Kessel raised an eyebrow.
Annja smiled. “Maybe not.”
She found a switch on the wall and threw it on. Instantly, light flooded the stalls and she saw the one marked number three. Annja pointed. “I think that’s our destination.”