Table of Darkness

By Herman Lloyd Bruebaker

Kimberly shook her head. We're moving the investigation to Cambridge. You're to come with us. IP is sending your orders. Look, I don't know what's going on. But I have never heard Howard so panic stricken.
Was Freeman sighted in Cambridge? Swami wanted to know.
Howard didn't say.
And did he confirm what the man looks like now?
No.
Then we're running blind again. Swami thoughtfully looked around them. For a few moments the captain was confused what to do. Then his wavering soon faded. You go ahead but I'll stay awhile. I need to discuss a few matters with the money changer. Swami was silent for a few moments then he soberly said. I'll catch up with you later on. Hopefully, I will bring good news. But the matter stands. If we don't discover what changes he went through, our chances of cornering Freeman is nil.























Chapter Eleven

The private air field not far from London wasn't that busy as their VIP aircraft taxied to a hanger away from the terminal. After spending hours in flight, the weary couple was still confused why they rapidly made their exit from India. Garnett repeatedly tried contacting Howard but never received a response. While disembarking outside the hanger, Garnett was surprised when seeing the thick foggy conditions. He wondered what stupid air controller allowed a touchdown in such conditions. The marine officer then thoughtfully surveyed their surroundings. He didnt like this isolation that could easily develop into a belligerent situation. It was then that he saw the 3 unfriendly business suits standing nearby, their attention reserved for the aircraft he had just stepped from. They suspiciously made no aggressive movements but silently stood their ground. There were 10 hangers with no planes parked outside which was suspicious. This was no chance arrival but a carefully set up meeting of sorts. Why instantly perked his cautious response. Garnett about to ask Kimberly what she thought saw her wide smile. Then he saw an older man walking from the hanger happily waving at Kimberly.
Afterwards, Garnett quietly stood aside while Kimberly excitedly greeted her uncle. In the following few minutes he was ignored while they rapidly talked. Garnett wasn't familiar with the Israeli language so their discussion meant nothing to him. Whatever they were talking about occasionally caused the disagreeable uncle to lose his smile. When Garnett was about to walk away from the plane, the security men politely shook their heads. Garnett nodded and didn't try that again. Minutes later a gasoline tanker pulled alongside their plane while the business suits cautiously monitored the refueling. Not until the truck finished did the Israelis relax. Temperatures kept dropping as thick fog slowly engulfed that airfield.
Finally, Kimberly stopped reminiscing and looked at Garnett patiently waiting a few feet away. Honey, this is my Uncle Joshua Lahav. Then she looked at the husky man at her side and said cordially. I want you to meet my better half, Garnett Lewis. He's the one I told you about.
The husky built man with a neatly trimmed gray beard extended his hand. I have heard much about you, my good man. The gray eyes sparkled with friendliness while his grip was strong. My niece tells me you have a very complicated covert on your hands?
Garnett shrugged his agreement. Its definitely having some moments, sir.
That I can understand, he replied, in a smooth English accent that momentarily caught Garnett off guard. When glancing at Kimberly his voice became more serious. Im afraid your moments are about to worsen.
Then youre familiar with the Book of Sakkare? Garnett curiously asked.
Yes, more than I want to be. Far back as Moses our people have known about the Book of Sakkare. Dressed in his tailored gray suit Joshua looked to be a ladys man. He was handsome for his fifty-three years and radiated a trust mos

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469197135

Herman Lloyd Bruebaker

Herman Lloyd Bruebaker lives in Riverside, California with his wife and two sons. Currently he has three major projects in progress that will be released during 2018.

Book preview

THE TABLE OF DARKNESS

Somebody once said a horror movie wasn’t good unless there was thundering, lightning, and rumbling evils from the darkness. The middle-aged man lay in his sleeping bag staring at the black clouds rolling over South Dakota’s Black Hills. Those rapid flashing lightning bolts and loud thundering claps reminded him of that saying. Garnett Lewis was tall with brown eyes usually showing little emotion either way. The prominent cheekbones were suggestive of his Indian blood. Garnett’s Sioux name was One Who Saw in the Night. Only a few people knew that. His head was of medium breadth narrowing at the chin. His thinning black hair made him look older than he was. There were those who said Garnett looked like a minor clerk in an insurance office. The lightning was fast explosions of brilliant lamps causing his interest to increase. As it was popularly said in South Dakota, this weather was most unusual. Finally resting his head on folded hands, Garnett thought about tomorrow morning and fresh hopes of seeing a deer. Catching a deer on film was a greater challenge than shooting it.

When the second sleeping bag stirred, Garnett glanced over and smiled at the woman’s head reluctantly peeking out. The night’s fierce lightning storm had been so bright she ducked beneath the cover to grab some sleep. For a moment Kimberly Lancaster didn’t speak. The expression tightening her small mouth wasn’t happy. Garnett remembered their first date after his remark she looked like the actress Lucille Ball. Their emotional chemistry was immediate. Being they worked together the relationship rapidly matured. Her reddish hair cut in a page boy style was messed up from tossing about for a comfortable position on the hard ground. He found her pretty regardless of what her hair looked like.

When will this damned lightning stop? she complained, in an unsmiling manner. I thought our weekend was supposed to be fun and games?

And it will be. Just give it time. he promised, with a challenging grin. Just look around. Do you hear the roar of rush hour traffic? No, what about the choking smell of exhausts? Of course not, we’re in the wild where you only hear the chirping of birds and gentle rustling of leaves. Pausing briefly he jokingly asked. Wasn’t your soul rejuvenated while walking this sacred soil?

For a moment her dark green eyes stared at him with a piercing disapproval. First off, sleeping in a damned sleeping bag hasn’t rejuvenated my passions in the least. She resentfully shook her head. And quit laughing because I don’t think it’s funny. As for screwing around on the hard ground, well, I can think of better places to do it. My butt still has bruises when rolling onto that damned pine cone. Running a hand through her short hair Kimberly asked. And secondly what’s this sacred soil crap? She flashed him a wicked grin then sighed. All right, honey, truthfully I hate sleeping outdoors, especially when those damned flies kept dive bombing me all night. She regarded his silly grin with a disapproving snort. I’m sorry, Garnett, I’m such a bitch, but our last assignment is still rattling my nerves. I’ll get over it. Don’t I always?

Throwing off the sleeping bag cover, Kimberly Lancaster stood and stretched her arms. Garnett never grew tired of admiring her arousing body. She was of average height. The purple panties and bra jerked his admiring attention to her shapely body and small breasts. Her smooth tanned skin was without fault. She was pretty all the way around.

Aw, don’t worry about your bitchy nature. I’m used to it by now. With a grunt he sat up enjoying the coldness massaging his flesh. But you are on sacred land. The Black Hills has always been spiritually special to the Sioux Indians. He stopped talking when her body tensed and those large eyes looked eastward.

What’s wrong… ?

She quickly held up a hand demanding silence. Then in a swooping action her hand darted inside the bag and came up with a lightweight automatic handgun. Without hesitation Garnett was doing the same thing while rolling from his unzipped bag. When that first shotgun-toting man charged from the trees, she calmly dropped him with the first shot. Screaming in pain the assassin was thrown to the ground and when trying to get up, she fired again and this time he stayed down. She heard another set of pounding feet while yelling at Garnett to watch his three o’clock. After dropping to a knee Kimberly carefully took aim and fired. That executioner silently fell with a bullet through the forehead. During this explosion of violence she forgot about Garnett. She was cautiously listening to the rustling of leaves advertising the approach of another killer. She shook her head while raising her weapon. Hoping to surprise the near nude woman another man ran from behind a tree. That was when she fired twice spinning the hostile around then against a tree, He didn’t stir a muscle. Behind her there sounded two .38 caliber shots then silence. For a few moments she quietly scanned their supposedly isolated surroundings.

While defensively holding his gun, Garnett knelt down and searched the man’s woolen jacket. Finding the wallet he stood and thoughtfully looked around then moaned. Well, there’s goes the neighborhood. After sticking the gun in his underwear’s waistline, the man hurriedly checked the wallet’s contents.

She sarcastically grunted while studying the man lying at her feet. Yeah, I’m sure the wolves and possums are frantically packing up and leaving. But what in the hell were these jerk offs up to? Their clothes and boots aren’t meant for mountain hiking. These clowns are city slickers.

Which suggests… ? Garnett hesitantly said.

They’re free-lance jerks for hire. When he failed to reply, she turned about and curiously asked. What’s your hypothesis, Garnett?

After finishing checking the dead men’s wallets Garnett gave her an uneasy glance. Well, we know these idiots weren’t hunting deer. Their driver’s licenses and credit cards were recently issued plus there’s nine hundred dollars in new bills. He indifferently shrugged. They were up here to waste us. There’s no other explanation.

Damn, do you think we really pissed off the North Koreans that much? she bitterly groaned.

Garnett slowly nodded with a chuckle. Yeah, I reckon so. After all, we did blow the hell out of their new missile launcher. Since South Korea was its designated target, I’m sure Seoul appreciates our handiwork.

Kimberly shrugged her narrow shoulders in a child like manner. Now that’s silly. How do you blow up something that doesn’t exist? She cynically grinned. At least the North Koreans protested it didn’t exist and we know they don’t lie. Her snicker was definitely without amusement.

* * *

Not expecting further interferences, Kimberly was cautiously moving among the bodies still in her purple panties and bra. Garnett wearing only his shorts kept examining wallets for clues. Both heard the familiar sound. Before they could defensively react both were bathed in a blinding light. Appearing menacingly above the tree tops was a black-painted helicopter. A searchlight never moved its paralyzing glare from the trapped pair. The chopper had been so quiet they had only seconds before hearing its approach. Holding hands protectively over their eyes, the two hikers stood motionlessly while the machine slowly touched ground. There was nowhere to run.

A speaker aboard the chopper barked. Major Lewis and Captain Lancaster, stand down… we’re friendly.

Recognizing the voice Garnett groaned. Oh shit, not him again.

A tall business suit ran hunched over from the helicopter. After safely away from the whirling blades, he approached with an amused expression on his black face. For a moment he surveyed the three bodies lying about. Captain Lancaster, I’ll admit you have a shapely body but after dressing come over to the whirly bird. And by the way, he said, when she frowned. Nice purple panties you have there. There was another pause. Not exactly what I would picture an intelligence agent running around in… but nice anyhow.

After walking back to the helicopter machine, Major General Howard Beckenworth, Office of Army Intelligence, glanced at Garnett and crisply suggested. And after we talk you better get some clothes on too.

How did you know we were up here?

We’ll talk soon as your bunny girl gets dressed.

Garnett chuckled. One of these days she’s going to kick your balls, sir.

After Kimberly dressed and came over he cynically asked. Do you always go around half nude shooting people?

It’s casual Friday, she half-heartedly joked.

There was a brief stiffness crossing the black general’s husky frame. Cut out the smart ass mouth. Obviously the time for idle chattering with this senior officer was over. He angrily jerked a finger toward the nearby dead men. Know who they are?

Nope, we never had time to know them. They dropped in unexpectedly. But I guess you know them?

I’m afraid I do. CIA notified us they were on American soil. After deciphering their mission we barely made it up here. I recommend you grab your balls and tits on this one. That one over by the tree is Benny Lee, the one on the ground is Volder Kauss, and the third stiff is Benedict Folsom. The director of Special Operations Army Intelligence was coldly silent for a few moments. They’re undercover agents from the Pope’s office in Rome.

Kimberly stopped buttoning her long-sleeved shirt. You mean like the Catholic Holy Father? she asked.

That’s the one and only.

Why would the Vatican want us dead? Her voice was very serious. We had assumed this was Pyongyang’s response after we destroyed their new Taepodong ballistic missile site.

Well, you were wrong. I’ll admit Pyongyang was pissed, but they weren’t involved with this strike. In fact, the North Koreans are pretty quiet about that incident at Musudan-ni. There was a brief silence after thoughtfully glancing at her partially visible breasts. The general then asked. I’m informed you worked with Mossad couple years back?

Even when dressed in hiking clothes and her red hair messed up; Kimberly Lancaster was intriguing as the night shadows. She was a slender-built woman with a few freckles on her face and arms. There were enough to remind him of some girls back in high school. Still there was no way he would climb under the covers with her. Howard didn’t care how sexy she was. For a womanizer, such as this general, that was a shocker in itself.

It was a moment before she suspiciously replied. Yes.

Do you personally know anybody in their operations?

I have two uncles there.

Howard didn’t speak while studying this woman.

Those few black streaks in the hair gave her a much younger appearance. For a minute the general thoughtfully studied this woman who looked no more a secret agent than his half-wit sister. Kimberly was with green eyes that twinkled when amused and darkened when angry. But he knew behind those eyes lingered a savageness impatiently waiting to burst out. Though Garnett was good at his job, Kimberly was by far the best. Compromising North Korea’s incredible tight security at Musudan-ni was evidence of their cleverness. The destruction of that heavily-guarded east coast nuclear facility was a prime example of their wicked, deadly determination. Jerking his wandering thoughts back to the issues at hand, the major general sternly looked at the frowning woman. Her dislike for him was no secret and he did not care for the woman.

I didn’t know you were Jewish? He was annoyed this wasn’t in her records.

I’m Israeli by birth. Does this bother you, sir?

You could be a flower child and I could care less. I was just surprised you have relatives in Mossad. But that’s good for you. They may be of tremendous value during this mission I’m assigning you two rogues. The husky-built general in his tailored gray suit curiously looked about the area and each time his attention was drawn back to the dead bodies. I personally selected you for this Department of Defense clandestine operation. I need agents not afraid to walk seemingly impossible paths to achieve success. Washington believes between your disciplines you might have a serious chance at terminating this covert.

What are the objectives? Garnett asked. Between the chilly air stinging his flesh and those crewmen staring at his shorts with a revolver stuck behind its waist hem, the major was feeling a little foolish.

Howard looked at each agent before saying. Ever hear of the Book of Sakkare?

Garnett nodded with not that much interest. Sure, it’s mentioned in ancient Middle Eastern histories. Why?

The general ignored Garnett’s question. What about you?

She indifferently nodded. I have read some of its myths. Supposedly, the Book of Sakkare was politically influential throughout ancient Middle Eastern histories. From what little we know the book of secretive rituals was jealously guarded by Ancient Egyptian priests. The woman thought over something then curtly added. And allegedly the book was very dangerous to possess.

You don’t sound too enthused about it?

I’m rarely excited about myths. Kimberly indifferently said. The book’s existence has never been authenticated. It was a myth generated by scheming priests instilling their choking fear over a superstitious people. It was nothing more than that.

She thought the gray 3-piece suit and polished shoes looked out of place in this forest. Then again no matter where the handsome black man appeared, he was out of place. She had never trusted his reckless unbridled powers regardless of their end results.

Turning to Garnett he amusingly said. Did you know you look pretty silly with that revolver in your shorts and nothing else? He laughed. After the marine major grunted, the general’s seriousness quickly came back. Do you agree with your partner in crime? The short time Garnett worked with the general, his educated southern accent never failed to annoy this agent.

Yeah, he indifferently replied.

Well, folks, you soon may be reevaluating your opinions. You’re going to flesh out those myths. Grinning at their surprise he skeptically continued. That’s right. Three days ago the White House signed a mutual assistance pact with India regarding the Book of Sakkare. Ellis Air Force Base is providing transportation to your first stop in this quest. He devilishly grinned.

And where might that be? Garnett asked, surprised the government was wasting resources on something that didn’t exist.

Once aboard your plane its pilot will surrender a sealed packet. Inside is everything you need to know. Your operation is considered high priority, low profile.

I don’t believe this crap, general. Our country is nearly bankrupt, we’re fighting two wars where basically we’re getting our butts kicked, our new president and a Democrat Congress keeps spending money the treasury doesn’t have, there are massive layoffs all across the country… and DOD wants us chase a myth thousands of years old. This is really stupid. Kimberly bitterly complained. Never a supporter of the government’s wasting billions she asked. What happened, general, did they discover money that wasn’t earmarked and they’re itching to spend it?

He intentionally ignored her sarcasm. I don’t know all of the details concerning Operation Tailgate, Howard sourly replied, with an expression warning there would be no further insubordination. He tolerated their rebellious personalities only because they were good agents. Their last operation in North Korea definitely highlighted that. Maybe this will interest you. Recently an unearthed tomb renewed enormous interest in the book.

Garnett was quick to ask, Where?

That’s defined in your sealed orders.

And you aren’t telling us? Garnett impatiently asked.

No, you’ll know soon enough. And about those uncles, Kimberly, I highly recommend you contact them.

A few moments uncomfortably passed before Kimberly skeptically asked. What’s going on, general, you’re not acting so cocky? You look worried about this whole thing and if you’re worried… then so am I. When the black man didn’t reply she demanded. Don’t you think we have a right to know the operation’s dark secrets?

You don’t have rights, captain, only an obligation to obey orders. A full explanation is contained within your sealed orders. If I were you, I would get my tails down the mountain. Your time is rapidly running out.

Garnett curtly asked. You mean we got to hike back down?

You hiked up here. So going down shouldn’t be a problem. Before climbing into the helicopter, the general studied his intelligence agents. Some of their exploits were legendary among the business. But damn were they a nightmare to work with. As I said before, Kimberly, you better call your uncles on this one. And another thing, good luck to both of you. Watch your backsides. If the Vatican wanted you murdered, no telling who else is sharpening their knives. With that said he waved then closed the door.

After the chopper lifted off the ground, Kimberly glanced at her lover and bitterly replied. Howard is a damned bastard. Did I ever tell you that?

Only about a million times, Garnett thoughtfully mumbled. Wonder what the general promised DOD this time?

Your guess is good as any. But I bet we’re deeply involved. Damn, I was hoping for a brief leave from killing the bad guys and blowing up their damned toys.

Kissing her lips Garnett smiled. Well, it ain’t happening this time. C’mon, let’s get our gear and trot down the mountain.

Chapter Two

Not until the black helicopter disappeared beyond the giant trees did they gather their sleeping bags and camping gear. Before long they unhappily started their long hike down the Black Hills. At first neither spoke while entertaining different suspicions why Howard was so hush-hush about their new operation. This was unlike the Harvard graduate who usually gave long winded briefings prior to their coverts. Following a hiking path they made good time without getting lost. Lightning and thundering dominated the skies while a cold breeze briskly massaged their faces. But the weather conditions were ignored. Their minds were thoughtfully debating what Howard was up to this time.

Garnett had joined the Marine Corps three years before she enlisted. He had combat time tucked beneath his belt and she didn’t. After successfully terminating seven bloody coverts, emotions were hardened to the brutality found in their shadowy profession. Though often disagreeing with General Beckenworth both respected his position. They wisely knew when not to challenge his orders. It was a strange arrangement the general made with the Secretary of Navy. Then before they knew what was happening they were loaned indefinitely to Army Intelligence. After that the agents successfully terminated highly sensitive coverts deeply shrouded in secrecy.

For three hours they paced their power walk before Garnett called for a short break. Leaning against a tree just off the path allowing clear vision of both directions, they rested. Strong fragrances of trees and grasses soothed their troubled souls. It was no surprise that after the attempted assassination their emotions were high strung.

Garnett gave her a lingering glance. Her long legs and tight hips never failed to stir his passions. So you have uncles in the Mossad? Having previously worked with Israel’s intelligence group, he reserved only respect and admiration for their work. When did you work with them?

That was back in 2005. Her thoughts were back at the killing field which made no sense.

I guess you aren’t telling me?

No.

Her answer was so firm Garnett knew it was a closed subject. Holding his hands up in a surrendering gesture he grinned. Sorry I asked about it.

Good. Don’t ask again.

For several minutes he leaned against the tree’s rough bark. What do you know about the Book of Sakkare?

Frowning made Kimberly sexy in a strange way. Not really that much. It was briefly discussed in my mythical studies. The professor said no historian seriously believed the myths. Everything about that book is so wrapped up in fantasy it’s hard to decipher what was fact. Resting against a tree trunk, she chewed a piece of sugared candy for quick energy.

In my third year of college, we studied how Egyptian priests celebrated their complicated rituals. He frowned while thinking back to those lengthy, boring classes. I vaguely remember studying the Book of Sakkare.

Kimberly curiously looked at him sitting in the shadows of that tall oak tree. You mentioned they were complicated… how?

All I remember is the Book of Sakkare was so complex the priests always performed its rites in secrecy.

She shrugged. I never heard that before. Are there surviving documents describing the rituals? After he shook his head she indifferently grunted. I didn’t think so.

Later Kimberly trotted to keep up with the major. All the while she nursed an increasing suspicion Operation Tailgate would develop into a diabolical nightmare. But strangely enough Garnett didn’t seem that troubled. This wasn’t unusual considering most of the time he concealed his feelings. But when it came to lovemaking, Garnett’s passions unleashing the floodgates of wild unstrained emotions sent hers soaring through the roof. That was his best side. She knew her uncles would approve of this man. Kimberly also knew her mother would never endorse him. Garnett Lewis was a wild combination of James Bond, Clark Gable, and Harrison Ford. Her strait-laced Mom condemned their profession. To escape arguments in their household, Kimberly never told her mother what she did in the Marine Corps. Nevertheless, she was in love with the slender-built man. He was short on verbal expressions of love, but she didn’t care.

Though in excellent condition, Garnett’s brisk walking was draining her strength. Garnett wasn’t anxious to talk about the Book of Sakkare so the subject was dropped. She had spent the last hour admiring the forest they were power walking through. Her first trip into South Dakota’s mountainous Black Hills was going to be her last. But Garnett was right. The vast woody region did soothe her troubled thoughts. But hiking and sleeping on the hard ground wasn’t exactly her cup of tea.

* * *

After their rental came into view, Garnett suddenly stopped while cautiously surveying the area. An Air Force Military Police sedan was alongside their car. His acute interest was on the two uniformed policemen patiently waiting for their arrival. When they trotted into view the policemen smiled and approached.

Major Garnett Lewis and Captain Kimberly Lancaster? the sergeant respectfully asked.

That’s right. What can we do for you?

We have orders to escort you to Ellis, sir.

Who sent you?

General Beckenworth, Army Intelligence. Our orders are to make certain you’re flown out of Ellis.

By now Kimberly was tired and nasty tempered. Why didn’t you drive up and pick us up? she curtly asked.

A thin smirk crossed the sergeant’s face. General Beckenworth said you needed the exercise.

Kimberly only shrugged. Those words were something the gruff-mannered general probably would say. After thoughtfully looking about and finding nothing suspicious the major nodded. He was impatient to jump into a shower and change into clean clothing. Always one to eagerly tackle the impossible, their new assignment promised the challenging action Garnett craved above all.

Then let’s get this show on the road, Garnett finally grunted.

Everybody was walking towards their cars when Garnett abruptly became suspicious of the scene. The airmen were casually walking to their squad car. Surely the general had warned them about the failed assassination attempt. So why were they careless with their security? Garnett was hurriedly reappraising the situation when his brain screamed danger. In a blur of twisting motions, his battle-trained body burst into high gear. Whipping his revolver from its waist holster, Garnett yelled a warning while shoving Kimberly to the ground. They were confronting another dangerous threat.

With revolver in firing position Garnett angrily commanded. Put your hands in the air!

The sergeant ignoring Garnett’s order foolishly whirled around with gun in hand. The second policemen reacting to prearranged plans dropped to a knee. When drawing his service revolver it left no confusion about his intentions. Garnett wasted no time snapping off two shots. Lying on the damp grasses Kimberly fired three times at the other military policeman. Just like their defiant showdown with Vatican’s agents, the hostile situation was over in a matter of seconds. Garnett didn’t lower his weapon until verifying the sergeant died instantly from two bullets through the heart. Quickly turning a full circle he was satisfied there was no further threat. Angry at this second death trap, Kimberly slowly stood holding her gun in the event another assassin charged from the thick forest. No longer admiring the Black Hills, she wanted to get the hell off its woody slopes.

Stand guard while I check out these jerks, Garnett ordered. After holstering his weapon, he knelt alongside each corpse searching their pockets.

What was your clue? Kimberly asked, still watching for new threats.

Removing their wallets he stood with a moan. Their shoes, he said, though more concerned with the wallets.

What about their shoes?

Their uniforms were spotless but the boots weren’t highly polished. Air policemen always dress sharply. Disregarding her raised eyebrows he mumbled. These men were out of uniform.

That’s very observant, but who are they? I hope to Hell they aren’t more Catholic assassins?

After carefully sorting through two wallets he looked at her with a frown. No, they didn’t come from Rome. But neither are these men air police. The one you shot carries an Egyptian passport. The jerk I put down is an American. Using his boot Garnett carefully nudged the dead man’s hand over. His hand is healthy, flesh-colored, and without scars or callous. He isn’t used to manual labor. Giving Kimberly a short questioning glance he added. Want to bet they’re free lance assassins.

Damn, she angrily groaned. These hills are crowded with undesirables.

He didn’t hear her sarcasm while stone-faced dialing his cell phone. Following a short conversation Garnett impatiently snapped. Let’s go.

What about them?

Howard said base policemen would collect the bodies. To use the general’s exact words… we’re to get our butts to Ellis on the double. While climbing into their rental he kept talking. Army intelligence is running their names through international crime databanks. If we’re lucky, by the time we get to Ellis they’ll have information on the two jerks?

While driving down the winding road, Kimberly looked at Garnett who was lost in his troubled thoughts. What the hell are we getting into? We haven’t even gotten our orders and already we survived two terminations.

It was a few moments before he chose to answer. I don’t know. Obviously, somebody doesn’t want the Book of Sakkare profiled.

She thoughtfully nodded after a few moments. That’s reasonable to assume. Then how do you explain those Vatican killers? There was a short pause. They came after us before we even knew about Tailgate.

What can I say? We have been compromised wide enough to drive a damn train through.

She bitterly grunted. Compromise isn’t a strong enough word.

Chapter Three

Their fast drive to the sprawling Air Force Base outside Rapid City was finalized, when embarking into a twin-engine Leer jet painted in the service’s gray and white schemes. After reaching their high altitude course for San Diego, California, a thick manila envelope was surrendered by the pilot. For several minutes Garnett carefully read their lengthy orders from the Department of Defense (DOD). The marine major reread the orders a second time making sure he understood their marching orders. While waiting, Kimberly walked to the plane’s forward section and made two cups of coffee. By this time Garnett laid the document on the seat. When she sat he was thoughtfully staring at the clouds they were passing through.

So what are our orders? Kimberly asked, handing him a cup.

Gesturing at the orders he contemptuously said. You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. So you better read them yourself.

That doesn’t sound good, the marine captain muttered. Holding her cup in one hand, Kimberly sped read nineteen pages countersigned by the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Navy, and Director of Central Intelligence. After reading them a third time she looked up with a dumbfounded expression. They can’t be serious?

Obviously they are serious. The general was lying through his teeth, as usual. Hell, they don’t want us to verify the myth, honey. Slamming his fist against the seat he angrily growled. They want us to find the book.

This is downright crazy. Even if one tenth of the myths are true they originated thousands of years ago. Any respectful archaeologist will tell you there’s no solid evidence the book ever existed. She shook her head in strong denial. Anything that far back is so distorted they rarely define what actually happened.

Garnett sipped his hot coffee. That may be. But nevertheless, DOD sealed an accord with India’s Ministry of Justice. Our assignment is to find the book. That’s the bottom line and has to be the craziest thing I have ever heard.

At this point Kimberly became suspicious. Why would Washington consent to searching for a book written thousands of years ago? And what are the odds anything that ancient surviving time?

Why ask me? I don’t know. I don’t understand why the Pope wanted us dead. He nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. But if you want to blow your mind. Then read paragraph nineteen on page four and that’ll do it.

I already read it. The reference doesn’t make sense. It’s totally against everything we were taught in college. We briefly studied this myth. Our professors stated the Book of Sakkare was celebrated by Ancient Egyptian priesthoods. Nothing was ever said about the book being in India?

Garnett frowned. Maybe so, but according to page three, paragraph six a tomb was recently excavated in India’s jungles. Totally concealed by jungle growth, it laid forgotten for an estimated three thousand years. He studied her disbelief for a moment. Now I find that hard to believe. But according to the geographic summary, the isolated area was very difficult to reach.

Who discovered this site?

I guess Indian archaeologists, he said, with an indifferent shrug. It doesn’t identify who found the tomb.

I’m curious how DOD became involved?

He grunted. Having our military interested in an ancient tomb’s discovery set off alarms ringing in my mind. He watched her thumbing through the orders before indifferently shrugging his shoulders. The orders state we’ll meet an Indian officer in San Diego. Maybe he can fill in the gaps?

Who knows? After laying down the thick set of orders she stretched her arms. It’ll be hours before we land in San Diego. I’m tired from our fun in the Black Hills so I’m going to sleep. Those rear seats makes into a bed. Are you coming?

Later. he said, while grinning. But I could use some comforting.

Kimberly amusingly mocked her shock. Well, hold those thoughts in check, stud. We’re in an aircraft flying thirty thousand feet with two crewmen in their enclosed cockpit. What if they came out and caught us humping it? I may enjoy screwing around, old buddy, but I’m not one to show my bare ass to strangers.

Well, don’t complain I didn’t ask.

She devilishly smiled before walking away. Don’t worry I won’t.

* * *

In the following two hours Garnett thought about their strange marching orders. No matter how hard he tried, the major couldn’t remember that much about the Book of Sakkare. The two foiled executions puzzled the major. Why this jungle discovery intrigued the Department of Defense was another bothersome mystery.

The Leer jet was crossing into Californian air space when Kimberly climbed