Book of Dreams by Bunn Davis

Author:Bunn, Davis [Bunn, Davis]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2011-10-03T16:00:00+00:00

The embassy of the United States of America occupied one side of Grosvenor Square, two blocks off Hyde Park. The square was rimmed mostly by redbrick buildings dating from the Georgian era. The embassy, however, was a steel and concrete behemoth that had offended three generations of gentrified city dwellers. There were so many mistakes embedded in the design that most Londoners pretended the building did not exist at all. The street fronting the embassy was closed to traffic and rimmed by concrete triangles known as tank-busters. All visitors were required to enter a new bulletproof hut, one of two that now squatted in the middle of the street. Police in full riot gear and armed with submachine guns patrolled the perimeter. Elena submitted to the inspection and the registration and the metal detector and the x-ray of her belongings. But she drew the line when the guards wanted to unseal the plastic case.

The guard said, “I can’t let you in until this has been inspected.”

“Call the ambassador.”

“Ma’am, you need—”

“Tell him Dr. Burroughs is downstairs. She has a package that is for his eyes only. Otherwise I am leaving.”

The guard did not like it. But he did as she instructed.

Five minutes later, Sandra Harwood hurried down the embassy’s front stairs. Sandra entered the hut and pointed at the case, now resting in a tray beside the x-ray machine. “Is that it?”

“Ms. Harwood, I can’t—”

“Have you x-rayed it?”

“There are shadows I can’t identify.”

Elena said, “It contains a book that is seven hundred years old. The writing is done in gold leaf and perhaps other metals. That’s probably what you picked up.”

The ambassador’s wife gaped at her. “You brought it? Here?”

Elena sorted through several possible answers and settled on “It is important.”

Sandra turned to the guard and said, “I’ll sign for it.”

“Ma’am, my orders—”

“If the ambassador has to personally come downstairs and deal with this, he will. But this book is coming with us. And you’re not opening it.”

The older man running the machine said, “Let them pass.”

“You know as well as I do—”

“Did you hear the lady? The ambassador is waiting. That package is going up. The question is, are you keeping your job or not.” He gave the other guard a chance to respond, then slid the tray over. “You’re good to go, Ms. Harwood.”

“Thank you. Come on, Elena.”

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