Island of Time by Davis Bunn

Author:Davis Bunn
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448308552
Publisher: Severn House
Published: 2022-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY

He drew the palm-sized plate from his pocket and set it on the desk. Jackson felt mildly embarrassed, presenting such an object in Roger’s beautiful gallery. The artifact was as bland and unattractive as those he and Krys carried. Four stubby points emerged from the perimeter, little triangles perhaps a quarter-inch long. The interior face was scratched and battered. If Jackson had seen the object on the sidewalk, he would not have bothered to pick it up.

Roger Valente’s response was completely unexpected. In the almost seven years Jackson had dealt with the gallery owner, he had never once seen the man so exposed. Roger tried to hide it behind his standard oblique smile. But his fingers trembled. His dark eyes glittered with an almost feverish intensity. ‘My dear friend, you are certainly full of surprises. No wonder you resigned your commission.’

Krys leaned forward. Jackson knew she was going to ask Roger what it was he held. He shifted slightly, closing the distance until he caught her eye. Jackson shook his head and mouthed the word. No.

When he was certain she understood, he turned back. Something about this item had stripped away Roger’s protective facade. Jackson wanted to use the chance while he had it.

Jackson said as casually as he could manage, ‘Something I’ve been wondering about.’

‘Eh? Wondering?’ Roger turned the object over and flicked a fingernail against the surface. There was no sound. ‘About what?’

‘Who exactly were the Ancients?’

‘Ha. You and everyone else are wondering.’ He opened a drawer, rummaged about, and drew out a magnifying glass. He dropped it, searched further back, and retrieved a much more powerful instrument on a heavy onyx handle. ‘Lean back, dear lady, you’re in my light. Wondering, yes, I’m sure Interpol has given you its standard propaganda.’

Krys said, ‘The Ancients were a tribe, possibly the Phoenicians, who were defeated first by the Greeks and then utterly eradicated—’

‘What utter rubbish. It suits Interpol’s interest to feed you agents that sort of rot.’

‘Why is that, Roger?’

‘Why? Because they want you to do your job, is what. They don’t want you frightened out of your little agent minds.’

‘Agents no longer,’ Jackson corrected.

‘Lucky for us, given the item you’ve brought me.’ His accent was stronger now. He opened another drawer and pulled out a leather bundle which he unraveled without taking his gaze from the magnifying glass.

‘What does that mean—’

‘My dear boy, no one has the least idea who the Ancients were, where they lived, even if they were human. Shall I tell you a secret?’

‘Please.’

He pulled out what looked like a dentist’s probe and began tracing along the outer rim. ‘There is a debate at the highest level of the Institutes’ Adepts. Very hush-hush. Whether their magical abilities are the direct result of some tiny component of alien life, dwelling inside a human body. If perhaps Talents are individuals carrying some non-earthly component, an unintended gift from a far older race. A tiny shard of what must have been a truly monumental power.’

Krys said, ‘There has been no evidence of any genetic difference between a Talent and those who show no magical abilities.

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