The Crypts of Eden (Eden Saga) by Jones Rick

Author:Jones, Rick [Jones, Rick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hive Collective
Published: 2013-12-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

They made camp for the evening inside the Chamber of the Bull. Hall slept within the shadow of the sculpture and Alyssa was forced to congregate with Savage, Eser and Harika. Aussie and Butcher Boy watched the entryway; lamps were everywhere, providing a false sense of security within the light.

No one could sleep.

With Eser and Harika holding each other tightly, Alyssa tried to strike up a conversation. But they didn’t understand English and her Turkish was minimal. Noah had been the bridge between them, interpreting and bringing them together. Tears began to cloud her vision. How she missed him.

“Are you all right?” asked Savage.

“What do you care? You want me dead, remember?”

“Actually, I don’t.”

“Yeah—whatever.”

“Ms. Moore, I took the mission because I was a soldier acting without question. That’s the way I was trained.”

“So that justifies what you were going to do?”

“Of course not,” he said. “But the truth is we need each other now.”

She looked at him incredulously. “Are you serious?”

“Very.” And then: “What do you think they’re going to do to us after we serve their purposes? Have you thought about that?” She hadn’t. “They’re going to kill us,” he said bluntly.

She looked at the soldiers, at Hall, and then to the young Turks who seemed to agree with his assessment. Although they couldn’t speak the language, they must have sensed the reality of the situation.

“The moment they find out whatever it is this place holds, whatever it is the pontiff wants to keep pent up, we’re dead people.”

Alyssa’s mind moved at a slow crawl, trying to absorb what the Turks sitting across her already knew, what Savage knew. Hall had been in charge from the very beginning, using Noah as the conduit by preying on his desperation for funding, and then waiting for the opportunity to avail itself. He was here for the relics, she knew that. She also knew that he was a man who placed more value on ancient artifacts than he did on human life.

Savage was right. But did she dare make a union with the man who was sent to kill her? “How do I know I can trust you?”

“Do you have a choice?” In frustration, she rubbed her eyes. “Ms. Moore, my judgment has been clouded for many years since I left the SEALs. I know that. But I lost my way. Before I came here, I spoke to a man named Leviticus, a soldier. And he told me one thing. He said: Loyalty above all else, except honor.”

She was held rapt. She could see the genuine conviction of truth within his eyes and hear it in the way he spoke. “Loyalty above all else,” he repeated once again, “except honor.” And then: “Do you know what that means?”

She nodded. “To prove your devotion, but only if the principle of the action is not a corrupt one.”

Savage nodded. “Excellent,” he said. “That’s exactly it.” He leaned his head against the wall, sighed, and went on. “Leviticus refused to assume the role which I now find myself with,” he said, “as your assassin.

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