The Doomsday Medallion by Avanti Centrae

Author:Avanti Centrae [Centrae, Avanti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thunder Creek Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 47

Maastricht, the Netherlands

2:50 p.m.

Thanks to the swift magic of rail travel in the EU, less than two hours after saving the life of the old priest atop the cathedral, Maddy and Bear arrived in Maastricht. They immediately left the station, wanting to get to the church as soon as possible. Maddy donned a dark cap against the cold air, glad for thick jeans and her black down jacket.

They were nearly across a pedestrian-and-bikes-only bridge that spanned a wide stretch of emerald water when Bear’s phone rang.

He glanced at the device. “It’s Will.”

“Let’s get across the bridge.”

Bear answered. “Will, hold on a second.”

They made it across the remaining span and glanced around the busy intersection. To their right was an outdoor café, surprisingly busy for a cold winter’s day. Maddy touched Bear’s arm and pointed. Below the restaurant, a paved walkway ran along the river.

They went down the stairs, both surreptitiously watching for not-so-innocent bystanders.

Once they were walking in relative privacy, Bear spoke again. “Hey, Will, what’s up?”

“We’re almost to Lyon, then headed to Milan.”

He quickly brought them up to speed on what they had, and hadn’t, discovered in the caverns. Likewise, Bear summarized their own roadblocks.

“We’ve been listening to the news,” Will added. “All holy hell is breaking out between Taiwan and China.”

“The invasion of the outlying island wasn’t enough?” Maddy asked.

“Apparently not. In the last thirty-six hours, Chinese warplanes crossed the median line across the narrow strait that separates the mainland and Taiwan almost forty times.”

“Forty!” Doyle yelled in the background.

“Sounds like chest thumping to me,” Bear said.

Will responded, “Sure, but after invading Pratas Island? Plus, it involved a combo of fighter jets and bombers. Unlike anything seen in years.”

They were silent for a moment, taking in the implications. Maddy figured Doyle was probably about ready to yank his topknot out with worry.

“Have you had any sort of update from the director?” she asked.

“No. But we’ve been keeping Jags in the loop. You?”

“Not yet,” Bear replied. “We’ll give them a ring after our upcoming visit.”

“Okay. Keep us posted.”

“We will.”

They rang off, and turned back toward the Basilica of Saint Servatius, but Maddy was still stuck on the situation with Taiwan.

“That doesn’t sound good.”

Bear pursed his lips. “No. Not at all.” He pulled some balm from his pocket and applied it. “But they haven’t invaded the main island yet.”

He was right. She reminded herself to try for once to live in the moment.

They walked the rest of the way quickly, Maddy noting the distinct differences in architectural styles from Brussels as she continued to scan for company. Where Brussels was all midcentury modern, Maastricht looked like a fairy-tale town. Dark brick buildings clustered together on narrow streets and, as the central business district was a no-cars zone, bicycles were everywhere. Unlocked, too. Maddy compared that to San Francisco, where any unsecured bike would have been stolen in a heartbeat.

They moved around a corner. She pointed at a small stone building with a dark-red tower. “Is that part of the church?”

“I don’t think so.

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