The Lost Ark by J.R. Rain

Author:J.R. Rain
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-six

Throughout that morning, Faye Roberts had been secured to a wooden post within a small workroom, surrounded by what appeared to be explosives. Before noon, she was led to a massive snow-covered rock to relieve herself. The boulder reeked of urine. She covered her nose with the arm of her sleeve and tried to go. But she couldn’t, especially with the young soldier casting sidelong glances at her. She gave up.

“Did you get an eyeful, asshole?” she asked, passing him.

She was led to Omar’s tent. The emir sat behind his massive oak desk studying what appeared to be aerial photographs of a city. Upon closer inspection she saw that it was Istanbul. The light from his small electric lamp cast deep shadows in the hollows of his sunken cheeks. As usual, the big bodyguard stood silently off to the side, ignoring her completely and staring straight ahead, although Faye knew that that was just an illusion. She sensed the bodyguard was aware of her every movement. Omar looked up from the photographs and forced a smile. “Perhaps you’re wondering why I’ve summoned you to my tent, Professor Roberts?”

“To apologize and release us.”

He grinned. “Your spirit is admirable. However, Professor Al Sayid has requested your assistance.”

She shook her head. “And why should I help him?”

“If you are uncooperative, he has been given orders to have you killed. Or, perhaps, given to my brother.”

“You’re an animal.”

The Arab leaned back a little and studied Faye. He crossed his arms in an apparent attempt to keep himself warm. “To aid Al Sayid, we had employed another archaeologist from Riyadh.” Omar paused. “That archaeologist is dead. Or, more accurately, I had him killed.”

“Why?”

“I suspected he was less than trustworthy. However, his work is now incomplete. And that’s where you come in, professor Roberts. You will complete his project. I will expect to see results shortly, as the report shall coincide with the destruction of Istanbul, which shall be in a matter of days.”

“And then what?”

“You will return to Riyadh with me, to join my harem. There, you will be forgotten. Or at least as good as dead.”

“I would rather die.”

“That can be arranged, too, although that would be such a waste.”

The emir motioned and Farid opened the tent flap and a guard stepped in. The guard reached for Faye. She shrugged him off. “What about my father and Sam?” she demanded.

The emir sighed. “Perhaps you should be more concerned with your own welfare,” he said simply.

“What will happen to them?”

Omar’s eyes were expressionless, like slivers of coal, the eyes of a predator. “They will be killed, of course.”

* * *

She was led from the emir’s tent to a much smaller tent in the center of camp, designed to sleep one on either wing. Instead of bunks there were two metal fold-out tables piled with folders, notebooks, and printouts. Even a laptop computer. In short, it looked like her small office at USC. Minus the clean, private bathroom.

Al Sayid was there. The little Arabic professor was comparing two latex samples through a jeweler’s eyepiece.

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