New Page 1

CHAPTER SIX.

Third strike... You�re out!

October ninth, six thirty PM

�About time too! Finally remembered how to get here, have you?� Steele mumbled as Tzavros, Sukoloff and Nutt came into the office.

�� We have to call a Sepia meeting,� said Tzavros ignoring the obvious anger in his partner�s voice. �You not believing where these two have been.�

�� Where have we been?� asked Nutt.

�� Nowhere and back again,� said Sukoloff, faintly grinning. �Had any messages from Bayfield or Tretow, Alex?�

�� Nothing important,� Henn answered so coldly that Sukoloff was taken aback and did not pursue the matter of whether Bayfield and Tretow had received his long distance message. The solemn faces on those in the office spoke volumes and he knew that during his absence something had happened.

�� Yes, Tanen, what is it?� snapped Henn as the young man waved a piece of paper under his nose.

�� Me and Alment were playing on the computer and this came through the E Mail,� said Tanen again waving the paper.

�� Who said that?� snorted Nutt.

�� What?�

�� Forget,� Nutt said puzzled at the sudden smiles from the Russians.

�� Read this, Vacily,� said Henn a worried frown appearing on his brow.

�� Notice the absence of the word woman and that Peter is spelt inaccurately. Plus there�s the three circles placed on top of each other. Is this from a different person? And should that read, �Sending Ibis on final mission?��

�� Sir, did you say Ibis and three circles?�

�� Tzavros stared hard at the interrupter and tapped his fingers impatiently on the table as he snarled, �Alment, the first rule of an agent is not to listen in to other�s conversations.�

�� I beg to differ, Sir. The first rule of an agent is to hear and see everything. My mistake was in letting you know that I had. But, I�ve seen that symbol before, Sir,� Alment said trying to look confident, but he was forced to look down as Tzavros� unblinking cold eyes bore down on him.

�� He good, Vacily. You teach him not too bad. Right, Alment tell us what code means,� Tzavros continued with his unsmiling gaze and impatient finger tapping.

�� Sir... The circles... � stuttered Alment, slightly embarrassed and wishing he had not spoken. �I only think... I don�t know for sure. But I read a �Teach yourself Egyptian� book once, you know? The three circles and the Ibis are symbols of a spirit.�

�� Remember the painting of noughts and crosses, Sir?� Nutt asked chirpily.

�� My painting?� asked Tzavros.

�� Remember what about the painting?� asked Sukoloff scowling.

�� I forget,� said Nutt.

�� Never mind, Nutt,� sighed Henn. �I think Alment�s theory is worth looking into... Anything is worth looking into. Tzavros, when you�ve five minutes, ask Catline if he�s right. Now to more important matters��

�� If you�re wondering what this is about,� interrupted Steele. �I�ll tell you. I�m number one suspect for everything. If you�ve lost your pencil, I probably nicked it,� Steele explained bitterly.

�� Steele, I told you, if Tzavros can substantiate your alibi, then you have nothing to worry about, do you,� replied Henn.

�� I still shot that boy and that is what this is all about, isn�t it. Everyone thinks I�ve been taken over by some body-snatching spirit.�

�� And Lesky, left eye closing, aimed�� said Tzavros squinting at Steele.

�� I knew it! Even you, my so called friend,� Steele shouted moving towards the door only to be blocked by Tzavros drawing his gun.

�� Answer me, or you know what I do!�

�� Damn you, Tzavros!... All right, all right... But just then Eugene�s pistol flamed... Okay now? Is it me or not?�

�� So it you. Next time you not with answer giving at once, the poet becomes agent. You know what I mean?�

�� Everyone present knew what he meant, one hint that anyone was working against PIA and Tzavros would kill. Even if that man was his best friend. Anger and disappointment at the mistrust surrounding him surged through Steele and pushing Tzavros back towards Henn he stormed from the office.

�� Steele!� shouted Henn raising the hapless paper weight. �Get back here...�

�� The air was sucked from the office a split second before the noise of the explosion could be heard. Then all of PIA�s safety equipment came into action. The electronic door to the corridor grated and sparked in a vain attempt to seal the office, hydraulics tried to take over but succeeded only in emitting a deep growl as the door, bent beyond recognition, folded outwards. Alarms took the whole base to Phase-A-Red and sprinklers caused clouds of steam to rush into the corridor. Someone was using the main intercom and the panicking voice called for calm, medics and security. Steele had been thrown five feet down the corridor and although unsteady on his feet he rushed back towards the office. Squeezing through a gap in the twisted door he stood completely still, one look was enough to show him his worst fears were a reality.

�� Clive Nutt had been thrown across the room and sat with his knees drawn up to his chin. Blood streamed from a multitude of small facial cuts and even though comforted by Brian Tanen he whimpered like a whipped dog. In the middle of what was left of three dead men sat Sukoloff, pale, yet seemingly unmoved by the sight surrounding him.

�� Vacily! Do something!� Steele managed to whisper.

�� What do you expect him to do, stick them back together. You do something and get the hell out of here,� shouted Tanen.

�� Please, do something,� pleaded Steele ignoring the bitter comments being thrown at him from Tanen. �Can�t you catch their souls or something? We all thought... Zav thought... He thought that if he died, he would be able to come back. Do something!�

�� Was this all a crazy experiment? Is that why you put nitro in the paperweight? An experiment?� yelled Tanen, kicking at the remains of the communication panel.

�� I forget, I really do,� whimpered Nutt.

�� How long? How long has it been?� asked Sukoloff looking at his watch and tapping at the face in an effort to make it read earlier than it did. �It�s too late!� Only the deep blue of his eyes registered the pain he felt inside as he ran his hand over Henn�s blood soaked hair. �Alex or Zav, which one do I save? Are their spirits still here? How do I know? How do I catch? What do I do? It�s too late... Peter, look!

�� At what?� he asked following Sukoloff�s gaze to the ceiling.

�� At what you forgot,� said Nutt.

�� Shut up, you idiot. If that yellow stripe of yours gets any bigger you�ll turn into a banana.�

�� Ignoring Tanen�s assault on both Nutt and himself, Peter Steele continued to watch Sukoloff who had stood, his hands red with blood. His clothes and blond hair moved as if in a great wind, but it was the wonder shining in his eyes which caused Steele to move towards him. As he did he tried without success to avoid looking at the mangled body of Tzavros. Gagging and sobbing at the same time he looked down, then knelt and touched his cold face.

�� God, he�s dead! They�re all dead! Do something, Vacily!� Sukoloff gave no reply and Steele was angry as he saw the look of bliss on the Russian�s face. �Damn you, look at them! This was Alex,� he said pointing to the smashed body. �He was your life long friend. This... This was Zav and this... �

�� But don�t you see?� whispered Sukoloff.

�� I see only death. What do you see?�

�� That light I told you all about. The tunnel from death to life. It�s here�bigger and more beautiful than I remember. Can�t you feel its pull? Can�t you hear the song...�

�� No, stay away,� shouted Steele remembering the danger to Sukoloff. �Don�t go near it. I was wrong to ask you to help...�

�� I can see Alex. He�s standing in the tunnel, not far from me. Peter! He looks so young!�

�� Don�t go in there!� shouted Steele fearful of losing another friend.

�� I know everything, I know his whole life. I know more than he ever told me. I know his deepest secrets. I know now that the soul is only as old as you make it.�

�� Don�t!�

�� If you die at ninety yet you feel twenty, that�s how old your soul is. Not young at heart, young at soul.�

�� Looking around the office Steele could only gasp. As in a bad dream all edges had vanished to be replaced by a soft mist. One by one he focused on the faces, Nutt trying to say something yet not seeming to find the words. Tanen, his face blank. Medic and security personnel all staring towards Sukoloff. Realising the implications, Steele managed to pull himself away from Tzavros and grab Sukoloff�s wrist. The ice of death shot up his arm and for one brief moment revulsion nearly caused him to let go and run. Confusion and fear hit him, then he looked at Sukoloff and a feeling of deep contentment overcame him. Nothing in the room was important apart from what was happening around Sukoloff. The temptation to just watch was overpowering, he knew he was the only human privileged to see what lay in-store for mankind. Everything was illustrated within Sukoloff�s eyes, a strange clarity that reflected all the colours of life. They had become a window into the after-life. As from a drug induced stupor he forced himself to look away and his fingers tightened on the icy wrist. Revulsion hit again as the cold numbed him, as his fingers began to sink through Sukoloff�s arm he pulled himself back to reality.

�� Vacily!� he shouted loudly. �You�re going into D-Mode. Listen to me! Everything you�ve worked for is about to be undone. You�re fading in front of twenty witnesses!�

�� I feel fear,� said Sukoloff unconcerned. �Fear from Alex. He remembers what I told him about the light, he�s frightened. He�s holding out his hand to me. He want�s to stay. I have to help him.�

�� What about Alment and Zavvy, have they already gone?� asked Steele as curiosity took over the fear of PIA�s secret ghost being discovered.

�� I have only seconds, I must help Alex. Alment is far into the light, he has a look that is beautiful. There are two others with him, a young woman and a small child. He�s reaching out to the child and I feel ecstasy,� Sukoloff whispered in a monotone voice.

�� And Zav?�

�� He�s next to me. Next to you. He�s calling to Alex, to me, to you. God, Peter! He�s in pain! He shouldn�t feel pain! He can�t get to Alex. He�s holding his shoulder and dropping to his knees. I have to stop this. I can�t catch Alex knowing that Zav is in such distress. What�s the time?�

�� Six thirty five, why?�

�� Two minutes? Five minutes? What is difference?�

Six thirty PM.

Anger and disappointment at the mistrust surrounding him surged through Steele and pushing Tzavros back towards Henn he stormed from the office.

�� Steele!� shouted Henn raising the hapless paper weight. �Get... �

�� Diving headlong across the table and knocking everything to the floor as he did, a grinning Sukoloff caught the paperweight just before it hit the table. Laying flat on his stomach he whispered, �don�t make any sudden moves. Tanen, call the explosives guys. Go on, now!�

�� Pretty good catch, Sir. Nitro makes one heck of a mess if it goes up, did you know?� chortled Nutt.

�� That�s a bomb?� asked a rather stunned Henn.

�� I know who did it. I saw him.�

�� Mr Nutt,� Henn said, not daring to move away from Sukoloff. �You saw someone tampering with this?�

�� We all did, don�t you remember?� said Tanen from the door as he ushered the bomb boys forward.

�� I don�t remember.�

�� Mr Nutt, you said a moment ago that you saw someone plant that bomb. Now you forget?� queried Henn steadying Sukoloff�s hands as the paperweight was placed within a large canister.

�� That�s right, he walked across the room as bold as brass. Took the paperweight and swapped it for another one. Yours had a crack in it from your bad temper...�

�� That�s enough, do you remember or not?�

�� Remember what, Sir?�

�� Sir, Nutty�s been a little sick, battle stress wise. We all saw Mr Steele with your paperweight.�

�� I remember that,� said Alment. �You kept telling him to put it down, Sir. But Nutty wasn�t here at the time. He was with Mr Tzavros.�

�� I told Nutty my suspicions about Steele, that�s why he thinks he can remember. Isn�t that right, Nutty?� said Tanen.

�� I forget.�

�� Held back by Tzavros, Steele lashed out in anger catching Tzavros across the shoulder. In a flash Steele was knocked to the ground and a full blown fight was only prevented by Nutt suddenly screaming.

�� I am suffering from stress! Oh God, I�m mad!� he said running from the office.

�� I�ll get him,� said Sukoloff. �If you ask me he knows more than he�s saying. He�s still my top suspect.�

�� I agree. Mr Steele, I will have to send you downstairs for further questioning, you understand that don�t you? Vacily, security message has just come up on my monitor. They have picked up another one of those codes... Good God, they need a spelling lesson... �Cat to PTah... You were right... Have two problems, Ibis and the Brazilian are being removed.� Sort that out when you find Nutt. Another message from security, a young lady is asking for you in reception and it�s not Jodie!�

Six forty five PM

�So, Alment�s right?� asked Tzavros half-heartedly. He had just watched his friend being marched like some criminal to interrogation room one. Something was nagging at him. Steele was behaving differently yes, but he was the Peter Steele he knew, not some spirit pretending to be him. Only the real Steele would know their complex, private codes. It was as if, deep down, he knew what was wrong with Steele, yet could not quite place it. Clive Nutt was also bothering him, how could a man be a hero one minute and the next suddenly turn into a coward. He shuddered and turned back towards Catline and the ancient scroll.

�� If you look on the bottom of the scroll you will see the Ibis. Before it is another figure and both coloured blue. Blue is for the Gods or spirits, so this is a spirits name, something spirit. I don�t know what at the moment because the whole thing is so badly written,� said Catline.

�� What that one say?�

�� Big house, I think. The whole thing is written wrongly. I�m convinced it�s a forgery. For a start, it has tomorrow�s date on it, crudely,� she answered.

�� That symbol is repeated, what that?�

�� I know that,� interrupted an exited Alment. �It says �I am� and then the person�s name. Apart from that one which says, �I am whipped.� And that one which says �I am squiggle and that...�

�� I know �I am a fork and spade,� said Tzavros sarcastically.

�� Look at that one, Sir! �I am Pie?� That�s not Egyptian, it�s Greek. This is meant to be 18^th dynasty yet from what I remember it looks more like Pholamayic.�

�� That�s why we think it�s a forgery. He or she uses symbols not used in those times. That one looks exactly like an eyeglass,� said Catline.

�� This stone has similar markings. There isn�t any spirits but that word, squiggle, bird, loaf of bread is on the end of the scroll.�

Tzavros rapidly became bored and watched an enthusiastic Alment flick through a large leather bound book on the ancient Gods of Egypt.

Six forty five PM

Crowds of young agents around the woman and the comments of, �how does he do it?� made Sukoloff smile until he saw her face. Beautiful though she was he recognised her instantly as being another Guardian of History.

�� We must speak together, alone,� she said seductively. Trying to look innocent, Sukoloff led her to a small waiting room adjoining reception. The instant he closed the door she began to talk in a soft, sad voice.

�� Oh, Vacily, you were warned twice before, now it�s out of our hands. You have prevented human destiny. They all have a brief moment to fulfil their dreams before going to their Elysium.� She stopped only to gaze at him sadly for a moment and raise her hand to prevent him interrupting, then continued, her voice growing sadder, her face more beautiful.

�All the humans you kept here should be no-more. The young Alment has been called twice, did you not think that more than once must be his destiny? Once might have been accidental, twice only means he must leave this earth.

�� You have stolen nine minutes and the evil ones will want them back. We punish them for doing bad, they you for doing good. The same rules for us as for them. It�s fate and we can do no more to help you or the balance will be disturbed. This is your third and final telling. Three and you�re out.� Slowly she faded into a fine pink mist. She hovered over him leaving his hair and clothes wet with her tears. �Farewell until eternity, Baby Spirit,� she whispered and vanished.

Back to what's new.