The missing link, p.16
THE MISSING LINK, page 16
They had to go through the usual procedure: questioning by the authorities, this time done in broken English or with a translator. After the officials decided not to press charges, as everybody had clearly acted in self-defense, they were handed over to their people and this time there were gentlemen of the British embassy, who were more interested in Rupert Miller and his involvement than in any iron forging giants or colossal snakes, spiders and caterpillars. Elliot endured all the jokes that he should write sci-fi novels, and after two days of repetitive questions he answered, he was finally released.
Ashra was still with those ‘embassy employees’ who all pretty obviously were working for the British intelligence. But Atiko sat outside those bureaus on a bench and gave him a tired, exhausted smile.
“I sent those letters,” she said as he approached.
Elliot let out a deep sigh and set next to her. “I guess it must be very hard for the families.”
“I’ll try to make it up to them,” Atiko said, and didn’t elaborate how she planned to do that. “Thanks for not setting the prop room on fire, by the way.”
“I couldn’t have destroyed . . . no way,” Elliot said.
“They’ll let me have the skull and bones there, once they are done with the investigation. Had to pull some strings, but at least I don’t return empty-handed.”
“What about the tomb?”
“Haven’t heard. Right after our report to the police, they sent a team down there. I heard they were all still pale when they made it back. The local governor declared the entire region a restricted zone, a few hours later. Rumors say there has been an unusually large order for flamethrowers from the region.” She shrugged.
“They are going to purge the entire valley. The fungus, the animals, everything.”
“You almost sound sad about it.”
“It’s an eco-system as unique as they come, if you ask me. We might have learned from it. That fungus might have been . . . the medical uses of the hormone could have been explored. By someone who doesn’t send killer squads to get them.” Elliot shook his head. “It’s a waste of a scientific opportunity.”
“Always the scientist. I personally sleep better knowing, there exist no more spiders the size of dogs. What will they do about Miller, and those shadowy figures behind him?”
“They said there will be an investigation, but I’ve little hope they can pin any of it on those guys. They’ll blame Miller, saying he went mad, they never wanted anyone to be harmed. That will be the end of it. Their stock market price will go down five percent and then up again.”
“You are probably right.” Atiko turned to him. “So, what are you going to do about Ashra? She saved your life.”
“Not the first time.”
“Well, I don’t know how often you can expect her come running to save the day—if every time she does, you let her go again.”
“It’s complicated.”
“You know why our marriage failed? We talked a lot about it, without ever truly saying anything, but I think you are ready for the truth.”
“Go ahead.”
“Because you let me go. Had you asked me to try again, I would have. I’d have kept on trying, until we would have figured it out, how it could work. But you didn’t. You gave up on me.” She came closer. “Don’t give up on her. I can see you have feelings for her and hell, it’s pretty obvious she has feelings for you, after what she went through to find you. Don’t give up on her. That girl doesn’t deserve that.”
Elliot looked at his ex-wife and then burst into laughter. “When did you get so wise?”
“It’s the age, you know?” She laughed with him and finally got up. “I expect you to come to my exhibition in the Smithsonian on the opening night.”
“I will be there.”
“I’ll send an invite for you, and a plus one. Don’t disappoint me.” Atiko leaned forward and kissed his forehead. “Thank you, Elliot. For keeping me alive and . . . for being there for me.”
“Always, Atiko. Always,” Elliot replied and the smile she gave him was sad and tired. But she didn’t say another word and instead strolled down the corridor of the embassy. Elliot leaned back on the bench and wondered if he could have a coffee somewhere. He knew he would wait until they were done with Ashra and considering how much more she had to tell, about Rupert Miller and his actions, he was afraid it could be a while.
****
The airport is surprisingly small, Elliot thought. It had been remarkable to him at his arrival, but after getting used to the sheer width of the Amazon rainforest, it now seemed even smaller.
“How’s your rib?” he asked Ashra, sitting next to her on the bench, watching the other passengers pass by on their way to their gates. He had still three hours until his flight to London departed. She was going to board hers in less than thirty minutes. Mumbai, Lhasa, then Kathmandu. It would be an entire day before she got home.
“Better than last time, but still hurts.” In her jeans and shirt, she looked like an ordinary woman. One would be forgiven to assume she was an actress or a model, on her way to a gig. Even without make up and her hair tied to a simple ponytail, she was a striking beauty. Elliot always forgot how gorgeous she was in real life.
“See,” Elliot said. “We’re making progress.”
“Slow progress.” Ashra smirked.
“Ashra, I don’t know how to even start to thank you for everything you have done for me.”
“You’d have done the same for me.”
“Are you sure? Because I feel—”
“Yes, I’m sure. Elliot. I know you. I know you better than you might think.” She sounded so serious as she said that.
“I would have died out there.”
“Well, you almost died because of me bringing a killer to your door,” Ashra said. “I was careless, blinded by my need to find you. I should have—”
“Don’t you dare to think you did anything wrong.” Elliot cut her short. “There’s nothing, really nothing, you should blame yourself for. You saved me and Atiko, when nobody else even tried to save us. That is the only thing that counts.”
“A lot of people died. I think they count, too.”
“They do. But those are on Rupert, and we certainly made him pay for it, didn’t we?”
“Oh, by the gods, yes. I mean, this thing really bit his head off, didn’t it? Your head eaten by a giant worm!” Ashra laughed.
“Actually, caterpillars aren’t worms.”
“It looked like a worm to me.”
“They are moths and butterflies in the making.”
“I know, Elliot. We’ve got caterpillars in Nepal too, you know.”
“I’m sorry. I . . . we got distracted, I was actually trying to tell you how—”
“Grateful you are, I got that already. So, did you plan to talk to me about that all the time until my flight departs?” Elliot didn’t know what to say. That had actually been his plan. “Is there nothing more important to talk about?”
“Ashra.” Elliot leaned forward, his arms resting in his knees and then looked at her. “I can’t ask you to—”
They were disturbed by the announcement that her check-in was about to begin. Elliot looked at the speakers and cursed them for their timing.
“Your flight,” he said.
“Yes, my flight,” Ashra stood up, grabbing her backpack. The sadness in her eyes was breaking his heart. He got up too, and as they approached the line of people waiting, Ashra took her ticket from her jeans.
“I got priority boarding, you know.”
“Good. Those lines are . . .” Elliot felt stupid with every word he said.
“Goodbye, Elliot. Please take care.” Ashra gave him a smile and then stepped forward, giving him a gentle kiss on his lips. He felt the blood rush to his head, his voice failing.
“You too,” he just gasped. She gave him a nod, that he couldn’t interpret, and turned to leave. He couldn’t watch her leave. He had never had to, before. She had vanished in that plaza in Karachi. After Antarctica he had been forced to leave, while she was still unconscious in the hospital. Never had he imagined how hard it would be to see her leave. She strolled down to the stewardess awaiting her and held up her passport and boarding ticket. Then she vanished through the gate and made her way down the long corridor to the airplane.
Elliot watched her until she was gone, then finally turned around. He wanted to walk away but wondered what he should do. Get a coffee? Stalk through the small duty-free shop? It seemed to make little sense.
Before he could decide, he felt a hand and was turned around. Ashra stood there, dropping her black backpack.
“What? What and why can’t you ask me?” she demanded to know with a firm voice.
“Ashra . . .” Elliot looked at the gate and then back to her.
“I won’t board that plane, before I know. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me anything for . . . an eternity now. So, what is it you can’t ask me?”
“To come with me to London,” he replied honestly.
Ashra just stared at him and swallowed. “And why can’t you ask me to come with you to London?”
“Because you have a life of your own. In Nepal. I can’t expect you to—”
“And I can’t have a life in London? For some reason people can’t live in London? Is that what you’re thinking?” She picked up her backpack again. “Elliot, I was nowhere ever happier than in London. Never.” With these words she turned.
This time it was Elliot who grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Ashra, will you come with me to London?”
She looked at him and smiled. “I would love to,” she replied, and she never waited for him to kiss her—it was one of those things he loved about her. Dropping her backpack, she slung her arms around his neck and their lips met. “I would totally love to,” she gasped into the kiss, and he couldn’t help but laugh a little. It was a laugh of joy and relief.
“Let me cancel my flight,” she said, leaving her backpack with him. He watched her talk to the stewardess, as she pointed at him. The stewardess only nodded and smiled as Ashra made her way back.
“We need to book you a ticket,” Elliot said, offering her his hand. She took it and they walked down the lines of gates, with people leaving, both grinning.
“I heard you have been to the Mediterranean Sea over summer?” she said.
“Oh God, yeah. Not exactly holidays.”
“Are you going to tell me about it?”
“I’m afraid it’s classified,” Elliot said with a serious tone.
“Very funny,” Ashra replied, and they both laughed.
“Well, you ever heard of the Sea People?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“A legendary nation that has attacked most of the ancient civilizations, a few thousand years before the birth of Christ. The funny thing about them is, nobody knew who they were. It was one of the great mysteries of the ancient world,” Elliot explained.
“Until you found out,” Ashra said with a broad grin.
“Sort of.”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to hearing all about it on the flight.”
“It’s actually quite a story,” Elliot said with a laugh. It was a story he would enjoy telling.
THE END
****
Get access to news, background information and exclusive stories:
You want to read the exclusive prequel novella to the Ancient Secrets Series: The Sunless Realm?
Just write a mail to FalkNewsletter@gmail.com with the subject: SUBSCRIBE
****
Enjoy This Book? You Can Make A Difference.
If you like what you just read, I would kindly ask you for a favor, my dear reader.
For you, it would be a few minutes of your time, but for me, it would mean the world if you head over to Amazon and write a review with your honest opinion about my novel. Even a short review helps.
Many thanks in advance!
Yours,
T.S. Falk
Falk, T.S., THE MISSING LINK
