Quest (Dane Maddock Adventures) (17 page)

“So,” Bones began, “that probably means that Fawcett really did have a map carved in stone that showed the way to Kephises.”

“And now, ScanoGen has that map,” Matt finished. “So, where does that leave us?”

Dane thought about all they had learned of
Quest’s
sinking, and the aftermath. He gazed out at the ocean, his eyes drifting to one of the small islands near Ascension. He wondered…

“I have an idea.” Dane pointed to the small, rocky island in the distance. “Matt, take us there, as close as you can get.”

“What are we looking for?” Bones gave him a speculative look, the amused twinkle in his eye showed that he could tell Dane was up to something.

“I’ll know it when I see it.”

Kaylin frowned. “But Maddock, what is the point…”

“Don’t bother,” Willis interrupted. “When he’s like this, there ain’t no point.
That’s
the point. He’ll tell us when he’s ready. Me, I’m gonna get a beer and wait for the big reveal.” He headed below to retrieve the beer cooler from the galley.

“What is that place?” Kaylin asked as Matt took
Sea Foam
in the direction Dane had indicated. Out here on the water, with her blonde hair flying in the breeze, she was as beautiful as Dane had ever seen her. He looked into her green eyes, so open and honest, and thought how different she was from the dark, exotic Jade. One was his seemingly perfect match, the other his perfect counterpoint.

“Did you hear me?” Kaylin grinned. “Typical man. I’d ask you what you’re thinking about, but I know how much you hate that.”

“Sorry. It’s called Botswain Bird Island.”

“Interesting name.”

“The name comes from all the birds that nest there. We’ve been assuming that Fawcett and the others took refuge on Ascension Island after
Quest
sank, but I noticed before we made the dive that Botswain is closer to the spot where she went down. Also, remember what we read in the naval library, about Fawcett complaining of ‘the infernal birds’ that annoyed them while they waited for rescue.”

“Okay, so how does that help us?”

“You’ll see.” He met her annoyed look with a roguish grin, and headed into cabin where Matt was piloting the ship in while Corey kept one eye on the depth readings and the other on a navigational chart. 

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Matt asked, keeping his eyes trained on the water.

“Yep. Just get in as close as you can and circle the island. I’ll tell you when to stop.”

“It shouldn’t take long,” Corey observed. “The island’s small enough.”

His words proved to be correct. Within five minutes, they were circling the shore of Botswain Bird Island. The tall, gray rocks gave it the appearance of a giant molar rising up from the sea. Dane kept his eyes on the shore as they circled,
Sea Foam
plowing through the chop. Time crept by, and he was about to admit that he had been wrong, when they found what he had been looking for. A natural stone arch rose up from the water, joining the steep, rocky cliff at the water’s edge.

“Does that look familiar?”

“It’s the island in the painting!” Kaylin had joined them in the cabin. “You think it means something?”

“Matter of fact, I do.”

Tam sat in the shade of an umbrella in an outdoor café in Cuiabá, the capital city of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Under different circumstances, she would have found it a delightful place to visit. The city was tourist-friendly, and boasted a rich local culture of music, dance, and cuisine all reflecting African, native American, and Portuguese influences. At the moment, though, she was focused on the job at hand, and anxious to get started.

Her sat phone rang and she answered immediately. It was Salvatore.

“How are things?”

“We’re ready. I’ve got three guides lined up. Just say the word and we’re off.”

“I am pleased to hear it. I knew I made the proper decision in sending you. You shall begin very soon. It also seems that Kennedy was successful in his efforts to find the sunken ship.”
Salvatore did not try to keep the satisfaction from his voice.

“That’s wonderful.” She wasn’t sure how wonderful it actually was. On the one hand, she didn’t like Kennedy and never cared to see him succeed. On the other hand, if he found something that helped her complete her part of the mission, good on him. “What did he find?”

“A map carved in stone. After all this time in sea water, the images were faint. Our people were, of course, able to make laser scans of the carvings and create enhanced digital images. We are now cross-referencing it with existing maps of the Amazon region. It appears, however, that the map has no particular scale, and little is known about the region into which you shall be traveling. They tell me that, assuming Fawcett followed this map, it appears that what the world knows about his final expedition is wrong.”

“Interesting, but not surprising. That certainly would make it difficult for anyone to have followed his trail, much less find him.”

“Indeed. I shall send whatever they come up with along to you as soon as it is ready.”

Tam’s heart beat faster. It was really happening.
Don’t blow it,
she told herself. This was her first assignment and she could not afford to fall out of Scano’s good graces by blowing it. She had worked too hard to get where she was in the organization, and it would be a serious blow indeed if she slipped up. “Very good. When can I expect it?”

“Soon. But you be patient. I’m sending a few…disposable items your way.”

“Sir?” She did not like the sound of this one bit.

“Thomas Thornton’s colleague, the one whom we questioned about Thornton’s only clue, has proved useless. The Charleston Police Department has been investigating his disappearance. We could go to the trouble of doing away with him and making it look like a crime, but it would be much cleaner if you would simply lose him in the Amazon. Besides, there is still a possibility he knows something useful, though I doubt it. Assess him, and eliminate him when you deem he is of no use. It should not be a problem.”

“No sir, it will not.” Tam felt a weight in her stomach. Damn! Another loose end to tie up. “You said ‘items,’ as in more than one.”
Not Alex
, she prayed.
Don’t send me your snotty, psychopath son.
That was one distraction she could live without.

“Yes. Cyrus and Jason have outlived their usefulness as well.”
Tam had to remind herself that he was referring to Cy and Jay.
“They seemed to think it a good idea to exhume Shackleton’s remains. Getting them off South Georgia Island and covering their tracks was a close thing. I cannot afford to have men with so little sense in my employ. Kennedy will arrive tomorrow with all three expendables. He knows your orders, but I fear he might grow sentimental about Jason, in particular. See to it that the job is done.”

“Kennedy’s coming here?” Her stomach was in a twist. Kennedy posed a problem of an entirely different sort.

“You need not worry. He understands that the command is yours. He’s a good soldier and he’ll follow orders.”
She doubted that.
“Kennedy is one of our best.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, so she kept her silence. A quiet ensued, enduring for so long that she wondered if the connection had been lost. Finally, Salvatore continued.
“Our investors have grown anxious for Project Pan to get underway. They are growing impatient. We do not need them to take a direct hand.”

Tam’s heart raced. “You’ve never told me who our investors are, Mr. Scano.”

“Nor will I.”
His voice was sharp with implied rebuke.

“Forgive me. I only wonder what I might come up against should they decide to get involved.”

“You need not worry about it.”
Salvatore’s voice had regained the fatherly, reassuring tone he often took when talking to her about a difficult situation.
You and Kennedy have a head start, and you are well-equipped. Finish the job, and finish it soon, and we won’t have to concern ourselves with anyone else.”

“Yes sir.”

“Good luck,
figlia mia.”

The call ended and Tam sat staring at the wall. The last thing she needed was Kennedy and two of his lackeys, no matter how moronic, interfering. She was close, she could feel it. But if they interfered…

She ordered up another Baden Baden Stout, the signature beer of the Brazilian microbrewery of the same name. Beer was seldom her drink of choice, but this particular beverage complemented the spicy food nicely. She took a sip, enjoying the rich, smoky flavor with a suggestion of dark chocolate and burnt coffee. She let the cool drink and calm atmosphere sooth her jangled nerves. She was a professional, and she would face whatever came her way.

She took another drink and smiled.

A complicated job had just turned into a Gordian knot. Oh well, a knotty problem required a bold stroke, and she had plenty of those up her sleeve. She wondered for a moment if Salvatore would still think of her as “daughter” when this was all over.

As they drew closer to the arch, Dane’s certainty grew. This was the same place shown in the painting. It had to be significant.

“So, now will you tell me all about your brilliant idea?” Bones asked, leaning on the rail and gazing intently at the stone formation.

“It was Fawcett’s complaints about all the ‘infernal birds’ that got me thinking. I believe they took refuge on Botswain Bird Island, not on Ascension.”

“The book did say it was a small island,” Bones agreed. “I get it. You think the arch in the painting was more than just a signpost to Botswain Bird Island. You think the arch itself is important.”

“Yep. And we’re told that Fawcett tried to recreate the map to Kephises. I think, while he was off keeping to himself and brooding over their situation, he carved a new map from memory, or at least tried to.”

Bones thought for a while. “You know, Maddock, you could be right. Didn’t the book say that Fawcett screwed it up, though?” 

“He said it was an incomplete map. Fawcett was a perfectionist. If he felt he’d left out even the smallest detail, he would have been unhappy with the finished product. I’m wagering he did a reasonably good job of replicating what the native had given him. It’s the best hope we have, in any case.”

They anchored
Sea Foam
a safe distance from the shore and began their search. Willis and Matt headed for a spot that looked like a likely place for the crew of
Quest
to have taken refuge. They would head out from there, scouting out any possible pathways Fawcett might have taken. Dane and Bones went to take a closer look at the arch itself.

It wasn’t spectacular, by any stretch, but it was impressive in its own way. It was a thick column of stone rising up from the churning surf, curving in to meet the imposing cliffs of Botswain Bird Island.

They inspected the base of the arch, then used binoculars to scan its surface on either side, but they saw nothing that looked like a map, or even a hiding place where one might be secreted. A search of the island in the immediate vicinity of the arch proved fruitless as well. They checked in with Willis and Matt, but the two had not had any luck either. Discouraged, they sat down on a stone slab in the shade of the arch, letting the salt spray cool them.

“I’m thinking we’re going to have to expand our search area.” Bones didn’t sound disheartened, but neither did he seem pleased at the prospect. “Of course, covering every square inch of this island might suck, but it’s better than the alternative.”