Season of Passage, The (43 page)

believed those stories could come true.'

Perhaps they had come true for Jim, this time.

Even the possibility of vampires hadn't chal enged Lauren's sense of reality as much as did the sight of the ring.

'Gary!'

He came up at her shoulder. 'What?'

'Look,' she said. 'It's Jim's ring - Jenny's ring. It's here on Mars!'

'Mother Jesus,' Gary whispered.

This must also be the Russian dig Bil had spoken of, Lauren thought. The Russians, however, had not removed the ring from the stone, merely

uncovered it, which she found odd. She tugged at the silver band. It was stuck, but she figured they should be able to get it free. A curved finger of

stone wrapped through the center of it. Lauren reached for Jim's chisel. Gary stopped her and shook his head.

'We don't have time,' he said. 'I've already started the timer on the warhead. Leave the ring. It could be dangerous.'

'No,' she said firmly. Already she had fal en under the spel of the ring, for it reminded her of Earth, and of her sister. The dread that had weighed on

her heart since they entered the pit was cast back at a distance. She told herself she would take the ring and bring it back home. 'I want it,' she said.

'We don't have time,' Gary protested.

'Why did you have to be so stupid and start the timer?'

'I didn't want you pleading that we had to stay and find Jessie. Too long in this place and we're going to flip out. Can you believe that smel ? How is

it getting through our suits?'

'I think it's al in our heads. Can't you stop the timer?'

'No.' Gary said. 'The bomb would explode. I rigged the trigger that way so's it couldn't be tampered with.'

'That's just fucking great.' She grabbed Jim's tools. 'I'm stil going to get the ring. It'l only take me a moment.'

Gary stood indecisive for a moment. Then he took the chisel and hammer from her hand. 'I guess this was a job Jim didn't get to finish.'

'Careful,' she said, as Gary began to chip around the ring. 'Don't hurt it.' A deep longing to touch the ring pushed aside her fears. Gary continued to

work around the

band. Lauren noticed if was smal er than the one Jim had given Jennifer; it was sized more for a lady's finger.

A portion of the wal suddenly crumbled to the floor, revealing another incredible sight.

The bones of a human hand!

The outline was clear to Lauren's trained eye. She grabbed Gary's hand, stopping him. The bones were fossilized, and encased in a fine yel ow

coating. She took the chisel from Gary and careful y exposed more of the dead hand that held the ring.

'Do you know what this is, Gary?' she asked final y.

'No.'

'A human skeleton.'

'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.'

Gary's voice trembled with emotion. 'Is it possible that humans once lived here?'

She did not know the answer, nor was she given a chance to think of one. A tiny stone crunched softly at their backs. In one smooth motion, Lauren

spun and brought up the laser, pointing it directly at Bil .

'Gary,' she said.

Bil stood in the red fog beside the warhead, his face hidden by a shadow that crossed the front of his helmet. Ignoring them for a moment, he knelt

and touched the metal casing that held enough power to destroy the entire island.

I see you brought the fire.

The thought was fil ed with both fear and respect. Lauren knew it had passed through what was left of Bil 's mind along with her own.

'No,' Bil said, his voice soft and deep. 'It's not like you think.' He looked directly at them. 'Humans never lived here.'

Gary regained his voice. 'Shoot, Lori!'

Lauren shook her head. 'I can't. He's too close to the bomb. It could go off.'

'You have a point there,' Gary muttered. He left her side and slowly drifted to the right. Something in the depths of Bil 's eyes flickered. A faint smile

touched his lips. He focused his attention on Lauren.

'Why are you pointing that gun at me?' he asked.

'The game's over,' Lauren said. 'You're not Bil .'

'Are you sure?' he asked gently.

Three simple words - yet they fil ed her head with doubts, never mind al that she had seen. Was the fog clearing? Strange how she could see Bil 's

face better, particularly his eyes. He had such fascinating eyes. They were two featureless black points. They did not real y frighten her, not as she

stared into them. They were actual y quite interesting, in their own special way. Lauren shook her head, trying to clear it. But the eyes quickly drew

her back.

'You're not Bil ,' she said again.

'No Lori?' he said. He held out an arm and bent his elbow, then his wrist, inspecting his limbs. 'You must be wrong. Of course I'm your friend. Who

else could I be? I have his body, his mind and memories. Just look at me, Lori. Don't you remember me?'

'Yes,' she said. The voice was definitely familiar, she thought, even though it was not her commander's. It was the voice of someone she'd known a

long long time ago. 'I remember you,' she whispered.

'No!' Gary cal ed. He had positioned himself to her right, Bil 's left, standing at the apex of their shifting triangle. 'Don't listen to him.'

Her guard went back up. 'I won't be tricked,' she said.

'Why should I lie to you?' Bil asked.

'Where is Jessie?' Lauren demanded. 'What have you done to her?'

'She is not far.'

'You murdered Jim!'

Bil made a sweeping gesture. 'I have come to understand this chamber to be a place of decision. I didn't harm Jim. You're wrong to threaten me.'

The autopsy had said he had died of a heart attack. Lauren was curious in spite of herself. 'What decision did Jim make?'

'There is only one.'

'What are the choices?' she asked.

'To live or to die. You could live forever, Lori.'

She put pressure on the laser's trigger. 'Not your way.'

Bil went to yank the warhead's fuse.

'Stop!' she cried.

Bil 's smile widened. 'What is your decision, Lori?'

Lauren glanced out the corner of her eye. Gary was edging closer to Bil . Was he going to try to push Bil in the lava? Bil paid Gary absolutely no

heed.

'You didn't answer me, Lori,' Bil said.

'Detonate the bomb and you wil die, too,' she said.

'Does that matter?' Bil asked. 'You think I'm dead already. You're mistaken there, I might add.'

'You're worse than dead,' Lauren said.

'What could be worse?' Bil asked. Again he reached for the bomb's timer.

'No!' she shouted.

Bil nodded. 'You want to discuss the situation further before you decide. I understand. One shouldn't be in a hurry to choose oblivion.'

'There could be a third choice,' Lauren said. 'I can stil live and not become like you.'

Bil shook his head. 'Not once you've come here.'

'You're a coward,' she said bitterly. 'You made a cowardly decision. Jim could have been like you, but he didn't want to harm us.'

'But he's dead.'

'He wasn't afraid of you,' Lauren said.

'Not like you,' Bil agreed.

'You're a liar. Humans were here before.' She pointed to the wal . 'How do you explain how this ring got here?'

'The ring is of no consequence,' Bil said.

'Then why did your kind uncover it? You were looking for it. But none of you took it out of the wal . I think you're afraid of it.'

'Your thoughts are of no consequence,' Bil said.

'Jim told us about a ring like this,' Lauren said.

The smile dropped from Bil 's face. 'What did he tel you?'

Lauren took a step back. 'A human skeleton holds this ring. It belongs to us, not to you.'

'What did Jim tel you?' Bil insisted, angry now.

Lauren rook another step backward, finding it difficult to resist his demand. 'Nothing,' she whispered.

'Tel me!' Bil said.

His wrath hit her like a cold blast. His eyes, completely blank moments ago, were now windows into a place where the penalty of disobedience

could be clearly seen. Lauren shuddered as she bumped into the wal at her back. She had to stop arguing with him. It was like arguing with the

devil, and she knew no one ever won an argument with the devil. They had little time, anyway. She'd have to chance detonating the bomb. Aiming

the laser at his head, she said, 'I think you're ful of shit.'

She started to pul the trigger.

At that exact instant, Gary leapt toward Bil .

In a moment too short to properly grasp, Bil sprang

from behind the warhead and intercepted Gary. He wrenched Gary's arms behind Gary's back and thrust Gary before him, using Gary as a shield.

Lauren quickly placed herself between them and the bomb. The timer ticked at her back. Gary struggled unsuccessful y to free himself. He was like

a wooden puppet thrashing at the end of steel strings.

'What should I do?' she pleaded.

'Shoot,' Gary gasped. 'He'l get both of us.'

'A brave warrior,' Bil observed.

'I can't,' she cried.

'Do it!' Gary ordered.

Lauren shook her head.

'It's a stalemate,' Bil said. 'I wouldn't be surprised if we're stil here when the third expedition arrives. What a welcome we could give them - much

more thorough than the one Ivan gave us.' Bil smiled once more. 'I'm glad you two decided to visit me here today. I was hoping you would. Human

curiosity and compassion are such remarkable characteristics. What next, Lori? Should I twist Gary's arm until he...'

Suddenly Bil let out the scream of a man who had been dashed with boiling water. He retreated like an injured insect, Gary stil caught in his claws.

'No closer!' he swore. 'Stop! I'l snap his neck.'

Lauren looked down in amazement at her crucifix. She had remembered it only a moment ago, and had held it out toward Bil . It seemed such a

little thing to get al excited about - not that she was complaining. Unfortunately, Bil wasn't going to stay put for Christian magic. He began to twist

Gary's head back, way back.

'Stop it!' she shouted. She lowered the crucifix.

Bil nodded. 'That's better, much better. What now, Lori? Do you wish to negotiate? I wil bargain with you.'

'Bargain, then,' Lauren said. They stood at the edge of the pool of boiling mud. A three-foot layer of thick red fog clung to the ground. It would be

very easy, Lauren realized, to take a wrong step, and end up in the pool.

'My offer is simple,' Bil said. 'Tel me what Jim told you about the rings, and I wil let Gary go.'

'Fine/ Lauren said. 'Release him and I'l tel you.'

'First you wil put down the laser and the cross,' Bil said.

'Sure,' Lauren said. 'Then you'l get us both.'

'I promise I won't.'

'You expect me to believe you?' Lauren asked.

'You have no choice.' Bil twisted Gary's head. Gary shrieked.

'Enough!' Lauren said.

Bil paused. 'Do you find my terms agreeable?'

'This laser works. Kil him and I won't hesitate to shoot.'

'Then you'l go home, right?' Bil asked. 'Fool! When did you learn to fly the Hawk? Come, I'm a sportsman. We'l complete our parts of the bargain

simultaneously. Is that reasonable?'

Lauren took several steps backward, wanting to increase her distance from Bil . His speed was obviously great, but she figured she should stil

have the time to retrieve the laser and cross once he freed Gary and before he could get to her. She eased the laser's strap over her helmet.

'It's reasonable,' she said.

'You agree to my terms?' Bil asked.

'Don't!' Gary cal ed.

'I agree,' Lauren said. She finished with the strap and stood ready to drop the gun and cross at her feet. 'Now?'

'As promised,' Bil said. The conditions of the bargain were met. Lauren set down the laser and crucifix at the same moment Bil tossed Gary aside.

Bil was a bit rough with him. Gary hit the wal with a groan and fel to the floor.

He sat up immediately but appeared dazed. Because Bil stood between them, Gary would have to circle the entire chamber to come to her aid.

She was alone with the monster.

'Now, Lori,' Bil said. 'You wil tel me about the ring. How did Jim recognize it?'

Lauren had expected him to charge. It had been her plan to immediately reach for the laser and crucifix. He made no threatening move, however.

He simply stared at her, and once more she felt herself drawn to his eyes. It seemed the evils that had been committed were somehow removed

and separate from those eyes.

'Jim died before he could tel me the ful story of the other ring,' Bil continued. 'But you can tel me now, Lori.'

His eyes seemed to swel . When she tried to look away, she saw them stil . They seemed to fil the chamber. They were like dark wel s, from which

she could drink if she was thirsty. And she was so thirsty. 'He found it,' she whispered.

'Where?'

'Under a mountain. In the Himalayas.'

'What did he do with it, Lori?'

His pronunciation of her nickname made her quiver with a rush of raw sensuality. The skin at the top of her thighs tingled. It made no sense, nothing

did, but she suddenly had a terrible itch in her crotch that she just had to scratch -that someone had to scratch.

'Who did he give the ring to?' he asked.

His words were like a caress, rough but direct, straight to the point. It was embarrassing what was happening to her, she thought. Yet she didn't

think enough. She continued to watch Bil , not moving.

She sighed. 'He gave it away.'

Bil pul ed his generous lips over his white teeth, which

were much bigger than she remembered, much sharper. A helpless shudder went through her entire body and she welcomed it.

Love me, Lori.

'Tel me who he gave it to,' he asked.

She hesitated. 'Why?'

'Because it pleases me to know.' He licked his lips with his fat tongue, and she could imagine him - very vividly -doing other things with that tongue.