Beyond Hades: The Prometheus Wars (18 page)

"What's that?" whispered Talbot. Wes simply held his hand up, fingers clenched tightly into a fist. Talbot guessed it meant to keep still and silent, and shut his mouth.

Moving forward silently, Wes half crouched as he crept toward whatever was ahead of them in the darkness, his right eye expertly lining up the sight of his M4A5 assault rifle. He switched off his torch and stepped into the gloom, disappearing within seconds. Moments later, a sudden staccato blast echoed through the tunnel, flashing muzzle-fire strobing in the darkness. The sound of something large sprinting away in the darkness reverberated through the shadows.

"We're not alone down here," whispered Wes's voice moments later, causing Talbot to jump slightly and spin around with his torch, which was caught and directed elsewhere by Wes. "Don't blind me with that, you fool."

Talbot shone the torch back the way that the shadowy figure had been, but there was nothing there.

"I got the bugger," said Wes quietly, "didn't even make him flinch, though. Not sure what the hell it was, but it was big. Anyway, the path is clear for the moment. Let's go."

The two moved down the tunnel, Talbot slightly behind the SAS commando as he led the way, his assault rifle up and ready. Their progress was painfully slow, but nothing emerged from the shadows to attack them. Talbot sensed Wes was somehow disappointed as they rounded each corner only to have their lights illuminate nothing.

The tunnel seemed to end ahead, and Talbot's heart began to race. Faint light drifted through from the opening cavern, and Wes clicked off his barrel-light, indicating for Talbot to do the same with his torch. Soft noises trickled through the brightening tunnel.

Creeping up to a crest in the path, Wes indicated for him to drop to the ground and Talbot swiftly lowered himself to the smooth stone surface.

Smooth?
They were in a natural rock tunnel, weren't they? Water flow could have smoothed it somewhat, but not to the perfection he was now feeling beneath his fingers. This was definitely not a natural creation.

The two of them crawled up to the crest of the tunnel and peered over. Talbot's jaw literally dropped in shock.

Housed within a staggeringly enormous cavern was a pyramid, almost identical in design to the one they'd found in Atlantis. But this one appeared even larger, more intimidating simply because Talbot was seeing it right in front of him, not through the camera of a DSV.

The towering Mesoamerican step-pyramid resembled those in South America but, as with the one in Atlantis, on a much bigger scale. Perhaps they needed to be identical in order to house the ancient machinery. After a moment's appraisal, Talbot realized the pyramid was sitting within a sandstone cavern, but was crafted from something else entirely. Granite stone appeared to have been used for the huge blocks making up the colossal structure. There was no granite anywhere near where they were - at least not as far as Talbot knew - and he wondered where it had come from and how the pyramid's creators had gotten it here in the first place.

And then there was the glowing.

The entire structure seemed to emit light, illuminating the entire cavern in a dull glow. Could it be a moss, or perhaps some sort of insect? He put his curiosity aside for the moment, worrying instead about the potential for beasts from mythology to leap upon him at any moment.

"I can't see anything between us and the target," said Wes softly. "But something's watching us, I'd bet my dick on it."

"Okay," whispered Talbot, gazing out at the yawning open space of the cavern. "I trust your dick."

Wes looked at him, one eyebrow raised in query, and Talbot realized what he'd just said. "I mean... you know what I mean! We have to go down there regardless."

Wes stared at him unblinkingly once more before grinning. "Crazy bugger," he muttered. "Let's go. Just follow my dick, okay?"

Shaking the feeling of embarrassment away, Talbot followed Wes, slithering on their bellies over the crest of the tunnel before descending toward the structure at a crouched run. With nothing to take cover behind between them and the pyramid, the pair moved as quickly as possible in the open - utterly exposed.

Talbot heard a faint murmur far behind him. He paused and half-turned, and the sight made him freeze.

"Wes!" he called.

Wes halted abruptly, pivoting on the spot, M4A5 up and aimed, eyes narrowing at what he saw.

"Sweet Jesus," he murmured. "They're stymphalian birds - big bastards with bronze feathers they can throw like daggers. They haven't seen us yet, but get ready to run."

High in the air, filling the entire left side of the cavern was a group of the creatures. The stymphalian birds terrified Talbot, the faint light glinting from their wings as they dipped and soared effortlessly through the air like a flock of crows. Each creature appeared at least the size of a full-grown man, if not larger. The birds suddenly seemed to arc their flight, aiming more toward....

Them!

"Move!
Now
!" barked Wes. Talbot shot into motion as fast as he could, knowing it was pointless, but determined not to give up yet. He'd gauged the speed of the creatures in the instant he'd watched their flight and knew he'd be nowhere near the pyramid by the time the stymphalian birds caught up with them. But Talbot ran on regardless, the sound of Wes's even breathing indicating the soldier was right behind him.

He couldn't give up, not after all he'd been through.

His brother had died trying to correct this thing.

Men had given their lives trying to protect him.

He couldn't give up.

His feet seemed to move even slower, but Talbot pushed on, the flapping of metallic wings becoming thunderous. In fact, it began to sound more like something else, almost like....

Talbot glanced around to his right and gasped before tripping, rolling end over end down the gradual slope, finally stopping in a heap. Wes ran straight over to him, grabbing him by the collar and hauling him easily to his feet, but Talbot breathlessly stopped him when he tried to move on. Instead, he silently pointed toward the new threat he'd seen just prior to falling. The commando followed the direction his arm indicated, and Wes's jaw dropped as he saw what Talbot meant.

Thundering toward them from the opposite side of the cavern to the stymphalian birds were creatures of legend. Huge horses' bodies, larger even than the biggest Clydesdale, ended at the shoulders and merged seamlessly with the muscular torsos of men - but men twice the size of any Talbot had ever met.

Centaurs.

Hundreds of them hurtled in a wide line toward Talbot and Wes; the sound of hooves striking the sandstone. They were already close enough for Talbot to see each carried a bow, all flawlessly drawing back a shimmering arrow, aiming expertly....

Directly at the stymphalian birds!

The ceiling of the cavern momentarily disappeared as hundreds of glowing arrows shot straight over Wes's and Talbot's heads, into the mass of monstrous birds. The arrows did not stop at a single strike; they viciously hewed through the ranks of the birds, killing scores with their power.

Scores of stymphalian birds dropped from the sky and the rest paused. "They're too far away to counter-attack," observed Wes. "They don't have the range."

Within moments another volley of centaur arrow-fire smashed into the birds' ranks once again, slaying dozens more. The few that remained turned mid-air and fled, and Talbot watched them go, breathless with wonder, before realizing they hadn't necessarily been rescued. What was on the centaurs' agenda to have assisted at such a time? Did they simply want Talbot for themselves?

He'd know soon enough. The massive creatures galloped toward him and Wes, slowing as they neared, calmly trotting up and surrounding them. Talbot reached over, putting a restraining hand on Wes's shoulder, who glanced at him before nodding and lowering his assault rifle. They couldn't fight their way out of this one.

A single centaur moved forward.

Talbot studied the beast as it approached them. It stood even larger than his initial estimation. Judging from the centaur's torso, if it had been a man, he would have stood over eight feet tall and at least three times as broad as a wrestler from television. The creature had a bestial face, crossed between human and lion, light tawny fur covering its cheeks. Yet it peered at him through startlingly intelligent eyes.

It halted several yards away from them. "Which one of you understands what I am saying?" it inquired, its voice surprisingly eloquent.

Talbot glanced sideways at Wes, seeing only confusion upon his features. He grimaced, looking back at the centaur, and then stepped forward. "I understand you."

The creature stared down at Talbot, no emotion creasing its features. "We are here to assist you," it said simply, "just as we assisted your ancestors when the Syrpeas Gate was foolishly opened the last time."

"Syrpeas Gate? What's that?" asked Talbot, aware that Wes was staring at him, not comprehending a word of what he was saying.

"The Syrpeas Gate is the doorway between our realms. Someone here must have opened it again. We thought you would have learned from the mistakes of the last time, but apparently not."

"Oh, the rift," said Talbot. "You're talking about the rift between the dimensions."

"Whatever you name it, the Syrpeas Gate should never have been re-opened." A note of condemnation lurked within the centaur's words.

"Yeah, well, sorry about that. We had nothing to do with it," said Talbot offhandedly. "We -"

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!!!" roared the centaur, causing Talbot to stumble back in fright. Wes leaped protectively in front of him, his M4A5 drawing an instant bead on the head of the centaur. Several of the other creatures moved to draw their own weapons, but were stilled at a minute gesture from their leader.

"Wes! Wait!" gushed Talbot urgently, scrambling back to his feet. He pushed the commando aside gently and indicated he should once more lower his weapon. Wes eventually complied, albeit reluctantly.

Talbot met the centaur's glowering stare steadily. "What are you talking about?"

"YOU...!" began the centaur, but reigned in its emotions. "You
must
have been involved. Those gifted in the Elder-tongue are rare - perhaps only one born in every thousand of your years. And only those with the gift of the Elder-tongue have the ability to manipulate the machinery of the Elders. So
you
must have been directly involved."

"Not necessarily," began Talbot, raising his hand as the centaur moved to protest. "It was my brother - my
identical twin
brother. He helped my government start the machinery."

The huge beast stared impassively at him, a hoof scraping at the stony ground. Talbot didn't drop his eyes for a moment. He had a feeling that this was a test of his strength, and if he failed they might kill them both.

"I believe you," said the centaur finally. "My name is Chiron, and these are my warriors." His muscular arm swept around at the other centaurs, some of whom nodded at Talbot in acknowledgement.

"This is my...." Talbot paused. "Um... this is Wes," he finally said simply. "He tries to protect me while we attempt to find a way to close the rift - er... gate."

"He does not understand what we are saying," stated Chiron. "He looks confused. Perhaps you should explain things to him."

Talbot nodded and turned to Wes, swiftly explaining what had transpired. The SAS commando merely shrugged, nodding his acceptance of the change of events, and moving forward to Chiron and grasping his huge hand, to shake it firmly.

"Nice to meet you, mate," Wes drawled in his Australian twang, even though Talbot had just explained the centaurs didn't understand a word of English. "I hope it wasn't you I shot in the arse in that fucking tunnel, but you guys should have introduced yourselves sooner. I thought you might have been one of those bad-ass fuckers, ya know?"