The Flames of Time (Flames of Time Series Book 1) (28 page)

‘There’s a whole load of damage here that’s for sure,’ he began, as he re-examined the debris pile and the wall at the back. ‘but this, this looks like natural damage to me. Maybe subsidence, or an earthquake or both. And the damage looks old too, there’s evidence of lichen growing over some of the broken edges, and much of this dust and dirt is not only settled, it’s compacted too. All of which can only really happen over a considerable period of time.’

‘That’s what I was thinking,’ chipped in Peter. ‘Some kind of ground movement caused the tunnel and part of that back wall to fall first, dislodging the cover stone and the tablets from their carved housing. Then, judging by the presence of this large rock on top of these two which look like they’ve fallen from the ceiling and the wall, I’d say at least this section of wall fell next, which undermined the ceiling above and caused that to fall later.’

‘So if there’s anything left of them, then the tablets could be underneath all of this,’ I asked.

‘It’s possible,’ answered Harry, ‘some may have escaped over the edge of this ledge and into the water, so we should probably check there first. Then we remove the rest of this stone one piece at a time.’

It hadn’t occurred to me to look in the water, so while the others were figuring out how to tackle the larger blocks of stone, I went back in with Peter, and we started to search the sandy sea floor. The sand was very fine, and in no time visibility was down to nothing, but between us we managed to find the fragment of one tablet and another almost entirely intact barring a piece missing from one corner. But their time in the water had come at a cost and while they were still intact, they were worn quite badly in places, leaving only about twenty percent of the writing still legible upon them.

Similar results were achieved on the ledge. As the debris and stones were cleared away, the remains of the tablets were gradually recovered, but only one tablet came out entirely intact, miraculously preserved from the falling rocks, the rest were either entirely destroyed or reduced to intricate jigsaw puzzles of fragments that might take years to put together again. But at least we’d got something, and there was always the chance that the one tablet we had held something significant, or might give us a pointer to one of the other locations.

Much as he tried to conceal it, Luke was definitely not happy that we’d come away with so much, and after a while simply fell silent, doing what was asked of him, but nothing more.

It was an exhausting day, made all the worse by the need to do so much swimming back and forth in order to carry what little we’d recovered out of the cave. If we’d thought about things before we started, we’d have brought some better equipment too, instead of having to make do with the things we managed to cobble together from our belongings, at one point even bringing the remains of two tablets out in knotted handkerchiefs. It was particularly hard on Jean and Harry, who just weren’t up to the swimming, but they stuck it out inside until there was nothing else they could help with, and then they swam out and stayed on the boat, collating what was brought out.

I was completely done-in by the time I swam out of the cave for the last time, with the map case holding the drawings and observations of the site. And it was really just a toss-up as to whether I had something to eat first, or got some sleep. We’d been here since before dawn, and barring a couple of short breaks for something to eat, had worked through the entire day, to excavate the site and retrieve everything of interest, only finishing our work as the sun started to go down over the western end of the gulf.

We didn’t talk much on the way back, we were all so tired, barring Androus who was immediately immersed in the study of what we’d retrieved. Trusty Stephanos managed to rustle up a hot drink for each of us before we set off, which we had with a packet of biscuits that someone had thought to bring. I think Marlow was as tired as the rest of us, but as the boat turned southward and we started back to Corinth he once more went through his timeless evening ritual. Hauling himself to his feet, and taking his tea with him, he carefully stepped over and around everyone, to the side of the boat where he could watch the sun as it sank beneath the distant horizon.

The rest of the evening became a bit of a blur, as the momentary boost from the tea and biscuits wore off, and all my muscles started to cool down and stiffen up. I remember getting back and bathing, and then Jean almost forcing Peter and myself to join him for a meal in his suite, before he’d allow us go off to our beds.

Before I turned in, I also remember becoming aware of a change in the atmosphere. There was a small outpouring of energy and activity from Androus, a weary underhandedness from Luke, as he obviously forced himself to go and tell Selene about our day. But there was also a hint of friction or stress coming from Jean, who seemed anxious about something.

I wasn’t sure if it meant anything, but just as we were saying goodnight, Marlow happened to pass by. He was himself ready to turn in, but it was as we all said goodnight and left to go to our respective rooms, that I noticed a hint of concern and worry in Jean’s eyes as he watched Marlow leave. It wasn’t the time or place to try and pursue it further, but even as I drifted off to sleep I could sense the concern I’d seen on Jeans face taking root in my own mind.

CHAPTER 19 – SMOKE AND FIRE

The next day or so, as Harry and Androus started work on the transcription and preservation of the tablets we’d pulled out of the underwater cave, the waiting became an agony. If we’d got lucky with what we’d retrieved, then our search could be over, and we could start making plans for the next phase of our journey, to find the first great temple of Ziusudra, and the place where these extraordinary individuals went after abandoning their mortal lives.

Alternatively of course, if we weren’t so lucky, then the fragments we’d retrieved might hold nothing more than the detail of Alcathous’ life or his discovery of the African temple. If that were the case, then I didn’t want to think about what we’d do next, perhaps move back to Jerusalem again, or Athens, perhaps even stay where we were.

There was nothing else for it but to try and keep busy, and try not to pester Androus too much while he worked. Thankfully the weather stayed fine, so I was able to get out of the hotel and do some walking and sight-seeing. I even tried to start the habit of going for a swim in the mornings, having discovered I rather enjoyed the exercise and feel of the water while we were exploring the underwater cave.

We still didn’t see much of Selene and her friends, who seemed to be keeping up the appearance of their routine, but I was sure they weren’t going to just accept defeat. But it wasn’t until just before lunch on the third day that we found out what form their action would take.

I’d returned from my morning swim invigorated, and after wolfing down a hearty breakfast I was talking to Peter about the prospect of heading out of town, maybe for a stroll around the ancient acropolis, when we were interrupted by one of the hotel staff with a message from the manager. Apparently there was a matter that required our attention downstairs in his office.

It immediately raised my suspicions, and looking at Peter as the messenger left us, I could see he was thinking the same thing.

We arrived at the manager’s office just as Luke and Jean got there, and after exchanging a quizzical look or two we entered the room. Inside we found Marlow and the others sat on the opposite side of a large desk from the Hotel manager and two other Greek men in plain suits.

It was a delicate situation, but the hotel manager was the very soul of tact, and after introducing the two men with him as police officers, one Inspector Laskari and his assistant, he proceeded to try and, ‘clear up the obvious mistake and confusion that must have occurred,’ by asking the inspector to explain exactly why he had come.

The inspector was a man of average height and build, but with a polite bookish manner, and excellent English who reminded me of Androus, but without the added flair and exuberance of our Amenian friend.

‘Gentlemen,’ he began, in a good-humoured tone, ‘as Mr Alexandrakis has suggested, I’m sure this matter can be settled quickly and easily, if you will be kind enough to answer a few simple questions for me.

‘As I’m sure you will know, our government here in Greece has experienced some… difficulties for the past year or so as a result of a clouded decision at our last national election, and the unwillingness of one of our less experienced political parties to make the compromises they should. Unfortunately, this situation has made the great historic treasures of our troubled country seem all the more tempting to admirers… and collectors who wish to remove items from our soil and our country.

‘Now, the customs service where I am engaged has recently received information indicating that your group may have come into the possession of a small number of artefacts, perhaps unaware that our law forbids the unlicensed excavation and removal of such items. As such I have come here today to ask you to hand over any artefacts you may have unknowingly removed and to desist from any further plans or preparations you may be making to engage in any further excavations of this kind.’

I could feel a knot forming in my stomach as the inspector talked to us. And I could only imagine the inevitability of us having to hand over the tablets to this bureaucrat, so that he could bury them again on some shelf or anonymous cupboard, ignored and inaccessible for who knows how long. Even with Androus and Harry’s impressive academic credentials it could be years before we’d get permission to see them again.

But I’d failed to consider that Androus and Harry might not be quite so easy to put off.

‘Inspector Laskari,’ Harry began, ‘I have to confess my surprise at what you’ve just told us. For, as I’m sure you know, both myself and Dr Chukjadarian here have worked in the field as archaeologists for our respective institutions for a great many years. Including quite substantial amounts of time and work on the Greek mainland, islands and throughout the Peloponese, and I have never encountered this… legal restriction of which you speak.

‘Have you Dr?’ Harry enquired innocently of Androus.

‘I have not Dr Sutherland,’ responded Androus, ‘but perhaps it is a very recent addition to the legislative body, something which I would have imagined my colleagues at the University of Athens would have mentioned when we stopped off there on the way here.’

It was like watching the inspector swallow something that tasted bad, as Harry and then Androus so unsubtly showed off their credentials before him.

He must have come unprepared, thinking perhaps he was just dealing with a bunch of European tourists. But to his credit, he collected himself quickly, and bristling slightly at being caught out, he immediately straightened his posture and adopted an altogether more formal tone.

‘Yes, well, some… allowances are made for the work of recognised institutions, especially in the pursuit of academic excellence, but even then the treasures of Greece must still be safeguarded, and the due revenue from their export collected.

‘Is it your assertion that you are here as part of an authorised and official dig, conducted on behalf of a recognised institution?’

I knew neither Harry nor Androus would be prepared to claim the work we were doing was for either of their institutions, and again I could feel my heart sinking. But Harry and Androus continued to argue from our side, forcing the inspector to do more thinking on his feet. Still it was clear he wasn’t going to let the matter go, and eventually we had to agree to him taking the tablets back to Athens for the Customs Service to have them appraised by an expert from the university.

Worse still, he knew about the scroll and other tablets we had with us, and insisted they also be taken for appraisal. This despite the hotel manager’s own testimony that the items in question had been put under secure lock and key on the day of our arrival and not been touched since. For a moment I had visions of us having to make a run for it, back to the boat before he would have time to call for reinforcements. But Androus also knew how to apply the pressure.

‘As you wish inspector.’ he said with a very business-like formality. ‘If you are insistent upon this ludicrous course of action, then you will of course be prepared to give me a full financial guarantee for the value of the artefacts you wish to remove, authorised by a signatory of your Prefecture.’

‘Yes, yes Dr, that will not be a problem, I’m happy to give you a receipt myself, and take full responsibility for the artefacts while they’re in my care.’

‘Forgive me inspector,’ responded Androus with perfect equanimity, ‘I don’t think you quite realise the nature of the artefacts we’re talking about. Not only are these artefacts made in part of semi-precious materials, they are also to the best of my knowledge totally unique in the world. And certainly when they were examined by myself and my colleagues in Jerusalem, before bringing them to Greece, we estimated their value, conservatively… to be in the region of thirty to fifty thousand dollars .’

My heart skipped a beat at this pronouncement from Androus, surely he couldn’t be serious, the inspector would be lucky to earn the equivalent of a hundred dollars a year. So, as shocking as it was to me, it must have been unimaginably so for him. His face noticeably blanched at the idea, and his assistant, who was obviously a fairly new recruit, looked like his legs were going to buckle beneath him.

The hotel manager looked a little unstable too, though that was probably at the thought of his own liability in agreeing to safeguard the artefacts for us in the hotel strong room.

‘I, I see,’ said the inspector clearing his throat and looking distractedly at the table before him. ‘You are correct, I had not realised the value of the items in your possession. But this is all the more reason for them to be appraised by an expert trusted by my service.’

‘Perhaps if we were to accompany you to Athens,’ suggested Androus.’ You have a car at your disposal?