Tomb raider at work

I really can’t stand caves and dungeons. I hate all those mazes, those tons of stones above my head. It's creeping to think that they could fall down and bury an impertinent man who dares to disturb the local spirits. I'd rather never set foot in those rat holes! But it is a part of my job, and I have done it many times.

No, I am neither a miner nor a speleologist. I am a free hunter of the Lace. A bit of a smuggler, a bit of an illegal archaeologist. I am a tomb raider, a hero for hire, a lone knight. I am all these things and more. I can do anything you want if you offer me an interesting job and a high salary. But I don't like caves anyway.

In the underground city of Aguilant, I was searching for another artifact for my employer. Mr. Norn was mysterious, eccentric, and enormously wealthy. He had an unique collection of artifacts and relics from ancient civilizations. It was said to be the largest collection in all of the Lace.

I worked for him for more than a year, and he always needed something so special... Sometimes I was sure he was joking, but he wasn't. Each new job became more and more dangerous, and I didn't know if I would survive this time or not. Of course, I like to take risks, but this was too much even for me.

That's why I decided to quit, despite all the money he was paying me.

The dead man will never get a chance to spend his money. Besides, my office didn't have a lot of results from my investigation.

After a year of working for Norn, I understood that my mission had failed. Even if Norn really was connected to the dark sorcerer from the Edge, the one called the Faceless Destroyer, he surely wouldn't tell a hired hunter. But if he knew about my work for the Coordinating Council, I would be in great danger. I remembered what had happened to my predecessors, and I didn't want that to happen to me. Even though I don't care so much  about saving my head, I wasn't sure if I hadn't made a mistake by agreeing to this job.

***

This story began a year and a half ago in Kardwash. It was a noisy night at the Jolly Roger Pub. Some of the freebooters were having a party - women, whisky, etc. At the other table, a gambler named King the Diamond was playing cards with two truckers. Fify, the local prostitute, was smoking and waiting for a customer. The bouncer on duty, named The Bump, stood at the door with a bored look on his face. Just one glance at his bumpy skull was enough to understand why he was called that way.

I was sitting at the bar, sipping my beer and talking to Doro - the best bartender in the Lace and owner of the Jolly Roger, by the way. I was telling him the story of my last trip to… well, it doesn't matter now. The life of a free hunter is fascinating and full of surprises, but this is another story altogether.

I watched the door out of the corner of my eye. Kardwash had never been a safe place. You never knew who might walk in.  

But I really didn't expect to see my ex-chief.

Parsel approached me quickly, ignoring the looks of the regulars. He was the head of the elite intelligence unit of the Coordination Council. Despite his harmless appearance, this chubby small guy was actually a dangerous fighter.

 "Hello, Skye!" he said as he sat down on the stool next to me. "Or do you prefer Archie the Fearless, as they call you now?"

Secret Agent Skye had been my nickname in my previous job. It was so long ago!

"Archie will do," I chuckled. "What are you doing here? Spending your vacation?"

"That’s a good joke," Parsel giggled. "I need you, Skye. But I can't invite you to the office under the circumstances."

"What circumstances?" I asked, not knowing what he was talking about.

He looked around.

"This place is too crowded for business."

"I haven’t worked for you for four years," I reminded him.

That was true. I had left the office with a scandal after breaking the Supreme Coordinator's nose as a farewell. I didn't feel sorry for this: he was a bastard. My behavior was attributed to the state of affect caused by the moral trauma I had suffered. It was the only thing that saved me from a trial.

"I know it," Parsel replied, "and we need everyone to think you still do not work for the office."

"But..."

"Skye," he said, looking me in the eye. "I hate to ask a favor. But it all depends on you now, so I have to insist on your participation, whether we both like it or not."

 I bowed my head and began to study all the cracks and scorch marks on the surface of the old counter. I didn't want to give him a quick answer. I'd been a free man for many years, and I had no desire to work for the Coordinators again. But Parsel found me on the other side of the Lace, which meant the office had a big problem.

"Okay," I nodded. "I'm listening to you, Chief."

"Right here?" he looked surprised.

"It's okay. No one would listen to us."  

Just to be on the safe side, he changed the language to my native tongue, which wasn't known at the Lace. It was an excessive precaution. The pub was so noisy that even a directional microphone wouldn't help.

"Before I begin," he said with a slight hesitation, "I ask you for a promise. Whether you accept my offer or not, do keep our conversation secret."

"Oh, Chief!" I felt a little insulted. "You didn't have to tell me that!"

"No, Skye. You didn't understand. The case is so sensitive that no one should know about your connection to the office. In a pinch, I'll back you up, but you're not officially one of the coordinators. No papers, no contacts. Just you and me. That's all."

"Oh, my God, Chief! You are scaring me. Is it really that dramatic?"

"I don't even trust my deputy in this case," he said in a low voice. "There is always the possibility of a leak."

This was something new to me. I was assured that any information leakage was absolutely impossible. Not because all the officers were so honest and had no weaknesses, but because each newcomer was given a hypnotic setting that completely eliminated the possibility of disclosure. For example, I still can't reveal these secrets to anyone, even after so many years!

But I had no reason not to believe Parsel.

I took him by the elbow and led him to the table in the corner.

"We'd better get away from the counter," I said.

"You’ve said no one could hear us."

"That's true. But, you know... Your appearance is a bit exotic for this place. You'll be less conspicuous there."

On my way to the table, I caught the waiter and asked him to bring us dinner for two. As far as I knew, Parsel never denied himself the pleasure of a good meal. And Doro's cooking was excellent.

We ate for the next fifteen minutes, and Parsel didn't start talking about his business. Instead, he discussed the pros and cons of certain dishes. I knew this was his way of collecting his thoughts, so I kept up the incoherent conversation.

"What do you know about the Nets of Norn Corporation?" he asked me suddenly, after Doro had brought us coffee.

Doro did it himself, though it was not an act of respect but an attempt to learn something about my guest. But I didn't ask him to join our company, and he went back to the counter with an offended look on his face.

"Nets of Norn?" I asked in surprise. "I’ve just heard about them yesterday."

"Really? What an amazing match!"

"Oh no," I shook my head. "I don't believe in matches like that."

Parcel hummed, leaned forward and gave me a hard, drill-eyed stare.

"So, what did you hear?"

"Nothing interesting," I shrugged. "I got an invitation from this guy named Norn. He wants to discuss some questions about the job."

"And what did you answer?"  he asked impatiently.

"Nothing. The meeting is in three days, and I haven't decided yet whether to accept it or not. You know, hunters don't like to work with clients like that."

"Very wise of them," he emphasized the word "them". "But you'll have to break that tradition."

Actually, I had planned to do it before he told me. But now I suddenly became cautious.

"Chief, you didn't set this up."

"Of course I didn't," he shook his head. "But Norn's interest in you is working for me."

I said nothing and sipped my coffee.

I don't know why, but coffee trees only grow on Earth. Actually, it's good for me. For several years, I sold coffee beans to various worlds of the Lace, and I made quite a bit of money. Here, at Jolly Roger, the coffee was the best. Doro, who had never been to Earth and didn't even believe my home-world existed, learned to make coffee in a very special way.

 "About Norn," Parsel began. "Our department has been monitoring this organization for a long time. We know it was founded about seven years ago. At least at that time it was registered with the Trade Representative Office of the Lace. Nothing special, at first glance. But they are not just a trading company."

"Since when have elite intelligence agencies been involved in this kind of business?" I was really surprised.

"You're right. But everyone who came to them for inspection disappeared. Then the traders asked us for help. We lost three of our best specialists on that mission. No one came back. No one!"

"It's very strange."

"Just strange?" Parsel exclaimed indignantly. "This is outrageous. Caygan and Pratt were my best agents!"

"Pratt disappeared too?" I was stunned. "He was my teacher."

Parsel spread his hands.

"You see. I don't have too many people, and I don't want to lose them!" He slammed the cup down on the table. The coffee spurted out, splattering his sleeve and the tabletop. I gave him a napkin, and Parsel started to clean his sleeve. "Damn it! My people are gone, and there are no results! This Norn is a mystery, as if he were a ghost! We can't even find out where he came from."

"Is this my mission?"

"It is! But not only this," he exhaled loudly, tapping his fingers on the table. "The situation is more dangerous than I’ve said. I know it. It seems to me that he has some business with that Sorcerer, the Faceless Destroyer."

"What? That destroyer?" I asked incredulously. "But that's just a..."

"Stories that mothers use to scare their children?" he chuckled. "No, Skye, he really exists. This Sorcerer is a serious threat not only to the Dark Edge, but to the entire Lace."

"You're exaggerating," I said thoughtfully. "What can he do to the Lace?"

"Do not underestimate the enemy," he replied. "However, your mission is not the Sorcerer. Your mission is Norn. As I said, we have failed to embed our man in his surroundings."

"Do you think I will have better luck?" I asked without enthusiasm.

"But in your case, it‘s Norn who is looking for you. I think it is about his collection, and he wants to hire you to get some precious artifacts."

"Maybe," I nodded, resigning myself to the inevitable. "Okay, what do I have to do?"

"Just do what he says. Listen, sniff, gain his trust. Work! Get back to me if you find something really interesting."

"Anything else?"

"Double payment," he remembered about the money. "And I don't need your heroism or fanaticism. Is that clear?"

I assured him I would be careful. Parsel patted me on the shoulder and headed for the exit.

He was right about the collection. But for more than a year, I didn't find out anything he asked me about.

***

I was hiding in the side corridor, waiting and listening. This damned place! I couldn’t even tell how much time had passed. But I knew the show would start soon.

A long time ago, the civilization of Aguilant disappeared as a result of a nuclear catastrophe. A handful of survivors took refuge in the dungeons and began to build a new life. They adapted to the new conditions at the cost of irreversible mutations and a slide into medieval ignorance. In their epics, reality was mixed with fantasy, and lost scientific achievements were attributed to acts of the gods. Predictably, the radioactive waste-contaminated surface of the planet was described as a hell inhabited by terrifying creatures. And so it remains to this day, even though the world has become green and safe in the centuries since the catastrophe.

Finally, I saw the flashes of flame on the smooth, matte walls of the corridor, and heard the soft, wistful singing of a discordant choir.

I took a step back and hid behind the protruding panel of the door, which used to slide but was now stuck halfway. However, there was enough space between the door and the wall for me to sneak. I pulled a hood over my face, adjusted my gloves, and prepared for action. The corridor I was hiding in did not lead outside, but somewhere deep into the labyrinth, so no one would expect any danger from that side.

Aborigines were walking to the Temple of the Great Underground for their daily service.  A dozen people in hooded cloaks passed me, bowing their heads and murmuring prayers. No other sounds were heard, and I even covered my nose with my sleeve so they couldn't hear my breathing. Alas, it didn't help much against the lingering stench of their unwashed bodies.

I waited for them to leave me behind and then followed them. I had soft-soled shoes, so I walked as quietly as a hunting cat. Finally I saw a bend in the corridor ahead of us. I waited until most of the people had turned there, and then I grabbed the last man in the line by the neck and hit him on the back of his head. The poor guy collapsed at once, and I quickly dragged him into a side corridor. I put my hand to his throat and felt for a pulse. He was alive, just unconscious. I pulled off his cloak and saw his pale face and discolored hair and eyebrows. He was as handsome as a troll. But there was no time to stare at him.

I put on his stinky cloak, made a cut in it so that I could reach the bag of stuff freely, and hurried to catch up with the procession. The cloak was too long for me, and I stumbled from time to time.

I joined the people, bowed my head, and began muttering something indecipherable, trying not to make my voice dissonant with the general chorus.

We walked through several corridors with plastic panels on the walls, a reminder of the lost civilization, and finally reached the double-winged door. Two ugly albinos, dressed in what looked like towels with holes for their heads, stood on either side of the door. These local guards looked so ridiculous!

I walked past them and entered the temple at the end of the line. Inside was a round hall that looked like the control room of a spaceship from a Star Wars movie. But there were no flickering lights or displays, and all the technical equipment had been destroyed by time. A few torches illuminated this shabby setting, and on the altar in the center of the room I saw Aguilant's most important relic - the Cube of the Mind.

That's what I came for!

Norn told me that the Cube could give you the answers to any questions, even the unsolvable ones. It's like all ancient artifacts – they're always said to have supernatural properties.

To be honest, I expected to see something like an old-fashioned computer that hadn't worked for centuries, but I was wrong. The Cube of the Mind was not at all what I'd imagined. In size and shape it would pass for a brick. But it was made of a smooth substance that looked like glass. Inside it flowed and swirled vague, smoky shapes, alluring and mesmerizing.

As for me, the Cube's main advantage was its size and lightweight. At least I hoped it would not be too heavy for me. It would be a damn shame to screw up the whole mission because you couldn't pick up an artifact.

The dreary mass went on. I tried to copy every move of the Aborigines and waited for the right moment: for example, at the end, when everyone would go to the exit and they wouldn't pay attention to me.

However, I didn't expect them to take off their hoods. That ruined my plans. With my face covered, I could pretend to be one of them, but if they saw my black hair, it would be a total disaster. The failure of the operation and the ignominious death of the artifact hunter were guaranteed.

So the time for the show came earlier than I expected, but I was ready to improvise. I reached into my bag, took out a handful of small beads, and threw them on the floor, watching them roll in different directions. I did this again and again until my neighbor took off his hood. The time had come. I pushed the nearest Aborigine aside and jumped up to the altar. The people around me fell like dominoes, the first one falling on the second, the second on the third, and so on. While they pretended to be break dancers on the beads, I grabbed the Cube of the Mind; it turned out to be very heavy, but I could carry it. Then I ran away, knocking down the priests who tried to get in my way with their own shrine. 

I didn't look back and headed for the exit. A turn, another turn. I'd almost left the dungeons behind when I heard the sound of the approaching chase. Damn it! I hadn't expected them to follow me so quickly!

A stone flew past my head, another one scratched my shoulder. I quickened my pace and cursed. One more turn.

The bright sunlight shone into my eyes. I ran to it as fast as I could, crawled between the sharp rocks of the narrow passage and rolled down the steep slope.

I did it. I left the chase behind me. I knew that the inhabitants of Aguilant never left their dungeons. I took off the cloak I didn't need anymore, and threw it away. Then I found my backpack hidden between the rocks and put the Cube inside. I stood up, stretched, looked at the green valley and stepped out into the Lace.