The Emerald Casket (29 page)

Gerald stepped further into the heart of the pyramid, overwhelmed by the splendour. He scuffed his boots across the vivid red, white and blue mosaics of the floor. Light streamed into the space through scores of rectangular slots hidden among the sculptures in the sloping walls. The entire structure was like a gigantic cheese grater. Gerald approached a large statue of Ganesha standing directly beneath the apex. It sat cross-legged on a black granite plinth, its face painted with an impish grin.

Three of the statue's arms each held an item: a flute, a rope of beads, a lotus blossom. The fourth pointed to its right, to an arched doorway. Gerald took a few paces in that direction when a noise seemed to echo out of the passage. He pulled his sling out of his pack. The rocks were wrapped together in a tight bundle. He gripped them tight and moved silently to the doorway. He stood close to one side and raised his hand.

And waited.

A minute later a head emerged from the passage. Gerald brought the rocks down hard. But two hands caught his wrist before he could connect. His arm was whipped down and he was flipped onto his back. A boot pressed onto his throat. Gerald looked up to see Alisha standing over him, still holding his arm in a wrist lock.

‘Don't tell me,' Gerald wheezed. ‘Benefit of a classical education?'

Alisha grinned and pulled him to his feet.

‘How come you didn't pull all this martial arts stuff on Kali when she grabbed you in the market?' Gerald asked, clutching his right shoulder.

‘I'm not so good once someone's got hold of me,' Alisha blushed. ‘I really need a clean shot at them.'

Sam and Ruby charged out of the passage and grabbed Gerald in a bear hug. They were all soaked.

‘We flipped out when that rock fell down and locked you in,' Ruby said. ‘And then there was a blackout.'

‘The pumps stopped and water started pouring in from all over the place,' Alisha said. ‘We had to swim through that hole in the ceiling. We thought you'd drowned for sure.'

‘It was a bit tight,' Gerald said. ‘Let's hope the pumps keep working.'

‘And you remember those crabs?' Sam said. ‘Another one nipped me on the finger.'

Gerald glanced at his boots, the blood-soaked sock that showed through a ragged tear and at the slashes in the leg of his pants. He untangled a crab claw still stuck in the cloth. ‘Really,' he said. ‘How horrible for you.'

A curious expression crossed Alisha's face. ‘Gerald,' she said. ‘What happened to your backside?'

Gerald whipped his hands around to the seat of his pants. It had been sliced to ribbons.

‘Thought I felt a draft,' he said.

Sam laughed. ‘Nice knickers, mate. Anyway, when the pumps started up again we climbed back down. The entry to that alcove was open and you weren't there, so we figured you must be okay. We came to a wall with three doors in it, took the one on the left and ended up here.'

Ruby turned a full circle, taking in the magnificence of the temple overhead. ‘Do you think the casket is hidden in here?'

‘It has to be,' Gerald said. ‘I don't know why, but I can just—' he paused, searching for the right word, ‘sense it.'

Then, as if floating across from the spirit world, a voice filled the chamber. ‘Then you'll be able to find it for me.'

Slowly emerging from the shadows came a gun. It inched into view: first the muzzle, then the barrel, and finally the grip in the palm of a steady hand. Then into the light stepped the one man in the world Gerald hoped he would never see again.

Chapter 23

S
ir Mason Green's skin was brown and glowing, as if he'd been lounging by a swimming pool at a luxury resort. The tan served to highlight the silver of his neatly cropped hair and added to the impression of someone with time to burn and not a worry in the world. He wore tailored khakis, like an army officer dressed by an Italian designer in stark contrast to Gerald and his bedraggled friends.

‘Is this where I say: “So, we meet again”?' Sir Mason said.

Gerald's eyes locked on the pistol. ‘I thought you were in Egypt,' he said.

‘Ha! Mr Wilkins, the first trick for a life on the run is to leave sufficient clues to send the police in precisely the wrong direction. I have never been to Egypt and have no intention of ever going.'

‘So the map in the Rattigan Club was a fake?' Ruby said.

Green tilted his head in her direction. ‘More of a diversion than a fake, Miss Valentine,' he said. ‘A red herring in the Green Room! But it worked a treat. The police went blundering off in the wrong direction whilst I concentrated my efforts on the real destination. And, as ever, Mr Wilkins, you have led me to just where I need to be.'

Gerald scowled at the man holding the gun. ‘How can that be? A week ago we didn't know we'd be coming to India. How could you know we'd even be invited?'

Green smirked. ‘My dear boy,' he said. ‘Who do you think invited you?'

The answer smacked Gerald in the forehead.

‘It was you!' he said. ‘You wrote to me, pretending to be Mr Gupta.' Gerald swung around to Alisha. ‘Your father received a letter from me, didn't he? Saying something like: we're coming to India—can we stay a while?'

Alisha looked stunned. ‘That's right. We didn't invite you. We thought you were just coming down for a holiday.'

Green laughed. ‘It's amazing what can be achieved with two well-directed envelopes,' he said. ‘And the cost of postage is so reasonable.'

Gerald clenched his fists. He couldn't believe he'd been so easily fooled.

‘And so here we all are,' Green said. ‘On the verge of finding the emerald casket and the riches it contains.'

Gerald could contain himself no longer. ‘You are a
billionaire
!' he yelled. ‘What more could you possibly want?'

The old man regarded Gerald evenly. ‘There is always more, Gerald. Always more.'

Gerald wracked his brain for a way to escape. He had to play for time.

‘Tell me about Octavius Viridian,' Gerald said.

A slight narrowing of the eyes betrayed Green's surprise at hearing the name.

‘You've been doing some research, Gerald,' he said. His expression relaxed. ‘Yes, I am descended from Octavius, which is neither interesting nor important. What matters is the report that Octavius sent back to the emperor while he was hunting down your ancestor. Forgive an old man his indulgences, but one of the benefits of wealth is the ability to buy things. Mr Gupta has his gems; I find historic documents far more interesting. It was Octavius' report and a tsunami that led me to this town.'

‘Why follow in some assassin's footsteps?' Gerald asked. ‘Surely you're better than that.'

‘Gerald, your problem is you have too high a regard for the motives of others. People are base creatures at heart. Set your expectations low. You'll never be disappointed.'

Gerald was desperate to keep the conversation going. ‘That's just being cynical,' he said.

‘Cynical? Realistic? It's all the same, wouldn't you agree?' Green took a deep breath. ‘Why, Gerald. We haven't spoken like this since the last time we enjoyed each other's company. In the burial chamber under Beaconsfield.'

He paused and eyed Gerald curiously.

‘I never got a chance to ask you,' the old man continued. ‘When I placed the golden staff upon your forehead, what did you see?'

Gerald flinched. How could Green know that he had a vision? What
was
that golden rod?

‘I don't know what you're talking about,' Gerald said.

‘Is that right? Tell me, Gerald, how have you been sleeping lately? All sweet dreams?'

‘You were there!' Gerald yelled. ‘Inside my head!'

He rushed at the old man, grabbing at his shirt. But Green stepped aside and Gerald went sprawling across the floor. Green pointed the gun at the boy's head. ‘I enjoyed our little night-time chats, Gerald. It is amazing what one can achieve with the right equipment. And that golden rod has some truly amazing qualities. Which is why I intend finding the remaining two caskets. But you've already guessed that.'

Ruby rushed to Gerald, helping him up from the ground. ‘I should have believed you about the dreams,' she said.

‘Indeed you should have, Miss Valentine,' Green said. ‘It was only through the occasional niggle in Gerald's head that I could corral him towards Mamal-lapuram. You see, thanks to his ancestry, Gerald knows a great deal about the caskets—he just doesn't realise it. He needs the occasional jolt to shake the knowledge free.'

Green called back towards the shadows. ‘Bring him out!'

Gerald was horrified as the thin man appeared at the far edge of the temple. In front of him he pushed a man who was clearly terrified. The man collapsed as he crossed the mosaic floor. The thin man lifted him up and threw him forward as if he were a sack of rice. He fell at Gerald's feet, a sobbing mess.

Gerald gasped. It was the fortune-teller from the market in Delhi. The one who had slipped him the card bearing his family seal. The one who had run away.

Gerald dropped to his knees and held the man. The fortune-teller shivered like a frightened child.

‘Are you all right?' Gerald knew it was an absurd question.

Green loomed over them. ‘Find the location of the emerald casket,' he commanded. The fortune-teller didn't move. At a nod from Green, the thin man lurched forward. He had a knuckleduster on his raised fist. The man recoiled, whimpering like a whipped dog.

‘No,' he cried. ‘I will find it.' He swivelled in Gerald's arms. ‘Give me your hand,' he whispered. ‘Everything will be all right.'

Gerald was too shocked to resist. He let the man take his right hand. A tingling shot up his forearm.

‘The tenth gate is opening,' the man said. He scraped a rough thumb over the skin between Gerald's eyebrows. ‘The way is almost clear.' He closed his eyes and a rattling wheeze broke from his chest. Gerald feared it might be the man's last breath. Then the fortune-teller leaned forward until his mouth was millimetres from Gerald's ear. ‘You are the progeny,' he whispered. ‘You must survive.'

The man tore himself from Gerald's grasp. ‘I have the location of the casket,' he said.

Green dragged the man up by the shoulder. ‘Show me,' he demanded. The man limped towards a door in the far wall.

Gerald was still on his knees. ‘Progeny?'

‘Thank you for your assistance, Mr Wilkins,' Green called over his shoulder. ‘You are no longer required.' He cast a glance at the thin man. ‘Make it look like an accident.' Green didn't look back as he left.

A smile spread across the thin man's fire-ravaged face.

He circled around them. Gerald could see Sam eyeing the knuckleduster with alarm.

‘It will look like an accident,' the thin man sneered. ‘But that doesn't mean I can't have my fun.'

He took a step towards Sam. But before he could take another, a whizzing sound cut the air. Alisha was standing with her feet apart and eyes ablaze, whirling a bandit sling above her head. ‘This will take your head off!' she cried. ‘Move away!'

The thin man swung around to face Alisha. His hand slipped inside his black jacket and reappeared holding a thin-bladed knife. It didn't take Gerald, Sam and Ruby long to weigh up the situation. In seconds they too whirled slings above their heads. The thin man retreated a step, slashing the air with his dagger.

Without a word, he spun around and ran for a door in the far wall. They watched as a heavy stone portal fell shut behind him.

‘Nice thinking,' Gerald said to Alisha. He saw her knees were shaking.

‘Yeah,' Sam said. ‘Lucky he doesn't know how rubbish you are at throwing.'

Ruby took Gerald by both hands. ‘Are you okay?' she asked.

Gerald nodded. But he was distracted. The gnawing sense that the casket was nearby would not leave him. He wandered across the twisting pattern of the red, white and blue floor tiles.

‘It's here,' he said.

‘How can you tell?' Ruby asked.

Gerald gave her a look that said he had no idea. ‘It's buried here. Somewhere under these tiles.'

Sam gazed at the huge expanse of the temple floor. The twisting criss-crossed mosaic added to the impression of an impossible task. ‘Unless you've got access to a bulldozer, I suggest we just get out of here.'

The sound of rushing water suddenly filled the temple. Gerald's eyes darted around him. What had the thin man done?

Then the water arrived.

Great cascades poured in from all sides. Gerald grabbed Ruby.

‘The thin man's switched off the pumps. Come on!' he yelled and raced towards the closest doorway. But it was like running into a raging surf. Water surged across the floor, sweeping them from their feet and sending them tumbling. Gerald was flung onto his back and he lost hold of Ruby's hand. A torrent of water crashed over him, rolling him along the tiles. He held his breath and closed his eyes tight. His feet flew up over his head as he was spun around in a watery corkscrew. The water wasn't stopping—the temple was filling up. His lungs screamed for air and his eyes shot open. He had to find which way was up. He had to breathe.

Gerald kicked hard. His hands swept through the water in a desperate effort to find the surface. But it was like trying to swim in a washing machine. Just as Gerald thought his lungs would collapse, he burst to the surface. He gulped in a lungful of air and fought to keep his head up.

He saw the bobbing heads of Sam and Alisha and swam towards them. The water lapped higher and higher up the temple walls, swallowing lines of statues as it went. The rectangular slots that let in light from the outside slammed closed—shutters set below the openings floated up with the rising water. The higher the level rose, the darker the temple became. The cheese grater was sealing itself off.