Free The Peregrine Omnibus Volume One by Barry Reese

many times, in similar circumstances. There’s something inside some people that make them susceptible to foolish risks, I believe.”
    The truck came rumbling to a stop, just a mile or two away from the Druselturm. Max had paid the driver handsomely to take them there as quickly as possible and the poor farmer had readily agreed, particularly after seeing that Max was offering American money.
    “We’re here,” Max said, jumping off the truck and offering a hand to help Evelyn down. Despite the smudges on her cheeks and the slight disarray to her hair, she looked lovely in the moonlight and Max told her so.
    Evelyn gave him a secret sort of smile, her eyes shining. “If you think I look good now, wait until later. I clean up much better, I promise.”
    “I can’t wait,” Max answered, giving her hand a quick squeeze before walking around to the driver’s side door. He thanked the man in German, slipping him an extra five dollars if the driver would disavow any knowledge of them.
    When the truck had continued on its way, Max turned back to Evelyn, his expression grown cold and serious. “I still wish you would wait for me.”
    “Don’t worry… whatever strange vision you had about me isn’t necessarily going to come true. You said that yourself.”
    “It’s a lot less likely to come true if you’re not in the tomb with me,” Max countered. “Please.”
    Evelyn avoided his gaze, instead reaching into her ample cleavage and retrieving a small strip of black cloth. To Max’s astonishment, she tied it about her head, fitting two small eyeholes over the appropriate areas. “There. To protect my identity.”
    “You’re being quite silly,” Max whispered, though he couldn’t help but be amused. He realized that this was the first time he could ever recall being on a mission and feeling so jovial at the same time. Maybe you were right, father , he mused. Maybe I let my crusade be a solitary one for far too long.
    “Shouldn’t you don your own mask?” Evelyn asked. She had produced a small pistol from somewhere and was checking to make sure the gun was fully loaded.
    Max stepped off the road, into the growing shadow. He changed quickly, old habits stepping to the fore. If Evelyn were serious about this, he would stop trying to dissuade her. “That gun won’t do much damage to a full grown man… and even less to a monster from beyond.”
    “You have a spare I could borrow, then?”
    Max considered it, but finally shook his head no. He had two pistols on him but he would most likely need both. “Just be aware of its limitations. Use it to threaten an attacker, but don’t have faith it’ll save your skin in a pinch.”
    “You fill me with confidence,” she responded dryly.
    The Peregrine didn’t bother responding. Instead, he began moving through the shadows at a steady clip. He heard Evelyn keeping pace behind him but he didn’t allow his own speed to slacken. If they were going to make it out of this alive, he would have to—
    Max stumbled to the ground, pain suddenly rendering him unable to move. In his mind’s eye he could see Trench, standing alongside another man… one dressed like an Egyptian priest. They were moving through the oddly shaped tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz, a tomb that was filled with objects of dark power. “He’s alive,” Max said aloud, realization flooding through him. “Rosenkreuz is alive…”
    “Max?” Evelyn asked, reaching out a shaking hand to grasp at his shoulder.
    The Peregrine shook his head to clear it of the dark images, but one lingered beyond the rest. Rosenkreuz had been showing something to Jacob… a golden key. Turning his attention back to Evelyn, the Peregrine answered, “I saw him. Trench has opened the tomb. Rosenkreuz is with him. He’s going to give him the key!”
    “But… how could he still be alive? Is he one of those zombie things?”
    “No. He seemed different from those that we saw in Atlanta.” The Peregrine rose to his feet