Free Tridas by Mark Alan Page B

threw this outer layer. I'm betting it's not thick at all."
    "Ever seen Indiana Jones and The Last
Crusade? "
    "Who hasn't? Made my visit to Petra a must
when we were stationed in Jordan”, Hoyt recalled.
    "The Treasury is amazing, but I was hinting
at the library scene... X marks the spot..."
    "Awe, the velvet rope and pedestals blocking
the initial staircase we descended". Came Hoyt realizing the reference, already
in stride, moving in the direction from which they had come.
    "I'll go this way, just in case another
staircase is around the corner". Aven yelled back over his shoulder as he
stepped into a brisk jog in the opposite direction.
    Aven's path came to a dead end, but retracing his
steps, he could already hear the sound of Hoyt hammering away. Returning to
where they had parted ways, Hoyt had uncovered a wood formed mosaic. Hoyt had
been tempted to bust through the weak, tiled stones, but squelched his urge,
figuring Aven would reveal that it was "priceless" upon his return.
Hoyt found the image of the wolf "to be cool" anyway, but rarely (if
ever) let "art" interfere with the parameters of his mission.
    Aven was taken aback by the relevance of the
image. The two of them could easily dislodge the mosaic by its frame. After a
few coordinated pulls, the image broke loose from the wall revealing a square
ramped hollow backed only by plaster. They quietly cracked through the plaster
and found themselves in the hall connecting the inner offices. Voices from
behind the third door, indicated the room as their target. Instead, approaching
the second option, the door swung open to an empty chamber with large
pointed-arch windows.
    "Perfect! Easy access to our neighbors next
door”. Hoyt spoke softly, yet triumphantly. "I'll alert the unit".
    "Coms are jammed. Some of the team could be
compromised", Hoyt reported after a few attempts. Aven tried his link as
well. Radio's had been quiet, but they both had attributed the silence to their
underground location. Coms were down.
    Tilting open the stained glass, the window ledge
would be more than enough edge to peer in the next room and the colored glass
would provide some concealment as well. "Ready to check in next
door?" Aven asked.
    "Nosy neighbor reporting for duty, Sir".
Hoyt quipped... rigid posture, salute gesture and all. He certainly made any
situation more fun.
    In the neighboring room sat Colonel Suttikul and
three others. It appeared by the relaxed nature of the grouping, that if any
members of the unit had been compromised, the guards had not thought it
necessary to alert their leader.
    Accessing the situation, Hoyt shrugged,
"Equipment failure?" referring to the non-functioning earpieces.
    "Don't assume. Let's take the room",
Aven spoke more focused than Hoyt had ever seen him. They took their respective
positions. Hoyt burst through the door. His massive size, the more dramatic
distraction, as Aven came through the window, stealth mode. The element of
shock swayed the odds, making it easy to secure the Colonel and confine his
companions. Hoyt stripped them of any weapons, while Aven examined the office
for any unwanted surprises.
    With coms down and no time to waste, Hoyt began
his interrogation. His instruction had included extensive negotiation training;
coupled with Aven's ageless diplomacy experience, getting the answers they
wanted should not be too difficult.
    It was initially easier than either of them
expected. The Colonel was very forth coming.
    "Our vision is bigger than either of you or
those you represent." The colonel began pontificating. Gesturing towards
Aven, "Your appearance matches the descriptions I received from Angkor.
Your discoveries there will not prove as powerful as you anticipate. What is in
motion has strong roots. In ancient times, Cambodia and Thailand were one
nation. We have been weakened by our separation, but the countries will
reunify. My modern military prowess in tandem with the spiritual forces