Then the man dissolved. When he solidified again, he was Mandraki. He raised his gun, and fired.
Silver eggs. Two left. The eagle's beak viciously pecked at one of them, and as it shattered Indy saw himself standing in front of a class talking. He couldn't hear the words, but he knew he was giving an archaeology lecture. Suddenly, the classroom faded; he was in the center of a circle of massive stones.
Stonehenge. He was embracing a woman. He couldn't see her face, but he knew he was close to her like no other woman.
Then the woman was gone. Mandraki again. Aiming. He fired.
The last egg. The black eye of the eagle watched him. Then it lightly tapped the egg. A crack fissured lengthwise along its shell, and it fell apart. Indy saw himself again, older now, in the prime of his career. He looked savvy, more adventurer than scholar. The vision winked out and was replaced by a college of images: Jungles. Deserts. Ruins. Lost cities. Relics of power. More ominous now: a pit of snakes, a close-up of an insignia of a black, broken cross. A hand bearing a dagger, but another offering help. A voice overlaid the images: "Adventures beyond imagin ing, but not without serious danger. Ultimately, a reunion with the father. What he seeks, you will find."
The changing scenes vanished as a harsh light struck him. He heard voices. Hands again. This time they were lifting him from the hole. He squinted his eyes against the bright light. He was on his knees, still gripping the black cone.
"So this is it," Dorian said. "The Omphalos."
Indy felt numb, overwhelmed, unable to speak. He blinked his watery eyes, and saw Dorian laying down the rifle. Still holding the revolver, she took the Omphalos from his arms. It was heavier than she expected, and she clutched it to her chest.
Indy's head was clearing. The dream, the fantasy, what ever had happened to him, was over. He tried to concen trate on what was real, here, and now. Shannon and Conrad hovered above him. They helped him shed the knapsack.
Suddenly, Dorian sucked in her breath, a look of bewil derment and shock crossing her face. The revolver dan gled loosely in her hand inches from Indy's head. She didn't move; her features were frozen in the instant of surprise.
With a quick, deft move, Shannon snapped the revolver from her grip, and Conrad picked up the rifle.
Dorian didn't react. Her expression changed to a ghastly stare, then she collapsed, still clinging to the black stone.
"What happened?" Shannon asked.
"I don't know," Indy said, still confused by his experi ence in the tunnel. "Let's get her to the workshop."
"I'll put the stone in the knapsack," Shannon said. He tried to loosen it from Dorian's grip, but she writhed, grimaced, and screamed.
"Just let her carry it," Conrad said.
Shannon lifted her by the elbows and Indy grabbed her feet. But she kicked and twisted and moaned, and the going was slow. As they left the temple and headed toward the path leading to the workshop, Indy abruptly stopped.
"Wait a minute. I don't think the workshop is a good idea. She's too hard to carry, and we don't have all day. Besides, I ran into some soldiers earlier." He quickly told them about his encounter. "As soon as someone finds them, we're going to have company."
"You're right," Conrad said. "We've got to get out of here. Maybe we should just leave her."
Indy shook his head. "Let's take her to the hut, then figure out what to do."
They no sooner had made up their minds when a rider on a galloping horse charged into the ruins.
"Hurry," Indy hissed.
They hustled Dorian into the hut, and lowered her to the ground. Indy instantly dropped to his hands and knees and looked out the charred hole in the rear. "Take this," Shannon said, and handed him Dorian's revolver.
Indy could see legs. Someone was running toward the hut. "Indy, where are you?"
"Oh, God. It's just Nikos," Indy said, relieved, then yelled to Nikos.
"I got your message. What happened?" the boy said, gasping for breath as he stepped into the hut.
"Plenty, " Indy said.
Nikos gaped at the sight of Dorian, who was still twisting about and grimacing. "Pythia!"
"I don't know who she is, Nikos," Indy said. "But Panos and Grigoris are dead." He told him what happened at the crevice.
"What are you going to do? If Colonel Mandraki is still alive he will come for her and all of you."
"We've got to get out of here, and fast," Conrad said.
"You're right about that," Shannon put in. "I'm starting to really miss Paris."
"Nikos, what are the chances of you getting us a car riage?" Indy asked.
"A carriage? How about an auto?"
"You got one?"
"Colonel Mandraki does. He left the key at the desk of the hotel. I can get it, and I can drive it, too. I know how."
"I don't know about stealing his car," Indy said warily.
"Why not?" Shannon said. "If we have it, he won't."
"But Mandraki will know what to look for."
"So what?" Shannon responded. "We'll get to Athens, ditch the car, and get out of the country as fast as possible. Besides, he was shot, remember. He's not going to be in any shape to go anywhere."
Conrad nodded toward Dorian, who now looked as if she was asleep. "What about her?"
"Leave her," Shannon said. "Let Mandraki take care of her. She deserved whatever she gets."
Indy thought a moment. "Nikos, can you drive the car here without letting anyone see you?"
"Everyone will see me," he said proudly. "They will see I can drive."
Indy nodded. "That's what I thought." He turned to Conrad. "Listen, why don't Jack and I go get the uniforms off those soldiers I tied up. We'll ride horses into the village and then take the car. You stay with Dorian, and we'll pick you up."
"Everyone in the village knows you by sight," Conrad protested. "You won't make a very believable soldier. Let's do it this way. You stay here. Jack and I will get the car."
"Good idea," Shannon said. "Besides, I'm starting to think you attract trouble, Indy."
"Okay. Okay."
"I'll get the car ready," Nikos said, and hurried out the door.
Conrad picked up the rifle from where he'd set it against the wall, and Indy returned the revolver to Shannon. Just then, Dorian moaned loudly. She rolled over, letting the Omphalos slip to the ground. She sat up and rubbed her face.
"You going to be all right with her?" Conrad asked.
"I'll be fine." As they left, Indy knelt down beside Dorian and slipped the Omphalos inside the knapsack.
She watched him closely, but remained silent.
"What happened?" he asked.
She opened her mouth, but didn't speak right away. "I thought I was dead."
"Why?"
"I was being suffocated, squeezed to death by a giant snake. A python. It was wrapped around me. It was horrible. I could smell its cold, acrid breath."
She hugged herself and shivered. Her black hair fell over one side of her face. She sat like a child, with one leg tucked under her, the other stretched out. "It seemed so real." She seemed neither professor nor killer. She was helpless, confused. He didn't want to feel sorry for her, but he did.
"Why did you fake the trances, Dorian?"
"Don't you understand, Indy? Don't you realize the power of Pythia?"
"Wait a minute. You said there was no Pythia, you were faking."
"I didn't say there was no Pythia. Just ask the king. He saw, and I'm sure he believes."
"And now that Panos is dead, your priest is gone."
She leaned forward and that transfixing smile held his gaze again, drew him closer. "Panos was not meant to be my priest. He was not the right one. It is you, Indy. You will be my priest. . . and lover."
Indy forced himself to move back from her. "No. I don't think so."