"Who are all these people?" he asked Racine.
"Let me introduce you," she replied.
They descended the first of several crumbling interior staircases. At ground level, a guard unbolted an iron gate and the group passed through a short tunnel. Racine explained that it was the access for the gladiators and other entertainment. The tunnel led to a circular arena. Fine white sand covered the floor.
A carved marble dais about five feet high stood at the center of the arena. Steps had been cut into the side of the rectangular platform. Austin was studying the stolid faces of a contingent of guards who stood at attention around the arena's perimeter when he heard a gasp from Skye, who hadn't let go of his hand since crossing the chasm. She squeezed his fingers in a viselike grip.
He followed her gaze to the lowest row of seats. The yellow torchlight fell upon skeletal grins and parchment yellow skin and he realized he was staring at an audience of mummies. The dried bodies filled row after row, tier after tier, staring down at the arena with long-dead eyes.
"It's all right," he said evenly. "They won't hurt you." Zavala was awestruck. "This is nothing but a big tomb," he said. "I'll admit I've played to livelier audiences," Austin said. He turned to Madame Fauchard. "Joe's right. Your sanctum sancto rum is a glorified mausoleum."
"To the contrary," Racine replied. "You're standing on the family's most sacred ground. It was there on that podium that I challenged Jules in 1914. And here is where he stood and told us that he would abide by the wishes of the family council. Had not Emil failed, I would have placed my brother's body with the others so he could see my triumph."
Austin tried to imagine Racine's brother making his case for mankind to deaf ears.
"It must have taken a great deal of courage for Jules to defy your murderous family," Austin said.
Racine ignored his comment. She pirouetted on her heel like a ballerina, seemingly at home in this dread place of death, and pointed out several family members who had rejected Jules's appeal so long ago. "Pardon me if I don't get misty-eyed," Austin said. "From the look on their faces, they still haven't gotten over your brother's defection."
"He was not just defying us; he was going against five thousand years of family history. When we returned to France with the Crusaders, we moved our ancestors here to be with us. It took years, with long caravans of the dead winding their way thousands of miles from the Middle East, until, at last, the mummies were brought to this place of rest."
"Why go through so much trouble for a bunch of skin and bones?"
"Our family has always dreamed of eternal life. Like the Egyptians, they believed that if the body were preserved, life would go on after death. Mummification was a crude attempt at cryogenics. The early embalmers used pine resin rather than liquid oxygen as they do now." She looked past Austin's shoulder. "I see our guests have begun to arrive. We can begin the ceremony."
Ghostly figures dressed in white robes were filing into the arena. The group was equally divided between men and women. There were about two dozen people, and their white hair and wrinkled faces seemed only decades removed from the silent mummies. As the figures came into the arena, they kissed Madame Fauchard's hand and gathered in a circle around the dais.
"You already know these people," Racine said to Austin. "You met them at my party. They are the descendants of the old arms families."
"They looked better in costume," Austin said.
"The ravages of time are kind to no one, but they will be the elite who will rule the world with me. Marcel will be in charge of our private army."
Austin let out a deep laugh. Startled faces turned in his direction.
"So this is what this insanity is all about? World domination?"
Racine stared at Austin like an angry Medusa. "You find this humorous?" she said.
"You're not the first megalomaniac to talk about taking over the world," Austin said. "Hitler and Genghis Khan were way ahead of
you. The only thing they accomplished was to shed a lot of blood, nothing more."
Racine regained her composure. "But think of how the world would be today if they had been immortal."
"It's not a world most people would care to live in."
"You're wrong. Dostoyevsky was right when he said mankind will always strive to find someone new to worship. We will be welcomed as saviors once the world's oceans have been turned into fetid swamps.
Surely someone from NUMA must know about the undersea plague that is spreading through your oceanic realm like a green cancer." "Gorgonweed?"
"Is that what you call it? A colorful name, and most apt." "The epidemic is not general knowledge. How did you hear about it?"
"You pathetic man! I created it. Long life alone would not give me the power I desired. My scientists discovered the mutant weed as a by-product of their work. When they brought their findings to me,
I knew it was the perfect vehicle for my plan. I turned the Lost City into a breeding ground for this noxious weed."
Austin had to admire the complex workings of her villainous mind. She had been one step ahead of everyone.
"That's why you wanted the Woods Hole expedition wiped out." "Of course. I couldn't have those blundering fools jeopardizing my plans."
"You want to become empress of a world in chaos?"
"That's the point. Once countries are in bankruptcy, suffering from famine and political anarchy, their rulers impotent, I will come to remove this scourge from the world." "You're saying you can kill the weed?"
"As easily as I can kill you and your friends. The 'death-bound' will come to worship the immortals who will be created here tonight.
These people will go back to their respective countries and gradually assume the mantle of power. We will be superior beings whose wisdom will be a welcome relief to democracy, with its fickleness and demands on the ordinary people. We will be gods!"
"Demigods who live forever? Not an appetizing prospect." "Not for you and your friends. But cheer up. I might let you live in a somewhat altered state. A pet, perhaps. It only takes a few days to turn a human being into a snarling beast. Quite a remarkable process. It would be amusing to let you watch the changes in your lady friend and see if you still want to hold her in your arms."
"I wouldn't count on it," Austin said. "Your miracle elixir may be in short supply."
"Impossible. My laboratories will continue to supply as much as I need."
"Have you been in contact with your island recently?" "There has been no need to be in contact. My people there know what to do."
"Your people are no more. Your island laboratories have been destroyed. I was there to witness it."
"I don't believe you."
Austin smiled, but there was a hard look in his coral-blue eyes. "The mutants escaped and made short work of Colonel Strega and his men. They wrecked your labs, but they would have been useless to you anyway, because the island and your submarine are now in the hands of British marines. Your star scientist MacLean is dead, shot by one of your own men."
Racine hardly blinked at the news. "No matter. With the resources at my command, I can build other labs on other islands. MacLean would have been disposed of with the others in any case. I have the formula and it can be replicated easily. I have won and you and your friends have lost."
Austin glanced at his watch. "Too bad you'll never see your Utopia," he said, with renewed self-confidence.
"You seem fascinated by the passage of time," Racine said. "Are we keeping you from an appointment?"
Austin stared into Racine's eyes, which now glowed with ruby-red intensity.
"You're the one who has the appointment." Racine seemed puzzled at Austin's reply. "With whom?" "Not with whom. What. The thing that you fear the most." Racine's features hardened. "I fear nothing and no one." She whirled away and strode over to the raised platform.