‘Such sincerity.’ Both men laughed, Archer always enjoyed verbally jousting with Paul.
‘Listen Paul, all joking aside, thanks for everything, you are a real pal.’
‘I have said it before, you are welcome, the son of my best friend, what else can I do?’
‘How is he, my dad?’
‘He is coping well, throwing himself into work, won’t talk to anyone about your mother’s death, before you ask.’
‘Well I have asked him, but he avoided the subject, I just wanted to know why he left her alone. That is why we have not spoken for almost nine months now.’
‘I know how long it is, and I obeyed your wishes, I have not told him about the past few days or my contact with you. He really misses you Archer.’
‘Does he? So why doesn’t he call?’
‘You and he are alike, why have you not called him? And that is probably the same reason?’
‘True, true. Where is he, still in Canada?’
‘No, he is going to Ecuador, something to do with Canada, said he would fill me in later. He is flying into Miami, you might see him.’
‘Paul, this airport is massive; I will deal with this business in Panama and then call him in Ecuador.’
‘Okay, be safe, and your tickets are with a lady called Mandi on the American Airlines desk, just show her your ID.’
Archer said goodbye to Paul, looking out for the blue and red double A logo. He never noticed the tall tanned grey haired man walking swiftly with a Chinese gentleman, deep in conversation.
Jacob was checking out the database on Inca glyphs, hoping to find out a translation of the scrolls stolen from the institute, but when he opened his email, the ever-efficient Paul had emailed the translations the museum had done.
‘Andy the scrolls stolen from the museum, they mention four amulets, and then a fifth that is property of the keystone protector? Any mention of this in the Chinese scripts?’
‘Nothing similar, the Chinese understanding of the artefacts is they were linked to the five elements, but they only mention four?’
‘Which one is missing?
‘Water, which is associated with, amongst other things, death.’
‘And the amulet we found in Canada, what symbol do they link to it?’
‘Wood, which is associated with birth.’
So we have one artefact for birth, and a missing one for death, possibly?’
‘Does not really help us much, there has to be another link?’
‘It is strange that everything associated with these artefacts is four or five.’
‘Why is it strange?’
‘Because they are both considered unlucky numbers.’
‘I knew something about eight being lucky, but why is five and four an issue? My Chinese is not very good as you know.’
‘Don’t worry, I am giving lessons on the side in Chinese, many of my friends are, people are getting into the language on a large scale in the west.’
‘Planning ahead.’
‘Yes Jacob, for when the Chinese rule the world!’
‘Don’t joke Andy, if these treasure fleets had continued, I think China would already have ruled for over five hundred years.’
‘Maybe. Now the number four is considered an unlucky number in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese cultures, because it sounds like the word for death, si. Did you know there is no product line with 4 in Nokia phones because of this?’
‘Same as American buildings have no floor 13?’
‘Exactly. Five is a little more simple, being a negative, it is associated with the word me, wo or the not, wú’
‘So we have death and not associated most and all the symbols we have found, and references are all around four and five?’
‘Yes, so the Chinese would have seen this place as quite dark, and spiritually associate it with death and negativity.’
‘Do you think that is why they were taking the artefacts away?’
‘Perhaps, but that contradicts their actions. We need more information. These objects are not in context.’
‘I am hoping that the finds in Ecuador will give us that.’
Jacob continued to examine the information, and compose his email to Lorraine, his train of thought interrupted by the arrival of his meal, Andy looked a little apprehensive.
‘I gather you are a sushi virgin Andy?’
‘Well I don’t tend to eat what I cannot identify.’
Jacob smiled, and began to point out what he had on his dish. ‘We have Hamachi, which is yellow tail, Ika, squid to you, Kani, crab and my favourite Amaebi, a sweet shrimp.’
Andy was still not convinced, so not wishing to deter him from raw fish forever, ‘What about a Philadelphia roll?’
Andy looked sideways at Jacob, ‘What is that? A bagel?’
Jacob laughed almost choking on the Saki he was sipping, ‘No it is smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese strips.’
‘That would be fine, I can cope with that, you are eating, like advanced sushi, I will have a beginners portion, thanks.’
Jacob nodded to the attentive waiter, and within minutes Andy was devouring the exquisitely prepared dish. Kevin arrived at the table mid-meal, smiling at Andy relished the fish, ‘So Jacob has given you the sushi baptism?’ Andy did not reply, savouring the combination of flavours and textures. Kevin sat down, and waited for them to finish, ‘Well Jacob, I just had a delicious hotdog, well three actually, nice and simple.’
‘Three? Why three? You know you love sushi really Kevin.’
‘No, that would be Katherine who loves sushi, remember, and three because I don’t know when or where I will eat next.’
Archer was enjoying something a little more basic and less refined than his father, but no less satisfying, mushroom pizza. He had just finished wiping the tomato from his mouth, when he answered his buzzing phone, not checking caller ID.
‘Archer my boy, how are you?’ The General’s voice on the line.
‘Hello Sir, I am fine, surprised to get your call.’ How did he get this number? Archer was on his guard.
‘If you are wondering how I got this number then don’t, I always like to keep track of my assets. I heard you had some trouble in Mabalia, everything okay now? All running smoothly?’
‘Yes sir, all back to normal, I will call you later with an update.’
Archer was concerned, by now The General would know from the GPS in the phone where he really was, not sitting in the palace in Mabalia, but in Miami Airport. More concerning was why did The General not show his hand, why not catch Archer out with the lie, what did he have to gain? Archer was now swiftly finishing his pizza and collecting his belongings, moving to the counter and paying by credit card. He was not responsive to the teller, appearing almost rude, still checking the area looking for a trash can to dump the phone, and then he saw the threat.
There was Mr Jones, suit neatly pressed, he was looking for someone, was it coincidence that The General had called? Had he given away Archer’s position? Did he have access to that info, perhaps someone inside the NRA or NSA? Were the past few days getting to him, paranoia and fatigue overtaking common sense? The General had no reason to jeopardise the operation in Mabalia, the future contracts it would generate would be lucrative.
Archer dismissed the thought of betrayal by The General as ridiculous and focussed on the issue thirty feet away. Any sudden movement would give away his position to Jones, he engaged the teller in polite conversation, apologising for his behaviour, watching Jones in the reflection of her glasses. He saw him move off, flirted with her for another thirty seconds, accepting her phone number and then moved off calmly but quickly as Jones disappeared.
He needed time to think, and went to the only relatively secluded place in this human hive, the restrooms. He walked in, scanning the occupants and moved to a stall next to a wall, locking the door. The adjacent stall had been empty, but he heard a large sigh, followed by a substantial man sitting down with some force, the rustle of a paper, just what he did not need.