Samantha glanced over at Lazarus, who seemed to be running things through in his head. “We’re still behind Lunt and the others,” she said. “Unless we can find a shortcut to overtake them, there’s no way we’ll find The Soul Stones before they do.”
“It helps that we know more than they do,” Lazarus answered. “Thanks to Sai Wing, we know where The Stones might be hidden. Lunt is still shooting in the dark.”
Eun realized that Lazarus had already decided to work with the Nazi so he asked, “This train takes us all the way to the Wanshan Pass but we’re going to pass the Xian Caves along the way. How are we going to get the train to stop for us?”
Morgan laughed, enjoying the opportunity to answer for their employer. “We’re not, Eun.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Son, we’re gonna jump off this train.”
Chapter VI
The Soul Stones
Lazarus Gray reached up and grabbed hold of another rock, using his incredible strength to pull himself up onto the ledge. He turned around and extended his hand to grasp Samantha’s wrist. She was light enough that Lazarus was able to set her beside him with barely any effort at all. In short order, Sporrenberg, Morgan and Eun joined them.
Casting an eye around their surroundings, Lazarus spotted the narrow path that Sai Wing had described. The group had abandoned the train just over an hour ago, setting out through the rocky terrain. Their progress had led them up into the mountains and before long they’d been forced to adopt makeshift climbing techniques.
“Are there any signs that Whip Marshall came through here?” Morgan asked. He was the oldest of the group and he leaned over to catch his breath.
Lazarus knelt and touched the ground, searching for footprints. “I don’t see anything, but with the winds up here, I’m not surprised.” He straightened and began leading the way again, deliberately keeping the pace somewhat leisurely for those who needed the rest.
The German seemed unaffected by the harshness of the journey. He noticed that Eun was still watching him closely and he flashed a grim smile. “Herr Jiwon, I do not expect you to like me… but please stop insulting me by doubting by integrity. I have told you that I am here for the same reasons you are.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time that a Nazi had lied to someone.”
“Hitler has only been in power for a few years,” Sporrenberg pointed out. “Yes, he has made mistakes along the way but now that he has cemented his power base, I think you will see the true Hitler in the years to come. Give him time.”
“If you really think that, then you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
Sporrenberg stopped in place, reaching out to touch Eun’s arm. The young Korean tensed and seemed ready to strike but he held back until the German explained himself. “My parents were so poor during my childhood that my mother turned to prostitution to put food on our table. The shame of this nearly destroyed my father. You have no idea how bad it was for us. All of Germany suffered because our country’s money went to pay off the unfair reparations that had been laid against us. And now a man comes and renews our pride? Our ideals? He tells us that we are not only strong but that we are the epitome of what mankind should be? Hitler is a hero to us; even though we may not agree with all that he’s done.”
Eun remained steadfast. “Just because someone tells you what you want to hear doesn’t mean you should support them. You’re right about one thing, though: We’ll see the true Hitler soon enough.”
Lazarus called down from just around the bend. “If you two gentlemen would like to join us, I believe we’ve found the Xian Caves.”
Eun and Sporrenberg hurried forward and caught up to the others, who were standing just outside a large opening in the side of the mountain. A soft blue light emanated from the interior of the cave, bathing Lazarus and the others in its glow.
Eun peered around his employer, his mouth opening in surprise. A set of nearly a dozen Soul Stones were arranged on a series of pedestals, each of them looking much like the one that Agnes had brought to Assistance Unlimited.
But more shocking than that was the fact that a man was standing beside the Soul Stones, a gun in hand. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with movie-star good looks. His white shirt was ripped in a number of places, revealing a hairy chest and bulging biceps. His jodhpurs were stained with dried blood and caked dirt.
Lazarus nodded in greeting. “Whip Marshall, I presume?”
Marshall grinned and Eun noted that there was something slightly mad in the expression. “Right on the money, Mr. Gray. A pity I’m going to be the last sight you’ll ever see.”
And then Whip pulled the trigger.
A half hour before Lazarus had entered the Xian Caves, Walther Lunt had felt his patience beginning to thin. Their hurried journey away from Shanghai had brought them to the city of Kalgan well ahead of their pursuers. Unfortunately, the Russians who now controlled the area had stymied their progress. They were being held up while the bureaucrats looked for ways to bilk them of their money. Ordinarily, Lunt would have asked Femi to unleash one of her mummified minions upon the Russians but the city was filled with soldiers and he feared that they wouldn’t survive whatever carnage ensued.
The women, including their prisoner, were currently ensconced in a shabby hotel, while Lunt sat in a bar, ignoring the stares of those around him. His ruined face was always fodder for idle chatter and he had become accustomed to tuning it out. He drank his third scotch and tried to avoid thinking about what awaited him if he failed in this mission. Ever since Winthrop had returned to life as Lazarus Gray, Lunt’s rising star within The Illuminati had become tarnished. He’d faced the stigma of one failure after another since then: multiple defeats in Sovereign City, the loss of Die Glocke, and whispers that he had lost his edge.
If he somehow failed to win this race to Satan’s Circus, he risked becoming a victim of The Illuminati’s harsh system of retribution.
He was staring so intently at the bottom of his glass that he barely noticed the man who sat down across from him. Lunt tensed upon seeing him, his eyes widening in shock. It was Twining, the ringmaster for Satan’s Circus. The man was dressed just as flamboyantly as ever, his long waxed moustache drooping down over a cruel mouth.
“Walther,” Twining said in German. “You have given us a merry little chase.”
Lunt leaned forward, his eyes raking the crowd. He saw the tattooed man at a nearby table and the woman who charmed the snakes was standing in the shadows. He didn’t see the Robed One but he had no doubt that it was present. He was outnumbered and in very grave danger. Struggling to maintain his dignity, Lunt said, “You betrayed me.”
“A demon that lies?” Twining scoffed. “Who would believe such a thing?” His dark eyes glittered with malicious humor. “You’re becoming a bother, Walther. It was simply amusing when it was you blindly pursuing us but now you’ve set more dangerous game on our trail and we don’t like it.” Twining tapped the tabletop with one of his fingers. “No, we do not.”
“You’re talking about Lazarus Gray, aren’t you? He wouldn’t be involved at all if you hadn’t gotten mixed up with Whip Marshall. It was his fiancée’s sister who went to Gray.”
“Yes, but he’s your enemy and you should have dealt with him before now.”