They took a taxi to the airport and hoped that they could make it to the private airfield on time to catch the train. One last time, Sam tried to call Purdue, but when a woman answered, he knew that Dr. Jacobs was right. He looked at Kasper Jacobs with an expression of alarm.
“What is wrong?” Kasper asked.
Sam’s eyes narrowed. “That was not Jane. I know Purdue’s personal assistant’s voice very well. I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I fear Purdue is being held hostage. Whether he knows it or not, is irrelevant. I am calling Masters again. Someone should go and see what is going on at Wrichtishousis.” While they waited in the airline waiting area, Sam tried George Masters’ number again. He put the phone on speaker for Nina to hear, while Kasper went to get a coffee at the vending machine. To Sam’s surprise, George answered his phone, sounding sleepy.
“Masters?” Sam exclaimed. “Fucking hell! It is Sam Cleave. Where have you been?”
“Looking for you,” Masters replied sharply, suddenly a bit more cogent. “You gave Purdue the fucking equation after I explicitly told you not to.”
Nina listened attentively with wide eyes. She mouthed, “He sounds pissed as hell!”
“Look, I know,” Sam started his excuse, “but the research I did on it did not mention anything as threatening as what you told me.”
“Your research is useless, mate,” George snapped. “Did you really think this level of destruction is easy to access to just anyone? What, did you think you would find it on Wikipedia? Huh? Only those of us who know, we know what it can do. Now you have gone and fucked it all up, clever boy!”
“Listen, Masters, I have a way to prevent it from being used,” Sam suggested. “You can go to Purdue’s house, as my emissary, and explain it to him. Better yet, if you could get him out of there.”
“Why would I?” Masters played hardball.
“Because you want to stop this, right?” Sam tried to coax the mutilated man. “Hey, you totaled my car and took me hostage. You owe me a favor, I would say.”
“Do your own dirty work, Sam. I tried to warn you and you discarded my knowledge. You want to stop him from using the Einstein Equation? Do it yourself, if you are so chummy with him,” Masters growled.
“I am abroad, otherwise I would,” Sam elucidated. “Please, Masters. Just check on him.”
“Where are you?” Masters asked, seemingly ignoring Sam’s imploring.
“Belgium, why?” Sam answered.
“I just want to know where you are so that I can find you,” he told Sam in a menacing tone. Nina’s eyes stretched even larger at that. Her dark brown peepers glimmered under her scowl. She looked at Kasper way over by the machine, who wore a worrisome expression on his face.
“Masters, you can beat the snot out of me once this is over,” Sam attempted an accord with the furious scientist. “I will even throw a few punches to make it look two sided, but for Christ’s sake, please go to Wrichtishousis and tell the security at the gate to give your daughter a lift to Inverness.”
“Excuse me?” Masters roared, laughing heartily. Sam smiled quietly as Nina revealed her confusion in the dumbest, comical expression.
“Just tell them that,” Sam reiterated. “They will admit you and tell Purdue you are a friend of mine.”
“Then what?” the insufferable grouch jeered.
“Whatever you need to do to impart the dangerous element of the Dire Serpent on him,” Sam shrugged. “And be warned. There is a woman with him who thinks she controls him. Her name is Lilith Hurst, a nurse with a God-complex.”
Masters was dead quiet.
“Hey, can you hear me? Do not let her influence your conversation with Purdue…” Sam continued. He was interrupted by an unexpectedly soft response by Masters. “Lilith Hurst? Did you say, Lilith Hurst?”
“Aye, she was Purdue’s nurse, but apparently he finds a kindred in her because they share a love for science,” Sam informed him. Nina recognized the sound Masters made on the other side of the line. It was the sound of a distraught man recollecting a bad break-up. It was the sound of emotional turmoil still scathing.
“Masters, this is Nina, Sam’s associate,” she said suddenly, grabbing Sam’s arm to hold the phone steady for her. “Do you know her?”
Sam looked confused, but only because he did not have Nina’s female intuition on the subject. Masters breathed in hard and then slowly exhaled. “I know her. She was involved in the experiment that left me looking like Freddy fucking Krueger, Dr. Gould.”
Sam felt a jolt of horror strike his chest. He had no idea that Lilith Hurst was really a scientist beyond the walls of a hospital laboratory. At once, he realized that she posed a far bigger threat than he ever believed.
“Right, then, son,” Sam interrupted, striking while the iron is hot, “all the more reason for you to pay a visit and show Purdue what his new girlfriend is capable of.”
26
All Aboard!
When the summit delegation arrived at the Koschei Airstrip outside Moscow, it was not an unpleasant evening by most standards, but it was dark early. Everyone had been to Russia before, but never before had the relentless reports and proposals been presented on a moving luxury train with only the finest cuisine and accommodations money could buy. From the private jets, the guests stepped onto a smooth cement area that led into a simple, but opulent building — the Koschei Train Station.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Clifton Tuft smiled as he took his place in front of the entrance, “I would like to welcome you to Russia, on behalf of my associate and owner of the Valkyrie Trans-Siberian, Mr. Wolf Kretchoff!”
A resounding applause from the refined group showed their appreciation for the ingenious idea. Many of the representatives had previously voiced their wish that these symposiums would be held in more interesting environments, and finally it could be accommodated. Wolf stepped onto the small landing of the entrance where everyone waited, in order to explain.
“My friends and fine associates,” he preached in his heavy accent, “it is my honor and the privilege of my company, Kretchoff Security Conglomerate, to host this year’s meeting aboard our train. My company, in association with Tuft Industries, has been working on this project for the last four years and finally the brand new tracks will be put to use.”
Fascinated by the physically imposing businessman’s enthusiasm and eloquence, the delegates erupted in another applause. Hidden inside the far corner niche of the building, three figures crouched in the darkness, listening. Nina cringed at the sound of Wolf’s voice, still recalling his hateful blows. Neither she, nor Sam could believe that the common thug was an affluent citizen. To them he was just McFadden’s attack dog.
“The Koschei Strip has been my private landing strip for several years since I purchased the land, and today, I have the pleasure of introducing our own, elite train station,” he continued. “Please follow me.” With that, he walked through the doors with Tuft and Mc Fadden in his tracks, followed by the delegates, bustling with awed remarks in their respective languages. Through the small, but lavish, station they strolled, admiring the strong architecture in the vein of the Krutitsy Metochion. Its arches, three in number leading to the exit onto the platform, were constructed in Baroque fashion with a strong taste of medieval architecture blended in to keep to the harsh climate conditions.
“Simply phenomenal,” McFadden swooned, desperate to be heard. Wolf just smiled as he led the group to the exterior doors at the platform, but before exiting, he turned again to make a speech.