“What is that? Why is it so important?”
“Because there aren’t really any other glyphs that look like it for starters. But the other thing you notice when I start arranging the photos around this double circle is that a pattern begins developing. See?” As Tommy placed the different pictures in the order he believed they were meant to be in, Ulrich started noticing the trend. The drawings of the animals and human footprints began spiraling outward, alternating every three spots.
After all the photographs had been arranged on the screen, the entire scene made sense. The double circle was in the center of everything and the subsequent forms followed after, working their way further and further from the middle. He tapped the center of the spiral with his fingernail. “This is where we have to go next.”
“And where, exactly, is that?” Ulrich was still not convinced.
Tommy responded with a question of his own, “When you look at any map, country, state, etc., what is the thing that stands out the most?”
The two foreigners looked at each other dubiously.
“Ugh. Do I have to do all the work here?” Sighing again, Schultz continued.
“I know when I look at a map the thing that always jumps out at me is the capital of a country or state. Right?”
A nod told him that they were following along so far.
“Right. Usually it is marked with a star or sometimes it even looks like a dot within a circle, similar to what you are seeing right here.”
“So, you are saying that this symbol represents the capital of what? Georgia?” At least Jens was trying.
“Not the capital of Georgia,” Tommy corrected. “The state of Georgia wasn’t formed until the late 1700s. These petroglyphs are pre-Columbian. I’d say even further back, more like pre-Babylonian.”
“Egyptian?”
“Sort of. Probably several decades removed from the original settlers but yes, a crude form of it. That would explain why no one has been able to determine what it all means.”
He went on, “At any rate, the place I was talking about is called Red Clay. It was the capital of the Cherokee Nation until the council was dissolved completely in 1838.”
Ulrich was interested. “Where is this ‘Red Clay’ you speak of?”
“It’s close to Chattanooga, Tennessee.”
“What are we looking for when we get there?”
Tommy smiled. “Probably for something with very similar markings on it. I’d say there must be something at the council grounds that will point us to the next marker. It could be another stone, a piece of pottery, I really don’t know for sure.”
“And how will you know what this next ‘marker’ is saying?” Ulrich was still doubtful.
“I think I can manage,” Tommy replied with a sarcastic grin. “We’ve made it this far.”
Two figures stood by the damaged guardrail, staring into the gorge at the wreckage below. One of them, a tall, brunette woman in a black, ankle-length jacket, was holding a cell phone to her ear. Her shoulder-length cocoa hair was pulled back into a pony tail.
“Yes sir. I’m certain they are dead,” she spoke with no emotion. “No. They left. We know where they are going, though.”
She paused a moment, listening to the voice on the other line, then nodded. A moment later she had finished her conversation with an “Understood,” then closed the phone and slid it into a jacket pocket.
“What did he say?” The man accompanying her was dressed similarly, but his appearance was strong, like a rugby player, and he had short brown hair. He had been examining the debris of the crash site with binoculars.
“He wants to move ahead.”
“What about them?” The man turned his head back down toward the destroyed car at the foot of the mountain.
“Leave them.” She regarded them with a flick of the head. “Only a matter of time until someone sees this mess and calls the authorities. I’d rather not be around for that.”
He nodded in agreement and the two slipped back into their black sedan and sped up the mountain road.
Chapter 34
The red Silverado looked like it had been on a mission through Afghanistan. Bullet holes were scattered across the back window, and a few more were dotting the windshield.
Sean looked at Allyson with a quizzical face from the back seat. “So when were you planning on telling us about this little gem of information?”
She returned the glare with a smile. “I already told you, I was just following orders. That information was on a need to know basis.”
“Heck,” Joe cut in, “it might be handy to have another gun around. Seems like she’s pretty good with it.”
Allyson raised an eyebrow and grinned at the driver. “Thank you, Mac.”
“It’s not that I mind you helping out,” Sean explained. “I just don’t like surprises. Better to know what I’m dealing with. You know?”
“I understand,” she replied. “Don’t worry. No more surprises.”
“You sure about that?” He looked dubious.
“Pretty sure.” She squinted her eyes at him.
Sean averted his eyes to the passing countryside for a moment before returning to the conversation. “How long have you been with Axis?”
She turned around and faced forward while she answered him. “I’ve only been working there for two years. They recruited me just before I finished college. It sounded like a good opportunity. It’s fast-paced with a lot of travel and student loan forgiveness.”
“One that can become very dangerous,” he added. “It’s a gig that can get you killed.”
“I’m aware of the dangers, Sean. But I do appreciate the concern,” Allyson twisted her head back around to face him. “I’m a big girl, and a well-trained girl at that. I can take care of myself.”
His face blushed a bright red. “I’m sure you can. But it’s a fine line that you walk all the time when you’re an agent.”
“Is that why you quit?”
“Mostly,” he replied. “I got tired of looking over my shoulder, wondering if there was a barrel aimed at me from the shadows. Sleeping was almost impossible. Every little noise made me pop up with my gun drawn.” He paused. “I don’t miss those days.”
“I never have trouble sleeping,” she said defiantly.
Sean let out a laugh and turned his head back to the window. “Give it time, you will.”
The next few minutes passed in silence. Trees blurred by as Joe guided the truck trough the twisting highway. “It’s just up ahead,” he finally broke the silence. “I doubt anyone is here at this time of day, except for the ranger.”
As the truck rounded a curve going up a slight hill, a black Hummer H2 came into view. A stumpy-looking man in a black trench coat and a flat top haircut was standing in front of the grill.
With quiet calm Sean said, “Mac, they’re here.”
“What?” Joe’s demeanor was not as composed.
“Take it easy. Just drive by and don’t do anything brash. Let’s just keep going, like we’re going to the visitor center.”
Understanding the situation, Joe continued on past the black SUV. The man standing in front of it had noticed them, but once they had passed, he paid them no mind.
After the pickup rounded the next curve, Sean again spoke evenly, “Tommy’s back there with two other guys. They’re looking at the stones. Looks like they brought some backup.”
“What should we do?” Allyson and Joe thought out loud, simultaneously.
“Turn around up there,” Sean directed, pointing at a gravel turnoff next to the road.
Joe did what his friend asked and pulled the truck off to the side of the little street.
“Okay,” he continued as he loaded another clip into his Ruger. We’re only going to have one chance at this. Mac, here’s what I want you to do….”