The Cathari Treasure (Cameron Kincaid) (5 page)

Cameron threw his palm onto the
center of the steering wheel to alert drivers to get out of his way.  The
Mercedes accelerated, dodged, and radically wove through traffic to outrun the
two vehicles that effortlessly traveled in their wake.

“We are only making the way for
them,” said Marie.

“Would you like to drive?” asked
Cameron.

Up on the left Cameron saw the
interstate onramp.  He decided that taking the interstate would be their
best chance to lose the red sedan and Humvee.  To throw off his pursuers,
Cameron veered to the right across the lanes from the onramp.  He
accelerated behind then around the far right side of an Econoline van.  As
the Mercedes began to pass the van Cameron cut sharply in front of the truck,
darting to make the entrance of the interstate on the far left.  The
Econoline made a sharp left to avoid the Mercedes.  The front wheels of
the van, having turned so abruptly, collapsed under the momentum of the
Econoline.  The vehicle propelled up and over, the side of the van
skidding counterclockwise on the pavement and in a slow spin.

The shadow of the van briefly
eclipsed the back of the Mercedes.  “Sorry about that,” said
Cameron.  He floored the accelerator the length of the onramp and launched
the Mercedes onto the interstate at high speed.  Cameron wove between the
other cars.  Traffic was getting more congested yet at the speed Cameron
drove the interstate could have been a parking lot.

“This might not have been such a
good idea,” said Marie.

“Now why would you say that?”

Marie pointed ahead to the large
triangle tower coming up in front of them, shining metal cables skirting down
from the summit.  “That is a bridge, is it not?”

“That, my dear, is the Zakim
Bridge, and our passage to safety.”

“Oh my,” said Marie.

The traffic slowed near the
bridge.  The Humvee and sedan were closing in.  The Mercedes
continued to weave between through and around the many vehicles at the mouth of
the bridge.  Across the lanes was the entrance to the tunnel that ran
under the city.  Cameron made another attempt to elude their
pursuers.  From the far side of the bridge, Cameron swerved across the
crowded lanes and down to the tunnel.  A symphony of horns and brakes
barraged the Mercedes.  The wide tunnel entrance, dark in shadow,
approached quickly and for the first time Marie clenched her fingers on the
sides of her seat.

The tunnel swallowed the
Mercedes whole.  The lights of the tunnel dizzily careened above
them.  If they could not tell their speed from within the Mercedes before
they definitely now knew they were moving at a reckless rate.

A torrent burst of shots rattled
out from behind, thunderously echoing off the tunnel walls and deep into the
Mercedes, virtually soundproof by design.  In the right lane ahead a
minivan sank into the pavement as the tires beneath disintegrated.  The
minivan’s backend swayed in front of the Mercedes, first to the right and then
to the left.  Cameron dodged left to avoid the minivan cutting off a Jeep
in the process.  The stunned driver of the Jeep spun his wheel sharply
causing the Jeep to up end and flip forward and then skid forward on the hood.

Cameron glanced up into the
rearview in time to see the red sedan strike the back of the Jeep, launch into a
spin, and slam against the tunnel wall.  “I think they caused more trouble
for themselves than for us,” said Cameron.

“I don’t think so,” said
Marie.  She could see the Humvee circumventing the Jeep that now rested in
the middle of the tunnel behind them.  Another burst of shots rattled out,
the last of which made loud thumps on the Mercedes.  Cameron pursed his
lips and shook his head.  Brake lights lit up on cars ahead of them as
other drivers started to slow.  Up ahead the daylight gleamed above the rooftops
of the cars.

Daylight engulfed the interior
of the Mercedes as Cameron burst from the tunnel.  Cameron searched for an
exit and at the first chance made a radical turn off the interstate.

“Ooooh,” said Marie.

“German engineering,” said
Cameron as the Mercedes settled onto a side street.  The yellow Humvee
failed to make the turn and slid sideways to a stop.

“They’re not going anywhere,”
said Cameron.

“We don’t have much time,” said
Marie.  “They know the car now.”

* * *
* *

Boston

Cameron drove a few blocks
before he started making indiscriminate turns down side streets. 
Comfortable that no one was behind them, Cameron pulled the Mercedes up to a
curb.  He gestured for Marie and Nicole to stay seated a moment longer and
then stepped out onto the street.

Cameron stood outside of the
Mercedes with the door open, poised to jump back in if needed.  He watched
the corner of the street the Mercedes had turned from.  The Humvee was not
following.  Cameron stuck his head back in the car, “Let’s go, we’re
leaving the Mercedes.”

Marie and Nicole got out of the
Mercedes and followed Cameron down the sidewalk.  He held out his keychain
and the car chirped.  In midstride Cameron stopped.  Cameron returned
to the Mercedes.  The car chirped again as he unlocked the door. 
Cameron’s eyes flashed from window to window in search of anybody in the houses
along the street that may be watching.  Cameron opened the door of the
Mercedes, knelt down, and then pulled his 9mm from under the seat. 
Cameron tucked the handgun into his waist and then, keychain in hand, jogged
back to where Marie and Nicole were waiting.  Behind the three the
Mercedes chirped again.

“Where are we going?” asked
Marie.

“The orange line,” said
Cameron.  He gestured to the stop at the corner.

“What is the orange line?” asked
Marie.

“The train downtown.  Let’s
hurry.”

The three walked quickly to the
platform and did not have to wait long for the next train.

Cameron and the women could not
keep themselves from scanning the neighborhood before they boarded the
train.  They stood in the center of the train car expecting someone to run
up to the window looking for them.  No one did.  The train pulled
away from the stop.

Cameron eased himself a
little.  Though Nicole did not look fazed Cameron could tell that Marie
was unsettled.  Since the shooting Marie’s manner had been stoic and now
Cameron was sensing wear.

“They were waiting for us,” said
Cameron.

“So it seems,” said Marie. 
She was staring blankly into the window.

“Good catch with that guy at the
counter.”

“He smelled repulsive.”

“I don’t think it was his
intention to fool us.  I think we caught him off guard.”

Marie nodded her head.  “I
knew some of our people here in Boston.”

“They must have all been
compromised,” said Cameron.

“I would like to think that some
made it into hiding,” said Marie.

Cameron looked at the subway map
on the wall of the train.  They were heading downtown.

Marie looked at Nicole and then
to Cameron, “We need to get to Montreal.  I don’t know where we will be
safe until then.”

“I’ll get you there,” said
Cameron.

When the train stopped at the
Chinatown station Cameron led them off.  “I have an idea.  Stay
here.”  He walked over to speak to the station agent.  Marie could
see the agent giving direction to Cameron by motioning his arm toward the
exit.  Cameron thanked the agent then left the station with the women.

Marie put her arm around Nicole.

The open-air markets were
stocked with fish and frogs.  Nicole looked curiously into each
stall.  Cameron sensed Nicole’s dismay.  He explained that the frogs
were used to make dumplings.

Nicole pursed her lip. 
“Hmm,” said Nicole, the first sound she uttered since they had left the
Mercedes.

“Though you may not eat them, a
lot of people do.  They’re like chicken but sweeter,” Cameron caught
himself, “Of course, you don’t know what chicken tastes like.”

“It’s not a fish,” said Nicole.

“No,” said Cameron.

“We eat fish.  Sparsely
though,” said Marie.

“I thought you were vegan.”

“Not exactly, mostly, fish are
part of the old tradition.”

“Not impure,” said Nicole.

“Right,” said Cameron. He
nodded.

A few blocks down the street
Cameron and the women went into a small restaurant.  Cameron could tell
the strong smell offended Marie and Nicole when they shared a wide-eyed glance
to each other.

The three sat at a table and
ordered tea.

“So what do we do now?” asked
Marie.

“We wait.  A bus will be
pulling up to that corner in about an hour.  When it does we’re getting on
it.”

“It goes to Montreal?” asked
Nicole.

“Bingo,” said Cameron. 
“The Chinatown bus is low profile, and puts us in Montreal this evening.”

“You’re going with us?” asked
Marie.

“In for a penny, in for a
pound.”

“I don’t understand,” said
Nicole.

“I’ll get you to where you need
to go.”

“You will be rewarded when you
do, though we have nothing to give you now,” said Marie.

The waiter put three teas on the
table.  Marie and Nicole each slid their hands around their teacups and,
in low whispers, recited the Lord’s Prayer.  Cameron grabbed a sugar
packet and ripped the end open.  “That’s fine for now,” Cameron said to
the waiter.  When the waiter turned away, Cameron fixed his gaze on Marie
and waited for her to finish her prayer.  When Marie finished praying she
matched his gaze.

“I’m not in this for the
reward,” said Cameron.  “I would like to talk to these Rex Mundies about
the damage they did to my car.”  His eyes flashed to Nicole and then back
to Marie, “Among other things.”

Nicole began shaking her
head.  “The Rex Mundi, there is no talking to them.  Their pursuit is
endless and they will do whatever they need to, to get what they want.”

“That is enough,” Marie said to
Nicole.  Then to Cameron Marie said, “We appreciate your help Mister
Kincaid, we need it.  She is right though.  They can not be dealt
with.”

“I still don’t get why they want
you.  Who are you, really?”

“I am sorry, I can not tell you
what you want to know,” said Marie.

Cameron furrowed his brow and
sighed.

“We can tell him,” said Nicole,
“he has done so much for us already.  He should know what our purpose is
before he is forced to the next life.”

“Forced to the next life? 
I don’t think I am going to let that happen,” Cameron winked and then took a
sip of his tea.  “I would like to know though.”

Marie and Nicole locked eyes and
then Marie nodded.

“Eight hundred years ago the
church collaborated with the Barons of France to exterminate the Cathari and
take control of the Languedoc region of France under the guise of heresy. 
Though the Cathari were slaughtered by the thousands and thought exterminated,
a few Cathari survived.  They continue their beliefs in secret and protect
a secret treasure.  For centuries, the operatives of Rex Mundi have
pursued those remaining with a continuing goal to wipe them out and take the
secret treasure.  The Rex Mundi believes that the Cathari treasure can
transform the world.”

Cameron’s eyes widened, “So you
mean to tell me that you are these Cathari?”

“We call ourselves les bonnes
gens, the good people.  Others know of us as Cathari.  We are two of
many,” said Nicole.

Marie looked deeply into
Cameron’s eyes, “We live in secret, in the shadows, while the Rex Mundi live
openly, always watching.”

“Openly?  When I was in the
Legion, I was privy to a lot of information about
a lot of
terrorists groups.  I never heard of the Rex Mundi.”

“The followers of Rex Mundi go
by many names, knowing and unknowing.”

“Yeah, you said that before.”

“It is true,” said Nicole, “Rex
Mundi is the puppet master, his agents are his puppets.”

“He?  I thought you said
this was some kind of group?” asked Cameron.

“It is complicated Mister
Kincaid.  We, the Cathar, believe that the material world was created by
an evil.  This evil we call Rex Mundi.  It is Latin for ‘the king of
the world’.”

“Right, the king of the
world.  Well I don’t know about that.  Though there is a lot of evil
in the world.  I’ll give you that.”

“With your help to get us to
Montreal, we will finally be safe.”

* * *
* *

Chinatown Express