Trifariam, The Lost Codex (2012) (24 page)

“Hi, Anthony. How’s everything going?”

“I see you remembered, but I can’t talk now. I’m in the middle of a presentation. In fact I’ve had to bring the break forward by a few minutes in order to take your call.”

James remembered that today was the day his friend had the most important meeting of his career. He was due to stand before the governing body and company shareholders to present the project to which he had devoted the last four years of his life. He tried to cover up the fact that he it had completely slipped his mind and he asked him some more questions out of politeness.

“Are people excited about the robot?”

“It seems that way, they haven’t stopped applauding. But that’s to be expected; we’re pioneers in this technology and for the moment, none of our competitors have managed to do a quarter of what we’ve achieved.”

“Have they already seen how the robot looks?”

“Yes. What most surprised them was how it seems to be human at first glance. They realized that it would integrate into our world much more painlessly if it was created in our image.”

The good relationship that they shared had meant that James had in-depth knowledge of the project. He had often visited the intelligence center where the prototype was being made, witnessing everything it was capable of firsthand.

“But to what do I owe the pleasure of your call? You tried twice, that’s not like James Oldrich.”

James hesitated for a couple of seconds. “Do you remember the robot commissioned by that oil company?”

“Yes, the LPM-03. If I remember correctly, they were having problems with the pipes they used to transport the crude oil. The asked us to design a small robot with a camera to study the viaduct interior, and hydraulic arms to lift and move objects.”

“Do you remember if you fitted it with any tool which would enable it to remove obstacles from its path?”

“The front part was a diamond drill, capable of perforating any material. However, if by any chance it couldn’t, we kitted it out with explosives which have a local effect and are designed only destroy the object they are inserted into. But why do you want to know all this?”

“Have you still got it?”

“Yes, of course. I think it’s in storage.”

“Ah, of course! Do you have any system for disabling security cameras?”

Anthony was starting to get impatient. It all sounded very odd. “Yes, we have a latest generation device which was designed for the U.S. Army and is able to disable any security system, but… what the hell have you got yourself into?”

James didn’t even answer the question. “I need you to come to Egypt with the equipment and show us how to use it.”

“Are you mad?!” he shouted angrily. “How am I going to leave the conference and travel to Egypt?!”

“I’m not asking you to leave the conference, just that you take the last night flight and bring the robot with all its little ‘toys’.”

“But… James, don’t fuck with me… I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to sleep for weeks and you’re asking me to travel to the other side of the world.”

At that moment one of his assistants knocked on the door. He opened it and the employee gestured that the audience were ready. The conference had to go on.

“Anthony, don’t make me remind you who put you forward for one of the best positions in the business. You’re always saying you owe me one. Well, now is the time for you to pay up.”

After a long silence at both ends of the phone, Anthony eventually spoke but only after first grunting in disbelief at what he was about to say. “Okay. I’ll pick up the prototype that they have in storage and I’ll catch the last flight to Egypt. But just so we’re clear, I’ll have to bring it back in less than four days or they’ll fire me. It’s company policy to make sure that its little ‘toys’ don’t end up being analyzed by the competition.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be back in time. I’ll send a message to your cellphone in a couple of hours with all the information you need, along with the hotel you’ll be staying at. Thank you Anthony, really.”

“I hope it’s worth it and you pay me back with front-row tickets to see Los Angeles Lakers. It’s about time!”

James smiled at the other end of the phone and hung up. Finally, he walked back to his friends and nodded.

D
inner at the hotel was served at nine on the dot. Unlike other meals, where each guest was given a menu with a list of available dishes, dinner consisted of a sumptuous buffet. They tried to avoid serving heavy meals, instead opting for light dishes which would satisfy tourists’ appetites without hampering their ability to sleep in the heat.

Of the tables which were free, they chose the one nearest to a huge window from which they could see Cairo in all its glory, and, if they squinted slightly, they could make out the outline of the three pyramids in the distance.

“I agree with you,” said Mary, putting dressing on the salad. “I’m convinced that the first piece of the
Trifariam
is in the hidden chamber. I suppose you want to use the robot to go in and look for it. But how do you intend to get it if the pyramid is under constant surveillance?”

“I heard David say that they sometimes grant access to certain groups who want to meditate in the King’s Chamber. I don’t know how long they allow them to remain inside, but at midday tomorrow, an Asian group is coming to visit.”

“So you want us to blend in with them.”

James choked when he heard Mary’s assumption. “More or less, but the best thing would be for me to go alone, that way - ”

“Just you!” exclaimed Mary, rejecting his suggestion by shaking her head.

“It’s for the best. Don’t you see, they’re from the Far East! The guards will probably be wary if they see one American among them, let alone three. When they make their way to the King’s Chamber, I’ll make a detour and head for the Queen’s Chamber. Anyway, one person controlling the robot is enough.”

James’ two friends didn’t agree with his plan, but it was obvious that three Americans trying to blend in among a group of Asian tourists would raise a lot of suspicion.

“Okay,” replied Mary. “But you’re going to make sure that we know everything that happens inside the pyramid, whether by us seeing it or listening to you.”

James opened the bottle of champagne. After pouring a glass for his friends, he raised his and toasted to still being alive after everything that had happened over the last few hours.

Darkness fell upon Cairo, slowly hiding its streets. Buildings, illuminated only by the light from houses and streetlamps, made for a beautiful view from the dining room gallery.

Richard stood up and grabbed a green sweater which was lying on one of the empty chairs. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to go to my room. I’m deciphering the next chapter of the book and something tells me it could come in useful very soon. I’d like to finish it as quickly as possible.”

The restaurant was practically empty, except for a table in a far corner where an obese South American man was devouring a pork chop which scarcely fitted on the plate.

For the last few minutes, the chemistry between James and Mary had increased significantly. Mary seemed to laugh at all the stories James had told her - perhaps most of it was down to the sparkling champagne going to their heads.

Mary looked especially beautiful on this occasion. She was wearing a strappy black dress which showed off her figure, giving her some dangerous curves; a pair of black shoes with shiny details, and see-through pantyhose which showed off her tanned legs. Meanwhile, her long wavy hair fell over her right shoulder, giving an unimaginable dose of sensuality.

James, who for the last few minutes had sneaked closer towards her, had an overwhelming urge to take her in his arms, feel how their heartbeats quickened and, at last… kiss her.

He had the chance to do so when Mary finished speaking and their eyes met for a few seconds which seemed to go on forever. Neither of them said a word, they just looked into each other’s eyes. James had only just decided to hold Mary’s hand when one of the waitresses walked over with a pile of dirty dishes, ruining the atmosphere that had been so difficult for them to create. She then proceeded to clear the table without any kind of tact.

“We’d better go,” said Mary, seeing that they were the only ones left in the restaurant.

They walked to the elevator, their rooms being on the fifth floor. A young woman was standing in the corridor waiting for one of the elevators with several suitcases. A few seconds later, a young man who seemed to be her boyfriend appeared with two more and sped off after he had put them down.

The left elevator opened.

The girl didn’t look as if she was going to use it, so they both went in and the doors closed behind them.

The elevator slowly went up. Silence descended to the point where it was uncomfortable. The two looked ahead, with Mary standing closer to the door than James.

It’s now or never! Kiss her, don’t be stupid!
James’ head was mess. His heart was telling him to act, while his mind was rationally thinking about how awkward the rest of the trip would be if she rejected him.

Third floor… Fourth floor… Fifth floor, the doors opened. James sadly accompanied Mary to her room, aware of the opportunity that had just passed him by.

After gently pushing open the door, Mary entered her room after first rewarding James’ gesture with a kiss on the cheek. However, her lips being so close made James’ heart explode and his rationality disappeared for a few seconds.

“Mary, I…”

“Yes, James?”

James couldn’t get his words out, his legs shook and he would probably stammer if he tried to speak. He opted for actions rather than words. He entered the room and, without thinking twice, embraced Mary’s body. She returned his advances, leaving him dumbstruck. Eventually, he kissed her. Her gaze and the way she had held him so tenderly were more than enough.

“Have you made up your mind?” smiled Mary while her lips hovered an inch from his, waiting to steal another kiss.

Just at that moment, a boy of about fifteen was walking towards the elevator. Curiosity got the better of him and he peeked inside a room whose door was ajar. His brain suddenly told him to stop, but momentum kept him walking. Looking back, he wondered how a couple could kiss each other so passionately. The man was squeezing the woman tightly against the wall, while his left hand slid slowly over her thigh, uncovered by the dress. The door slammed shut behind the boy, giving him a fright.

J
ames was sitting on the edge of the bed, already dressed, staring at Mary’s face as she slept peacefully on the far right of the mattress. He couldn’t take his eyes off her hair; it lay tousled and shiny around her shoulders before getting lost among the sheets. Just as the clock in the room struck nine in the morning, the telephone rang. He picked it up immediately, even before the first ring had finished, so that it didn’t wake her. A short yet friendly morning recording advised him that it was time to wake up.

When Mary opened her eyes, she saw the blurry outline of a man before her. She was blinded by the light, and it prevented her from opening her eyelids until her pupils had adapted to it. The outline was that of James Oldrich, dressed in jeans and a blue striped shirt. His recently shaven face, gelled hair and small yet honest grin revealed a new, rejuvenated version of James.

“Morning, Mary. Did you sleep well?”

At first the woman didn’t notice what he was carrying in his arms. But after throwing off the bed sheets and scanning the room looking in search of her pants, her eyes fell upon a beautiful bouquet of flowers. “Are… are they for me? Thanks a lot James, they’re beautiful.” Mary inhaled deeply, drinking in their intoxicating scent.

“You have no idea how hard it was to find a bunch of flowers in this country. Sit on the bed, I have a surprise for you.”

Mary gave a grateful smile and obeyed without protest.

The bouquet had been more than enough, but now she was nervous and intrigued to know what all this was about. James went towards the door, bent down and picked up a big tray from the floor; it was full to bursting with coffee, milk, cookies, chocolate cakes and toast with jelly. Everything had been carefully placed and adorned with two small roses on either side.

Arranging all that had brought him a real sense of pleasure. Over the last few months, the most outrageous thoughts had been running through his mind. After divorcing his wife, he constantly brooded over how difficult it would be to find somebody new with whom to share his life, interests, worries… which was something he had always wanted; not just a wife, but also a best friend. His mind had often wandered on to future situations and he always saw himself as an old bachelor, over fifty, alone, waiting for the end of his life without anybody to share his last moments with.

Mary had healed the deepest wounds in his heart, those which his ex-wife had vengefully set about creating in anger, with malicious intent. Now was the time to give love a second chance. He was ready for it to come into his life and block out all the impure feelings which tormented him inside.

“Thank you so much, it is so kind of you. And, well… everything looks just great.”

Just at that moment, Mary knew that it was the ideal time to present James with something which she had been thinking about giving him for the last couple of days. She stood up from the bed in her underwear and walked over to the closet where she kept the backpack she had been carrying with her for the whole journey. She reached into one of the side pockets and took out an old watch. It had been carefully looked after, with not even a scratch on the glass face. Only the worn brown leather strap with an extra hole hinted at the fact it had been used before. In all other aspects, it seemed brand new.

Mary took it over to James and placed it on his wrist. “It belonged to my father. Yesterday I had the mechanism cleaned and a new battery put in. It’s the only thing I have left to remember him by, and I’d like you to have it.”

“No! I can’t do that! It’s a beautiful watch, but it must have enormous sentimental value for you. It’s the only thing of his you have left!”