The Black Sun Conspiracy

Chapter Thirteen

Catching sight of Nina in the main hall of Bruxelles-Midi, Sam threw caution to the wind and rushed over to scoop her up in a tight bear hug.

“Eventful trip for you too?” she asked, using what little air he had left in her lungs.

The moment Sam had let Nina go, Axelle ushered them swiftly towards the main exit. The taxi rank outside was empty, but they had to wait for no more than a few moments before a minicab drew up.

“Pour Axelle de Bastide?” she asked. The driver nodded and got out of the cab, and while he threw Sam and Axelle’s bags into the boot Nina climbed into the back. Then, to her surprise, the driver simply walked away and left the cab unattended. Axelle climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Isn’t he going to be a bit pissed off?” Nina asked, gesturing at the departing driver as Sam got in beside her.

“You didn’t see the roll of notes she just gave him,” Sam muttered. “I think there’s been an arrangement of some kind.”

“Where’s Purdue? Shouldn’t he be here too?”

“I don’t know. I was wondering that myself. But he said to do as we were told, and while that doesn’t come naturally to either of us it’s not as if we have a lot of choice. Are you ok? You look like you’ve had a hell of a time.”

Nina managed a weak smile. “It’s been interesting. But I’m fine. You?”

Sam nodded. “I’m fine. Let’s just hope Purdue is too, wherever he is.”

They fell into silence as the car sped through the streets of Brussels, out toward the motorway, dashing north. Sam leaned his head against the cool glass of the car’s window and watched the lights of the traffic flashing by in the opposite direction.

“Sam. Sam, wake up. We’re here.”

Blearily Sam opened his eyes and looked around. They were on a run-down street that could have been anywhere in Europe. Eighteenth century buildings, dilapidated but still elegant, stood alongside their modern counterparts, incongruous and anonymous. The darkness gave him no clue as to how long he had been asleep. “Where’s here?”

“Ghent. Somewhere in the center. Come on.”

He climbed out of the car, fetched his bag and followed Nina and Axelle through a wide archway into an overgrown courtyard. Set back from the street, behind one of the grimy modern buildings, stood a tiny chapel. Behind that was a much-repaired building, signposted as a hostel.

“This used to be a monastery,” Axelle informed them in hushed tones as she hustled them into the reception. “You will find it a little sparse, perhaps, but it is the safest place I could find for you.” She rang the bell. A tall, bored-looking man appeared from an office and handed over a key at her request, scarcely troubling to look at Sam and Nina. Axelle assured the man that she knew where she was going — not that he seemed inclined to offer directions even if she had not — and led them up three creaking flights of stairs to their room.

The door swung open to reveal a spacious but unadorned cell. Two twin beds were pushed against opposite walls, and the ceiling sloped sharply upwards. “I must leave you shortly,” said Axelle, “but first, take these.” She handed each of them an envelope. “New papers. Those are new identities for either one of you. You will also find pre-paid credit cards in there, which you can use without incurring activity on any bank accounts that might alert anyone to your presence. We have included all the information you will need in order to use your cards. I would urge you to remain in this building as much as possible. Meals are served in the refectory and you will be given directions to the courtyard where you may take exercise. Any other excursions should be—”

“It’s alright, Axelle,” Nina interrupted. “We know the drill. Will we be seeing you again?”

“I do not know. I was engaged at short notice for this task alone; I have no further agreements with Mr. Purdue after this. Though I would expect that I will help to facilitate his own arrival, when the time comes.”

“Then just in case we don’t see you again, thank you for all your help.” Nina took Axelle’s hand and shook it. “Thank you.”

“It’s nothing,” Axelle replied with a modest little shrug. She gave them both a smile and turned to leave, then thought better of it and paused on the threshold. “May I speak frankly for a moment? I know you have no more reason to trust me than anyone else, but… beware of Mr. Purdue. He is your friend, I know, but he is a dangerous man. Take great care in your dealings with him.”

Sam nodded slowly. “We know. Thank you, Axelle.” He smiled and closed the door behind her, then looked around at their new accommodation. “Well… Of all the places I’ve ever found myself in, I never expected to be hiding out in a monastery. Coming down for Vespers, Nina?”

Unsurprisingly, Sam was not in earnest about investigating whether the little chapel still carried out evening services. After a long day of waiting, travelling and hiding, both Sam and Nina were exhausted. They collapsed into their hard, narrow beds gratefully. Nina was asleep within minutes, but Sam found himself caught between fatigue and wakefulness, longing to sleep but unable to still his racing mind.

Not the most contemplative person at this hour, he found himself staring at the little bundle of curves on the opposite side of the room. Involuntarily his mind went there — what he was to Nina, what he really was when she was alone and did not have to lie to the world. It was a bittersweet thought, but one that carried a weighty warning that he had to remember that she chose Purdue over him. He had no doubts about her undying friendship or even her amicable affection, but there was the paining sting of a thorn in his heart every time he dared ponder on her true feelings for him and the admittance that she was far more to him than just a friend, whether she knew it or not — whether he could acknowledge it or not.

The kiss in the car under the haunting sky of Baciu, the little hugs that lasted mere moments too long to just be hugs every time they were reunited, the night in Wrichtishousis after Val left the two of them alone….

Sam could think of a hundred different opportunities they had had to make love, even just to confess what he could feel as clear as a cat scratch to the soul when they were alone together. His dark eyes ran over her contours, and for a brief moment Sam wished he could graze his palm over her warm skin and feel her lips on his again. But there was no place for these notions now. She was asleep and he was exhausted.

He reached for his jacket, which he had deposited on the floor beside his bed, and dug out his lighter. Its faint glow confirmed his worst suspicions — there was, in fact, a No Smoking sign on the wall. Fortunately there was also a fire escape right outside their window.

Sam grimaced as the window squeaked and protested at being opened, worried that he would wake Nina, but she only mumbled in her sleep and turned over. He remembered a remark Purdue had once made about how deeply she slept. Nevertheless, he was careful to keep the noise down as he climbed out onto the rickety metal structure and settled down for a smoke.

The cigarette had not even touched his lips when he noticed the movement. Someone else was on the fire escape, just one story beneath him. A dark figure — stationary now, perhaps alert to the possibility of being spotted. ‘It could just be someone else out for a smoke,’ Sam thought. ‘Best thing to do is stay calm. We can’t be in danger every single time.’ Tentatively, he took a puff and breathed the smoke out slowly, watching the figure out of the corner of his eye.

It moved. A sudden, fluid, silent movement, up three steps. Sam could think of no reason why a fellow smoker on the floor below would be creeping up the stairs towards him. ‘Here we go again,’ he thought. He stubbed out the cigarette and turned back towards the window.

“Sam!”

Sam paused. The figure was closer now and still advancing, slowly and steadily, hands un-gloved and raised in a gesture of surrender.

“Sam, it’s me.” The pale hands reached up and pulled off the balaclava that covered the figure’s face.

“Purdue!” Sam’s jaw dropped. “What’s happening?”

Purdue said nothing until they were both inside. “We should be a little safer now,” he whispered. “I’ve lined the first step on the final flight with this.” In the dim light filtering in through the window, he held up a small spool, barely larger than a reel of thread, with something that looked like cling film wrapped round it. “I am quite proud of this. It’s essentially a much lighter, even more durable version of my tablet. If the sheet on the step detects the weight of anything heavier than a crow, it will set off a signal on the tablet to let us know that we must leave. It may buy us a life-saving few seconds.”

As usual, Sam felt completely wrong-footed by Purdue. While most people would start by explaining how they came to be sneaking up a fire escape, dressed like a cat burglar, and perhaps even apologizing for any alarm they might have caused, Purdue could not wait to share the genius of his latest toys.

“What’s happening?” Nina had woken up and was squinting into the darkness. “Sam? Are we in danger again?”

“It’s ok, Nina. It’s Purdue.”

“What?” Nina threw back the covers and got up, still fully dressed due to the fact that she had fallen asleep so quickly. “Dave? How did you get here? We were told you would be a couple of days, at least.”

“I made better time than I had expected,” Purdue said. “Anyone who was pursuing us should be under the impression that we set off in the direction of Zurich. They will catch up with us in time, no doubt, but this will give us enough time to stay one step ahead of them.”

“For how long?” Nina asked. “How long will this go on for, Dave? Are we going to be on the run forever?” A sorrowful note crept into her tone. “I want to go home.”

Sam instinctively turned to comfort her, but Purdue got there first. He sat beside her on the bed and slipped an arm around her shoulders. “You will, Nina,” he promised. “You will. I have a plan that should resolve any ill feeling between us and the Order of the Black Sun. I should soon be in a position to bargain for your safety. You must just trust me a little longer — and in the meantime, we have a task. One for which I shall need your help.”

“And what’s that?”

“There is an item I must acquire, something that will give me the means to bring matters to a conclusion with the Black Sun. Something that will require us to act… less than legally.”

Nina collapsed back onto the bed. “Well, there’s a nice change,” she sighed. “Tell me about it in the morning. Do you have a room?”

He shook his head. “Not for tonight. The floor will be quite sufficient.”

“Don’t be an idiot.” She held out the covers, inviting him into the narrow bed. With a protesting ache in his chest Sam saw him climb in beside her, and then there was silence.

‘Well, that clarifies nothing at all,’ Sam thought. He turned over, stared at the wall, and waited for morning.