Black Harvest

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

They'd rented a car at the hotel, a Peugeot. They parked in front of the museum.

"More domes." Ronnie gestured at the roof.

The old public baths had a high, arched doorway and paned windows under a large dome. Two more domes at the ends balanced the central mass. The exterior featured horizontal bands of white and brown and accents of yellow under a red roof.

The museum was closed.

"Where to now?" Nick said.

"The National History Museum. It was next on my list."

They'd rented a GPS along with the car. It guided them through the confusion of Sofia traffic and indecipherable street names until they found the National Museum.

The building was modern in a 70s way, low and clean, a study in simplicity. The central foyer was cool and light. The floor was of polished gray stone. A wide flight of stone steps led up to the second and third floors. Exhibition galleries branched off on the sides. Selena consulted a guide printed in English and Bulgarian. The Greek antiquities were on the second floor.

The room with the Greek and Roman exhibits was to the left. White platforms of varying height supported glass cases for the displays. The floor was tiled with more broad squares of polished stone, under a ceiling with repeating squares of dark wood.

The room was quiet and cool. They were the only visitors. Selena walked among the cases looking for anything relating to Erinys or Demeter. The exhibits were arranged chronologically. She moved through the centuries and stopped in front of a case about three feet tall, set at waist height.

"Here's something."

The case contained statues and pottery.

"That's Erinys." She pointed at a damaged statue of a woman in a flowing robe wearing a braided wreath. The sculptor had given her strong, unforgiving features. The corners of her mouth were pulled down. She was looking at something and wasn't happy about it.

Selena read the card below the figure.

"This wasn't found in Sofia. The card says it was dug up in Bankya at a temple dedicated to Demeter."

Nick studied the statue. "Could fit the inscription. Where's Bankya?"

"I don't know."

In the car they consulted the GPS.

"It's about ten kilometers from here." Nick looked at his watch. "Getting late. Let's save it for tomorrow."

They headed back to the Hilton.