Crusader's Gold

FIFTEEN

Alicia settled at the small round table with an iced Maple Macchiato in one hand. Their chosen table afforded them a clear view of the street outside, some ten minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square. The soldiers among them were feeling a little somnolent from all the sightseeing.

Alicia said as much. “I think I need more than a drink, guys. All this aimless walking makes me more tired than a rapid action battle.”

“I have to agree.” Crouch stretched his legs and looked drained. “Time for a break.”

“So speaks the relentless tomb raider.” Alicia smiled affectionately. “Your life’s dream has been to inspect dusty old churches.”

“In a manner of speaking — yes. Ancient treasure doesn’t find itself. And it’s not always easy. If it were there would be nothing left to find.”

“Perhaps we should be looking from a different angle,” Caitlyn speculated.

“It’s not always there either. It’s already been looted or destroyed,” Healey spoke up. “Hence the reason most people don’t bother looking.”

“You saying we’re on a wild goose chase?” Alicia pounced on the young man’s intimations.

“I dunno. We were inside for three hours and have nothing beyond two boring old Hercules sculptures to show for it. Don’t forget we have other problems on the way.”

Alicia nodded, looking over to the food counter. Already Caitlyn and Crouch were tapping away on their tablets, comparing local information with what they already knew. Alicia sipped at her drink, enjoying the distinction between sweetness and ice, water and coffee. Russo, sat beside her, kept his gaze fixed on the picture window.

“No matter where we go,” he said, “what we do. Our job, our deeds, always follow us.”

“Because we’re soldiers?” Alicia asked. “Or people?”

“Soldiers first. Always.”

“So how do we stop running?”

Russo’s gaze shimmered with alarm. He didn’t move his head, but his next words were clearly carefully chosen. “We make the decision to. And stick by that decision no matter what happens.”

“That’s it?”

“Yup.”

“You make it sound easy, Russo. I’ve been skirting that easiness my entire adult life.”

“Myles,” Russo shot a fast glance her way, “is anything with you ever easy? No. Expect the worse.”

“Will do, Cap’n.” She gave the soldier a mock salute and went back to nursing her macchiato. Crowds drifted past the finger-stained glass, many with cameras swinging from their necks or fingers. More tapped on cellphones as they walked, uncaring about who they agitated. Several sat or crouched against a far concrete wall, taking a break from the dog-eat-dog world of exploration. The crowds inside the coffee shop ebbed and waned, first full to standing room only and then emptying out before another onslaught. As the day wore on the masses thinned and the light faded. Crouch and Caitlyn gave up more than once.

“All right, here’s another idea,” Caitlyn said for the fourth time that hour. “How about we take it back to the beginning. Lysippos. Then Alexandria and Constantinople. What’s our only other constant until then?”

Crouch shook his head. “I already mentioned this. It’s the Horses, of course. The bloody, silly Horses.”

“Calm down, boss,” Russo rumbled. “Won’t get anywhere with a grump on.”

Alicia took her seat again at that point, having visited the food counter, and unwrapped a roast chicken sandwich.

Caitlyn nodded, eyeing the meal hungrily. “Yes, but beyond that we know nothing. Well, here’s an interesting fact. They’re one of the most often stolen and recovered treasures in history.”

“What? Are you kidding? You mean they were stolen again? After Dandolo?”

“Well, for a brief period, yes. First stolen by Constantine, then Dandolo. And then once more — they were also stolen by Napoleon.”