The Goddess Legacy

Chapter 23

The University of Delhi South Campus covered sixty-nine acres of lush expanse adjacent to Jheel Park, five miles from the airport, whose regular flights thundered overhead with the regularity of a metronome. The grounds were crawling with students when the rickshaw deposited Drake and Allie at the main entrance police outpost, and after asking for directions to the administration building, they set off. Plentiful mature trees provided much-appreciated shade along the pedestrian lanes.

“So many people,” Allie observed as they walked. “Hard to grasp the size of the population if you haven’t been here. I mean, a billion’s just a number, you know? Until you see it…”

“Over three times the population of the U.S., the majority living a sustenance existence.” Allie glanced at him, and he shrugged. “I read it in the in-flight magazine.”

Their destination was a multistory edifice with an imposing façade near the center of the grounds. They entered the lobby and approached an information desk and asked where the linguistics department was located. The clerk told them that it had been recently moved to the fourth floor, and gave them an involved description of how to find it in the labyrinthine building.

They climbed the wide stairway and followed the clerk’s directions until they arrived at a foyer, where a stern woman in a blue collegiate uniform sat behind a counter.

“We’re looking for Dr. Rakesh Sharma,” Allie explained, Drake standing silently behind her.

The woman looked them over and didn’t like what she saw, judging by her expression. “Yes? May I ask why?”

“We need to consult with him on a matter of professional interest,” Allie said, hoping the declaration would suffice.

“Really. And what might that be?”

“It’s confidential.”

“Hmm, I see, a confidential consultation on a matter of professional interest,” the woman declared, her tone saying she didn’t buy a word of it. “And whom do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

“My name’s Allie Brody. I’m an archeologist from the United States,” she said with as much self-importance as she could muster. The woman’s no-nonsense expression didn’t change.

“Is Professor Sharma expecting you?”

A reasonable question, and one that caused Drake’s stomach to somersault as he watched the exchange.

“Not specifically,” Allie said. “But I’m sure he’ll want to—”

A male voice interrupted her from behind them. “I couldn’t help but overhear, Sahima. These young people are looking for me?”

Drake and Allie spun to find an Indian man in a beige lightweight suit, with a pale blue shirt and a yellow bow tie, smiling at them. He was in his fifties and as tall as Drake, his eyes quick with intelligence and good humor. Allie stepped forward with her hand extended, but froze when she saw the prosthetic device where his fingers should have been.

“Oh, yes, Professor, but they don’t have an appointment…” the woman announced.

“Well, I’m not so busy that I can’t spare a moment for someone who’s traveled all the way from America just to see me, am I?” Sharma motioned to them. “I was just taking a break between classes. Let’s talk on the way to my office. I’m afraid I haven’t got much time.”

Allie made her pitch as they tailed the professor down the hall. “We’re colleagues of Elliott Carson,” she began.

He slowed. “Oh, yes. Nice chap.”

“Then you remember him?”

“Of course. How could I not?”

“We have a photograph of a relic that we could use some help translating…” Allie said as they entered the professor’s office. A young woman with round steel spectacles looked up at them from a desk in the corner, piled high with texts, an ancient PC monitor occupying one side.

“Professor! I have your messages,” she said, waving several yellow slips at him.

“Thank you, Divya. Fetch us some tea, would you?” he said, more an order than a request.

“Yes, Professor.”

Drake and Allie followed Sharma into his office, and he hung his jacket on a hook mounted to the back of the door. He turned to them and motioned to a small circular table with four chairs. “Please, have a seat. Forgive me if I work while we talk.”

“Of course,” Allie said, trying not to stare at the professor’s metal clamp of a hand.

Sharma skimmed the message slips, made several notes using his left hand, and then checked his computer screen before coming over to the table and sitting beside Allie. “There, we should have a few minutes of peace. Now, what exactly can I do for you?”

“Elliott had a photograph of a dagger with what appears to be Sanskrit running along the blade, and I was hoping you might be able to shed some light on what it says.”

Divya appeared with three cups of tea on a tray as Allie was showing the professor the image on her phone.

“Mmm, yes, I remember it. He didn’t share my translation with you?” Sharma asked.

“I’m afraid he passed away two days ago,” Allie said, her voice quiet. “We never got a chance to discuss it.”

“Good Lord! That’s terrible. He was so… fit. Heart attack? Stroke?”

“It was a complete surprise,” Drake said, nodding somberly.

“My condolences. Did he have family?”

“Nobody close.”

“Well, the Sanskrit referred to a location he was convinced is located in Jammu and Kashmir. Are you familiar with it?”

Allie and Drake nodded.

The professor stared at the script and recited from memory. “Within the blessed cave of the six-headed fair one, the path of the devout can be seen by the righteous…”

Allie waited expectantly. “The righteous…?” she prompted.

Sharma pursed his lips. “That’s all it says.”

Her shoulders sagged. “What?”

“Yes. It probably continues on the other side of the blade. At least, that was my speculation.” The professor sipped his tea. “It was a most unusual substitution cypher. Fortunately, there are no secrets to those with the fortitude to persevere.”

“But there’s no guarantee that it continues on the flip side?” Drake asked.

“Well, no, there are never any guarantees in life. But it’s a reasonable assumption, and one that would be consistent with other relics of the period.” He glanced at Drake and then sat back. “Your colleague mentioned that he hoped to have the dagger available for physical inspection soon.”

Allie nodded. “That’s right.”

“I’d suggest that once you have it, you get back in touch with me. Call whenever, I’m usually up late working — the curse of bachelorhood, I’m afraid. I’d be delighted to decrypt the rest of the script for you. It’s a welcome challenge after long days of lecturing to bored students — the bane of my existence, but someone must pass on knowledge to future generations.” He rose, walked over to his desk, and slid a business card from an antique jade case before returning to the table. Sharma handed the card to Allie, who pocketed it. “Which reminds me that duty calls,” the professor said. “I’m afraid I have no more time — my next class begins in just a few minutes, so I must say goodbye.”

Allie and Drake moved to the open door, where Divya had resumed working at her station. “Thank you for all your help, Dr. Sharma, and for agreeing to see us,” Allie said.

The professor joined them at the threshold. “It is my unexpected pleasure to have such delightful company, although I wish the circumstances were different. I’m sorry about Elliott’s passing. He looked so vital…”

Drake sighed. “It came as quite a shock.”

“I’m sure.”

Allie smiled at the studious young woman as they left. “Nice to meet you, Divya,” she said.

Divya glanced up and then returned to her work. “Likewise.”