The Lost Labyrinth

IV

Mikhail was delighted to have broken Knox so cleanly, but when he looked around at Boris for commendation, all he saw was doubt instead. 'Yes?' he asked. 'Is there something you want to say?'

Boris pulled a face, apologising in advance for any potential offence. 'It's just, I was wondering, this man you talked about the night we arrived The professor. The one who'd seen the golden fleece for himself. The one who'd touched it. Remember?'

'Of course I remember. What about him?'

'Did he…I mean, did he tell you this freely? Or did you have to…you know?'

'What does that matter?' asked Mikhail. 'He wasn't lying, if that's what you're getting at. He told me the truth.'

'Yes, I'm sure, but how can you-'

'He was telling me the truth,' bridled Mikhail. 'Or are you questioning my judgement?'

'No, sir. Of course not.'

'Good.' The question had soured his mood, however. It was time to show these people that his judgement could be trusted. He looked down at Knox. 'Tell me how it happened,' he said. 'Start at the beginning.'

'It was all Augustin's idea,' said Knox urgently. 'I didn't want anything to do with it.'

'What was his idea?'

'Petitier came to him asking for help. He thought someone was after his fleece. But Augustin wanted to turn it in. I mean it's history, for Christ's sake. Petitier went crazy. They got into a fight. And then…you know. But he was only defending himself.'

'Is that what he told you?'

'He'd never have done something like that deliberately.'

'Sure!' snorted Mikhail. It always amazed him how trusting these sheep were. 'And what happened then?'

'He called me in my room. He was in a panic. I promised to help. We were due to collect his girlfriend from the airport, so we decided to make it look as though we'd left Petitier unharmed, that he'd been attacked and robbed after we'd left. We took the fleece into the airport before she arrived, stashed it in one of those airport lockers.'

'And the key?'

'We knew we were likely to be searched when we got back, so we buried it out there. There are hedges all around short-term parking. We meant to go back for it when everything had settled down, but Jesus!'

Mikhail sat back on the settee. It sounded plausible enough, except that Knox seemed a little too eager to be believed. He turned to Boris. 'What do you think?'

'I don't know. Maybe.'

'Davit?'

'Don't ask me, sir. Above my pay grade.'

'That's helpful.'

'Why don't we get him to describe the fleece to Edouard,' suggested Zaal. 'He should be able to tell us whether or not it sounds authentic.'

'Good thinking,' said Mikhail. He looked around the atrium and frowned. 'And just where exactly is our historian friend?' he asked.