The Solomon Scroll

CHAPTER 39

Lamont Cameron had retired to the Gulf Coast of Florida, where he'd leased a small dive shop. He'd talked about opening a shop for years before leaving the Project. Now he'd made it a reality. Nick dialed the shop number.

"Dive Paradise."

"I'm looking for a broken down, gimpy ex-Navy Seal with an attitude. You know where I can find him?"

"Nick. What's the haps, amigo?"

"How's it going down there in retirement land?"

"The fishing's good, business sucks and the women are all too old. I'm bored out of my skull."

"I can fix that. How about a little break?"

"What kind of break?"

"Africa. Ethiopia, to be exact."

"Ethiopia? What's going on in Ethiopia?"

"Adventure. Excitement. Big doings."

"It's always big doings."

"Harker wants you back for this one. Hell, I want you back. We all do."

"Nick, you know my leg isn't as strong as it was. If we have to make a break for it on foot I'll slow us down."

"This is just an easy stroll in the mountains. Hang a closed sign on the door and get your ass up here and I'll tell you what it's about."

"Just a stroll in the mountains?"

"Yep."

"No one shooting at us?"

"Nope. No reason for anyone to know where we are."

"You want me along because I can speak the language and I look like a native?"

"Now that you mention it. Are you sure native is politically correct?"

Lamont laughed. "Why don't you ask Ronnie about that?"

"I did, once. I asked him what he thought about calling Indians Native Americans. He told me it was something some white Ivy League professor dreamed up to make himself feel better about killing all the savages. He said Indians call themselves the people or they call themselves Indians."

"Sounds about right."

"So, when can you get here? The pay's good."

Nick waited while Lamont thought it over.

"I've got a kid working for me who can keep an eye on the shop," Lamont said. "I can be there sometime tomorrow."

"We'll pick you up at the airport."

"I'll call with the flight number."

"Be good to see you."

"Yeah. You too."

Selena was standing next to Nick, listening to his end of the conversation.

"When's he coming?"

"Tomorrow."

"I'm glad. I've missed him."

"We all have. "

"You really believe what you said about nobody knowing where we're going to be?"

"How are they going to find out?"

"I don't know. All I know is that sometimes things don't work out the way we thought they would."

"It should be nice and simple," Nick said. "We go in. We find something or we don't. We leave. Nothing to it."

"Mm," Selena said.