The Swords of Babylon

CHAPTER TWENTY

Torsten Dahl arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, around Saturday lunchtime and immediately called his friend, Olle Akerman.

“Where are you, Olle?”

“What? No greeting, my old friend? I am with your wife. Ha!”

Dahl waited patiently.

“Alright, alright, I am nervous that is all. I have been nervous since I saw that Cayman pig sneaking around the tomb. Thought I would never see him again.”

Dahl knew that Cayman had taken charge of the Icelandic tomb’s operations when everyone still thought he worked for the DIA. “You escaped him, Olle. Remember that. Now, where are you?”

Akerman gave him the address of a coffee shop. “I have read that Reykjavik is among the safest cities in the world. That is very good, ja?”

Dahl left the airport, jumped straight into a taxi and the driver took him into the heart of Rejkyavik. Dahl studied the blocky buildings and the ever present looming spire of Hallgrimskirkja, the mountains across the water in the distance. Rejkyavik was a pretty place and, lacking the bustle of Stockholm, always seemed appealing whenever he visited. Johanna and the kids would love it here. Only trouble was, he only ever visited as part of an ongoing mission. Johanna might not even know he was here.

Akerman waved from outside the coffee shop as Dahl’s taxi pulled up. Dahl shook his head, paid the driver, and ushered the older man back inside. “Low profile, Olle. Low profile.”

“Ah. You soldiers and your missions. It is a good job you have people like me to keep your heads in the real world, ja?”

Dahl directed him to the back of the shop, next to the fire exit. He then ordered drinks and sat down lightly on the edge of a comfortable seat. During the last two hours of flying he had evaluated all the information Drake and Yorgi had conveyed. The only clear move they could make was to try and liberate the professor.

The team over in Moscow had agreed with him and an operation was even now under way.

Dahl watched the front doors. “So Olle. Tell me all about it.”

“Well, first I hear that something has been translated. Something huge. And by one of my colleagues, Jakob Hult. News like that, it is a big thing for us. The process of translation is very boring, Torsten.”

“Understood. Go on.”

“So, of the four of us — all translators — suddenly two have had accidents and are dead. And then Jakob, he vanishes. That leaves me. Just me. Very scary.” Akerman shook his head.

“And then you saw Cayman?”

“No. Then I decide to investigate.” Akerman grinned. “Jakob’s sector, it is sealed off, but not very well…”

Dahl sighed. “Oh, Olle.”

“I am very good at this, Torsten. Do not worry. I go over there and have a sneak around. Sadly, I find nothing. Just the same boring translations I am dealing with. But I do see that a small part of the rock is broken away.”

Dahl made a motion. “As if someone had smashed it off on purpose?”

“I think so, yes. To hide what they found. And only one person could do that — Jakob. But then the security come around and I am forced to leave, but decide to return the next night.”

“Of course you do.”

“And that is when I see Cayman. He is sneaking around, heading up the ladders toward Odin’s tomb. The man carried a rucksack and weapons. It is then, unfortunately, that I sneezed…” Akerman hung his head in embarrassment.

“Cayman saw you. Did he say anything?”

“No. He just looked at me. A… a horrible stare, Torsten. A dead soul. I knew then that if I didn’t run I would die. So run I did.”

Dahl placed a hand on Akerman’s shoulder. “I am sorry.”

“It is not your fault. But then, the next day, I see Jakob. He is not hiding. I am walking through Reykjavik to get the shuttle to the tomb and Jakob is heading to the seaport. I follow him… ah, it’s not so difficult, no matter how much you spies and soldiers like to puff your egos up about it, and see him with money. A lot of money. He is purchasing a boat. That is when I called you, Torsten.”

“You think Jakob was paid off and is trying to leave by boat?”

Akerman shrugged. “I am academic. I leave the grunt thinking to you, my friend.”

“Well if that’s the case.” Dahl hurriedly finished his coffee. “We should find Jakob now, before he has chance to leave, and persuade him to talk to us.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Really?”

“I would have already done it if I hadn’t known someone more suited to the manual labor.” Akerman paused. “That is you.”

“Thanks. Now drink up, Olle, we have a rogue translator to catch before someone else gets to him.”