Seven Ancient Wonders - Matthew Reilly [32]
‘Since Callimachus’s followers died out sometime in the 14th century, the Oracle is now the only person on Earth who can decode the Callimachus Text and thus reveal the locations of the Seven Ancient Wonders.’
‘As we have just heard, led by Francisco del Piero, the European coalition did not locate the Oracle himself, but they did find his pregnant wife, which is just as well: the Oracle, a foul, distasteful man by all accounts, was killed two months later in a drunken accident. Had he been located sooner, this mission would have been significantly easier and could have started immediately.
‘In any case, now the Europeans have a new-born Oracle—a boy—which means that when he reaches sufficient age, he will be able to decode the Text. According to ancient sources, a new Oracle begins to command his or her abilities around the age of ten.
‘Once del Piero has the ability to decode the Callimachus Text, his European force will commence upon the greatest treasure hunt in history: a search for the seven Pieces of the Golden Capstone.’
The Irish woman, Zoe Kissane, leaned forward: ‘Only on this occasion, by some fluke, the Oracle’s wife gave birth to twins. And we have the other child: a girl.’
‘Correct,’ Epper said. ‘And now it becomes a race. A race based solely on the maturation of two children. As they grow, they will learn to command their abilities, and when they are able to read the Word of Thoth, they will be able to decipher the Callimachus Text.’
‘Which means the girl’s wellbeing is of the utmost importance,’ O’Hara said. ‘She is to be guarded around the clock, nurtured and brought to maturity, so that when the time comes, she can translate the Text and guide us to the Wonders before the Europeans or the Americans can get them.’
Epper nodded in agreement. ‘Make no mistake, people. The odds are against us. Our rivals from America and Old Europe are already employing hundreds of scientists in pursuit of this goal. When the time comes, they will send entire armies after those seven Pieces.
‘We do not have their resources, or their numbers. But having said that, we are not entirely without advantages.
‘First. Aiding our quest is the fact that the two superpowers do not know we are embarking on it. They don’t know we have the girl.
‘And second: we are not after the entire Capstone. We only need to get one Piece. If we do that, we deprive our adversaries of the power of the entire Capstone. Granted, getting just one Piece will be a titanic task.’
Epper scanned the room.
‘This is a weighty responsibility, too weighty for one nation alone to bear. Which is why we have all come together today, a group of small nations who are prepared to join forces to combat the great powers of our time. And so the following course of action is proposed: each member of this group of nations will provide one soldier to share in the guardianship of the girl—both in her growth and in our ultimate quest to find one Piece of the Capstone.
‘But I warn you. This will be a long mission, a mission of years, not months. It will also be one of constant vigilance, self-sacrifice and discipline. The group of chosen soldiers will accompany Captain West and myself to the safehouse where the girl is now being kept. There we shall guard her and raise her, in absolute secrecy, until she is ready to fulfil her destiny.’
The seven delegations formed into huddles, whispered among themselves. Since he was his own delegation, West didn’t need to discuss anything with anyone.
At length, they reconvened, each nation presenting its selected guardian.
Canada already had Max Epper.
Sheik Abbas said, ‘On behalf of the United Arab Emirates, I offer the services of my second son, Captain Aziz al Anzar al Abbas.’
The trooper who had been sitting beside Abbas for the duration of the meeting stood. He was a rotund fellow, short and round— some would say chubby—with a bushy black beard