Seven Ancient Wonders - Matthew Reilly [78]
‘A Soviet fragmentation grenade in Afghanistan in 1987. For many years, I was unable to even walk on it. And a man with limited movement is useless in trap-laden quarries and inlets. While I retrained my withered muscles throughout the’90s, building them up again, I researched all I could about the Capstone. I was actually grooming a team of mujahideen in Afghanistan at the time of the attacks on New York and Washington DC to hunt for the Pieces. But then the September 11 attacks happened and Afghanistan was plunged into chaos. And I was captured by the Americans. But now my leg is strong.’
‘The Zeus and Artemis Pieces,’ West repeated. ‘Where are they?’
Zaeed grinned a sly smile. ‘Interestingly, these two Pieces that defy your search are neither hidden nor concealed. Both exist in plain sight—if only one knows where to look. The Artemis Piece, yes, it is indeed in St Peter’s in Rome, in no less than the most holy place of the Cult of Amun-Ra. As for the Zeus Piece. . . ’
Zaeed leaned back in his chair, recited the appropriate verse from memory:
‘No thunderbolts did he wield, no wrath did he bear,
No victory did he achieve.
Indeed, it was only the Victory in his right hand that made him great,
Oh, winged woman, whither didst thou fly?’
Zaeed looked at West. ‘It was only the Victory in his right hand that made him great.’
West followed his line of reasoning. ‘The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was said to hold in his right hand a smaller statue of “Winged Victory”: the Greek goddess Nike, a woman with wings coming out of her back, like an angel or the figurehead on the prow of a ship. And since the figure of Zeus was so immense, its statue of Winged Victory was said to be life-sized.’
Zaeed said, ‘Correct. And if it was Victory who made him great, we must look not for Zeus’s Victory. Thus the verse asks: whither did she fly?
‘Now, as I’m sure you know, many life-sized statues of Winged Victory have been found around the ancient Greek world. But after a comprehensive study of the works of Pheidias, the sculptor of the statue of Zeus, I have found only one statue of Victory that possesses the features of his superior level of artistry: fine lines, perfect form, and the rare ability to reproduce the appearance of wet garments in marble.
‘The specimen I have found is the greatest surviving example of Greek sculpture in the world today, yet ironically, Western scholars still assign its construction to an unknown artist. It was found in 1863 by a French archaeologist, Charles Champoiseau—’
‘Oh, no way. . . ’ Wizard gasped in understanding. ‘It’s not . . .’
Zaeed nodded. ‘The very same. Champoiseau found it on the Greek island of Samothrace, and thus the statue now bears that island’s name: the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
‘It was taken back to France, where its genius was quickly appreciated, whence it was taken to the Louvre. There it has sat to this very day in pride of place on a great landing at the top of the Daru Staircase, underneath a high domed ceiling in the Denon Wing of the Louvre in Paris.’
The Halicarnassus sped towards Europe.
It was decided that the team would split into two.
West would lead one sub-team to Paris to go after the Zeus Piece, while Wizard would lead a smaller team to Rome, to chase the Artemis Piece. As for Zaeed, he would stay with Sky Monster on the Halicarnassus, bound and secured.
Everyone scattered around the plane, some to rest, others to research, others to just prepare for the missions ahead.
It happened that Pooh Bear found himself preparing his guns near Mustapha Zaeed, still handcuffed to his chair.
‘Hello, my brother,’ Zaeed whispered. ‘May Allah bless and keep you.’
‘And you,’ Pooh Bear replied, more out of religious habit than because he meant it.
‘Your father, the sheik, is a great man,’ Zaeed said. ‘And a fine Muslim.’
‘What do you want?’
‘The presence of the Jew concerns me,’ Zaeed said simply, nodding at Stretch over on the far side of the main cabin. ‘I can understand your father