Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 7

Adam asked, "Well, what do you think?"

Linda shook her head. "I don't know what to think. Let's go inside and try to figure out what just happened."

They proceeded into the office. Expecting broken furniture, debris strewn floors and dirt on everything, Adam found instead, an orderly arrangement of desk and chairs, working light fixtures and clean floors. There was a small refrigerator and microwave on a counter top. Adam opened the fridge and pointed to its well-stocked condition. The astonished pair sat down and waited.

"Someone's obviously been here, maybe even living here."

"No doubt." was Linda's sharp response.

The tone of her voice surprised Adam. "You know we don't have to stay here. I'm sure we can sneak out tonight and avoid those crazies that are after us, or after the artifacts … or both for that matter."

Linda nodded. "Sorry about that.  It's just that I'm a bit nervous … not too happy about being chased.  It's not a big town. They could easily be watching the main roads. And if they are cops, then they would have a lot more eyes looking for us."

"You're not the only one with anxiety. Here's a thought—we could simply let them catch us, and see what happens. I mean, it's not like they'll arrest us. We didn't do anything wrong."

Linda said, "Only one of them had a uniform. And what about Dr. Wujciak?  What if it's the same bunch of whackjobs?  Maybe they'll make the artifacts and us disappear."

"Yeah, but what if they're just following up on the science building explosion. These guys could be detectives who trailed us here, thinking we may know something."

Linda smirked. "Uh-huh, and what about that 'they may have Hedda's piece' remark?  How do you explain that?"

"Hmm. They are looking for the artifacts…"

Adam hunched over with his head down, staring at the floor. Linda, too nervous to sit still, got up and walked over to one of the rear windows overlooking the flat area leading out to the mines. The yard was mostly gravel and dirt, with vague outlines of narrow paths leading away toward several low lying hills. A few weeping willows caught the late afternoon sun and threw their oblong shadows across the yard. The trees looked like they started to grow when the mines were shut down decades ago. Adam noticed Linda staring through the window and followed her gaze. In the distance, near the mines, a stand of willows moved in rhythm to a gentle breeze.  The criss-crossing patterns of leaves seemed to weave a spell, drawing him into a sense of calm, a feeling that there was a logical explanation for everything that had happened these past few days.

Linda blinked. "Someone's coming."

Adam straightened up and focused, but there was nothing to see but a few empty walking paths.

"Wait. There's no one there now. My eyes must be playing tricks."

She moved her head from side to side. Adam squinted but only saw scrub and high grass waving in the riverfront breeze. He rubbed her back and said, "Maybe it's just a play of light amid the trees. I don't blame you for seeing things. This whole situation seems crazy. I just want to get us out of here."

"What about Hedda?"

"She can decide what to do on her own. I don't think those people, whoever they are, mean any harm. I think they must be after this medallion and whatever they think Hedda may have. Perhaps an overzealous collector, maybe a secret government organization. Who knows, maybe a black helicopter is about to land out there."

Linda turned to see Adam's playful grin, and returned one of her own. "Yeah, some secret organization … showing up in a very obvious black limo and chasing us across town. Besides, they can't be any good if we lost them."

She turned away to look out the window again.

Adam asked, "So, are we going to wait here forever?  Did you see which way Hedda went?"

Linda scanned the distant shrubbery beyond the trees and saw nothing out of the ordinary. "I think she went out along the main path. That way."

She pointed as Adam looked along her arm, spotting the path leading to the trees.

"Maybe we should go look for her."

Linda agreed with a nod, and they both exited the office backdoor. Adam noticed his laptop on the rear seat of the Pathfinder. "Hold on. I don't like the idea of leaving my laptop in the car."

He grabbed the case and popped into the office for a minute. Rejoining Linda by the car, the pair marched off along the main footpath. Although the trees, shrubs, tall grasses and a variety of nameless but gnarly species were claiming the trail for their own, there was a perceptible, narrow path which looked as if it had seen some occasional use, and the two gratefully stepped along its winding course.

***

The limo's engine continued its soft feline purr as a uniformed man swung open the rusty gate. Moments later, the purr gradually changed to a menacing growl as the limo proceeded through and into the River Slope Mine property. The driver stared ahead at the winding road as his stooped over, white-haired passenger peered at a small green screen illustrating an aerial view of several buildings ahead and a yellow-green dot pulsating between them.