Indy, Kristoff and Anna arrived at Kristoff's flat a little while later.
"Quick, get inside," said Kristoff, "We've lost them for a little while, but here will be the first place they'll look for us."
They entered the building and made their way up the stairs.
"Who were those men after us?" asked Anna, "Do you think they were working for Von Weaseldorf?"
Indiana nodded, "Nazi agents. They've been trying to kill me since thirty-six."
"They weren't after you," said Kristoff, "Well, I mean, they weren't trying to kill you. They're trying to find the handle, and they think we can bring it to them."
Anna seemed concerned, "But, one of you do have it, right? I mean, they weren't…"
"Yeah, I know where it is." said Kristoff, "It's…"
"Don't worry about it, Red." Indy interrupted. Anna's face went red as her hair when she heard the apt nickname.
They arrived at the door to Kristoff's third floor flat. There were fairly obvious signs that it had been kicked in, the lock had been smashed out of place and the door couldn't fully close, but it was jammed shut.
"Ah, let me get that." Kristoff grabbed the handle, turned it all the way and then shoved his shoulder against the door. It gave little resistance to the large Norwegian.
With the door fully opened, Kristoff turned to his guests. "Well, here it is. Home."
The apartment was destroyed. Bookshelves were thrown to the ground, dressers and cabinets thrown open. A large, low table sat in the middle of the room, minus two of it's legs one of which had made its way into the flat's kitchenette and the other inexplicably into the ceiling between the blades of an askew ceiling fan. Other random assortments of destroyed furniture were spread across the main room. There was a solid level of debris across the entire place. Two other rooms were visible, a bedroom and bath, both equally disheveled. A long couch was haphazardly pushed up against the wall, blocking half of the doorway to the bedroom. It looked as if only the smallest effort was made to clean it up.
The place was a dump.
"This place is a dump!" exclaimed Anna, "and you live here!?" Anna walked into the apartment and began to examine the mess.
Kristoff chuckled, "It's not usually like this, I promise." Even Indiana looked skeptical. "Hey, I told you that Von Weaseldorf didn't think I still had the artifact. Do you think he'd just take me at my word?"
It made a perverse amount of sense to Indy. It wasn't be the first time he'd seen that a Nazi had torn apart an apartment looking for a single small item.
"What'd they take?" asked Indiana.
"Nothing," Kristoff shrugged, "... I think. I haven't had the time to put it back together. So, I'm not sure."
"Well, grab what you need and let's get out of here, if they've been here once, they'll be here again."
"Right," Kristoff pulled a rug over to reveal a floor safe. He entered the combination, and withdrew two pistols and a small box of ammunition. He handed one to Indiana. "You'll need this."
Indiana checked the magazine, it was loaded. Good, thought Indy.
"Kristoff, how do you know Anna?"
Kristoff looked puzzled. "...I thought she was with you?"
Indiana pointed his pistol at Anna. "Take a seat, Red." Indy motioned to the couch.
"Wha-" Anna was taken by surprise.
"I need some answers. Who do you work for? Because it's sure not US Army intelligence."
"What? No, I work for Major..." Anna stumbled. "...Sutherland?"
It was the worst lie Indiana Jones had heard in a very, very long time.
"That might be the worst lie I ever heard. One last time, who do you work for?"
"... I... I don't work for anyone." Anna confessed, "I'm after Von Weaseldorf for my own reasons."
Indiana was skeptical, but he was intrigued enough to lower his weapon. "Your own reasons?"
"Well, if trying to stop a megalomanical madman from acquiring a mind control device isn't enough of a reason…" Anna started, "Yes, I have my own reasons for going after Von Weaseldorf. Which is why I was trying to find you, Doctor Jones."
"Me?"
"Yes." Anna said, raising her chin. "I need you to help me track down Duke Von Weaseldorf and help return what he stole from me."
If Indiana Jones was skeptical before, now he was incredulous. "Look kid, I don't have time to chase some Bavarian Duke all across Scandinavia. We already have what he needs, and all I have to do is take it back to Washington and it's out of his reach, for good. This adventure is already over."
"No, it's not." Anna said, "here." Anna was prepared for this situation, though she expected this conversation to happen in a small coffeeshop, not in the trashed-out apartment of a Norwegian treasure hunter. She pulled out a small manila envelope from her coat. And threw it to Indy. Indy caught it, but instead of opening it himself he handed it to Kristoff.
"Open it," Indiana said.
Kristoff opened the envelope. His eyes went wide.
"You're going to take me to Von Weaseldorf," Anna demanded.
"Indy..." Kristoff leaned in towards Indiana and without taking his eyes of the enormous wad of money contained in the envelope said, "Indy, I think we're gonna take her to Von Weaseldorf."
Indiana lowered his gun, and looked towards Kristoff, incredulously. Anna got a smug look on her face. They were bought and she knew it.
"Alright, Red, but we need to get the handle first. Kristoff?"
"Hmm… yeah?" he looked up from the bundle of cash in his hands.
"The handle?"
Kristoff knocked on his neighbor's door, only across the hallway.
"Mr. Oaken?" he said, "It's Kristoff."
The door swung open to reveal a wall of a man. Kristoff was large, but Oaken was a giant. Despite his enormous size, the older man had a warm, friendly face with long, blonde mustache.
"Yoo hoo!" he said in a fairly high-pitched, sing-song voice. "Welcome, Kristoff! How are things?"
"Fine, Mr. Oaken."
"Really? I'm thinking not so much, ya know. Your apartment is…" he looked over Kristoff's shoulder at the Norwegian treasure hunter's broken door.
"Rats, Mr. Oaken. Great big ones. I've been talking to the building owner about setting up some traps."
Oaken caught on that Kristoff didn't really want to talk about his destroyed apartment.
"Well, Kristoff, what can I do for you?"
"Do you still have that package I gave you?" asked Kristoff, "I need it back."
"Of course, Kristoff, here let me get it. Do you need that order back, too?"
"Yes, Mr. Oaken, I definitely need that, too."
When Kristoff returned to the apartment, Indiana and Anna had gathered anything useful into a couple of bags, mostly winter clothes and gear.
"Allright, I got it here." said Kristoff as he entered. "The next step was to get this piece out of Europe. The further we can get this away from Von Weaseldorf, the better."
"Southland." Indiana muttered.
Kristoff raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Hans Southland. He's the Army Intelligence officer that tipped me off to this magic mirror business in the first place. If we can get this to Major Southland, consider it as good as gone." Probably because it'd be filed away in a giant warehouse somewhere never to be seen again, Indy continued in his head. But at least it'd be lost in US government custody, and not in a place where it'd be easily recoverable by Nazi agents.
Indy realized that Anna had not taken her eyes off of the small package that Kristoff brought back. There's got to be more to this, though Indiana.
"...unless," started Indiana, "There's some reason that we might need this." He turned to Anna for confirmation. She looked up at him.
"No… no, we should definitely send it back to this Marcus person," she said, "Kristoff's right, the further we can get it away from Von Weaseldorf the better."
Despite what everyone was saying, Indiana realized, no one actually wanted to get rid of the artifact. To Kristoff, it was an unfulfilled paycheck that owed dividends. He himself wanted to keep it around just because it represented the most material clue in this unfolding mystery, and that it gave them an advantage over Von Weaseldorf. But Anna... he still couldn't place Anna. So far, he'd been shot at, beaten up and chased all over Copenhagen after meeting her, and though she hadn't outright lied to him about anything, really, he knew that he couldn't trust her. Not without knowing what she wanted with Von Weaseldorf. This was the Snow Temple all over again, thought Indiana, everyone knows what's going on except for him.
"Right," said Indiana, "Our next stop is back to the American Embassy here in Copenhagen. They can get this package to Marcus, plus Uncle Sam owes me one." Hopefully, there would be someone there with a high enough paygrade to know that, though.
Indiana walked into the American Embassy alone, he'd left Anna with Kristoff both in the taxi, waiting around the corner. The first thing he noticed were the two men in dark suits on the street outside watching him enter. Luckily, they weren't dumb enough to try kidnapping an American from in front his own embassy. But he'd have to be careful with how he left.
Indy removed his hat and walked up to the central kiosk, and addressed the receptionist. "My name is Doctor Jones, I was meant to check in with a man from Army Intelligence earlier today. I was… uh, delayed."
"Yes, Doctor Jones, do you know who exactly you were meant to check in with?"
"Uh, no, actually, just that he was a liaison for Army Intelligence and that he would know me."
"Well, there is a Major Eaton here at the moment, he's meeting with a Danish national, though."
Indiana knew Eaton. He was a serious, heavy man with a small moustache who originally recruited him to the mission to recover the Ark of the Covenant.
"Eaton is here? Could you inform him that a Doctor Henry Jones wanted to meet with him?"
"I can tell him that you're here, but I cannot guarantee a meeting, the Major is a very busy man these days, what with the war going on."
"Thank you, miss."
"Please wait here." She said before going back into the offices beyond the lobby.
Indiana did not have to wait long. The receptionist returned very quickly, "Major Eaton will see you now."
Indiana entered a small meeting room inside of the Embassy that the receptionist escorted him to. Major Eaton was there seated, wearing a blue-gray suit.
"Doctor Jones." He stood up from his chair, and outstretched his arm for a handshake. "I could hardly believe it when Miss Moneypenny here said that you of all people were here to see me."
The receptionist looked annoyed. "It's Litweiler, sir." She turned and left.
"Sorry. When Miss Litweiler said that." He corrected himself. "I thought that the semester had just started at Barnett."
Indy was taken back by Major Eaton's knowledge of his transfer from Marshall College to Barnett.
"Don't be surprised, Doctor. We've been trying to keep tabs on you after that whole incident in Hatay with Walter Donovan. The rumor going around the agency is that he was a little more than sympathetic with the Nazi cause, before he disappeared, that is. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Indiana chuckled. He wasn't the best of friends with Major Eaton, but at least the Major wore his allegiances on his sleeves, or rather on the shoulders of his uniform. They understood each other.
"You of all people would know that a man must have his secrets," replied Indiana.
"Well, I can't condone any illegal actions," Eaton said, "but I also don't have to hear about them. Now, what can I do for you, Doctor."
"Now, I'm pretty sure I can't tell you about what I'm doing here, strictly confidential."
"Of course."
"But, I was supposed to met one of your agents here, a little while ago but I seem to have missed him."
"One of my Army Intelligence agents? Are you sure?" Major Eaton seemed confused.
"Yes, I was supposed to meet someone who'd put me in contact with an Army Intelligence major back in London, Major Southland."
Major Eaton sat back in his chair. "Huh," was the only word he let out of his mouth.
"Is something wrong?"
"This… Major Southland, was it?"
"Yes. Hans Southland."
"And he said he was from Army Intelligence?"
"Yes." replied Jones, "And he made specific reference to our meeting in back in thirty-six about the Tanis development."
"That's troubling news, Doctor Jones." Major Eaton leaned forward, "You were probably lucky that you caught me here."
"Why is that?"
"Because there is no Major Southland in US Army Intelligence. Nor are there any Army Intelligence agents in Denmark besides myself." Indiana looked stunned. "I would know, I'm the head of the European Section."
"What?"
"I'm sorry, Doctor Jones. You've been tricked into… whatever it is you're doing. But," Major Eaton started, "I may be able to help you. Anyone who thinks they can gain by impersonating a US Army Intelligence agent is not someone that the real US Army Intelligence would want to succeed. If you tell me what this imposter's mission for you was, I can promise the full investigative and logistic powers of the US Government to aid you, to the best of my ability."
Indiana appreciated the gesture, but knew that it was largely hollow. Uncle Sam didn't have as much pull in Europe as Major Eaton's words would have lead a listener to believe. Still, Eaton had been a useful ally before…
"And," continued Eaton, "Army Intelligence will, of course, pay for any information you have about this plot."
… and he paid well.
Indiana inhaled. "Major, I want you to understand that I'm on your side on this, but I am a little in the dark about what's going on myself. Are you familiar with an archaeologist by the name of Duke Von Weaseldorf?"
"I've heard of him, retired professor, correct?"
"Recently came out of retirement." Indiana corrected him. "He's at an archaeological dig in northern Norway right now. Looking for an artifact called the Mirror of Reason…" Indiana went on to explain the basic gist of the legend from what he had told Hans.
"And this Hans Southland? He told you here to contact this Kristoff Bjorgman."
"No, I suggested it." Indiana admitted, "He said he was with your outfit and said he would pay."
"But, you met mister Bjorgman here, correct?"
"Yes, and he still has the artifact."
Major Eaton nodded, "That's good. We shouldn't let something like this fall into the Nazi's hands. I'd send the artifact back to Washington, where it could be secure and kept from these shady characters, if it were up to me."
Indiana was inclined to agreed.
"But," Eaton finished, "it's not. Doctor Jones, you're the expert here, and you've proven yourself more than capable to me and your country. What's the plan with the artifact."
This was pretty much the exact scenario that Jones had hoped to avoid. "Well, that would be the smart choice, sending it back," Indiana said "but, based on how little we know, I don't think we should do it just yet. Having it gives us an advantage over Von Weaseldorf, plus, we know practically nothing about it, the entire thing is probably just superstitious malarky."
"Right," said Eaton. "I can arrange passage to Tromso, just you?"
"No, three. Kristoff Bjorgman is working with me, and…" How would Indiana describe Anna? Their employer? An ally against Von Weaseldorf? A rich girl with a deathwish? "... his assistant."
"Three tickets to Norway." replied Eaton, "I'll have it taken care of within the hour."
"One last thing," said Indiana, "I've been tailed coming into here, is there…"
"There's a door in the basement, leads into a service alley for our and the Canadian embassy next door, puts you on the street about a block to the southeast. Should be enough to hide your exit."
"You're a credit to bureaucrats everywhere, Major."
"You're welcome, Doctor."
A skiplane fought through the snowy storm and landed on the frozen fjord, dominated by a large, medieval castle. It looked abandoned except for a small light in one of the windows, though there appeared to be a good-size camp on the grounds and ice surrounding it. The skiplane slid to a stop near a makeshift vehicle depot. A small man came up to the plane. As the pilot shut down the engine, his sole passenger emerged.
"Sturmbannfürher!" the man approached the passenger and saluted. "Welcome to Arendelle." He said in German. The passenger returned the salute, and they both turned to enter the camp.
"Dänke, Oberleutnant" the passenger said, "Have you found her?"
"Yes, and no." the Oberleutnant said evasively.
"Yes and no?" asked the senior officer.
"... eh, we do not have her, but we know where she is."
"That is good. How long then?"
"Herr Von Weaseldorf-"
"Duke Von Weaseldorf."
"I apologize, Sturmbannfürher," the junior officer continued, "Duke Von Weaseldorf had found her, she's with his expedition, in the mountains. They had left before we even arrived in Copenhagen." The junior officer spoke with fear. He expected a reprimand from his superior, but it didn't come.
"This does not significantly impact our plans." the senior officer said, "When do you plan to move out?"
"As soon as this blizzard passes. It's too dangerous to…"
"This blizzard will not pass for sometime, I believe. Take your team and follow the Duke's steps, I will rejoin you in two days. I'm expecting company."
The junior officer saluted. "As you say, Sturmbannfürher Southland."
[Author's note: Thanks for reading this! This chapter was meant to be up earlier, but I had to trash pretty much all of the first draft because it didn't make any sense. I don't really like this chapter, but I knew that is would be the hardest chapter to write when I outlined the story. I hope you enjoy it, the other chapters should update quicker.]
