Artie took his time getting to the Botanic Gardens as he didn't want to damage the ancient urn. He slowed Mesa to a stop and carefully dismounted before reaching up and untying the small crate containing the urn. Cradling the box he opened the door to the Gardens and entered the building.
After glancing at the map Artie quickly hurried down the path through the garden court and headed for the jungle area, barely noticing the beautiful foliage surrounding him. As he neared a junction on the path he failed to notice the lovely lady heading toward him.
"That was a very naughty trick you pulled on Ptolemy, Mr. Gordon." Anna stated as she came up beside him. Artie shifted the box and turned to look at her.
"I did tell him I needed to be on my way. And I didn't hurt his man…much. That's more than I can say for what he's done to me." Artie glared.
"I took some of your boss's little potion back to the train with me. Interesting stuff your boss cooked up."
"Ptolemy is a gifted man in many areas."
"Torture being one of them." Artie snapped. "So tell me…are you the rear guard or the bait?"
"I am merely your guide." Anna replied as she glanced at the many flora and fauna they passed as they talked.
"May all the guides to Hell be as beautiful." Artie remarked snidely.
"Thank you, Mr. Gordon, but I am hardly a guide to hell. All you needed to do was cooperate…"
"And once my usefulness was over your boss would kill me. What need would he have for two Artemus Gordon's? No thanks, I saw my opening and I took it. And I would do it again." Artie and Anna came to a stop when Artie saw Ptolemy standing near the medicinal plants.
"Mr. Gordon so good of you to join me…on time even." Ptolemy pulled a watch from his pocket. "And I see that you have brought what I requested."
Artie set the crate down on the path. As he straightened he pulled one of the buttons off his vest and tucked it into his palm. Looking around he failed to see Ivan. Turning his attention back to Ptolemy, Artie noted he was practically salivating as he rubbed his chubby hands together in anticipation.
"Yes I brought the urn. You won't be keeping it long." Artie growled.
"Oh my dear Mr. Gordon, how you underestimate me. Once I get the two urns together and obtain the information I need those hunks of pottery can be given to a child to play with for all I care." Ptolemy moved toward the crate and carefully picked it up and headed toward the rear entrance.
"That's it? You're letting me go?" Artie asked incredulously.
"I am a man of my word, Mr. Gordon. You may leave. But use the back door I don't want anyone to see us together." Ptolemy nodded his head toward the front exit.
Artie looked from Ptolemy to Anna and back to the rotund little man. Shaking his head Artie opened the door and bowed and smiled before he took his leave. [i]Why do I feel like I'm walking into a trap? [/i]Artie thought as he watched them turn to head back to the building's main entrance. Artie stepped out into the alley only to walk into Ivan.
"Heh…well hello Ivan. I wondered when you would put in an appearance." Artie smiled as he shifted the button he had taken off his vest.
"The boss said you was to come with me." Ivan advanced toward Artie.
"Oh well you see, I told my partner I'd be back by 8:30. He'll be upset if I'm late again." Artie flashed a big grin as he started to back in to the building.
Feeling for the door knob behind him with his left hand, Artie carefully maneuvered the button in his hand. Once he found the knob and began to turn it, Artie tossed the button at Ivan, watching it explode in a puff of red gas. Ivan backed up trying to get away from the plume as Artie pulled the door open and started to run inside.
"Now, now, Mr. Gordon, you weren't thinking of being a coward and running off were you? Ivan doesn't like to fail me. The punishment is not very pleasant."
Artie stopped short as Ptolemy and Anna emerged from the building and quickly closed the door behind them. Ivan had waved his arms dissipating Artie's chance for escape as he reached for the agent. Artie sighed and allowed himself to be caught in the grasp of the big man.
"Looks like you have me, Ptolemy. I'll go quietly." Artie grinned as he bowed deeply toward Ivan who held the door to the carriage open.
As Artie prepared to step up into the carriage he tore another button off his vest, dropped it on the ground and pushed it away with his boot. He quickly pulled himself into the carriage and settled into a seat. Ptolemy and Anna climbed in and settled into the seat facing him. Artie cast a broad smile toward Anna that quickly turned sour when she lifted a small silver derringer and pointed it at the middle of Artie's chest.
"This may be small, Mr. Gordon, but I assure you it will get the job done." Anna smiled coyly.
"Oh I don't doubt that." Artie chuckled nervously as he settled back into the seat.
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Jim checked the mantle clock for what he thought had to be the tenth time in as many minutes as he walked toward the door leading to the platform. They were due to leave for New York soon and Artie still had not returned. Jim closed the door and turned to find Colonel Richmond watching him.
"Artemus isn't back yet?" Richmond asked.
"Not yet, sir. But he'll be here." Jim assured him.
"He'd better not be late this time, James." Richmond warned.
"He won't be, sir, he won't be." Jim cast a last glance at the door before turning to head toward the engine and speak with Orrin about getting the train prepared to leave.
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When the carriage arrived back at Ptolemy's hideout, Artie was escorted back to the room he had previously been held in. After hearing the key in the lock, Artie sighed and sat on the bed.
"Well, Artemus, this is not going exactly as you planned." Artie slapped his knee. "And it might be a while before Jim figures all this out."
Artie rose and began pacing the confines of the small room.
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"Get back to that train as fast as you can…I won't have them come looking for Gordon." Ptolemy instructed Artemus. "And keep your eyes open. If they look like they will get that phony urn to the museum before you hear from me get ready to dispose of them."
"All of them? That'll take more people than just me to pull off." Artemus stared at his boss wide eyed.
"You'll think of something if you need to. You still have those chemicals I had you mix…when the time comes find a way to get them into the furnace. That will solve everything." Ptolemy turned away from the urn he was carefully uncrating to level his gaze on Artemus.
"Have Ivan bring Gordon to me on your way out. Now hurry! If West comes looking for you he'll find me. I am not ready for that just yet." Ptolemy nodded his head toward the door and watched as Artemus nearly ran out of the room.
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Jim put the communication tube back into its space and sighed. They had permission to depart and Artie still hadn't returned. He knew he would have to tell the Colonel and he wasn't looking forward to his boss's reaction. Jim turned to face his fate when the door behind him opened and his partner entered the train. Jim spun around and confronted him.
"You're late, Artie. And the Colonel has a bigger head of steam than Orrin's engines." Jim glared at his partner waiting for an explanation.
"I was…unavoidably detained. I'm here now so why don't we get on our way? Will the Colonel be accompanying us?" Artemus asked as he hung his cloak on the rack followed by his hat. He didn't see Jim's double take.
"Artie, we talked about this last night. Mr. Carlos won't budge from his position so he's going with us and the Colonel is coming along at Carlos' request." Jim told him as he watched Artemus move to the sideboard at the far end of the room and pour himself a glass of…[i]whiskey? [/i]
"Whiskey, Artie? What about the Napoleon Brandy…don't tell me you've lost your taste for it?" Jim joked.
"Wha…uh no I haven't I just feel like having some whiskey is that a crime?" Artemus shot back.
"Take it easy, Artie, I was only joking." Jim held his hands up in mock surrender. Colonel Richmond entered the room, stopping any further conversation between the agents.
"Gordon, you're here…now if you two don't mind maybe we can get going. You'd think you two would be in a hurry to get to New York and get this assignment over so you could start on that leave you put in for." Richmond studied them carefully.
"Leave? Oh yes…LEAVE. Well I'll go tell the engineer to get the train moving." Artemus set his drink down and started for the door.
"Artie, why don't you just call him?" Jim eyed him warily.
"I thought I'd check on something in my lab and since I'll be back that way I thought I'd just go talk to the engineer directly." Artemus reached up with his left hand and wiped sweat off his upper lip.
"Well don't take too long it's your turn to make lunch." Jim wisecracked as Artemus quickly made his exit.
"James," Richmond spoke slowly as he watched Artemus' retreating back, "is he all right?"
"Normally I'd say yes, sir. But these past few days I must say I've had my doubts." Jim replied as he settled onto the settee.
WWWWWWWWWW
Ivan brought Artie into what appeared to be Ptolemy's office and deposited him at the desk. He quickly tied Artie to the chair starting with his legs. He bound Artie's legs tightly to the legs of the chair crossing the ropes through the spindles and bringing them up behind him and then around Artie's chest. Taking great care Ivan pulled the rope taut grinning when Artie hissed at the pain this caused. His pain turned to curiosity when Artie realized Ivan had not tied his arms but that he had left them free.
The big man pulled the ropes tight once more before finally tying them tight behind Artie's back. Ivan stood up, hands on his hips and inspected his handiwork. Smiling and feeling good about the job he had done, Ivan pulled on the ropes testing them and nearly knocked Artie over.
"Trust me, Ivan, you've done a fantastic job. Even if I were a contortionist I couldn't undo these ropes." Artie intoned.
"I would like to see you try, Mr. Gordon." Ptolemy spoke sarcastically as he entered the office and closed the door.
"And ruin all Ivan's hard work…I wouldn't think of it." Artie replied snidely.
"Come now, Mr. Gordon, I'm nice enough to leave you nearly free and this is how you repay my hospitality?"
"Are you SURE you've never met Dr. Loveless? If you were about a foot and a half shorter I could swear you were his brother."
"I have looked into this Dr. Loveless you speak of and I find your comments rather disturbing." Ptolemy moved to stand in front of Artie leaning back against the desk and folding his arms he glared at the agent.
"I am neither demented nor am I a would-be tyrant. What I do I do for the good of humanity."
"The good of…oh brother…I take it back you're even more delusional than I ever thought Loveless to be." Artie shook his head.
"You doubt my word, Mr. Gordon?" Ptolemy asked angrily.
"Oh no, I don't doubt that you think that." Artie cocked his head to one side, "But think about what you're doing. You want to find a Philosopher Stone in hopes of finding the legendary Star Map to lead you to some alien technology so you can rule the world. If that doesn't make you delusional I don't know what will." Artie reasoned.
"Mr. Gordon, I do not want to rule the world. I merely want to enhance the world in which we live. By finding the Annunaki technology I can create a workforce the likes of which this world has never seen."
"An army is more like it." Artie countered.
"No…you of all people should see the simplicity of my plan. By creating a race of advanced individuals that will free mankind for more cerebral pursuits! Think of how much more productive we could be if we didn't need to worry about where our laborers would come from and whether or not there would be enough of them to complete our tasks." Ptolemy's eyes had taken on a glossy, far away look.
"Not to mention how it would free up our time to plan our defense when they turn on the hand that created them." Artie snapped, playing devil's advocate.
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