Chapter 14

Slowly descending to the bottom of the stairs I find a body slumped on the ground that appeared to be trying to crawl up. Upon closer inspection I realize that it is a soldier that had died a long time ago, which would explain why there was a vacuum when we opened the tomb this poor sap must have sucked all the oxygen out of here before he died.

I keep walking down the hall to find an open room and gravesite in the middle. Walking around I see another body kneeling in front of the grave as I begin to approach it looks up "Who are you?" he says to me.

Jumping back with a confused look on my face "What do you mean who am I? Who the hell are you?"

"Not fair I asked you first."

I shine the light on him and notice something was not right about him "How are you alive? When we opened this tomb there was no air in here." Walking a little closer "I'm Jon… who are you?"

"Lieutenant Heagey I was in the Army… I don't know how I'm alive" walking towards me he leans up against the tomb "All I remember is after my plane crashed I was able to crawl out of the fuselage not really knowing how I survived but with the raid going on I didn't know how much longer I would live so I moved to a church crawling into what looked like a bomb shelter. Just after I got in I remember hearing and feeling a huge explosion realizing that the door behind me was buried I remember searching for another way out… must have looked for hours in the dark searching for a way… I found what I thought was steps and all I remember is as tired as I was I tried to crawl up them… until a man started to talk to me behind me I quickly turned and there he sat in front of a fire…"

Listening to the story I begin to realize where it was going "He asked you to return to the flock didn't he?"

"Yes… but my faith was never strong and at the moment I had my doubts" he said with a solemn look on his face.

"You told him no didn't you?" coming to the conclusion that he was like me "and then showed you the mistake of your choice?"

"Yes… I have been here ever since trying to repent" resting his hand on the tomb.

"It won't do you any good" said a voice from behind the tomb.

Heagey jumps look around "Who are you?"

"Don't mind him…" shining my light in his direction to reveal my boss standing there "…he's just a nuisance here to grant what you think are your dreams."

"Now I take offense to that, I know why not ask Carl here what life is like forsaken by all." Saying with his smile

Turning towards me he grabs my arms "It's horrible I have been alone in the dark for God knows how long, never being able to leave always wondering if the light will ever return."

"I promise you that it's got to be better than the lie I live" pleading with him.

"Yeah the lies… sex with woman… drinking to your heart's content… traveling the world seeing the sites… should I go on."

"What do I have to do?" turning he begins to plead to him.

I watch as he makes his deal nothing I say or do can change the outcome of this meeting, and before I know it he is gone. "You knew he was down here didn't you?"

"Yep, but at the time he didn't have anything to offer me being stuck in this place. If it wasn't for you unearthing him I probably would have never used him. Granted even if I had come to him when he first was entombed in here I don't think he would have accepted my offer, he did have faith for awhile I had to wait till the time was right before I wanted to propose it too him."

"I couldn't stop him?" as I sit down against the tomb.

"Oh there were hundreds of things you could have said that would have changed his mind…" giving me his coy smile "…you just didn't say any of them." Looking around he sweeps his finger across the tomb and looks at it with some discuss "You need to keep moving there is work to be done."

I get up and begin my inspection of the area again finding the same shimmer from last time emanating from the coffin itself. As I pry open the hood I inspect the body looking for the item in question finally looking at his shoes I see the shimmer protruding from his foot. Removing the shoe I find that the saint was missing his foot and walked with a peg leg and it was that prostheses that was shimmering.

Heading out of the tomb I walk up the steps climbing out of the hole to find Natasha and Bob sitting on the blanket watching me crawl out. "That is what the hubbub is all about." Natasha said looking at the prosthetic in my hand.

"Yep" I go to hand it to her but she shy's away from it.

"Ewe that was on a dead guy" hiding behind Bob.

"I'll take it sir" Bob grabs it and heads up to the car.

"What's wrong?" Natasha grabs my arm and turns me towards her.

"Nothing, it's just sad down there I'm ready to go." Walking towards the car I decide not to look back.

Running up to my side "Well let's get going the next stop should be about an hour to get too, we might be able to take care of two projects in one day."

Pulling up to the church we get out of the car and head in through the front door. "You think she will try something?" Bob says casually to me.

"The last time she attacked him she did, keep your eye out" Natasha once again answering for me.

Letting it go this time "You two go towards the back they usually keep these guys in the back" pointing to a door "Check that door, I'll go talk to the Priest." For once Natasha doesn't give me any quarrel about my orders and proceeds to follow Bob toward the door. Walking over to the Priest "Excuse me… father, I'm a research student looking into Patron Saints in this area, and I was told that there was one buried here."

The Priest turns towards me "Yes, but we are doing some renovations in the back right now. The Vatican has sent someone to help with the restoration of the tomb hoping that people will start showing their appreciation towards their accomplishments. It could be several months before they have completed their work."

"I see, well maybe next time I come out it will be open again?"

"I'm sorry that you traveled all the way out here for nothing, maybe I can talk to the representative Ms. Arella on giving you a private viewing?"

Well I'll give her kudos on that maneuver "No, that'll be ok I'm sure she is a busy person and I would hate to stop their work for my research."

"Like I said it wouldn't too much of a hassle."

"Thank you no" I walk towards the back to the door where I sent the others too. Seeing them walking together they did an impressive job blending in with the other onlookers. Approaching them Natasha sees me giving her usual smile she grasps my arm and holds on.

"Any luck?"

"Christina beat us to this one. We will get some food and find something to do till later, hopefully by the time we get back most of the workers will be gone for the day."

"Sounds good I saw a Thai restaurant down the road" resting her head on my shoulder.

"How about it Bob sound good to you?"

"Yeah, I need to check on something first save a seat for me though I'll be there shortly."

Going our separate way Natasha and I stroll down the road enjoying the view "you seem distracted today what's going on?"

Looking off to the hills "I just wish I knew what the Professor wanted, is all. He seemed like he wanted to tell me something important and now I will never know what."

"Professor Wright is in a better place now, you have to believe that."

I ponder on the thought when I realize something that she said "When did I tell you the Professor's name?"

"The other morning, when we were at breakfast… you know the day he died" giving me a quizzical look.

"No, I didn't tell you his name the other day I have always referred to him as the Professor." stopping and turning I grab her arm "Who do you work for?"

"What, nobody" ripping her arm out of my hand she slaps me in the face "How dare you."

Gathering my composure "I'm sorry, I'm just so confused things aren't making sense to me right now."

"They better start making sense or you can see me off on the next flight."

"No, no I don't want that…" grabbing her hand softly "…I don't know what has gotten into me things have just been confusing I must have told you his name and don't remember that is all."

"I think you need to get some rest I'm going to take you back to the hotel we can try this tomorrow." Taking her hand out of mine she places it on her hip "Go to the car and wait there I will go find Bob so we can leave."

Shaking my head "Yeah, maybe a goodnight sleep will do me some good." Walking down the street I make my way to the car to find the boss leaning against the trunk.

"Has trouble be fallen our noble seeker?" with his usual smile.

"Damn you, I swear do you just enjoy watching me suffer?"

"A matter of fact… I do. Look your duties to me are almost completed you have performed above all, so just before you finished and you're completely out my clutches I thought I would have a little fun with you."

"A little fun?" worried that if this is a little fun I would hate to see big fun. "So what do I owe this visit no souls to be had here?"

"No just saw you tormented and thought that I would… gloat a little." Smile returning in kind.

"Thanks I'm just going to sit in the car until Natasha gets back with Bob."

"Oh, don't let me stop you I'll wait with you."

"Please don't you have somebody else you can torment right about now?"

"I do, but nobody that would be as satisfying as you."

Giving in to frustration I open the back door and crash in the back seat. Enjoying the silence I assume that he is just standing over waiting for me to lift my head so that he can gloat some more, but his words never begin and I slowly drift off into a deep sleep.