Chapter 13
Max had just about finished relaying the Mini-Powered exploits of Timo Makinen when he realized that he was alone in the garage. He reminded himself (as he had to do frequently) that the rest of the world was not as much of a rally fan as he was, and strode out onto the grounds.
At a walking pace with cigarette in hand, Max took his time to drink in the rich shrubbery, immaculately maintained, that dotted the forward area of Lara's estate. The gates had been closed, giving Max mixed feelings of anxiety and security.
When he reached the front door, Max paused. He was unsure of what to do - was he officially cleared to just walk in to her home? True, she had implied just that when she had allowed him access to the grounds - but there was part of him that was honestly afraid of offending Lara - and who knew what sort of traps the Tomb Raider had planted in her own home turf. He crushed his cigarette out on his boot and carefully placed the butt in his shirt pocket.
Opting for the safe way out, Max reached for the large brass knocker set into the door. It made a deep, hollow sound as he struck the pieces together. He could feel more than hear the footfalls against marble flooring as someone was coming to answer the door.
To his surprise, it was not Lara who opened the door, but a man who Max thought should have been in a wheelchair - not standing on his own two feet. This man was old, and had lived through his share of experiences - maybe even more than his share.
"You are expected..." could barely be deciphered through a thick aristocratic accent. The door was opened wide so that Max could enter.
"Thanks Jeeves..." Max replied with a smirk as he entered Lara's enormous foyer.
"Begging sir's pardon, my name is Winston," the butler corrected.
"...and my car is not a Packard - but we can discuss that later. Where is Lara?"
"Ms. Croft is in the Library."
"Good thing I brought along a lead pipe."
Winston made some kind of noise that Max was not able to identify - though it did not sound good. Max wondered how many more minutes of life were left in this man.
"If you please..."
Winston started up the stairs at a pace snails were laughing at as they shot by like bullets. As he ascended the stairs, he was very deliberate about placing each foot on a stair before getting both of them to the next step. By the time they had reached the landing, Max was ready for another cigarette.
Later that same year, Max and Winston emerged at the top of the Music Room stairs and entered the library. Lara had already opened up her desk area and was busy comparing information from her computer screen to a legal pad on the desk...
Winston made another unidentifiable noise before announcing, "a Mr. Reynolds to see you - he was expected."
"Thank you," she replied.
"Yeah, thanks a million Jeeves."
Winston gave a quick look back at Max before starting the arduous trip back down the stairs.
"Did you finish your motor sports lecture?"
"Sorry, I get away from myself now and then..."
"So, what do we do now?"
"I dunno - hey...is the Madonna's Sex?"
Max withdrew the book and started flipping through the pages.
Lara was unsure of how to proceed with this man. She had never been the subject of a documentary before, did he honestly expect her to tell him how to proceed. She also knew that his attention would be otherwise diverted while looking through the book, so she returned to her own work until Max was finished.
"Are those it?"
"Pardon?"
Max was suddenly behind Lara, looking over her shoulder and pointing at her pieces of the ancient device, each in their clear protective cases.
"Your bits of the doo-dad, is that what those guys are?"
"Oh, yes. Have a look?"
She offered one of the cases to Max, who took in gingerly, not wanting to damage the contents. There was no doubt in Max's mind that this thing was old, new rock just didn't look like this. It had a triangular main body that more a symbol that appeared to be an ornate "V" - though Max thought it very unlikely. This piece was around long before Latin and the various dialects had even existed. There were smaller "wings" on either side, one sloping up, the other down. On these smaller areas were many smaller symbols that Max had little idea about.
"Looks like a little space fighter..."
"What?"
"I know it's not, but there, the wings, and here is the nose. I guess they all make kind of a thick, flat ring when they are all together?"
"I presume."
"Is it warm?"
"Yes, they seem to have some sort of energy within them, but all of the x-ray and imaging tests I had done turned up nothing."
"Interesting..."
There was a moment of silence as Max regarded the item for a few more seconds, then returned it to Lara.
"So, what's next?" he asked.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you want a tour of the grounds? Check in at your hotel? I am at your service"
"Well, I don't really have a hotel - so that one's out."
"Where were you planning on sleeping?"
"I'll just crash in the Soobie - no big deal..."
"I'd put you up in here, but I have no guest accommodations."
"Hey, that's fine."
"We'll find you a hotel."
"Really, that's okay - do you stay in a hotel when you're working?"
"A suite, usually. If I'm not wandering through some burial chamber, I do enjoy first class."
"Interesting. No, if I could just stay in my car in the garage - I need to be close to you if this thing is going to work. I can't have you wandering out to some secret night-life without having me along..."
"There is a couch there in the music room..." Lara offered.
"I thought you' never ask..."
"It's settled, then," Lara announced as she rose from her work area, flipping the switch to retract the desk, "now, about that tour..."
"Cool desk. I have one just like it - well, it's actually a book that has a little safe inside. It's still pretty cool, though..."
"I'm sure it is."
Lara gestured for Max to lead the way from the room so that their tour could commence.
They walked all through the house and grounds. Max seemed the most excited about the indoor pool and the fact that Lara had, and used, a bidet (which Max unfailingly referred to as a 'Hoe-dee-doh').
After their tour was complete, they were near the garage.
"Can I bring some of my junk up there, roomy?"
Lara began to get frightened again.
"Can I assist?"
"My stuff is heavy, can you handle it?"
Lara's eyes narrowed.
"Or you can carry it all yourself..."
Her eyes were now slits.
"Or I can just get it all."
In the end, Lara did help move Max in - for he had brought with him quite an assortment of cases, boxes, and more cabling than Lara had ever seen in her life. When all of the items were moved, then Lara excused herself to start on some dinner. Winston had left for the day during the tour and was unsure of what to feed Max.
She decided that if beans on toast were good enough for her, then they were good enough for her 'roomy.' Upon preparing the food she proceeded up to the music room to announce the meal, finding that Max had gotten his editing suite all set up in the corner by the piano.
"You got yourself up and running quickly."
"You kinda have to in my line of work."
"I suppose. Dinner's ready, if you'd like."
"Sure, I haven't eaten since that plane - give me MREs any day of the week."
"Shall we?"
Max followed Lara down the stairs and into the formal dining room. Two places were set; one at the far end of the room, and another just next to the head of the table.
"Hell, you ever just snarf something over the sink with a paper towel handy?"
"Not tonight. Something to drink?"
"Ah, I have to see if it's ready..."
Max headed through the doors and into the kitchen. Lara followed him dreading whatever else he had done this time.
"I borrowed a little space in your meat locker - if you don't mind."
"By all means..."
Max opened the door, and they both were hit with a blast of cold air. Max walked into the room and pulled a diet cola can from a case on the floor.
"Sorry, I can't deal with that English room temperature crap. This time, I came prepared."
"Very good."
They both retired to the dining room and ate.
As they were finishing up, Max got down to business.
"So, when's your next trip into the field?"
"About two weeks off."
"What's the prize?"
"I am going after the final piece of the device."
"Where to now?"
"It's located on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia - both Elder and I know where it is."
"So, go grab the thing and then worry about how to get Elder's, right?"
"It's not that simple."
"Yeah, things never are..."
"The area where the last piece is supposed to rest is under...a dispute of ownership."
"Great...gotta love the two-bit, petty warlords..."
"More than that, satellite photos of the region place the artifact down the recesses of a dormant volcano."
"You said 'dormant' right, not 'extinct?'"
"I said dormant."
"Well, hell, I can't see where this is leading...what's the plan when the thing erupts?"
"If it erupts, I plan not to be there."
"Sounds wise. Why wait?"
"We can't just go there, preparations have to be made. You don't think that I just wander into an area and stumble blindly until I find some crypt, and then blunder about some more until I get an ancient treasure, do you?"
"When you put it that way..."
"At the moment, I have people researching the area for potential threats - both natural and human. I am getting a report from a volcano specialist about Mount Koryaksky and full maps of the area - and some basic instruction about handling yourself inside one of those things. Also, I still have another week, at least, before I am fully recovered. Do you just pick up a camera and start following people around, or do you prepare for the situation?"
"I like to be able to just go wherever, but I know what you mean. I have toys that could have knocked down the Huey in Central America, but I opted for added fuel and the satellite phone - and we know what happened to those..."
"Yes, so you understand?"
"Sure, what about Elder, how long will it take her to get things under way?"
"I can't say for sure, but I know that she does not have the contacts and influence in the former Soviet Union that she had in Central America - there won't be any government escort waiting for her at the wharf. Also, with that remote a location, it will take her quite a while to get there."
"They do have airports there, don't they?"
"Oh yes, we'll be coming in to the main landing area in Petropavlovsk. The field is far enough out of town to the north that we can get going without too much undue attention."
"You've been there?"
"I was in the area a couple of years ago..."
"So, if they've got an airport, why will it take Elder so long to get there - and who in the hell is this character?"
"Elder is a competitor, and she refuses to fly - so I have some time to prepare."
"Good, and that will give me some time to get the car set up for us - I might need to use that diplomatic thing again when the next group of stuff arrives - we won't get caught with our pants down twice..."
"Far be it from me to separate a boy and his toys."
Max hesitated over his next words.
"Lara, not to sound ungrateful, but I was trying to get away from my usual trademark crap here. Anything else on the horizon? Something with a little less...gunplay potential. Maybe just your basic dig?"
"What, get my fingers in the dirt?"
"That was the idea."
"Heavens no, I don't do that kind of work any more - that's what graduate students are for. I've moved more than my share of earth, my dues have been paid."
"Well, I guess I can edit around the stuff where you're giving some poor Russian a lead enema - stuff like that."
At that moment, Lara realized Max's intentions...
"Max...I work alone - I thought that you knew that. I thought that all you wanted was to have a holiday here making your little movie and then go home. I'm not sure about taking you into the field, I can't be responsible..."
"Hey now, don't worry about it. First off, once we really get started with this thing here, I'll be as far away as you want, and second - I think I've proved to you that I can take care of myself in the field. I might even be able to help."
Max's words of comfort had the opposite effect.
"I never said I wanted any of your help - and I certainly don't need you following me all over Russia," Lara said quietly, desperately trying to keep her composure as she walked from the room.