33.- Gunderson, part II
The Cabal may have lost many of its heads, but as its new foundations are strong, the effort of one can always complete the Great Work. Such is the legacy of Marten Gunderson, now the sole head of the Cabal. Right now, the direction the Cabal should take is quite unclear. But perhaps a monk who has overdone it may have given Gunderson a hint. The Encyclopaedia Alchemica Vol. 35, page 157, talks about the Principles of the Alchemy of the Light, proposed by Frau von Hahn. "This is what the monk attempted against me," Gunderson thinks.
Research of Frau von Hahn has left Gunderson with two possible scenarios, two battles against the Order of the Lux Veritatis: one in Sofia, now Bulgaria, and the other in Tournai, now Belgium. That is a lot of ground to cover for a single organization. And so, the first choice is Sofia. The Mutri is strong there, and a faction can be easily extorted. Such is the destiny of Vasil Borisov.
And in a span of just two weeks, the relation between the Cabal and the Mutri has proven to be fruitful for Gunderson. He is now carrying a suitcase, full of silver. For him it is easier to transmute than gold, and also easier to carry around without raising any suspicions. The handler of the Sanglyph would be a woman, so that wouldn't be a point of contention for him. It's just him in an away game at a steel company's facility. But the scale tilts a bit when the handler is recognized.
"I thought you died," the handler says. "Blindness looks good on you." Anger runs through Gunderson's veins, as the voice is unmistaken. "Croft!" he says. "I will end the Great Work, and then I will crush you." She stays silent for a while, only to make Gunderson more impatient. "We are surrounded," Croft says. "Can you take us safely out of here?" For now, his best option is to receive the Sanglyph and move on. So, the exchange is made.
BURN HER! BURN THE TRAITOR WITH THE LIGHT!
Unlike Lara, Gunderson cannot handle the Sanglyph's temptation. Lara notices it and starts running. She dodges Vasil's shots, and then grabs him. "Run!" she orders. "The suitcase, now!" he says, as he follows Lara's trail. Screams are heard around the steel company complex. "What is going on?" Vasil asks. "Your men are being killed," Lara says. "Like that monk from the monastery." Vasil uses his maimed arm to pat Lara's back. "Follow me," Vasil says. "I know a better way out."
GOOD! NOW, RECOVER MY CROSS! FINISH MY WORK!
Gunderson recovers his sight, but scanning the unworthy corpses will take too much time. He simply walks away from the scene. His next stop is Tournai.