Chapter 2

The Mysterious Woman

Marcus Brody shifted the picture he had of his mother for the nth time on the bureau. He then sat heavily down on his bed and sighed. It was not that he did not appreciate Indy bringing him on one of his archeological expeditions, but he felt so homesick. He tried to bring as much of "home" as he could with him, packing over ten suitcases, and would try to situate them as they would be in his house. However, the changes were too extreme to try to cover up. Even so, he felt that the only reason he and Indy stopped in Austria was to see one of his girlfriends.

With not much else to do, Marcus was deciding to go to bed early when there was a knock at the door. Maybe it's Indiana, Marcus thought as he opened it.

A woman stood on the other side, her face flushed and hair disheveled. "Let me in," she said out of breath.

"Oh, of course," Marcus said, opening the door wider to let her through. "My, you do look exhausted. Would you like a glass of water?"

"No," the woman said quickly, closing the door herself behind her. She then ran across the room to a window where she closed the drapes.

"How about some tea, then?" Marcus suggested.

She scanned the room and when she seemed satisfied, turned back to Marcus. "Marcus Brody, your colleague, Indiana Jones, is in trouble."

Marcus hesitated for a moment. "Are you one of his girlfriends?"

The woman narrowed her eyes, "No, but I do know him."

"Oh, good," Marcus sighed, "but I know it's going to happen. One of these days, a woman is going—"

"I don't have time for zis!"

"You're Austrian, aren't you?" Marcus said, noting the slight accent.

"As I said," the woman said, ignoring him, "Indiana Jones is having somezing far worse zan problems with women—ze Nazis have captured him."

"Oh, dear! Not the Nazis! I really don't like them."

She nodded her head. Her voice became softer. "Zey are going to force him to bring zem to some dig site he has been working at. If he refuses, zey will kill him. If he does take zem to the site, zan it may be ze end of ze free world as we know it."

"I . . ." Marcus stopped himself, thinking for a moment. "Now . . . what did you say your name was, again?"

The woman's eyes flared. "It does not matter! We must leave!"

"But, but where are we going?"

"You do know where ze dig site is, don't you?"

"Actually . . . I've heard Indiana talk about it."

"But you don't know."

"No. But-but there shouldn't be much there. Indiana only said something about some old rocks."

"Zere is more zere zan just rocks."

"What?"

"Never mind. In any case, I'm going to leave for ze restaurant. Perhaps someone zere knows somezing."

The woman walked to the door.

"Wait!" Marcus called. "Can I come, too?"

"You?" the woman said belittling.

"Well, I am Indiana's friend, after all. If he is in trouble, I hope to do something about it."

"It might actually be better if you were to stay here."

"Nonsense!" Marcus Brody laughed, reaching for his hat. "I'm ready for an adventure!"

The woman rolled her eyes. "Fine. Ze restaurant is not far and by car, we will arrive shortly. Just try not to get in ze way, Mr. Brody."

Marcus nodded. "Wait!" he called out when the woman was about to walk through the door a second time.

"What?" she said with evident irritation.

"What is your name? I don't to call you "you" the whole time."

"My name is Helga von Himmdrich. You should call me Frau von Himmdrich in public. Now, come on."