Chapter 8 – Mason's Proposal
Mason smiled, pleased with her knowledge. He closed the panel, hoping to pique her curiosity. Perhaps she'd even ask to see it again…
"My, my, my, Lady Croft. You certainly do know your history," he said as he took a seat once more behind his desk. Lara sat as well.
"History, no. The legend of the Amulet of Immortality is pure speculation."
"But to you, it may as well be history. Am I right?" She smiled, and he nodded. "I thought so. It may come as a surprise to you, My Lady, but I too have a love for that of mythological value. I've based my career, my business, my entire life around antiquities that supposedly never existed."
"A profitable business venture, I presume Mr. Mason?"
"Quite. And call me Edmond."
"Only if you'll call me Lara."
"I think I could do that. Now, there's more to the story. You know that of course."
"Only bits and pieces. But no one ever put any stock in the rest because of the lack of hard evidence. Even the story itself couldn't be traced back to any reputable source."
"If I may?" Lara nodded. "After the second World War, a rag-tag troop of Italians happened upon a store of scrolls near the Nile Delta. They were badly damaged, and the Italians couldn't read Ancient Latin. But they figured the scrolls could be worth something once they got back to civilization. So, they sold them off cheap at a local market once they got to Rome. However, a Catholic priest found them in a vendor's cart, and instantly recognized them for what they were. Accounts of Rome. Stories of the history of the great Roman Empire. Secrets that no one else had ever discovered. He took them to the Vatican to have them translated in the Old Language. There were a few juicy bits about the Caesars and scandals in the Senate, but nothing of severe importance. Then, the translator happened on something very strange. An entry made about an unknown Emperor during a period of grey in Rome's history. No one knew who he was or why he ruled, but his term was short. The scrolls described an amulet being brought to the Emperor as appeasement, made of incredible rubies set in a medallion made of a rare metal alloy found at the bottom of the Nile. The Emperor kept the amulet, wearing it around his neck as a symbol to those who detested him. The accounts say he began to waste away, becoming even more testy and intolerable than usual. After that, the accounts follow a great war between Rome and Greece, and details are iffy. All the translator could find was that eventually the Emperor was killed, and his family sent into exile near Gaul. The battle ended, and the amulet was not heard of again."
Lara contemplated this part of the story. Mason was indeed a careful student. She hadn't expected someone with so much money and so little field experience to truly know their mythology. He was right. She was surprised.
"I know the stories, Edmond. Everyone in my profession does. What does any of it have to do with you?" Mason smiled a sly and knowing smile. He curled his fingers tightly around the arms of his antique chair, squeezing until his knuckles turned white. He held his breath, almost.
"I know where it is."
Lara lifted a brow.
"Excuse me?" Mason slid to his feet again.
"I know where to find the Amulet of Immortality." Lara chuckled slightly.
"Mason, it's just a story. No one knows if the Amulet is real or not."
"I do. It is very real, Lara. Very real indeed." Lara stood up, as well. She put her hands on her hips, feeling the small stiletto hidden on her right side.
"Mason, this isn't funny. You brought me all the way out here just to tell me something that couldn't possibly be true."
"On the contrary, My Lady. The Amulet of Immortality is now closer to being recovered than it ever has beenbefore." He wasn't smiling now, and Lara knew at that moment that he wasn't joking.
"How…How?" she asked a little dumbfounded.
"All my life I've been searching. Searching for the greatest treasure of them all. The Amulet of Immortality is rumored to give its possessor eternal life and incredible powers. Powers of incredible destruction. And a life eternal to watch it all unfold. It is the ultimate find. And I now have clues as to its resting place." He sat again, a little more composed. Lara noticed that as he spoke of the Amulet, his grey eyes went black, like a shark's eyes when it smells blood.
"Mr. Mason, I don't understand what it is you're getting at. If you know where the Amulet is, why do you need me?"
"I only have clues, Lara. True, they have led me in the right direction so far, but I'm running out of resources. No on is dedicated enough to see this through to the end." Lara frowned.
"Except for me." Mason smiled again.
"Except for you." Lara sat down now, slowly. She folded her arms cautiously across her chest.
"What are you asking, Mr. Mason."
"Head my team. Face the challenges. Figure out the clues. Decipher the hidden messages. Find the Amulet." Lara closed her eyes. She had seen drawings of the Amulet before, or at least of what it was believed to look like. A beautiful red orb, encased in a crystal sphere. Set in a medallion of rare metal from the bed of the Nile. Encrusted with incredible rubies and flawless diamonds. The ultimate find, indeed.
"What's your offer?"
"All expenses, no question. Transportation for you, me, the research teams, and all other necessary equipment. Three weeks, no shore-leave. We'll be everywhere at once. All corners of the globe, tracking a legendary treasure. You'll have the best and the brightest at your disposal, if you care to make use of them. If not, you have the field. Climb your mountains and destroy your temples, whatever it is that you… do. You'll have free run of the operation, overseen by myself only, of course. You'll have to take some financial notes for my assistant, Mr. Howard, but that should be no problem for you. You'll get full and complete credit for the find, including a personal appearance at the Archeological Society by myself on your behalf before presenting the Amulet to the intellectual community. That is, of course, if you so desire. I will be keeping the Amulet in my personal collection, but you will have unrestricted access to it at all times, day or night. And of course, as always, you are free to name your price."
Lara got up from her place opposite Mason and began to pace slowly. She had to think, had to formulate, had to quickly weigh the pros and cons. The Amulet of Immortality, Lara! What are you thinking? If the legends are true, you don't want anything to do with this investigation at all. Keep clear. And plus, you know you can't trust Mason. No one trusts Mason, she thought. Then again, if no one trusts Mason, you're all in the same boat. That makes for a much easier mutiny, if the occasion calls for it. He's been civil enough. Lara looked back at Mason, who was lighting a fine cigar with a silver lighter shaped like a blow-torch. He smiled that devilish smile of his. The Amulet of Immortality, she continued to think. One of the greatest treasures of all time. If it were found, who knows what could happen. What sort of doors it could open. You'd be a shoo-in for VIP at this year's Archeological Society Awards. Not to mention you'll get to rub it in Alex's money-grubbing little face. Think about how good THAT would feel! Mason blew smoke rings as she continued to play Devil's advocate with herself. What a treasure! I mean, come on Lara! This is a once- in- a- lifetime opportunity! It's not everyday someone comes along with clues as to the resting place of one of the world's most notorious treasures! Take it! Take the chance! The risks, the challenges, the certainty of sleepless nights, even the failures you'll most certainly have! This is what you do! You're a tomb raider! This is what you live for.
And you know he'll attempt to hire Alex West if you turn him down.
That settled her mind. And her decision.
"I want the agreements, benefits, and financial details in contract format, with your signature before tomorrow afternoon. Have a copy sent to my lawyers, your lawyers, and my personal accountant. I have her information with me. I'll leave it with your secretary, Bonnie. I'm staying at the Royal Lancaster in Hyde Park. Have all the necessary details and schedules drawn up and delivered by tomorrow evening, otherwise I'm not interested." Mason smiled, showing his perfect teeth and the tip of his Cuban cigar.
"Wonderful! I knew you couldn't resist the opportunity. I'll have everything prepared for you as per your specifications." He watched as she got up to leave, not waiting for anything more from him. Not even an escort to the door. She stopped before opening the door, looking back at him with a very serious expression.
"Mason, one question." He took the cigar from his mouth, crushing it in a silver ashtray.
"Of course, Lara. Anything.'
"What do you plan to do with the Amulet if it is indeed found? No one in legend ever used it but for evil. That's the reason it was hidden away from humanity in the first place. If it does exist, and can be found, chances are it has some sort of supernatural power. Why would you want that?" Mason's expression didn't crease, but his complexion darkened as she spoke.
"Some things, My Lady, are really just fairy tales. And not all of my motives are as sinister as people make them out to be." He leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. "Why do you wish to find it?"
"I want to touch it," she replied honestly. "I want to feel its… shape, its… substance, its… realness. Does that make sense?"
"Of course it does."
"I want to feel it, because if I can touch it and feel it, then it must be real. And the only true reward for any tomb raider is the realization that what they've been searching for is really there. That it's tangible."
"That you're not all just a bunch of loonies?" Lara had to smile.
"Yeah, something like that."
Mason rose, walking to her side. He could smell her skin, like jasmine and bergamot. His gut caught again, and he forced himself to remain stiffened. He put a hand on her arm, looking into her eyes. Brown. No, not just brown. The deep, bitter chocolate color of winter leaves. The ones that were strong enough to cling to the trees, to resist winter.
"I want that for you as well, Lara. And for myself. I may seem like nothing more than a walking suit, but there are things I desire to experience in my lifetime. The Amulet of Immortality has haunted me for years, now. I want the chance to see it, to touch it, to gaze upon its forbidden beauty. Together, we will make those things happen for not only ourselves, but for the entire world, as well." For a moment, Lara found herself drawn to his words. They were incredibly poetic for someone with such a cold, sterile exterior.
"Right. Goodbye, Mason. I presume you will be in contact?"
"Of course, My Lady. You can be sure of it. I'll have everything ready for you promptly tomorrow afternoon."
"Good." She walked out, leaving him feeling strangely empty.
"Lara?" he called after her as she neared the elevator. She turned. "Would you consider a favor for me?" She said nothing, but stood still as the elevator announced its arrival with a quiet dinnnng. "My archeological team just made it back from Egypt. They'll be leaving with us once we start our expedition. Would you care to take dinner with the team leader tonight at Luc's? I just brought him on, and I'm sure the two of you will have things you'll need to get out of the way before the project takes off." Lara looked at the opening elevator doors.
"I suppose. Luc's you said?"
"Right! At eight or so. That way, you can have at it with your new partner before everything gets crazy."
"Alright. I suppose I could take some time tonight to enjoy an outrageously expensive meal."
"Might do you some good! Tonight at eight, then! I'll tell him to expect you!" She waved and disappeared into the elevator. Mason grinned. Oh, how it was all falling into place so perfectly! Not a fucking hitch in the works!
He waltzed back into his office, quite pleased with his performance. He smiled to himself as he imagined Lara at dinner, meeting his new "Archeological Expert." Hah. What a joke. Expert, indeed! But, whatever it took to get the job done.
He stood before his window once more, gazing upon his domain. He was king here, and would soon be much more. With Lara Croft heading his little expedition, nothing could go wrong. Even if things went terribly wrong. And he did so hope they would…