As they began to swim ashore, Peggy and Howard heard the small prop plane containing their friend's approach. It buzzed past them overhead as Jarvis tried to find a place to land on the nearby hill.
Staggering onto the beach, Peggy was grateful that they were within walking distance of the Hagia Sophia. Pushing past the growing mob of amazed sunbathing tourists and shocked locals who crowded the shores, they ignored the peppering of questions.
Instead, after a quick nod from Howard to affirm he was ready, the pair began to trot up the hill that led to the historic building.
While they rushed along, their wet clothes clung to them, and they did their best to wring them out as they went along. Unfortunately, the humid weather made the already soggy attire nearly impossible to squeeze dry. Giving up, both tried to ignore that unpleasant damp feeling. Thankfully, they soon arrived in the Faith District.
A massive white mosque was on one side of the plaza, while the immense reddish-pink-colored building was on the other. Multiple minarets were attached to these colossal structures.
Howard led the way, and they tiredly jogged toward the front of the faded red squat building, the Hagia Sophia.
They stopped near the gated entrance and watched as the small prop plane landed on the busy street opposite this ancient building. A breathless Howard and Peggy hurried over to their friends.
Jarvis and the others climbed out of the plane to greet them. Once on the ground, Jarvis painfully stretched out his back and stomped his feet to regain circulation into them.
Beside him, Dmitri and Zdenka grinned, relieved that their friends were alright. The five disregarded the honking car horns as irate drivers tried to circumvent the small group and the aircraft.
Howard could not help but frown at their mode of travel, "Jarvis, where did you get this hunk of junk?"
Jarvis stiffened and sniffed, "It was all my allowance could afford, sir."
Howard's low voice became conspiratorial, "I've told you time and again to use the discretionary funds for things like this."
"Having to pay off all those irate people on this journey has left nothing to use."
"Well, I wish you would have told me—"Howard began.
Knowing there was still much more to do, Peggy snapped, "Do your accounting tasks later, boys. I'm not sure what game Zemo is playing, but I trust that he has not given up."
Dmitri sighed, "Plus, the CIA has a huge head start." He then briefly summarized the deal they had made to find the Baron's blimp.
Though bothered by this admission, Peggy did not blame him or Jarvis for divulging the next clue's whereabouts. Nodding, she stated emphatically, "Then all the more reason to hurry."
So, ignoring the blaring of horns and outraged cries from those inconvenienced by the prop plane blocking the road, the five raced toward the Hagia Sophia. Along the way, Jarvis dutifully took the scanner from Howard and slung it over his shoulder.
Ahead, the building was massive with its four grey minarets and tall domes. The central cupola had half domes on either side of it. The dark red paint must have been quite an eye-catcher in its heyday. But even with its color bleached to an almost pink hue, the structure was still very commanding.
After quickly paying their entrance fee, Howard joined the others who waited nearby.
As they hurried along the gravel path toward the ancient building, they passed a sign that pointed to the side of the Hagia Sophia that read "To Topkapi Palace."
Seeing Peggy's quizzical look, Zdenka explained breathlessly, "The 15th Century Sultan's residence is located behind this building. But what we want is right in here." And she entered the doorway to the imposing Hagia Sophia.
Rushing in behind her, the harsh glare from a nearby guard reminded the small group that they were inside a holy sanctuary, and they slowed down out of respect.
The guard glanced at their still dripping clothes in disdain and almost said something when Peggy chirped, "I will never get used to these balmy days."
"I promise we will be careful," Howard assured the guard and made sure to tip the man well. Nodding stiffly, the guard looked the other way, and they continued.
Never one to miss a chance to teach, Zdenka whispered, "This is the only building in the world to have served as a Catholic Cathedral and the seat for two other religions, Sunni Islam and Greek Orthodox Christianity."
They quickly filed into the first section of the sizeable sacred building. From there, the group swiftly strode to stand under the massive central dome of the structure.
All stared with gaped mouths at the incredibly high curved ceiling. The exterior did not do the interior justice to its extraordinary size. The huge dome went up many stories, and Peggy hoped they would not have to climb it.
Howard gushed, "This could be a Wonder in itself. When was this built again?" He asked as he spun around, taking in the tall walls that supported such an immense cupola.
"Around the 6th century," Zdenka whispered as she glanced around, also amazed.
"That early? The engineering feat to get this enormous dome up so high and not have it come crashing down would have been monumental," Howard's voice was a reverent hush.
More jittery than normal (Peggy blamed the remnants of the serum), she nudged his arm harder than usual.
"Oh, yes. Sorry," Howard mumbled, "where too now, Dr. Z?"
It took a moment for Zdenka to orientate herself. Spying where they needed to go, she veered them toward the northeast section of the building. There was an open doorway that led to a side room.
Following her, Peggy noticed a sign that read "Wishing Column" with an arrow pointing within.
The five entered the smaller chamber, and Peggy's expert gaze scanned the room.
On one wall was a partially restored fresco of some saints. Zdenka ignored that artistic relief and headed for the tall white squared pillar near the back of the room. Someone was intently focused on it, and when finished, they walked away. Peggy thought they looked sad and hoped that whatever they faced would also not give them such woeful results.
Zdenka stopped at the column, and the others soon crowded behind her.
She whispered over her shoulder, "Known as the Wishing Column. It supposedly came from the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, so I assume this must be linked to the test in some way." The square-shaped marble column was huge, too thick to encircle one's arms around.
Peggy noticed that at eye level, there was a small bored hole. Also, a huge copper siding surrounded that section of the pillar. A long time ago, someone had tried to cover that hollowed-out opening. Evidence to the contrary, their preventative measures hadn't stopped anyone.
Decades of fervent touching had worn right through that protective metal layer. Even the copper surrounding the hole had been polished to a shine, while the remaining coppery surface wrapping around the column was still a dull dark brown.
Moving in for a closer inspection, Peggy was surprised to see sweat beading off the column, making the lone hole slick. Mystified, she asked, "Any idea why it is wet or where that water is even coming from?"
Zdenka shrugged, "No one knows the answer to that mystery. Some say that the water signifies the tears of the Virgin Mary. Others believe that it "cries" because of a sultan's pity. The most popular legend says that since the visage of Saint Gregory the Miracle Worker appeared near it in the year 1200, the column has been exuding some sort of healing liquid. That belief has brought pilgrims here for centuries, which is why it is so worn down there."
"Something so odd occurring has to be part of the clue," Jarvis murmured.
Peggy nodded, "Alright, so I assume we need to make a wish. What do we do?"
After a sigh, the Russian Professor replied, "Well, supposedly, if you stick your thumb in the hole and successfully twist it a full rotation, you will be healed, or your wish will come true. Of course, either outcome varies on which historian you talk to."
Howard raised his hands and backed up, "I ain't sticking any body part into any unknown hole."
"Really, Howard," Peggy admonished. Sighing, she straightened her soggy clothes and muttered, "Anyway, I will do it. So, any particular direction I should twist my thumb?"
"Counterclockwise, 360 degrees," Zdenka suggested.
Nodding, Peggy took a deep inhale. On the exhale, she stuck her left thumb into the hole. If it was booby-trapped, she figured it would be less of a loss to lose her non-dominant hand.
Instantly she chided herself for thinking about such a ridiculous superstition. Others had done this for centuries, and nothing terrible happened to them. So, she did as instructed, and when she removed her thumb, all it was, was wet.
"Feel better, pal?" Howard asked with a smirk.
"Better than you will in a moment," Peggy growled. She noticed the others were looking at her expectantly, "No, afraid I don't feel a thing. Anything revealed?" She glanced around the room and saw that nothing had changed.
Howard spoke low, "Did your wish come true?"
Peggy shook her head ruefully, "Unfortunately not. I had wished for a clue to help us along."
They waited a moment longer, and still, nothing happened.
Impatient as ever, Howard whined, "Now what?"
A frustrated Peggy was tempted to box his ears.
Dmitri looked about the room as if he expected some miracle to happen. "I guess it makes sense that the next instructions would not be near where anyone who stuck their thumb in the hole could see it. Perhaps it is elsewhere as all the other clues have been?"
Peggy asked, "Don't such religious establishments have underground catacombs or something of that nature? Maybe it is hidden in a restricted area directly beneath us?"
Zdenka grinned, "Usually, but no catacombs or even tombs have ever been found under the Sophia."
Frowning, Dmitri muttered, "That seems odd."
"Well, the column being damp might be the clue. I wonder why it is that way," Howard murmured.
Staring at the Wishing Column, Peggy tapped her chin, "Hum, maybe it has less to do with why, but just that it is."
"Yes, perhaps it signifies other things that are wet, such as waterways," Jarvis chimed in.
Dmitri grinned, "That's a good point. Besides the Bosporus Sea, are there other large bodies of water nearby?"
Zdenka thought a moment and then smiled in recollection, "If I am not mistaken, there is an immense cistern just across the street."
She removed her small notebook from its protective coverings and thumbed through the dog-eared pages.
A smile spread across her lips, and the Russian exclaimed excitedly, "Ah, here it is. Yes, the huge reservoir is called the Basilica Cistern, and it has been around since the 3rd or 4th century B.C. It was constructed by the ancient Turks in case their city was cut off by war. Later, it was forgotten and rediscovered in 1545 when noted scholar Petrus Gyllius found that local residents were accessing them. Not only did they pull water up from holes in their basement floors, but they also fished from them! When he further investigated, he found the massive disused cistern. Sadly, over the centuries, it had become a dumping ground for all sorts of trash, as well as a few corpses."
Peggy grimaced at the news and grumbled, "And we want to go there."
Zdenka reassured her, "I am sure all the bodies have been removed. But it doesn't matter. No one is allowed entry. It is mostly flooded and thus far too dangerous."
"That hasn't stopped us yet," Howard said cockily.
Nearby, they heard the loud sirens of the emergency vehicles rolling up onto the scene. Waiting a moment, they were relieved that though the sirens blared in front of the Sophia, the police were not charging in to arrest them. Yet.
Dmitri sighed, annoyed, "Comrade, I am afraid our luck has changed. From that traffic jam we caused, the police are too prevalent for us to sneak past and get into that restricted cistern unnoticed."
Zdenka nodded, "But if that is where we needed to go, there should be a way to get to it from here. At least it has been like that so far," she amended as she stared at Peggy, who grinned back at her.
All but Peggy spread out, looking for anything that might clue them to where the shortcut was.
Turning around, Dmitri stopped abruptly. He then quickly strode toward the pillar where Peggy stood as she stared at the ceiling.
He kneeled beside her and then circled his finger over a small indent on the floor. The area had gotten wet from the water dripping off Peggy's soggy clothing. He glanced up excitedly. "I think something is here. Look, water seems to highlight it."
The others crowded around him and Peggy.
Jarvis aimed the scanner at the floor. Peering intently at the monitor, Howard frowned, "I don't see anything."
As the inventor began to fiddle with the device, Dmitri said, "Sometimes the simpler methods work best." He then asked, "If I may, comrade Peggy?"
She nodded, and Dmitri squeezed out some excess water from the cuff of her pants. The clear liquid dribbled free and spread outwards, revealing an animal track.
Peggy asked, "Are those hoof marks."
Dmitri smiled, "Yes, deer tracks."
Zdenka suddenly stood up, thrilled, "That is both Diana and Artemis's symbol. Yes, this must be it!"
Handing the scanner back to Jarvis, Howard laughed softly, "Huh, imagine that. Hell, with the wet column and all, we should have known to use water to discover the way to the next clue's whereabouts. Didn't they say that if your thumb comes out wet from the column, your wish will come true? And technically, it did, Peg."
Smirking, Peggy nodded.
All then glanced at the floor, looking for any other tracks. Finding none, they turned to Peggy.
"Well shall we, my dear," Howard said and indicated for Peggy to take the lead.
Shrugging, she slowly wrung out her shirt, and the liquid drops revealed another deer print. She did so again further ahead, and soon another track was found.
Howard tagged along, also making sure to drip on the floor.
They followed the tracks to a side door that opened to the outside of the building. Briefly acknowledging the grandeur of Topkapi Palace that was tucked in the back, they continued dripping water onto the stone path. Now and then, tourists would walk by and frown at their odd behavior. Jarvis and Zdenka took turns smiling pleasantly at the curious onlookers.
The Palace's gardens were splendid, and Peggy wished they had time for proper sightseeing, but priorities took precedence.
Soon, the deer prints led them around the corner, and Peggy spied a small wooden hut on the outskirts of the lush gardens.
As she got closer, Peggy instantly recognized the two men guarding the entrance to the shack. The burly men wearing business suits were the flamethrower pair that worked for Agent Smith. Even if she hadn't known them, by the bulge of their holstered side pieces, they obviously did not belong there.
Before her small group could be noticed, Peggy stopped them from eagerly moving forward.
Craning his neck to see those who guarded the hut, Howard stated the obvious, "They must be some of Smith's goons."
"Yes, and they were at the Artemis ruins," Dmitri confirmed.
Sighing, Peggy said, "And they were the ones Mr. Jarvis and I dealt with on your boat, Howard."
"Yacht, Peggy," he automatically corrected and then realized by her grin that she was teasing him.
Dmitri suggested, "I could shoot them."
Shaking her head, Peggy said, "And risk the police being drawn to us? No, there must be another way."
Turning her attention back to the guards, Peggy said brusquely, "Right. Let's be quick about this, shall we." She snatched a hat off a passing male tourist's head and plucked it onto Dmitri's. When the affronted sightseeing couple stopped, Peggy grabbed the woman's scarf that hung limp around her neck. Quickly the SSR Agent wrapped it around her head, hiding her wet hair. She nodded to the irate couple, "Pay them, Howard."
Rolling his eyes, he then handed out some cash. Pleased with the amount, the pair darted off.
Snorting, Howard asked Peggy, "So, what's the plan, pal?"
Peggy nodded to Dmitri, "My loving husband and I are going to reintroduce ourselves to those guards."
After placing her sunglasses on, she linked her arm through the intrigued male Russians, and they sauntered toward the CIA flunkies.
In a loud, obnoxious American accent, Peggy declared, "What an amazing place, such grandeur, don't you think so, Boopsie?"
Dmitri's American accent was just as impeccable as hers, "I know, Bunny, the views and all."
The men guarding the shack suspiciously watched the annoying Americans approach.
"Ah, this must be where the bathrooms are. I tell you, this place has everything but that," Peggy tittered tediously, and she heard one of the CIA goons loudly sigh.
When Peggy and Dmitri got too close to the hut's closed door, the men stood nearer, blocking the entrance.
Peggy angrily placed her hands on her hips, "Why I must say, how rude. You would think that the grande dame herself was in there."
One of the men smiled, his barred teeth a warning to stay clear, "Sorry, closed for renovation."
"Really," Peggy indicated around them, "where else am I to go."
"Lady—" the man's steely voice petered out when he suddenly realized who he was talking to.
Already tired of the charade, Peggy cold-cocked the man. Dmitri did the same against the other surprised guard. But these men were big and took a punch well.
They advanced on the smaller pair. Their large hands balled up and ready to swing.
As the men loomed over them, Peggy shared a grin with Dmitri. This was just the workout that she needed to hopefully flush the last remnants of that fiery poison from her system.
Grinning at the two CIA goons who stormed closer, Peggy raised her fists.
Dmitri dodged the stouter fellow's swing and kneed him in the stomach. He quickly used a judo chop against the back of the man's thick neck. While that goon buckled onto all fours groaning, Peggy aimed a meticulous kick to her opponent's shin.
Yelping, the taller man hopped up and down. With him in a perfect position, she shoved him over his hunched friend. He must have hit his head on the sidewalk when he landed, for he was knocked out cold.
As the other CAI Agent panted and struggled to his feet, Peggy and Dmitri punched either side of his face. Moaning, he collapsed, now also out for the count.
Peggy pursed her lips in agitation. As she wiped the drops of sweat from her brow, it did not feel like the remaining serum's effects had dissipated. If anything, she seemed even more amped up.
Behind them, Peggy and Dmitri heard a gasp of horror. Spinning around, the duo saw they had drawn a crowd. While some of the more hysterical tourists fanned themselves, others murmured worriedly. An older couple was angling to where the emergency police vehicles were parked in front.
Peggy inwardly groaned. That was all they needed. Some scandalized busybody calling the authorities over.
Ever the quick thinker, Howard nudged Jarvis to hold up the scanner. While the butler quickly did so, Howard barked out, "And CUT! Perfect. I don't think we need to film another take."
Confused, the crowd murmured to one another, unsure if what they had just witnessed was real or make-believe.
Always the showman, Howard bragged, "Ladies and Gentlemen, you might recognize me as the noted film director, Howard Stark. You have just witnessed a scene from my new movie, "Spoils of War." I trust all of you not to breathe a word of this… just yet," he added with a conspiratorial wink.
Mollified, the audience clapped and muttered confidentially to one another. Of course, they had known that this was a film shoot the entire time, and they chuckled at their needless concern.
Never one to ignore accolades, Peggy curtsied, and Dmitri took a bow.
The mob then dispersed, droning excitedly on about having just seen an actual movie being made.
Howard, Jarvis, and Zdenka then raced over to their friends.
Peggy smiled, "Good thinking Howard."
Howard nodded, "Thanks, Peg. And heck, I'm beginning to think that I should make this movie after all."
Shaking his head in disdain, Jarvis said, "Now what, Miss Carter?"
She tilted her head to indicate the unconscious CIA goons, "Let's hide them and then see what is in this shack."
After ditching the two big men behind a large topiary of a peacock, they entered the wooden hut. The small circular room was dark. Only the streaming sunlight behind them partially revealed the interior.
As their eyes adjusted, they could just make out the old worn stone staircase that curved along the wall. Ominously, it led down into pitch black. The sides of the brick walls were damp, and Peggy felt as if she was looking down into a giant well.
Below they heard the sound of dripping water.
Near the doorway, Peggy took note of the pieces of the wooden planks ripped up and tossed unceremoniously to the side. She figured that this wood had been used to cover the entrance of the well. Peggy instantly recognized Smith's modus operandi scrawled all over its destruction.
Taking the lead, Jarvis went down the stairs. The scanner held out to illuminate their path as he cautiously descended. At their feet, the deer tracks continued to lead them. Howard followed, glancing from the scanner's monitor to the slick steps.
The Russians came next, with Peggy taking the rear.
A short time later, the stairs and deer prints stopped on a small stone ledge.
Below was a large, long gutter that was filled with murky green water. The slow-moving liquid flowed from a narrow arched opening that a small boat could barely float under. It was dark within the entry and certainly not inviting. The ghastly-looking water then exited out of a much smaller hole on the opposite side of the channel's opening.
Zdenka frowned, "The water must be coming in from the Basilica Cistern. I imagine this was the well the Topkapi Palace servants drew from."
Jarvis made a face as he studied the awful water, "I trust they were hearty folk."
"I don't suppose you know how deep this is?" Dmitri asked tentatively.
The Russian Professor vehemently shook her head.
Peggy grimaced, "I am more concerned about any cadavers floating by."
"Hey, but they would make a great floatation device," the analytical Howard chimed in.
This was one time she wished he wasn't such a fast thinker, "Really, Howard." But her reprimand held a grin, and he smiled back at her.
With no other way to reach the cistern, they would have to swim in the sickly-looking water. Peggy sighed. "This day just keeps getting better and better."
After realizing what she meant, Howard informed them, "Well, I am not all that current on my shots, pal, so—"
Peggy nodded to the inventor. She wouldn't have made him go anyway. "Right, you and Jarvis stay here and guard the entrance. If anyone asks, make up some story if needs be, such as you are a history professor or something. Dmitri, Zdenka, and I will go investigate." The two Russians nodded stoically.
"Yes, no problem, comrades, I've been in worse," Dmitri boasted.
"And I have done fieldwork in awful conditions as well. Ever tried doing an archeological dig in Siberia? In the winter?" Zdenka shuddered from memory.
After looking from the water to his gun, a reluctant Dmitri handed Jarvis his weapon, "I don't want to risk it getting wet."
"Alright, fine," Peggy said, not to be left out, "then shall we?"
Cautiously, the three slowly lowered themselves into the chilly murky green water. Peggy winced when her feet could not touch the bottom. To top it off, the stone walls were slick with scum. She hated slimy almost as much as rats.
As if God had acknowledged her inner turmoil, she swore she heard the echoing squeak of vermin lying in wait ahead.
"Hold on," Howard said, and he hurried up the stairs. He grabbed the largest pieces of broken wood that had been used to board up the entrance to the well. Quickly making it back, he handed the planks to them, "Maybe you can use these to float on."
Peggy practically gushed, "Howard, I could kiss you!"
The biggest one was given to Dmitri and Zdenka to share, and Peggy took the smaller piece of wood. She wished there were more to build a raft with, but they would have to make due. In Smith's enthusiasm to enter, most of the destroyed wooden pieces were now the size of a small pet.
Thankfully, these two larger sections' buoyancy helped keep their heads above the water. Dmitri then took the waterproof scanner from Jarvis and held it in front of him. At least with this device, they could mostly see where they were going in the dark.
Waiting for Dmitri and Zdenka to kick their way ahead of her, Peggy promised her two vigilant friends on the stone landing, "See you soon." She then followed the Russians through the opening and disappeared into the dark gloom.
Howard watched them leave with a worried expression on his face. He then patted the equally concerned Jarvis on the shoulder, "Come on, pal, we best do as Peggy says."
With one last glance at the damp, dreary maw of the opening, the inventor and his butler made their way up the stairs and into the light.