The hint on where to find the next clue stated to locate the Goddess Diana and that she would show them the way. And since the Goddess Artemis was also known as Diana, Zdenka was optimistic that the clue was somewhere hidden at the Temple.

Unfortunately, like almost all the other Wonders, there was not much left of the structural remains of the ancient Temple nor its surrounding shrines. As Peggy's group strolled among the strewn columns and broken stone, only a few tourists meandered about the vast outdoor expanse of unexciting ruins.

Along the dirt path that winded through the many rows of debris, tufts of dried grass poked out from the intact perched stones as if they were in dire need of a haircut. Unlike the days of old, the Temple of Artemis' grounds were no longer well cared for.

Walking around what was left of the once impressive Temple and its sacred lands, Peggy and the others checked all the toppled stone columns or hunks of stone throughout the area. The whole time they made sure to stay clear of the plethora of squirrel holes that riddled the terrain. Finding nothing, their last stop was at the once vast Temple's mostly intact cracked stone flooring.

Still, the scanner did not pick up anything of worth.

At least the overly warm weather included a nice breeze off the sea. Except for the one large dark puffy cloud that hovered off in the distance, the noonday sky was a brilliant blue. As the wind gently ruffled her hair, Peggy thought it all made for a pleasant walk.

Sighing, Peggy stretched her back. After having no luck finding any clues, all agreed that a lunch break was needed in order to figure out their next move.

Jarvis found a wonderful spot near the Temple's foundation to have a picnic. The hilly incline overlooked the cracked stone flooring.

Finding a flat spot, he unfurled the checkered fabric and placed it by the many willow trees that grew around the Temple's perimeter. As they settled onto it, Peggy glanced below at all the grass and squirrel holes that beset the once-popular massive shrine grounds.

For some reason, the Temple of Artemis had been constructed in a swampy marshland area. The tree's raised barrier that they were currently picnicking on did not help. It caused rainwater to collect around the ancient ruins' lower portion, giving it nowhere to go. Luckily, they were visiting in the dry season, for according to the locals, the foundation was flooded during the spring and early summer periods.

As the wind picked up and blew through the nearby swaying trees, Peggy took a deep lungful of fresh air. It truly was lovely here. But pleasantries aside, she wished they had found something that revealed the next clue.

Granted, even if they did find it, there was just one Wonder left anyway. And that in itself would prove tricky in trying to locate. Unfortunately, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was the only place where no remains were left.

Some scholars even believed that it had never truly existed in the first place.

Ruefully, Peggy thought, since when had any of this adventure ever been easy?

Her shoulders slouched from both mental and physical exhaustion. It was all frustrating, especially since they were so close to finishing things.

At least Dmitri was doing better. The extra day of travel to Ephesus had helped the Russian heal more. Though still bruised, he was only a little sore now. Howard's jet spa did wonders for one's aches and pains.

As they ate their sandwiches in silence, Jarvis attentively refilled their half-full glasses with more punch or champagne and dutifully cleaned up any messes. Peggy wished he would just relax for a moment. She wondered if this was his form of a coping mechanism.

Though lethargic, her mind ruminated on the last odd Cuneiform clue they had gotten from Malta. Zdenka believed it said, "Cold," but she could not be certain. Regardless, the clue was so exasperating. They needed more hints than just a temperature. Such as, do they go North or South where it is cold?

An irritated Peggy forced herself not to dwell on it and decided to use this pleasant location to unwind. Now stuffed with good food, she leaned back on her elbows and yawned. Though they had been able to relax while the yacht cruised toward Turkey, she and Jarvis were still beat from the previous day's underwater excursion.

So between the warm sun, a full stomach from a decadent, rich lunch, and this morning's hike, Peggy was tempted to lie down and rest her eyes. As if it was contagious, the others joined Peggy in another yawn feast, and all got comfortable lounging on the tall, dried grass.

While they did this, Zdenka dusted the bread crumbs off her lap. Then, looking at the other's reposed forms, the female Russian cleared her throat and began explaining the Wonder's history to her sleepy friends, "So, regarding the Temple of Artemis."

Knowing this would be a lecture, Peggy laid down so she could stare up at the tranquil blue sky.

But Zdenka would not be deterred as the others followed Peggy's example. Determined, she stated, "Around 800 BC, the Amazons were supposedly the first to build the Temple on this sacred land."

Leaning on his side, Howard did a soft whistle, "Yeah, I recall you mentioning something about Amazons the other day. Now that is something I can get behind."

Overlooking his leer and the subsequent nudge to his arm by Peggy's foot, Zdenka continued, "Depending on which source one reads, some say that the first shrine was a blend of the Greek goddess Artemis and of the local Anatolian mother goddess."

Zdenka took a sip of her champagne and then went on, "After that smaller Temple was destroyed, the locals rebuilt it two more times, each grander than the last. It was the Temple of Artemis's final incarnation that had amazed all and had been recognized as a Wonder. Alas, by 401 AD, it had been destroyed, never to be rebuilt again. No earthquakes were involved this time, only fire, flooding, and looting." She aimed her comment at Peggy in hopes of preventing any snide interruptions. She should have known better.

Smirking, Peggy interjected sarcastically, "Then let me guess. The stone blocks from the Temple were reused to build something else, probably hundreds of miles away."

Zdenka tilted her head to register her acquiescence, and when Peggy hesitated, the Russian archeologist urged, "Well, go on, comrade Peggy."

"Let her talk, Peg," Howard chided.

Rolling her eyes irritated, Peggy motioned for Zdenka to carry on.

"It was said that when Alexander the Great was born, the Goddess Artemis must have been busy tending his birth. They believe that since she was not here guarding her Temple, it allowed this shrine to be destroyed a third time for good."

Nodding absently, Peggy was already dreading the answer, "So what did happen to the stones that had made up the Temple?"

Zdenka grinned, but her tone held no joy, "They were used on the Basilica of Saint John that was once on that hill." She pointed to the ruins of the 6th-century Byzantine citadel that overlooked the area. "After that had been destroyed, those same stones were used to build the Isa Bey Mosque, which is down there."

Studying the view, Peggy noticed that a mosque stood next to a two-story building with huge columns on its roof.

Zdenka added, "And also some of the immense columns were used at the Hagia Sophia, which is located further north in Istanbul."

"So once again, the clues could be anywhere," Dmitri said as he tugged some dried grass free from the earth and watched the breeze carry it away.

Looking at everyone's dejected expressions, Peggy sat up and declared, "Right, regardless, one of those places has the answer to where we should look next." Then, more to reassure herself than the others, she added, "Those in charge have not let us down yet."

She turned to the young antiquity specialist, "Maybe there is a clue to be found from the subject of the Temple. What else can you tell us about Artemis, Zdenka? She was the Goddess of what again?"

Zdenka blew out a breath, "Of the hunt, of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, and virginity. She was often portrayed as a huntress carrying a bow and arrow. Also, she was a twin of Apollo."

She then opened up her well-worn notebook. After a bit, she found the page she was looking for and showed them a sketch of Artemis, "This is another representation that she was worshipped as. Some believe this was also the massive statue within the Temple." The picture depicted the Greek Goddess standing and having the top half of her body either covered in lemons or breasts. Peggy wasn't sure.

But Jarvis blushed, and Howard tittered in humor. Zdenka flashed him a reproachful frown, and the millionaire's snicker became a quick clearing of the throat.

Ignoring his immature reaction, Peggy saw that the rest of the deity's body was decorated with animals, possibly beasts of burden.

"Anything else you can think of that might help?" Dmitri asked, trying to sound supportive.

"That is all I have," the Russian woman muttered.

Frustrated, Zdenka stood and began to pace under the willow trees. After a few circuits, she suddenly stopped and stared out at the foundation ruins below them. A puzzled expression crossed her features, and she began to raise herself up and down on her toes.

Grinning, Howard stated, "Hey Dr. Z, shouldn't you stretch first after a meal before doing calisthenics?"

Absently, Zdenka replied, "Sorry, it is most odd. From this height, the Temple's foundation's stone flooring almost seems to have an odd pattern etched into it. I need a better vantage spot."

Peggy jutted her chin, indicating a nearby sinewy willow tree, "Maybe you can climb that to get a better view?"

Nodding, Zdenka quickly clambered up until she reached the thinner limbs. Dmitri handed her the scanner. After she looked through it, she shook her head, "Yes, there is something there, but I need to go even higher to make it out."

Thinking aloud, Howard muttered, "Well, that could explain why the scanner didn't pick up anything as we walked across it. The clue is too big. Now for a better vantage point—"

Peggy heard a soft exhale escape Howard's lips. Turning, she saw that familiar gleam in his eye. Cocking a grin, he replied, "How about a bird's eye view, comrade? Everyone get up."

As they slowly did so, Howard motioned for Jarvis to clear the items off the picnic linen. While the butler packed the dishes away, Peggy rescued the last croissant sandwich.

Now cleaned off, Howard grabbed the red and white checkered cloth and flicked away the crumbs.

While the fabric settled back onto the grass, the inventor ordered Jarvis, "Find me some long straight thin branches and bring them back here." He nodded his head to the row of nearby willow trees.

Jarvis quickly did as he was told.

Though curious about what Howard was up to, Dmitri and Zdenka stayed out of his way.

After Howard had straightened the corners of the linen, he rummaged around in his ubiquitous fanny pack. Quickly finding a coil of parachute cord, he handed it to Peggy, "Pal, you mind pulling out the strands from this?"

Mouth full of sandwich, Peggy smirked and began tugging the two-ply strings inside the nylon rope's sheath free.

By the time she was done, Howard had folded the checkered cloth until it was a third smaller. Dmitri and Zdenka peered over his shoulder, intently watching him work.

Hearing the crunch of boots through the fallen leaves, Peggy noticed Jarvis heading back with an armload of various-sized willow branches. She had an idea of what the brilliant inventor was up to and smiled at his ingenuity.

Always thinking, Howard pulled out some barber scissors from his fanny pack and began to cut the checkered fabric, reducing it in size.

Looking above, Peggy noticed that the single large darkened puffy cloud in the sky was slowly approaching them, and she worried that they might get some rain after all.

Figuring that this was going to take a while, Peggy rummaged through the picnic basket for dessert. Pilfering a tasty treat, Peggy made her way back to him.

As he cobbled together a giant kite, Peggy looked on impressed. "My, you are quite handy, Howard."

He retorted, "Well, I gotta be since I am just about out of useful inventions for us." Using the two-ply string from the paracord, he tied two long branches together to make a cross. He then added smaller branches around it, forming a giant diamond outline.

Wincing at his words, Peggy replied, "I am sincerely sorry about your submersible, Howard. This little adventure must be costing you a fortune."

Howard shrugged good-naturedly, "It'll make an interesting tax write-off, Peg. Besides, I am getting a lot of new ideas from all this. Ones that will bring me a pretty penny once I get them patented. This has been a great field test for many of my newer inventions."

"Yes, they had come through for us when things got deadly," she admitted.

Concerned, Howard looked at her, "Hopefully, we won't run into any more danger." When she snorted about the futility of that proposal, he gave her the side-eye. Obviously worried, he asked, "These giant creatures? You still think they were intentionally left behind as part of the test?"

Peggy nodded as she took another bite of the éclair. She then licked away the cream that had seeped out and coated her fingers. After sighing in bliss, she stated, "It will be alright, Howard."

"I know that. It just seems that each time it is getting harder and harder to survive these retrievals." Expertly, he tied the picnic cloth to the makeshift wooden frame.

Finishing the dessert, Peggy pursed her lips in contemplation, "Yes, and I am certainly grateful that we are running out of Wonders."

He nodded absently as he tied a bowtie-knotted tail to the bottom of the kite. After he wound the hollow paracord loosely and then attached it to the end of his contraption, he said worriedly, "Just be careful, Peg."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about me," she said obstinately. A sound suddenly caused her gaze to focus on the crest of the nearby hill where their car was parked. Two vehicles had just pulled up behind Howard's rental.

Six people were leaving those cars, and Peggy squinted. Putting on her sunglasses so she could see past the glare, she easily recognized their leader, "Oh, bother. The CIA has found us again."

Howard flinched and then looked. He echoed Peggy's exasperated sigh. As usual, the CIA just waited by their parked cars, letting them do all the work.

Quickly finishing his contraption, Howard handed the kite to Jarvis. The butler held out the giant diamond-shaped object as if it offended him. True, the fabric had not been cut perfectly, and many loose strands dangled from the frayed edges, but it should still do the trick. Well, Peggy hoped that it could still fly.

Howard then separated the scanner into two pieces. The lighter scanning part he secured to the middle cross of the kite. The larger monitor section he handed to Dmitri.

"Since the distance won't be as far away as it was for Malta, we should receive a picture-perfect image even so very high up," he assured them.

Worried that the tall willow trees might tangle the kite, Howard motioned for them to head nearer to the Temple foundation. While he and Jarvis carefully walked down the incline, they watched their feet so they would not step into any of the copious amounts of squirrel holes.

Dmitri offered his hand to Zdenka, and both followed behind the inventor and his manservant. Still keeping a cautious eye on the CIA Agents, Peggy took the rear. Soon all stood at the base of what was left of the mighty Temple's foundation.

Concerned that the CIA might try something, Peggy nodded to Dmitri. Both stood closer to Howard and Zdenka. They formed a united front side by side and faced the hill's direction, daring Smith to try anything.

They need not have worried. A bemused Agent Smith leaned against the hood of his vehicle, puffing away on a cigar. Beside him, Hodge leered dangerously at them while the other operatives in their group stood at the ready. A sullen Professor Spencer was stuck in the back, brooding over whatever slight he was currently feeling.

Hands on her hips, Peggy called over her shoulder to Howard, "Are you sure there is plenty of wind to give that a lift?"

Howard wet his index finger and held it up. Gauging that the wind, as well as the dark puffy cloud that was headed in their direction, he nodded, satisfied. He confidently stated, "Yeah, it should be strong enough." He indicated for Jarvis to race ahead while he reeled out the twine.

Not wanting to take his chances that any nefarious animal holes or even the tall weeds would trip him up, Jarvis began to race across the Temple's foundation. As he sprinted forward, he held it by the attached scanner, the kite fluttering behind him. Finally, he reached enough speed, and Howard yelled, "Let it go!"

Jarvis did so, and the kite zoomed upwards into the sky. Laughing in triumph, Howard declared, "I bet you it could reach high enough to touch that approaching dark cloud!"

Joining his side, Zdenka grinned at his jovial boast.

"Just don't get electrocuted," Peggy warned, recalling the tale about Benjamin Franklin. At least that inventor had tied a key to his apparatus so he would not get fired.

Snorting at her needless concern, Howard unspooled the hollowed-out paracord and waited for Jarvis to jog back.

The poor man was winded and sweaty, but Jarvis gamely took the monitor from Dmitri and turned it on. Once it buzzed to life, he held it so that Zdenka and Howard could see the screen better.

It only took a moment for Zdenka to exclaim excitedly, "There is something."

Howard nodded, prideful that his rudimentary device had worked, "Yeah, but we need to pull back more to see it in its entirety." Judging the distance, Howard released more paracord and glanced at the kite as it continued to rise. Other than that one large dark cloud floating closer, there was thankfully nothing else in the sky.

Zdenka nodded pleased and ran her finger along the monitor's image, lightly tracing an outline, "Yes, there is definitely an overlaying pattern."

Peggy heard Howard's voice of doubt, "Um, it looks like a horn?"

"No, it's antlers. It is Artemis and Diana's symbol, the deer," Zdenka peered over at the floor of the foundation and then back at the monitor.

"So that's the clue?" Peggy asked, her gaze never leaving Smith's position.

Zdenka shook her head, "I'm not sure. The last clue said that Diana would show us the way—"

Now Howard's voice became excited, "Looks like there is something etched along the left side."

"Yes, good eye," Zdenka nodded. Carefully reading the inscription, she pursed her lips.

Before Peggy could ask her again, she stated, "No, comrade Peggy, this is not those odd Cuneiform messages we have gotten in the past. This is archaic Greek, and it says something about 'red as blood, holy to all.'" She then smiled, "It's telling us where we need to go to get the actual clue. If I am not mistaken, we should head up to Istanbul, for what we seek is located at the Hagia Sophia."

Peggy was about to cheer their success when she noticed Agent Smith and the others were starting to make their way to where they had just picnicked. As his group gingerly waded through the tall dried grass toward the willow trees, Peggy saw that they were all heavily armed.

She surreptitiously checked that her gun was still holstered at her side under her blue blazer. Peggy was afraid that if she pulled it free, the other agents would use theirs. She felt their odds were better if it came down to fisticuffs, but she doubted that Smith would have such chivalrous scruples. He would just as easily shoot them on sight instead. But first, he needed the clue.

Her voice held a tinge of impatience, "Howard, we best be off. Reel in the scanner so we can go."

Hearing the tone of apprehension in her voice, Howard nodded quickly and began to wind in the kite. Surprisingly it became a tug of war. The kite seemed to want to continue upward toward the dark cloud that was about to float over the willow trees. "That's odd. It doesn't want to."

Shaking her limbs loose in anticipation of a fight, Peggy ordered, "Well, then use some muscle and yank it down already."

Curiously, Smith was now hunkering under the willow trees, and he signaled his men to do likewise. For some reason, they were not rushing over but instead stayed stationed there to cut off any possible retreat back to Howard's rental car. Reevaluating this new situation, Peggy figured that her group could lose them across the way among the ruins and tourists if need be.

She then noticed that Smith's gaze continuously darted from the kite to them. No, she suddenly realized. He was worriedly observing that huge dark cloud whose silent shadow ominously rolled over his head.

Concerned, Peggy glanced back at Howard and saw that he was now struggling to pull the kite in. He tried, but the kite somehow got snagged onto the puffy cloud.

Finally, Howard and Jarvis could pull the obstinate kite downwards. Oddly the large dark cloud followed its descent.

"Hah, I think you caught a cloud, Mr. Stark," there was a twinkle of a laugh in Zdenka's voice.

Peggy studied this lone cloud that was nearly over them. There was something off about it. Actually, its shape looked vaguely familiar. But that was impossible, she chided. All clouds were different.

Then realization slammed into Peggy, and she grabbed Howard's arm.

"That's no cloud—" Peggy began tugging Howard away. As he protested, she growled, "Forget the scanner. We must go now."

Knowing that there was no way they could fight through the CIA to get to their vehicle, Peggy pulled them in the opposite direction of the incoming cloud and Smith. Hopefully they could reach the safety of the ruins on the other side of the temple's foundation.

Unfortunately, the open field ahead would not give them much cover either, but Peggy refused to stand still and face an unknown threat.

Howard finally let go of the string, leaving the scanner adhered to the cloud.

Allowing Peggy to hustle him along, Howard stared mutely at the cloud as it lowered further in pursuit. A worried Zdenka quickly rushed along behind them, then Jarvis, while Dmitri took the rear position to guard their flanks. Not surprisingly, the chasing dark cloud continued to gain on them.

As they ran, Peggy ordered, "Head for the taller ruins," and she yanked harder on Howard's arm so he would follow her faster. Zdenka and the others were on their heels as they raced toward sanctuary.

In moments, the cloud was hovering over their retreating party, blotting out the sun.

With it being this close, they saw what the large puffy cloud truly was. It was a massive man-made dirigible painted and shaped to look like a giant bloated rain cloud. Under the well-disguised blimp was a large undercarriage with shiny siding that reflected whatever was around it, thus making the perfect camouflage.

Because Howard had slowed down to stare at this amazing flying machine, Peggy had to jerk harder on his arm, startling him out of his transfixed state. Now he matched her swift pace. As they got closer to the protection of the ruins, Peggy would not allow herself to cheer yet. The distance seemed interminable, but it looked like they just might make it.

Then she heard a distinctive noise overhead. Anxiously looking up at the disguised blimp, she saw three small holes suddenly open up from the undercarriage of this behemoth's belly.

Suddenly, a long metal whip shot out, aiming for Zdenka. Horrified, Peggy automatically reacted and shoved the woman out of the way just in time.

Though her brave act worked to save her friend, Peggy instantly found herself snagged by the whip instead. The thick metallic tube snaked around her torso and pinned her arms as it constricted painfully. In the back of her mind, she knew it was the same technology those damn Hydra robots used.

Peggy struggled to free the gun she had holstered at her side. As she was pulled into the air toward the blimp, she heard Howard's panicked yells abruptly cut off when another whip grabbed him.

Finally, Peggy managed to pull her gun out. With her arms still restrained to the side, it was difficult to aim, but she could point her weapon at the metallic segment attached to the airship. She knew landing from this height was going to hurt, but she would rather face that known possibility than the unfamiliar danger that resided inside that blimp.

But before she could shoot, a massive surge of electricity coursed through the metallic whip. Peggy jolted stiffly as the painful voltage made her body seize. Finally, the arc of power stopped, and she hung limp in the whips hold. Her gun dropped from her useless, numbed fingers.

Barely conscious, her head lulled to the side, and everything felt as if it was in slow motion as she was pulled closer to her doom. Howard's cries of worry were the last thing she heard before everything went black.

Though Peggy might have shoved Zdenka out of the way, the third extended mechanical whip snatched the Russian woman and lifted her toward the cloud just before Dmitri could stop it. No more whips shot out, and the dirigible began to rise.

Jarvis and Dmitri raced after the ascending blimp, but they were too late. The disguised cloud floated away like a giant sated water bug.

Sneering, Dmitri trained his weapon on the retreating blimp readying to fire, but Jarvis knocked the gun to the side just before he could fire. He admonished, "Stop! What if that thing is full of hydrogen? One spark, and you could blow them up!"

Worriedly, Dmitri and Jarvis watched as the cloud retreated until it became a tiny silhouette against the sunny sky.