staring out at the stars, his face illuminated by the instrument dials.
In a study at the rear of the plane, however, one light was on.
The light in Jack West’s office.
Ever since they had taken off from Sri Lanka—the first time he had truly felt out of reach—Jack had been reading intently from the black folder he had grabbed just before leaving his farm: an old leather binder crammed with notes, clippings, diagrams, and photocopies.
This was Wizard’s “black book,” the one Wizard had instructed Jack to take.
And as he read it, Jack’s eyes grew wide with wonder. “Oh my God, Wizard. Why didn’t you tell me?Oh. My. God…”
BURJ AL ARAB TOWER
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
DECEMBER 2, 2007, 2330 HOURS
THE BURJ AL ARABis one of the most spectacular buildings in the world.
Shaped like a gigantic spinnaker, it is stunning in almost every respect. Eighty-one stories tall, it houses the world’s only seven-star hotel. On its eightieth floor, jutting out from beneath a revolving restaurant, is a huge helipad practically designed for photo opportunities: Tiger Woods once hit golf balls from it; Andre Agassi and Roger Federer once played tennis on it.
It is the most recognized structure of the most modern Arab nation on Earth, the United Arab Emirates.
A great tower, some would say.
The great tower, Wizard would say.
Soon after their arrival in Dubai—the Hali had landed at a military air base—West and his group were flown by helicopter to the Burj al Arab, where they were accommodated in no less than the Presidential Suite, a vast and plush expanse of bedrooms, sitting rooms, and lounge rooms that took up the entire seventy-ninth floor.
This royal treatment was not unwarranted. The Emirates had been a partner in West’s initial adventure with the Golden Capstone, an adventure that had seen a coalition of small nations take on—and prevail against—the might of the United States and Europe.
One of the most heroic members of West’s team on that mission had been the second son of one of the Emirates’ most senior sheiks, Sheik Anzar al Abbas.
West, Zoe, Sky Monster, and most of all, Lily, were always welcome in Dubai.
Alby, needless to say, was impressed. “Whoa…” he said, gazing out the windows at the stunning view.
Lily just shrugged. She’d stayed here before. “I get dibs on the double bed!” she yelled, racing into a bedroom.
The doorbell rang, despite the fact it was almost midnight.
West opened the door to reveal—
—Sheik Anzar al Abbas and his entourage.
With his great beard, round belly, deeply etched olive skin, and dressed in a traditional desert robe and head-scarf, the regal old sheik could have stepped straight out of Lawrence of Arabia.
“The hour is late and Captain Jack West Jr. arrives in haste,” Abbas said in his deep voice. “I sense trouble.”
West nodded grimly. “Thank you once again for your hospitality, Lord Sheik. Please, come inside.”
Abbas entered, his robe flowing, followed by his six attendants. “My son, Zahir, sends his regards. He is currently working as a senior instructor at our special forces training facility in the desert, teaching our best fighters many of the strategies you taught him. He begged me to inform you that he is on his way at all possible speed.”
West walked with the sheik. “I fear the circumstances are grave, far graver than ever before. Where once we banded together to fight against the desires of selfish men, now, if Wizard’s research is correct, we face a far more sinister threat. Wizard hasn’t arrived here yet, but I imagine he’ll enlighten us further when he gets here.”
Abbas’s eyes flickered. “You do not know?”
“Know what?”
“What has happened to Max Epper, the Wizard.”
Jack froze. “What’s happened?”
“We picked it up from Chinese satellite radio chatter last night. Wizard was arrested twenty-four hours ago by Chinese forces not far from the Three Gorges Dam. I fear he won’t be coming here anytime soon.”
Jack could only stare.
“Wizard left this file at my home,” he said, once he and the sheik were settled in one of the sitting areas of the suite. Zoe and Sky Monster were there, too, along with Lily and the rather confused Alby.
Significantly, Sheik Abbas’s entourage had been left in an outer room.
“The file summarizes his research into a set of six stones called the Ramesean Stones and their relationship with six oblong blocks known as the Pillars of the World, or sometimes, the Pillars of Vishnu.”
“Vishnu?” Abbas said, recognizing the word. “As in…”
“Yes,” West said. “As in ‘I am Vishnu, Destroyer of the World.’ The study of the Ramesean Stones was Wizard’s life’s work. Our ten-year mission to locate the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and through them the Golden Capstone was merely a side mission for him. This is the study that has consumed his entire life.
