“Let me text him…” Ella replied. Turning, he found her standing closer than he’d expected. Already on her iPhone, she was texting before he could reply.
Corbett nodded. “Thanks.” Then turning back to Gorka, he added: “The minute he gets here we go.”
Having finished making last minute adjustments to the carburetor of the second Land Rover, Hector emerged from under the hood, slamming it shut.
“Morning, Boss.” He smiled, wiping the engine grime from his hands with a rag. “Ready to roll.”
In the meantime, Professor Asurias had arrived. Driving up in a university van, he parked across the road from the lead vehicle. Waving to Corbett as he climbed out, he crossed to join him.
“Buenos dias. A fine morning to begin.”
“Any last minute changes?” Corbett asked.
“Si. Sebastian called from the site. He tells me the winch is broken. Until it is repaired, you won’t be able to descend into the cave. Hopefully, he can have it ready by the time you get there.”
“Sounds good. Anything else we’ll deal with once we’ve arrived.” Turning back to Ella, he asked, “Any reply from señor Akhtar?”
“Sorry…” She replied. “Maybe his phone’s turned off.”
“Señor Ahktar…? Again?” Asurias shook his head, clearly annoyed. “My apologies. He is actually quite an excellent student. His abilities in operating the Laser Scanner are exceptional. I cannot imagine what is keeping him.”
A moment later, the high-pitched whine of a car’s engine could be heard as it downshifted. Rounding the corner from Paseo de San Vincente, a red Alpha Romeo Spider convertible raced into view. Accelerating up Calle de San Gregorio toward them, the stunning young blonde behind the wheel brought the car to a tire-shredding halt at the entrance to the Roman Bridge. From the passenger seat beside her, Karim, looking disheveled, grabbed his bags from behind the seat as the blonde, dressed in a revealing shift, pulled him into a rough embrace kissing him hard on the lips. As the kiss lingered, the other students stepped closer, enjoying the show.
“Señor Akhtar…” Corbett said at last. His voice carried an edge. “You’re late.”
Disengaging himself, Karim hopped out dragging his luggage with him. “Sorry, sir. Breakfast and morning prayer took a little longer than expected.” Blowing him a kiss, the young woman dropped the Alpha into gear and peeled off into the dawn.
The others laughed, kidding Karim as she raced out of sight. Hector shook his head. “Puta,” he said, staring after her and clucking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Corbett looked at Asurias, who shrugged raising his eyebrows. “Of all God’s jokes, the cruelest is to waste youth upon the young.”
Clutching his suitcase and a duffel bag, Karim looked to Corbett in confusion. “Which vehicle…?” he asked.
“With Antonio,” Corbett indicated the tall handsome Spaniard standing beside the last of the three Land Rovers. “Toss your gear in the back of number three. Let’s move. Time to hit the road.”
Seeing Karim coming toward him, Antonio flashed a smile and moved to help him with his bags.
“Hola… Lo hiciste. Casi fuimos sin ti,” the Spaniard said taking Karim’s suitcase and duffel, hefting them onto the roof rack. Nodding in the direction the blonde had driven the Alpha, Antonio grinned with a wink as he secured the luggage to the roof rack with bungee cords. “Muy caliente…”
“Si…” Karim answered slightly flustered, then realizing, “Hot…? Oh, you mean her?” Antonio whistled as he held open the rear passenger door and offered his hand. Karim grinned with a self-conscious shrug. Then accepting Antonio’s helping hand, he climbed in back beside Roberto.
Moving to where Gorka now waited beside the lead vehicle, Corbett felt Ella’s hand touch his elbow. “Excuse me… Dr. Corbett… I mean, Michael. Which vehicle am I in…?”
Finding her there beside him again, he tried to ignore the way she looked in the morning light. Turning, he called out again to the driver of number three. “Antonio…? Key interns go with you?”
Half stepping out from behind the wheel of the third Rover, Antonio waved back, “Si señor… Interns over here.”
“There you go,” he said, pointing Ella in the right direction.
“Thanks,” she smiled. “See you up there.”
Watching her hurry toward Antonio’s vehicle, Corbett found himself lingering over the way her body moved. Vaguely aware of some primordial urge, he shook his head. “Bad idea,” he thought, shifting his focus as Gorka climbed behind the wheel of the lead Rover.
Moving to join the Basque, he found Asurias waiting to say goodbye. “I look forward to your daily reports.” The professor held out his hand.
“Count on it,” Corbett answered.
“Vaya con dios…” the older man replied.
They shook hands and Corbett stepped to the passenger side of the lead vehicle, climbing in beside Gorka. In the backseat, two muscular young Spaniards, part of the university support team, were already asleep.
Corbett grinned at the Basque. “Vamanos…!” he said.
Engaging the clutch, Gorka put the Rover in gear and they headed at last across the river.
TEN
T he convoy drove northeast along the motorway toward Valladolid, the city where Cervantes had spent his last days and where Columbus had died impoverished and alone in 1506. Before the end of the first Millennium, Valladolid had represented the northernmost incursion of Muslim rule. Looking out at the sprawling industrialized city of today, Corbett was struck by its stark contrast to Salamanca’s graceful charm.
Encountering some roadwork, they had to make a detour, losing time. As a result, it took them until eleven to reach the outskits of Burgos, home of El Cid, whose legendary courage had inspired the Spanish Reconquista. Given the traffic, Corbett consulted with Gorka, who suggested they stop at a small bodega on the far side of the city for a light meal and
