likely when, we as a trio faced a bevy of assault weapons. Would she falter? Anger and bitterness will drive someone only so far.... It took Alistair several near-death experiences before his nerves steeled enough to where he only lightly worries about the hazards of the job. It’s merely a detestation of such bullshit for him now. Especially when a trip, like this one, could’ve been relatively free from such concerns.
“It’s okay. But I don’t want to talk about my parents anymore,” she said, and then turned her attention out the window closest to her.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why is it just you and not your brother that’s journeying to Tehran?” Alistair used his gentle persuasiveness to get her to engage us once more, after several minutes had passed in awkward silence.
“He did journey to Tehran...last year.” She kept her gaze focused out the window. I got the feeling she was near tears...holding it in, admirably. “He disappeared six months ago, right before Christmas. No one would help me try to locate him. When I approached the U.N., they said there was nothing they could do without proof of a crime. Even Michael couldn’t provide the necessary resources to launch a search for him...until you two came along.”
“Are you saying that your brother’s disappearance and Mr. Stanislav’s activities in the Alborz Mountains are related?”
My question drew an immediate look back to me from both my son and her.
“Yes, I believe they are related...in some way.” Amy’s eyes glistened with tears. “When he last wrote to me, just before Thanksgiving, he said Petr Stanislav had moved some massive trucks into the Alborz Mountains, and that it had something to do with the Tibetan manuscript that Dad worked on.”
“And that’s the last thing you heard from him?” I prodded her gently this time.
“Yes.”
“Did he ever mention anything about the Garden of Eden?”
Alistair posed this question. It surprised me a little since he thinks that aspect of this whole trip is complete nonsense. I hadn’t made up my mind one way or another. The place didn’t have to exist for some nutcase like Petr Stanislav to go looking for it.
“No...he didn’t,” she said. “It was Dad’s idea, that the real Garden of Eden existed somewhere either near or actually inside the mountain range. Despite my brother’s disbelief, I can picture him looking for whatever might be there in the Alborz Mountains. He wanted to vindicate our father’s work, one way or another....” She started to cry.
Alistair beat me to it. He moved over and cradled this beautiful woman in his arms while I looked on. Our thirteen-hour flight to Dubai had just started, and already we had a moment of drama. Or, I should say, surprises and drama.
Regardless of what would come next, having a woman along for our adventure had already changed the dynamics of our adventure. I just hoped Amy Golden Eagle’s high intelligence, beauty, and determination for justice would help us prevail over the wiles of Petr Stanislav. A villain whom we would soon discover was more cunning and ruthless than Alistair, I, and even our lovely companion would’ve ever imagined.
Chapter 7
Dubai should be dubbed the true ‘Emerald City’. Lots of polished steel, glistening glass windows, and a wealthy mixture of emancipated millionaire businessmen along with their robed brethren. Almost all are devoted to Islam and the fact we arrived at 5:35 a.m. local time that Saturday morning meant we would likely be interrupting ‘Fajr’. For those unfamiliar with Islamic religious customs, that’s the predawn prayer time for devotees to the world’s largest ‘practicing’ religion.
I realize my assertion will certainly ruffle some feathers among the evangelical Christian zealots in the western world. But I’m talking about actual faithful followers and not the occasional churchgoers who make up the majority of Christendom. If one
“It’s okay. But I don’t want to talk about my parents anymore,” she said, and then turned her attention out the window closest to her.
“If you don’t mind me asking, why is it just you and not your brother that’s journeying to Tehran?” Alistair used his gentle persuasiveness to get her to engage us once more, after several minutes had passed in awkward silence.
“He did journey to Tehran...last year.” She kept her gaze focused out the window. I got the feeling she was near tears...holding it in, admirably. “He disappeared six months ago, right before Christmas. No one would help me try to locate him. When I approached the U.N., they said there was nothing they could do without proof of a crime. Even Michael couldn’t provide the necessary resources to launch a search for him...until you two came along.”
“Are you saying that your brother’s disappearance and Mr. Stanislav’s activities in the Alborz Mountains are related?”
My question drew an immediate look back to me from both my son and her.
“Yes, I believe they are related...in some way.” Amy’s eyes glistened with tears. “When he last wrote to me, just before Thanksgiving, he said Petr Stanislav had moved some massive trucks into the Alborz Mountains, and that it had something to do with the Tibetan manuscript that Dad worked on.”
“And that’s the last thing you heard from him?” I prodded her gently this time.
“Yes.”
“Did he ever mention anything about the Garden of Eden?”
Alistair posed this question. It surprised me a little since he thinks that aspect of this whole trip is complete nonsense. I hadn’t made up my mind one way or another. The place didn’t have to exist for some nutcase like Petr Stanislav to go looking for it.
“No...he didn’t,” she said. “It was Dad’s idea, that the real Garden of Eden existed somewhere either near or actually inside the mountain range. Despite my brother’s disbelief, I can picture him looking for whatever might be there in the Alborz Mountains. He wanted to vindicate our father’s work, one way or another....” She started to cry.
Alistair beat me to it. He moved over and cradled this beautiful woman in his arms while I looked on. Our thirteen-hour flight to Dubai had just started, and already we had a moment of drama. Or, I should say, surprises and drama.
Regardless of what would come next, having a woman along for our adventure had already changed the dynamics of our adventure. I just hoped Amy Golden Eagle’s high intelligence, beauty, and determination for justice would help us prevail over the wiles of Petr Stanislav. A villain whom we would soon discover was more cunning and ruthless than Alistair, I, and even our lovely companion would’ve ever imagined.
Chapter 7
Dubai should be dubbed the true ‘Emerald City’. Lots of polished steel, glistening glass windows, and a wealthy mixture of emancipated millionaire businessmen along with their robed brethren. Almost all are devoted to Islam and the fact we arrived at 5:35 a.m. local time that Saturday morning meant we would likely be interrupting ‘Fajr’. For those unfamiliar with Islamic religious customs, that’s the predawn prayer time for devotees to the world’s largest ‘practicing’ religion.
I realize my assertion will certainly ruffle some feathers among the evangelical Christian zealots in the western world. But I’m talking about actual faithful followers and not the occasional churchgoers who make up the majority of Christendom. If one
Similar Books
