本帖最后由 sammy 于 2012-7-23 13:53 编辑
Count Down
by Michael Gallowglas
"Well, isn't this a pleasant little surprise," a voice rasped behind Marcus Jamberg's right ear.
Marcus had been so sure of his timing, so sure he had at least two more minutes to get the safe open and flee before this man arrived. But he'd been wrong. Marcus tensed when felt something sharp prod his right kidney and something cold slide up next to his left ear. His throat tightened. In the safe's polished surface, Marcus a man's reflection grinned back at him. The only two clear things were the wide grin and the red glasses. The rest of the reflection was distorted; the dimly lit room made it look as if the man had gaping black hole for eyes.
"Please continue."
Marcus steadied his fingers and set them to deciphering the combination to the safe. Spin right. CLICK. Close. Spin left. CLICK. Closer. Back to the right... CLICK. Marcus paused.
"You waiting on something?" the man asked
Marcus blinked, surprised the man hadn't killed him. He turned the latch. The safe popped opens, musty air escaping like a lover's sigh.
"And there we have it," the voice rasped. "Take a look."
Marcus looked hard, burning the site of the thing resting there into his memory. The mask rested on white velvet. The metal looked like tarnished gold. Who would keep something so valuable in such a poor state? It didn't matter. After years of searching, and not a few crimes, he looked upon the Mask of Rakinui.
The gun cocked right behind Marcus's ear.
"Hands in your pockets," the man whispered.
With difficult, Marcus complied. He'd touched most of other objects of ancient and unknown origins he'd seen, and wanted to do the same with the mask. Only, his hand would never make it, and there were other items on his list he had yet to see.
"That's interesting," the voice rasped.
Marcus felt the gun leave his ear. A hand reached passed his face. The skin didn't resemble any flesh tone Marcus had ever seen. The sleeve that the hand sprouted from was grey, a very solid and deep brilliant color next to that pallid flesh. The fingers pulled something out from underneath the mask - a rose petal, blood red, with decaying black edges curling inward.
"She will find this most interesting."
The hand slid back behind Marcus, taking the rose petal with it. The hand returned, picked up the Mask of Rakinui, and vanished again.
"Count down from one hundred. Then you can go."
"You're not going to kill me?"
"Oh no," the voice seemed on the edge of laughter. "I want you to tell Dr. Marama Riwhi that he's never going to see his precious mask."
Marcus started counting. "one hundred... ninety-nine... ninety-eight..." At about seventy-seven, the voice spoke again, this time from across the room.
"You shouldn't wait too long to vacate after you get to zero. Parties interested in the mask will be here shortly, parties that serve interests beyond your comprehension. They will be displeased to find it absent."
Marcus's list whispered urging him to count faster.
