Page 43 of Wired Ghost

Chapter Thirty-One

Connor

Connor slept heavilyon the Learjet back to Thailand, barely waking to eat or drink something that Nine forced upon him. Lying back on his recliner bed after one of these meals, Connor reflected on the events of the last day on the Big Island.

The mission had been a success. He’d gotten in, gotten Sophie and Jake out, and escaped relatively undetected. He’d even gotten away with hijacking Agno’s chopper—he’d had the man drop him off directly at the private airstrip, where the Lear had been fueled up and ready to go, and as far as he could tell, Agno had kept quiet about the whole operation.

So why did he feel so drained? His internal resources were depleted to the point that, when he raised a hand to look at it, his energy field, normally a bright glowing gold, had gone a sickly, transparent yellow.

Perhaps it was that he hated to have to leave Sophie—without a word of goodbye, and Jake so close to death.

But Raveaux would look out for her.The Frenchman was already halfway in love with her.

And if the worst happened and Jake died, Connor would bring her to his private island of Phi Ni, which had always been a source of healing and rejuvenation for both of them. She could stay as long as she wanted.

If only Connor could go to Phi Ni now, instead of back to the Yam Khûmk?n compound—but the Master had had to return to the compound to cover for his trip. He would not take kindly to Connor wasting his time.

He also didn’t want to do anything that would prompt the Master to uncover his hideout on Phi Ni. It was unlikely that the Master was unaware of Connor’s island retreat, but the illusion still stood that his refuge was sacred, and Connor didn’t want to endanger that.

If it wasn’t leaving Sophie that had so enervated him, it had to be the use of his abilities. He’d pushed that envelope further than ever this time, and must be what had so depleted him.

But that was contrary to the Master’s teachings. “When you are in touch with the flow of energy among all things, when you have entered the slipstream of time and matter, you are one with it. The movement of molecules and energy from one place to another is simply a matter of will, not of effort,” the Master had said.

Sometimes that was the case.

Other times, like now, Connor’s body felt battered by the effort it had expended. His lungs still burned from exposure to sulfur dioxide. And his energy level was so low that even holding his eyelids open was too much work.

* * *

The multi-leggedjourney back to the compound was finally complete as the Yam’s private helicopter lowered gently to land on one of the topmost, flat-roofed buildings of the temple. Connor tightened his travel-stained whitegiand allowed Nine to open his door. He got out of the cockpit and stood for a moment on the sun-warmed stone roof as the chopper’s blades cycled down into silence.

He shut his eyes and inhaled the smell of diesel from the transport as it quickly dissipated into the humid air, replaced by the smell of the jungle: mossy damp fecundity with a twist of fermented fruit and tropical flowers.

“You are not looking well.” The Master’s velvety voice carried all the way from where he stood in the doorway, across the expanse. His leader’s rich purple energy field vibrated even with his eyes closed, and Connor sighed with relief: he wasn’t alone in these mysteries any longer.

He bowed toward the man silhouetted in the door leading down into the temple. “Master. It is good to see you.”

Nine dropped to his knees and put his forehead to the stones in a deep obeisance. “Master,” he echoed.

The Master inclined his head in response. “Good to see both of you, as well. Nine, go prepare Number One’s chamber for a bath and a visit from the Healer.”

“Yes, Master.” Nine bounded to his feet and ran off, showing no signs of weariness from their journey.

“You wonder why you are so tired.” The Master approached.

“I do.” Connor moved to meet him. “But I did things I didn’t know were possible to rescue Sophie and Jake. Perhaps it was too much for my current level of ability.”

“Come, walk with me in the garden before you go to your chamber.”

Connor followed the Master into the cool building. No matter how humidly hot it was outside, or rainy and wet in the monsoon season, the interior of the temple stayed cool and dry. Polished bronze reflectors aimed glowing spots of sunshine here and there to light the dim halls as they moved through the ancient building. Through the slit windows, Connor glimpsed the recruits drilling in the various courtyards—some in rows, performing memorized sequences, others in pairs sparring with various weapons. He was reminded of his rigorous two years as a trainee and the hard muscle and bone he’d developed as a result. “I came back as soon as Sophie and Jake were admitted to the hospital. No authorities were alerted.”

“Good,” the Master said. “And it is good that I returned, as well. As soon as I arrived, a group of men loyal to Pi approached me, asking that you be replaced by him as Number One.” He paused by one of the deep, narrow windows. “I told them that a challenge to you was a challenge to me.”

He moved aside so Connor could see what lay outside.

A row of five heads on spikes decorated the rampart below. They were turned so that they looked down into the courtyard, and the drilling men would face them. Even from behind, Connor recognized Pi’s square, blocky head and thick neck.

His stomach lurched. “You didn’t need to do that, Master.”

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