Page 82 of Dark Shaman: Eternal Hope
"Come in." Tamira ushered Tony and Tula into her room. "Can I offer you tea?"
"Yes, please." Tula sat on the couch with Tony. "The one you made for me the other time was wonderful. What was in it?"
"Ask Elias." Tamira turned to him. "I think there are coconut flakes in it, right?"
He nodded. "White tea, coconut flakes, safflower, and cornflowers. All are good for you."
Tula's hand rested on her belly, which was becoming more pronounced by the day.
"I need your advice," Tamira announced, her voice carrying the kind of brightness that meant she was performing for invisible watchers. "I've been thinking about adding some plants to the bathroom. I've been reading about how soothing it is to be surrounded by greenery, but we have only this one small plant in here, and nothing in the bathroom. I have no idea what to get and where to put it."
"I've become an expert thanks to Elias," Tony played along. "I know just what you need."
"Ferns would work well," Eluheed said, walking toward the bathroom. "I told Tamira that they thrive in humid environments, but she's not overly fond of them. Let me show you what we were thinking of doing."
They filed into the bathroom, and Tamira immediately turned on both taps, filling the space with the sound of rushing water. The noise would mask their conversation, though they would still need to keep their voices low.
For her and Eluheed, the careful choreography of conspiracy had become routine, but explaining two more people in their bathroom required a more inventive plot.
"You've all heard what's going to happen on Wednesday," Tamira said, dispensing with preamble. "That's our chance."
Tula leaned against the vanity. "Four hours without power. No cameras, no electronic locks, no alarms. That should be enough time to get to the submarine, figure out how to turn it on, and get out of here."
It wasn't as simple as that, and Eluheed was about to say so, but Tony cut in.
"Everyone will be on the surface." Tony sat on the edge of the tub. "How do we get to the tunnel without being noticed?"
"We hide," Tamira said. "During the evacuation chaos, we just remain in our rooms, and if anyone comes to check on us, we will say that we are on our way out and then duck under the beds. We need to put the flashlights and other supplies under the beds as well."
Tony shook his head. "I'm worried about Tula. There will be no ventilation in the entire harem, and the tunnel will be just as bad."
"Not necessarily," Eluheed said. "The underground complex is big, and without anyone breathing the air, it would take hours for it to become a problem. We'd have enough time to reach the tunnel, which gets fresh air from the cove, and get to the submarine."
"If it exists," Tony muttered.
Eluheed felt a flash of irritation. "Do you still doubt my foresight abilities?"
Tony had the grace to look uncomfortable. "No, I believe you can see things. But Navuh is devious. What if he planted that vision in your head? What if he wanted to test you? The guy is paranoid, and he suspects everyone of plotting against him."
Eluheed chuckled. "He's not paranoid. Everyone is, in fact, plotting against him because he's a ruthless despot. Some just want to get free, like we do, and others want what he has. But the truth is that I haven't considered that angle, and it's possible that he made up the submarine to trick me. We might not find a fork in the tunnel and a cove with a submarine."
"It's there," Tamira said. "That's the only way any of us can make it off the island, and since you've seen me in New York, we know that it will happen. We should all go together, and if there is no submarine or it's locked and we don't know how to access it, we will just return to the picnic. No one would be any the wiser."
"That's too risky," Tony said. "Elias and I should go first. We scout, confirm the submarine exists, and see if we can access it.And if it's viable, we disable the surveillance cameras on our way back."
"What about us?" Tula's voice carried an edge of hurt. "We just wait for you?"
"To provide cover," Tony said. "If we all go missing from the picnic, someone will notice. But if it's just the two of us, you can make excuses for us. Say we're checking on something in the gardens and that we'll be back soon. You can buy us time."
Tula shifted her weight on the counter. "What happens when the power comes back on and there's no feed from the cameras you've disabled?"
"Navuh is probably the only one monitoring that tunnel," Tamira said. "Only he gets to use it as it's his secret escape route. He wouldn't want security personnel knowing about it. And unless he has reason to check the feeds, he won't bother."
"It's risky," Eluheed said. "But everything about this plan is risky. We're gambling our lives on a vision, a submarine that is most likely locked, and our ability to operate a vessel none of us has ever even seen before."
The bathroom fell silent except for the sound of running water. Each of them was lost in their own calculations of risk versus reward, freedom versus death.
Eluheed's mind drifted to his sessions with the enhanced soldiers, the way their collective consciousness pulled at him, trying to pierce his mental shields. Each encounter left him more drained, his defenses harder to maintain. The curious presence that had been probing at his barriers was growing stronger, more insistent.
