Page 45 of Stone
Chapter 23
Return
Brielle awoke to the sound of knocking on her front door. Still half-asleep, she went over and peered through the spy hole. The man on the other side grinned and waved, knowing she was checking him out. She quickly unlocked the door, throwing it open to wrap her arms around her uncle’s neck.
“Oh, you’re here!”
Kellinglaughedaloud and hugged her in return. Without asking if he could enter, he grabbed his suitcase where it sat in the hallway and wheeled it inside the apartment. Brielle shut and locked the door behind them.
“I didn’t hear you buzz. How did you get in?”
“Your neighbor, the little old lady with the beard?”
Brielle laughed. “Mrs.Amsteadlet you in?”
“She was returning fromwalking that yappy little dog of hers, and she remembered me.”
“When did your flight get in?”
“A little over an hour ago. I grabbed a taxi from La Guardia and came straight here. I wanted to make sure you were okay before heading for my place.” He grabbed her by her shoulders and peered into your face. “You’re okay, right?”
Instead of answering his question,she patted his arm. “Uncle Chet, he’s here.”
He blinked, uncomprehending. “He who?”
“Garenth. He’s in the bedroom.”
“Wha—”
“He’s been shot again. And this time he was seriously injured.” She turned to lead him into the back room, gesturing for him to follow. She stopped beside the bed as her uncle entered the room, stopping in the doorwayto stare incredulously at the figure nearly filling the queen-size bed.
Standing at the head, she leaned over and placed a hand on the uninjured shoulder. “Garenth.”
The creature’s eyes fluttered opened. When he realized there was another person in the room, he craned his neck to peer at him.
Kellingspoke to him in Arabic. He wasn’t as fluent in the languageasIrmine, but it was adequate enough forGarenthto comprehend. WhenGarenthresponded,Kellingtranslated.
“He said he got the mother idol back.”
“He did!” She turned around and picked up the black bag from the nightstand to hand over to him. “I don’t know where he found it.”
Kellingtook the bag but didn’t open it. Instead, he questionedGarenthagain,and apparently got an answer that was too vague. “He says he went through a clear wall and found the mother idol behind a stone with markings on it. He was pulling the stone out of the wall when a guard showed up and pointed his strange sword at him. WhenGarenthdidn’t stop what he was doing, the guard used his sword, and that’s how he was wounded.”
Brielle parked herself at thefoot of the bed. Although she was looking atGarenth, her words were directed at her uncle. “He’s hurt pretty badly, but there’s nothing I can do. Even if I had some painkillers, I’d hesitate to give him any. There’s no telling if he could tolerate them.”
Kellingeyed the makeshift compresses. “I think you’ve done an excellent job, considering the circumstances.” He askedGarentha question. The creature grunted in reply.
“What did you ask him?” Brielle queried.
“I asked him how he felt.”Kellinggrimaced, then sighed. He walked over to the window and lifted the shade. “I brought two more crates of artifacts back with me. They should clear customs tomorrow so they can be delivered to the museum.” He turned to glance back at her. “Have you heardback on the swabs?”
She shook her head. “I sent them to the lab but I haven’t heard back yet.”
He looked atGarenth. “Was it dark when he showed back up here?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then chances are good no one saw him land here.” He went over to the side of the bed and spoke toGarenth. Brielle thought she heard the wordkalorshai.The creaturegrunted again.
