The Balkan Escape (Short Story) Read Online Free

even here?” she asked. “This doesn’t involve oil.”
    “That was my question to you, which you never answer.”
    “I came for this tomb. Nothing more.”
    She saw that he believed her.
    “Russian’s short on experts in geology. My colleague was to come but he became sick. They tell me just few days in Bulgaria, and Comrade Varga will watch over me. He is Russian security. My keeper. Not someone to take lightly.”
    She still wanted that one opportunity with Varga.
    “I decide to leave,” Sokolov said. “When you show up I know the time is now.”
    But she had to say, “We’re both trapped.” She motioned around with the gun. “Of course, we do have a fabulous treasure.”
    Beside the cart lay exquisitely shaped rhytons, amphorae, and phials, each gilded and embossed with more mythological scenes.
    She shook her head. The find was priceless.
    Thorvaldsen had told her that, if anything was found, he’d finance a dig to study the site. That wasthe thing she admired about her friend, one way they were exactly alike. History was far more important than wealth.
    “If I get to Greece,” Sokolov said. “I get to China.”
    She knew the border was less than fifty kilometers south.
    “Varga does not want me to go.”
    She glanced beside the chariot to a stone slab where more gold bracelets, hatches, and ornaments lay. Propped at its base was some bronze body armor adorned, she saw, with more goddesses. A sword with a gold-studded pommel stood beside it. Though the Thracians had been fierce warriors and accomplished horse breeders, they’d also excelled as goldsmiths.
    And this tomb was clear proof of that fact.
    She stepped back toward the deathbed.
    “I want to be with my wife,” he said. “Varga knows I am gone. He is looking for me.”
    A detail he’d omitted earlier.
    “I trust you,” he said. “You have my gun.”
    “Comrade Sokolov,” a voice called out from outside.
    Varga.
    She stared at Sokolov.
    “Did you think me that stupid?” the disembodied voice asked. “I knew you wanted to help her yesterday. Your eyes, comrade. They betray you. I was told to watch you carefully.”
    Her gaze raked the tomb. Only one exit.
    Had it been Sokolov’s task to lead her here?
    “You are important man,” Varga called out. “But I care not. Neither do your superiors. They told me to deal with any problems you create as I wanted.”
    Something thudded to the ground just outside the portal.
    Her gaze locked on it.
    Another bundle of plastique explosive with another timer clicking down.
    40 seconds.
    39.
    38.
    Her question about Sokolov’s loyalty had just been answered.
    The Russian ignored the bomb and rushed toward a pile of rock.
    “Help me,” he said, as he started clearing the pile.
    She immediately assisted.
    As they worked she saw an arched opening appear in the circular wall, maybe a meter high. Tight, but enough to crawl through. Now she knew why he’d led her here.
    She glanced back.
    23 seconds.
    22.
    “Go,” he said. “Fast.”
    On all fours, still gripping the gun and the light, she scooted through the tunnel, Sokolov following.
    “I find this tunnel when I am inside,” Sokolov said as they kept crawling. “It became exposed when I blast. I hide it. Is to be my way out.”
    Her mind was still counting.
    Under 10 seconds.
    The darting beam of her light revealed the end five meters ahead and she quickened her pace, emerging and clearing a path for Sokolov, who leaped out just as the concussion from the explosion spewed dust and gravel from the crawl space.
    She lay face down, arms covering her head, eyes closed.
    The blast subsided. Debris settled.
    She raised her head, as did Sokolov.
    “Where are we?” she asked.
    He stood. “Good place.” His tone had changed. More exuberant. “Come.”
    She followed him through the tunnel on a straight run. Two turns and fifty meters later they emerged out into a light rain.
    “This is the far side of mountain,” he said. “Long way from