The Secret of Excalibur Read Free Page A

same league.’
    ‘We’ve been engaged for nearly a year,’ said Nina. ‘We thought it was time I met Eddie’s family.’
    ‘ You thought it was time,’ Chase said pointedly.
    Nina held back her response as Dalton joined them, hangers-on moving into position around him. ‘So, Dr Wilde. You found Atlantis and the Tomb of Hercules - what’s next on your agenda? Discovering the Temple of Solomon, or maybe Noah’s Ark?’ He finished the sentence with a small chuckle.
    Nina didn’t laugh. ‘Actually, my current project for the IHA goes back much farther than anything I’ve done before - before Atlantis, even. What I’m trying to do is take advantage of the IHA’s access to worldwide archaeological and anthropological data to track the spread of humanity around the world in prehistory.’ The words came out faster as her enthusiasm mounted. ‘The general pattern of the expansion of mankind out of Africa across Asia and Australasia, and then later into the Americas and Europe, is pretty well established. The lowering of sea levels during ice ages allowed ancient humans to travel overland and settle in places that are now under water - there’s a very promising site in Indonesia we’re planning to explore later in the year.’
    ‘I can’t wait,’ said Chase. ‘It’ll be great to finally get out of the office and see some action!’
    ‘Careful what you wish for,’ Nina joked. ‘But my goal is to pinpoint the exact origin of humanity; the cradle of civilisation, so to speak.’
    Dalton raised an eyebrow. ‘Sounds to me like you’re looking for the Garden of Eden.’
    ‘You could say that, yes. Although not in the Adam and Eve, talking snake sense. Actually finding the place where Homo sapiens branched off from other ancient hominids won’t make the Creationists happy!’ She realised Dalton had tensed slightly, and Amoros cleared his throat in a tone of soft but definite warning. ‘Oh God, sorry, they’re part of your - your “base”, aren’t they? Sorry.’
    ‘That’s okay,’ said Dalton, smiling thinly. ‘My base is broader than just the Creationist wing, fortunately. Why, some of my supporters even believe the earth revolves around the sun!’ He forced a laugh, his entourage joining in; after a moment, Nina followed suit in a mixture of embarrassment and relief. ‘It all sounds fascinating, Dr Wilde. Although it’ll be a tall order to top discovering Atlantis and the Tomb of Hercules - and both before you were thirty! You turned thirty just recently, am I right?’
    ‘Yeah, I did,’ said Nina, not happy to be reminded of the fact.
    ‘Well, I’m sure you’ve still got time for plenty more accomplishments!’ Dalton laughed again, as did Nina, though this time it was her turn to be forcing it.
    He was about to turn away when Chase spoke. ‘’Scuse me, Mr President - can I ask you about something? Sort of in private?’ He tipped his head to indicate a spot a few feet away from the rest of the group.
    Dalton exchanged looks with his staff, then smiled and stepped over, the ever-present Secret Service agents watching from the side of the room. ‘Of course. What can I do for you, Mr Chase?’
    ‘I wanted to ask what’s going on with Sophia.’
    ‘You mean Sophia Blackwood?’
    Chase very nearly replied, ‘No, Sophia Loren ,’ but managed to hold back the sarcastic retort. The former Lady Blackwood - the UK parliament had recently stripped her of her title in absentia - was Chase’s ex-wife . . . and also the mastermind behind the planned act of nuclear terrorism that he and Nina had just barely foiled. ‘Yeah, Sophia Blackwood. Last I heard, she’d been moved to Guantánamo Bay. When’re you going to put her on trial?’
    ‘She was moved to Guantánamo for her own safety,’ Dalton answered. ‘If we put her in the normal prison system, she’d be dead long before we could hold a trial.’
    ‘It’d save all those lawyers’ fees. We all know she’s guilty, and you’re going