Chapter Twenty-two
They arrived in the dark, but Gregori's vision quickly adjusted. Abigail skidded a little in the gravel, and he steadied her.
"They're here," J.L. told Angus on his cell phone. "We'll report in two hours." He hung up.
"Hey, J.L." Gregori gave him a knuckle pound.
"Hey, dude. Welcome, Miss Tucker. I'm J.L. Wang."
"Please call me Abby." She shook his hand. "It's so dark out here. I can hardly see."
"Yeah, we're in the boonies," J.L. said. "We have some lamps inside the cave, so you'll be able to see in there. Lousy phone reception though, so we usually come outside to make our reports."
Gregori pivoted as he looked around. Behind him, an odd cone-shaped hill rose abruptly from the flat ground. In front of him, moonlight glittered on an expanse of dark water. "We're next to a lake?"
"Actually, we're in the middle of a lake," J.L. explained. "This is an island. It's a good defensive position."
Gregori nodded. The Vamps could easily teleport across the lake, but any humans trying to reach them would have to cross by boat. "Where's the cave?"
J.L. motioned to the cone-shaped hill. "Inside. Weird-looking thing, isn't it?"
Abigail touched the brown rock that rose steeply from the ground. "This area is known for its strange rock formations."
"You want to see something really strange, it's over there." J.L. pointed to the south edge of the lake.
Gregori narrowed his eyes. It was indeed strange. The moon gleamed off gray rocks that jutted out of the ground, a whole army of rocks, standing at attention.
Abigail sighed. "I can't see that far."
"It's a whole field of rocky spikes," Gregori told her.
"A stone forest, they call it." J.L. pointed east. "There's a bamboo forest that borders the lake over there. Beyond it and to the north, the land is mostly flat farmland, but dotted with more of the cone-shaped hills. The nearest village is about a mile that way. Rajiv and I have visited a few times, bought stuff at the market, and befriended the local healer."
He gestured to the west. "Over that way, it's more hilly. More jungle-like. Nearest village is about three miles. We haven't been there yet."
"I really appreciate all you've done to help me," Abigail said.
J.L. smiled. "No problem. Come on, let me introduce you to the guys. And our humble home."
He led them around a pile of boulders to a narrow entrance that was covered with a makeshift screen of bamboo. "We don't want any locals to notice our lamps at night," he said, pulling aside the screen.
Gregori ushered Abigail inside the small cave, lit by two kerosene lamps. J.L. entered and pulled the screen back in place.
Howard jumped to his feet and gave Gregori a big bear hug, then shook hands shyly with Abigail.
"Hello, Howard," she said, smiling. "I remember your photo from the briefing. Thank you for helping me."
Howard ducked his head and mumbled, "No problem."
Gregori motioned to the young man with a long black braided ponytail, who was scrambling to his feet. "This is Rajiv."
"Delighted to meet you. Please call me Abby."
The were-tiger pressed his hands together and bowed. "It is an honor." He straightened with a smile. "Tomorrow I cook hot pot. Just for you."
"Thank you." Abigail smiled back.
"Today I buy something in market just for you." He scurried to the wall and returned with something wrapped in old newspaper. With another bow, he held it to her.
"Why, thank you. That's so sweet." Abigail gingerly peeled back a corner of the paper and winced.
"Chicken feet!" Rajiv announced proudly. "Very good in hot pot. I make for you tomorrow."
"Oh. Thank you." Abigail glanced at Gregori and grinned. "I can hardly wait."
"We can't cook at night," Howard grumbled. "We would have to make a fire outside, and the locals might see it. But we still have food here, if you're hungry. Would you like a donut?" He motioned to an area close to the entrance.
Gregori chuckled at the stack of donut boxes next to Howard's sleeping bag. "Sheesh, bro. You can't go a few days without your bear claws?"
With a grunt, Howard sat on his sleeping bag. "A man's gotta eat."
"He sniffed out a donut shop in Tokyo and insisted we teleport those here." J.L. sighed with a resigned look. "Could be worse. You don't want be around a bear going through sugar withdrawal." He smiled at Abigail. "He might start growling."
"I know what make Howard happy," Rajiv said, grinning. "Nice lady panda bear!"
Howard snorted. "I eat pandas for breakfast."
Gregori chuckled, then noticed the alarmed look on Abigail's face. He leaned close. "He was kidding."
The last member of the team rose to his feet in the back of the cave. Gregori had met Russell Hankelburg once before, just briefly before everyone was teleporting to the final battle with Casimir. The former Marine wore green army fatigues and still kept his dark hair short.
"Hey, Russell, what's up?" He strode toward him and shook hands.
Russell gripped his hand hard, then nodded at Abigail. "Miss Tucker, it's an honor to serve."
"Thank you. Please call me Abby."
"Yes, ma'am." Russell returned to the back of the cave, where he sat cross-legged. He appeared to be in the middle of cleaning his gun.
"I know it's dark outside," J.L. said, "but the night is young, and our vision is excellent. If you'd like to get started?"
"All right." Abigail set down her backpack and removed some photos from the front pocket. "These are the two plants I'd like to collect in this area. The first one translates as Demon Herb and the second one as Tiger Paw." She handed them to J.L.
Howard snorted. "I could collect you a tiger paw right here."
Rajiv made a face at him. "Just try it, Pooh Bear." When Howard growled, he grinned at Abigail. "I learn English watching television. It's a Jersey thing."
J.L. chuckled as he studied the photos. "I'll teleport to the nearest village and ask the healer if he knows where to find these."
Rajiv bounced to his feet like Tigger. "I go with you."
"Okay. Can you get the gardening stuff?" J.L. checked his shoulder holster underneath his jacket. "I don't expect any trouble, but I like to be prepared."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Russell asked.
"I'd rather you stick with Abigail," J.L. said, then turned to her with an apologetic look. "I know you're here for the plants, but our first priority is keeping you safe."
She nodded. "I appreciate that."
J.L. pulled up a pants leg to check the knife strapped to his calf. "If we learn anything useful, we'll call. You'll hear us better if you go outside."
"Got it," Gregori said.
J.L. pointed to a box close to Howard. "Flashlights are in there. If we go hunting for a plant tonight, bring one for Abigail."
"Will do," Gregori agreed.
Rajiv slung a canvas bag over his shoulder and grabbed on to J.L. "Let's go."
J.L. vanished, taking Rajiv with him.
"These are for you." Howard handed them two rolled-up sleeping bags and a bulky black trash bag.
Gregori found an empty space and rolled out the two bags next to each other.
Abigail dug two pillows and blankets out of the trash bag and arranged them on top of the sleeping bags.
"Not much to do here, really." Howard sat down on his sleeping bag. "You want a donut, Abby?"
"Yes, thank you." She selected one from his box, then sat on her sleeping bag to eat it.
Gregori located the ice chest and removed a bottle of synthetic blood and a water bottle, which he handed to Abigail.
He sat and drank. Howard stuffed his face. Russell finished cleaning one gun and started on another.
When Gregori finished his bottle of blood, he rose to his feet. "I'll wait outside in case J.L. calls."
"I'll go with you." Abigail jumped up and followed him outside.
He moved the bamboo screen back into place, then took her hand. "Let's check out this island."
It took them about five minutes to circumnavigate the island and end up back at the cave entrance. Abigail shivered and zipped up her jacket.
"Cold?" He pulled her into his arms.
She snuggled her cheek against his chest. "Not now."
"Having fun?"
She looked up at him and smiled. "I am, actually. I keep expecting to see a Secret Service agent around the corner, but they're not there."
He kissed her brow. He needed to warn her about his death-sleep, but wasn't sure how to break the news. Oh, by the way, when the sun rises, I'll die?
"I need to tell you something - " His phone rang. "We'll talk about it later." He pulled out his phone. "What's up?"
He listened to J.L., then reported to Abigail. "They're on their way to find one of the plants. The Tiger Paw. Do you want to join them?"
"Yes, of course."
"Hang on a sec," Gregori told J.L. He left his phone with Abigail, then stepped into the cave to let Howard and Russell know they were leaving.
"I'm coming with you." Russell holstered a pistol, slung a rifle over his shoulder, and strode outside.
"I'll stay here and hold down the fort." Howard leaned back, munching on a bear claw.
Gregori grabbed two LED flashlights and went back outside. While he jammed the flashlights into his pocket, Russell leaned close to the phone Abigail was holding so he could hear J.L.'s voice. He vanished.
Gregori grabbed on to Abigail. "Keep talking," he told J.L. on the phone, then he teleported.
They landed on a dirt path that weaved through a forest of bamboo. Gregori handed Abigail a flashlight and turned on the second one.
"I thought you had excellent night vision," she said as she clicked on her flashlight.
"I do. I'm just making more light for you." Gregori noticed that Russell had already started down the path. Typical Marine. He had to be on the front line.
J.L. motioned for them to follow. "The local healer said Tiger Paw grows on the other side of this forest. Close to a canola field."
"Healer very nice old man," Rajiv added. "He like little blue pills J.L. give him for gift."
Gregori chuckled.
"Wait a minute." Abigail stepped over a fallen bamboo log. "Are you giving the locals Viagra?"
J.L. shrugged. "They like it. It helps them be more . . . helpful."
She snorted. "You mean you're bribing them."
"Could be worse," J.L. muttered.
Rajiv nodded. "Village people like J.L. very much."
They reached the edge of the forest. Gregori's flashlight beam caught the bright yellow color of a canola field to the left.
"Oh, how pretty," Abigail breathed.
"This way." J.L. led them toward the canola field. "The healer said it grew in great clumps in this area."
They spread out to search for it, although Gregori stayed close to Abby. Their flashlight beams moved back and forth over the green vegetation.
She gasped. "There it is!" She grinned at Gregori, then flung her arms around him. "I found it!"
Rajiv, J.L., and Russell rushed toward her.
"Here." Rajiv dug into his canvas bag and handed her clippers and a plastic bag.
"There's a trowel in there, too, and some plastic pots." J.L. motioned to the canvas bag. "We weren't sure if you wanted clippings or the whole plant."
"Oh, the whole plant would be wonderful. Sometimes the root is the best part. And then I can get a soil sample, too." Abigail grinned. "You guys are the best!"
Gregori grabbed the trowel and located a cluster of small Tiger Paw plants. Soon they had three unearthed and planted in the plastic pots.
"Let me see if I can get through to Angus." J.L. called on his phone. "Hey, boss. We've got a pickup for you. Three plants."
Angus, Robby, and Kyo materialized close by.
"Are ye all right, lass?" Angus asked Abigail.
"Yes." She smiled. "We're making wonderful progress!"
"We'll have Mikhail teleport these to Moscow." Robby lifted one of the pots. "And then he can take them on to London. We'll have them safe at Romatech within twenty-four hours."
"That's fantastic." Her smile widened. "Thank you!"
Gregori wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. "One down, and two to go."
Russell turned to J.L. "Did the healer tell you where the second plant is located?"
J.L. exchanged a worried look with Rajiv. "He said the Demon Herb is west of here. Close to the village that's three miles away on the other side of the lake."
"Let's go get it," Gregori said. "Then we'll be done here tonight, and we can move on to the next base."
Rajiv shook his head. "We should not look for it. It is very bad."
"What do you mean?" Gregori asked. "Is it some kind of narcotic?"
"I'm not sure," J.L. replied. "The healer just told us to stay away. Apparently it's called the Demon Herb because it's so powerful. People say it's cursed."
"Surely that's just an old superstition," Abigail said.
Rajiv shook his head again. "It is very bad."
"What makes it so bad?" Robby asked.
J.L. sighed. "Those who go looking for it are never seen again."