“To help discover their origin,” Bailey asserted firmly. “It’s why I stated earlier that I think someone found Hyperborea—or perhaps another strange Arctic island. The mountainous sketch, those drawings of strange flora, it’s as if someone were recording an account of such a place.”
As Elle studied the sketches, she found herself no longer wanting to bolt from the room, to return to her apartment.
I’m sure Nikolai can fend for himself a little longer.
She stared across the table. “If these plants exist, if they’re out there somewhere, I wish to be included in the search.”
Gray gave her a small nod. “I believe that’s what Sychkin wanted you to do, too—willingly or not.”
Tucker raised the most important question. “Where do we even begin to look?”
Elle noted his use of the wordwe, as if he intended to accompany them. While a trickle of apprehension persisted, she found the tightness in her chest easing, making the room less claustrophobic.
Gray answered Tucker’s question. “We start by finding the Golden Library. If Bailey’s suspicions are correct, it must hold some clue to this continent’s location.”
Bailey looked none too happy to have his theories accepted—and for good reason. “While we suspect the library is hidden somewhere at the Trinity Lavra in Sergiyev Posad, the complex is vast. How do we even begin a search? Especially without being discovered.”
“And keep in mind,” Sister Anna reminded them, “we’re not the only ones hunting in that spot. Someone is already excavating there, claiming to be searching for the earliest copy of the Tikhvin Icon.”
“That’s got to be Sychkin,” Gray said.
No one argued with him.
“So where do we begin?” Monk asked. “What’s our plan?”
The answer rose from behind them. “I may be able to help.”
Elle turned to discover that one of the panels of the room opened into a side room. Past a young man’s thin shoulders, she spotted a chamber full of computer monitors and other electronic equipment. Likely the embassy’s communication hub.
Gray made an introduction. “For those who haven’t met him yet, this is Jason Carter, our counterintelligence operative.”
Elle frowned. It was a long title for such a small figure.
“I’ve been working on the photo of the illuminated frontispiece,” he said. “We’ve all been under the assumption that the faded writingsurrounding the drawings might be an encrypted code that would lead to the Golden Library’s location.”
Monk’s eyes went wide. “You’ve broken that code.”
Jason scowled and shook his head. “In less than an hour? I appreciate your confidence, but I’m not a miracle worker.”
“If Kat were here...” Monk grumbled.
Gray waved to Jason. “Go on. Whathaveyou learned?”
Jason headed over to the row of monitors glowing on the wall. “There’s been some astounding breakthroughs in bringing forth faded writing from old manuscripts. Using fluoroscopy and x-ray spectrometry.”
Bailey nodded. “The iron gall in old ink glows a velvety black under UV light. I’ve used this technique to return ancient writings back to life.”
“I tried that, but it didn’t help much. Especially as it’s a photo.”
Bailey frowned, clearly disappointed.
Jason continued, “I then tried digitizing the page and employing an AI program, one that could detect micro-differences in ink. It only helped a little bit more. But what itdidreveal was that there was something drawnbehindthe sketch of the church. It was faintly discernible through the church’s outlines.”
“A drawing behind a drawing,” Bailey said.
Jason jabbed a finger at him with boyish exuberance. “Exactly. It reminded me of a recent discovery of a self-portrait of Van Gogh that was hidden beneath another of his paintings. It was discovered when an X-ray was taken of it, revealing Van Gogh’s ghostly face buried behind paint and glue.”
Sister Anna nodded. “Old masters often reused their canvases like that.”
