Seichan pictured his use of sign language back at the monastery. He was plainly continuing his vow of silence here, too.
He turned his back and stepped away, clearing the doorway.
Finally...
Past the foyer, which was darkly paneled and lit by gas wall sconces, a long hallway crossed the length of the building. Bulky men in black suits stood guard before a door at the far end. She also spotted the glowing eyes of security cameras high on the walls, both along the hall and in the parlors to either side.
She leaned down as if to scratch a knee.
With Yerik’s back to her, she rolled her listening device across the threshold, aiming for a pedestal that supported a marble figure of the Virgin Mary. She quickly lost sight of it as it vanished into the shadows.
Unfortunately, something was far more eagle-eyed and noted the intrusion.
A siren burst across the mansion, winding into a screeching wail. Her bug’s electronics must have tripped off a counterintelligence scanner inside.
Seichan swung around, pushed the shocked trio of nuns back, and pointed toward the steps. “Go!”
To buy the others time, Seichan did what she had wanted to do all along.
She rushed low across the threshold and ducked into a side parlor.
She radioed Tucker.
“Looks like we’re done hiding.”
20
May 12, 8:33A.M. MSK
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Russian Federation
Gray followed their tour guide across the expanse of the religious wonderland. Sister Anna led the way, walking backward with a clipboard in her hand. Bishop Yelagin came outfitted in the vestments of his office, including a silver-plated staff topped by a cross. He nodded piously as the nun extolled about the Lavra’s history with much drama.
She spoke in Russian, but the team’s earpieces translated her words. Monk and Jason flanked Gray. All of them were bundled into jackets, scarves, and hats against the crisp spring morning. The clothing also helped mask them.
Father Bailey was similarly attired, but with a white Roman collar showing above his scarf. He scanned the spread of baroque churches with wide eyes, looking astounded.
“Alavra,” Anna instructed everyone, continuing her role as guide, “was originally a term used to describe a monastery formed by a cluster of caves where hermits or monks would seclude themselves, usually with a small church at its center. Later, such a designation was only given to monasteries of great importance, true cultural centers.”
She waved an arm to encompass the breadth of the sixty acres. “Like the Trinity Lavra here. It was founded in 1337 by the monk Sergius of Radonesh, our most venerated Russian saint. Back then, the site was little more than what it was originally termed: a group of caves—with afew sacred springs—surrounding a small wooden church built by Saint Sergius.”
She kissed her fingertips and lifted her hand high in thanks, then pointed to a white basilica topped by golden domes and onion-shaped towers. “In 1422, the wooden church was replaced by a stone one—The Holy Trinity Cathedral. Inside, you’ll find the relics of Saint Sergius and icons painted by Russia’s most esteemed medieval artists.”
She stared meaningfully at Gray. “Unfortunately, you’ll not be able to visit there today, as the cathedral is closed to the public for a special project.”
Gray understood. Sychkin’s team from the Arkangel Society must be excavating beneath such an important landmark.
And not just there.
Anna sighed with a mournful expression. “Alas, such work is also being done at the Church of the Holy Spirit, built by Ivan the Third in the fifteenth century.” She nodded toward a smaller, squat church with an onion dome of bright blue and adorned with gold stars. “And sadly, the same is true of the Cathedral of the Assumption, which was constructed by Ivan the Fourth in the sixteenth century.”
Gray could appreciate Sychkin’s interest in those two buildings.Ivan the Greathad secured the Golden Library, and his grandsonIvan the Terriblehad hid it away.
So, of course, the archpriest would pick such places to search.
Anna drew them onward. They continued across the sprawling religious complex, aiming for a site far to the right of the Lavra’s main gates. So far, Sychkin had shown no interest in theZvonkovaya Bashnya—the Ringing Tower—a relatively nondescript structure among the baroque richness of the monastic complex.
Still,anotherbelltower had drawn the archpriest’s attention.
