I grip the side of my sore neck. “Supposing this thing can do what it claims—and that’s a rather far-fetched supposition—what could these God Men possibly want with a necklace that only gives thewearerthe ability to be invisible?”
“More likely Hitler himself wants it,” Bes explains. “The Thule Society played a major role in the origin of the Nazi party, and though he still refuses to acknowledge them publicly, Himmler has begun to task them with assisting his lackeys in their search for… mythic artifacts, like the amulet.”
“It still seems to me like a lot of effort for a trinket that only casts invisibility over a single person, instead of, say, an entirearmy,” I push. Bes and Cec share a look I can’t interpret.What are they withholding?
“And from what I’ve read about Hitler in the papers,” I continue, “he adores being in the public eye.”
Cec finally answers. “Aye, but he prefers his spies in the shadows.”
“It might not even be about the amulet.” Bes looks thoughtful. “Perhaps he simply wants to assert his heavy hand over Egypt. Steal our artifacts for his own twisted—”
“Whatever the case,” Cec interrupts, “I’m afraid we don’t have time to suss it all out here and now. My sole purpose of coming here, cousin, was to warn you: Egypt is no longer safe.”
A long, heavy silence settles between us. After everything I’ve been through since landing in Cairo, I’m not surprised that Egypt isn’t safe. It does seem strange, though, that Cec came in person to pass on this message.
I glance between them, cutting into their wordless tête-à-tête. “I feel like this could’ve been accomplished over telegram.”
Cec lips tick up on either side. “Alright, perhaps there’s a bit more to my being here than relaying that message.”
Bes leans back, accepting his cousin’s words at face value without further prodding. “What do you propose we do?”
“The two of you need to depart with the amulet, tonight and without fuss.”
I scoff. All this sounds like a good bit of catastrophizing. Yes, a man tried to kill me today, but how much reach could these God Men truly have if their base of operations is all the way in Germany?
I shift uncomfortably. “Why can’t we leave the amulet here? It was the museum who offered to pay my fee, and it should stay here, in Egypt.”
Bes regards me. “If what Cec claims is true, then leaving it here means it won’t stay here. It’ll end up in the hands of the ThirdReich, who have proven they’re willing to go out of their way to obtain it.” He pauses and looks away. “Unfortunately, Claude’s appearance proves they’re also aware thatyouare the one in possession of it.”
My breath stills in my chest. “What do you mean?”
He meets my gaze, dark eyes pained. “Cec and I have had run-ins with the God Men before. The fact that they knew before you even landed in Cairo that the museum hired you to retrieve the amulet, means you were marked. The fate of the amulet is now entwined with yours.” His expression softens. “It means that, no matter where you go, the God Men will follow, whether or not you possess the amulet.”
Swallowing hard against the thickness in my throat, I glance up at the ceiling. “Wonderful.”So much for getting paid.If what Bes says is true, I’ll be lucky if I leave here with my life. The chances of me escaping grow thinner with each passing moment.
Cec butts in. “Either way, we need to get you and the amulet somewhere safe.”
My attention falls back to the two men. There’s still a small chance Bes and his cousin are lying… but what would be the purpose?
I throw my hands up. “And where could possibly be safe?”
“Well, you can’t go home,” Cec explains, “not yet anyway.”
This isn’t happening.“What do you mean, I can’t go home?” I demand. “Wouldn’t going home be the best thing for me? Put some distance between myself and Germany?”
“You don’t know these God Men like we do,” Bes reminds me. “Wherever you went on this earth, they’d follow you. Hurt the people you love if they had to. The God Men likely believe you’re… involved somehow.”
My stomach drops.
“Alright, since you seem to know everything else, where else can we go?” I wonder, my voice too small for my liking.
Cec turns his head slightly toward Bes.
Bes grimaces. “Something tells me I’m not going to care for your suggestion.”
“You’re not,” Cec confirms. “She needs to go to Arturo’s, in the Dolomites.”
Bes swears under his breath. “Is this truly necessary?”
