Part 35 (1/2)

Even the possibility of vampires hadn't challenged Lauren's sense of reality as much as did the sight of the ring.

'Gary!'

He came up at her shoulder. 'What?'

'Look,' she said. 'It's Jim's ring - Jenny's ring. It's here on Mars!'

'Mother Jesus,' Gary whispered.

This must also be the Russian dig Bill had spoken of, Lauren thought. The Russians, however, had not removed the ring from the stone, merely uncovered it, which she found odd. She tugged at the silver band. It was stuck, but she figured they should be able to get it free. A curved finger of stone wrapped through the center of it. Lauren reached for Jim's chisel. Gary stopped her and shook his head.

'We don't have time,' he said. 'I've already started the timer on the warhead. Leave the ring. It could be dangerous.'

'No,' she said firmly. Already she had fallen under the spell of the ring, for it reminded her of Earth, and of her sister. The dread that had weighed on her heart since they entered the pit was cast back at a distance. She told herself she would take the ring and bring it back home. 'I want it,' she said.

'We don't have time,' Gary protested.

'Why did you have to be so stupid and start the timer?'

'I didn't want you pleading that we had to stay and find Jessie. Too long in this place and we're going to flip out. Can you believe that smell? How is it getting through our suits?'

'I think it's all in our heads. Can't you stop the timer?'

'No.' Gary said. 'The bomb would explode. I rigged the trigger that way so's it couldn't be tampered with.'

'That's just f.u.c.king great.' She grabbed Jim's tools. 'I'm still going to get the ring. It'll only take me a moment.'

Gary stood indecisive for a moment. Then he took the chisel and hammer from her hand. 'I guess this was a job Jim didn't get to finish.'

'Careful,' she said, as Gary began to chip around the ring. 'Don't hurt it.' A deep longing to touch the ring pushed aside her fears. Gary continued to work around the band. Lauren noticed if was smaller than the one Jim had given Jennifer; it was sized more for a lady's finger.

A portion of the wall suddenly crumbled to the floor, revealing another incredible sight.

The bones of a human hand!

The outline was clear to Lauren's trained eye. She grabbed Gary's hand, stopping him. The bones were fossilized, and encased in a fine yellow coating. She took the chisel from Gary and carefully exposed more of the dead hand that held the ring.

'Do you know what this is, Gary?' she asked finally.

'No.'

'A human skeleton.'

'You're sure?'

'I'm sure.'

Gary's voice trembled with emotion. 'Is it possible that humans once lived here?'

She did not know the answer, nor was she given a chance to think of one. A tiny stone crunched softly at their backs. In one smooth motion, Lauren spun and brought up the laser, pointing it directly at Bill.

'Gary,' she said.

Bill stood in the red fog beside the warhead, his face hidden by a shadow that crossed the front of his helmet. Ignoring them for a moment, he knelt and touched the metal casing that held enough power to destroy the entire island.

I see you brought the fire.

The thought was filled with both fear and respect. Lauren knew it had pa.s.sed through what was left of Bill's mind along with her own.

'No,' Bill said, his voice soft and deep. 'It's not like you think.' He looked directly at them. 'Humans never lived here.'

Gary regained his voice. 'Shoot, Lori!'

Lauren shook her head. 'I can't. He's too close to the bomb. It could go off.'

'You have a point there,' Gary muttered. He left her side and slowly drifted to the right. Something in the depths of Bill's eyes flickered. A faint smile touched his lips. He focused his attention on Lauren.

'Why are you pointing that gun at me?' he asked.

'The game's over,' Lauren said. 'You're not Bill.'

'Are you sure?' he asked gently.

Three simple words - yet they filled her head with doubts, never mind all that she had seen. Was the fog clearing? Strange how she could see Bill's face better, particularly his eyes. He had such fascinating eyes. They were two featureless black points. They did not really frighten her, not as she stared into them. They were actually quite interesting, in their own special way. Lauren shook her head, trying to clear it. But the eyes quickly drew her back.

'You're not Bill,' she said again.

'No Lori?' he said. He held out an arm and bent his elbow, then his wrist, inspecting his limbs. 'You must be wrong. Of course I'm your friend. Who else could I be? I have his body, his mind and memories. Just look at me, Lori. Don't you remember me?'

'Yes,' she said. The voice was definitely familiar, she thought, even though it was not her commander's. It was the voice of someone she'd known a long long time ago. 'I remember you,' she whispered.

'No!' Gary called. He had positioned himself to her right, Bill's left, standing at the apex of their s.h.i.+fting triangle. 'Don't listen to him.'

Her guard went back up. 'I won't be tricked,' she said.

'Why should I lie to you?' Bill asked.

'Where is Jessie?' Lauren demanded. 'What have you done to her?'

'She is not far.'

'You murdered Jim!'

Bill made a sweeping gesture. 'I have come to understand this chamber to be a place of decision. I didn't harm Jim. You're wrong to threaten me.'

The autopsy had said he had died of a heart attack. Lauren was curious in spite of herself. 'What decision did Jim make?'

'There is only one.'

'What are the choices?' she asked.