51 |

Aksum, Ethiopia

 

“Hey, Alexie, look at this.” Utkin waved his tablet without giving Tankov a chance to see what he was talking about. “We’ve got another posting from our moron about where the professors are. He wants half-a-million for the answer. He claims he’s got exact coordinates, and he’s giving it to anyone who pays. No bidding, no single winner.”

Tankov grunted. “So, it’s a race to the finish. What the hell, pay the man. Let’s see what he has for us.”

Utkin tapped away then handed the tablet to Tankov, a map displayed with their position relative to the purchased coordinates. “Well, it’s in the area where our trusty Internet says the Ark is rumored to be.”

A convoy of competitors whipped past them soon followed by another.

Utkin frowned. “We’re going to have company.”

Tankov nodded. “Yeah. Let’s hold back and let them fight it out among themselves. We’ll mop up what’s left then take the Ark for ourselves.”

“What about the professors?”

Tankov chewed his cheek for a moment, contemplating the future of the two educators who had cost them so much. He sighed. “I like them. Especially the woman. I want to marry her.”

Utkin grinned. “Kill the husband and she’s back on the market.”

The men laughed, Tankov joining in. “True, but it’ll have to be one of you. I can’t have her hating me, it would just make our marriage difficult.”

Utkin leaned in, staring at him. “You could change your face again.”

Tankov ran his fingers over his face, staring at it in the rearview mirror, the only thing familiar his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m just starting to get used to this one.”

“It is one of your better ones, that’s for sure. Then again, you always were a handsome devil.”

Tankov gave him a look.

“I’m serious. It’s the confidence. You could look like a pig’s ass and you’d come off looking good.”

Tankov turned to face him. “Arseny, are you trying to get into my pants?”

Utkin met his stare. “Is it working?”

Tankov roared with laughter as did the others, punching his friend on the shoulder. He put the vehicle in gear and pulled from the side of the road. “Okay, we’ve waited enough. Let’s go kill what’s left of the competition.”