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Suddenly Maddock heard footsteps on the stone floor. Two armed men stepped out behind them, and another man in front of them. Maddock and Bones were ordered to raise their hands in the air, and they both did so without hesitation. They knew when they were outgunned. The men, most likely they were guards who had been keeping better watch than he had given them credit for, ordered him and Bones to move into the torture device room. The command was in Italian, but they got the gist of it anyway and proceeded to march toward Issachar and the machine to which Lina was strapped.
“Stop. That’s close enough.” Issachar’s voice echoed slightly in the chamber, but the hand he held out in front of him was unwavering. Maddock wasn’t sure that his own hands, still held in the air, were that steady. He couldn’t believe his eyes. For there was Issachar, an agent of the Dominion whom he had now twice believed dead, standing before him. How was it even possible? His face was badly scarred, and one of his arms ended in a hook where his hand ought to be. So this was the burnt man.
“It’s been a long time,” Issachar began. “How’s Jade Ihara doing?”
“Moved along,” Maddock said, his voice flat. “I guess I wasn’t enough man for her.”
Issachar laughed threw his head back and laughed. “Of that, I have no doubt.”
But Maddock and Bones knew not to try to make a move with all of the guards around. “It’s strange,” Issachar said when he was looking at his two newly arrived captives again, “I almost think of you as a friend. We’ve been through some amazing things together, haven’t we?”
“Speaking of that,” Bones cut in, “How did you get out from under that mountain, anyway?”
Issachar’s expression grew more intense. “That wasn’t easy. “They had their fun with me before they grew complacent.” He held up his left hand, which ended in a stump and a hook. “I do miss my hand, I’m not going to lie, but this can be fun too.” He moved back a couple of steps and then ran the hook along Lina’s cheek until he curled it around her throat. He looked up at Maddock and Bones, leaving the hook in place. “I have other implements at my disposal, too, but I really enjoy the classics.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Bones asked. “Seriously.”
Issachar stared down at Lina’s hook-snared neck while he replied. “Just trying to get ahead in the game, like anybody else. Working myself back into Heilig Herrschaft’s good graces. Using my toys here...” He made a sweeping gesture with his remaining hand that took in the torture devices, “...to prise information from the locals.”
Maddock appeared incredulous. “And no one else has found out?”
Issachar cackled lightly, causing the hook to jostle slightly on Kina’s throat. “It’s the old-timers who have the best information. I extract what knowledge I can before they expire, and then we drop them off in their beds. Romano does a masterful job of comforting the family, if there is any, and generally smooths things over.”
Maddock shook his head in disgust, telling himself to move on before his emotions got the better of him. “So what are you after? You , of all people, know the menorah isn’t here.”
Issachar nodded with a huge smile, as though he were about to laugh. “And behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it.”
Bones nodded. “You’re quoting Revelation.”
A look of surprise registered on Maddock’s face, and Bones explained. “Forced to go to church camp every summer as a kid.” Bones then turned to Issachar. “If I remember my scripture correctly, that quote is symbolic and refers to the seven main churches of the time.”
Maddock mentally pictured the strange rune, and then it clicked for him. “You’re after a literal bowl. One of the seven that inflict misery on the followers of the Beast of Revelation.”
Issachar nodded. “They’ll come in handy when Heilig Herrschaft comes to power, don’t you think? I’d prefer the one that causes earthquakes and hailstorms, but even the one that inflicts foul and malignant sores will do nicely in a pinch.”
“And you think Alaric possessed it?”
“I’m investigating any and all legends associated with a menorah. I like to be thorough.”
Maddock shook his head slowly. “You always were a sick bastard, Issachar.”
The villain shrugged. “I get the job done. Speaking of which, the two of you doubtless have some information I will find useful.” He nodded to the closest of his guards.
“String them up.”