I thought it might be time for a new Cussler forum story! If we can all contribute like we did to Pandora's Realm, I think we might have another great story. Same rules as before:

"1. Please keep to the story-line, no sub-plots. (Leave that stuff to the Grandmaster himself)

2. Try to keep your posts limited to between 10 and 15 lines."

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The dark night sky was filled with thousands of stars. A bright full moon glared down upon the city of London. Nearing midnight, most citizens were in their homes, staying out of the cold of the winter night. Windows were shut and most lights were turned off. No one seemed to notice the hooded figure as he walked through the night.

The hooded figure had found the clothing in an alley near a homeless man after he had come through the time vortice. Soon he found himself at 10 Downing street and before the guard said anything, the unidentified man clipped him on the neck. He then stole into the prime minister's home and found the woman in her study. She looked up and found herself staring into the face of......

Prime Minister Nedra Bennett stared into the face of William Stephenson. Stunned at the sight of the old spymaster from World War 2, the Canadian man introduced himself. "Madam Prime Minister Bennett, I am William Stephenson. I headed up the British Security Coordination during World War 2 overseeing the entire British Intelligence agencies, MI5, SOE and PWE. I am here to give you a vital message about some news that will be divulged within the week that will embarrass the British Isles". "Sir Stephenson, I know who you are and am shocked to see you alive. I know that you passed away back in January of 1989 at the age of 92 and I would like an explanation if that is truly your name". "Madam Prime Miinister, I have traveled through time to give you a warning about the news that is about to be made public this week and that is all I can say for now". "Go ahead and state the news you are so desperate to tell me" replies the Prime Minister. "Thank you, Madam Prime Minister". Sir Stephenson then explains about the documents found on the Bonhomme Richard and what they mean to the British Isles in the future if certain events are not prevented.

Two days later the Ocean Dancer, a NUMA Salvage ship made her way to port in London carrying the documents found along with some other evidence of the finding of the Bonhomme Richard. Dirk Cussler, the son of the famed novelist, Clive Cussler gave a press conference where he announces the finding of the old ship that was captained by John Paul Jones. An old white haired man walked up to the dais and greeted his son. Smiling, Clive Cussler looked into the cameras and welcomed the news that his son and NUMA had finally found the Bonhomme Richard after years of hard work and scouring the waters for her.

Behind the stage, and the glitz and glamour of the press conference, stood Dirk Pitt. His deep opaline eyes probed the crowd outside, thanks to a slit in the curtain that hid the vicinity behind the make shift stage. He had never enjoyed being in front of the camera and that's why he let the professionals, such as the Cussler's, handle such things.

Suddenly, the short but muscular Al Giordino strolled up towards Dirk, a large smile plastered upon his face...

"The box has been sent to the tech people to open and retrieve the contents with care" Al quips to Dirk. "That's good to hear. And the security detail?" returns Dirk. "Taken care of" replies Al.

Despite an attempted theft from small time operators, the Box was in the hands of the specialists who kept the box in a salt water tank but opened the lid and gently took out the contents and were bathed gently in a solution that would preserve and make arable the contents. Slowly and surely one document was unfolded and it's content blew the imaginations of those who read it.

The document revealed that Stephen of Blois, King Henry's nephew had indeed made a deal to sink the ship that his half-brother, William Adelin who was the legitimate heir to the English throne would drown in the sinking of the White Ship, that occured November 25, 1120. And that deal was made with the the king of France and that in return the Knights Templar would be sheltered in England should the French kick them out, which indeed did happen later. Stephen ascended to the English throne as King Stephen and would plunge the country into a period of Anarchy. Another document found in the box listed the crimes committed by the Blois family over many generations. The next day at the press conference, Elizabeth Boisson, an historian and indirect relation to the Blois family explained the significance of the documents that the Blois family of a mixed french and english blood had betrayed and ultimately embarrased the English throne. Again the critics of the english monarchy had much to say. And that the Knights Templar were allowed later to emigrate after their destruction in France and other countries were to establish Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite in the English Isle.

Elizabeth walked in the door, slipped off her high heels and padded to her bedroom and disrobed. She walked into the bathroom and showered. When she came out and put a towel around her body and one over her hair she walked into the bedroom and was stunned to see her boyfriend waiting in bed. She smiled and said, "Why couldn't you have come in like a normal person, instead of sneaking in here like a spy, my dear?". "Because, old habits die hard and I was a spy at one time, you know" replies Brian Shaw.

Later, during a meal that Elizabeth had fixed, Brian asked "Honey, didn't you think it was obvious that those documents found on the Bonhomme Richard had been taken from the Serapis during that famous battle?". "It did seem obvious to me while I was giving the press conference". "That's why I came, among other reasons to see you my love. MI6 has asked me to look into this since there will never be an official inquiry". "I see" replies Elizabeth.

Roberts Blossom, a direct descendant of King Stephen sat back in his chair contemplating the news and then turned to the prime minister, "Madam Prime Minister, as your Home Secretary I beseech you to quash this royal bashing and find a way to defuse the situation". "Roberts, I am helpless to persuade the press to do anything considering the mess we already find ourselves in with the EU". Roberts stands up and "Okay, then as the Home Secretary I will find some way to handle it in my own fashion if you may allow me to. Have a good day Madam Prime Minister Bennett". "Do not step over the line Roberts and a good day to you too Mr. Secretary". Outside in the hallway Roberts quips under his breath, "Bloody devil woman, how she made it this far is a wonder". Roberts leaves 10 Downing street and drives to the Home Office Bldg. and heads directly for his office. Once inside his office he picks up the dedicated line telephone and rings his cousin, Kingman Blossom and confers with him on the phone for fifteen minutes about the situation.

Brian Shaw walked into the lobby of Grosvenor House, where he was staying while in London and nearly stepped on a squat but powerfully built italian looking man who squelched, "Watch where you are going old man!" Dirk walked up behind Al and smiled at the old man recognizing the old spy that he had encountered some years back. Brian said, "Excuse me young man but I am quite sorry if I have hurt you in any way. Hello, Dirk old boy". "Hello, Brian, glad to see your still fit and trim and all that" replies Dirk with a fake british clip. Brian laughs. "What are you doing in London my old chap?" Inquires Brian. "Here on NUMA business and a little sport on the side". "Is this your friend that I nearly ran over?" returns Brian. "Yes, this is my good friend, Al Giordino". "What brings you to our lavish Grosvenor House here in London" asks Brian. "We were just conferring with Admiral Sandecker, who is staying here while we wrap up this Bonhomme Richard discovery". "Oh, yes I did hear about. Congratulations on your find and if I may say so, it's a wonder about those documents found on an American ship. May I presume that those english papers will be returned to our fair country?". "Yes, they will be given over through the proper channels, of course". "Ah, I see and that is most kind of you and your country". Brian tips his hat and "Cheerio, to you then and a good bye". Brian walks toward the desk and retrieves his room key and goes upstairs. Al and Dirk just look at each, knowingly.

Brian steps into his room and finds himself staring into the eyes of Sir William Stephenson. Brian's jaw drops open. "Good to see your still in good shape at your age, Brian" inquires Sir William. "How is this possible?" asks Brian. "The wonders of time travel prematurely used back in our day old chap". "You're joking?" "No, sir. Brian, just before the collapse of Hitler's Germany, we developed the technology along with some American help and have used it only to warn of the consequences of possible discovery of the Bonhomme Richard, should she be found and the stolen documents found aboard her. We learned back then from contacts in Nazi Germany that the Blois family had helped the rise of Hitler and of the documents that slipped through their hands and lost to history forever. But now that the documents have been found, the Blois family will no doubt stir up trouble in retribution". "I see, and with MI6 having already contacted me, I assume you want to make sure that they fail in their attempt". "Yes, of course" replies Sir William.

Where is this story going?

Returning to his own time, William Stephenson found himself in the boardroom of the British Security Coordination suite of offices in Rockefeller Center. Walking to his office later he meets his assistant Dick Ellis. "That idea of using a dead sailor's body with the information to misdirect Hitler and his top advisers with a different day and time to invade the coast of France worked beautifully, sir" Dick informs his boss. "Oh, by the way William Donovan is waiting to meet you in your office, sir". "Thank you, Dick".

Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino fly back to the states with Admiral Sandecker aboard the NUMA jet. When they disembark from the NUMA Jet, Dirk heads home to the hangar at the other end of the airport. Walking into his apartment that oversees his antique car collection inside the hangar, he meets Loren sitting on his couch reading a magazine. "Welcome back home, lover" Loren looks into the green opaline eyes of Dirk with a smile on her face. Dirk walks over to the couch and leans down to kiss the beautful Loren. 'It's good to be home my darlin' ". He sit's down and leans into her and they kiss again.

The night sky made the far end of Ronald Reagan International airport a dark area with only one small lightbulb aglow just outside the door of the Hangar where Dirk Pitt lives. Dirk, sitting at the desk looks at the blue screen of his computer reading when Loren rolls over and opens one eye at Dirk and asks "What time is it?". 'Nearly 4am my dear". "What are you doing up and on the computer for?". "Doing some research about World War 2" Dirk replies.

The Princess of the Seas, a NUMA Ship captained by Rainn Bloore was in the Gulf of Chihli just off the coast of China when a side scan sonar beeped a finding beneath the waters. Lonny Hathaway was at the sonar screen in a second holding a cup of coffee and setting it aside when he sat down and sent his hands flying over the keyboard, instructing the ROV to head in the direction of the finding. Four minutes later a ship came into view. He was disappointed to find a ship that was not ancient but definitely from the mid-twentieth century. The name of the ship appeared to be smudged but he did get the name of the company the ship was registered under, The Adelin Corporation. He sent the information by fax to NUMA Headquarters. A Chinese ship nearby the Princess of the Seas was hovering to and watching. A phone call to the nearby city of Dalian was made from the ship. Kingman Blossom picked up the phone from his office in the Adelin Tower and listened. After the phone call he called his cousin, Roberts Blossom in England.

After hitting a wall in his research efforts Dirk called Hiram Yaeger at NUMA for some help. "Sure Dirk, no problem! I will get back with you when I have something for you". "Thanks, Hiram!". Next, Dirk called St. Julien Perlmutter. "Dirk! It's great to hear you, my boy! How are things with you?' Dirk tells St. Julien a few things before he gets around to asking for some help in research. "No problem, Dirk!".

Hiram calls Dirk the next day with the results of his research and tells Dirk about it, "You are right about the Blois family leaving fingerprints so to speak, about being involved in the espionage during World War 2 between France and England. And by the way, we just got a fax a couple of days ago from the Princess of the Seas about the finding of a ship in the Gulf of Chihli that the Blois family owns through the Adelin corporation which was heavily involved in Hitler's rearming of Germany". "Thank you very much Hiram. Take care now". Later St. Julien calls with his findings. "Dirk, my boy I have found for you the information you asked for. The Blois family owns a company named Adelin that goes way back to the 1600's when it was originally the French East India company and took over in 1769 when the French monarchy washed their hands of it. The original name of the Bonhomme Richard was Duc de Durae. So it was no accident that the documents were allowed to sink with the Bonhomme Richard and that captain Richard Pearson of the Serapis was given permission to carry the documents. When John Paul Jones commandeered the chest with the documents the Blois family agent aboard the Serapis made sure that the Bonhomme Richard sank. By the way Dirk, I did some research about the White Ship and how Stephen Blois made sure his half brother, the legitimate heir of the English throne died on that ship. When he became King he used his son, the Count of Blois, who died in 1102 in battle during the first crusade it is rumored that the Ark of the Covenant was found and then disappeared while en route to England".

After reading Dirk Pitt's report about the Adelin Corporation, Admiral Sandecker calls Dirk to his office. Kurt Austin is sitting in front of the Admiral's desk and he stands to greet Dirk, shaking hands. "Sit down, Dirk. I just informed Kurt here about your report on the Adelin Corporation and it's major industrial site in the Senegal-Mauritania border area and their pollution of the African coast and mysterious disappearances of some ships in the area. Very informative, indeed, Dirk. Well researched and concise. We need to come up with a plan to fight this major polluter and some other crimes that they have committed over many years. The Blois family owns this outfit and like some of the others that we have taken on over the years they will not be easy to take down. So, gentlemen let's shoot the breeze on what we can do to stop this major outfit".

Returning to his loft apartment in the Airport Hangar where he lives, Dirk calls Brian Shaw and informs him of what NUMA has found out about the Blois family and their Adelin Corporation. Later, Dirk calls Al Giordino and tells him about the meeting between him, the Admiral and Kurt. Then Dirk showers, shaves and dresses for a date with Loren Smith. They head to Zengo restaurant located at 781 7th St. NW a trendy Latin-Asian restaurant. Loren orders a Tuna Tataki Salad that includes Avocado, Kaiware Sprouts, Lemon Wasabi Dressing, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Dirk orders the Dim Sum which includes steamed Gyoza Dumplings, foie gras, shrimp, pork, chinese celery, won bok, and passion fruit. Dirk orders a Red Wine and Loren has White Wine.

Dalian, China. The Adelin Corporation Tower soared over the Chinese city 95 stories tall and depending upon the time of day a part of the city was in the shadow of it. This summer day seemed like no other with the possible exception of a large column of people marching towards the Adelin Tower. At the head of the marching column of people Joe Zavala and an Vietnamese woman were leading in front. From another road a second column of people being led by Kurt Austin and a short chinaman were in front and hailing the people on towards the tall building that towered above them all. Finally at 11:45 AM local time both columns of people converged at the tower and swarmed inside. Both columns of people were nearly a mile long. The large numbers of people swarmed the building in no time and causing chaos and mayhem. Acts of vandalism began and the shoving of workers among the melee of the people suddenly flared into several fights breaking out on different floors. With the tower nearing it's capacity load of weight it begans to sway one, then two millimeters and soon because of the constant moving of the people insided the building it swayed another millimeter. Despite the attempts of the executives to flee the building they were stopped at every turn. Kurt realized that it was becoming too dangerous to continue this and talked to his new friend, the chinaman to get the people to begin leaving. More and more fights broke out. And then more than one person fell and was crushed by the crowded mob scene inside the tower. Finally after ransacking files and looking on several computers Kurt realized there was nothing important stored in the records of the company and made his way to find Joe Zavala. They met on the forty-third floor and slowly worked their way down to the ground floor and managed to get outside. Eventually everyone soon got bored and began to leave the tower themselves.

Paris, France. The old british spy watched the long column of people marching towards the Blois Tower, being led by a couple of teenage boys. One was Ibrahim Bonham, Alhena's young teenage brother and Frank Sharpe, the young teenage son of William Sharpe. Soon the large mass of people swarmed into the Blois Tower and swamping the workers and executives. Brian Shaw thought it childish but effective in disrupting The Adelin Corporation and it's operations. Meanwhile, Dirk and Al were in a small tunnel boring machine in the desert and nearing the Industrial Site owned by The Adelin Corporation. It was nearly midnight when they tore into the subbasement of the plant. They got out and made their way slowly through the plant with Dirk holding his Colt and Al holding a Glock as their only means of weapons. They encountered one guard soon as they made the basement level and knocked him out, sparing their ammuntion. When they made the ground level floor they encountered a couple of guards. Al shot the one while Dirk fought the other one, finally managing to knock him out. They made it a main lobby and found a map of the of the plant and committed it to memory and were on their way. They were on a catwalk when they encountered another guard, who managed a shot before Al pounced on him, pummeling the man into unconsciousness. Soon they managed to work themselves towards a connecting walkway to a secondary building and before they got into the second building another guard showed up and Dirk got off a shot that only wounded the man and Al cuffed him over the head. Two minutes into the second building they came up on the main generator and soon found themselves staring into one large pool of water that obviously was the underground river dammed into one large body of water that the entire industrial site sat atop. The power that was being generated by this mass of water was tremendous and they followed some energy pipes that were each about 45 yards wide. They walked through a connecting passageway into a larger and third building where they stopped and looked at the most massive tanks ever constructed of chemicals that were connected and interacting to form one dangerous mix that gave off a huge energy burst before being carried off into many pipelines that went underground and headed to the Atlantic Ocean where the remaining effluescent was deadly and polluting. They found themselves walking down an obscure walkway that was colored blue and after nearly a mile they came to a chamber where a strange object sat atop an illuminated pedestal. Roberts Blossom walked out of a hidden doorway that whooshed open. "It is not by accident that the two of you have managed to get this far, Gentlemen. Though I certainly made sure there was a reasonable number of guards that I put in your way and am grateful that you did not kill them all. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Giordino, I have read about some of the tales about the two of you. The two of you have led a very active and dangerous life that most men could not achieve in just one lifetime. So, I can appreciate how the two of you have managed to stay alive and tell the tale. Hopefully I can beat the two you at surviving this last adventure of yours. I have no intention of leaving the two of you alive, because I will make sure the two of you die before my eyes. Gentlemen". The floor opened beneath Dirk and Al and they fell into a pit.

Slowly they got back up on their feet looking at each other. Then they looked up. The height of the four walls were 18 feet high, and they were smooth, steel walls. Roberts Blossom walks over to the pit and grins wickedly at the men. "Who are you?" asks Dirk. "I am a member of the Blois family you have so bothered with your discovery of the Bonhomme Richard and then investigating us". "You were so well documented in all of your heinous crimes over the centuries, it was easy to investigate and want to put away for all of those crimes your family has gotten away with" replies Dirk. Al just gave gave the man a dirty look. "By the way Mr. Blossom, what, if I may ask is the object on the pedestal?".

"As a Knight of Templar, I beseech my forefathers in the name of the holy kingdom and seek an act of execution with thy rod I hold in my hand" Roberts Blossom, the direct descendant of King Henry of England intones in a monotone and lays the Rod of Aaron upon the edge of the pit and in moments snakes appear magically falling into the pit where Dirk and Al watch in horror. Al pulls his gun shooting the snakes and runs out of bullets in no time. Dirk resisted the urge and just stood still, thinking of how to get out of this predicament.

London, England. New Scotland Yard issued warrants for the leaders of the Adelin Corporation to be arrested and the police swarmed into the corporate headquarters arresting many executives. Prime Minister Nedra Bennett received a call and was informed that her Home Secretary, Roberts Blossom was also issued a warrant for his arrest as a member of the Blois family but was no where to be found and presumed to have fled the country.

After Roberts Blossom left, saying "I will be back to to make sure the two of you are dead soon". Dirk thinks hard and then looks at the 18 foot tall walls. "Al, take your pants off". Al looks at Dirk dumbfounded for a moment and see's the gleam in his friend's eye. "Your nuts, you know that? These are poisonous snakes but I am dumb enough to follow you to hell and back". Dik takes his pants off too and ties one leg from both pairs of jeans together and asks Al to stand on his shoulders. Dirk slowly makes his way to the wall and then asks Al to toss the leg of one pants over the edge of the pit and sweep it about to find an object or something the pants to snag onto. Al does that and after a few minutes sweeps the pant leg over the rod that Roberts Blossom used. The rod falls into Al's hands and Dirk lowers himself slowly so Al can get off. Then Dirk takes the rod and tries several incantations until he says, "With thy Rod of Aaron I beseech the holy Kingdom to banish these snakes of hades into the pit of fire from whence they have come and lift me and my brother to our fatherly heaven". The snakes disappear and Dirk & Al find themselves out of the pit and standing on the floor of the chamber again. Al unties the pants and the two put their pants on. Roberts Blossom steps out of a door and is stunned to see the two out of the pit. Dirk intones "Thy rod of Aaron I beseech you to banish this unholy brother to the fires of hell". Roberts Blossom yells as he feels himself turn to fire and disappears.

By the time Dirk and Al got back to the front of the Industrial Complex they found law authorities and Kurt Austin in control of the plant. They followed Kurt to a helicopter and then flew to Egypt. After arriving in Cairo they took a taxi to the outskirts of town where they stopped at an open market where they met an Egyptian man who took them by jeep into the desert towards Saqarra. Halfway there they stopped and had to travel by camel to the El Marat-Saqarra Pyramid. Upon arrival they rested before showering and then had a meal at the mess tent. After eating they met William and Greg Sharpe, and Alhena Bonham.

Dirk handed over the Rod of Aaron to William Sharpe, who replied "Thank you very much for bringing the second item of the Ark of the Covenant, if it had not been for you finding this, it could have taken me years to even find it. This is the Rod of Aaron that has many powers for those who have a good heart, as Aaron, the brother of Moses did. This was stolen from the caisson where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. The Tablets and the Rod comprise the Ark of the Covenant and had been forcibly separated. Now the two shall be together again". Dirk, Al and Kurt rode by Camel back to El Marat and from there to Cairo rode in a jeep. Kurt saw Dirk and Al off at Cairo International Airport and then took a helicopter back to Blois Industrial Site along the Senegal-Mauritania border where he would begin the process of cleaning the polluted coastline of Africa. The old dam that had been built nearly 5,000 years ago was blown up and allowed the natural course of the river to flow again after much work by the engineering corps had dug through the Sahara Desert. It would be awhile but hopes were high that with the freedom of the river to flow in it's old banks again that northern Africa could return to a lush and green state again. However, the law of unintended consequences would rear it's ugly head the next year on August 15, 2006 a large hurricane would brew off the coast of Africa and would sweep west towards the United States causing havoc.THE END.

Back in the states Dirk and Al headed to NUMA HQ where they met Admiral Sandecker who told them a story of the Admiral himself involved in a bit of espionage during World War 2. "I had met Brian Shaw in London while I was on loan from the Navy to the OSS there and was briefed by him about an operation in Switzerland that would involve financial chicanery and high technology. It was to be a simple operation really. William Stephenson the coordinator for british intelligence was at the meeting. It was to be conducted by me and Brian Shaw with only William Stephenson and Churchill himself to know about the operation. We were to get involved in a plan with the OSS station chief in Berne, Allen Dulles who had conceived the plan while negotiating through back channels with the nazis that were looking for a settlement once the war was over. These nazis were ready for a settlement because Hitler was already losing the faith of many in the hierarchy. The plan was to help them and some eastern europeans come up with a plan to make sure that eastern europe would be able to stand on their own. And this involved in moving both money and technology to eastern europe. Well, as you know, once the Soviet Union rolled into Germany that was the end of that plan, but not without some effort we did get some money and a little bit of technology over there. The problem was that just as the Russians rolled into Germany, the Blois family and an american company, owned by our President Bush's family blew our operations out of the water and it cost a few lives. I have personally talked to the President and he is willing to cooperate in the destruction of the Blois family but is worried that news of their involvement with the Blois family may come to light and wants us to sit on it, and I agreed". Dirk and Al just sat in their chairs too stunned at having restrictions put on them in their efforts to take down this criminal family that has caused many deaths over the centuries.

Later, Dirk is with Loren in his apartment in the hangar where Loren had fixed a light supper for them. Dirk tells Loren about the President's family company and it's involvement in World War 2. Loren turns on the news and within moments they hear about a nuclear explosion in eastern europe. Thirty minutes later the telephone rings. Dirk answers and listens for several minutes as Admiral Sandecker tells a story about a mislabeled barrel of heavy water had been among the stuff that had been given to the aristocrats of eastern europe. "Dirk, this heavy water, as you know is used for nuclear purposes but had been thought lost in the sinking of the ferry, Hydro in the Norwegian lake Tinn during 1944. It turns out that one of the barrels had been snuck out of Norway and somehow made it to eastern europe under a false label and was part and parcel of the deal that Brian Shaw and myself had shipped to the eastern european aristocrats. Well, guess what? It turns out that the Blois family has been helping those people in eastern europe develop nuclear power and bombs. Eastern europe is now a powder keg of trouble if this is not headed off and it starts World War 3. "Dirk, the other major Blois family head is Kingman Blossom and he has to be stopped and the President is sending out all the agents possible to stop this family from preventing nuclear catastrophe. And you know how that can turn out sometimes if not handled right".

On the tramp ship, Tiburonjay, a grizzled Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino looked the part of fellow seamen that had been hired by the captain, Georgios Kiriakis. As they headed into the port of Thessalonika Dirk watched the outlines of the port and knew it would be tricky to get over the greek border into Bulgaria and head for Zelnicka, a small town about forty miles southeast of Sofia. He would meet up with Harald Zelnick at the border who is supposed to help him and Al get over the border. As soon as Dirk and Al were processed by customs they headed to a bar called Maggiornio where they found a young man who was waiting for them. Nikolas Niarchos welcomed them at his table and he spoke low, telling them he was willing to drive them to the border for a fee, naturally. Dirk gave him half the price and the three of them headed outside to the small truck and they headed north to the Bulgarian border. At the border, Dirk paid the young Nikolas the rest of the money and Dirk and Al walked aways until they found Harald leaning against a tree, smoking a cigarette. The three of them crossed the border with the papers Harald gave them and after a five mile walk found Harald's truck and they rode northeast towards Zelnicka. It was nearly 2am and they rode into Zelnicka as the dawn was breaking. Harald drove them to a small cottage that Harald had rented several weeks before. Later after eating lunch they were back on the road again, heading northeast and pulled into Pleven just after nine in the evening and Harald drove to a small house where a young woman took them in for the night. The next morning after having been fed a hearty breakfast by the young woman they again were back on the road and it wasn't until nearly dark when they drove into Bucuresti, Romania. Again they stayed in a house where an older man gave them rest and the next morning they were on the road again. Driving all day and night they finally came to the outskirts of Chisinau the next morning, the capital of Moldova and there they saw the destruction that was once a city now in ruin. The destruction was terrifying to see, all one could in every direction were the ruins of buildings and homes.

A smoldering fire grew in Dirk's stomach at the lives lost in the ruins of this city and knew it would not be an easy task to take down the rest of the Blois family. With Roberts Blossom now dead and his cousin Kingman now the heir to the Blois family throne, it would be small comfort in the destruction of such evil, but it had to be done. Now, after seeing the ruins of Chisinau they were to go northwest to Krakow in Poland where it was reported Kingman was staying. It took them over four days of almost nonstop driving until they came into the outskirts of Krakow on the morning of the fifth day. They stayed at a home where an older couple lived in an area called Kurdwanow. Kingman Blossom was reported to be staying in the area known as Opolska that was on the northern edge of Krakow. Dirk and Al shot ideas back and forth until they had some good ideas but knew it was best not to be tied to anything definite. They went about town trying find supplies at different small stores. Finally they decided to go for it in the early hours of Saturday morning. When they got to the mansion that was once owned by some long lost Count or Duke, they scouted the grounds and didn't hardly see any guards but did see several guard dogs and signs of electronic fences that kept the dogs hemmed in a certain area. They worked their way over to a group of bushes that was almost on top of the electronic fences. They tested the strength of the bushes and managed to get to the top despite the prickliness of the bushes. They tossed some knaw bones laced with dopamine that put the dogs out. Finally they jumped down when the dogs were out and headed towards the mansion.

Soon as they cracked the front door open, a burst of gunfire almost mowed them down. They rolled into the hallway firing their guns and came up when a guard appeared and Al clipped him. Another guard swung a gun around a wall and let loose a spray of bullets. Dirk and Al hit the floor and rolled fast until they were closer. The guard appeared for a second and Dirk just barely grazed the man's forehead with a bullet. Dirk and Al headed separately to the walls. When the guard appeared again Al took him down with a single shot. They moved forward slowly. A heavy door opened and a dapper looking man walked out with his hands up speaking slowly, "Please come into the library where master Blois awaits your presence". Dirk and Al looked at each other then walked up to him slowly and Al frisked the man. They pushed him into the library and saw Kingman Blossom sitting at his desk, waiting for them.

"Welcome, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Giordino. I am somewhat disappointed that the security was not enough to stop the two of you but it was already in place when I took over. However, since the two of you are responsible for the death of my cousin, I would like to see the two of you die for your actions against our operations. The mob scene in our Asian and European office towers was quite an accomplishment but so unnecessary because nothing vital was kept there. And the damages alone can be recovered with our insurance. But then, that was not the point was it? It was just an effort on your part to disrupt our operations and in that regard, you did succeed. But the loss of the African energy plant was a trememdous loss in our plans for Africa. We had so much riding on that plant providing the energy needs for the entire continent and beyond. The pollution in the Atlantic was an unfortunate side effect but could not be helped. And now, I must see to it that the two of you meet an early death". Dirk flew across the desk before a bullet could shatter his spine from a shooter on a second story balcony from behind. Dirk and Kingman Blossom tumbled over the chair. Al Giordino had jumped to the side before a bullet shot out from a panel in the desk and swung around, firing a shot at the man on the balcony. The gunman fell over the railing and landed hard, breaking his neck. Al watched as Dirk and Kingman fought behind the desk, on the floor. The butler ran out of the library and fled for his life.

After several minutes of fighting, Dirk finally knocked Kingman unconscious. Then he hauled the man over to a couch and grabbing some chains from an Armored Knight that reposed in an alcove and bound Kingman with the chains. Al Giordino laughed, Dirk looked at Al and just looked grim. Finally, Kingman came to and found he could not move because of the chains. He managed to raise himself up on the armrest of the couch and looked hard at Dirk and Al. "What the censored was that nuclear explosion all about? Dirk demanded. "Not that it should be of consequence to you, gentlemen, but it was intended to spark a war between the west and Russia". Dirk asked, "And why should this come about by destroying Chisinau, Moldavia?". "Because we gave Iranian agents the necessary ingredient for their nuclear plans and we suggested that it would be to their benefit because the west would protect the middle east against the Russians. Your President is very cozy with those oil rich arabians and will make sure that nothing happens to them. The Russians themselves would love to get their hands on the middle east so that they can control what's left in the ground there, along with their own reserves and dominate the field, despite the Chinese deposits". "That's pretty complicated but may not go the way you expect it to Mr. Blossom". "We are pretty sure it will go down that way, or at the very least still come out in that direction". Dirk grabbed the man and hauled him out to the garage and shoved the man into a car, where Al managed to start the car by tripwiring the ignition. They headed back to the house in Kurdwanow and picking up Harald Zelnick and headed towards the greek border.

After handing Kingman Blossom over to international law authorities in Greece, Dirk and Al returned to America on the steamer, Tiburonjay. They thanked Captain Georgios Kiriakis on the deck before walking off the old tramp ship in Baltimore and they headed to the parking lot where Dirk's Avion Voisin was parked. Dirk drove Al to his condo in Georgetown and Dirk headed home at the Airport. Finally inside, he showered and shaved, and fell asleep on his bed.

The United States sat back as Western Europe and Russia were moving towards War as each country followed with their own decision in response to the news of the Nuclear attack on Chisinau, Moldava. Finally, it came down to whether Great Britain would join the EU in the war. President George W. Bush finally got a call from Prime Minister Nedra Bennett. "Mr. President Bush, I wish to inform you of my decision and as to the reasons why I have come to this conclusion. As you well know, despite the Blois family's effort in this sad affair that has set the world on the edge of war, I have decided not to become a party to the war and I am certain that once you listen to my reasons, you will join me in the condemnation of the other parties. I was informed over three months ago that the state of world affairs would lead us to the brink of war and that depending on our decision to join or not was crucial in the prevention of it. Are you familiar with our WW2 spymaster, William Stephenson?" "Yes I am Madam Prime Minister". "Mr. President, due to time travel technolgy I was paid a visit by this man and he proved to me who he was and explained to me how the finding of the documents aboard the Bonhomme Richard would lead to the present situation and how dire it would be if we did not make the right decision". "I see" replied President Bush. "Mr. President, I believe that a joint press statement by the both of us stating in no uncertain terms that we will condemn any war efforts on the part of the nations already moving in that direction".

Al Giordino sat back with a bottle of beer in his hand and sighed with relief, "Now that's a kick in the pants of those countries itching for war". "Yes, it certainly is" replies Dirk Pitt as he changes from the news of the joint press statement by President Bush and Prime Minister Bennett and pops in a DVD. Loren came out of the kitchen area and smiles at the two men, holding two big bowls of popcorn in her hands and says, "Okay, now that we don't have anything to worry about, let us watch the movie". THE END.