Blood Talisman by J. P. Bowie Read Free Book Online

the World Council. Why should she needlessly endanger the life of the man she had loved for over a hundred years?
    “How did you find us?” she asked Marcus.
    “There are informants in every camp it seems,” Marcus told her. “I could not reach your
    mind so I knew that whoever held you had weakened your powers somehow.” He gestured
    at the silver chains now lying on the cell floor, and grimaced. “Whoever betrayed you
    instructed the men to take this precaution, but they had reckoned without our vampire
    network. I sent out a message for help to every corner of the globe, and as luck would have it, our old friend, Andre—you remember him of course—is here in Baghdad on business.”
    “Ah, yes, Andre.” Andorra smiled. “The one whom no woman can resist. Or so he
    would like to believe.”
    Marcus chuckled. “Indeed. As you know, Andre can never conduct business in a city
    without sampling the, uh—local attractions. He had—shall we say—some early dawn delight
    with a lady who had actually seen Tony abducted by those thugs. Such things are not that uncommon here, but after they had pleasured themselves she complained to Andre about the violence that still goes on in the city, and cited Tony’s kidnapping as an example. She told him she thought it was another kidnapping of an American for ransom.”
    “But what made him think it had anything to do with Andy and me?” Tony asked.
    “He didn’t, at first. But lying there, in the afterglow of their lovemaking—Andre’s
    words, you understand—she asked him if he would take her away with him. He found
    himself curious about an episode serious enough to make her want to leave her homeland so
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    BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 33
    as she lay in his arms, he searched her mind for details. That was when he recognised you, Tony, and immediately contacted me with the information.”
    “So, Andre and his impulsive philandering is to be thanked for saving us,” Andorra
    said, laughing. “Remind me to thank him and his womanising next time we meet. Now, shall we get out of here? Our hotel at least has decent furnishings!”
     

     
    Later, seated in Andorra and Tony’s more than decent hotel suite, enjoying some
    excellent red wine, and with the room sealed against any eavesdroppers, Andorra revealed the details of their mission.
    “The President, the Defence Secretary and the Secretary of State?” Marcus didn’t hide
    his surprise. “The Taliban and Al Qaeda all at one meeting place? Little wonder the Secret Service needed backup.”
    Tony nodded. “And total secrecy,” he said. “If word got out that the President plus the
    Premiers of the UK, France, Israel, and Germany were all going to be here, chances are an assassination attempt would be too much for those extremist groups to pass up. This is big stuff, especially as China and Russia aren’t on the invitation list.”
    “They were approached originally, but they declined,” Andorra said, holding her wine
    glass up so that Roger could refill it. “I think they feel it wiser for them to simply sit back and let the other countries take the lead. Of course, if an accord is established with the Taliban and Al Qaeda, I am certain they will be very quick to accept the credit for it. Our job is to ensure the President arrives and leaves safely.”
    “Where is the meeting to take place?” Andrew asked.
    “There is an underground bunker south of the city.” Andorra paused to sip her wine
    before continuing, “Near the remains of the ancient city of Babylon as a matter of fact.”
    “Babylon?” Andrew threw a quick glance at Marcus. “Where it’s believed the Scrolls of
    Ashelak are hidden.”
    “Scrolls of whosit?” Tony chuckled. “Sounds like a mummy joke comin’ up.”
    “Well,” Andrew said ruefully. “They could be a joke, I suppose, but I’d like to believe
    they are real. They are supposed to reveal where a talisman is secreted. A talisman that can change,