Kingdom of Darkness by Andy McDermott Read Free Book Online Page A

secret even from the IHA itself – ‘but I was . . . poisoned.’
    Macy stared at her in horror. ‘Poisoned? Did – did you see a doctor, get an antidote?’
    ‘There isn’t one. Not for this. How much Norse mythology did you study during your degree?’
    ‘The basics: Odin, Thor, those guys,’ said Macy, confused by the shift of topic.
    ‘Did you learn about eitr?’
    ‘Yeah, it’s some sort of primordial poison—’ She broke off as she made the connection. ‘You mean it’s real ?’
    ‘Fucking right it is,’ Eddie rumbled.
    ‘Yes, it’s real,’ said Nina sadly. ‘We found it – well, we were trying to stop other people taking control of it. We did, but I got . . . contaminated. Infected. Macy, I’m . . . I’m dying .’
    ‘Holy Jesus,’ Macy whispered. ‘I’m so sorry. When – how long have you got?’
    ‘It could be years,’ Eddie insisted. ‘Enough time to find a cure.’
    ‘Or it could be weeks,’ his wife countered.
    ‘I’m not going to believe that until I absolutely don’t have any fucking choice.’
    ‘I can’t believe it either,’ said Macy. ‘There’s got to be something somebody can do.’
    Nina shook her head. ‘The Russians were looking for a cure for fifty years, and they didn’t find one. I don’t think our chances are any better.’
    ‘So you’re just going to accept it? You’re going to give up? Is that why you quit the IHA?’
    ‘I’m not giving up,’ she said firmly. ‘The reason I quit was so I could do everything else that I wanted to in the time I’ve got left. You’ll probably think it’s weird to hear me say this, but there’s more to life than archaeology.’
    ‘I’ve been telling you that for years,’ said Eddie.
    ‘And just this once, you were actually right.’ The couple swapped faint smiles. ‘But that’s why we’ve been travelling – so I could see the whole world, not just what’s buried under it. And it’s also why I’m going to write the book. I want to tell people about everything I’ve discovered – and also that there were other people involved besides me. The IHA turned me into a kind of media-friendly figurehead, and unfortunately, at times I started to believe my own hype. So I want to set the record straight.’
    ‘Does that mean I’ll be in it?’
    ‘Do you want to be?’
    ‘Um, let me think . . .  yes ! Duh.’
    ‘Good. You deserve to have people know what you did. And in more detail than this.’ She held up the magazine, then tried to return it to its owner.
    ‘No, no, that one’s for you,’ Macy told her. ‘I’ve got plenty more copies. Keep it.’
    ‘Ah . . . thanks.’ Nina put it on the seat. ‘But yeah, if nothing else, the book will be a kind of legacy.’ She turned to her husband. ‘And it’ll mean I can take care of you even after I’m gone.’
    ‘You’re talking about it like you’re already dead,’ said Eddie with grim irritation. An awkward silence followed.
    Macy broke it, covering her discomfort with an excess of enthusiasm. ‘So, uh . . . hey, look, we’re in Beverly Hills!’ She gestured at a street sign informing those driving along Santa Monica Boulevard that they had just crossed the boundary of the exclusive city-within-a-city. ‘I definitely want to go to the Chanel shop.’ She hurriedly drained her glass.
    ‘Drinking and shopping?’ said Nina, also keen to change the subject. ‘Are you sure that’s wise?’
    ‘Probably not, but it’s more fun than doing it on Amazon.’ She indicated Nina’s map. ‘I mean, they’ve got Ferragamo, Fendi, Gucci and Prada all right next to each other. It’s like I’ve died and gone to heav— like I’ve, uh . . . found my Mecca?’
    ‘Good catch,’ Eddie said, with some humour returning.
    Macy winced. ‘Sorry. The whole death thing, probably not what you want to hear right now.’
    ‘It’s okay,’ Nina assured her. She polished off her own drink. ‘How about a refill?’
    Eddie reached for the