Juggernaut

‘The Valley of Tears,’ said Jabril.

A natural amphitheatre a mile wide. A bowl, like a vast lunar crater. An alien landscape. Wind had shaped the sandstone outcrops of the high valley walls into sinister ossiferous lips and knuckles.

A squat citadel dominated the valley floor.

Stillness and sun-blasted silence.

‘What the fuck are we looking at? A fortress?’

‘A necropolis. A sacred city dedicated to the worship of the dead.’

High ramparts surrounded a maze of temple precincts. Forecourts, toppled colonnades and crumbled cloisters. At the centre of the labyrinth of half-tumbled masonry stood a huge, pillared edifice resembling the Parthenon. The entrance to the temple complex was a breach in the perimeter wall flanked by two high guard towers.

‘What’s that big building at the centre?’

‘Some say it is the Temple of Marduk. A powerful Babylonian deity. God of gods. Creator of the universe.’

‘How old is this place?’

‘The temple might have been built in the reign of the Akkadian kings five thousand years ago.’

‘How come I’ve never seen pictures of this place?’ asked Lucy.

‘This desert has been a war zone since time began. It doesn’t attract many tourists. Maybe one day there will be toilets and a gift shop. Somehow I doubt it. Something about this place. Something oppressive. People will always stay away.’

‘So where’s the bullion?’

Jabril pointed towards the citadel. The hulks of innumerable military supply vehicles lay in front of the temple gateway. Trucks, Jeeps, APCs and civilian sedans. They were smashed and carbonised, buckled and burned black.

‘The bank truck was part of that convoy.’

Lucy refocused her binoculars.

‘Got to be two, three acres of scrap. Burned to a fucking crisp. What the hell happened?’

‘As I told you. The battalion was ordered to return to Baghdad and join the fight against the Americans. Some officers were anxious to obey. Patriots and party zealots. Others were less eager to die for a lost cause. They wanted to wait out the war. And they wanted the gold. They intended to sit by their radios, wait until they heard news of surrender and armistice, then emerge from the canyon. They could each return to their families rich men. There was a mutiny. People quickly took sides. Some swore to honour their oath of allegiance. Some tore up their party cards and stamped them in the dust. A civil war ensued.’

‘Looks like those trucks got hit by fucking napalm. Sure there wasn’t an air strike?’

‘The gun battle must have punctured fuel tanks and ignited gasoline. Tight-packed vehicles engulfed by a violent firestorm. Don’t worry. The gold will be safe inside the cash truck. Protected from the flames by thick armour plate.’

Lucy slung her rifle over her shoulder.

‘All right, then. Let’s go get rich.’

TOP SECRET SPECIAL HANDLING NO FORM

Central Intelligence Agency

Directorate of Operations, Near East Division

Doc ID: 575JD5

Page 01/1

08/23/05

MEMORANDUM TO: Project Lead, D.Ops

SUBJECT: Spektr

Colonel,

We have received word that the incursion team have reached the SPEKTR site. The advance party entered Valley 403 at 15:00.

11th Recon Squad will provide Predator over-watch of the valley. We have eyes-on-target until nightfall. We should shortly have our first site assessment from our man on the ground.

I appreciate your concerns with regard to the possible spread of infection. Steps have been taken to ensure the virus does not escape the contamination zone. We are currently liaising with Technical Services and our flight crew at the clandestine logistics base in Sharjah. I am confident we have sufficient assets on standby to initiate the CLEANSWEEP protocol should radical containment measures be required.

I shall keep you fully informed, as per your orders.

R. Koell

Field Officer

CA Special Proj, Baghdad Station

The Temple

The valley floor. Fierce sunlight. A wide basin like a lunar crater. Heat rippled from the rocks. The citadel rose out of shimmering mirage distortion, like an island city at the centre of a lake.