xie_xie_xie (xie_xie_xie) wrote in qaf_challenges, @ 2009-03-07 10:22:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | small things made large, small things phase 2 |
12. The Heart of Babylon, Part 1 (Drabble 29)
Title: The Heart of Babylon, Part 1
Author: lastglances
Drabble: #29 by dirtylttlescret
Notes: Set anywhere between the mid-1920s and late 1093s; Brian Kinney is a retired ad man in search of the Heart of Babylon, an ancient jewel said to be imbued with unspeakable powers. He has two problems, however: to find it he needs Justin Taylor, a down on his luck Egyptologist, and he soon realizes he's not the only one after the jewel, or Justin. There is minor character death but nobody you should really care about.
Justin wiped the sweat from his brow and squinted into the sun. He set down his brush and climbed out of the pit, being sure not to disturb any of the delicate areas of the dig on his way to the equipment van.
"Justin Taylor?" a voice called from across the sands. Justin put down his canteen and turned around. It was a tall man, dark, with a face like an Adonis.
"Yeah, that's me," he said, swallowing hard.
"I have a proposition for you," he said, holding out a map. "I think you're going to want to see this."
Part One
Another fruitless day.
Not that Justin Taylor was surprised. Days in the desert, digging and dusting, were usually quite pointless.
Not pointless so much as tedious.
He groaned and lifted himself out of the hole he'd been working in. Stretching his back, his mind slowly relaxed. It was Friday and he had arranged a late dinner with the Adonis who had brought him that strange map.
He checked his watch. Wonderful. Full of sand and stuck at 3:34. The sun was going down, extinguishing itself on a ridge of drab-colored sand dunes. That meant it was nearly six; he had an hour to prepare for his meeting.
Justin's head swam. It was like finding an ancient tomb, sealed away from time, and opening it to find the pharaoh alive inside, walking about and living as though his empire still flourished. Although this Brian Kinney, Justin thought as he pushed aside the flaps to his tent, was far more attractive than any corpse or trinket he could find in a tomb.
"Okay," Justin breathed. Opening the trunk at the foot of his bed, he removed a fresh shirt and pants. He decided to forgo his usual suspenders seeing as Mr. Kinney wore none under his finely tailored suit jacket.
There was only a hand mirror to look into and Justin ran a hand through his fine blond hair. It brushed across his forehead gently, a forelock sweeping down to curl across one eye. Twisting it around a finger, he pushed it back and stared into his blue eyes. His mother had told him they were the color of lapis lazuli when he was focused on something and melted to turquoise when he was daydreaming. She said his thirst for adventure could be seen in the color his eyes, the rich jewels of times past.
When he was presentable, Justin left his tent and walked towards the east, where Mr. Kinney had said his tent would be erected. Justin had been looking forward to this dinner all week. The map had been in his hands for only a moment before it had been taken away with a shallow excuse.
"If you will excuse me, Mr. Taylor - "
"Dr. Taylor."
"If you will excuse me, Dr. Taylor, I am needed elsewhere."
Long fingers had snatched the map away, folded it quickly, and tucked it inside an inner pocket. Mr. Kinney had nodded to a man standing by a low, black car. The car door was opened, Mr. Kinney stepped inside and the car pulled away like a mirage. Justin had turned back towards the equipment van and wondered if anything had happened at all.
Now he stood outside Mr. Kinney's tent. It was no different from his own, but something about it felt different, full of power. Shaking his head, Justin entered as he had been told to.
There was no indication that Mr. Kinney was there except for the rug spread across the ground on the floor with a finely set table upon it. The cloth spread across the twice-set table was dark red, fringed with a subtle, silver design. Candles burned in the center, glinting off the fine bone china.
If Justin didn't know better, he would have sworn he was being seduced.
Before he could voice his suspicions, a wall of the tent to his right shook. He took a step back as the partition opened and a man stepped into the main room of the tent. He noticed a luxuriously dressed bed before the partition was closed and Mr. Kinney turned to face him.
"Doctor," he said with a smile, "How nice of you to join me."
"I must say this is not the dinner I had in mind."
Justin was used to being wined and dined, especially when he had made a discovery. It was usually in some greasy restaurant on the outskirts of Cairo or beneath the stars when it wasn't too cold at night. This was more than he could have imagined or expected from this tall enigma.
"Sit, please." Brian unbuttoned his jacket and motioned towards the seat a few feet in front of Justin. Propelled by his host's words, Justin took the few steps and pulled the chair back.
He hadn't noticed the silver domes over the plates and a servant appeared as he sat down to remove it. Justin's eyes followed the motion and he smiled in gratitude. Mr. Kinney sat down as well but his plate was pristine and the servant disappeared by a nod of his head.
"You're not eating, Mr. Kinney?" Justin lifted a fork full of mashed potatoes to his lips and paused when he noticed the look he was given.
"My name is Brian so please, call me thusly, and no, I am not eating." He folded his hands below his plate and watched Justin chew. "I suppose you want to see the map again?"
Justin swallowed his mouthful and wiped his mouth on a napkin. "Well, of course. What kind of archaeologist would I be if I didn't wish to look at an ancient map?"
"Not much of one," Brian agreed. Sticking his hand inside his jacket, he removed the map. It was well worn, the fibers of the paper it was printed on obvious and stained with years of handling. Justin's fingers itched to reach across the table and take it from Brian's hand.
Brian turned it in his fingers, flipping it expertly while he gauged Justin's reaction. The bright blue flames of Justin’s eyes followed his every movement.
"Right where I want him," he thought.
"I came across this some years ago at an auction. It cost quite a bit but it's invaluable if you know what it leads to." He set the map on his plate, his index and middle finger tapping it twice before stilling. He looked at Justin again who stared back at him, eyebrows raised in a silent question.
"What..."
"The Heart of Babylon."
Justin held his breath as Brian tapped the map one more time.
"Eat," Brian said, motioning towards Justin's full plate. "We can discuss the map and all it entails afterwards."
–
As the dishes were taken away, Brian drew a cigarette case and lighter from his pocket. He set the silver case on the table and flipped it open as his thumb struck across the lighter, drawing forth a soft light that permeated the darkening interior of the tent.
Justin watched his cheeks hollow, the map forgotten for a moment. A tendril of smoke drifted up as their eyes met and Justin looked down into his lap, twisting his fingers together, anything to get his mind off the eyes that were like jewels themselves, honey distilled with sunlight.
Brian puffed slowly on his cigarette before motioning with his eyes towards the open case where a dozen dark-papered cigarettes lay untouched. Justin nodded, holding a slender tube to his lips as Brian struck the lighter again. Long minutes passed before Brian finally looked at the map sitting forlorn on the empty, white plate.
"This proposition of which I spoke," he began, "is extremely secretive. I must know now, before I tell you anything else, whether you are willing to help me. Do I have your word that you will journey to Babylon and help me find it?"
Justin emptied his lungs of smoke with a harsh laugh. "You mean Babylon of Mesopotamia?"
Brian's look was serious. "I know of no other," he admitted.
Justin waved his hand dismissively. "Have you brought this 'proposition' to anyone else?"
"A few." The tone of Brian's voice told Justin that he would explain this part of his venture no further. He seemed like a cat that was cleaning its whiskers of cream and was merely waiting for the mouse in its grasp to surrender completely.
"I have no idea who you are, Mr. Kinney," Justin spat out with a little vitriol, "or what you're doing here. I am an Egyptologist. My duty, my life, is about this desert and uncovering the great pharaohs of old. I don't see how I can be of any service to you." Justin extinguished his cigarette in an ashtray that had been brought out after his meal and slumped back in his seat. The fatigue he experienced every night brought on by the failure of his work and the unrelenting sun weighed especially heavy on him, and he wanted nothing more than to return to his tent and sink into sleep.
"Dr. Taylor," Brian tried again, leaning across the table until Justin had no other choice but to meet his gaze, "I have searched all over this world looking for the right person to lead me on this expedition and you alone are the best candidate." Sitting in his chair, straight backed and serious, he looked down at the map. His eyes widened as though he were seeing it for the first time and Justin stood as the long, deft fingers began to open it.
The candlesticks were pushed aside and Brian stood to press the map flat.
"What do you see?"
Justin wasn't entirely sure. Something about the drawing was wrong and he began to rotate the map but Brian slammed his hand down in the center, startling him.
"No," he said firmly. "It is the correct way. Now, what do you see?" He removed his hand and pointed at the main object on the object.
"It looks like a tower," Justin said after studying the map and trying to read the runes clustered along the edge of the page, "but it's upside down."
"It is." Brian approved of his opinion. "What else? Doesn't something about it strike you as odd?"
Justin's finger followed a thick, dark line. "Yes," he decided. "This tower is underground."
"And here," Brian reached across the table to indicate the very bottom of the tower, a small square on the map, "is where the Heart is held. As you can see," he drew his finger up slowly, tapping when he finally passed the ground line, "there is a long way to go down from the surface."
Justin took a deep breath, his fatigue quickly replaced by a restless anticipation. "Why am I the only candidate for this expedition?" he asked, returning to an early, unanswered question.
Brian turned the map towards him and scratched his jaw as he looked at it. Something in his eyes frightened Justin, some kind of smoldering fire that had slowly been building since he had arrived and finally sparked upon looking at the map again.
"I have my reasons, Dr. Taylor." He suddenly folded the map, tucking it back into his jacket pocket. He was well aware of how Justin's eyes tried to see through the fabric and study the inverted tower once more. "If you aren't going with me then I am wasting my time here." Pushing his chair back, Brian walked towards the bedroom area of the tent.
"I will go with you if you tell me one thing."
Brian paused at the partition and bit his lower lip. He nodded.
"Who are you?"
"Do you trust me?" Brian asked, as he pulled the partition aside and turned to look at Justin.
Justin sighed and sank down into his chair once more. "Do I have a choice?"
Brian shook his head and Justin smiled, feeling that inevitable fatigue wash across him once more.
"You will learn all you need to know about me on our way there. We leave for Cairo at dawn. Good night, Dr. Taylor."
Justin watched him close the partition. An oil lamp was turned up and a silhouette of Brian was thrown across the wavering cloth of the tent. It was with invested interest that Justin watched Brian undress. A lean figure was presented to him, a noble profile outlined against thick, cream-colored fabric. Justin watched until Brian tumbled onto the bed and extinguished the lamp. Only the candles on the table burned and Justin stood before bending his head to extinguish them with a hot breath.
–
Justin lay in his tent with an arm thrown across his eyes.
When was the last time he'd been touched by a hand other than his own?
He realized it had been after college, when he'd done the proverbial jaunt across Europe and met Ethan, a talented violinist who was hoping to perform with some of the biggest symphonies in the world. His dark looks and smooth words had attracted Justin instantly and he found himself lost for the first time in his life with no idea of where the attraction would take him.
They'd had a fling, Justin had been happy for a while but he yearned for more than just going wherever Ethan's burgeoning career took them. Egypt called to him, a siren amidst the sand and wind and it was more important to him than anything or anyone else. So he had ventured from Europe to Egypt and lost himself in his work.
Things had been working as well as they could. He'd worked with teams on recently discovered tombs but he desired mostly to work on his own and, after a former professor pulled some strings for him, Justin managed to go off by himself. He was determined to find something significant alone, on his own terms. But he grew tired of solitude quickly; the sun's persistent rays offered little company.
Now, however, he was faced with a new challenge and its beauty and mystique confused Justin to the point of speechlessness. Brian Kinney. Even saying his name made Justin question his motives. It also made him want to take his cock in hand and imagine that Brian was stroking it with soft-skinned fingerss.
With a laugh, he removed his hand from his pants and turned onto his side. His arm hit the empty space beside him with a soft, hollow sound. He'd had enough of this self-imposed solitude.
Justin had nothing to lose: he would follow Mr. Kinney wherever he happened to lead.
–
"So," Daphne, Justin's closest friend from his college days, began, "you were out on your endless dig in Saqqara and this man just shows up with a map and tells you he needs you? Am I getting all of this correctly?"
Justin grimaced into the sun. "More or less," he said.
They were at Daphne's hotel in Cairo, where she was staying during her summer vacation. Her parents still treated her to a summer away from America and she had chosen Cairo since it was close to where Justin was digging. Justin, of course, didn't bring up the fact that she had only stopped by the dig three times since he had started there four months earlier.
"I must say," Daphne continued, "if someone like that came to me with a proposition, I'd take it regardless of what it entailed."
Justin looked outside the bar to see Brian overlooking a convoy of men loading supplies onto a truck that would then be taken down to the dock. Justin still wasn't certain why they were going down the Nile and into the Mediterranean before heading to Babylon across land. It was probably because water was safer than land but Justin still wondered if Brian had an ulterior motive in mind.
"What are you getting out of this?" Daphne asked when Justin turned back to his drink.
"We haven't discussed that yet." He ran a saliva-slick finger around the rim of his empty glass, his eyes following the motion carefully.
"You're just going into this blindly?" Daphne punched Justin in the arm. "That is not like you at all!"
"Ow!" Justin rubbed his arm, unaware that Brian had entered the bar. "Why'd you do that?"
Daphne was silent, her eyes downcast as Brian ordered a drink and sat down heavily next to Justin. He drank in silence, either ignoring or unaware of their presence. With a toss of his head, the amber liquid disappeared down his throat.
"My yacht is almost ready. As soon as it is, we're on our way to Beirut. We'll spend the day there and go straight across until we hit the Euphrates."
"And after that?" Justin asked, somewhat bored.
"We'll take the Euphrates down until we land at Fallujah then it's only a car ride away." He snapped his fingers in front of Justin's eyes. "Simple."
"Have you ever been to Babylon?" Justin had the slightest hint that he was slightly drunk and the painful nudge in his side from Daphne told him he was being less than polite.
"No," Brian said, throwing a bill on the bar and standing, "but I have seen it on maps. Be down to the docks in an hour. We'll be leaving soon after. Good day, Daphne." With a grandiose flourish, he lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. He gave Justin one last look before turning back from the sun-parched terrace of the hotel. With a shout in Arabic, he was gone and Justin was relieved.
"What have I gotten myself into?" His head sank to the bar, his hands scrambling slowly over his hair as he moaned. He looked up when Daphne didn't reply. "Daph?"
"Yes?" she said too quickly. Justin sighed dramatically and raised an eyebrow, a telltale sign that he demanded an explanation. "I'm sorry but he was walking away and I am a lady..."
Justin banged his head against the bar again and he grumbled his way through the pain.
–
Justin wished he could have brought Daphne along, but Brian insisted that it was only the two of them, the captain of his yacht, and a few men he trusted to do the "dirty work", as he called it.
The trip down the Nile was silent and Justin sat near the railing, wishing he could dip his hand in the yellowish water; Brian’s yacht stood high in the river, however, and Justin knew it was impossible. It wasn’t until they were out of the Delta and being gently rocked by the waves of Mediterranean that Brian joined him.
He leaned against the railing, cupping a hand around his mouth as he lit another cigarette. Justin noticed that he smoked a lot and spoke little. Brian looked up after pulling the cigarette from his lips and smiled. “Why did you get into Egyptology?” Brian asked. “You look more like a party boy from New York than a doctor who spends his days digging in sand.”
Justin smiled back, only not as nicely. “If you must know, I became interested in Egypt because of my mother. She went there was a little girl and fell in love with it. When I went off to college, she gave me a cartouche.” Justin paused to dig around in his open-collared shirt. He pulled out a gold tablet on a thin chain. He held it out, sucking in a breath as Brian walked over and bent down. He studied it for a moment, his gaze penetrating through the hieroglyphics.
“What does it say?” He stood, still staring down at Justin and making him feel very small.
“My name,” he said simply, slipping the cartouche back into his shirt. He could almost feel it burn into his skin from Brian’s intent studying.
Brian shrugged before taking the seat next to Justin. They both put their feet up on the lowest rung of the railing and stared at the distant lights on the Egyptian shore.
“Let me see the map,” Justin demanded, holding his hand out in front of Brian’s chest. Brian looked at the empty palm as though he expected it to offer something to him.
“You could ask nicely.” Brian gave him a sour look before digging the map out of his white linen pants pocket. He held it out to Justin who took it carefully.
“I wish I had gloves,” Justin moaned, turning the old paper in his hands before unfolding it as deep, renewing swelled his chest.
Brian watched this with amusement in his eyes. He had picked the right man for the job. Justin would certain be excited and willing enough to put up with what would happen when they arrived in Babylon.
Justin smoothed it across his knee, looking for anything he might have missed. The map was painfully simple and he was especially curious as to how Brian came to know what it led to. Now, he realized, was the time to ask all the questions that were crowding his head.
“Who are you? I mean,” he started again, shaking his head, “how did you come across this map? It’s old, obviously, but there seems to be no indication of who made it or what it even leads to.” Justin ran his index finger along the edge of the map, tracing the strange rune-like writing.
“I knew what it was as soon as I looked at it, and I wanted it. I’m a man who goes after what he wants.” Brian’s eyes burned into him and Justin found his breath shortened despite his better efforts to draw amounts of salty air into his lungs. “I was an ad man in Pittsburgh. I was successful and enjoyed my work, but when I saw this map on a trip to New York, I decided to sell my business, pack up my life, and find it. That was five years ago and the Heart of Babylon still consumes me. Isn’t that familiar, Justin, the need to find something you feel you’ve been searching for all your life?”
Justin nodded silently. He had no idea of what he was searching for yet, however. It seemed like a phantom and as he reached for it, it either withdrew from his reach or vanished completely.
“How long,” he asked, “until we reach Beirut?”
Brian thought for a moment, flicking his half burnt cigarette over the side of the ship. “A few hours,” he replied. “Once we arrive, we’ll get some sleep and then it’s across land until…”
“The Euphrates,” Justin interrupted, folding the map absently and handing it back to Brian. “I did take geography and you’ve told me once already.”
Brian couldn’t help but smile at Justin’s remark. Petulant, he believed, was the correct description for Justin: petulant and beautiful. Looking at Justin and seeing his youth, feeling it press against him every time he was near, made Brian almost feel bad for what he had in mind once they reached their underground destination.
“I’m going to bed,” Justin announced, watching Brian’s fingers tighten on the map before putting it away. He noticed the knuckles tinge red and white. “Good night.” He moved past Brian without another word, hoping that the other man didn’t feel the blush burning across his cheeks.
Brian whispered the same words in return but only when Justin was out of earshot. With a lifeless smile, he shoved his hands into his pockets and mentally kicked himself for how things had gone. Justin was on his side, wasn’t he? He had to be. Brian was incapable to getting the Heart himself. He knew, through his studying, that someone else was required.
He was curious as to why Justin hadn’t asked how the Heart looked. It could be anything, given Brian’s vague descriptions of its physical appearance. For all he’d said, it could be a worthless artifact reduced to dust through the years, a shoe or some such object. But Brian knew. He saw it when he closed his eyes, a jewel the size of a human heart but as clear and blue as untouched water. Lifting his hand, Brian cupped the air and imagined that he was holding it. It was a heavy, sturdy object and, as Brian’s hand closed around the air and his eyes opened, he yearned to hold it in reality.
It was quiet on the deck, except for the soft swish of water as it caressed the sides of the boat. He thought of having another cigarette or taking a peek into Justin’s quarters. He was always curious about the whereabouts of the people on his yacht, especially when they looked like Justin. But he wasn’t interested in Brian, not like that. Brian could read people and Justin…Justin was proving to be something of a chameleon.
Something pulled at him in regards to Justin and it wasn't only his boyish looks. Justin was immensely attractive to Brian, exactly his type the people back home would say, but he wished to do more than bed him. He actually looked forward to the expedition if only to get to know more about the Egyptologist who seemed able to look right through Brian and see a simple, emotionally stunted man. Oh yes, Brian knew about himself well enough.
Brian decided on another cigarette to quiet his thoughts and a thought touched upon him that made him stop before he flicked the lighter to life.
This was all too easy. He wasn’t the only one who knew of the Heart and he wasn’t the only one who wanted it. While it was a more obscure treasure, it wasn’t entirely unknown.
Brian looked to shore; leaning over the railing more than was necessary, his unlit cigarette falling to the churching waters below. Squinting, he thought he could make out something, or someone, that was moving towards the same location he was. And looking, he knew, for the same thing.
–
Justin looked forward to being on land again. He didn't have a problem with being at sea but being in such cramped quarters with Brian was beginning to take its toll on his sanity. Brian had neglected to tell him that the Euphrates was rather difficult to navigate, given its shallow depths. Upon hitting the city of Hit, they had given up water travel and settled for a slower land pace.
As they restocked supplies and checked the final plans for the exploration, Justin silently fumed. He gathered the ends of his patience and braided them together as Brian once again took charge of the situation. He spoke fluent Arabic, which surprised and impressed Justin. Of course, he would never say as much aloud.
They crossed the river at Hit and continued down the eastern bank until they reached Fallujah. Being in this city made Justin nervous. While his focus was on Egypt, he kept himself up to date with what happened in the Middle East and he knew that things were still uneasy between the United States and Iraq.
"Relax, Justin," Brian said, slapping him on the shoulder and pulling him close. Justin found it hard to keep up with Brian's long-legged gait and he stumbled even closer. As they neared the hotel they would be spending the night in, Brian stopped and turned towards Justin, both hands on his shoulders now. "I'll keep you safe," he promised.
Based on the tone of his voice, Justin wasn't certain if Brian was being sincere or sarcastic. Justin could hardly tell if he was ever sincere, and it was one of the things that attracted him to this wild tiger of a man.
–
Justin found sleep elusive and he turned the knob on the oil lamp by his bedside until the room was filled with a steady, golden glow. Throwing a hand across his sweating forehead, he took a deep breath. He had a few books with him and, while he would usually read when he was so restless, his attention was suddenly drawn to Brian's voice in the room next to his. Kicking the sheets aside, he put on his robe and walked out to the balcony.
The Muslims were saying their prayers and Justin looked out across the city as the Arabic chants rose into the air, a verbal cloud that calmed him. Brian was still talking but Justin didn't understand any of it. It was several long minutes until he finished speaking and came out onto the balcony, seeming to search for the same peace of mind that Justin had only recently found.
"Ever been to Fallujah?" Brian asked. He was dressed in only his undergarments and while Justin knew he should be flush with embarrassment and avert his gaze, he could only stare at the thin sheet of fabric that separated him from seeing all of Brian, wishing he could will it away with the power of his gaze.
"No. I've never had much interest in the Middle East, to be honest." Justin shrugged, relishing the cool breeze that blew across his chest. "I couldn't pass this up, though, regardless of how homesick I am for the Egyptian sands."
"I feel at home wherever I am," Brian explained, looking down at the street below their hotel as the prayers ceased and the air stilled, tense and sharp as the edge of a Damascene blade. "I suppose that's the benefit of being unattached." He glanced at Justin, hoping he wouldn't be seen as he did so. He was and quickly turned back to his intent study of the street and sky beyond them. "All I know is the Heart. I will make my home wherever it lies."
"That was rather poetic," Justin said and he meant it. Leaning on the railing, he looked at Brian with new eyes. He knew that beneath the bravado and wealth and the quest for a jewel more rare than any other was a man, much like him, who wanted the same things as everyone else. They had been on this journey for nearly a week and Justin only wanted Brian to open to him, more like a clasped hand than a flower.
"It's late," Brian said, avoiding Justin's comment. He turned towards the open door but didn't move. "We have a long day ahead of us."
Justin was left alone again and he enjoyed the breeze across his chest a few minutes longer before turning in for the night. As he rested his head on the pillow, he was encompassed by sleep. It was dark and heavy and sweet as love.
–
Despite his imploring to Justin, Brian didn't go to bed. He went to the bar, bent on getting a decent glass of whiskey. Thrumming his fingers on the bar as his drink was being prepared, he scanned the room. It was mostly empty given the late hour but Brian was shocked speechless by who passed beneath the intricately carved doorway.
Placing a crisp bill on the bar and tossing back his drink, Brian took a deep breath and turned back around. If his life in America taught him anything it was that an escape route was always the best move when going into anything you might not win.
The man paused near an empty table and he touched the surface as if to ground himself. He smiled at Brian and gave him a once over, his eyes lingering a touch longer on his groin than anywhere else.
"Brian Kinney," he greeted openly as he got closer, sticking a hand out for Brian to shake. Brian returned the smile but didn't offer his hand.
"Marvin Telson." Brian's voice was little more than a whisper. He remembered Telson well. Apart from being a duplicitous pervert, Telson was always appearing when it was the least convenient for Brian. He wasn't going to mince words with the man. Brian knew the reasons Telson was here, they were the same as his.
"I see you're still searching for the Heart, Brian." Telson stood beside him at the bar and ordered two drinks. When the bartender deposited the glasses in front of them, Brian pushed his away and turned to look at Telson, seeing if he'd aged at all since last they met.
He was still somewhat magnificent with his frosted silver hair and powerful demeanor. Brian still remembered when Telson had walked into his office and propositioned him. Suffice it to say, the account had been bigger than Telson's other "assets" and Brian had refused. The refusal hadn't so much haunted him as annoyed him. Telson always seemed to be on his tail; even now, in a quest that Brian had thought was his and his alone. He had found Justin, he had outbid Telson at the auction house, and now...
'That's just it,' Brian thought as Telson happily drained his glass, 'he can follow me there like he always does and take it from right out of my hand.'
"I see you found him," Telson said suddenly, just when the atmosphere of incense and silence was pressing down on them. "He is quite...remarkable."
Brian wanted to wipe the pretentious look off Telson's face and dump him into the river. He would resist however. Telson had friends in the highest of places; Brian would simply have to wait until they got to Babylon. He had the map and he knew how to use it.
"He is remarkable," Brian agreed. "You wouldn't believe where I found him."
Telson raised an eyebrow and ordered another drink. "And where would that be?"
"Egypt," Brian answered succinctly, picking up the drink Telson had ordered for him and swallowing. "I found him in a hole in the sand. I knew just from looking at him that he's the one."
"I'm sure he is." Telson wiped his mouth on a napkin and placed a few bills on the bar. "I must say I'm surprised to see you here, Brian. I thought you'd get to Babylon as quickly as possible. I even entertained the idea of you crossing the desert on foot with great delight."
Brian mocked laugh before falling serious and silent. "I can take my time. I have the map, you don't."
"That can be easily overlooked." Telson's tone waved it off like his hand in the air. "I can just follow you down. How does that make you feel?"
It was easier to ignore Telson but he still managed to get beneath Brian's skin. They stood at the bar, Brian watching the bartender pour a drink while Telson tapped his fingers on the bar.
"I should get to bed," Telson said, stretching his back until his spine crackled into relaxation. "Good night, Brian. I'll see you in the sands." With a last smile that creased the corners of his vividly colored eyes, Telson took his leave.
"You're not going to get it," Brian said before Telson disappeared beyond the doorway that was crowned with carved wood in a myriad of geometric shapes and grotesque animal forms.
Turning around and easing his hands into his pockets, Telson said, "And what makes you so certain you will?"
"Because I have the sacrifice."
Telson shook his head. "But do you have his trust?"
Brian turned towards the bar. He refused to give Telson the satisfaction of seeing his confusion. Turning his eyes towards the ceiling, he wondered if Justin was asleep or waiting, like him, for something to happen between them.
–
Justin was still unable to sleep and he currently reclined against the headboard. His lamp had run out of oil an hour earlier but he enjoyed the darkness. It was always cooler in the eclipse of the sun. He found himself thirsty and hungry but not for drink or food. He would be lying to himself if he said he didn't want Brian.
Kicking his feet under the sheets, he shoved the coverings aside and sat on the edge of his bed. It was silent outside and beyond his hotel room, and he couldn't help but wonder if Brian was in his room or not.
Running a hand through his hair, Justin got out of bed. Pulling on the robe that the hotel generously offered, he went into the hallway, surprised to see the lamps burning bright and clean. Brian's door was open and Justin peered around the doorframe.
Brian smoked at the open door to the balcony. He was bare from the waist up and Justin felt himself harden beneath the thin fabric of the robe. Clutching the open collar against his chest, Justin stepped inside the chilled room.
'What made it so cold?' he wondered.
The red glow of Brian's cigarette drew him away from his pondering and he felt naked beneath Brian's gaze that had finally turned towards him.
"Was there something you wanted?" Smoke curled from his lips with each sarcastic utterance.
"In fact," Justin said, shakily, "there is." He walked forward to stand next to Brian's bed. Placing his hand on the footboard for support, Justin raised himself to his full stature and demanded that Brian tell him why they were going to Babylon, a pile of crumbling rocks between two rivers.
"I told you," Brian said, "to get the Heart." He pulled on a shirt lying on a chair by the balcony doors. Justin was slightly saddened to see the smooth chest disappear behind the thick fabric.
"I know," Justin exploded, his hand coming down on the wood with a loud slap. "You could have hired anyone you wanted instead of trudging into the Egyptian desert and getting me to come along. Now tell me: Why me?"
His chest heaved and it wasn’t only from the exertion of his demand, but because Brian had met him halfway and was growing nearer. Soon they stood chest to chest and Brian looked towards the ceiling as the last smoky breath left his lungs.
"What would you say, Justin, if I told you that the Heart will only allow itself to be seen by certain people?" Brian lowered his gaze until he was staring into Justin's. The wide blue pools were both frightened and curious. He took particular delight in watching them narrow in confusion.
"I'd say you were mad." Justin was monotone, furious that Brian was playing with him so acutely. He should have known better than to follow him like a lap dog, content in being unaware of whatever situation he was about to find himself in.
"But I'm not!" Brian exclaimed, throwing his arms wide and whirling away from Justin with a sharp laugh. He continued to speak when he turned around outside on the balcony. "I thought I was mad at first, too, but I've read accounts of men who tried to get the Heart and were repelled. They went into the depths of the earth and found nothing." He stepped inside the room again, closing and locking the wooden doors behind him. "They'd shred the map but another one would always appear in some obscure corner of the world. I think it wants to be found, but it takes the right person to find it. And I know," Brian placed his hands on either side of Justin, locking him against the footboard, "that you can find it for me."
"That's..."
Justin's complaint was cut short but Brian's lips on his. After a slow lick along his bottom lip, Brian slipped inside. Justin gave as well as he took and his hands clenched in the soft, expensive fabric of his shirt. Brian's finger scrabbled across his scalp, tightening in his hair and pulling him closer than Justin thought possible between two people.
Pulling away, Justin breathed in Brian's scent, resting his head against the triangle of bare skin peeking out from his unbuttoned collar. Brian rested his chin on Justin's head, smiling at how easy it was to pacify the clever doctor.
Smoothing a hand along Brian's chest, Justin wondered if this would be a possibility after they had the Heart and stood once more in the sun. Taking a step back and looking into Brian's face, Justin silently composed his thoughts but was interrupted when Brian spoke first.
"Now get the hell out of my room," Brian said, pushing Justin towards the door. "I need my beauty sleep."
The door locked and closed behind Justin and the cloud of arousal in his mind evaporated. He thought of turning back and banging his fist against Brian's door but he was tired and anxious. Instead, he turned for his own room.
–
Justin had forgotten about the kiss entirely when they set out early the next morning. Brian was in a sour mood, mumbling about someone named Telson. Justin didn’t have the slightest idea who the man was or what he had to do with their expedition in Babylon. When he raised his curiosity in the form of a question, Brian only stared at him vacantly for a moment before going out into the hotel courtyard where their car was being prepared.
Tilting his head back to catch a cool, spicy breeze, Justin didn’t notice Brian looking at him so closely. It was only them and their driver, a man that Brian trusted explicitly and would serve as their guide in the depths of the earth. Justin remembered him vaguely from their trip to Beirut but he had only spoken to Brian in private and Justin had yet to know what kind of man he was.
“How far down do you think it goes?” Justin asked, more to the sky than anyone present.
“I don’t know,” Brian answered, pulling the map from his pocket and unfolding it on the seat so it wouldn’t get caught in the cutting breeze and be torn from his grip. “I don’t think it’s an inverted tower or even a palace,” he mused. “I think it’s a replica of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, only turned upside down and scaled down.”
Justin lowered his head until his eyes were filled with sand.
“See here,” Brian pointed out, his fingers tracing the structure as it tapered down to a single point, “these could be the various terraces of the garden with the heart at the very center of it. You must know something about where rulers keep their treasures.”
Justin snatched the map from Brian’s hands, ignoring his shout. It was possible, he realized, and quite remarkable. He had read about Babylon – not much, admittedly – but he knew he had never come across anything that pointed to a replica of one of the original wonders of world, much less underground and mostly undisturbed.
“I think the garden itself is a treasure,” Justin said when Brian had managed to wrestle the map out of his grip. “This is…I don’t even know what this is!”
Brian smiled at Justin’s boyish exuberance. He still remembered the kiss and still wished it had turned into more. Reclining against his seat as the sun washed over the desert, Brian asked Justin what he knew about the Gardens.
“If I remember correctly, King Nebuchadnezzar II built them for his wife, Amytis of Media, because she was homesick for her homeland of Persia. Quite romantic,” Justin whispered, “knowing that someone loves you enough to build you a home away from home.”
Brian’s smile dimmed but didn’t disappear entirely. “I had always thought home was wherever your loved ones are.”
Justin shot him a displeased look. “As if you know anything about love.”
“That is true,” Brian caved, sinking deeper into his seat and closing his eyes. “We’ll be to the site in a few hours. I suggest you get some sleep.”
Justin didn’t heed Brian’s advice. Instead he watched Brian sleep. It caused him to ache with want, to yearn for him. Scolding himself for being so immature and needy, Justin stuck his hand outside the car. A few grain of sand buffeted his palm but went on their way again immediately. He couldn’t shake the feeling that some important piece of information was being withheld.
Looking back to Brian, Justin folded his hands in his lap and twisted his fingers around until his knuckles ached.
“How much longer?” he asked the driver, leaning across the car so he could shout into his ear against the stiff wind.
“Didn’t you hear Mr. Kinney?” the driver answered in a thickly accented voice. “A few hours.”
Sitting back with an ache in his backside, Justin took to staring at Brian once more. It helped the time pass.
–
Desert, mostly.
That’s what they saw as soon as they got out of the car and the driver started removing their supplies from the trunk.
“Babylon, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, used to be here?”
Justin obviously wasn’t impressed.
“If you can believe it,” Brian said, “the Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Babel used to stand here. Although I don’t know where exactly.” He walked several yards from the car, looking up at the sun and then to the ground several times. Justin wanted to tell him how much of an idiot he looked. Finally unfolding the map, Brian held it up to the sun and furrowed his brows.
The driver came to stand by Justin, the antagonism between them clearly gone. “What is he doing?” Justin whispered.
The driver looked at Brian before smiling. “He’s finding the way. The map is going to show him where the Gardens are beneath all this sand.”
Brian stared at the map, willing it to show the location of the jewel. When it refused, he clenched his teeth and smoothed it out on his knee before holding it up again. It refused once more and he angled it out of desperate curiosity. The runes around the edge of the map burned gold, running along the old, brownish lines until the bright light faded in the chamber where the Heart of Babylon resided.
It returned a moment later and drifted until a new map was revealed, soft lines drawn in nearly transparent ink. He recognized the curves of the river, a pile of rocks just to the left of their car. There was an outcrop of land that jutted into the river and the light stopped there, burning so bright that Brian had to close his eyes. When he opened them, the map had returned to normal except for a tiny burn hole directly over the outcrop of land. He turned towards that direction, where a tunnel of dust drifted lazily seeming to mark the entrance.
He could have screamed his joy to the clouds and beyond.
Tucking the map into his back pocket and returning to the bystanders, Brian said, “Let’s get camp set up. We go underground tonight.” He smiled at Justin and the driver, Hakim, before walking to the other side of the car to have a look at their supplies.
Justin turned towards the car but Hakim stopped him from saying anything to Brian. “Help me set up the tents.”
He nodded wearily, passing a hand across his forehead before helping Hakim drag the large, drab-colored bag towards the river. Justin looked into the distance where Brian had wandered. It was a finger of land that meandered out into the river and Brian kicked aside a pile of sand, feeling the ground with his hands until he seemed to catch on something.
Justin felt Brian’s ecstasy like a heat wave.
“Justin!”
He helped Hakim set up the tents, wondering the entire time if Brian had found the entrance or not. He had a feeling he had but something in his stomach fluttered, telling him that nothing good would come from their descent.
Continued here...