Chapter 10 #4
Slowly, I start to understand Grandad’s point—exposing our discovery and its power is like creating the biggest flame for all the moths to flock to.
If only one Eudaemon can wield the artifacts at a time, everyone would come for me to get access to them.
If I wasn’t terrified of wielding these powers before, I sure am now.
There is only one logical solution that’ll fix all of this.
“What if we put the artifacts back into the chest and seal it inside the cave again? Only we would know it’s there, and if anyone were to find it, since I’m still the Eudaemon, it wouldn’t respond to anyone else but me,” I suggest.
Grandad’s shoulder slumps. The pain in his eyes tells me he wishes we could easily do as I suggest, but knows deep down we can’t.
“How many of the crew witnessed bringing the chest on board?” Grandad asks.
“A handful, possibly more. We were too caught up with the chest to take notice,” Henry answers.
That must not have been the answer he was looking for, as Grandad heads toward the door in a rush. “Excuse me, I must go check on something,” he mumbles, the door closing loudly behind him.
We all glance at one another in silence, confused by his sudden departure. We hear his footsteps trail down the hallway and down the staircase toward the kitchen, staff quarters, and the telegram office. He is only gone for a few moments, then comes back with his hand on his hip, eyes downcast.
“As I have feared,” he says, stepping back into the room, “a telegram was sent out moments ago.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Amina places a hand over her mouth, hiding half of the worried expression on her face.
Dr. Alarie looks down at the floor while rubbing the side of his temple.
Henry’s head rests in his hands, his elbows on his knees, running his fingers over his loose curls as he avoids my eyes.
I hope to seek some sort of guidance from him.
“Crews, whether sailing on expeditions or not, are prone to chat amongst themselves, Miss Fairfax,” Dr. Alarie explains with a heavy sigh.
“Crews on expeditions, however, are known for selling information. This is how we remain competitive and stay up to date. If word spreads that a team was unsuccessful in one location, others can use that knowledge to their advantage. This happened to me when I discovered the Code of Hammurabi—someone tried to steal it from my ship once we docked back in France. Only someone who was already alerted to what we found before our return could have attempted that. If our crew has seen the chest, and a telegram has been sent out, then I’m afraid someone on our ship is looking to sell information about our discovery.
They may not know about the artifacts exactly, but they know we found something rare and valuable, and that is enough to cause intrigue and lure those looking for a rare artifact in. ”
“Couldn’t we pay them not to share this information?” I ask. It’s an easy solution to our problem.
“I’m afraid, my dear, no matter how much we give them, we cannot guarantee they won’t speak up. Besides, looks like we are already too late in stopping them,” Grandad says. He buries his hands deep in his vest pockets, gazing off into the distance, worry etched across his face.
“What is it, Lord Claremont?” Henry asks, noticing the sudden change in his expression.
“It’s not only other historians and archaeologists we need to worry about,” Grandad says.
“Don’t you all see how easily these artifacts can be weaponized?
In our post-war world, when loyalties and treaties have been tested, when we’ve witnessed the unsurpassable destruction mankind can inflict on one another, there is not one person who wouldn’t risk anything to get their hands on the artifacts.
When such power can guarantee safety, grant control, or maintain influence…
I’m afraid we’ve yet to see the worst in humanity.
Nor have we yet to conceptualize the extent they will go. ”
A deafening silence lingers in the room; absolute horror runs through me as I process Grandad’s words.
The Great War has certainly proven how easily conflict can arise, and violence can fall.
Even six years after the war ended, there is still a sense of uneasiness, an anticipation of when the next one can occur.
And after we’ve been exposed to endless pain and suffering, who wouldn’t want to seek out the artifacts?
I’m starting to grasp that this great discovery is, in fact, our biggest enemy.
Which leaves only one question left to be asked.
“To what extent are they willing to go, Grandad?”
Grandad glances down at his feet, unable to meet my eyes or answer my question, which terrifies me even more.
What could he know that he doesn’t want to share with us?
I look at the others, all of whom are speechless.
What do they all know that I don’t?
“Can someone please tell me?” I ask, panicking.
“They would not hesitate to sacrifice your life, Clara,” Amina says, unable to meet my eyes.