Terry Goodkind - The Law of Nines

Hal nodded. “I was FBI before I came on board with the trust. If any of them didn’t wash behind their ears in the third grade I’ll find out about it.”

“Keep in mind that the people we’re dealing with are killers,” Jax said. “Be as quick about it as you can. If one or more of them are working against us, then the rest of those people in there are in great danger. Any traitor among them would be able to point assassins right toward them.”

Hal let out a deep breath. “They’re good people. At least the clean ones are. They’ve given up a great deal for their belief in the purpose of the society. They’ve devoted their lives to protecting the people in your world. They’re in there now, cleaning up Jax’s blood to avoid any kind of trouble.”

Jax nodded. “All the more reason to take measures to protect them. None of us wants good people to get hurt.”

“Do you want me to help you two find a place to stay tonight? It was a long drive from Nebraska. In the morning we could get back together and you could ask them about any other information on the land that might be helpful.”

“We’ve done what we needed to do,” Alex said. “The deed to the land is transferred. It’s now legally mine and I’m signed off on the trust as well. The requirements are fulfilled.”

In the faint illumination of a light that lit up the lot closer to the building, Alex could see the man smile a little. “That’s what I would do. Safer to be on your own, without being around people who know you.”

Alex frowned as an idea came to him. “This book that the society keeps, it doesn’t have any information about something called a gateway, does it?”

“Gateway?” Hal shook his head. “No. Never heard of it. There is one place, though, that says that the one identified by the Law of Nines will know the secret. Maybe they were talking about the gateway.

“But listen,” Hal went on, “there is one other thing from the book that we weren’t able to get to because of the attack.”

“What would that be?” Alex asked.

Hal slid the object sitting on the hood of the truck toward Alex. “The knife we showed you. We didn’t get the chance to tell you that the book says this must go to you, that you will need it.”

“Are you sure?” Jax asked.

Hal nodded. “In a way, the whole purpose of the book, the whole part with the Law of Nines, and all the rest, is just a long involved way of finding the person this knife needs to go to.”

“And what am I supposed to do with it? What purpose does it have?”

Hal shrugged. “Sorry, but the book is mute on that topic. It insists that you must have this, but doesn’t say why. In a way, the whole purpose of the Daggett Society is to make sure you get this knife.”

Alex lifted the lid to look at the silver knife lying in the box. Faint light on the side of the building reflected off the ornate scrollwork that made up the letter R.

Alex sighed. “Then they’ve carried out their part in all of this — for the time being, at least. It’s up to me now.

“Besides, I don’t want to stick around long enough to give other people a reason to snatch those people and torture them for information about us. They don’t have the mind-set to deal with the likes of those who are after us.”

“They’re good people, but you’re right, they don’t think like we do. Most people aren’t good at being properly paranoid. I’m thankful that you seem to have the knack.”

Alex smiled. “You’d be paranoid, too, if people were after you.”

“Guess so,” Hal said with a laugh. He pulled some papers out of his inside jacket pocket and laid them on the hood of the Jeep. He brought up a small flashlight.

“Here are some maps I thought you could use.” He shined the light on a state map as he opened it. “I’ve outlined the property, since it isn’t identified on any map. This highway here is the best way to get up that way. Then take this road here, through Westfield.”

Hal tapped a thick finger next to the town. “Most people go through Westfield on their way to Baxter State Park. It’s a tourist town that has become a destination in and of itself. A lot of art, crafts, antiques, that sort of thing.

“Instead of heading on toward Baxter State Park, though, you take this small road that cuts off here, right after Westfield. Then follow it up this way,” he said, tracing the road with his finger. “It will eventually take you all the way to the property, right here.

“It’s about a two-, two-and-a-half-hour drive from Westfield to the property. It only gets more remote the farther you go. If you want any food, supplies, or gas, you’d best get it in Westfield, because there isn’t anything between there and the property except woods.”

“Are there any roads on the property?” Alex asked.

“Yes, if you have four-wheel drive. Your Jeep is ideal.”

“Good.”

Hal pulled out a paper from under the map. “I drew this out for you. It shows the state road, here, that’s on the regular maps, and then here I drew in the private road that isn’t. This takes you onto the property. Here’s the combination for the locks. We keep the gate locked at all times to keep people out.

“These roads, here, on the property, are only accessible by four-wheel drive. You can only drive into the land for a short distance, and then you have to hike the rest of the way to Castle Mountain. That’s here,” he said as he tapped the homemade map. “I marked it for you.”

“Thanks,” Alex said. “This will be a big help.”

The man extended his hand. Alex and Jax shook it in turn.

“I’ll call my people and tell them they can expect to see you out there sometime probably late tomorrow morning,” Hal said. “I’ll give them a description of your truck and the license number so that they won’t get spooked when they see it.”

“Good idea,” Alex said.

“I’ll tell them to watch your back, and make sure you aren’t followed once on the property.”

“Thanks, but I’m afraid that won’t do a whole lot of good. These people can show up out of thin air.”

Hal sighed heavily. “I suspected as much.” He handed Alex another piece of paper. “Here’s my number. It’s a new phone, never been used. Call if you need anything. If need be I’ll come with guns blazing.”

Alex smiled. “Will do.” As he gathered up the maps he saw a small envelope. “What’s this?”

Hal frowned as he took it from Alex’s hand. “I don’t know. I had the maps sitting on the table earlier, before you two arrived. I must have picked it up with the maps without seeing it.”

He turned it over. Both sides were blank. He ran a finger under the flap, tearing it open. He unfolded the piece of paper that was inside and stared at it a moment, reading.

“All it says is, ‘Hamburg, Germany, seven-fifteen a.m. local time. London, England, six-thirty a.m. local time.’ ”

Alex took the paper and looked it over. The words were handwritten with precise care. He handed it back.

“Any idea what it is?”

“Not a clue.”

“Well, we have a long drive tonight. We need to be on our way.”

As Alex and Jax climbed in the truck, Hal came to the driver’s door. “You be careful, Alex.” He ducked down so that he could look over at Jax in the passenger seat. “You too, and please take care of him for us?”

“That’s why I’m here,” she said with a smile.

“We all have been waiting a very long time for you to finally come to the property, Alex. We’d all hate it if you got yourself killed on our watch.”

Alex didn’t want to tell the man what he thought of his chances of success. “You be careful, too, Hal.”

Alex turned the key as Hal nodded.