Ascension. Saksaywaman. Shard of eternity. Alexander Zubkov

for both sides.

      – I have no doubt of that, – the Lord replied enthusiastically. – Otherwise I should never have applied to Mr. Kronov's organization. Let us sit down by the fireplace, my friends, to make our conversation more fruitful.

      – I beg your pardon, – continued the Lord as he sat down in his chair, – but, as I have already remarked, I would never have approached you, Mr. Kronov, had I not been informed of your friendly relations with Mr. Vorokhov. I wanted to contact him directly, but it was rather difficult, for my opportunities in a foreign country are limited.

      – I'm used to it, – Andrew answered smiling. – Matthew is an old friend of mine. You can't buy friends like that. He's a childhood friend, and I treasure our relationship. And it's not hard to understand you. Matthew's reputation and his track record speak for themselves.

      – Exactly! – the lord exclaimed, raising his index finger. – The business I wish to entrust to you requires strength, observation, analytical ability, and experience, all of which are present in your dear friend and are worthy of the highest praise. So, gentlemen, let's get down to business. What have you heard about Saksaywaman? – turning to Matthew, the lord inquired.

      – Not much, – Matthew admitted after a moment's hesitation. – I know it's the remains of a fortress or a temple in Peru. I can't name the city. I also heard that modern scientists are still arguing about how such huge blocks were built.

      – Well, – drawled the lord contentedly. – Now I am sure that I did not come to you for nothing. Many people have no idea about this truly unique wonder of the world. By the way, I've just come from Cusco. This particular city in Peru has preserved a unique monument of an ancient civilization, which undoubtedly surpassed us in its development. As soon as you see in person these blocks, perfectly fitted to each other without any binding substance, you will understand that our modern knowledge needs to be improved. That, by the way, is exactly what I want to ask you to do.

      – To explore Saksaywaman? – Matthew clarified.

      – Not exactly, – corrected the lord, rising from his chair and tossing some logs into the fireplace. – I would not look for a skilled and expensive mercenary such as you to explore Saksaywaman. Saksaywaman is only the ruined remains of the grand structures of antiquity, but there are surviving structures not far away, in the backwoods of the jungle. It is impossible to see them from the satellite, because the trees there are incredibly tall and absorbed these unrecognized by modern people structures. It is extremely difficult to enter the thicket. Wild animals, and most importantly, the natives of those lands strictly guard this secret. That's why I am willing to spend a lot of money to get the results of research.

      The Lord was silent for a moment to let the men consider his words, and then added as if nothing had happened:

      – I love fire. Watching logs burn makes you think about eternity.

      After these words Matthew concentrated his attention on the lord. And this time his intuition was right. Of course, he was no eighteen years old, but he was no more than thirty. He was no more than a hundred and eighty centimeters tall, lean, but rather stout. His handsome, noble features spoke of noble birth.

      «And yet very young, – Matthew thought to himself. – I wonder if not everyone at that age thinks about eternal things. Maybe he's just a doer, and the customer is a more serious connoisseur of antiquity. What's the point, though? A lord, after all. And his thoughts… No. He's clearly acting on his own behalf. Hm! I am not the only one who sees beauty in simple natural phenomena, through which one can uncover the design of all things».

      – Fire, water, wind, – Matthew theorized in a long voice. – All these things make us feel like something more than a mere mortal creation, if, of course, we take our minds off the mundane and concentrate on such thoughts.

      Now it was the Lord's turn to focus his growing interest on Matthew. He seemed to have the same thoughts that had been swirling in his guest's mind a moment ago. He did not want to sound overly interested, and his eyes moved as if they were inches away from his companion. No one present dared to break the silence. For a long time now Andrew said nothing, but kept looking from Lord to Matthew and back again. Matthew himself was somewhat puzzled, as normally he was the one who “scanned” people with his inner intuitive sense, but now he was in the opposite position.

      After a while, the slight tension from the prolonged pause subsided. The lord relaxed visibly, stretched himself at ease in his chair, stretching his long legs forward, and Matthew realized that he had made a final unspoken decision for himself about their cooperation.

      – Well, my lord. What exactly is our mission? – Matthew asked in a confident tone. – I shall not go there merely to see it. What exactly are you interested in? Artifacts, writings, or maybe the verification of legends?

      – Everything you've listed is very interesting, – the Lord answered, – but they are only details and tools to achieve the final goal. The main thing is to solve the problem. How exactly were these edifices erected? The most important thing is the technology. First you need to find them and pinpoint their exact location. After that, examine the ruins and try to understand how they were built. I understand that the task is extremely difficult. The whole scientific world is working to solve it. But it requires an unconventional vision. That is why I am turning to you. If you can't find out the technology of construction, examine these ruins and determine their true age. It is a very realistic task. I am sure that scientists have easily determined it, but they are… let's call it that, afraid to talk about it. Have I made my thoughts clear, gentlemen?

      – Quite, – the men answered in one voice.

      – The task is clear, – continued Matthew. – I am very interesting to take on the affair. All that remains is to calculate the financial side of the question. We will discuss it after we have gathered all the information, which will determine the number of participants in the group and the required route.

      – Gentlemen, there is no need to calculate anything, – assured the Lord. – I'll pay three hundred thousand dollars for the tickets and equipment. If the result of the expedition is zero, the rest of the money stays with you. Of course, you will report the results and all your considerations to me in full. If you establish the real age of the buildings with irrefutable proofs – you will get half a million dollars. If you get the technology and demonstrate the recreation of the building, your financial account will be increased by three million dollars. Is that all right with you?

      – More than that, – Matthew replied, after a silent exchange of glances with his companion. – I'm sure the initial amount is enough for two or three months of work and living in Cuzco. If we find nothing during that time, we can safely return home. If…

      – I beg your pardon, – interrupted the Lord, – but you will have to go home from Cuzco through London, for I will be there, and I need a first-hand report.

      – As you say, my lord, – Matthew agreed. – If the expedition should be extended, I will contact you with my thoughts. You will make further decisions on the basis of the information you receive.

      – Very well, – replied the Lord. – But if it is necessary to consult on the further development of the expedition and, accordingly, on the additional investment, you will have to fly to London. It will not take much time. Any telephone conversations are simply inadmissible in such a case. – That number, at which I communicated with you, Mr. Kronov, – the lord said to Andrew, – has already been destroyed. So any technical and financial questions you will solve with my confidant, Mr. Lambert. He will contact you in an hour after my departure for London.

      – Everything is clear, – expressed Matthew, getting up from his chair. – I think we have no more questions to ask each other.

      – Tell me when you intend to fly to South America, and I dare not detain you.

      – Usually it takes about a week to collect and process information, – Matthew answered after a little thought. – But to make the work more productive, in three days I'll go to Spain and from there I'll take a boat to Brazil. During this voyage I could think over all the details in peace. Besides, traveling on a sea