"We have to let you go, Eve,” he says and his words shock me. His small eyes finally come to rest on me, and as he speaks, he takes off his glasses and folds them in one hand. I look at Terri. She's staring at the floor in front of her. She doesn't look up at me, even when she must feel my panicked eyes on her. “You're now a liability to the Council and will be unable to fulfill your responsibilities to us any longer. You’ll return to University and continue your studies."
I don't know what to say. He stands and comes to me, leaning against the desk.
"I'm so sorry. I was wrong about your value to us. I thought you were stronger. I blame myself entirely for this mishap.In your condition, we can't afford to allow you to work with us."
"What do you mean, my condition?"
"Your fantasies of Soren healing you. This notion that he healed you of a wound that you received a decade ago. It's clearly psychosis. Only the saints heal."
A long silence ensues, during which I'm unable to speak. When I realize I've been dismissed, I stand.
"So that's it? I'm fired?"
"Yes, I'm truly sorry, Eve." Vasquez moves to shake my hand, his arm clapping my back. I don't reciprocate. "You weren't strong enough for this work.Time to retreat, take stock and enjoy some serenity for a while."
I turn to leave, and then look back at Terri. I want her to come with me, to talk with me.
"Terri?"
She doesn't look at me. Vasquez smiles and cocks his head sideways as if he feels guilty.
"Sorry, but I need Terri for the rest of the afternoon. I'm sure you two will talk soon enough. Good-bye, Eve." Vasquez presses a hand against the small of my back and gently propels me outside the office. The ornate wooden door closes with a soft thud behind me.
I go to my office at the SCU to begin the process of packing up my personal items. I have a feeling people are trying to avoid me. Word must have gotten around that I was fired and I can't blame them if they want to avoid having to face me. Still, it's pretty cowardly.
I collect what little there is of my personal effects and check my e-mail one last time. There's only one -- from Seth. One of the techs who mines data for the SCU. He’s not working this evening.
I need to talk with you about the relic.Can we meet as soon as possible?This is very important. Please call me.Thanks.
Seth.
I phone the number he's included right away. His voice is strained, as if he's tired or ill.
"We need to talk somewhere private. Can we meet at your place? I'm staying at a friends for a few days so we can't meet at my place."
I agree and after glancing around the empty office, I go home. It feels strange to be on my own, without Vasily or anyone trailing me. Although I'm pleased at the prospect of hearing what Seth has to tell me about the artifact, I feel numb.
Once back at my flat, I turn the television on and watch the news coverage of the bombing of the embassy. Seth arrives, knocking at the door. He’s about twenty-eight, tall and skinny, with rimless glasses. He has fair hair and eyes and looks every inch the geeky IT guy. He comes in and stands in the middle of the living room awkwardly.
"I heard you were there," he says, pointing to the television news report. The camera shows the blast scene, the floodlights picking up debris, bloodstains and emergency personnel as they rush to tend to the wounded.The press had been on site, preparing to cover the news conference and so both camera crewsand reporters were primed and ready to cover the carnage once the explosion occurred. They're playing it in endless loops on the news networks.
"I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, I guess."
"You're lucky to be alive."
I nod and sit down, planning on turning the television off so we can talk about the clay fragment.
"I'm," I say, my voice quiet. "I'm no longer working for the SCU. They took me off the case."
"I heard. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. The seal?"
“Yes?”
“It was from a tomb in a cave in Israel, removed about a century ago where they found some old scrolls in a clay pot. There was a lost scripture in it from the third century. Described the apocalypse. The end of days.”
I smile. “I’m not a religious person,” I say and take the research paper he hands me.
“Read this,” he says. “Don’t tell anyone I gave it to you but it’s a copy of a report someone on the Council prepared. I thought you should know because it involves you and when I heard you were fired, and heard what Vasquez told you about this seal, I thought you were being unfairly treated.”