Away - ABC Affair 2020

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

A: archaeology, ancient

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The meeting room was, as usual, of a particular arrangement of people.  Alexander Waverly sat at the head of the big round table that served as his desk; that designation defined by virtue of him sitting in that place.  To his left was Napoleon Solo, Chief Enforcement Agent of the New York office, and Northwest Region of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.

Illya Kuryakin, the Soviet agent whose arrival in New York recently had created somewhat of a stir, sat to Solo’s left.  Another young man was seated to Waverly’s right.  He was not an UNCLE agent, but would be an essential member of this team.

The window in the room (the only window in all of UNCLE Headquarters), was letting in the morning light that announced the sun’s arrival.  It was six o’clock in the morning, a very early meeting time but one that would allow the three men who were receiving Waverly’s briefing, to catch the flight out of the recently renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport.  Part of the difficulty encountered by Kuryakin had been related to the unresolved rumors of Soviet involvement in the late president’s assasination.  He still bristled slightly at the innuendo of that theory, or at times the outright accusations.

Illya Kuryakin understood the attitude, he would have assumed the same of America had his own Premier been cut down by an assassin’s bullet.  Well, it would have been a consideration; Soviet politics did not necessarily exclude the possibility of internal disputes that might lead to … unpleasantness.

Waverly cleared his throat, his attention focused on a briar pipe that he was tapping absentmindedly as he considered the mission, momentarily leaving the room behind as he visualized the landscape of his homeland.  Specifically, the destination for these three young men.

“Ahem… ahhh… Gentlemen, you have read the files, considered the content.’ It was an assumption of compliance, not a question.

“Do you have any questions, any sort of insight at this point?”  The young man to Waverly’s right looked across the table at the two agents with whom he would be traveling to England.  This junket seemed like a bit of a lark at this stage, although the file had been baffling in some regards.

“Mister Waverly, sir… well, I mean… Nervous laughter, then a sudden flush of fear as he took note of the expressions of Solo and Kuryakin.

“Ummm, well... “ Julian Wells felt the color drain from his face.  He felt a little sick at his stomach.  What was it, exactly, that he had signed on for?

“Mister Wells, I understand if you are experiencing a sense of, ahhh, apprehension.  As I acknowledged when we first met, you possess a great deal of  knowledge regarding the ancient artifacts of the British Isles, most especially The Coronation Stone, located in Kingston Upon Thames.  This historic relic seems to be the focus of a recent document that was intercepted.  Your knowledge of this stone, and others of the same composition, is something of value to us, and requires your presence along with Mister Solo and Mister Kuryakin.”  Waverly took a puff on his pipe after that.

“Sir, the report also mentions Stonehenge.  Are the stones related in some way?”  Napoleon was hoping his partner had more knowledge of this topic than he, this was not his forte’ on any level.  Were they heading into some sort of archaeological expedition?  He felt very much at a disadvantage.

“Yes, ummm, Mister Solo.  The stones, some or parts of them, are sarsen stone.  THRUSH appears to have some interest in this particular stone, and appear to have made at least one attempt to steal the Coronation Stone.  It requires closer investigation.”

Illya Kuryakin was familiar with both the Coronation Stone and the collection of giant stones known as Stonehenge.  At one point it was believed that Stalin had considered trying to steal the circle of monolithic structures, a quest he abandoned short of invading England.  His fascination with the occult was understood to have influenced much of what he did during his reign.  

“Mister Waverly, sir, will we be involving members of the London office while in England?  There are a few agents and support personnel there who are well qualified to consult or even join this mission. I know of at least one member of the team who has extensive knowledge of, and experience in the field of archaeology.”  Illya had been stationed in London prior to arriving in New York.  It fit in between his time in Berlin and being assigned to his present position.

Alexander Waverly took another puff on the briar, blowing a smoke ring into the air and allowing all eyes to follow it as it rose above them.

“It is a possibility.  I will let you men decide whether you require assistance. Now, you have a flight to catch, I suggest you leave for the airport and get some rest while in flight.  England awaits, gentlemen.  That is all.”

The trio of men who left the office of Alexander Waverly could not possibly imagine what would be waiting for them in England.

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Wow, you've really set the stage! And excellent reference to the "Stone of Destiny."

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it was my destiny to ramble onto the other stone. I hope it's a sign of more to come :D

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Nice start! I must quote the head of the big round table...defined by virtue of him sitting in that place.

Fine idea, linking those to the Coronation Stone.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you, it's just one chapter but hopefully I'll be able to get in the flow of things. I stumbled onto the Coronation Stone, purely serendipitous.