Hellboy stashed the guard behind some rocks on the beach and headed up the coast, occasionally taking out a small compass to make sure he was still heading North. “Why do they have to make me walk so far all the time,” he mumbled as he continued on the long hike. “I mean, come on. We are a top-secret government agency, I don’t think one of those black helicopters is too much to ask.”
He continued on until he found the landmark that signified his slight bend to the East. He changed course, noticing the terrain became less sandy and more rocky, rising steadily. After more than an hour, Hellboy found himself clambering over steep foothills, all the while moving in his designated direction. After a while he thought he could see torchlight off in the distance, but wasn’t sure until he got closer. It was torches, around a dozen or so, each held by a heavily-armed Nazi patrolling the perimeter of a strange rock formation. Three large, oblong rocks rested against each other, forming almost a crude pyramid of stone. A fourth rectangular stone completely covered the triangular opening formed by the other three. It might look natural to a layman, but Hellboy knew those rocks were not placed by Mother Nature.
Inside the perimeter of guards were seven men, or at least Hellboy thought they were men. Each was dressed in a long, flowing red robe, with a tight hood pulled over their heads. They were arrayed in a straight line across the front of the rock formation. One was holding a open book in hands and the one in the middle was a few paces in front of the line, gesturing wildly at the rocks.
“I’ve got something here,” Hellboy said as softly as possible as he peered down from the hilltop.
“Is it the Thuul’s?” came the static-laced reply over his earpiece.
“Nope. Just more fake Nazi’s and about seven rejects in red robes,” Hellboy laughed. “Hold on, the main man is taking his hood down, stand by for image.” Hellboy reached into his coat pocket and took out a small pair of binoculars. He put them to his eyes and focused in on the man who had been waving wildly at the rocks. The man now had his hood around his shoulders and was facing his fellows talking to them. Hellboy focused on the face of the man and pushed a button on the binoculars. The image froze.
“We’re getting it now,” Stevenson said over the connection. “Doesn’t look familiar, but I am having a tech run it through the database.”
“No need,” came Bruttenholm’s voice. “That’s Klaus Hommen, and he’s supposed to be dead.”
Hellboy shook his head, trying to make sense of the three-way conversation. “Well, he looks pretty alive to me father,” he said. “Are you sure you got the right guy.”
“Positive, I know all the original founders of the Thuul Society on sight,” came the response. “The problem is that he was even too insane for the Thuul’s and he was cast out, taking a large group of supporters with him.”
“OK, OK, enough with the history lesson, why is he here if he’s supposed to be dead?” Hellboy interrupted.
“If you would stop interrupting, I will finish the story. The reason he is supposed to be dead is because he was. In 1943 Hitler ordered his assassination, fearing he could lead a coup against him and take over leadership of the Nazi party. He was shot through the head by a sniper three months after the order was given. As to how he is there, I have no idea.”
Hellboy just laughed. “So this guy was so crazy, even Hitler and the Thuul’s didn’t want him around. Not to mention he could be a zombie. I bet he’s the life of the party.”
Bruttenholm’s voice came through loud and clear over the earpiece. “Enough jokes Hellboy. By whatever power that he is there, he must not be able to unseal those stones. The Tomb of Athalon has been in place since 222 B.C., but what is buried in there is not dead, simply imprisoned. That has to be what he is after and he is not to be allowed to open it.”
Hellboy nodded to himself. “I here ya, pop. I’m going to head around to the left to se..” the transmission ended in a screech of static.
As soon as Hellboy took a step to his left, his boot hit a loose patch of gravel, sending him tumbling down the mountain, letting out comical grunts and screeches as he bounced down the mountain, before rolling to a stop, almost in front of the line of red-robed figures.
Hellboy quickly jumped up and began dusting himself off. “Hello fellas. I seem to have taken a wrong turn. My wife’s nagging me to ask for directions, so you think you can help?”
The men in red robes initially looked confused at the hulking, red demon that just tumbled down the mountain. But Hommen’s quickly regained his senses. “Seize him!” he shouted.
Continued...
