Kingdom of Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

partner, Marvin Bronze.’
    ‘Good to meetcha,’ said Marvin with a broad Chicago accent. He extended a walnut-brown hand to Eddie and Nina in turn. ‘Come on, siddown. Let’s eat. And talk.’
    The five took their places. A waiter was summoned and orders taken, then conversation began in earnest. ‘So, Mr Bronze—’ Nina started.
    ‘Marvin, Marvin! We’re all friends here. Hopefully very good ones by the time we’re done.’
    ‘So, Marvin . . . what do you want to talk to us about?’
    Marvin and Grant swapped glances, Grant grinning with barely contained anticipation. ‘I want to talk to you about you !’ said the older man.
    ‘Us?’ said Eddie. ‘What about us?’
    ‘You’re big properties!’ Marvin proclaimed. ‘You, Nina, I know a publisher in New York offered you six figures to write a book about all those incredible things you’ve discovered. Like Atlantis and the vault of whatsisname, the Indian guy.’
    Nina was startled. ‘How did you know about that? They haven’t announced it publicly, because I don’t know how long it’ll take to write – and they definitely haven’t gone public about the money side of it.’
    He chuckled. ‘If there’s a deal being made that could lead to a movie, Hollywood knows about it. There’s only one thing they’re short of out here, and that’s ideas. They need a constant flow of new ideas for movies. And the best are the ones that come from real life.’ He leaned towards the couple. ‘Let me lay it out for you. Your lives would make fantastic movies. A whole series of movies, even. You two have got the potential to become a billion-dollar franchise!’
    ‘Yeah, but who’d play me?’ Eddie asked while his wife was temporarily dumbstruck. Grant’s smile widened. ‘What? No! You can’t bloody play me!’
    ‘Nothing’s set yet, dude – but I’ve been practising the accent. Check this out.’ The actor cleared his throat. ‘Looook art, thurrs a lurd o’ turrorists cooomin’ o’er that ’ill. Boogration an’ foockry!’
    Nina let out an involuntary yelp of laughter. Her husband was less amused. ‘That’s nothing like me! And it’s not even close to a Yorkshire accent. It’s more like . . . I dunno what the fuck it’s like. A Welsh South African Pakistani Martian, maybe.’
    ‘To be fair, honey,’ said Nina, ‘you can’t do accents either.’ By the time Grant had realised the implied criticism of his efforts, she had already turned back to Marvin. ‘So – you want to buy the movie rights to our lives?’
    ‘No, no,’ he replied, shaking his head. ‘I want to buy the movie rights to the book of your lives. Someone wanted to make a biopic about you, they wouldn’t have to pay you a penny. You’re both public figures.’
    ‘ I’m not a public figure,’ Eddie objected.
    ‘Your wife is,’ Marvin told him, ‘so you are too. That’s how it works, like it or not. But my way makes it official. Gives the movie the seal of authenticity.’
    ‘But like I said, I don’t know when the book will be finished,’ said Nina. ‘Or even if.’ Again Macy picked up on the resignation in her tone; the younger woman’s expression became questioning, but she didn’t interrupt. ‘And to be honest, I’m not entirely comfortable with Hollywood turning what I do into mass entertainment. I mean, it’s my work – it’s my life ! And real people have died on my archaeological expeditions, friends of ours. I don’t like the idea of moments like that being re-created for people to watch while they’re eating popcorn.’
    ‘I understand, believe me,’ said Marvin. ‘But here’s the thing: like it or not, you are famous, and this is the time to capitalise on it . . . before someone else does. You know how many scripts with the word “Atlantis” in the title are going around the studios? A dozen at least – and they’re all riding on your back. Ancient myths and legends are big right now, and it’s entirely because of the