The Swords of Babylon (Matt Drake 6) Read Online Free PDF

looked, and certainly a lot more resourceful. Drake sensed something small being pushed toward him. “Take this. But use it only as a last resort, my friend.”
    He took the improvised shiv, knowing full well that Yorgi could have gutted him in the dark with it. “Cheers.”
    “Hide it in your sock. Razin and Zanko will not search you again.”
    “Okay. Do you know how long I ’ve been here?”
    “Not long. Razin brought you in today.”
    “So is it Wednesday?” Drake counted off the hours. “Bollocks. I’d hoped I might have been out longer.”
    “That Zanko,” Yorgi breathed. “He don’t like you. Not one bit. And that man’s a very bad enemy to have.”
    Drake just nodded. He didn ’t need to be reminded. “And why are you hiding in the dark, Yorgi?”
    “Out there.” Yorgi’s body moved, signifying a nod. “They don’t like thieves. They think you’re going to steal their toothbrush or their mama’s picture or something. It’s easier to get lost in a rat hole like this. Plus, I’m still relatively young and very good looking. It’s best to stay hidden.”
    “So you ’re a thief? And Russian? You speak good English, Yorgi.” Drake didn’t know the man well enough yet to wonder aloud where his small bristle-ended shank had come from.
    “I studied when I was young. I was made to study.” A loaded sigh, full of regrets. “Wealthy parents.”
    Drake wanted to ask how he had ended up in here, in Razin ’s prison, but again it was too soon to risk upsetting his new friend. Instead, he switched the conversation to something he needed.
    “Razin and Zanko,” he said. “Who the hell are they?”
    “Nothing,” Yorgi said. “They’re just bullies with money. Razin runs a big organisation that is into almost everything illegal you can think of. His lieutenants, Zanko, Maxim and Victoriyah enforce his rules and watch his back. They’re ruthless, totally ruthless.”
    “Are they in to some kind of mystery? ” Drake pressed. “They were asking me about some swords when they came into my cell.”
    “It ’s no mystery. Razin’s men are always coming and going through here. They talk. I listen.” Yorgi appeared to motion past Drake. Maybe there was a network of ceiling space around here. “It’s how I knew you were here. And why I took a chance.”
    “You ’re hoping that when I escape I’ll take you with me. I figured that. What I haven’t figured yet is how you eat.”
    “I have friends out there. I do favors for them, they bring me food and water. It is the way of our prison.”
    “God, Yorgi. How long have you been in here?”
    A heavy silence followed. Then Yorgi sniffed. “I don ’t know.”
    Drake abruptly closed his mouth, the words he was about to speak lost forever, as they heard voices below. Two men conversing equably in Russian. Drake listened until they went away and then stretched his aching joints.
    “Yorgi. If you can, I’d like to hear about the swords.”
    “I know a little. Razin is lookin g for the seven Swords of Babylon in the old ruins. Once he finds them they will make him leader of the world, or something.” Yorgi laughed quietly. “He’s a nutcase. But he’s our nutcase.”
    “Where did he come across this information?”
    “Well, I suppose it must be from that professor guy. The one he abducted.”
    “Abducted?”
    “Story goes that one of Razin’s lieutenants, Maxim I think, got the call that some American professor was digging around the old site of ancient Babylon and asking some very leading questions. He would go into the bigger towns and cities and talk about Alexander the Great and his golden swords, about some powerful towers, and ramble on about earth energy. He was looking for any information he could get. Now anyone who knows about Alexander also knows there’s a great deal yet to find relating to him, including his body, his tomb. Anything relating to him could be worth a fortune. So when the Russians got wind of the professor’s