Europium Gem Mine

Excerpt from

Europium Gem Mine

Chapter One

Eiffel Tower

Paris, France

“Oh, my God! This is fabulous.” Victoria hummed. The smoked salmon appetizer with capers, red onions, and cream cheese melted on her tongue. Sipping her glass of Champagne, she turned to the fabulous view from 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant. But to her, the view of Paris’s nighttime skyline paled compared to her hot date for New Year’s Eve—Tommy Garrison.

“We lucked out on a table, right next to the window.” Tommy touched the glass and smiled. His sea-green eyes and straight, sandy-blond hair sparkled in the candlelight. Wearing a charcoal-grey suit with a cobalt-blue dress shirt and tie, he looked gorgeous. His handsome face and Scottish accent reminded her of Ewan McGregor.

“How long ago did you make these reservations?” Rubbing her bare arms, she warded off the chill. A strapless, red-satin dress may not have been the best choice in the winter, but her favorite frock accentuated her long, black hair, ice-blue eyes, and tanned complexion.

“The day we met.” Dropping his chin, he blushed.

“That was over a year ago, just before Lilly and Grier’s wedding.” Her tone rang with incredulity, and her heart burst with love. He’d obviously felt the same sparks she did when they first met.

“I know, but you need to book New Year’s Eve at the Eiffel Tower a year in advance. I even prepaid for the meal.” He referred to their fixe prix menu with a choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert.

“Well, I’m touched. And I loved that you called me the second I returned home from the wedding.” She referred to her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Although she grew up there, she never spent much time at home because she hopped from one dig to the next. Traveling the globe year-round had made it impossible to stay in a relationship, until she met Tommy. Now they finagled their schedules to dig in the dirt together.

“Love at first sight. Besides, the holidays are a great time to travel because all of the digs basically shut down for three weeks.” Finishing his Champagne, he signaled the waiter for more.

“It’s just an amazing coincidence. You planned to take me to Paris a year ago. You took me to Disney World for our first date. Then after our find in Florida, I decided I wanted to go to Disneyland Paris next.”

“Must be fate. Perhaps we’re destined to discover another, ‘Find of the century.’” He referred to their finding the Fountain of Youth and an ancient, perhaps alien, temple in a cave deep beneath the Magic Kingdom. But they decided to suppress their discovery for the ‘greater good.’

Raising her Champagne flute, she toasted, “I’ll drink to that. Here’s to our next great find.”

Chapter Two

“This had better be good.” Tommy crossed his arms and scowled.

They waited in the long line for the Catacombs.

“Relax, I’m sure it’ll go fast.” Leaning into him, Victoria rubbed his arm and smiled.

“The line is around the block.” Pouting, he shook his head.

“But this is the last big thing to see in Paris before we head to Disneyland tomorrow. We’ve done Versailles, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, the Orsay, and Eiffel Tower. How about I forage some espresso and pastries to cheer you up?”

“Think you can cheer me up with French food and caffeine?” he asked, arching his right eyebrow.

“Yes, I’ll be right back.” She pecked him on the cheek, then walked across the street, following the other tourists with presumably the same idea.

The aroma of freshly baked French baguettes filled her when she walked into the corner bakery. Although it was only ten a.m., her stomach rumbled. Studying the contents of the glass display cabinet, she spotted quiche and smiled. She quickly figured that if the line for the Catacombs was two hours, and then allotting two to three hours underground with dead people, she knew they’d miss lunch. Better get something substantial to tide them over for the next few hours because she and Tommy both grew cranky if they weren’t fed in a timely manner.

“Yes?” The young French man asked, obviously spotting her as an American tourist.

Pointing to the items, she spoke perfect French. “Deux Quiche Lorraine, deux espresso, une baguette, si vous plait.”

The young man appeared surprised, but pleasantly so. Smiling, he said, “Oui, Mademoiselle.” The cute, young Frenchman rewarded her perfect French by filling her order next, skipping the tourists in front of her.

Smiling, she took the espressos and bag of goodies he offered and said, “Merci, au revoir.” Exiting the shop, elation filled her.

After crossing the street, she followed the queue in reverse around the block. Thank goodness Tommy had moved up substantially in the line. She just prayed that they’d have time to enjoy their French cuisine before they entered the Catacombs of Paris.

Spotting Tommy, her heart fluttered just looking at his striking form. His six-foot four, lean and tan muscular body still took her breath away. Combined with her own six-foot height, they made a striking couple.

He fiddled with his iPhone while he waited and periodically stepped forward as the line progressed.

She snuck up behind him, playfully smacked his perfect bottom, and asked, “Are we there yet?”

“We’re getting closer, but according to Facebook, we’re ‘checked-in’ to the Catacombs.” Glancing up from his iPhone, he eyed the French baguette sticking out of the bag. “Oh, I love you.”

“You’re welcome.” She sipped her espresso.

Taking the baguette, he tore off a chunk, shoved it into his mouth, and hummed. “Oh, my, God. It’s so good.” He offered her the bread.

“Oh, thank you. I also have quiche Lorraine.” She held up the bag and tore off a chunk of French bread.

“Quiche what? They say, ‘real men don’t eat quiche.’” He sipped his espresso.

“Quiche Lorraine is filled with egg, cheese, and ham. And your secret is safe with me. Besides, I happen to know firsthand that you’re a ‘real man.’” Winking, she bit into the bread.

“Egg, cheese, and ham in a pie—perfect for a second breakfast.” Humming, he bit into the quiche.

A man in front of her spoke French to his companion.

His words caught her attention. She placed her right index finger on her lips, signaling for Tommy to be quiet so she could eavesdrop on the French conversation. What he said made sense, and her archaeological curiosity grew.

“What is it?” Tommy whispered before shoving more French bread into his mouth.

“These catacombs aren’t the only ones in France. Urban legend says there are miles of undiscovered catacombs beneath the outskirts of Paris.”

Chapter Three

“Audio guides?” Victoria asked Tommy when they purchased their tickets at the entrance to the Catacombs.

“Yes, definitely.” He handed the ticket salesman twenty Euros.

“Nerd.” She coughed.

“That’s not what you called me last night, baby.” Winking, he grabbed the audio guides.

“Touché. Besides, you know I’m teasing. I love caves, too.” She took the audio guide he offered and placed the headphones over her ears.

“Ladies first.” He waved his arm towards the turnstile.

“Fraidy cat,” she teased. Walking through the turnstile, she paused at the top of the steps and asked, “How many steps did the guidebook say again?”

“279”

“Gee, thanks.” Grabbing the handrail, she descended the endless stairs, grateful for her toned physique.

Finally arriving at the bottom of the stairs, they were greeted by a cavern. The cave walls were covered with pictures and text showcasing the history of the Catacombs and their rediscovery in modern times.

“So where are all the dead people?” Tommy tucked his hands into his pockets, then teetered back-and-forth on his heels.

“Patience, my love.” Victoria read every word of history, turned on her audio guide, and listened to the same spiel she’d just read.

“I guess this is a self-guided tour?” Tommy turned. Tourists walked out of the history area and down the main tunnel.

Nodding, she said, “I’m surprised. You’d think people would get lost in here being left on their own.” She followed the crowd through the long tunnel. Its square walls went on forever.

“Don’t even think about it,” he warned. “Besides, I see lots of guards around. Probably for just that reason.”

“And to stop tourists from using flash photography.” She nodded to the signs posted periodically.

“Ah, finally, dead people.” He stopped in front of the first display of bones.

“Wow, this is cool.” Victoria grimly studied the arrangement of bones. The femurs were neatly stacked about four feet high. Skulls, lined up side-by-side facing her, topped the stack. The rest of the bones were just strewn behind the femur and skull wall.

Turning, she didn’t see any guards. Defiantly, she snapped a flash photo.

“Ohhhh, I’m telling,” Tommy teased.

“Shhh. The picture is better with a flash. And besides, they’re dead.”

“But the flash could fade the art.”

“It’s not like I’m taking a flash photo of the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. It’s just a skull.” She handed him the camera. “Here, take one of me with the skulls, then I’ll take one of you.”

They snapped silly pictures of each other. Victoria puckered her lips and pretended to air kiss the skull. She couldn’t wait to post these pictures on Facebook.

“Come on, let’s continue on.” He prodded her with his arm.

“Okay, I guess there’s more.” She meandered through the tunnel.

“Millions of bones to see.”  

Walking past more meticulously displayed stacks of bones, she said, “They kind of all look alike after a while.”

“Ah, but this display is different.” Tommy pointed to the skulls forming a cross within the stack.

After studying the room and finding no guide, she snapped another flash photo. “Come on, let’s go.” She scurried out of the chamber.

“I don’t see anyone coming back this way. I wonder if the path just circles around?” His expression grew perplexed.

“It exits in a different location than the entrance. At the gift shop, of course. Or so the guide book says,” Victoria explained.

They walked into a large cavern with a ceiling several feet taller than the main tunnel.

“Whoa, that’s tall.” Tommy titled his head back.

A guide stood in the corner and said in English, “This is where the Catacombs collapsed. The weight of the building above broke through the thin ceiling and fell through. Imagine enjoying an espresso in a café one minute, then falling into a hole the next.”

“How awful.” Another tourist grimaced.

“But what an amazing discovery.” Victoria whispered to Tommy.