The Sidenstrasse Tapestry: An Indiana Jones Fan-Fiction

Chapter 77 Berlin Sewers, Communist Berlin, 1960

Emily Jones stared into the darkness, trying to see the figures beyond the blazing lantern light. Her heart thundered. She couldn't tell if it was her claustrophobia or the Russian patrol she knew had her cornered.

There was a command in Russian from the woman. The patrol with her lowered their rifles. "What are you doing here?" the Russian woman asked.

"I -" Emily wanted to lie, but sensed she shouldn't. "I came to get my sister."

"Your sister?"

"Yes. She's married to an arms dealer. You and your patrol can have the arms dealer... I just came for my sister."

"Who is this arms dealer?"

Emily swallowed. "His name is Riley Dawson."

"Then why do you know Sidenstrasse?"

Emily pressed her body against the cold wall, feeling for anything she could break loose and use as a weapon to destroy the light. She wanted to fight.

"Sidenstrasse is a German word," the woman continued.

"I know," Emily replied. "My father started the operation, in World War II..."

"Yes. The Great Patriotic War," the woman replied. "That is what we Russians call it. I was here toward the end. I cleared Hitler's bunker. I saw things I do not wish to repeat. The only people involved in Sidenstrasse were Germans."

"Dyistock is dead."

"Good riddance," the woman replied.

"There's a fire... its consuming his body back at what used to be the museum – if you want proof," Emily offered.

"No. I am more interested in the living. Who are you?"

Emily swallowed. "My name is Dr. Emily Jones... daughter of Indiana Jones."

She was silent. "Emily – I am Emiliya. I knew your father during the war. He said he would name a child after me. I did not believe him."

"Did Dad come this way?" Emily asked. "He was going to rescue my sister – but I've fought Dawson, Dad can't do that alone!"

"You are lost from where you should be," Emiliya laughed. "Only Hitler worshippers crawl through the tunnels of his old bunker."

"I got lost?"

"That would be too easy to do. Especially when you did not follow instructions."

Emily tightened her body, clenching her fists. "How would you know?"

"I work with Mac."

Emily chilled. "Mac is a Soviet traitor? Like Kim Philby?"

"No. Mac is a dedicated husband and father. Berlin was not always a divided city. I lifted our son over a barbed wire border, and turned my back on the child. When that boy showed up at NKVD headquarters and was ushered away by Dyistock – who I had been saying for decades that he was fascist – I knew I had to move quickly. But I did not expect Indiana Jones' daughters to be involved."

Emily suddenly understood. "Your son is Jake Manifold! Mac was going to try to get all of you out... plus my sister."

"That was the original plan. But you have inherited your father's inability to plan or follow directions."

"Small hazard...?"

Emiliya laughed. "Of course you would say that!" She motioned to the other members of her patrol, giving an order in Russian. "They will take you to a place where you can rescue your sister. Your father may already be there."