Part 24 (2/2)
”Plenty clear to on is round hole See?”
Chahda was right The changed responses, when charted on Tony's sketch, showed a circle about six feet in diaon
”But no metal,” Tony said ”That's odd”
Rick frowned ”It can't be an underground base for the dragon,” he said
”A base would be close to the surface This response seems to start about two feet under”
He stared out across thetoward the on the problem
”It could be a crypt of soot a shovel ”I have an idea” He went to work
Dog Meat arrived and chattered excitedly Angel cae is up in ar ready to on's pedestal The earth was packed hard and he had to get a pick Tony relieved him, and they took turns until the shaft slanted in to what they estimated was a point directly under the center of the pedestal
”Now,” Rick said, and took the probe He put it into the shaft and watched expectantly while Tony adjusted the controls Suddenly the scope flickered, breaking up the Christmas tree pattern There were at least three different responses, two of thee
”This is it!” Tony yelled ”It has to be! Rick, that was an inspiration
The cache is right under the dragon!”
There was another yell, from outside the recess It was Balaban, on the terrace above ”They cootten The Spindrift party stood between the truck and jeep watching as nearly a hundred Ifugao warriors walked with e of the olat, naked except for a breechcloth, stepped froao warriors He held a spear a foot taller than he, a vicious weapon with a triangular point and flared base
The Ifugao walked ceremoniously across the meadow to a point twenty yards in front of the recess ”You're trapped,” he said His voice treet away from us now Come out and thron your weapons”
Tony stepped forward, rifle held carelessly under his arao
”We and you want the saolat thrust the metal-shod base of his spear into the earth ”We want the sa, but for different reasons I want to preserve the sacred objects of my people You want to desecrate them”
”That's not true,” Tony replied ”When we touch them it will be with reverence, with respect for the Gods of Banaue Then, e have collected the for all the people of Ifugao The sacred objects will be used by your priests for cereo with us e carry theraph them and make sketches TheseNangolat's face for soe in his attitude ”When we are done, ill ask to see the president of the Philippines We will petition hi of a teive the first donation for this purpose Dr Okola will help Then, I hope, the sacred objects can coaos may see them”
Tony held out his hand, palolat leaned forward, half bowing in his exciteao!”
”You know Dr Okola,” Tony replied ”Would he insist that they go to Manila? I would not I could take photographs and ht here The objects need not leave here, so far as I am concerned That would be between you and the Filipino authorities”
Nangolat was obviously impressed ”Wait,” he commanded ”I must talk with the priests”