Part 5 (2/2)

The torch-riddled ceiling above the moat kept lowering.

Smoke was now billowing into this area from the main cavern.

West swivelled to see the entry chamber behind him getting smaller and smaller ...

Lily was still in her trance, reading the runes intently.

'Lily ...' ...'

'Just a second ...'

'We don't have a second, honey.' He eyed the hazy smoke-filled chamber closing behind them. The smoke was getting denser.

Then, abruptly, one of the flaming torches attached to the descending ceiling dislodged from its bracket ...

...and fell.

Down toward the oil moat where West stood helpless!

'Oh, G.o.d no-' was all he had time to breathe.

The flaming torch dropped through the air, into the oil moat- -before, six inches off the surface, it was plucked from the air by the swooping shape of Horus, his falcon.

The little bird gripped the flaming torch in its talons, before dropping it safely in the closing entry hall.

'Why don't you leave it to the last second next time, bird,' West said.

Sitting now, Horus just returned his gaze, as if to say: Why don't you stop getting into stupid predicaments like this, human Why don't you stop getting into stupid predicaments like this, human.

In the meantime, Lily's eyes glinted, staring now at the symbols on the rightmost of the three pendants: She read in a low voice:

'Beware. Atone.

Ra's implacable Destroyer cometh, And all will cry out in despair, Unless sacred words be uttered.'

Then Lily blinked and returned to the present.

'It's this one!' she said, reaching down for the pendant she had just read.

West said, 'Wait, are you sure-'

But she moved too quickly and lifted the golden pendant from its shallow recess on the Colossus' neck.

The flaming drop-stone lurched.

West snapped up and winced, waiting for the end.

But the drop-stone didn't fall and-chunk!-suddenly his legs were released from their submerged bonds.

Lily had picked the right one.

She jumped happily back into his arms, holding the heavy golden trapezoid like a newborn baby. She threw him a winning smile: 'That felt really weird.'

'It looked really weird,' West said. 'Well done, kiddo. Now, let's blow this joint.'

The Outward Charge

Back they ran.

West charged through the waist-deep oil pool, pus.h.i.+ng hard with every stride, the torch-edged ceiling descending above him.

They hit the floor of the entry hall as the lowering ceiling hit 70 centimetres in height.

The smoke coming in from outside was now choking, dense.

Lily crouch-ran across the wide low-ceilinged s.p.a.ce, while Horus swooped through the haze.

West was the slowest, scrambling on all fours, slipping every which way in his oil-slicked boots, until at the very end of the chamber, as the ceiling became unbearably low, he dived onto his belly, sliding headfirst for the entire last 4 metres, emerging just as the ceiling hit the floor with a resounding boom boom and closed off the Colossus' chamber. and closed off the Colossus' chamber.

Wizard was waiting for them outside on Level 4.

'Hurry! Del Piero's men have almost finished their crane-they'll be on Level 2 any second now!'

Level 4

The other members of the team-Big Ears, Stretch and Princess Zoe-were also waiting on Level 4, covering the first three traps on the way back down.

When he reached them, West handed Big Ears the priceless golden trapezoid, which the big man placed inside a st.u.r.dy backpack.

Down the giant rockwall they went, again in leapfrog formation, sliding down ladders, dancing across b.o.o.by-trapped ledges, all the while dodging flaming waterfalls and fire-rain. Giant drop-stones now fell constantly from the upper regions of the cave, tumbling dangerously down the rockface, blasting through the smoke.

Level 3

West scooped up Fuzzy as they came to Level 3. 'Come on, old friend,' he said, hoisting the big Jamaican onto his shoulder.

They ran down the sloping ledgeway, across the face of Level 3, covering their mouths to avoid inhaling the smoke.

The Europeans had almost finished their crane by now. It was lined with armed men, all waiting for the last piece of the crane to be screwed into place, thus giving them access to Level 2-where they would cut off West and his team.

The last piece of the crane fell into place.

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