Part 13 (1/2)
I let out a nervous laugh, ”Lead on, Mr. Kane.”
Kane takes a step and reaches the next stair down.
Click.
”s.h.i.+t,” he says shutting his eyes, waiting for whatever is about to happen, to ensue.
Everyone else freezes as well.
n.o.body breathes.
The sound of rus.h.i.+ng water starts up again, except this time it's accompanied by a low rumble of stone. The whole place starts to shake.
”I don't think that's water...” Kane says.
We turn to see streaks of lava pouring out from recessed fissures in the cavern walls. Every 50 feet or so another stream of red hot magma spills out of its hiding spot and streaks to the floor, until dozens of them appear along the entire circ.u.mference of the room. After another few minutes of watching we notice that the lava is being collected into what looks like a...
”Is that a moat of lava,” I ask.
”Sure is,” Kane says.
A large ring of flowing lava has now turned the ground the pyramid sits on into a fiery island.
”Did it get brighter in here or is it just me?” Nicole asks.
Now that she mentions it, the view across the ma.s.sive void seems to have lightened some. Also, the ceiling s.h.i.+mmers above us like the sun on the oceans waves.
”Now that's ingenuity at its finest,” Dad says hands on hips, smile on his face, a look of pride for the historical genius being put on display.
”Amazing, it's like a light switch!” I say awestruck. ”The glow from the lava reflects on the ceiling panels, which I bet you are made of orichalc.u.m. The reflected light then s.h.i.+nes down on the rest of the cavern causing it to become brighter.”
”Incredible,” Nicole says with a look of wonder.
We stand there and marvel at the technological innovations put into place thousands of years ago by this unknown, yet very advanced civilization.
After another few moments of admiration I break the silence, ”Okay everyone let's get moving.”
26.
Ahmed stood several hundred feet from the camp, watching through binoculars as men and women rushed around the camp, attending to their duties. He was perched silently on the edge of a dune that encircled the dig site, his back facing towards the small town, all but a distant memory.
He laughed at the lax security put into place. Then again, it was a scientific expedition, not a military base camp. He hadn't even seen a single person carrying a weapon.
The a.s.sa.s.sin smiled, taking the camp was going to be easy. Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Ahmed lowered his binoculars as one of his men stepped up beside him.
”Sir, we're ready to move.”
Ahmed nodded, ”Do it.”
Being Operations Captain, Ahmed stood by watching as his men descended upon the camp, about to do the dirty work.
A few seconds, later the sound of automatic gunfire filled his ears, along with a chorus of frightened screams. He pushed forward into the quickly abandoned camp, seeing the previous occupants flee into the desert.
Easy, he thought to himself as he stood in the center of the camp, tents surrounding him.
One of his men raced towards him, a small radio extended from his hand.
”Sir, we've intercepted their transmissions,” he said, handing Ahmed the radio, it crackling to life. ”They're trying to establish communication with the team in the field.”
”Kane or Nicole, are you there? This is Roger. We are under fire and are falling back into the park. We've lost five men and can't stay here.”
Static...
”I say again...We are falling back deeper into the Ta.s.sili's and will await further instructions.”
There was another moment of silence.
”Sorry guys, but you're on your own, over and out.”
Ahmed was surprised at just how easy it had been to take the camp. He expected there to be some kind of resistance, but thankfully, no one tried anything dumb and the researchers fled without causing any problems. The deaths of the first few members of the science team that Ahmed's men encountered made sure of that.
Satisfied that the rest of the researchers had fled and the camp was secure, Ahmed keyed his tactical mic-a direct line to his superior.
”Sir, this is Viper, we have taken the dig site. Several of the researchers fled into the park. Zero casualties on our end. Over.”
”Very good, Ahmed, see that you don't fail me again.”
”Yes sir, I won't, sir. Do we track the survivors?”
”Not necessary,” the man called Wolf replied. ”But just in case they try to return, leave two men on location to make sure. If need be, take care of them when you return to the surface.”
As he spoke with his superior, Ahmed moved towards the edge of the sandy incline that overlooked the large gold slab in the center of the camp. He looked down at the large A-frame rig, impressed with its simplistic design.
Sometimes the simplest designs were the best ones, he thought, releasing the tactical mic. A group of soldiers had joined him, overlooking the excavation.
”Ok gentlemen, clip on and lets go,” He instructed the group before reactivating his tactical mic.
”Wolf, we are descending and will be out of contact until we return. Any idea what we can expect down there? Over.”
There was an uncomfortable silence over the airwaves, propelling him to ask his question again.
”Sir? Any idea-”