Part 19 (2/2)

Chahda nodded ”Nast and Nangolat in cahoots Nast picks up Tony at airport, takes hiolat, with truck of luolat, so I drop Nast and follow Tony Me and Dog Meat, we have fine tietting blind, I think

Lose faht”

”We saw the lumber truck,” Rick admitted ”But where were you?”

”Little way behind in jeep”

Rick remembered that they had seen a couple of jeeps on the road but had paid no attention He could see nohat had probably happened

Nangolat, after stealing the earth scanner, had taken the truck to the hut at Trinidad Valley and caone to the airport, but had not found Nangolat--he had found Nast But why?

Rick put the question aloud

”Mix up in schedule,” Chahda said ”Nast and Nangolat were to meet at airport and wait for all of you Catch whole lot at once when you go to airport in the ets earth scanner He takes truck to Trinidad, so you won't find it and get scanner back Nast coolat, but he finds Tony So he takes Tony and goes to Trinidad Valley to hut which he knows about, and there is Nangolat”

”How do you know all this?” Scotty derinned ”From Nast He reports to Lazada by telephone I listen

Easy Who would think poor Igorot boy know anything?”

Rick shook his head in admiration Leave it to Chahda ”Nohat, Master Spy?”

Chahda orot warriors Tonight we lead you to Ifugao, and we get Tony and the truck and our other stuffs Then we get to work and find this golden skull”

”You aos?” Scotty deaos not wanting to give Tony up, I think First he help theenerations, then they need new head to sacrifice to sacred stuff, so they use his

Neat, huh? I think we don't get Tony back without a fight”

CHAPTER XII

The Ifugao Village

The terraced mountain wall fell away below to the valley floor Halfway between Rick and the dark sheen of the river was a level area which Chahda said was the village However, it was too dark to see very much

”We'll break our necks if we try to cli these terraces,”

Scotty whispered

Chahda admitted, ”Good possibility But what else is there? Later o down yet Study lay of land”