“Nah. Like you said. They’re dead. It’s the living that you have to worry about.” Drake lifted the rifle and laid it across his lap, his legs extended out in front of him, and exhaled noisily. “This wasn’t worth the price. My dad. Jack. Makes you wonder whether there’s a curse or something.”
Spencer spat into the night. “The curse is called greed. Greed killed them, whether it’s for money or for the power of Palenko’s technology. I’ve been around long enough so I don’t believe in curses. There’s no need for them. Humans create enough misery without involving the supernatural. Look at Palenko. He wound up butchering children to feed his craziness, and the natives he recruited helped him. Curse? Nope. Just human nature.”
Spencer crawled into his tent and zipped up the mosquito netting, and Drake settled in, watching the entrance, his weapon by his side, a round chambered and the safety off.
At some point in the early morning hours, Spencer awoke and took over guard duty, and Drake gratefully slept. His dreams were unsettled, visions of a dark hall full of parading skeletons, their bony fingers grabbing at him as he was carried aloft toward the black pool, Palenko’s maniacal grin drooling blood as he danced by the rim, his feet shredded from the emeralds. The mad Russian howled, baying at an unseen moon, and then skeletal hands pushed Drake closer and closer to the edge, until he was staring down into the void…
Drake bolted awake, gasping, sweat beading down his face as dawn’s first rays filtered through the cave opening. Spencer was nowhere to be seen, and there was no sound from Allie’s tent. Drake felt for his rifle and clambered out of the tent. Water dripped from the edge of the cave mouth, residue from the night’s rain, but there was no drizzle outside. He stepped into the faint light and looked around the clearing for any sign of Spencer, but saw nothing.
“I got us breakfast,” Spencer called from the edge of the tree line, and emerged carrying one of the crossbows and a fish, at least six pounds. “Like shooting fish in a barrel. It’s amazing the amount of life in the Amazon. We’ll never starve here, that’s for sure.”
Spencer prepared the meal over the dwindling gas of the stove after checking Allie’s dressing again and changing it. She looked stronger than the previous day and had a healthy appetite. They took their time eating together as they discussed their next move.
“I’m going to call my friend at the museum, if that’s okay. I don’t see any point in delaying that, do you?” Spencer asked.
“Other than bringing the CIA down on us? None at all,” Drake said.
“It’ll probably take him some time to figure out how to set up a team to verify the find and record it. He’ll know the best way to approach it. In the meanwhile, we can keep searching for Palenko’s ore. I’ll tell him that the find’s sensitive, and to only share the information with trusted friends. He’ll read between the lines. He’s very discreet.”
“How do you know him?”
“We were roommates in college. In New York. He’s the original reason I wound up in Peru, in fact. I helped break up a smuggling ring that was trafficking in pre-Columbian artifacts. It’s a long story, but it ended well.”
Drake nodded. “Then you can level with him?”
“Absolutely. I trust him like a brother.”
“Hopefully the satellite phone still has a charge.”
“I already checked. It’s low, but it’s got enough to last a few more days.”
“Do me a favor, Spencer. Don’t give him the exact coordinates until he confirms he has the group ready to move. Call me suspicious, but I don’t want anyone dropping in unexpectedly, you know?”
“I’m way ahead of you. I like breathing, too. Gotten kind of used to it.”
“Exactly.”
“What about arranging for some transport for Allie?” Drake asked, eyeing her.
“I’ll tell them we have an injury that will need to be air evacuated when they arrive.”
“Are you in that big a hurry to get rid of me?” she teased.
Drake offered a smile and a shrug. “More fish for us.”
Spencer’s friend, Jorge Esquival, was excited by the news that Paititi had been discovered on Peruvian soil. After a hurried discussion, he agreed to assemble an international team of archeologists to explore the site as soon as possible, and to put into motion preparations for the official registering of the site, listing Drake Ramsey as the discoverer, with Allie getting a co-discovery credit.
Jorge was puzzled that he didn’t recognize Drake’s name. “Drake Ramsey? Who is he? I’ve never…is he an archeologist? Physical anthropologist?” Jorge asked.
“No. He’s…an adventurer and explorer. One I’m sure you’ll be hearing a lot more about,” Spencer said, and Drake felt himself blushing as he listened in.
“Ah. Very well then. Nationality?”
“American.”
“Well, my friend, you’re right that his name will be recognized after this. It’s the biggest find in South American history. Maybe world history, if the legends of the treasure’s value are correct.”
“I’d say they are.” Spencer briefly told him about the statue and the emeralds, as well as the mass crypts.
“Truly remarkable. I can’t wait to see it. I’ll start contacting colleagues as soon as I hang up. How can I reach you when I have everything arranged?”
“I’ll call you in a day or so to coordinate. This phone’s low on juice, so I want to leave it off until I need it.”
“Okay. I suspect those I call will jump at the chance to be first on the ground for a find like this. I’ll tell them to hop on planes.”
“Please do. And also get some scuba gear and some industrial diving equipment.”
“The treasure’s underwater?”
“Assume that’s the case. You’ll want enough gear to allow divers to work around the clock. And Jorge? We’re talking big pieces, so think block and tackle.”
“I see. Very well. All quite mysterious, but that’s fitting given Paititi’s history. I’ll do as you ask.”
“And remember. Keep it confidential.”
“Will do. Although I intend to call in a favor once the team’s assembled. I know the president of Peru, and for news of this magnitude, I want him on our side. I’ll arrange for a meeting and fill him in. That will prevent any underlings from scheming to cut in on the find.”
“Good idea. And thanks, Jorge. I owe you one.”
“Sounds like you’ll be in a position to pay off all your debts soon enough, amigo.”
“That’s good to hear. What do you think Ramsey will see as a finder’s fee for the discovery?”
“I should think…perhaps ten percent of the value would be in keeping with other finds like this. Would that be acceptable? I’ll discuss it with the president and get his approval.”
Spencer looked at Drake. “Ten percent?” he repeated. Drake and Allie nodded, and Drake gave him an okay sign. “That would work. More than enough to go around, right?”
“If this is as large as legend suggests, yes, more than adequate to start one’s own country.”
“All right. Again, many thanks, Jorge. I’ll buy the first drink.”
“And the second, and the third…”
“Deal.”
Spencer hung up and powered the phone off. He returned it to his backpack and spoke to Drake.
“So what now, Mr. Ramsey, sir?”
Drake ignored him. “We need to concentrate on finding the ore. Sounds like we’ve got a couple of days, tops, before all hell breaks loose.”
“Yeah. And you become a rich celebrity.”
“You too. You’ll wind up bathing in pink champagne, or whatever, too.”
“That’s going to be my plan,” Allie said.
Spencer rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, we have to live to spend it. Any ideas on where to start looking for the ore?”