Teelon was already working at it as we headed to the crack in the plaza wall. We were soon back down the stairs and hall. Magnus went first and slid Ray’s body to the edge of the space.
“I didn’t know him, but I’m sorry it came to this, Dean,” Magnus said calmly. I could tell he meant the words. For a big guy, he wore his heart on his sleeve. I patted him on the arm and thanked him. The device appeared to be built into the stone, almost like a screen on a wall.
“I don’t know how big it is, or how deep it goes. Whatever you do, don’t turn the thing off,” I said as he grabbed an edge and slowly tried to pry it free. It moved, and dust sifted to the ground as the large Swede rocked it back and forth, eventually loosening it. It was only two feet from side to side, about one and a half feet tall, and when he got it out, we saw that it was about three feet deep. He grunted, sweat pouring down his face, and soon he had it resting on the ground beside Ray.
We each took an end and carried it up and out to the crack in the wall. Carey barked as we struggled to fit it through.
“Stand back,” Magnus said, unslinging the laser from his shoulder. I ducked back and crouched over the device to keep it safe. He fired two rounds at the entrance, and rock crumbled around us. He groaned as he lifted the huge stone blocks out of the way, and then we were back to carrying it through and into the night air. It was still whirring away, a constant alien repellent.
Teelon’s eyes went wide at the sight of it, and he muttered something that sounded like a mantra over and over. This was from his ancestors, and I was sure he’d been waiting for this moment a long time. He was helping save a race, and at the same time, hopefully helping his own.
“I used Ray’s computer to tell them there’s been a setback. We have to get into their ship and reiterate the message,” the alien said as he struggled to get to his feet.
“Just how do we do that?” Mary asked.
“Easy, follow me.” We went with him to where the ship was hovering above us. It was about fifty feet in the air, and had to be two hundred feet long, another fifty wide. Twice the size, at least, of Teelon’s ship. He muttered as he grabbed something from each of the three aliens’ collars.
“The three of you will go in this one. One can come with me in my ship.” Carey barked at this.
“Don’t worry, boy. I wouldn’t go anywhere without you.” I petted him for a moment.
“Teelon, can you show Mary how to fly this thing?” I asked. Mary’s eyes went wide at first, and then a smile slowly spread on her beautiful face. At that moment, I wanted to go over to her and kiss her.
“I think so,” he said. “Come.” He pinned one of the things from their collars on Mary’s shirt, then one on Natalia’s and his own. “We’ll be right back. Please bring the Kalentrek over here. We will come back for it.”
“Kalen… what? Is that what you call it?” I asked.
“Yes. Roughly translated to shield in your language.” He tapped each of their collars and a green light shone down, starting to lift them up to the ship. My pendant began to burn hot, and I could see everyone else’s light up too. They still lifted, and Mary even gave a whoop as she entered the ship like a ghost. They were gone, leaving Magnus, Carey, and me alone on Machu Picchu in the dark.
We sat on the ground as light from the sun peeked over the distant horizon. It was amazing up here, and I felt like I was on the top of the world. It had been hours since the ship had left with our friends in it. We had nothing to do but wait. We’d gone back to Ray and Mary’s car and found some food for us and Carey to share, along with some water. Magnus puffed on a cigar he found in Ray’s bag –the ones I’d asked him to get in Florida before Vanessa had shot one of our allies.
Had Ray and Vanessa known about each other? Had they been working together from the start? I thought about the ships knowing where we were, seeing them while in the boat during a storm. They hadn’t meant to stop us, just to drive us here to disarm the device that meant their death. The shield, as Teelon had called it. As fitting a name as any, I supposed.
“I do hope they come back. This isn’t over yet. Do you think we can really do this?” I asked him, accepting a cigar when he offered one. I puffed it while he held the lighter to the end, and I coughed when I inhaled the first blast of smoke. It had been a while since I’d had one of these, but soon I was puffing at it like an old pro.
“They’ll be back. Those ladies will know how to fly that thing in no time. Natalia can fly just about anything,” he said.
My gut told me to trust Teelon, but what if he’d just taken them to separate us. I stubbed out the cigar, my gut feeling all of a sudden queasy. I changed the subject.
“So are you two… you know…” I left it unsaid.
“I love her, yes. She’s a tough nut to crack. I think she loves me too, though she would never say it.” He laughed as if he’d made the biggest joke of his life. “Not that she says much.”
“Have you ever heard her talk?”
“Never. I think before everything, she did, but something snapped in her when she was taken. I don’t know what those guys did to her, but I have an idea.” He looked down at his hands as if to see if they still had blood on them. I was pretty sure I knew what had happened to those men after Magnus had found those girls being transported.
“You’re a good man, Magnus.” I clapped him on the back and we sat there as the sun rose over the hills in the distance. For the first time, I got a good look at Machu, and it was breathtaking. I could see why so many people were drawn here. I wondered what they would think if we got everyone back to Earth and told them humanity’s savior had been hiding here all along. As long as we could make this work.
My heart jumped as I saw a ship coming in at full speed towards us. I desperately hoped it was our friends and not the aliens coming to pulverize us. It slowed abruptly and came to a stop, hovering above us. Green lights lowered and Mary, Natalia, and our new friend Teelon sank to the ground. Mary rushed over to me and kissed me firmly on the mouth.
“Someone was smoking,” she said, grabbing my unlit cigar and putting it between her teeth. “That was the most awesome thing of my life. A girl could get used to a ride like that.”
She was talking excitedly and even Natalia was grinning ear to ear.
“Let’s do this! Time to kick some alien ass!” Mary yelled, the word ass echoing down the mountain valley.
It was exciting to see her all ramped up like this, and I could still feel her lips against mine. I hoped no one noticed my red cheeks. This was no time for my emotions to get all stirred up. We had the human race to save.
“Natalia will come with me in my ship. You two go with Mary.” He clipped two small metal broaches on our collars. It was only then that I realized I hadn’t had a real shower in a few days, and my shirt, along with the rest of me, was utterly dirty.
“Nat, are you okay with that? I can go with him if you like.” Magnus walked over to her and took her hand in his. She looked tiny next to him.
She nodded and kissed him softly. I glanced over at Mary, and this time, I swear she blushed a bit.
Teelon moved to his ship. “She may have to do the flying. My time might expire before this day is through. I think I have internal bleeding, and I fear the worst. She seemed to have great understanding of flying, and I know she’ll be capable. I also showed her the weapons system, should the need arise. We’ll be able to communicate between ships; I’ve programmed that one to my frequency, which is hidden from the Kraski. You know the plan. Now let’s see this through.”