By eleven a.m. the sun was gaining on the horizon, and the temperature was rising. Not quite as hot as yesterday’s top of 118 degrees Fahrenheit, it was already well above 100. Sam swallowed a mouthful of water, pausing between limestone blocks, and then continued to climb.
“Are you certain he’s aiming for the top?” Tom asked.
“Pretty sure.”
“Because, maybe we could just wait down the bottom for him?”
Sam ignored the question, and took some more climbing chalk out of his bag to dry his hands. Then, studying the difficult handhold above, he reached up and then swung his legs onto the next limestone block.
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about, Tom. You can practically step up this damn pyramid.”
More than fifty blocks above them, Sam spotted the reflection of light.
Was it them, or had I imagined it?
The light reflecting off the Ark of Light then glistened like a star. “Come on Tom. It’s them, and they’ve got a big lead on us.”
Aliana watched Rodriguez hold the Ark of Light up. It was approaching midday, and soon the sun would be directly overhead.
“Put it down, Rodriguez. It’s over,” she heard Sam’s voice, from below.
“Sam!” she shouted, in relief.
Rodriguez fired several shots from his massive handgun, blowing apart large chunks of the pyramid’s block.
“I have to give it to you, Sam, you seem like a difficult man to kill. But, you must know, you’re too late — it’s nearly midday, and I’m about to receive all the knowledge and power of man. There’s nothing more you can do.” He stood up and raised the Ark of Light so that its powerful diamond faced the sun, rapidly approaching overhead.
“No, you can’t!” Sam yelled.
Aliana took a step back, and then jumped off the top level of the pyramid to the blocks several feet below.
“Get back here, woman,” Rodriguez shouted. “Don’t you understand once I receive this power, there’s nothing you or Reilly can do to stop me?”
With her arms still bound, she jumped down the next one.
“Aliana!” She heard Sam’s voice in the distance. “Duck!”
“Good bye mortals,” Rodriguez said, as the sun came into a direct line above him.
She crouched down, taking cover as close to the block of the pyramid as she could, shielding herself with her arms over her head.
The world above opened into the most magnificent light she’d ever seen, and for an instant, she thought that it had all been real. That Rodriguez had won; that in this instant, he was gaining all the power and knowledge of the human race, throughout time.
Then a sound like thunder struck the top of the pyramid.
The stunning light turned to such extreme heat that the entire capstone of the pyramid exploded.
And then it all passed.
The sun continued on its way, and above, there was only quiet.
Sam climbed up the last block below her and took her in his arms. “You’re alive.”
“Of course I am. I told you to wait for me when I dived for it, but this time you’re the one who disappeared.”
She kissed him, and it felt good.
Resting her head on his chest, with his arms around her, she was home, with the man she loved.
Aliana then whispered, “What happened to him?”
“He’s dead.”
“Why? I thought that the Ark of Light was supposed to bring its owner omnipotent powers?”
“Yes, but only those worthy, who could read the ancient texts, and understand when exactly to use it.”
“And for those who aren’t worthy?” she asked.
“Those are the fallen ones.”
Chapter Twenty Three
At the base of the pyramid, James was waiting for them, a luxury limousine ready to take them back to the airport.
James asked, “So, what did it cost you in the end?”
“What?”
“The map. What did Jie Qiang want for it?”
“He said that he wanted Rodriguez to get everything he’d ever wanted, and then, at that moment, have it all taken away from him.”
“I’d say Jie Qiang would be happy for the outcome, wouldn’t you?”
Tom had been at home in California for less than a day, and already, he was keen to return to the Maria Helena. Sam and James had both told him to take some time off and enjoy himself. They’d all been through a lot over the past month.
It was only 8 a.m. and the sun was already warm. He could go to the beach, have a surf, and enjoy the day, but he couldn’t quite relax. He’d never been very good at it.
Matthew had called from aboard the Maria Helena to tell him that the cleanup of the hydrogen cyanide was well on its way, and that it might take a few years for the sea life to return to normal in the Gulf of Mexico — but thanks to him and Sam the place would survive.
Tom asked again if they’d had any news of Billie’s body, and was advised that it was unlikely they’d ever find her. After all, the entire pyramid imploded under the enormous weight of the ocean, after it lost its structure.
Death had been common enough in his life, but he’d learned to deal with it by burying himself deeper with work, not having a holiday and moping.
It was time to go out, and do something different, he decided.
He grabbed his wallet, glasses, and keys to his Ducati — the motorcycle’s equivalent of a Lamborghini — and opened the front door.
And there she stood.
“It’s you.” Tom didn’t know what else to say.
“And you,” she replied, stupidly. “Who the hell were you expecting?”
“You’re alive!” he said throwing his arms around her.
She stepped forward, a little closer to his face, and said, “Of course. That wasn’t the first time they’ve tried to kill me since Sam and I started this thing.”
He stepped backwards, until she’d followed him inside.
Then, closing the door behind her, Billie reached up on the tips of her toes, wrapped her arms around his strong neck, and an inch before reaching his lips, asked, “Did you miss me?”
“Yes,” was all he replied, before their lips touched.
Tom kissed her as much as he’d wanted to since their first night inside the Mayan pyramid.
And soon the kissing turned to undressing.
Tom pulled back for a moment, with his arms still wrapped around her tiny waist, as he admired her in nothing but underwear. They were white and cotton — nothing that suggested they were designed to be sexy — but over her tall, lithe, body and olive skin, they might as well have been intended for a lingerie model. Her body, in complete proportion, had an athletic build, with firm, small breasts.
She looked as amazing in her underwear as he’d imagined a thousand times by now.
Billie stared back at him, a coy and flirtatious smile below the teasing glint in her almond eyes, in response to Tom’s blatant adoration of her figure. She slid her underwear off, and said, “Did you just want to look at me, or are you going to fuck me?”
Tom rolled over with a fright.
How long had they been in bed?
It was dark outside. Checking his bedside clock, he saw that it was already after midnight.
“What is it?” she whispered, rolling on her side and exposing her perfect, small, breasts. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. It’s better than okay,” he replied, grinning as he stared at her again. “It’s just that I don’t know how I’m going to break this one to Sam, that’s all.”
“Why?”
“You know…” he hinted.
“No, I don’t know?”