Amanda didn’t bother to look up. She pressed forward, moving as fast as she could. She heard something sloshing close by but didn’t dare risk turning to see who or what it was.
Shortly thereafter, Amanda stepped on a slick stone and lost her balance. The surface came toward her as she fell, but just before she plunged into the water, a strong hand grabbed her arm, keeping her up.
Zane.
“Almost there,” he said, pulling her toward the shore.
About a minute later, the operative pulled her up onto the rock ledge and set her down. He then turned and waded back into the lake, helping the others out of the water.
Tocchet was bringing up the rear. After stepping out, he turned and fired several shots at a place that swirled about ten yards out.
“What the heck was that?” Brett asked.
Zane’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the spot Tocchet had fired at. “We’re not sure. Osak said something was coming, but we couldn’t figure out what it was. Probably just a cave fish or amphibian of some kind, but we weren’t taking any chances.”
“If that was a fish, it must have been the size of a tuna,” Brett said.
Katiya aimed her flashlight downward. “Check it out.”
Amanda looked toward the illumination. Rather than worn rock, they were standing on cut stone.
“And here’s where the tunnel picks up again,” Bennett said from behind them.
Everyone turned to see the soldier standing at an arched stone doorway.
“Perfect,” Zane said. “Let’s move out, everybody.”
As the group passed through the archway, Amanda noticed that there was a set of stone stairs beyond.
“Looks like I was right,” Katiya said. “These lower tunnels are some sort of primitive sewer system.” She pointed her beam up the stairs. “That means whatever we’re looking for is likely somewhere up there.”
Zane and Bennett took the lead as they made the ascent. The musty smell was back again. How long had these stairs been here? And how long had it been since human beings had set foot on them?
A few minutes later, Zane held up a hand, bringing everyone to a halt. He was looking at something on the stairs above.
“Oh my,” Katiya said.
Amanda looked and let out a little groan of frustration. A stack of assorted boulders, stones, and rubble stretched from one side of the stairwell to the other. Apparently one of the walls had caved in, perhaps from an earthquake or plate shift.
“Not good,” Bennett muttered.
“No, it’s not,” Zane said, moving his beam up toward the ceiling.
“What’s going on?” Max asked as he pushed his way toward the front.
Bennett pointed toward the pile with his rifle.
There was a flash of light, and Amanda turned to see Jorge lighting up a cigar.
Max sneered. “Must you?”
Jorge shrugged. “Why not? It helps me think.”
Before Max could respond, Zane said, “Wait a minute.” He played his light toward the right side of the passageway.
Amanda let her eyes follow his beam. At first she couldn’t figure out what he’d found, but then she saw a narrow opening, perhaps only two feet wide, between the boulders and the wall. Apparently the cave-in hadn’t extended across the entire staircase.
Zane took a few steps forward and leaned into the crevice. “It’s going to be tight, but I think it goes all the way to the other side. There seem to be a few places where some of us are going to have to suck in some air to get through.”
Jorge took a draw on his cigar and patted his stomach. “I think he’s talking about me.”
Amanda watched as Zane removed his pack. “I’m going to go through first,” he said. “I’ll radio back once I’m on the other side.”
Tocchet nodded. “Copy that.”
The operative wiggled sideways into the crevice, his pack in one hand and a flashlight in the other.
Amanda was thankful for her background as an archaeologist. It had prepared her for work in tight spaces, although she couldn’t recall anything quite like this.
About five minutes later, Zane’s voice crackled over Tocchet’s radio. “Made it.”
Bennett lifted the radio to his mouth. “Can you see anything?”
“There’s a landing just ahead,” Zane said. “I think we’re about to find out where all of this leads.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
As soon as Zane pocketed the radio, he heard a noise behind him. He extinguished his light and turned around quietly. It seemed to have come from somewhere on the stairs above. It had sounded like a pebble bouncing across stone, but the distance was too great to know for sure.
He remained perfectly still as he continued to listen. Was someone or something waiting up there? It was probably just a rat, but since the others were on their way up, he needed to make sure they weren’t walking into a trap.
Turning back to the crevice, Zane peered down the stairs. He saw a tiny point of light moving in his direction. Despite the distance, he could tell it was Katiya. She seemed to be moving slowly, so it would probably take her at least six or eight minutes to get to him. That would allow just enough time to investigate the noise.
Opening his pack, Zane retrieved his night vision visor and secured it over his head. He then set his rifle and backpack against the wall, pulled out his Glock, and took the stairs. As he neared the landing, he could see that the stairwell turned to the left from there, so he hugged that side of the passage as he approached.
Upon arriving at the top, he stopped one step short. Leaning forward, he peered around the corner. The steps rose for about twenty yards before disappearing through a stone archway. Zane stared at the opening for several minutes but saw and heard nothing. Whatever he had heard before must have moved off.
Satisfied it had likely been a small mammal, he returned to the crevice and pulled off his visor. As soon as he stuck his head in the opening, he heard Katiya’s voice echo toward him. “Zane?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Sorry, I think I’m stuck.”
He could see she was about three-quarters of the way up, standing in a place he remembered was tight. A triangular rock stuck out into the passage, and the easiest way to get by it was by ducking down.
“Put your things through first, and then—”
“Do you mind helping me?”
“Not at all. I’ll be right there.”
Zane hated to leave the top unguarded, but how could he refuse that voice?
Sliding into the opening, he moved toward her one step at a time. He was surprised she hadn’t been able to figure it out herself. She was relatively thin, so it shouldn’t be difficult for her to pass underneath the rock. Then he remembered that some people just didn’t function well in tight spaces. Bodies and minds tended to freeze when encountering a phobia.
When Zane neared the light, he looked up then came to an abrupt stop. Katiya was standing on his side of the triangular rock.
So she did make it through.
He tried to look at her face, but her flashlight was aimed down at the steps, shrouding the upper half of her body in darkness.
He stepped closer. “I’m proud of you—”
Before he could finish his sentence, her hand shot out. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him toward her. Their bodies were now only a few inches apart, and Zane could see her looking at him, her eyes unblinking and filled with passion.
He reached up to place a hand on her cheek, and she clicked off the light. Their lips found each other in the darkness, pressing together softly at first, then more firmly.
Zane slid an arm around her waist and drew her closer as the kisses became more passionate, even as they were careful not to make any noise. It was the first time he’d felt the warmth of a woman in months, and the feelings he’d developed for Katiya made it all the better.