Cape Wrath Read Online Free PDF

field-lab. This would basically be an open-sided tent under which they could store their equipment, paperwork and any decent finds, though for the moment they’d left most of that gear down at the base-camp.
    Half an hour later Craig re-emerged, filthy but full of enthusiasm. “It’s coming,” he said, wiping sweaty soil from his brow. “It’s a granite block, about as big as a portable TV. Another 10 minutes, though, and it’s loose I reckon. We might be able to move it tonight.”
    Nug took over, and sure enough, within just over 10 minutes, his muted but trembling voice called out that the stone was shifting … at which point, the going got slightly tougher. As only one person could fit into the tunnel, this meant Nug had to haul the stone at least four feet on his own. As if the thing wasn’t heavy enough, he’d have to do this crawling backwards on his hands and knees, which would be virtually impossible. The goal was achieved only when Barry and Alan took him by the feet and pulled him bodily out, Nug yelping and yowling, but dragging the stone along with him.
    Even then it was a painfully slow process, but eventually worth the wait. For the stone, in itself, proved to be an exciting find. It was caked in impacted clay, which the professor gently crumbled off with her fingers while the others held it up; it took three of them to do this. The rest watched in tense, breathless silence, as the stone was finally laid down, and their project-leader kneeled to examine it more closely. It was clear that some kind of etching had been made on the stone’s surface. As they did not yet have water and sponges at their disposal, Clive took what he liked to call his ‘awl’ – a long steel pin with a leather-bound handle – and delicately scraped away the detritus crusted into the grooves. It was five minutes or so before the image was fully visible; when it was, it appeared to be a snake-like creature, arranged in a pattern of typically symmetrical Nordic whorls. It had been chiselled with delicate skill and meticulous attention to detail.
    â€œWhat is it, a sea-serpent or something?” David asked.
    â€œI wouldn’t think so,” Clive said. “Can’t imagine this is just decorative. To be cut on a portal-stone, it’ll probably have some arcane significance.” He glanced up at the Professor. “Any thoughts? Skadi’s Viper, perhaps?”
    She gave him a deep and meaningful look, and for a moment there was a faint tension between the two, a curious uncertainty about what they had, a wariness even. “I suppose it shows we’re on the right path,” she finally said. All of a sudden, she didn’t seem quite so exhilarated.
    Clive nodded and resumed his examination. In his case, too, guardedness had overcome enthusiasm. Alan watched them, perplexed. This find in itself would grace any national collection, never mind the items it might presage if it really was a portal-stone. He was about to ask them what was wrong when Nug re-emerged from the tunnel, irritable and coughing. “Can’t get through in there yet,” he complained loudly. “There’s more bloody soil in the way. Maybe a foot of it.”
    Professor Mercy considered, then looked up at the darkling sky. “Well … it’ll wait until tomorrow,” she said. “I think we’ve done enough for one evening. Well done everyone. Let’s pack up.”
    They made their way back to the camp in their twos and threes, talking excitedly. Though still subdued, both Clive and the Professor seemed certain they were on the verge of something big. Nug was talking about knocking the spots off Sutton Hoo, Craig about having their very own exhibit in the British Museum. Alan walked alone, however, and in silence. He was just as keyed up as the rest, but now found himself racking his brains for any reference to Skadi’s Viper. He’d asked