Look What the Wind Blew In Read Online Free PDF Page B

knew there was something wrong with her early on when she asked me to read the dictionary to her at bedtime.”
    “And that is another.” She turned to Quint. “It was a book on Mayan language and symbolism that my mother treasured and often studied aloud with me in the room.”
    “A dictionary.” Juan stuck to his guns.
    Glancing back and forth between father and daughter, Quint lowered the wrap to his plate and picked up his fork. His mother would have patted his head, but it wasn’t good manners that won him over. It was his goal to get on Angélica’s good side so she’d spill all she knew about Dr. Hughes.
    “You’ll rue this day, Quint,” Juan said, his grin wide.
    “You’re going to rue this day, Dad, after I have Teodoro move your tent next to the latrines,” she joked with her father. But then her expression sobered and she hit Quint with both barrels. “As I was saying, there are rules here. We eat breakfast at six, lunch at one, and supper at seven. From two to three, you can take a siesta if you’d like, and I suggest you do. We work long, hard hours because the dig season is so short. After supper, the rest of the evening is yours to do with as you please.”
    “Gotcha.” He chewed the panucho , swallowing a groan of appreciation for María’s mouth-watering food, and stuck another forkful in his mouth. Hard work wasn’t new to him. Neither were strong-minded women. He’d gotten his hands messy with both in the past.
    Juan finished his meal and wiped his fingers on his napkin. “Warn him about the cenote .”
    Angélica stabbed the last piece of her tortilla. “Do you know what a cenote is, Quint?”
    “A sinkhole in the limestone, usually full of water, considered sacred by the Maya people,” he shot back.
    She nodded, appearing impressed. “You know your Maya terminology.”
    “I read it in a guidebook on the plane ride down here,” he lied. Way back when, he and a couple of Dr. Hughes’ crew used to sneak swims in the big cenote about a hundred yards from the site until they were caught and lectured thoroughly on the dangers lurking under the water.
    He struggled with cutting through the tortilla for a moment before giving up, picking it up, and taking a bite.
    “That’s more like it!” Juan clapped him on the back.
    “You dripped sauce on your shirt, Mr. Parker.” She pointed her fork at her father’s chest. “You, too. Now you’re twins.”
    “It’ll wash out,” Juan said, dabbing his napkin on the orange stains.
    “Not María’s special sauce. It’s potent.” She piled her napkin and fork on her plate and then watched Quint take another bite, her forehead wrinkling. “Everyone has been ordered to stay away from the cenote unless instructed otherwise. If you are asked to go, take someone with you. We had an accident this morning,” she said in a louder voice, addressing all who’d turned in their seats at her words. “We don’t need any more.”
    Quint made a mental note to find out later what had happened at the cenote . “Got it. What else?”
    “Don’t be nosing around in any of the temples. I’ll take you on a tour of each so there’s no need for you to explore on your own.”
    He’d bet his sister’s favorite purple boots Angélica wanted to keep him out of those temples for some reason other than his safety.
    “Don’t go into the jungle alone. You’re unfamiliar with the surroundings and it’s very easy to get turned around.”
    “Plus there are venomous snakes, hairy spiders, and huge Paca jungle rats,” Juan added.
    Quint knew all about those nasty critters. They were part of why he’d sworn never to return to this dreadful place.
    “Your time will be divided between my father, Fernando, and me,” Angélica continued.
    Quint wondered how many years Fernando had worked with her, and how much he knew about the history of the site.
    “You’re free to talk to other members of the crew, but don’t try to get them to take you any place