The Crystal's Curse Read Online Free PDF Page B

out of hauling bricks and mortar into the cave. Maria can stay in there, painting the plywood. The crew needs to believe that we’re sealing the room as well. We’ll make sure that the crew is gone before we ask for the Quiche’s help.”
    Maria and Ricardo both nodded their agreement.
    Sam got up. “I’ll take the phone to a clearing and call the Smithsonian to let them know to expect the artifacts.” Ricardo handed Sam the keys to the Jeep.
    Driving to the clearing, he couldn’t help thinking that wherever Joshua was, he was running out of time.

Chapter Three
     
    Once Erik was away from the camp, he stopped the Jeep in a clearing. Frustrated, he couldn’t see any way to investigate the site without making a scene. Something he was not prepared to do, yet. He took out his communicator and called the command center.
    “Field Agent Erik to Watcher One. Watcher One, please come in.”
    “This is Watcher One. Please report.”
    “I’ve located the general location of the portal, but I haven’t been able to conduct an extensive search. There’s an archeological team here excavating. They’ve posted guards to protect their latest find. The portal may be an old one unearthed during their excavation. They’re asking questions of the locals about some setting symbols, claiming they copied the symbols from a painting. I haven’t been able to confirm that.”
    “And the power source?”
    “One of their team is missing, a teenage boy. However, they’re conducting a search for him, so he may just be a runaway. There’s no indication they have a power source. It’s still possible an insurgent triggered the surge, and the archeological team is just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I won’t know for sure until I can find the exact location of the portal.”
    “Could an insurgent be one of the archeological team?”
    “I’ve met the leaders of the team. They’re all human. It would be difficult for one of us to pose as a mere worker.”
    “How long will it take to find the portal?”
    “It could take another couple of days, unless my orders are changed with respect to casualties.”
    “Maintain cover and report in when you’ve located the portal. Watcher One out.”

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Joshua opened his eyes to darkness, not total darkness, varying shades of black and brown, punctuated with pinpoints of light. Moving his hands out to the side, he realized he was lying flat on his back on what felt like wet grass. As he continued to stare upward, the points of light resolved into stars peeking through some kind of foliage. Dressed in khaki shorts, tennis shoes and a t-shirt, he shivered. The grass and the surrounding air were cold, not just cool, but icy. Goose bumps stood out on his arms. He sat up. A wave of dizziness passed quickly, leaving only a slight throbbing behind his eyes like the beginning of a sinus headache. Even though it was dark, he could see his breath as little puffs of white mist. Patches of snow covered the ground around him. He shivered again. Where am I? This is not Guatemala. It doesn’t snow in the jungle. It doesn’t even get cold.
    He lowered his head in his hands, and tried to think. The last thing he remembered was being on the dig with his parents .
    That’s right; I was standing in that odd recess looking at the holes. I pulled the crystal thing out of my pocket to see if it would fit into one of them. Then nothing, until I woke up here. How did I get here? Where is here and, how long have I been out?
    He looked at his watch. If it was the same day, only a few minutes had passed, and yet it was dark. He reached down to pick up the faintly glowing crystal lying on the ground next to him. Warm in his hands, it represented tangible proof that he hadn’t lost his mind.
    He stood and looked around. He’d been lying on a patch of ground surrounded by trees. It looked like a park with large oak trees, not the sort of trees that formed the canopy of the forest in Guatemala.