We Dine With Cannibals Read Online Free PDF Page B

down there for a reason, after all. “Over.”
    â€œWhat is this place?” Oliver wondered. He went over and touched one of the bundles of string. Some of the knots were different colors and different shapes. From what he knew about knot tying, it would be very hard to tie so many different kinds of knots so many times. Why would someone do that?
    â€œ
Look for one with gold on it,
” Sir Edmund said. Oliver and Celia scanned along the wall with their flashlights, looking at the different colors onthe strings. There were strings dyed blue and yellow and red. There were strings dyed turquoise and purple and black. There were strings dyed neon green and neon orange.
    There was a burst of static and the walkie-talkie squealed with feedback. Celia let go of the button. More static came through.
    â€œYou’re breaking up. Over,” Celia said.
    â€œ
The—gold—if—find the golden—,
” Sir Edmund’s voice crackled.
    â€œI can’t understand him,” Celia said. “Something about gold.”
    She put the walkie-talkie down and ran her hands through the strings.
    â€œI found one with gold on it,” Oliver said. He pointed up high toward a thick golden cord with more little strings hanging off of it than any other bundle. The other strings were every color under the rainbow, but the thickest one was made of shining golden thread.
    â€œClimb up and get it so we can get out of here,” Celia said.
    Oliver just sighed. It wasn’t worth arguing about with her. He never won. So he started climbing up, using the bundles of string for handholds.
    Celia was studying the bundle in front of her. The cord was smooth and a little slick to the touch. She was running her hand along a knotted neon-green string, lost in thought. Her brow was wrinkled.
    â€œI don’t know what this place is,” Oliver said, “or what it’s got to do with Mom.” His voice was strained with the effort of climbing. “But I wish they’d left a ladder down here.”
    Beverly was scurrying up the wall next to him. She seemed most comfortable when she was climbing. Not Oliver. He was exhausted when he finally got his hands on the golden cord about fifty feet off the ground.
    â€œGot it!” he called back down happily.
    â€œ
Deserted—thirty—victorious,
” Sir Edmund’s voice crackled over the speaker, though both twins were ignoring it now.
    â€œOf course it would be the one all the way up here,” Oliver said. “Why can’t people ever be looking for things that are on the ground?”
    â€œThis isn’t right,” Celia said, still staring at the string in front of her.
    â€œWhat? I can’t hear you! Hold on. I’ll be right down.” Oliver pulled the golden cord off the wall.It was really heavy with all the string. He couldn’t imagine what Sir Edmund would want with it, but he knew better than to ask. Explorers were always looking for weird old things that made no sense, the older and weirder the better.
    â€œDon’t touch anything!” Celia suddenly screamed up at him. “We have to get out of here now! It’s a trap!”
    By then, however, it was too late. As Oliver pulled the heavy bundle of string off its hook, one of the strands pulled tight. He saw that it disappeared into a hole in the wall, while all the others hung loosely. He pulled it a little harder. There was a loud clicking sound.
    â€œUh-oh,” he said. The giant key in the ceiling started to rotate, like it was unscrewing from the ceiling. It sent clumps of dust and stone falling to the ground as it turned. He put the golden cord quickly back on its hook, but it didn’t help. A stone slab slammed down behind them, blocking their way out.
    â€œUm … we’ve got a problem!” he yelled down at Celia, who was staring at the giant stone blocking their path. She wanted to yell at her brother but she