IJM-02: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Rollins

Author:James Rollins
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Media Tie-In, Action & Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780345501288
Publisher: Del Rey
Published: 2008-05-20T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-EIGHT

LED AT GUNPOINT, Indy marched toward the camp’s bonfire. Mutt came with him, but Marion was kept under guard back at the tents, ensuring his cooperation. He had a thousand questions for the kid, wanted all the details of Marion’s life, but Dovchenko slapped Mutt in the back of the head every time he tried to speak.

Spalko kept her rapier at Indy’s back.

Still, an inexplicable lightness filled him, a surge of hope.

Marion Ravenwood was here. He had not spoken to her in years. Yet as soon as Indy had laid eyes on her, it was as if no time had passed at all. He felt younger already, drawn back to their earlier time together. Even now his heart thudded stronger, his hip ached less, and the bruising wasn’t as tender.

But Indy also recognized the danger they all faced.

Marion’s life depended on what he could learn from Oxley. Spalko would punish Marion for any failure. And Indy could not let that happen.

Ahead, lit by the lire, Indy spotted Ox seated on a log. The professor stared at the flames. If anything, he looked even thinner, sagging within his poncho, a frail shade of the man he’d once been.

Mutt noted the professors sorry state, too. The kid’s face screwed up with fear and worry. “Man, what happened to him?”

This earned another cracking slap from Dovchenko.

“The crystal skull,” Indy answered. He glared at the giant Russian. That was Marion’s kid he was hitting!

Indy reached the log and sat down next to Ox. At least his friend appeared calmer. Oxley had even donned a khaki hat, decorated with several bright feathers. The odd choice of apparel concerned Indy. The Oxley he knew preferred bowlers, checkered caps, even top hats for formal occasions. The tips of the feathers bobbed as a slight tremor shook the professor’s body. Oxley’s right hand trembled and jumped on his knee, some form of residual palsy.

Still, Oxley glanced over to Indy. His bleary eyes widened with recognition. “Henry Jones Junior!”

“That’s right, Ox!”

A surge of relief flowed into Indy. Mac had been right. Ox was back! Indy had to hand it to the Russian ice queen. Spalko had been right about how to free his friend. He felt a measure of hope that all would work out fine.

Off to the side, two soldiers hauled up a reel-to-reel tape, ready to record everything. Clearly, Spalko did not want to miss anything crucial. Or maybe it was some form of record for her, a personal diary of her accomplishments here.

Behind Indy, Mac spoke to another soldier. “Just so you know, I’m giving three to one odds that the Yank figures out where the City of Gold lies.”

Ignoring him, Indy focused his full attention on Ox. Despite recognizing Indy, his friend still looked addled around the edges. “Now listen, we need—”

The professor grabbed Indy and said intently, “Henry Jones Junior!”

Uh-oh.

Indy glanced to Mutt, then back to the professor. The boy’s eyes also narrowed with worry and suspicion.

Oxley’s fingers clutched harder at Indy. “Henry Jones Junior!”

“We’ve established that, Ox.

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