Excavation (2000) by Rollins James

Author:Rollins, James [James, Rollins,]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-01-09T01:16:08.078000+00:00

Scouts, Sam said. They've spotted us and are calling for reinforcements. Sam kept going, swinging his Winchester backward, and fired off one round. It was a blind shot. The bullet rebounded off the wall and bounced between the tomb walls to either side. Something yelped past the reach of their light.

Norman mumbled with grim satisfaction, You've really got to watch those damn ricochets.

Shouldering the rifle, Sam hauled the photographer with him. The Winchester had only one shot in the chamber, then Sam would have to reload which meant stopping. They would not survive the delay.

A voice called from down the street, drawn by his rifle blast. Sam! Hurry! I have a way inside the statue! It was Maggie. He spotted her small form at the end of the street, outlined in torchlight.

Then get inside! Now! Sam hollered back.

Just move your asses! Don't worry 'bout me!

Norman glanced at the mass of beasts upon their tail. Personally I was worrying more about them, he said sourly.

Lungs on fire, legs burning, Sam forced them to a faster pace. He fought to close the distance with Maggie. He was now close enough to see her eyes widen at the sight of the company pursuing them.

Holy shit, she said. Hurry! She ran toward them.

Get back! Sam gasped.

But she ignored him. She raced toward them with Denal at her heels. As Maggie drew near, she waved the gold dagger overhead and whistled a piercing note, a sheepherder calling his dogs.

What the hell did she think she was doing?

Sam glanced anxiously behind him. The forefront of the pale legion tumbled from the rooftops onto the street, almost at his heels. Sam shoved Norman forward and swung to face the coming onslaught with the single shell in his Winchester.

Maggie appeared at Sam's side. Don't! She shoved his rifle down and stepped forward. She brandished the long blade.

Maggie! But to Sam's shock, the squabble of creatures skidded to a stop, claws scraping rock. Black eyes were fixed on the knife. Even overhead, the scouts backed from the roof's edge, retreating. Those caught on the street crouched against the sight of the blade. They scrabbled slowly away.

Maggie indicated their party should do the same. I don't know how long their fear will overwhelm the hunger for fresh meat. Maggie glanced at their group with concerned eyes. Where's Ralph?

Dead, Norman said softly.

Oh, God, noa Maggie muttered, returning to guard the group with the dagger.

Sam kept at Maggie's shoulder. He glanced between the knife and the huddled pack. Why do they fear it?

I don't know, Maggie answered tightly, voice strained with the news of Ralph. Right now, all I care is that it works.

Sam agreed with her, but he could not keep his mind from working on the beasts' odd reaction. He remembered his earlier assessment that the creatures might be some inbred line of ape or prehistoric man, cave creatures the Incas had discovered down here and had revered as mallaqui, underworld spirits. But why would they fear this old Incan dagger?

Sam frowned, sensing he was still far from the true answer to the mysteries here.

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