The Lost Tribes, page 22
“What?” Serise peered over her shoulder. “Is this place going to blow up!”
“I think it already did,” Carlos said, pointing around the room.
“Guys!” Grace yelped. “There’s a reason why everyone is gone. We’re not at Safe Harbor. Serise, when you dialed ‘palindrome’ the dialer used the last four letters of the location. We’re in an observation post under the Vatican … in Rome!”
Serise dropped to her knees and caught her breath. “Really? What a relief. Sort of. I mean, at least we know we’re not supposed to stay here. So now that we’ve solved that mystery, how do we get to this Safe Harbor? Is there another gateway?”
Ben pulled out the compass. Knowing he was in Rome made things easier. He selected “Italy.” The pad showed a layout of the room. He gasped. There WAS another gateway! But there was also one huge problem. According to the map, this chamber was part of a huge, multi-level facility. The gateway was in the same direction as the abyss he and Carlos had discovered minutes before.
“Vatican’s down …”
All that remained was a narrow ridge. A gaping hole had swallowed up the outpost and, according the Grace’s mom, most of the people with it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
The Abyss
“A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.”
Sir Leslie Stephen
Thump! Thump!
The walls vibrated. Dust and rocks settled to the floor.
“What is that?” asked Grace.
Serise froze. “Earthquake?”
“Maybe,” Ben said. The hairs on his neck stood at attention.
The air grew warmer.
Thump! Thump!
“There it goes again.”
Carlos ran back into the room. “Did you hear that?”
“Yeah,” Ben said. “I guess we shouldn’t have aimed for the Devil. Now he’s mad.”
Thump! Thump!
Carlos frowned. “Know what the sound reminds me of? That old Jurassic Park movie. When the water in the puddle was shaking and then they figured out the T-Rex was coming.”
“You think there are dinosaurs down here?” April’s eyes grew wide. “I saw an old movie about people who traveled to the center of the earth and found dinosaurs there.”
Ben shot Carlos a dirty look. “See what you’ve started?” He turned and rubbed his sister’s back.
But Carlos was right about one thing. The sound occurred at regular intervals. No earthquake was that predictable. Whatever was making that noise was getting closer.
Thump! Thump!
The monitor went blank. A foul odor filled his nostrils. Different this time and much worse.
Aris grew still. Suddenly, he arched his back and hissed. Fur rose from his body. His tail grew bushy and stiff as he crouched low to the ground and stared at the swaying walkway above. He backed away, using his teeth on Ben’s pajama leg to pull him toward the other side of the room, toward the narrow passage and the abyss beyond it.
Thump! Thump!
Aris persisted. The foul odor ebbed and flowed on a current of wind. Now that the insides of his stomach began flopping like a helpless fish, Ben couldn’t hide the truth from himself any longer.
The adventure of a lifetime was now a nightmare.
“Guys, I think we should follow Aris,” he said. “The compass is pointing in the same direction. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be around when whatever is causing that noise gets here. If it’s got Aris spooked, that’s good enough for me.”
“You have to get your sister to the Harbor,” his mother said. “ … Keep her safe”
Ben had no choice but to lead his friends there — wherever “there” was.
Everyone pulled on their packs, tightened their straps and rushed through the opening. Everyone, that is, but Serise. Eyes as wide as basketballs, she stood at the entrance, frozen with fear.
“I can’t do this.”
“What’s wrong,” asked April.
Thump! Thump!
“I’m … I’m … ”
“We’re all scared,” Ben interrupted. “We all hear those noises. But it’s going to be okay. Promise.”
“No, you don’t understand. I’m …” she paused, and wiped her eyes with her sleeve, “scared … of heights. I’ve never told anyone. I can’t do this.”
Ben surveyed his surroundings. Although the escape route was wide enough for them to pass two at a time, it was still just a ledge embedded on the side of a rock wall. A ledge bordered by a precipitous drop that looked as if it went all the way to the other side of the earth.
“But you and your mom go rock climbing all the time,” April said.
“I just watch. My mom does all of the climbing. She’s supposed to do some ancient ritual and wanted me to be her partner, but I chickened out.” Tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
Thump! Thump!
Ben threw his hands up. They needed to move. Now! The pounding grew louder. And closer. He was tempted to just pick her up and carry her over his shoulder.
“You can do this,” Grace said. “You’re braver than you think. We can’t do this without you.”
“You can send someone back for me,” Serise said.
“That won’t work,” Grace said, her voice calm and soothing. “There isn’t enough time, not if a ship is coming. We go together or we don’t go at all.”
Thump! Thump!
Ben looked at Grace and silently tapped on his watch. Grace nodded as Serise began to hyperventilate.
“You can do this,” Grace said. “I’m scared too. We’ll go together. You can be my partner.”
Serise blinked and stared into space.
“Like at Adventure Challenge last month?” Grace squeezed Serise’s hands until she got her attention. “Just pretend we’re in the woods. You’re blindfolded and I’m your guide. Remember when you did it for me? How I was scared of the dark and couldn’t see anything? I trusted you. That was the point. If we trust each other we’ll get through it. You have to trust me now.” Grace paused. “Do you trust me?”
Serise nodded but streaming tears gave her away.
Ben glanced down the corridor and thought about the room where he and Carlos had found bodies — parts of bodies. There was no way they were going back in there.
Thump! Thump!
“I’ve got an idea.” Ben reached into his pack and pulled out a bandana. “You’ll want to cheat, so use this.”
He fashioned a blindfold and covered Serise’s eyes. “Whatever you do, keep a tight grip on Grace. Carlos and I will lead the way.”
“April?” asked Grace “Can you be Ben’s partner?”
“Sure,” April said. “But I don’t need the blindfold. I can do this.”
Ben felt a twinge of pride. His little sister was fearless. He had seen her scale the monkey bars at her school and play “King of the Mountain.” She scared her teachers to death, but she never fell. She had the best sense of balance of any kid he knew.
“Okay, Serise. Take a couple of practice steps before we head out.”
Grace led Serise through a few tentative moves. Serise trembled, but made it through the exercise. She raised her thumb. Ready.
Thump! Thump!
Ben pointed toward the unknown. “Okay, gang. Let’s rock.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The Gateway
“Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”
Henry Ford
Ben, April and Carlos trekked along the ledge stopping every few minutes to wait for Grace and Serise to catch up. Ben had the feeling they were being watched, but the noise and vibration now sounded like a distant drumbeat. Soon, the smell of death evaporated in the cool air. Ben relaxed his shoulders then the rest of his body. Grace told corny jokes while they walked.
“Why doesn’t Dracula have any friends?”
“Because he’s a pain in the neck,” answered Serise.
“Just like Ben.” April giggled, as they crept along.
Ben rolled his eyes. “Ha, ha, ha. Your turn, April.”
“Knock, knock,” April said.
“Who’s there?” Carlos answered.
“Boo,” April said.
“Boo who?” said Carlos.
“Don’t start crying again.”
Serise groaned. “You guys are supposed to make me feel better, not make me barf!”
Ben stopped, his brow furrowed, his finger pressed against his lips. He gestured for April and Grace to keep the jokes going.
“Why do the birds fly south for the winter?” April craned her neck to look over the edge of the cliff but Ben pulled her back.
“I don’t know,” Serise groaned. “Why?”
“Because it’s too far to walk!” April said quietly, her eyes wide in alarm.
The ledge grew narrow — a lot more narrow — then disappeared. End of the road. Fifty yards ahead was a sheer drop-off. Aris looked back toward the abandoned outpost, ears pricked, body stiff.
“What’s going on?” asked Serise. “Why’d you guys get so quiet?”
“Nothing,” Grace said, forcing a laugh. “You know guys. They can’t think of jokes as fast as us. Okay, Ben. Your turn.”
Ben appreciated the fact that Grace could think on her feet. “Ugh … hmmm … Oh yeah! What’s the best way to catch a squirrel?”
“Good grief,” Grace said. “Is that the best you can do?”
As they inched forward, Grace guided Serise toward the wall.
“Well, do you know it or not?” Ben asked.
“Climb a tree and act like a nut,” Grace sighed. “That’s an old one and not very original.”
“I figured you needed something easy,” Ben said. “You still haven’t solved the riddle.”
“What riddle?” Carlos pointed his flashlight into the void. The horrified expression on his face said his discovery wasn’t good news.
“What’s greater than God,” Ben said, keeping his voice light. “More evil than the Devil? The poor have it, the rich need it and if you eat it you will die.”
“Easy,” Carlos said. “That awful stuff your mother makes you drink.”
“Green glob IS more evil than the devil and when I drink it I feel like I’m going to die, but that’s not the answer,” Ben said.
“The new stuff is much better,” April chimed in.
“Then you can have my share,” Ben snorted.
“Get back to the subject. I changed my mind. Can I have a hint?” asked Grace.
“No. All you need to know is in the riddle already,” Ben said.
“But nothing I try works,” Grace said.
Ben shrugged. “If all else fails, whatever remains is the answer.”
“That doesn’t make any more sense than the last hint you gave me.”
“Actually, it does if you think about it hard enough.”
“Come on.” Grace stamped her foot in mock protest. A section of the ledge broke off and dropped into the abyss.
Everyone froze and waited to hear the rock land. No sound returned. Grace’s face turned bright red and she clamped one hand over her mouth.
She took a deep breath. “Serise, let’s move a little closer to the wall.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Nothing,” Grace lied, keeping her voice soft and calm. “It’s just a little dark and I want to make sure that you can feel something besides me just in case.”
“Got it,” Serise said, sounding more relaxed.
Ben peered around the curve. The gap wasn’t a hole. It was the remnant of a winding staircase carved into the side of the cave. Only random sections of an iron railing remained intact. They looked sturdy but he didn’t want to take any chances.
He clung to one overriding thought. His parents would be waiting on the other side.
“Serise?” Ben tried to sound cheerful even though his anxiety level was off the charts. “We’ve got to go down some stairs. It may be a little slippery so hug the wall, okay?”
“Okay,” Serise said. “I think I can do it without the blindfold.”
“No. It’s better to keep it on. Grace can guide you, but it’s a little scary.”
“Great” Serise said. “I’m doomed if I do and doomed if I don’t.”
Serise let go of Grace’s hand and removed the bandana. What she said next wasn’t repeatable — mostly because no one could understand her. She yelled a mixture of Navajo, English and a few things that shouldn’t have been in her vocabulary. She clutched the wall desperately searching for a handhold then turned to go back.
“Serise!” Ben yelled.
It was too late. Serise scrambled up the path towards the destroyed Vatican complex. Her foot slipped with each step, causing the rock ledge to crumble. She pinwheeled her arms but her backpack threw off her balance. She slid over the edge toward the abyss.
Ben almost flew, grabbing a bent metal rod that jutted out of the rock with one hand and Serise’s backpack strap with the other. He strained with the effort, his hand slipping on the rod. Serise was screaming as her body lurched to a stop.
“Hold on!” Ben yelled, trying to keep his grip on her pack. He was grateful she had the security strap fastened around her waist. It was all that was keeping the pack from slipping off her arms.
More rocks fell. The ledge wasn’t stable and it wasn’t going to hold for long.
“Stop kicking, Serise!”
Carlos scrambled onto his stomach, reaching for Serise. “Pull up!” Carlos said. “You’ve got to help us get you up.”
“I don’t want to die!” Serise screamed. “Don’t let me fall.”
“You won’t,” Ben felt as if his arm was going to dislocate from the socket. “I promise.” But it was a lie. She was too heavy and the ledge was too narrow to get more leverage. There was no space left for Grace or April to lend a hand.
“You two keep going,” Ben said. “In case the ledge collapses.”
“No,” Grace said. “We go together or we don’t go at all. Serise! Pretend you’re doing chin-ups in gym. Close your eyes and do it!”
Serise strained but couldn’t get leverage. “It’s not working!”
Ben began flexing his arm. She tried to find a handhold but the wall offered little assistance. Her feet dug into the wall only to slip again.
Ben panicked and nodded towards Carlos whose own face strained under the weight. “She’s slipping. We’re going to have to do it ourselves. Get ready to pull.” Ben gritted his teeth and braced.
“Ready! Set! Go!”
He yanked and suddenly Serise was over the top and wedged between the small remaining space between him, Carlos and the wall. He bent over the edge, gasping. When he looked up again, Carlos, Grace and his sister were gaping at him.
“Thanks, Carlos,” he said. “That was close.”
Carlos just shuddered. “How did you do that? Get her up, I mean?”
Ben stared at him, still struggling to catch his breath. “What are you talking about? We did it together.”
“No,” Carlos said. “I wasn’t ready. I was still trying to make sure I had most of my weight on this side of the ledge and suddenly you yanked and she was up.”
Grace and April nodded in agreement. Serise, on the other hand, lay with her face against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ben blinked. “You sure?”
Carlos nodded. “Guess it’s like those stories you hear about people getting a surge of adrenaline and lifting a car off someone.”
Ben didn’t respond. It happened so fast he didn’t really remember the details. He coughed, took in another breath and contemplated their current situation. It hadn’t changed.
“Serise, there’s no place to go but forward,” he said. “Even if we could get back to the Vatican outpost we don’t know how to open the cave entrance or the sarcophagus from this side.”
Serise inhaled rapidly. Ben figured that at her current rate she’d use up all the oxygen in the cave. He pushed April’s hand into Grace’s and winked. “Time for a change in partners, Twerp.”
April winked back, but her face was still marked with fear. Ben inched toward Serise. One false step and … He couldn’t bear to think about that possibility.
“Serise. I’m going to turn around. I want you to keep your hands on my shoulders. We’re going down together.”
“I can’t!” She whimpered
“Do you need the blindfold?” Ben asked.
“No! It won’t help now.”
“Then there are only two choices,” Ben said. “Go forward or stay right here. Whatever happens, we all stay together. You choose for us.” He tucked the compass into the side pocket of April’s backpack.
Serise wavered, argued with herself in Navajo, then gripped his hand so hard she nearly cut off the circulation. “Forward.”
Carlos led the way. Dirt and debris covered the surface but traction was good. The staircase spiraled around a cylindrical outcrop of rock. April counted each step as they descended.
“Forty-nine, fifty. Wow! We’re going a long way!” she said.
“April!” Grace nodded in Serise’s direction.
April’s mouth formed an “O.”
“It’s okay,” Serise said, face turned toward the rock. “I’m okay.”
By the time April reached “seventy-five” the group arrived at a dead end — a semi-circular landing just large enough to hold all of them — and a solid steel wall with an eight-pointed star engraved on it.
“NO!” Ben yelled. “What is this?”
“Maybe there’s another one of those hidden doors here?” Grace’s voice cracked in terror.
“I hope not,” Carlos whispered. “There’s nowhere for a door to swing without knocking us off the landing.”
Serise let out a pitiful whimper.
“Oops. Sorry, Serise,” he said.
Ben placed his hand on the star and felt a slight discharge of static electricity. The wall retracted revealing a chamber twenty feet in diameter. There were no hieroglyphics, panels or instructions on the smooth rock walls. Thankfully, there were also no unusual noises, no menacing shadows, no foul odors and no rhythmic pounding.
