Ancient Echoes

CHAPTER 51



“HOW LONG ARE WE going to wait?” Nose threw his dried jerky on the ground. They had spent another night doing nothing but watching and waiting, and now the morning was nearly over, the sun moving high in the sky. “I’m tired of sitting on my ass. This food is for shit. I say we go in, kill those weirdoes with the bows and arrows, find what we need, and get the hell out.”

Hammill frowned; he didn’t like his men speaking their minds that way, but he wasn’t surprised it. The men felt spooked, and that made them angry. “Okay, hot shot. Tell me how we get out.”

“Right back the way we came,” Nose said. “I’m sure there’s a way.”

“F*ck,” Fish said, which meant he agreed.

“And if the plan craps out, then what?” Hammill asked. “You think those bozos stick around with their thumbs up their asses because they like it here? No one lives this way by choice. Think with your head, man, not your stomach or your dick. We’ll wait.”

He didn’t admit to the others, but he thought that since Charlotte Reed got them here, she should be able to get them out. He didn’t want to take the chance of killing her. He didn’t like being superstitious, but he was. She had become a totem to him. She’d stayed alive in spite of his best efforts. There had to be a reason for that, and he saw it now. To kill her would be unlucky. To keep her alive would bring him luck. And they needed luck.

His conviction was confirmed when his scout gestured for him and the others to see what was going on. Three of the villagers led Charlotte Reed and Lionel Rempart. Hammill and his men followed. Each carried the silent hope that Charlotte Reed would show them how to leave this hell when the time came.

When they finally reached the pillars, Hammill admitted the confused expression on Charlotte’s face made him unhappy. The Professor brought out some big, elaborate book and kept looking from the book to the pillars also worried him. With a jolt, Hammill realized it was the book he’d been sent here to steal. But now, he couldn’t take it. Not if it held the key to getting out of this place.

If it did, however, the key didn’t fit the lock because Charlotte and the professor kept shaking their heads. Finally, they sat down on the ground, the book in front of them, and began to read it together.

Hammill hoped his men didn’t feel the same sinking sensation as he did, or he’d have a complete mutiny on his hands, one that could be dangerous even for him. He’d have to act before that happened. Maybe if they captured Charlotte Reed and placed a knife against her scrawny throat, she’d be inspired to get all of them home again.

That was what they needed to do.

Charlotte and the book, together. Why wait?

But what if he was wrong?

o0o

“How am I supposed to know how to open the gateway?” Lionel complained to Charlotte as they sat at the top of the mound facing the pillars, The Book of Abraham the Jew on a cloth before them.

Earlier, after breakfast, Kohler stood and spoke to the group. “I know the interest some of you have in the ancient book of alchemy found here.”

At their stunned look, he said, “Yes, we have found the ancient book of alchemy, but reading it is impossible for us.” His gaze pin-pointed Lionel and Michael. “Yet, all of us believe it holds the key to our escape from this place. Since Miss Charlotte Reed is a student of Egypt where much of the information from the book stems, and Professor Lionel Rempart also has studied this area, Mr. Olgerbee will allow the two of you to study the book. We will watch and protect you as you go to the pillars each day and attempt to open the gateway. May the Almighty God guide your endeavors and bring you to success.”

Shortly afterward, Olgerbee and Sam Black escorted them to the pillars and stood guard as they attempted to open the gateway.

Lionel looked around nervously. He didn’t like the way Olgerbee glared at him. He leaned toward Charlotte and whispered, “If these people are depending on me to get us out of here, we’re in big trouble. You’ve got to come up with a way, Charlotte. Tell me the hieroglyphs on the pillars say how to open them so we can all go home again.”

“I know how one reads hieroglyphics, but that doesn’t mean I’ve memorized all the combinations of symbols and their meanings,” Charlotte said. “To read them, I need reference books and dictionaries.”

A large bat-like creature jerkily flapping its wings swooped down over Lionel’s head. Lionel ducked and Sam Black let loose an arrow that struck the strange bat. Lionel stood stock still, petrified, as the creature flew off with the arrow protruding.

“Well, I’m afraid we don’t have any Egyptian dictionaries,” Lionel said, more nervous than ever. “You’ll have to figure it out without them. I need you to do it quickly.”

The appearance of the winged creature so stunned Charlotte, it took a long moment for Lionel’s words to penetrate. “I doubt what’s up there explains much of anything,” she murmured. “Something about them handing over this book so easily makes me wary. And don’t forget those mercenaries, whoever they are, who shot at Michael and Quade. I suspect they’re here for the book as well.”

“Whatever we do,” Lionel said, his face rigid with determination, “When we find our way back, The Book of Abraham the Jew goes with us.”