The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues #1)(7)

"They're taking the challenge," she muttered.

"Well, duh!" Dan said. "What's another two million dollars to them? They can afford to give it up."

"They were threatening us. They don't want us involved."

"Maybe they'll suffer a painful death," Dan mused. "I wonder what the treasure is, anyway."

"Does it matter?" Amy asked bitterly.

"We can't look for it. We barely have enough money for bus passes."

But still she found herself wondering. Grace had explored all over the world. Could the treasure be a lost Egyptian tomb ... or pirates' gold? Mr. McIntyre had said the prize would make the winners the most powerful human beings on earth. What could do that? And why were there exactly thirty-nine clues?

She couldn't help being curious. She loved mysteries. When she was younger, she used to pretend her mother was still alive, and they would travel together to archaeological digs. Sometimes Grace would go, too, just the three of them together, happily exploring the world, but that was just silly pretending.

"Too bad," Dan grumbled, "I'd love to wipe the smiles off the Cobras' faces...."

Just then, Aunt Beatrice grabbed their arms. Her face was contorted with rage and her breath smelled like mothballs. "You two will do nothing ridiculous! I fully intend to take my million dollars, and you will do the same! Never fear, I'll put it in an account for you until you're adults. I'll only spend the interest. In return, I will allow you to continue as my wards."

Amy choked with rage. "You ... you'll allow us to be your wards? You'll allow us to give you our two million dollars?"

As soon as she said it, she couldn't believe she'd managed to get the words out.

Beatrice usually scared her to death. Even Dan looked impressed.

"Watch your place, young lady!" Beatrice warned. "Do the responsible thing or else!"

"Or else what?" Dan asked innocently.

Beatrice's face turned bright red. "Or else, you little upstart, I will disown you and leave you to Social Services. You will be penniless orphans, and I'll make sure no Cahill ever helps you again! This whole business is absurd. You'll take the money and wash your hands of my sister's ridiculous scheme for finding the -- "

She stopped abruptly.

"Finding the what?" Dan asked.

"Never you mind," Beatrice said. With a shock, Amy realized Aunt Beatrice was scared.

"Just make the right choice, or you will never have my support again!"

She marched off. Amy looked at Dan, but before she could say anything, Mr. McIntyre rang a little bell. Slowly, the wrangling and arguing in the Great Hall died down. The assembly took their seats.

"It is time," Mr. McIntyre said. "I must warn you that once the choice is made, there is no turning back. No changing minds."

"Wait a moment, William," Alistair Oh said. "This isn't fair. We know almost nothing about the challenge. How are we to judge whether it is worth the gamble?"

Mr. McIntyre pursed his lips. "I am limited in what I can say, sir. You know that the Cahill family is very large ... very old. It has many branches. Some of you, until today, did not even realize you were Cahills. But as Madame Grace said in her video address, this family has been instrumental in shaping human civilization. Some of the most important figures in history have in fact been Cahills."

Excited muttering filled the room.

Amy's mind was racing. She'd always known the Cahills were important. A lot of them were rich. They lived all over the world. But shaping human civilization? She wasn't sure what Mr. McIntyre meant.

"Historical figures?" Mr. Holt bellowed. "Like who?"

Mr. McIntyre cleared his throat. "Sir, you would be hard-pressed to name a major historical figure in the last few centuries who was not a member of this family."

"Abraham Lincoln," Cousin Ingrid shouted out. "Eleanor Roosevelt."

"Yes," Mr. McIntyre said simply. "And yes."

A stunned silence fell in the room.

"Harry Houdini!" Madison Holt shouted.

"Lewis and Clark!" her sister, Reagan, suggested.

"Yes, yes, and yes," Mr. McIntyre said.

"Oh, come on!" Mr. Holt yelled. "That's impossible!"

"I agree!" Uncle Jose said. "You're putting us on, McIntyre."

"I am completely serious," the old lawyer assured him. "And yet, all the previous accomplishments of the Cahill clan are nothing compared to the challenge that now faces you. It is the time for you to discover the greatest secret of the Cahills, to become the most powerful members of the family in history -- or to die trying."

Amy felt something cold and heavy in her stomach, like she'd swallowed a cannonball.

How could she be related to all those famous people? How could Grace possibly have thought Amy could become more powerful than them? She got nervous just thinking about it. There was no way she'd have the courage for a dangerous quest.

But if she and Dan didn't accept the challenge ... She remembered Beatrice clutching their arms, telling them to take the money. Beatrice would find a way to steal their two million dollars. Amy wouldn't be able to stand up to her. They would go back to their dreary little apartment and nothing would change, except Grace would be gone. No weekend trips to look forward to, nothing to remember her by. Amy never thought anything could be worse than when her parents died, but this was. She and Dan were totally alone. The only way out was this crazy idea that they were part of a great historical family ... part of some mysterious contest. Amy's hands started to sweat.