Seizure(51)

“Not really.”

“Holy crap.”

Back down the passage, three massive iron sheets lay jumbled on the floor. Right where we’d been standing.

“Hi,” Shelton panted. “I love you, man.”

“Back at you.” Hi spat gobs of filth. “I’m going to kiss Ben now, in case some of you don’t want to watch.”

“I’ll pass.” Ben ruffled Hi’s hair. “Next time, show a little coordination.”

“Stupid Nikes. Next time, I’m buying Adidas.”

“Everyone still flaring?” I asked.

Three affirmatives.

“Then we need to keep moving.”

All smiles faded.

Who knew what other traps lay ahead?



“Wait.” Shelton raised both hands. “Quiet.”

Everyone froze.

“Something’s changed. The wind sounds … different.”

We held our breath. When it came to sonic hearing, Shelton was the undisputed champ.

“Does anything look wrong?” Shelton was tilting his head from side to side, like a parakeet assessing a new cage. “Out of place?”

“Holes in the wall!” Hi’s finger shot out. “Both sides.”

Three yards ahead I could see four circles, two on each side. Shoulder high, each was roughly six inches wide.

“That’s the noise!” Shelton exclaimed. “Air flowing over the gaps. Can’t you hear the whine?”

I shook my head. “I’m glad you did.”

“The ground,” Ben hissed. “The center of the passage humps up slightly.”

“He’s right,” I said. “Looks like another trap. But what kind?”

Ben withdrew a water bottle from my pack.

“Head’s up!” He tossed it directly onto the mound.

Click.

Spears shot from each side, crossed, and slammed into the opposite wall. Wooden shafts snapped and clattered to the ground like pick-up sticks.

“Whoa,” Hi said.

Agreed.

We picked our way through the debris, carefully avoiding the hump. Who knew if the trap could reload?

We’d gone another thirty yards when I noticed a glint in the distance.

“Stop!” I raised the flashlight as high as I could. “Something’s reflecting.”

“Great,” Shelton muttered. “Probably machine guns.”

As one, we crept forward, senses firing. Sweat slicked my palms, soaked my shirt, and drenched my face.

Ten yards. Fifteen. Twenty.

A starburst of light danced around us.

“Oh my God!” Hi dropped the lantern in shock. The light tilted, casting ghastly shadows across the passageway.

Before us lay another trap, already tripped.

Twin metal spikes had swung down from the ceiling, one in front, the other from behind, their deadly points meeting like monstrous pinchers.

An object was caught between them.

Shelton screamed.

Ben cursed.

Hi puked on his Nikes.

I stood, speechless.

Eyes glued to an impaled corpse.





THE DEAD MAN dangled, arms outstretched, jaws wide, as though frozen by the horror of his fate.

Iron talons pierced his chest front and back. The guy hadn’t stood a chance.

Never forget. Pirates are merciless.

It took a few moments to calm ourselves.

“Poor bastard,” Hi said. “Dodged the first three traps, but not this nightmare.”

“Don’t touch anything,” Ben warned. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”

“How long?”

I knew what Shelton was asking, but had no answer. Though the body was mummified, it was clear that the man’s death hadn’t been recent.

“Not centuries,” I said. “The clothes are modern, and haven’t completely rotted. The skin has gone leathery. No animals or insects down here, and the cool temperatures would’ve helped with preservation.”

“Check for a wallet?” Hi suggested.

No one moved.

Fine.

Stepping forward, I delicately poked through the man’s pockets. Jacket. Shirt. Pants.

“Nothing. He’s not carrying any personal items.”

“What’s below him?” Ben asked.

Lying beneath the body was a grimy canvas sack. Upending it, I shook out the contents. Canteen. Rotting Archie comic. Wax paper wrapping something that might once have been food. And a polished stone disk the size of a hamburger.

The disk was an inch thick, with four holes running vertically and three more crossing its face. A tiny triangle protruded from the center.

“What the hell?” Shelton sounded puzzled.

“No idea.” I shoved the thing in my backpack. “No ID on the body, either.”

As I stood, my elbow accidentally grazed a shriveled leg. The body shifted, then one black boot dropped to the earth.

I danced back, heart pounding.

Nothing happened. My pulse returned to a normal pace.

The boot set a bell dinging inside my skull. Curious, I dropped to examine the desiccated foot. The bell dinged louder as I peeled off the sock.

The boys sounded their disgust. Ignoring them, I prodded the hard, leathery skin. Traced the ankle with one finger.