swipes a strand of long black hair that escaped from her braid. “The only explanation is that a person appeared in the center of this pit, stood there, and then disappeared. Of course, it’s impossible, but that’s what fits.” Her tone is practical as if this type of thing happens every day.
No one argues.
Dad looks at Beau. “Do you think we’re in danger?”
Beau takes off his cap and runs a hand over the limp strands of his hair. “Let’s say you’re right and the person just popped in and popped out. The biggest danger is if the person returns and has a weapon. Or more than one person arrives and surprises us.” He gestures to the center with his cap. “Since teleportation is impossible, the odds of that scenario happening are very small. However, I think it would be prudent to have Officer Lawrence stationed in this location during the day. She can watch for HoLFs and for the magician.”
“Magician?” Mom asks, giving Beau a sharp look.
“Yeah, you know. Now, I’m going to disappear before your very eyes.” He waves his hand in a grand sweeping gesture. “Presto!”
Dad laughs. Mom’s still not amused. Niall and I cover our grins. What else can we do? It’s crazy and yet another mystery added to the long list of unknowns. Might as well have some fun.
Mom leads the way back to the ladder. Once there she calls up, “Fred, tell Regan to grab a 3D digitizer and come down here.”
Two more floodlights have arrived and Niall and Beau take them. We’re almost done setting them. Regan soon climbs down. She’s clutching the digitizer to her chest as if it’s a shield. The tech looks at me.
“It’s safe,” I say.
She loosens her grip and the tense line of her shoulders relaxes. Mom leads her to the center. Curious, I follow.
“I want you to scan that print in the sand. Once you finish, return to the surface so you can send the image file to Officer Tace Radcliff. Have him check it against the boots of his prisoners.”
Regan gives my mom a wide-eyed stare, but recovers and starts fiddling with the switches on the digitizer—it resembles an oversized camera.
I lean close to Mom. “That’s a good idea. Do you think Jarren’s looters might have been in here?”
“I don’t know, but it’s worth looking into. Even if they don’t match, we’ll still know more than we do now.”
True.
The rest of the floodlights arrive and the three of us set them. I move the multidirectional one closer to the prints, but not in the very center. The pit is ablaze with white light from all directions. The Warriors’ shadows are either short or diffuse. The shadow-blobs would have to work really hard to hide in here.
I walk through the Warriors until I find the General in the first row. His official position is R1, C21 (there are also forty-two columns). Standing in front of him, I study him. The generals are always the tallest of the Warriors. He’s clasping his hands in front of him with his coat’s sleeves pushed up. Like all the generals in the army, he’s wearing a pheasant-tailed cap, which resembles one of those fancy folded napkins that are placed on the table during special dinners. This general’s mustache looks like a flattened letter M with the ends curled up. He has mutton chops and a square-ish shaped head.
The General gazes forward, as if watching for the enemy. I sense all is well with the Warriors. It’s…calming. Strange, I know.
“Thirty minutes to sunset,” Elese calls down.
That is the agreed-upon time for everyone to start exiting the pit. Regan finished her scan and has already gone to the surface. My mom straightens from her inspection of one of the Warriors. She wipes sand from her knees. Frowning, she marches up to Beau. This ought to be good.
“There’s plenty of light down here. Ara said it’s safe, I want to—”
“No.” Beau uses his I’m-in-command voice. “We won’t be deviating from protocol, Dr. Daniels.”
She stiffens. “I’m in charge of the expedition.”
“And I’m responsible for everyone’s lives.”
“We’re safer down here.” Mom gestures to the lights. “It’s dark at night. Plenty of shadows in camp.”
I wonder if Mom planned this all along.
“None of the research field teams has reported an attack in the desert,” Beau counters with ease. “All our experience with the HoLFs has been in the Warrior pits.”
Did Radcliff anticipate my mom would try something like this?
Mom crosses her arms. “In the destroyed Warrior pits.”
“Irrelevant. Please