The Serpent in the Stone - By Nicki Greenwood Page 0,46
rattled a few pebbles loose from the rock face above and below him. Startled, he flattened himself against the cliff. Horus shrieked and launched into the air. Ian swung in his harness, wondering if the cliff would come down on top of him. Not how he hoped to end his career.
As soon as the tremor ceased, he started carefully back up the cliff. When he reached the top, Flintrop and Luis were waiting.
Luis gave him a hand up onto solid ground. “You all right? We just had a shakeup at the dig.”
At once, he thought of Sara. A magnetic pull washed over him. He strove to ignore it. “I’m fine. Is everyone okay down there?”
“Another fissure opened,” Flintrop reported. “Sara and I had a close call, but no one’s hurt. We may need to shut the project down. The site’s not safe like this.”
Ian gave an inner growl at Flintrop’s use of the words Sara and I. That reaction was harder to ignore.
Flintrop shrugged. “You might consider leaving as well, Waverly. It could get dangerous around here.”
Ian snapped his gaze to Flintrop’s. They held each other’s stare. “I’ll take my chances.”
“I heard you were a bit on the stubborn side. Got a dislocated shoulder, and still stuck around. Tough stuff.”
Ian unhooked his climbing belt and started coiling the ropes. “Some things are just worth it, I guess.”
Flintrop’s gaze never faltered. “I daresay you’re right.”
****
Sara glanced around at the assembled crew. They ate a restless lunch while Lambertson and two of his assistants took stock of the dig site. While they finished their meal, she leaned over to her sister and spoke in a hushed tone. “I saw a skull. In the fissure, when it opened.”
Faith’s eyes went wide. She glanced toward the trench and her mouth opened, but Lambertson’s return interrupted her before she could reply.
The group shot to attention. Lamb held up his hand to silence the last of the conversation. “The structure of what we’ve unearthed so far is mainly intact. However, there’s a new crevice, and I believe that for the safety of all, we’re going to have to—”
“Can we brace it?” interrupted Sara as Flintrop and Luis returned to the camp.
“I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the crew for us to remain here,” said Lamb. “We have no way of knowing if we’ll get another earthquake.”
“I found a skull, Lamb.”
Everyone began murmuring. Sara stood up and spoke above the din. “It was in the crevice. If we can get it out, at least we’ll have something to show for all this work.”
Lamb frowned. “It might be possible to shore up the fault and continue working, but I can’t guarantee our safety under those circumstances.”
Sara glanced at her sister. Faith nodded, and Sara turned back to Lambertson. “Gemini will stay and finish the excavation.”
“Are you telling me you’re going to endanger yourself and your sister for the sake of this project?”
A mutter passed throughout the crew. Sara looked from face to face and found undisguised doubt. “Shetland was my father’s labor of love. I’m not leaving the island until this dig is done, if I have to scrape away every bit of soil with my bare hands.”
The mutter elevated.
“Are you kidding?” called a voice.
“This is insane,” came another. “You heard Lambertson. The dig is dangerous.”
“Who knows if there’ll be another quake?” demanded a third.
And then, “I’ll stay.”
Sara blinked. Flintrop. Flintrop was backing her up? She stared at him across the group. The mutter became a collective argument until Lambertson shouted for quiet.
The crew settled. No one ever out-shouted Lambertson.
Flintrop tilted his head at Sara. “I think she’s right. Any of my crew who wants to leave can do so, but if there are remains, it’s possible there will be artifacts. I’m staying put.”
Faith got to her feet and whispered, “Of all the people I thought would be an ally, he’s the last.”
“Me, too,” Sara murmured. If Flintrop stayed, the money stayed. If the money stayed, that made things a lot less difficult. She almost found herself wanting to thank him.
Lambertson threw a hand in the air. “All right. You’re all bloody well out of your minds. Those of you who plan to stay on will need to sign release forms. If anyone intends to leave, gather your gear, and then see me to make the arrangements.” The group began to disperse.
Flintrop crossed the camp toward Lamb’s tent. As he passed Sara, he said, “Some things are just worth it, I guess.”