Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan W. Stokes Page A

Addison called, pushing Eddie in after Raj. Molly crawled in next, headfirst.
    Zubov reached the edge of the bone pile, leapt clear of any remaining trip wires, and dashed for Addison.
    Addison ducked into the narrow cave and discovered his team had formed a traffic jam. “Keep moving!” he shouted. He turned in time to see Zubov lunge a knife into the opening of the cave.
    Zubov was too large to crawl into the passage, so he simply reached a tattooed arm inside and slashed with his knife. Addison crab-walked backward on his hands, the knife barely missing his throat.
    Addison turned in the narrow tunnel and crawled forward as fast as he could, the rock pressing in on him from all sides.
    Raj’s voice carried through the darkness. “I hear the river up ahead!”
    The limestone chute grew wet and slippery. One by one, Raj, Eddie, Molly, and Addison lost their grip and began sliding down the slick tunnel. They screamed as they slipped out of control, the water flushing them down the channel, twisting and turning. Their voices grew hoarse until the wet tunnel finally spit them out, sending them splashing into the muddy Olvidado River.
    Addison’s team gasped for breath, treading water in the marshy stream. Addison gazed up at the starry night sky, thrilled to be aboveground again. “Let’s get out of here.”
    The group sloshed to the shore. They scrambled up the slimy mud embankment, picked their way through brambles and briars, and burst onto the cobbled square in front of the cathedral.
    â€œWe got the key!” Eddie exclaimed, jumping up and down.
    â€œWe escaped!” Raj offered Eddie a high five that Eddie connected with on his third try.
    â€œWe really did it!” Molly cheered.
    â€œThat was pretty close,” said Addison, beaming.
    He turned and ran smack into Professor Ragar.
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    The first thing Addison did was yelp in alarm.
    The second thing Addison did was try to run.
    The third thing Addison did was yelp in alarm.
    Professor Ragar’s extra bodyguards surrounded the group, blocking off any escape. Addison swiveled his head, searched for a direction to run, and came up empty. Switching tactics, he attempted diplomacy.
    â€œWell, here we are,” said Addison, struggling to regain his composure. “A fine evening, don’t you think?”
    â€œYou made it all the way to Colombia, just to save me the trouble of finding the second key,” Ragar said in his deep, accented voice. He wore a stylish gray derby hat pulled low over his scarred face. Addison could not help but admire the sterling silver tie bar pinned to aflawless silk tie. “The Cooke family never ceases to—how do you say?—
astonish
me.” Ragar extended his open palm to Addison and raised his eyebrows expectantly.
    Addison, not missing a beat, gave Professor Ragar a high five. “Thanks. Your praise means a lot. And I love your tie bar.”
    Ragar wound up his open palm and slapped Addison across the face.
    Addison’s cheek stung, and his head rang for a few seconds. He bit his lip and kept his voice steady. “I can usually get along with most people, but I am having trouble finding your good side.”
    The professor motioned to his bodyguards, who grabbed Addison by the arms. Addison squirmed, but the men were four times his size.
    Ragar fished in Addison’s blazer pocket and removed the Incan key. He admired its glittering silver skin in the moonlight. “Thank you.”
    Addison could think of nothing polite to say, so he settled for a dignified silence. He studied the burn scar etched into Ragar’s face. The professor’s gray derby hat partially concealed where the patchy hair had been seared from the scalp, leaving only red and mottled flesh.
    The rest of Ragar’s bodyguards burst from the front door of the cathedral, covered in bone dust and gasping for breath.
    Ragar smiled at Addison. “I