spoken about how their friends had gone on to join the Teachers. And that was the cue for the dance to begin. Seven tribesmen came forward and began a dance as old as the group, with only the beat of a single drum to accompany them. The dancers re-enacted the arrival of the knowledge-bringers. Elena sat in between Jen and Laney, interpreting the dancers moves.
There had been seven of them. They had arrived with giant ships filled with treasures. The dancers indicated that the greatest treasure was a set of books detailing their history and their understanding of the world.
Laney's mind whirled at the possibility of finding that library. What humanity could learn from those tomes was beyond her wildest dreams. A documentation of an incredibly ancient civilization.
As she fell into her hammock, her mind had filled with everything she’d seen. It was incredible and yet horrible at the same time: an incredible cache of ancient knowledge, and a group chasing them capable of merciless violence.
She knew she’d never fall asleep with her mind so crammed with thoughts. But she'd dropped off almost as soon as she closed her eyes, her body all but shutting down. Her subconscious, though, had continued the questions the dancers had raised. Artifacts, the Guardians, a world flood, the knowledge-bringers, death, and despair. They’d all jumbled together in a kaleidoscope of images as she slept.
Jen swung her legs over the edge of the hammock. "What’s going on out there?”
“It looks like everyone’s getting ready for a fight.”
“Think they’ll find the village?”
“I don’t know. How’s your arm?”
Jen looked away. “Um, fine.”
“Want me to take a look at it?”
Jen stood quickly, turning her injured arm away from Laney. “No, that’s okay. I changed the bandage last night.”
“Good. I’m not much of a nurse anyway.” Laney spied a backpack over by the doorway. She hopped out of the hammock and made her way over to it.
“What’s that?” Jen asked.
Laney unzipped the pack and starting pulling out its contents. Two disposable cameras, a notepad and pens, plastic bags, two flashlights. “I think these are our inventory tools.”
“What? They can’t expect us to still go on to the cave with all this happening. Can they?”
Carefully wrapping each piece of equipment in the plastic bags, Laney loaded the equipment back into the backpack. “I don’t know. But let’s keep this with us until we know what the plan is. Let's go see about-"
An explosion at the base of the tree holding the big hut cut off the rest of her words. Laney dropped to the ground as the blast rocked their hut. The giant tree across from them wobbled, but stayed upright.
One tribesman wasn’t so lucky. He plummeted from a rope bridge, his screams following him down.
Blasts of gunfire cut through the morning air.
Laney got to her feet and helped Jen up. Her tone was grim. “I guess they found us."
CHAPTER 22
It had taken them forty minutes to fly from the airport to the site of the attacks. Jake sat in the gunner’s seat of the helo, his eyes scanning the forest below them as they flew past. He made sure to keep his mind on the mission, not letting his fear for Laney worm its way into his thoughts.
Five miles out from the village, he saw the smoke. Another minute and they were flying over the still smoldering ruins.
Not a building had been left standing, and bodies dotted the burnt landscape. A few animals scattered as they flew over, but others stayed with their meals. His gut clenched. Whoever had done this had been thorough. There was nothing left.
Jake signaled for the pilot to head to the church. A few minutes later, they were hovering above it. It was still standing, but more bodies were strewn across its grounds. A group of about ten people looked up, policemen and some volunteers, who’d been
There had been seven of them. They had arrived with giant ships filled with treasures. The dancers indicated that the greatest treasure was a set of books detailing their history and their understanding of the world.
Laney's mind whirled at the possibility of finding that library. What humanity could learn from those tomes was beyond her wildest dreams. A documentation of an incredibly ancient civilization.
As she fell into her hammock, her mind had filled with everything she’d seen. It was incredible and yet horrible at the same time: an incredible cache of ancient knowledge, and a group chasing them capable of merciless violence.
She knew she’d never fall asleep with her mind so crammed with thoughts. But she'd dropped off almost as soon as she closed her eyes, her body all but shutting down. Her subconscious, though, had continued the questions the dancers had raised. Artifacts, the Guardians, a world flood, the knowledge-bringers, death, and despair. They’d all jumbled together in a kaleidoscope of images as she slept.
Jen swung her legs over the edge of the hammock. "What’s going on out there?”
“It looks like everyone’s getting ready for a fight.”
“Think they’ll find the village?”
“I don’t know. How’s your arm?”
Jen looked away. “Um, fine.”
“Want me to take a look at it?”
Jen stood quickly, turning her injured arm away from Laney. “No, that’s okay. I changed the bandage last night.”
“Good. I’m not much of a nurse anyway.” Laney spied a backpack over by the doorway. She hopped out of the hammock and made her way over to it.
“What’s that?” Jen asked.
Laney unzipped the pack and starting pulling out its contents. Two disposable cameras, a notepad and pens, plastic bags, two flashlights. “I think these are our inventory tools.”
“What? They can’t expect us to still go on to the cave with all this happening. Can they?”
Carefully wrapping each piece of equipment in the plastic bags, Laney loaded the equipment back into the backpack. “I don’t know. But let’s keep this with us until we know what the plan is. Let's go see about-"
An explosion at the base of the tree holding the big hut cut off the rest of her words. Laney dropped to the ground as the blast rocked their hut. The giant tree across from them wobbled, but stayed upright.
One tribesman wasn’t so lucky. He plummeted from a rope bridge, his screams following him down.
Blasts of gunfire cut through the morning air.
Laney got to her feet and helped Jen up. Her tone was grim. “I guess they found us."
CHAPTER 22
It had taken them forty minutes to fly from the airport to the site of the attacks. Jake sat in the gunner’s seat of the helo, his eyes scanning the forest below them as they flew past. He made sure to keep his mind on the mission, not letting his fear for Laney worm its way into his thoughts.
Five miles out from the village, he saw the smoke. Another minute and they were flying over the still smoldering ruins.
Not a building had been left standing, and bodies dotted the burnt landscape. A few animals scattered as they flew over, but others stayed with their meals. His gut clenched. Whoever had done this had been thorough. There was nothing left.
Jake signaled for the pilot to head to the church. A few minutes later, they were hovering above it. It was still standing, but more bodies were strewn across its grounds. A group of about ten people looked up, policemen and some volunteers, who’d been
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