The Belial Library (The Belial Series) (10 page)

Laney took out two men as they tried to block Nana and Elena’s path.  She sprinted behind the other three, praying the Guardians would watch her back. 

A man appeared to her right, gun raised.  A bullet pierced his neck. 

She smiled. 
I guess they do have my back
.

A trail cut through the trees.  Nana and Elena deftly maneuvered along it.  Laney followed closely behind.  Leaping over roots, ducking under low branches, she raced, her heart pounding. 

Twenty yards in, Laney was startled by the sudden appearance of the Guardians.  They materialized in the trails ahead of them, behind them, in the trees above.  They formed an honor guard around them, shielding them from any danger. 

The path through the forest widened.  Laney didn't have to duck any longer.  Without a word, the Guardians picked up the pace, racing them through the trees.  Laney didn't think, didn't pause.  She just ran. 

The sounds of the battle receded as they travelled deeper into the forest, until finally all she could hear were the footfalls of her group as they sprinted away.

For hours, they ran through the trees, the pace grueling.  At one point, Nana stumbled.  Before Laney could reach her, two Guardians swooped down.  Looping their arms together, they carried her, barely breaking their stride. 

Ahead, another Guardian carried Elena.  Occasionally, she would look over his shoulder and give Laney a wave. 

Jen slipped back to run with Laney.  Laney took comfort in her presence.  Jen never broke her stride, never fumbled.  She stared straight ahead, a determined look on her face.

The pace slowed as the sun started its slip towards the horizon.  Laney's legs felt numb from the frenzied escape.  She glanced over at Jen and whispered.  “You think they brought sleeping bags and tents with them?”

Jen laughed quietly. “I think they can do better than that.  Look up.”

Laney nearly tripped as she took in the sight.  A village had been built in the trees.  There were over twenty huts with wood floors and thatched roofs.  Each home was connected to the others by two rope bridges.  Above the huts was another, smaller platform, a lookout tower. 

“I’ve always wanted a tree house,” Jen said, her eyes glowing.

Torches lit up the homes.  Laney couldn’t help thinking of Robin Hood and his merry men. 

People had stopped to watch the group arrive.  Men, women, and children looked down at them.  The Guardian tribe.  Their existence was unknown to the rest of the world.  As far as she knew, she and Jen were the first outsiders to see them.

Laney followed the Nuninks and the Guardians up a rope ladder, stepping onto a long bridge.  It swayed with her steps.  She clung to the rails, butterflies dancing across her stomach.  She’d never been scared of heights, but then again, most of the mountains she’d climbed stayed still as she climbed them.

Together, she and Jen followed Nana and Elena inside the largest hut.  It had a wooden floor and a large fire pit in the center with a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape.  There was no furniture.  It looked like it might be a giant meeting room for the group. 

Eddie walked in from an entryway across from them.  Elena sprinted over to him.  He hugged her with a giant grin, speaking in Spanish.  “Hi, little monkey.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

An older man followed Eddie in.  He was more clothed than the soldiers they’d seen so far.  He wore old khakis, cut off at the knees, his feet bare.  His chest had the same tattoos, but he didn’t have any feathers.  His dark hair was dotted with only a few grays, his body still strong. 

Eddie stepped away from Elena, his back going straight.  He pulled Elena next to him.  The two bowed their heads as the man passed. 

The man stopped in front of Elena.  He lifted her chin.  “I have missed you, too, little queen.”

Elena threw herself around the man’s legs.  He hugged her back with a rich laugh.  He detangled Elena from his legs and tossed her in the air.  She squealed with happiness as he caught her.  He placed her next to her brother again, tweaked her nose, and then walked across the room to where Nana waited.  Nana ran a hand through her hair as he approached. 

The man stopped two feet from her.  His eyes seemed to soak her in.  His voice was gruff when he spoke.  “Are you all right?”

Nana nodded, her eyes never leaving his.  “I’m fine.”  She glanced over to Laney and Jen.  “Thanks to these two.”

The man shifted his gaze to them with a smile.  “I have heard much about you two.”

Nana crossed to stand next to him and his hand found hers.  “Laney, Jen.  I’d like to introduce you to Julian Nunink, king of the Guardians, and my husband.”

CHAPTER 19

Laney lay in a hammock, watching the trees sway above her.  “It’s weird to watch the trees above you sway while you’re in a tree house.”

Jen looked over at her from her own hammock, five feet away.  “Yeah.  This is definitely not what I expected to be doing today.”  She paused.  “What do you think is going to happen next?”

Laney shook her head.  “I have no idea."

After they’d met with the King and recovered from learning Nana had a husband, the Guardians had begun to fill up the meeting room.  Two Guardians escorted them to this hut, explaining they should wait here until the meeting was over.

“Did you see the looks we got?"  Jen asked.  "I don’t think everyone was happy to see us.”

“I overhead some of them speaking.  Apparently no one outside the Guardians and the ruling family has ever been here.  We’re a unique case.”

“I really hope this isn't one of those ‘death to outsiders’ group’s.”

Laney tried to smile, but didn’t quite make it.  “I really wish you hadn’t said that.”

“Sorry.  Let’s just say, though, for arguments sake, it is a ‘death to outsiders’ group.  Are we going to go quietly?”

This time, the grin came easily.  Laney slid a gun from under her shirt.  “What do you think?  I managed to keep this when they took the other weapons.”

Jen slid a knife out of her sling.  “Great minds think alike.”

Laney placed her gun back under her shirt, gesturing towards the big hut.  “Looks like the meeting’s breaking up.” She slid out of her hammock, with all the grace of a college freshman after a few hours of drinking.

Jen leapt out of hers with the grace of a prima ballerina. 

“Seriously,” Laney grouched, “how do you do that?  Your arm’s in a sling, for God’s sake.”

Jen gave a little bow.  “We all have our talents.”

Nana appeared in the doorway, her husband at her side.  Ten other tribesmen filled into the room surrounding them.  “We have made our decision.”

Laney took a step closer to Jen.  She squeezed her hand for support.

Julian’s face was a mask of severity.  “No outsider has ever been allowed within our village.  Any who have tried have paid the ultimate price.”

Laney tensed, her hand inching towards her gun.  She knew it would be suicide, but like hell she was going to stand here and be slaughtered.

Nana smiled.  “So, we have decided to make you honorary members of the Guardians.  You have proven that you have the heart and courage of our brothers and sisters here.  You’re welcomed as one of us.”

Nana embraced them, kissing each of them on the cheek. 

Julian did the same.  When he released Laney, his eyes twinkled.  “So now you don’t have to hide those weapons.”

CHAPTER 20

Cuenca, Ecuador

It was just before dawn and the Mariscal Lamar International airport, with its single runway, was relatively quiet.

Jake and his group had flown all night, arriving an hour ago.  He’d tried to sleep on the flight, knowing he wasn't going to get much for the next few days.  When he finally drifted off, though, nightmarish images with Laney center stage jerked him back to wakefulness.  He hated knowing she was in trouble and not being able to get to her. 

He’d decided to bring only in three extra men, plus the Witt brothers and Henry.  He wanted to bring an army, but he knew they needed to move fast.  Smaller meant faster. 

The men were scattered around the hangar, some slept, some played cards.  He’d handpicked each of them.  They could all be counted on to do whatever it took. 

Another flight took off on the far runway.  Jake watched it go.  They'd been here for an hour so far.  Henry had handled customs, so they’d been left essentially alone since their arrival.  Jake was glad.  He was in no mood to be diplomatic with officials. 

He walked outside to check the gear.  They’d been able to borrow the old Bell UH-1 Iroquois, or Huey as it was more commonly known, from a mercenary group just over the border in Columbia.  The Hueys had been heavily used by the U.S. military in Vietnam, but were out of service by the time Jake had enlisted.  Although the U.S. military had stopped using them in the late 1980s, this particular model had been bought from New Zealand, which still used a few today.

He pulled the clipboard from the deck of the chopper, glancing down at the gear checklist.  He’d probably gone through the list about five times now.  But they were waiting for one more flight and until it arrived, there was nothing to do.  To keep from going insane, he was re-checking supplies.  Again. 

“So, I hear our girl’s in trouble again.” 

Jake turned to see Yoni Benjamin standing behind him, sunlight glistening off his bald head, a duffle bag almost his height hoisted with ease over his muscular shoulder.  Of course, being he was only five-foot- two, it wasn't much of a feat for the duffel bag.  

Jake offered his hand.  Yoni crushed it in his ape-like grip.  “Thanks for coming Yoni.”

“Hey this is a two-for-one trip:  I get to help a friend and beat up some bad guys.  You couldn’t keep me away.”

Although Yoni’s tone was light-hearted, Jake could see the anger in his eyes.  Yoni was fiercely loyal and protective of his friends.  And Jake knew Yoni thought of Laney as family.  

On a good day, Yoni was dangerous.  With incentive, he was beyond lethal.   

Jordan walked up, his usually easy-going attitude replaced with a much more somber one.  “Yoni.  Thanks for coming.”

Yoni whacked him on the back.  “Don’t worry, Jordan.  We got this.  We’ll have your sister back, beating you in basketball, volleyball, and every other sport, before you know it.”

The corners of Jordan’s mouth lifted slightly.  “You're an ass, Yoni.”

“Yup.”  He hefted the bag above his head.  “But I have excellent athletic skills, unlike some people I know.  Hey, is that Mikey?”

Yoni headed across the airplane hangar, no doubt to hassle Mike with Jordan at his side.  Some might think Yoni was insensitive, but Jake knew Yoni was trying to keep the men’s morale up, as well as keeping them loose.  If the brothers went into this mission strung out on grief, they’d get themselves killed.

“Jake.”

Jake turned to find himself face to face with Patrick.  He hadn’t seen Laney's uncle in about four months and the priest looked good.  Patrick always kept himself in shape, but Jake noticed a little extra muscle underneath his priestly black. 

Jake held out his hand. 

Patrick pushed it away, pulling him into a hug.  “It’s good to see you, son.”               “You, too, Patrick.” Jake drew back.  “You sure you're up for this?”

Patrick smiled, although it lacked its usual warmth.  “I won’t get in the way.  It’s Laney.  I'll do what needs to be done.  Besides, my archaeological skills may come in handy.”

“Do you really think archaeology has anything to do with this attack?”

He shrugged.  “Not sure.  The tribe that was attacked, the Shuar, are believed to know the location of a lost treasure of Atlantis, including an incredible library.  Maybe somebody else wanted to find it first.  Unless you’ve come up with a different reason?”

“No.  This village was made up of farmers.  They had nothing of value to steal.  The land was fertile but small.  And it wouldn’t benefit the oil companies to attack them.  No one seems to have uncovered any motive for the attack, especially such a brutal attack.  I don’t understand, though, why Laney and Jen think there are Atlantis artifacts here.” 

“Edgar Cayce.”

Jake groaned.  “Not him again.” 

Edgar Cayce, an early twentieth century psychic, had been world-renowned in his day for his readings.  His health readings, where he diagnosed people’s illnesses and provided treatment, had an incredible success record.  Later on, he began to do readings on people’s past lives as well.  A small portion of those readings had dealt with the lives people had lived in Atlantis.  

Cayce’s readings on Atlantis were what had led to them uncovering the plot in Montana last year, as well as the discovery of the superhumans.

A small smile appeared on Patrick’s face.  “’Fraid so.  According to Cayce, towards the end of Atlantis’s time, three sets of emissaries were sent to three different corners of the world.  Their job was to protect the knowledge of Atlantis.  One of the readings suggests one of the locations was in South America.”