All that was left was to wait. Success rested solely on those below.

Richard turned his attention momentarily to Redmond who had just started to make incomprehensible sounds and slight body movements. A touch of his forehead and feel of his pulse revealed a lack of temperature and even blood pressure, giving him an immediate sense of relief.

Redmond was going to be fine.

At least that was one less worry for him although the sound coming from the shaft immediately overrode any respite he may have experienced. Julia and Mitchell had used one grappling hook and ascender, each arriving at the correct horizontal angle to swing over to the room at the same time. Unfortunately Mitchell had swung sideways, entangling his rope with Julia's who was desperately trying to twist around and free herself. Richard checked his time. Twenty-five minutes to go and the rope holding the lift had started to unravel. Time was running out for Fred who was still waiting patiently on the roof of the lift although Richard could see the tension in his body.

It took a further five to six minutes before Julia and Mitchell swung one at a time to the safety of the small room and quickly unhook their lines, which Richard threw immediately to Mitchell. To his dismay, his first throw was unsuccessful and Richard was forced to re-launch. He also noticed that only a few strands of rope stood between Fred and death.

It was happening again.

Richard recalled the death of a colleague at the beginning of his career during the archaeological dig in Mycenae and drew comparisons to this situation. The man in question was being lowered into a concealed well when the rope caught on a sharp piece of protruding iron, causing it to break and the man to fall to his death. Although it was not his fault, the dig had been Richard's idea and he was never able to forgive himself for not checking for obstructions.

He suffered the same hopeless feeling as he had all those years ago.

There was nothing Richard could do to save Fred. He hoped and prayed that the rope held.

'Hurry, Fred!' screamed Julia as Fred wasted precious time glancing up at the fast disintegrating rope before releasing the grappling hook. It successfully connected with the target and Fred tied the rope to his waist.

What happened next was akin to a slow motion horror movie as the little group looked on, helpless, their mouths agape in dismay.

Fred ascended up and away from the roof of the lift with a smile on his face. His demeanour was one of relief and delight as he appeared unhurried and relaxed. In his mind, the danger had passed until the last piece of rope snapped and sent the lift plummeting to the base of the shaft. In an automatic response to being released from the oppressive weight of the room, the cable ricocheted upward at an incredible speed. It connected with the line that held Fred's life in its grasp.

Although Fred was not a lightweight, he was absolutely helpless as the cord bounced unrestrained around the room, treating him like a defenceless rag doll. It eventually slammed his head against the obsidian wall twice and caused rope burn across his face and hands.

Fred screamed in agony and fear as the lift impacted with the base of the shaft. The resultant explosion of centuries old dirt and debris rebounded upwards at an enormous rate, filling the tunnel in seconds.

Once again Fred was at the mercy of an event that he could not control, only this time it was not so kind. The force of the impact and sudden movement it created, along with centuries of stress, had created microscopic cracks in the eye-like stone above. As if in a bad story, the stone split and crumbled, falling away from the roof in increasingly large chunks.

Richard looked at Fred and saw a once proud and fit man overcome with injury and failure. The outcome was inevitable and as the last remaining piece of rock gave way, Fred managed once last gesture of friendship. He waved.

Then he was gone.

Julia burst into tears as did Mitchell and the fully conscious Redmond but not Richard; he was numb with shock and feelings of failure. Tears would do little to alleviate the sense of guilt he was suffering. Common sense told him he was not at fault and that it was no more than a bad series of events, but he did not believe that. There must have been something else he could have done, something he missed. Perhaps if he been quicker, or even if he had been last instead of leaving it to Fred. Then there was Gillian. She had just lost her fiance and did not know it! How was he going to explain this to her?

Richard sat on the dirt floor with his head in his hands until Julia came and sat next to him. She put her arms around his shoulders and whispered in his ear. 'Some things are simply out of our control and if it were not for you, we would all be dead. Be thankful for the lives you have saved and respectful for the one we have lost. We need to mourn our friend, not feel guilty for uncontrollable events.'

She was right as usual and they all formed a circle to grieve for Fred.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

The tendrils of darkness spread across the glorious ruins of Tikal just as the full moon rose to take its rightful place in the night sky. It shone brightly, desperately trying to make an appearance between the rain filled clouds but was shut out by the on again-off again storm. What little light it provided sprinkled amongst the dismal events that were unfolding below.

Samuel had ordered the helicopter to land on one of the long abandoned ball courts before making his way past the long shadows created by the towering and imposing pyramids. His destination was the stronghold created by a group of guards placed at the site by his ahaw. The men were highly trained in martial arts and marksmanship and were often deployed by Ahaw when a situation required protection. In this case they were used to keep out any intruders and to hold captive the men installed by Dale Bright. Due to his ahaw's high rank and status amongst the governing bodies of the country, he had managed to muscle his way into the Tikal National Park under the proviso of doing necessary government ordered repairs. In turn the national park had informed all of the local and international travel agents that the park was temporarily closed to tourists and various archaeologists. It was the perfect cover for the ahaw to carry out his activities in private.

Samuel acknowledged the guards with a nod of his head as they lowered their rifles and allowed him into the highly fortified area. Ahaw had given him complete leadership over the mission and Samuel thoroughly enjoyed the power it provided. He took every opportunity to take advantage of his situation from ordering the men to prepare coffees and meals to ensuring he was constantly kept updated about the progress of the dig.

Samuel prided himself in keeping a tight ship and he did not tolerate any men who stepped out of line. Only this morning Samuel whipped the head off a guard who dared to argue against a direct order to hunt a jaguar. Samuel simply could not understand why the man did not want to hunt at night. It was beyond his comprehension that he would disobey him and not bring him the pelt he so desired.

Sitting down for a specially prepared supper of fruit and bread, Samuel was interrupted by a cough at the tent door.

'Excuse me,' said Donnel, an overweight, middle-aged man who resembled the caricature of a hardened, uncaring police officer. He had an unlined, unsmiling oval face with narrow eyes, pinched lips and portly cheeks. His eyes reflected a lack of sympathy but also a deep sadness that suggested he had gone beyond caring what people thought of him and only tended to his own needs.

'The men want to know if you want them to break through the obsidian walls lining the shaft,' his voice short and direct. There was no respect in his eyes, only a drive to earn the promised income.

'No, the informer in Dale Bright's team told us to locate a tunnel at the base of the shaft which was confirmed by a copy of the scans he provided. Breaking into the shaft and saving the archaeologists is a waste of our time,' said Samuel with no emotion.

'I was under the impression that they have the intelligence needed to help us locate the disk,' replied Donnel.

'Our directives have changed. Unfortunately the disk perished in the helicopter fire along with the woman and the Australian. We are seeking a far greater treasure.' Samuel licked his lips at the thought of what they might find gold, jade, precious artefacts. He could think of no other reason why the engineer of this tunnel would construct such an elaborate trap and treasure hunt unless the prize was precious beyond belief. Much to his pleasure, his ahaw had agreed with him and fully backed his endeavour to discover where the tunnel led.

He dismissed Donnel with instructions to keep digging, knowing full well that he would have him killed when it was over. Donnel was useful for keeping the men in order, but he was driven by his own agenda and was likely to steal from him. Samuel could not risk a loose cannon!

With the images of a vast treasure swirling around, Samuel considered his actions over the last few days. This had been his first espionage mission and he had been looking forward to it with great anticipation. In particular was the opportunity to use his mind and intelligence by hunting the woman and her Australian friend. Unfortunately the journey was fraught with dangers of the psychological kind.

By following them, he had gained knowledge of their behaviours and mannerisms which unwittingly caused him to lose his purpose. He found himself dwelling on the woman more often than he cared to admit, but his thoughts were not of a sexual nature. There was something about her that he admired, a strength accompanied by an indomitable spirit that he had not seen before. It was for this reason that he could not mention her name for fear of developing a familiarity he would only need to remove. It was so unlike him to suffer uncertainty that he took to asking the gods for their understanding of his weakness.

Samuel performed his usual bloodletting in the hope that the gods would forgive his traitorous thoughts, but even this tried and true formula did not distract him from a long lost emotion that had crept into his awareness. The sensation crawled about his body like a nest of invading ants as they explored every nook and cranny. It was a warm but tingly feeling of familiarity that he could not place and despite his every effort to quell the discomfort, it defied him and continued to grow.

Samuel was a strong man with a singular purpose to serve his ahaw, but even he knew that he must identify and shut down any emotions that could cause him to stray from his plan. His life had been formed by the unyielding and often callous hand of his ahaw. He had learnt the benefit of a strict training regime and the punishment required to bring out the best in a person. Fear was a great motivator as was the loyalty this created. Samuel ensured that he passed these qualities on to his men. They knew that disloyalty brought death. Still, with his steely resolve firmly in place, Samuel could not shake his sudden awareness of something other than hate, fear or determination. It was a long lost feeling that he was afraid to rediscover.

He frowned uneasily. The rain was pounding the waterproof canvas tent with an increasing intensity that could delay the dig. He knew the guise of restoration would only last so long and it was imperative that they finish within a couple of days at the outside.

He gazed at the door of the marquee furnished with a table, chairs, fold-up bed and superior bedding and hoped that the rain would ease quickly. Not only was the dig important, but he had intended to travel to Palenque tomorrow. Over the past couple of days, he had followed the woman, tracking her activities with a new high resolution Nikon camera. Despite her death and the now defunct necessity to get their hands on the disk, Samuel had the distinct feeling that there was more on her agenda than just saving the archaeologists. They were clearly following a trail of clues, reiterated by the three unusual paintings found at the Australian's house. His curiosity got the better of him. His interest had been whetted.

Samuel's moment of contemplation passed when an unexpected shout from the workers resonated across the lush landscape. He sighed and reluctantly stood up, moving away from the cooling 'generator run' fan into the stifling night heat. Samuel was well adept to the Central American weather, but he easily recalled his first forage from the cool haven of his home, deep in the bowels of the mountains into the temperature of the outside world. Initially he had been overwhelmed by the change in environment and activity surrounding him, but he absorbed the stimulation like drought ridden foliage. It had been a delight to his senses and he still revelled in the changes it offered, although tonight was a little too extreme. The rain-filled clouds trapped the humidity like a blanket and Samuel inhaled deeply as he went to determine the cause of the disturbance.

'Sir, we have had an intruder,' a slender young man exclaimed frantically as he pointed towards the line of vehicles parked within the boundary of protection.

'That is not possible,' scowled Samuel as he surveyed the fleet and noted that one of the four jeeps was missing.

'I cannot accept that one of the captives escaped or that we have a traitor in our midst!' Samuel raged. He was furious and longed to punish whoever was responsible.

The young man shrank back in fear as Donnel stepped forward and looked Samuel in the eye. 'All captives are accounted for as are all of our men,'

'Well, who the bloody hell took it, then?'

No one responded.

Samuel was so angry that he longed to remove the heads of the guards who failed to protect their belongings, but he knew that would achieve little. It was one thing to keep a tight rein on his men, but he also wanted them to work hard for him and he knew there was a fine line between loyalty and mutiny. Anyway, another almost impossible thought had entered his conscience. What if the woman had survived! Their helicopter was destroyed and this camp was the only place that would contain the means for escape. He deliberated thoughtfully. If this were the case, the dark and hazardous conditions of the jungle would mean they could do little tonight.

He would wait until the morning.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

Georgio stepped from the cavern with caution, followed closely by Adam. It had been decided that Georgio would go first considering he was the one with combat experience and Adam was the beginner, although he was catching on fast. He had learnt more about conflict and survival in the last three days than he had in his entire life although he was yet to decide if he actually enjoyed the fast paced, adrenaline filled existence. There was something considerably more enticing about sitting in the safety of his small home than being dragged through a hazard-filled jungle in Guatemala.

The weather had taken hold and although it was pouring with rain, the heat was oppressive and Adam removed his jacket.

'Put that back on,' ordered Georgio as Adam glanced questioningly at him. 'Your green shirt looks like a vibrant parrot and could attract unwanted attention.'

'It's not bloody bright anymore, Mate. Look at the amount of dirt it has on it,' Adam complained as he hoisted his brown jacket onto his shoulders.

'It's hard to imagine you're a clean-cut schoolteacher,' commented Georgio in good humour as Adam gazed at himself.

It was true. His kids would not recognise him like this. His slacks, shirt and jacket were ripped, burnt and dirty. His face and hands were full of abrasions and minor cuts and his hair looked as if it had developed a will of its own. He would give anything for a shower right now.

'Come on, Professor,' Georgio teased as Adam placed one foot at a time on the mud track. It was so oily that one false move could mean capture and possible death, forcing Adam to follow Georgio footstep for footstep.

As they encroached on the outer positions of the camp, Georgio put his hand out to stop Adam from colliding with him. 'Over there,' he gestured, pointing towards a nearby tree which provided a small amount of protection for the guard it sheltered. The guard was pressed as close to the tree as possible, his rounded shoulders, ducked head and general disposition clearly revealing that he was far more worried about how uncomfortable he was than the possibility of attack. He was an easy target.

Georgio crept up behind him using the cover of the night and curtain of rain as protection. He was within striking distance before the guard detected his presence, but by then it was too late. Georgio struck him viciously at the base of the neck, rendering him instantly unconscious.

Adam exhaled. He was glad that Georgio was here to do the dirty work.

They pulled the body up behind the tree, ensuring that all appendages were well hidden from any potential viewer before proceeding to crawl across a small open space using the remains of a boundary fence as cover. They quickly reached a grass-covered ruin with a wide archway and buckled walls, taking a moment to enjoy the shelter from the rain and stretch their aching legs.

Georgio chuckled at the sight of Adam's strained face before drawing his attention to a small window that provided a perfect view of Samuel's undertakings.

Adam gazed out of the window, thankful that Samuel had chosen to work through the evening. He had provided a flood lit arena that allowed them see where they were going and it was to their advantage.

'There are three men to the east and the west. Directly in front of us are another dozen men guarding a collection of heavy machinery and we know that there is nothing behind us. I would conclude that the cars are beyond the machinery,' observed Georgio.

'I'd take my chances with the group to the east. For one thing, they look considerably more relaxed in comparison to the ones to the west who seem on high alert as if they are guarding something,' offered Adam.

'Well noted. I'd agree with your observations, but it leaves me wondering who or what they are protecting.'

'It might be the archaeologists. Perhaps the shaft is down there,' offered Adam.

'I don't think so. From what I've heard, the shaft is sealed within a group of ruins and not out in the open. Anyway, Samuel does not wish to save them, so protection would be low on his agenda. I'd lay my bets on the men sent by General Bright. They are highly trained combatants, used to situations exactly like this. If they were allowed to escape, they would pose a major threat to Samuel's activities and could quite possibly shut him down,' said Georgio.

'Doesn't that make you wonder how they were captured in the first place?' mused Adam, his question bringing about a frown of concern from Georgio. Adam looked at the well-muscled, tanned face and noted deep lines of unease appearing in the corners of his mouth. It was clearly a question Georgio had pondered but could not answer. He did not reply and Adam dared not to press, knowing that the men were part of the group Georgio had served with over the years on their various missions. He would know each man intimately and understand the frustration they must be suffering at their capture.

'If we had time, I would free them, but the possibility of being caught would risk the lives of the men, Gillian and the archaeologists.'

Adam could tell that Georgio was not totally convinced.

'It's time to move,' muttered Georgio as he grabbed Adam and gestured towards an approaching group of men, all of whom were armed.

'Follow me,' he hissed as Adam quickly obeyed, thankful that he was not going alone as per the original plan.

They moved in an easterly direction beneath the darkness of the tree line, stopping only to avoid the occasional startled animal. Adam shivered. The forest was full of life with the sound of the howler monkeys and shadows of unidentified creatures adding to the eerie atmosphere. It was further enhanced by the thick teeming rain, dark forest and uncanny glow omitted by the portable generator-run lights Samuel had installed.

Taking care not to create any undue noise, they timed their approach by throwing a stone to create a distraction. When the three men turned their backs to identify the cause of the sound, Adam and Georgio snuck in behind a small overgrown building situated thirty feet from the required position. It created the perfect opportunity to study the challenge ahead and they quickly noted the three men relax after determining the noise did not pose any threat.

Despite his strict regime, Samuel had also provided the men with the protection of a portable shelter made of four retractable legs and a weatherproof canvas roof. It had the dual effect of keeping out the rain but also of lulling the men in a false feeling of security. Within moments they were busy chatting and lighting cigarettes.

It was time to strike.

Georgio looked at Adam as an unspoken understanding passed between them. Adam instantly realised that Georgio did not expect him to take the lead but to protect his back from any unexpected attack. He nodded in agreement.

His body was tense and his nerves on edge, but Adam felt clear of mind and prepared to do whatever he needed to assist Georgio. He sprang to his feet as Georgio leapt forward, targeting the man closest to him. The medium height, balding man did not even see it coming. With stealth-like ability of a man half his age, Georgio ran low to the ground, covering the thirty feet in a few leaps. He wrapped his thick arms around the man's neck and snapped it in an instant.

In the moment it took for the two other men to realise their companion had died, Georgio had made a beeline for a tall, black-haired Asian. The benefit of surprise had been lost and the Asian reacted instinctively by swinging a left hook at Georgio. Georgio ducked and slammed a fist up into his unprotected rib cage. He gasped in surprise but returned the punch with his right fist. The rain was impeding Georgio's efforts and he slipped when he attempted to return the attack, but he used his misadventure to his benefit. He slid along the ground, grabbing the man by his knees and pulling him down with him. They rolled over with Georgio eventually getting the upper hand and pinning the man beneath him.

The third man, of native American descent, dove for the twosome and managed to punch Georgio in his kidneys. Up until then, Adam had largely remained unnoticed which proved to his benefit. He knew he would not win in a fist fight, so he grabbed the first thing available to him a rock and whacked it over the head of his opponent. The man crumpled instantly along with his companion when Georgio slammed his fist into his upper jaw and temple, rendering him instantly unconscious.

'Phew!' exclaimed Georgio as they quickly pulled the men into a circle and sat them upright to create the effect that they were still in attendance. 'It was a good thing we managed that without gunfire although anything would have been better than your girly rock throwing. Whatever happened to the manly fist fight?'

Adam grinned. 'By the look of your developing bruises and my totally unwounded body, I'll go the girly option anytime.'

Georgio grimaced and favoured his kidneys. 'Okay, smart arse, you win.'

'So, where from here?' asked Adam.

'We're one step closer and if you look straight ahead, you can actually see the vehicle compound. The only thing I can envisage standing between us and our goal is the roving guards. See, there's a group directly ahead, but if we stick to the left we should be able to pass them.'

Adam nodded. 'What about Gillian?'

'Let's locate a vehicle first. I'll hot-wire the car and you can go back for her,' stated Georgio.

Adam did not reply. He was not keen on leaving without the protection of Georgio, but neither was he capable of starting a vehicle without the keys. He had no option but to agree.

They approached a vast open space and dodged the circle of light spilling out from the nearest lantern. Once again, the trees provided cover, but a zealous guard caught a slight movement from the corner of his eye and gestured in their direction. Adam quickly alerted Georgio who responded by pointing to the low-lying branches on the jungle boundary.

They ran and jumped with Adam gasping loudly as a large creature moved from behind them.

Georgio smirked in amusement but grew serious as the voices of the guards closed in on their position. They stopped three feet from their concealment.

'There's nothing here. It must have been an animal. After all, the forest is full of them,' said a guard in a genial tone of voice that revealed his lack of belief in his companions.

'Perhaps you're right. Anyway, who would be stupid enough to be out here in the middle of night amid all this rain. What do you think Caton?' asked a second deep-voiced youth.

'Hmm ... you can never be too careful,' replied Caton with the authority of a superior. 'I would prefer a thorough search,' he insisted as they started to obey but were interrupted by a shout from the nearby tent calling them to a meeting.

Adam sighed in relief and turned to Georgio with a smile on his face but was met with a look of pure wrath. He shrank back in disbelief. He had seen Georgio with fury in his eyes before but nothing that matched the current hatred. Was it something he did? He had no idea. All he could do was wait and hope Georgio revealed his problems, which thankfully came sooner rather than later.