Perhaps he was human after all, but she did not think this was the reason.

Gillian moved to stand, checking his expression for any hostility but receiving none. Instead he reached out to touch her in a move that was extremely disconcerting. His face had morphed into a person opposite to the Samuel she had grown to fear, and for a brief moment, she experienced an uncomfortable sensation of deja vu.

Her mind raced, searching and delving into the untouched depths of her psyche as she attempted to make sense of the strange sensation of familiarity that had washed over her. Her deliberation was not helped by Samuel who was studying her in a manner of intimacy unlike anything she had previous experienced. On the outset she would have been concerned, but his guise was not sexual. It was of someone in the throes of recognising a dear friend that they had not seen for years. Gillian could not comprehend how that could be. She did not know Samuel ... or did she?

The seed of doubt was sown and for the briefest of moments, her mind forced a memory to the fore. Her heart skipped a beat at the distant recollection of a boy who held her hand at night and tucked her into bed when their mother did not return of an evening.

Gillian was frightened. Her body began to shake and she felt the blood drain from her face.

She knew without a doubt that the memory was real. That it was something she had experienced as a young child but forgotten, suppressed, due to trauma.

Who was this man and how could she have memories of him? What did he have to do with her past and why did his expression of tenderness cause her so much fear?

Gillian's mind forced her to confront further memories, bringing forth a flash of uncomfortable sensations that horrified her to the very core. A revelation began to form that threatened her entire existence to the extent that she could not cope.

Her body suddenly did the only thing that it could to provide relief. It went into survival mode and she collapsed unconscious onto the floor.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

Fear coursed through Adam's veins as he watched Gillian lie unmoving on the floor. This was ridiculous. All he wanted was to go to her, but he was restrained by Arun's guards. Anger built involuntarily until he could no longer contain himself and he did the unthinkable. He broke loose, but even more surprising was Samuel's lack of response. Samuel did nothing to recapture Adam, waiting patiently for him to discover if Gillian had a steady heartbeat.

It was so out of character that Adam was momentarily stunned. He nodded at Samuel with the stirrings of acceptance. He almost considered the word 'respect', but that was way too strong a compliment. It would take something spectacular for him to use the word 'respect' and 'Samuel' in the same sentence.

Adam exhaled in relief as he felt Gillian's blood surge beneath his fingers. It was a wonderful feeling and he smiled. A collective sigh was evident from Georgio, Tom and their companions and even Samuel looked almost happy. He felt at ease until a sudden and unexpected change enveloped the room.

At first Adam did not sense it. He was too caught up in Gillian's wellbeing to feel the sudden change that bristled throughout the area, and it was not until Tom nudged him that he looked up. Standing at the door looking like a murderous bulldog was an ugly, fat old man. Whilst he looked slow and incapacitated, his piercing blue eyes were alert and angry. He was anything but stupid and Adam instinctively understood that he was extremely dangerous.

Samuel's reaction to the man was of immediate subservience and instantly Adam understood that the repulsive beast was Arun Keane, the vicious bastard behind this whole thing. He studied the man intently, taking note of the large, hanging jowls, drooping forehead and rolls of fat around his girth. His hair was thin and grey and he smelt of trapped sweat in areas that could not be washed. It made him sick and he found himself scowling involuntarily.

If Adam had his way, he would shoot this man and watch him deflate like a balloon, taking pleasure in his demise.

Adam checked himself emotionally. The strength of his reaction to this man worried him. He had considered himself a gentle person, kind and considerate, yet here he was quite prepared to remove this leech from the planet. He understood that this man had killed many people using his drug syndicate and this angered him, but that was not what caused his current concern. Samuel's recognition of Gillian automatically connected her in some way to Arun ... but how? Perhaps she had known him when she was very young but neither Gillian nor Dale had ever mentioned it. This was an intriguing and worrying piece of the puzzle.

Without considering his actions, Adam turned and checked Gillian. She was beginning to open her eyes and he was exhilarated, yelping in joy before suffering a blow to the back of his head.

He was flung onto his back.

It all happened so quickly that he barely realised that he had cut his head and was lying on his back at Tom's feet. Fury welled within him and the headache that threatened to assert itself rapidly took a back foot as Adam moved to sit up. He fully intended to tell that fat bully what he thought of him, but Tom's feet kept him firmly pinned to the floor.

Adam's immediate reaction was to yell and scream. How dare Tom hold him down, How dare he restrain him, how dare Arun hit him! He looked up at Tom for an answer only to receive a stony face of silence.

Something was wrong. Tom looked scared yet determined, as if he had set his mind on something of great importance. What was Adam missing?

He turned just enough to see Arun standing over Gillian with a gun pointed to her head ... and he understood. Any unprecedented movement would cause both his and Gillian's death.

He dared not move a finger and listened intently to the angry conversation that quickly took place between Samuel and Arun.

'Is this woman distracting you from your work?' His voice was condescending and demeaning.

'No, Sir.'

'I think you're lying to me. In fact, I know you're lying to me. You have that expression of weakness on your face that I have tried so hard to get rid of. You have allowed yourself to become involved with this woman and if my ageing eyes have not failed me, I recognise her as the woman you told me you had erased. For some reason, you have lied to me.'

'I did not know that she was alive,' Samuel replied, his voice edged in fear.

Arun chuckled, his voice malicious and righteous. 'Then what is she doing in this tent? I know that she has her friends with her, but I cannot see a missed call on my phone. You did not even try to alert me to her existence despite knowing that she might be valuable in opening the door you have uncovered. It leaves me to wonder exactly what you were hiding. Why you found it necessary to conceal her existence from me.'

'I ... I was not hiding anything from you.'

Arun turned to his guards.

'Did my son have time to tell me that she was alive?'

They all nodded.

Arun whacked his son across his arms and chest with his walking cane before withdrawing a sharp stingray blade from a container around his waist.

He ordered Samuel to drop his pants and insert the spine straight through the side of his penis.

Samuel complied robotically and without contemplation. His representation of puppetry made Adam ill. It was so sickening to see a grown man, clearly suffering from years of mental and physical abuse, do as he was told. A normal person would suffer embarrassment, anger, disgust, but Samuel showed no response. It was a reaction as automatic and unthinking as brushing your teeth or going to the toilet. He simply obeyed.

An uneasy silence overwhelmed the room as Samuel completed his punishment and burnt the blood-ridden cloth as a gesture to the gods. Adam did not know where to look. Staring at Samuel's penis seemed rude and uncouth, but the alternative option was less pleasant.

Arun was grinning at his son's obedience like a Cheshire cat, indulging in the moment of supreme control with joy and absolute satisfaction. It made him insanely angry at this man's smugness, almost to the extent that he was about to break free of Tom's foot and strangle him with his own hands. Unfortunately Georgio reacted first and uncontrollable bedlam broke out. Arun's guards raced to protect him, shots rang unchecked throughout the room, penetrating the thin walls, and Georgio was thrown roughly onto his side. They were outnumbered three to one and did not stand a chance, finding the furore over in less than five seconds with guns pointed to each of their heads.

Adam looked around just in time to see Gillian and Samuel forcibly yanked out of the room with Arun gloating just behind.

He stopped shortly before leaving. 'Throw them in with the other captives. We'll keep them alive for a while longer.'

To say they were stunned was an understatement. It was over before it had begun and they marched like slaves on a chain to a pit in the ground. A ladder was quickly lowered and they were forced down one by one, joining Georgio's captured comrades.

He greeted the captives with affection, but Adam felt out of sorts. The space was claustrophobic, the men dirty, hungry and thirsty and the minimal fabric roofing did little to ease the sunburn and dehydration.

Adam felt disheartened as he sank onto the dirt floor. There was no way he could help Gillian now.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

Gillian found that she was forced into a cavalcade of men and positioned directly behind Samuel. She stared at his back in contemplation, wondering exactly what her life meant. Only a couple of weeks ago she had been so sure of her future. It had been mapped out, plotted down to the last minute detail ... but not now. It was like a derailed locomotive that was running on sheer propulsion with no avenue of return. The man she was supposed to have loved was now taking a back foot to the concerns for her dear friends Richard, Julia and Mitchell. Were they still alive? She hoped so, but a nagging feeling of fear brought doubt to her mind.

Then there was her beloved father, the harsh man who had raised her to believe that she was the most cherished thing in his life. He was never easy to live with or easy to please, but he had always been truthful ... or had he? She was no longer sure!

Gillian's mind turned to Samuel. As much as she didn't want to believe it, she remembered him. She recalled long lost memories of a time she spent with him as a child, but why hadn't her father told her about him? He must know who Samuel was.

Gillian wiped away a stray tear. Worst of all was the location of her father. Where was he? Was he dead? She could not bear to consider the possibility. Despite his mistakes she loved him dearly and always would. She smiled suddenly and thought of Adam. He was unlike any other man she had known and despite constant attempts to control her emotions, she was drawn to him like a magnet to a fridge. There was no rationale to it. No reason for this to have happened. Never before had she allowed her feelings to take control of her common sense, but it had happened with Adam. She was lonely when he was not there, she enjoyed his company whether they were communicating or not and she respected his advice, intelligence and fortitude. Despite his inexperience, he was never afraid to give things a go and she respected that. If it was possible to fall in love in less than a week, then she had done it!

She munched on her lip thoughtfully and a sudden push to her back caused her to bite into the tender flesh. A small drop of blood developed as Arun called them to a stop. Gillian looked about, noting that they had arrived 600 feet to the east of the original dig site and shaft that hopefully still contained her friends.

Directly in front of her was a large circular bore that was being used as a passageway to remove dirt and debris from the site below the surface. She watched as the procession of workers decked in hard hats and lights stepped at regular intervals from the tunnel and into another tent where they emptied the buckets they were carrying.

'We've finished with the heavy machinery and the men are removing the final build-up of dirt near the door I was telling you about,' Arun directed at her. 'It will be ready momentarily and I would suggest that the only way for you to save your friends is by co-operation,' he added.

'Why me? I would have thought that a rich, intelligent man like yourself would have the highest and most expensive technology at your disposal. Surely you could just blast your way in and steal like always?'

Arun slapped her face. 'You will do as you are told. Now, get her ready. She leaves in five minutes,' Arun demanded of Samuel.

The tension between Arun and Samuel was almost unbearable although Gillian detected a distinct change in Samuel's attitude towards her. Where once he was her stalker and potential murderer, Samuel now appeared to deem her worthy of deliberation. His eyes had softened and he placed the hard hat and protective vest on her with care. Gillian nearly thanked him before remembering him for the killer he was. She stiffened involuntarily and moved away, although Samuel did not appear to notice as he ushered her back out into the open and towards the shaft.

Gillian looked down. It was deep, dark and wide enough to allow two baskets to pass each other without touching. Despite her anger, she was impressed by the scale of the operation which bought about an amusing thought. Arun had obtained two large camouflage semitrailers ready to leave once they had been loaded with their expected treasure. It would be a fitting and somewhat humorous end if Kinix's treasure was something that he cherished of a personal nature instead of the expected gold and jewels. She'd love nothing more than seeing Arun's disappointed face.

Samuel nudged her to gain her attention before ordering Gillian into one of the wicker baskets that looked like the base of a hot-air balloon. He had it lowered and followed in the one behind.

Gillian took a deep breath. The hot, humid air gave way to a cool and pleasant environment and she almost found herself enjoying the forced isolation. Approximately thirty-five feet had passed before the distant light glowed brightly and she came to an abrupt halt on the bare dirt. She had expected dust to billow upwards, but the floor was damp and slippery, showing signs of water. She found this particularly disturbing as this area was known for its underground streams and the last thing she wanted was to drown.

Gillian touched the walls and was relieved to note that they were dry although the lack of bracing or sealing worried her. This dirt had been compacted over many years, so when a large horizontal hole was excavated, the earth became unstable. In fact she had already noted a couple of fine cracks along the surface of the roof.

Samuel followed her gaze.

'There's no way my father would allow us access unless it was safe.'

Gillian did not respond. Arun did not give a damn about anyone other than himself and his earlier actions proved that even his own flesh and blood meant nothing to him.

She was pushed forward roughly. 'Hey!' she muttered angrily as her objections were ignored and she was forced past a small group of workers before entering another tunnel that veered off in a westerly direction.

Instinctively Gillian was aware that they were heading towards the original excavation site although they were a good five feet deeper. The current tunnel continued to descend a further twenty feet until it levelled out and twisted in a southerly direction. The temperature increased a couple of degrees and the air graduated from a cool but flowing breeze to a stagnant, stale atmosphere lacking in oxygen. Gillian slowed her breathing and stopped suddenly, her actions causing Samuel to crash into her back.

He cursed loudly but Gillian was not listening. Her attention had been drawn to a subtle change in the wall colour.

The earth had darkened and it was damp to touch.

'Shit ... shit!' she said.

Samuel's expression of doubt had altered to concern, but this quickly faded and he pushed her forward regardless.

Gillian scowled. Despite the strange connection she had developed with Samuel, she was no closer to liking him. He was a murderer then and an unpredictable bastard now. Still, he had piqued her curiosity and she restrained from arguing with him, choosing to walk quietly instead.

She also noted that she had begun to tire which she feared was the lack of oxygen.

'We're almost there,' Samuel announced unexpectedly as they turned another sweeping corner to find themselves face to face with the back of an excavated stone wall.

Gillian gazed in wonderment.

In the very centre was a hole that had been created. It was approximately ten bricks high and five bricks wide, big enough for a reasonable-sized man to pass through. Gillian's excitement escalated as she touched the ancient masonry with the nervous trepidation she often experienced when she was discovering something new.

Gillian was eager and energised as she stepped through the gap, eyes wide and senses alert. Her expectations were high and she anticipated the discovery of something great.

She was bitterly disappointed.

With the use of a lantern, Gillian discovered something so devastating that that she felt physically ill and heaved involuntarily. With her head between her legs, Gillian took a close look at the wreckage of the lift that she had last seen her friends imprisoned by.

'There was no one in it,' insisted Samuel, his response characteristically abrupt although she sensed it was meant to bring her comfort and for that she was appreciative.

'Are you sure?'

He nodded as he gestured to a tunnel on the opposite side of the circular room.

Gillian obeyed, her mind confused by the one burning question she longed to know: where were they?

Perhaps they had escaped. She could only hope.

She gazed at the floor and noted the beautifully crafted stone shattered upon impact by the falling lift. It was almost sacrilege to see such devastation as she bent to examine the blocks, each measuring just over three feet square and a minimum of a foot thick. She marvelled at the finely chiselled and expertly fitted joins, the highly polished surface and beautiful shades of colour the exquisite rock exhibited.

Gillian picked up a small piece that lay broken just beneath a chunk of timber and held it in her hand, musing at the apparent misjudgment in size. This piece of block was only two inches thick and her thoughts began whirling as to the reason. Kinix never did anything by half and the unexpected inclusion of a two inch, faded but unmistakable figure on the opposite fascia made her laugh. Kinix was up to his old tricks. He had marked a spot in the floor that hid something of significance by using his own portrait. Only this time she was confused.

His likeness was created specifically to blend into the colour of the tile. In fact it would be virtually impossible to pick out the image unless you knew what you were looking for.

Her heart beat rapidly. The subtlety was so out of character for Kinix that it could only mean that she had discovered something that he had wanted to keep a secret.

Samuel rushed to her side. 'Did you find something?'

'No,' Gillian lied as she picked up a random sample of debris and tossed it aside using the distraction to slide the piece in question into her pocket.

Samuel gazed at her with distrust in his eyes. 'Get a move on. We don't have time for your garbage.' He was displeased at the delay and pushed Gillian roughly towards the opening.

She did not argue, intent on keeping her secret and keen to discover what lay on the other side of the opening.

Gillian was not disappointed this time. She felt as if she had stepped back 500 years.

The room could only be described as large and ostentatious, and Gillian absorbed the details like a dry sponge. The floor was unpolished but glorious in its pale natural state and offset the highly coloured walls to perfection. The ceiling was constructed with twenty plaster panels, each painted with alternating scenes of Kinix's life and the general living conditions in Tikal. Gillian indulged in the mating ritual of the jaguar, the abundance of food in Tikal, the advanced building talents of the Mayans and Kinix's many journeys. The walls were equally telling and Gillian was able to follow Kinix from his first days as a priest to the confusing time after the death of his beloved Bahlum Paw Skull. It was so wonderful and she was so captivated that it took a few minutes before she registered the existence of a door in the wall to her right. Gillian moved to it with slow deliberation, taking a moment to make sense of what she was looking at.

The door was of solid stone and set into an equally solid square frame. A series of twenty rotating blocks with a standard arrangement of Mayan hieroglyphics were placed in the centre, allowing Gillian to recognise the same type of code she used to enter the room where they located the third Kinix diary. In principle it looked to be quite basic, but it was this simplicity that caused alarm bells to ring. Kinix was not simple and, combined with an overly elaborate room, she sensed a bluff. It was almost as if this room was like a fly trap, designed to draw in its prey and move them towards an entrance that promised further treasures beyond. The simple access code was just enough to seem realistic but easy enough to break. Gillian had that sinking feeling that treasures on the other side were anything but.

She wondered why Samuel had not just blown the door like he did with the walls.

He seemed to understand her thoughts. 'Our scientists have hit a wall. There appears to be some type of shield blocking our ground-penetrating radar and we've been unable to determine the contents of a solid mass behind this door. As far as we are aware, the Mayans did not have access to this type of technology.'

Gillian did not respond. She recalled a thesis she read a couple of months ago about vast sheets of mica being used in the pyramids at Teotihuacan. Its purpose was unknown but its heat repellent properties could certainly deter radar.