AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I can't believe he's gone," muttered Chaco, strangely unmoved. "His death doesn't seem possible. The elimination of the archaeologists should have been a simple affair."
"To say your people bungled the job is an understatement," said Sarason. "I warned you those two divers from NUMA were dangerous."
"My brother did not expect organized resistance by an army."
"An army of one man," Sarason said acidly. "I observed the action from a tomb. A lone sniper atop the temple killed the officers and held off two squads of your intrepid mercenaries, while his companion overpowered the pilots and commandeered their helicopter. Your brother paid dearly for his overconfidence and stupidity."
"How could a pair of divers and a juvenile group of archaeologists scourge a highly trained security force?" Chaco asked in bewilderment.
"If we knew the answer to that question, we might learn how they knocked the pursuing helicopter out of the air."
Chaco stared at him. "They can still be stopped."
"Forget it. I'm not about to compound the disaster by destroying a U.S. government ship and all on board. The damage is already done. According to my sources in Lima, full exposure, including Miller's murder, was communicated to President Fujimori's office by Dr. Kelsey soon after she boarded the ship.
By this evening, the story will be broadcast all over the country. The Chachapoyan end of our operation is a washout."
"We can still bring the artifacts out of the valley." The recent demise of Chaco's brother had not fully pushed aside his greed.
Sarason nodded. "I'm ahead of you. A team is on its way to remove whatever pieces survived the rocket attack launched by those idiots under your brother's command. It's a miracle we still have something to show for our efforts."
"I believe there is a good possibility a clue to the Drake quipu may still be found in the City of the Dead."
"The Drake quipu." Sarason repeated the words with a faraway look in his eyes. Then he shrugged.
"Our organization is already working on another angle for the treasure."
"What of Amaru? Is he still alive?"
"Unfortunately, yes. He'll live the rest of his days as a eunuch."
"Too bad. He was a loyal follower."
Sarason sneered. "Loyal to whoever paid him best. Tupac Amaru is a sociopathic killer of the highest order. When I ordered him to abduct Miller and hold him prisoner until we concluded the operation, he put a bullet in the good doctor's heart and threw him in the damned sinkhole. The man has the mind of a rabid dog."
"He may still prove useful," said Chaco slowly.
"Useful, how?"
"If I know his mind, he'll swear vengeance on those responsible for his newly acquired handicap. It might be wise to unleash him on Dr. Kelsey and the diver called Pitt to prevent them from being used by international customs investigators as informants."
"We'd be skating on thin ice if we turned a crazy man like him loose. But I'll keep your suggestion in mind."
Chaco went on. "What plans do the Solpemachaco have for me? I am finished here. Now that my countrymen will know I have betrayed their trust with regard to our historical treasures, I could spend the rest of my life in one of our filthy prisons."
"A foregone conclusion." Sarason shrugged. "My sources also revealed that the local police have been ordered to pick you up. They should arrive within the hour."
Chaco looked at Sarason for a long moment, then said slowly "I am a scholar and a scientist, not a hardened criminal. There is no telling how much I might reveal during lengthy interrogation, perhaps even torture."
Sarason suppressed a smile at the veiled threat. "You are a valuable asset we cannot afford to lose.
Your expertise and knowledge of ancient Andean cultures is second to none. Arrangements are being made for you to take over our collection facilities in Panama. There you will direct the identification, cataloguing, and restoration operations on all artifacts we either purchase from the local huagueros or acquire under the guise of academic archaeological projects throughout South America."
Chaco suddenly looked wolfish. "I'm flattered. Of course I accept. Such an important position must pay well."
"You will receive two percent of the price the artifacts bring at our auction houses in New York and Europe."
Chaco was too far down the rungs of the organizational ladder to be privy to
