“I think you should sit down,” Quint said to Dr. Fernel. “Better yet, lie down.”
“We need to take him back to camp,” her father said. He reached out and spread Dr. Fernel’s left eye wide, then the right. Shaking his head, he flicked a tick from Dr. Fernel’s shoulder. “ButI don’t think he can walk on his own.”
“I sh-shh-shhh no … I uhh … ow … what …” Dr. Fernel’s lips were almost double in size. Drool oozed from the corner of his mouth.
“Esteban has an emergency kit for allergies,” Angélica said. “If Dr. Fernel can make it back to the others, Esteban can give him a dose of antihistamine and the rest can help carry him to camp.”
“I’ll take him back,” Pedro offered, gripping Dr. Fernel’s upper arm. “He can lean on me, but if he passes out, that could beun gran problema.”
“We’ll do it together,” Quint said. “Share the shoulder load.” He looked at Angélica. “You’re coming along, right?”
“Uhh …” she hesitated, looking over at the ruins. She just needed a half hour to get those rubbings, maybe less. “We’ll follow shortly.”
His mouth tightened. “I don’t like leaving you and Juan here alone.”
“We’ll be fine.” She tried to smile at him, but it felt wooden on her lips, so she let it drop. “Please, Quint, go ahead of us and get Dr. Fernel to safety. I just need to do a couple of stone rubbings and then we’ll follow.”
And maybe she could take a peek inside the doorway to see what secrets awaited them inside.
“What if your dad twists his ankle again?”
“He won’t.”
Quint scowled. “You say that, but then …”
“He is going to sit right there.” She pointed at the stone steps leading up to the entryway. “And I’m going to take a few rubbings. Then we’ll follow after you guys.”
Quint looked skyward, up through the canopy. “It’s getting late.”
“I know what time it is,” she said, following his gaze.
The sky was still milky blue, but they probably had an hour until it would take on a golden, rosy hue.
A vulture came into view.
No, make that two.
“Fine.” Quint grabbed her by the shoulders. “Promise me you won’t go inside that opening without me.”
She sighed. “I only want to take a—”
“Promise me, Angélica,” he whispered, his stare intense. “We can’t take any chances, no matter how tempting it is.”
She frowned at the dark doorway. “If I could just—”
“No, you can’t.” He squeezed her shoulders. “Don’t do anything stupid. Not after what was said.” He was referring to her mom’s warning, of course, but as they were in mixed company, he left it ambiguous.
She squeezed her eyes shut and cursed under her breath. He was right. She needed to be careful, especially out here alone with her father and his still-healing ankle.
And alone with whatever could be hiding in the shadows.
“Fine,” she said, opening her eyes. “I’ll take some quick rubbings of the carvings surrounding the entrance and then we’ll follow you guys.”
One dark eyebrow raised. “Are you lying to me?”
“Did my shoulder twitch?” He was still holding onto both shoulders.
“Nope.”
