They dodged two more traps, and Dathan accidently set off one that had small darts whizzing out of the walls. Luckily, he was good at dodging.
The tunnel opened up into a wide cavern. Far above, a small opening let in a shaft of light.
“Engravings.” Nik’s gaze sharpened on the worn etchings on the wall. No language, just pictographs of daily life and rituals. Fascinating stuff. He lifted his Sync and snapped a few pictures. The geometric style certainly was reminiscent of some of the ancient Terran cultures.
“More over here. But be careful.” Dathan pointed to the floor. “There’s a ledge here and a big drop.”
Nik saw a ring of engravings in the floor. These were more sinister. Images of skeletons and demon-like creatures. Sure enough, the floor ended and below he saw yawning shadows.
He picked up a rock and tossed it over. They waited, and waited. Finally, he heard the distantthunkas the rock found the bottom.
Zayn whistled. “I’m guessing we don’t want to go that way.”
Nik stared out to where the shaft of light shone from above. “No. But I think we want to get over there.” The light illuminated an isolated platform that was covered in more engravings. It looked like a small island in a black sea of shadows.
“Fancy a jump?” Dathan was eyeing the distance across the gap.
“It’s too far,” Nik said.
“Not if we use this.” Dathan pulled a grappler off his belt and smiled. He aimed it, fired, and the line released. The pointed head whizzed across the expanse and hit the side of the platform.Small hooks exploded out of the head, embedding into the rock. Dathan tested the line, then he set the end he was holding on the floor. More metal hooks sprang out, digging into the floor.
“You going to show off your tightrope skills?” Zayn asked.
“Hell, no.” Dathan grabbed the line, then swung underneath. He started making his way across, keeping his gloved hands and crossed ankles on the slim metal line.
Once he was on the platform, he waved them over. Nik went next. They all kept in good shape. He might like poring over books and e-records, but he worked out diligently. Treasure hunting wasn’t for someone who kept in shape with an annual sculpting appointment at the salon. You needed real muscles to climb, leap, and run.
He reached the platform and grasped Dathan’s hand to climb up. Zayn started over.
Soon, the three of them stood on the platform that measured about ten meters by ten meters. Nik crouched, running his fingers over the engravings. These ones were much clearer.
“This looks promising.” Dathan stalked to the middle, his gaze on a circular pedestal set into the center of the platform.
Nik looked at the images under his fingertips and saw an engraved square. In a flash, he registered what the image meant. “Wait, Dath! Don’t touch?—”
Dathan had already reached out, his fingers touching the stone pedestal.
There was a grinding sound—rock on rock.
Then the platform tilted.
“Shit!” Zayn leaped away from the edge. As he moved, the platform changed direction, tilting to the other side. Now Dathan cursed, windmilling his arms to keep his balance.
Nik stepped cautiously toward the center, fighting to keep upright. “We need to balance it. Spread out evenly and then stand still.”
The other two did as he asked, and soon they had the platform mostly level. Nik bent his knees, trying to keep the thing steady. He felt like he was surfing.
“So, now what?” Dathan asked.
It was a good question. As soon as one of them moved, the platform would tilt. Nik craned his neck and looked down. Black darkness loomed below them.
Another grinding sound.
Dathan groaned. “What now?”
The stone pedestal in the center sank downward, then a moment later, it rose up again.
The shaft of light from above glinted off the gold idol that now sat in the center of the pedestal.
