“A map drawn by Captain Barth Blake.”
Realization burst through Nik. “You came in here, risked your life, for a map to the Lost Inca treasure?”
Avril carefully tucked the map into her bag. “It’s out there, somewhere. Imagine if we find it. We’ll go down in history.”
“You’re crazy,” he replied. “It was amyth, even in Terran times. You don’t think people tried following that map? And you know the rest of the legend—his partner, Chapman, disappeared in the mountains, and Blake mysteriously drowned. Lots ofexplorers and adventurers searched for it…none of them came back from the jungle alive.”
Avril’s expression tightened. “A hoard of Inca gold, Nik. Artifacts, history, it’s priceless.”
He eyed her. “And ripe for sale on the antiquities black market.”
Her brow creased. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He switched his gaze to Galen, who looked over Nik’s shoulder and stayed silent.
Nik wanted to believe Avril wasn’t a part of it. But he knew there were too many powerful people in the Institute who would sell off something as valuable as the Inca gold so they could line their own pockets.
“You aren’t a part of the Institute’s black-market ring?”
She gasped. “Black market? Nik, you know the Institute does what’s best for historical artifacts.”
Nera, who was glancing out the doorway, pulled back. “You’ll have to have this argument later. Zombies incoming.”
Nik bit off a curse. “We need to get back to the Centurions. Now!”
The four of them moved into the corridor. A small group of zombies were loping toward them. Galen, Nik, and Nera opened fire. They took down the lead zombies, but others were gaining fast.
One zombie made it through and threw itself at Galen.
“Shit!” Galen shouted as he went down.
Nik kicked the zombie, and once it was clear, he unloaded his laser into its head. He helped Galen up. The other man hobbled and winced.
“Injured my leg.”
Nik spotted a ragged piece of metal stuck in the man’s leg. He reached down and yanked it out. “Not much we can do now. Put your arm around my shoulder.”
Galen gritted his teeth and nodded.
When they turned back, Galen was lifting his hand to fire at the oncoming zombies again.
“Stop,” Nik told him. The agent frowned, his weapon still aimed, but Nik grabbed his wrist and pushed it downward. “Nera.”
With a nod, she rushed forward, pulling out her sword. She swung the blade and turned, dropping low. She cut down two zombies before leaping into the air and swinging her lethal sword again. When she landed back on her feet, her sword above her head, dripping with black blood, the zombies lay around her. Dead.
“We should go.” She nodded down the hall.
Nik caught up with her, part dragging Galen. “You are magnificent. Let’s move. Fast.”
They ran through ruined rooms, and fought a few more small groups of zombies. Then they headed out through a smashed section of wall and reached the front of the museum ruins.
The Centurions were ahead, surrounded by zombies. Dozens of them.
“Dammit to hell.” Nik ground his teeth together. “Options?”
“Can’t they use the Centurions’ laser saws and cut through the zombies?” Avril asked.
Galen and Nik both shook their heads.
