“A tumi.” The Sapa nodded. “A good choice. It will bring you luck.”
Soon, they were marching back through the tunnels. When they stepped back out into the murky daylight, Nik let out a breath.
A dark shadow passed overhead, before stopping and hovering close by. Nik glimpsed the metal hull of theDrakethrough the foliage.
The Rumin warriors all made loud exclamations, clutching their spears and knives.
The Sapa stared upward, her face tinged with awe. “A sky flyer.”
“Our ship,” Nera confirmed.
Avril faced the Sapa. “I’m going to send most of us back to the ship, but I was wondering if you’d grant permission for myself and a small team to stay to study the carvings in the tunnels. They are fascinating, and it is my specialty to study things like that.”
The Sapa pondered for a moment, and Nik was sure she was going to say no. “Very well.”
A part of Nik would have liked to have stayed. He lifted the tumi and stared at it in wonder. God, it was a thing of beauty. But a far larger part of him wanted to get back to the ship. He wanted a shower and he wanted Nera. He’d had more than enough of the jungle.
“Wonderful.” Avril’s smile was wide. “Agent Ryant, could I keep a few members of your team?”
“Sure.”
“And I’ll stay,” Gunn said.
Nik wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but Avril nodded.
Suddenly, shouts echoed around them. Nik looked up and saw a zombie tear out of the jungle and leap on a warrior. The man didn’t have time to fight back. In an instant, the creature tore his throat out and set to work eating him.
The other warriors moved fast. They killed the creature, hacking at it with their black machetes. Then they fanned out, frowning at the trees.
The Sapa was frowning as well. “We have deterrents for the Supay. It is very uncommon for them to attack near our caves, or to see one alone.”
“Supay?” Nik asked.
“Demons.”
He eyed the dead body and frowned. It had strange black marks on it. Burn marks?
“I suggest we get back to the ship,” Nera looked at the Rumin leader. “Thank you.”
“Safe travels, Nera Darc. And you too, Dr. Phoenix.”
TheDrakehad found a clear area and sent down the cargo lift. Together with Galen, Solomon, and the rest of the security team, they headed up. Moments later, they were aboard theDrake.
Solomon patted the wall. “Never been so happy to see the inside of a ship before. I thought we were all going to end up as zombie fodder down there.” He looked at Nera. “Thanks. For what you did.”
She nodded and watched the young man walk away.
Galen gave them a distracted nod and headed off with the remaining members of his team.
“Hot shower?” Nik suggested to her.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
He ran his tongue over his teeth. “Your place or mine?”
She smiled and even smeared with zombie blood and grime, he’d never seen a more beautiful woman.
“I think?—”
