Area 51: The Sphinx-4 by Robert Doherty Read Free Book Online Page B

over the side of the rock into the fast-flowing, warm water. He took a deep breath, then dove down, running hands along the rock, searching.
    He went down about five feet, searching carefully, but there was nothing. He burst to the surface, gasping for air. He dove once more, hands searching along the rock face. He pulled himself lower, eight feet down, and felt an indentation in the rock. Reaching his hand into the opening, he grabbed hold of the inside and pulled himself down. The air in his lungs pressed him up against the top of whatever he was in.
    The way ahead was still clear, but Mualama had no more oxygen. He pushed back out and surfaced, sputtering for air.
    "Have you found anything?" Bauru asked.

    -50-

    Mualama could only nod as his lungs worked to replenish the lost oxygen. He noted that the porters were looking about nervously, fearful of something. Bauru sat down on the edge of the rock. "It is dangerous to stay in the water too long."
    Mualama was finally able to speak. "Why?"
    "Snakes. Piranha. They usually are not in water that flows this quickly, but one never knows. Sometimes they congregate in tide pools along such a river and hunt meat in packs. It is not good to take chances."
    Mualama had come too far to be scared off by a threat that might not be present.
    "I am going under. There is a chamber. If I do not surface, or pull on the rope three times, by the end of one minute, pull me back out."
    Bauru nodded.
    Mualama filled his lungs and dove once more. He slid along the rock and into the opening. He could tell with his hands that it was a tunnel about four feet in diameter, going into the rock itself. He pushed along, searching blindly.
    Suddenly his hand was free of water. He popped his head up and breathed stale air in total darkness. He tugged on the rope around his waist hard, three times.
    Then he searched with his hands. A rock ledge was in front of him. It went back as far as he could reach. . He needed light.
    The African professor retraced: his route through the tunnel and back to the surface. He surfaced and opened
    Bauru and the two porters ware no longer holding the other end of the rope. The three were standing, heads tilted back, looking at the top of the gorge. Mualama followed their gaze. A tall man in dark clothes, along with dozen Guirani Indian tribesmen armed with crossbows, lined the top. The man's face was hidden in the shadow of a large bush hat.

    -51-

    The man waved his hand and the Guirani raised their weapons. Bauru reacted, dashing toward Mualama and diving into the water. The porters cried out, raising their hands in supplication, in turn to be hit with several bolts each. They dropped lifeless on the stone altar.
    "Come!" Bauru grabbed Mualama's shoulder as a bolt skittered off the edge of the rock less than six inches from his face. "Lead me to the chamber."
    Mualama dove, Bauru's hand now on his ankle. He pulled through the tunnel, lungs bursting—he had not gotten a good breath when he had surfaced, and the going was slow—pulling Bauru through.
    Mualama was starved for air. He reached ahead, hoping to touch the surface, but felt only more water. He pulled harder through tunnel. His hand broke the surface and he grabbed the ledge, pulling himself into the air. Bauru sputtered up next to him.
    They hung on the edge, gasping for several moments.
    "Who was that with the Guirani?" Bauru finally man-aged to ask.
    "The Mission." Mualama spit the last word out.
    "Who?"
    Mualama pulled himself onto the stone ledge and rolled onto his side, still breathing hard. "They've followed me before. The burns on my back—they almost caught me in England last year. They destroyed the place where I was studying some ancient texts, and I barely managed to escape."
    Bauru joined him. "Who is this Mission? I have heard stories of such a place, but no one seems to know exactly where it is. Why do they chase you?"
    Mualama felt the darkness all around. Even here the sound of the waterfalls