Curse of the Mummy's Uncle by J. Scott Savage Read Free Book Online Page B

elaborate picture that took up nearly one entire wall. “Who’s this little dude on the tiger-skin rug?”
    Angelo and Nick walked over to take a look. “It’s jaguar skin. And see the scepter he’s holding? I think that’s part of the ascension ritual they did when a prince became king. But this one’s still fairly young. That’s how the archaeologists must have figured out that his mother and father were killed.”
    Angelo traced his finger along a picture of a cave leading to a river. “That’s the river of the dead that leads to the underworld. In the Popol Vuh , rivers in the underworld were filled with blood or pus.”
    â€œNasty,” Carter said. “But also kind of cool.”
    Angelo studied the pictures. “So these people in the boat must have been his mom and dad who died. And the people standing by the jaguar skin are his aunt and uncle. The item they were guarding was supposed to be so powerful it could help you get past the undead after you died, so you could become a god.” He grinned. “But if my theory is right, the item was actually an interplanetary communicator and—”
    Before he could finish what he was going to say,Nick’s mom called them. The group stepped out of the temple to find two men laying a blanket and several baskets on the ground.
    Carter sniffed. “Wait, is that food I smell?”
    The men opened the basket and took out massive quantities of food. Saliva filled Nick’s mouth and his stomach growled at the aroma of roasted meat and baked bread. Even Nick’s dad managed to pull himself to his feet as the men laid out plates of cheese, fresh fruit, and roasted pork, along with thick slices of what had to be homemade bread.
    As they dug into the meal, the food seemed to mellow out Dr. Canul. “There’s something about this place,” he said, leaning back on his elbow as the sun dropped lower in the western sky. “At times I think I can feel the energy of my ancestors flowing through me.”
    Nick was afraid of getting his head bitten off by the cranky doctor again, but he couldn’t help himself. “Mr. Jiménez said we should ask you about the curse. Do you think it’s real?”
    The doctor’s eyes narrowed. “The greatest secrets have a way of . . . protecting themselves.”
    â€œDo you think that’s what happened to your father?” Nick asked. “Did he discover some kind of secret?”
    â€œNick!” Mom said. “That’s rude.”
    Dr. Canul raised his hand. “I do not know whathappened to my father. He had some . . . difficulties in his later years. But Aktun is a place of power. It would be wise to be careful around it.”
    Everyone nodded.
    â€œMy ancestors believed that after royalty were buried, they traveled a path through the underworld to return to the gods they were descended from. What we see as a pyramid, they saw as a mountain with a cave dug into it. The cave was the entrance to the underworld. The young king buried here was no doubt a powerful person to have two such great pyramids built for him. If there is a curse on this site, it was no doubt placed here by his aunt and uncle, who, from what we’ve learned, were charged with protecting him.”
    â€œThe curse of the mummy’s uncle,” Dad said, grinning. “I like it!”
    â€œDo not take my warning lightly.” Dr. Canul stared at each of them. He stood and stretched. “It’s time to return to your tents.” He turned to speak to the boys directly. “Night is when the jungle’s greatest predators come out to hunt. Jaguars, wild boar, boa constrictors. I cannot warn you strongly enough, between sunset and sunrise do not leave your tents under any circumstances. Or you may not return.”

Nick heard a quiet click-click , click-click . His first thought was that some animal was trying to get into the tent. Then he