The Collectors Book Two: Full Circle (The Collectors Series 2) by Ron Sewell Read Free Book Online Page A

“Years at university,” he mocked. “It’s water we want – not an abandoned well.”
    “You are thick, my lovely brother. We have discovered – Roman history.”
    “History will not grow crops and make money.”
    Tired yet elated, Yannis agreed. “In the morning I’ll remove this.” He pointed to the ground. “And we’ll see what it means.”
    “ Yannis, I’ll help you one more day. After that, I’m back to father’s vineyards. At least he pays me.”
    “Tomorrow we will find something important. You wait and see.”
     
    *  *  *
     
    The brothers arrived at the site early. With one aim Yannis lowered an aluminium ladder into the pit, descended and began to dig.
    The muscles of Alexis’s short, stocky frame, an inheritance from his father, flexed as he dragged full buckets to the surface. Time passed but despite their efforts, the depth increased no more than a few feet. Late that afternoon Yannis uncovered more of the arch. The conditions in the pit became hot and oppressive. Alexis insisted on food and water breaks.
    Covered in sweat-soaked dust, Yannis dug until a gap opened at the base of the arch. Uneasy, he stared into the dark. Should he crawl into the unknown? He found the torch, forced his head and shoulders through, his muscles tensed for a rapid retreat. Could it be a nest for snakes?
    “Can't stand snakes,” he muttered. “Black or green, I hate them.”
    He peered into the dark, his eyes growing accustomed to the gloom. The beam of light picked out the curved roof; the tunnel appeared to be about two metres wide and three metres high. The superb curvature of the roof gave the impression of being Roman in design and construction. The builder had used clay tiles interlaced with mortar. Reluctantly, he dragged himself further in until he slid uncontrolled to the bottom. He stood, brushed the dust off and shone the torch along the passage.
    He took a deep breath. The air smelt fresh, not stale as he had expected. His thoughts remained lucid as he ambled further into the tunnel, noticing that the ground fell away at a steep incline. The dark deepened and he considered his options. Without proper lighting it would be reckless to continue. He had to go back.
    The sand from the pit proved difficult to climb, but gasping for breath, he ascended the ladder.
    “What did you discover?” asked Alexis.
    “Can’t say until we check it out.”
    “Tomorrow sounds good to me,” said Alexis. “Time for home and food.”
    Resigned to going along with his brother’s wishes, Yannis sat in the cab of the battered L200, weighing up his options while Alexis drove, taking a direct route across fields and through vineyards. Thankfully, the sun had begun its decent and a refreshing breeze blew across the land.
    When Yannis and Alexis entered their father’s house, their mother, Kiki, screamed at her dust-blackened sons. “Get out. Use the shower in the garden. I will bring you clean clothes.”
    They dared not argue. Inside the house, she reigned supreme. The warm shower and plenty of soap rinsed the filth from their bodies. Although in short supply, they let the hot water ease their aching limbs. Kiki placed clean clothes and towels on a nearby chair.
    “Come in when you’re dressed. I suppose you’re hungry?”
    Alexis shouted, “You know I love your cooking.”
    She laughed a throaty laugh. “You enjoy anybody’s cooking, my son.”
    “You know me too well.” He gave her a cheeky grin.
     
    Yannis and Alexis rose early once again to escape the heat of the day. From their father’s store they removed a small generator and lighting necklace. These they placed in the truck. A breakfast of homemade bread and cheese filled their stomachs. Their father’s truck belched a cloud of blue smoke when it started, and rattled like stones in an empty tin.
    The sun had not even risen over the hills when Alexis parked a few metres from the hole. It took them a couple of hours to prepare the long lighting