Thunder in the Night (Crimson Romance) by Kate Fellowes Read Free Book Online

took a few running steps to catch up on the trail, the full sleeves of her purple top floating out around her. The red sash at her waist flopped in time to her footfalls.
    I trotted along in her wake, thinking she looked like some species of bird — one of those awkward but striking ones. It was difficult not to think about birds here, when the jungle echoed with their songs and the sounds of their flapping wings could be heard. But there was so much else to see, as well.
    Huge, four-foot-tall cones were a frequent sight just off the path. They seemed to be made of dirt and when I wondered aloud what they were, the answer was quick to come.
    “Those are termite nests,” the professor spoke up from behind me. He shifted his glasses back up his nose, which was slippery with sweat, and enlightened everyone within earshot. He had done his reading and was more than happy to share his knowledge, as he did the day we arrived. “Just one acre of the forest can have up to a thousand of these nests,” he told us. “And each one — each one — contains as many as ten million termites!”
    The next time we passed by one of the cones, I thought about the swarming insects within. Back home, termites were considered a nuisance. Here in the jungle, it was obvious they were an important part of the ecosystem, the web of life.
    Oh, Mart, I said to myself, see how wrong you are about bringing tour groups here? I’ve only been in the jungle half an hour and I’m already reconsidering termites!
    Suddenly, there was a rustling in some trees on our left and everyone froze. From the looks on some faces, I’m sure we expected King Kong to emerge, even though this was a different continent. Instead, a marmoset monkey rocketed out, his long tail waving like a banner behind him. The contrast between what some of us had pictured — a hairy ape of some kind — and the foot-long, five-pound reality caused relieved laughter among the crowd.
    This world of the jungle was totally different from my urban world. So natural, so pristine — at least in this area — it was like paradise. Except a little too warm.
    I forgot all about the temperature when we broke through the forest, into the clearing.
    Lying peacefully under the blazing sun, the ruins of the city spread all around us. I stopped in my tracks and hardly noticed as others pushed past me, fanning out over the area.
    “Pretty spectacular, hmm?” Mart said as he came up behind me, crossing his arms over his chest. He rocked back on his heels, turning his head to look in both directions. “You know, I think I could see this sight every day and always be amazed by it.”
    I didn’t answer. I couldn’t answer, struck dumb by the sheer size of the sprawling city. Towering stone structures stretched up to meet the clouds, massive monuments to the ingenuity of humankind. Steps cut into the front of these Mayan pyramids were dotted with tourists braving heat and height to climb well over one hundred feet up.
    Lifting my sunglasses, I blinked into the glare, half expecting the vision to disappear when I opened my eyes.
    Mart, watching me, gave a laugh. “Hard to believe it’s real. And that it’s thousands of years old.”
    I found my voice. “Are you used to people just standing and staring, then?”
    He nodded, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. “Oh, yeah. And who could blame them?” He looked away, squinting. Something across the smooth lawn caught his eye and I could sense him tensing. He straightened up, craning his neck and narrowing his eyes. “What the — ” he broke off.
    Catching his mood, I tried to follow his gaze, but couldn’t see anything amiss. Our group had joined other tourists and scattered over the site. We’d been instructed earlier to rendezvous at a specific time, and as a result, no one seemed to be sticking together. At a distance, I couldn’t discern faces, but obviously Mart could.
    “What?” I prodded. “What?”
    Mart came back quickly,