Read Online Countdown by Natalie Standiford - Free Book Online Page B

Atticus admitted. “But there was one key glyph in the book I couldn’t decipher. Unless I misunderstood it, it didn’t fit with the
pok-a-tok
theme. I was hoping we could get by without it . . . .”
    â€œWhich one? Show it to me,” Amy said.
    She and Atticus were leading the group, following the map to the letter, being very careful to mark their way. Getting lost in this dense jungle would be a disaster. They traveled light and fast, carrying only their backpacks, Olivia’s book, and some water. Dan wished they’d also brought a couple of gallons of soda.
    The trail they hiked was nothing more than a narrow dirt path, overgrown with ferns and vines that they had to hack out of the way. Up ahead was the stone entrance to some kind of ancient house. It had only been partially excavated, but it looked cool and dark inside.
    â€œWe’ll stop there and rest for a minute,” Amy said.
    â€œYou’re going to let us rest? That’s kind of you,” Dan snapped.
    Amy’s eyes flashed at him angrily. “We’ve got to get the crystal and get back before dark, Dan. You know that.”
    â€œI know,” he said, pushing aside his guilt. They sat down to rest in the shade of the stone entrance.
    â€œLook, we’re almost there. You’ll feel better after you’ve had a little water and something to eat.”
    After their rest they continued through the jungle, which grew hotter and more humid every minute. About half an hour later, Atticus stopped in front of a mass of vines and branches. “This is it.”
    â€œ
This
is it?” Dan asked. It looked like a hill. There was no sign of any ancient ruins. Just a lot of tangled-up vines. “Are you sure?”
    Att glanced down at the map and nodded. “I’m pretty sure.” He ripped away some vines until a wooden stela, or threshold, appeared. Jake stepped in to help him clear the doorway. The stela was carved with glyphs Dan couldn’t decipher, but one image was clear: the face of a laughing monkey.
    â€œThat’s it,” Atticus said. “There was a monkey mask right next to the
pok-a-tok
code. There was still the other glyph I never figured out, but this is a good sign.”
    â€œThank goodness,” Amy said. Dan could hear the relief in her voice. “Let’s get that crystal.”
    Jake cleared out the entrance and they crawled into the ruined temple. The ceiling had caved in at some point, so once they crawled through a tunnel-like entrance, they found themselves surrounded by four crumbling walls under open sky.
    â€œWhat are we looking for, Atticus?” Dan asked.
    â€œAny structure that could be an altar, and a piece of stone that looks different from the limestone around it,” Atticus said.
    They each took one wall, clearing away jungle growth until they could see stone. It was hot, hard work, and they had to be careful not to destroy anything. Someday this ruin would be excavated and might hold valuable secrets of the past. But for now it held a key ingredient to the serum antidote.
    â€œI think I found an altar!” Jake called out at last.
    They all hurried over to look. Atticus ran his hands carefully over the stone. Screaming animal faces were carved into the rock, each one representing a Mayan god.
    â€œEverybody pore over this wall inch by inch,” Amy said. “We’re looking for a smooth piece of quartz, any size.”
    Dan and the others inched over the wall with their fingers, eyes close to the stone, searching for anything that might be the riven crystal. Dan finished his section and sat back, his heart sinking. He hadn’t found anything unusual. “I’ve got nothing,” he said.
    â€œMe neither,” Jake said with a sigh. “Anyone else?”
    Amy shook her head. “No. Atticus? You’re our last hope.”
    He looked the most discouraged of all. “It isn’t here. I can’t