Read Online The Curse of the King by Peter Lerangis - Free Book Online Page B

wait,” I said.
    We untied the rope and then I gave it a sharp tug, to indicate we were done. The rope rose back up into the bay. In moments, the helicopter was disappearing into the night, toward Kalamata.
    Dad had attached a handwritten note to the sack: Good luck and hurry back!
    I quickly stuffed the note into my pocket and shone the flashlight around the ledge. Behind me, in the mountain face, was a cave about four feet high. It was empty, its rear wall maybe twenty feet deep and covered with Greek graffiti. “If we need to, we can hide the Loculi in here,” I said. “I’ll try to text Dad to pick them up, after the Massa findus. I wish he hadn’t sent those things to us.”
    Aly was scanning the countryside. Routhouni was a distant cluster of dim lights in the darkness. The only other building between here and there was a tiny white house with a cross on its roof, in a field farther down the base of the mountains. “I don’t see any headlights yet,” I said.
    â€œDo monks drive?” Cass asked.
    â€œOf course they drive!” Aly said. “How else would they travel?”
    â€œSandals?” Cass said. “Camels? I don’t know. We’re just sitting ducks here.”
    I wanted to face the Massa. I wanted that badly. I don’t know if it was the Loculus of Strength, or just the incredible rush of feeling that the hunt for the Seven Loculi was still alive. “We can’t count on the Massa following us,” I said. “Let’s wait out the night here. If nothing happens, then we can get back to Routhouni in the daylight.”
    Cass was pacing now, squinting into the distance. “What about the lightning?” he said.
    â€œWhat lightning? It’s a clear night,” Aly pointed out.
    â€œHe’s Zeus , right?” Cass said. “What if he throws lightning bolts at us?”
    â€œZeus is mythological,” I said.
    â€œOh, that’s a relief!” Cass shot back. “I mean, whew, myths aren’t real. That’s as ridiculous as, like, I don’t know . . . statues coming to life!”
    â€œEasy, Cass,” I said.
    â€œHe has a point,” Aly piped up. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. We saw a bunch of monks and we’re assuming they’re the Massa. Maybe the real Massa know enough not to be anywhere near this place.”
    Cass threw up his hands. “Yeah, well, maybe this whole thing was just a dumb idea.”
    â€œWhoa, what happened to our team?” I said. “We came up with this idea together. We can’t just give it up. Not only that, we found another Loculus—so the way I see it, we’re one step ahead. Plus, I just saved our lives and hung Zeus on a nail, and no one even said thanks. You guys want to call my dad and be picked up? Fine. But I’m going to finish this quest or die trying. I’ll do what we’re supposed to do, by myself.”
    I walked to the far end of the ledge and leaned against the rock face. I could hear Aly and Cass mumbling to each other. As far as I was concerned, I’d go back to the island alone. I had nothing to lose.
    After a quiet moment I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Hey,” Aly said.
    â€œI don’t know what’s bothering you, Aly,” I said. “You and Cass.”
    She was silent for a long moment. “When I came so close to death, Jack, it changed me. I’m not as afraid of it anymore, I guess. Part of me just wants to go home and bewith Mom and my friends.”
    â€œI don’t want you to die,” I said. “Or Cass. Or me. Fourteen is too early.”
    Aly nodded. “Yeah. I think you’re right. Thank you for nailing Zeus, Jack. You came through for us. I guess what I’m trying to say is, we are in this together. To the end.”
    â€œBad choice of words,” I said.
    Aly laughed. “Sorry.”
    We sat, dangling our legs over the cliff. Cass joined us,