Torrent (33 page)

"What do you want to do?" I asked.

"We've traveled at least a mile from the georeactors." She glanced at the ledge on our left. It sat just above the water, far below the ridge the nagual had used earlier. "I say we regroup on land. We can send the canoes downstream to throw Votan off our trail. He'll never survive those rapids."

I studied the ledge. Several tunnels led away from it.

It was a good idea, but risky as well. If Votan saw us, he'd just follow suit. And even if he didn't, he still might notice our canoes were empty.

I stuck my paddle into the water, slowing it down a bit. Turning sideways, I looked at the second boat. "We're going to shore. Feel like leading the way?"

Graham glanced into the water. "Do piranhas live in cave rivers?"

"I don't know. That's why I want you to go first."

Chuckling, he rose awkwardly on his good leg. Then he dove into the water. Using powerful strokes, he made his way to the ledge. Dr. Wu was next to stand. His face looked hollow, devoid of emotion. With an awkward leap, he jumped into the water and swam away.

Beverly pulled her paddle from the water. She rose to one knee and cast an eye at the ledge. "Okay. Let's—"

Dim lights flashed across the river. Twisting my neck, I saw the two rafts cut around a corner and turn toward us. They were far away, but it wouldn't take long for them to reach our position.

I rose to my knees. "Sorry about this."

Beverly's jaw dropped as I shoved her. Legs flailing, she toppled backward, disappearing into the choppy surf.

The canoe shifted slightly as it whipped over a small whirlpool. I fought to keep my balance.

"Jump." Graham cupped his hands around his mouth. "Jump, damn it."

I didn't think twice about my next move. If the others were going to escape, they needed a diversion. I rose to my full height and cupped my hands around my mouth. "Get out of here," I shouted.

Graham yelled again, but I couldn't hear his words. The angry water boiled furiously as the current raced forward. The canoe rocked from side to side, threatening to spill me into the mighty river. But somehow I stayed upright, my face defiant as I stared at the pursuing rafts.

Come get me, you bastards.

Chapter 118

"What's that idiot doing?" Beverly thrust herself out of the water and crawled onto the ledge. "He's going to get himself killed."

Graham watched the two rafts race forward. Their occupants held bright lights, which illuminated the two canoes as they floated downstream.

Reed's distinctive silhouette suddenly appeared, perched on top of a canoe. He stood straight and tall, as if daring nature itself to destroy him.

Graham shifted his gaze further downstream. He saw what appeared to be a massive underground canyon, filled with spitting white waters and horrid jagged rocks. A feeling of utter helplessness swept over him.

Even the best boaters in the world wouldn't have been able to manage those ferocious waters. And now Reed was seconds away from steering a thousand-year old canoe into them.

Reed raised his arms as his canoe spun into the canyon. His fingers lifted into the air, flashing the universal sign of defiance.

"He made a deal with the death gods." Graham bit his lip so hard that blood began to flow. "His life for ours."

Chapter 119

Tum's ears pricked. He heard distant splashing noises. But he heard something else too. It sounded like a long shallow breath. He listened for a few seconds. The sound faded away and he decided it had merely been a trick of the ears. After all, everyone else had long since gone downstream.

A slight wind picked up as he scaled the steep wall. Pain gripped him every inch of the way until he reached the overhanging ridge. Then he flopped onto the stone surface and sucked in a few breaths. He was pretty sure he'd wrenched his right shoulder out of its socket. But he was alive.

He stood up and hobbled forward, putting distance between himself and the death gods. He knew he'd never escape the caves. But he hoped to survive long enough to see the fifth world.

Abruptly, something heavy slammed into him. He fell backward, nearly plunging off the ridge in the process. Before he could get up, sharp claws pressed down on him. He smelled blood. Heard heavy breathing.

He twisted his head and at last, saw the creature from the jungle. "You've come to save me," he realized. "Like I saved you."

The creature studied him for a moment. Its bright green eyes lingered on Tum's face as if it recognized him.

Tum smiled. "The fifth world is coming, my friend."

Without warning, the creature lowered its head. Its jaws opened wide.

Tum felt intense pain as teeth ripped into his neck. They scraped down his stomach, carving him open. He didn't understand it, couldn't understand it. He'd saved the creature. So, why was it hurting him? And why didn't Chaac or one of the other Maya gods aid him? Hadn't he just fixed things? Hadn't he done everything asked of him?

Blood poured out of Tum's chest as the creature began to feast on his organs. He tried to wrench away, but his strength faded. He leaned his head back. Rested it on the cool limestone ridge as his life slipped away.

"Why, Chaac?" His eyes closed over. "I don't …"

Chapter 120

Emily raced across the cavern. Then she turned to the river and feasted her eyes on the library.

Her library.

She gazed at the gold plates, at the knowledge contained within them. She had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't experiencing another hallucination.

She'd waited her whole life to see the Library of the Mayas. She'd dreamt of it thousands of times. And yet, even her wildest dreams paled in comparison to the real thing.

Something caught her eye. She swung her flashlight beam toward the smaller dome. Her brow furrowed as she saw the tiny objects. "No. No, it can't be."

Throwing caution to the wind, she hopped into the river. The rising water splashed into her. She was amazed at the force.

She ducked her head into the icy river and swam forward. Less than a minute later, she reached the dome.

As she surfaced, she saw two giant hunks of semtex mounted on the gold plates. They'd been duct taped into place well above the water level. Smoke floated into the air as small wicks burnt toward blasting caps.

Immediately, she knew Tum was responsible. When she'd seen him wade out to the dome, she'd thought he was on her side. She'd thought he'd been trying to save the library.

Apparently, she'd thought wrong.

She reached for a hunk of semtex. Carefully, she extinguished the flame and undid the duct tape. Then she heaved it downriver, hoping the fast-moving water would sweep it far away from the library.

Her breathing slowed. The library had survived Votan's army. It would survive the semtex too.

Her confidence grew as she reached for the second hunk of semtex. Beverly had clearly been wrong about the library. The idea that the two domes could explode like nuclear bombs was beyond preposterous.

At the last second, she pulled up. She gave her head a fierce shake. She was having another hallucination. That was the only thing that made sense. Tum had no reason to hurt the library.

Abruptly, a massive shockwave swept over her. The temperature turned boiling hot. The cave system roared until her ears no longer worked. A brilliant white light flashed. It smashed into her. It grabbed hold of her arms, her legs, her torso, and her head. It latched onto her very soul.

And then it exploded inside her.

Chapter 121

The ground rumbled. The air roared.

I looked over my shoulder. My jaw dropped.

The georeactors … they must've exploded.

A wall of water raced toward me. It crashed against the twenty-foot high ceiling, ripping stalactites from the limestone as if they were toothpicks. Large flames stabbed out of the water's edges, searing the rock and sending giant tufts of smoke into the air.

I threw myself into the hull and braced myself against the ancient wood. The wall of water smashed into me, over me, all around me. It tore at my body, threatening to yank me from the canoe.

The boat swept backward and upward. It flipped in all directions until I could no longer tell up from down.

Tremendous waves struck my back over and over again. Water forced its way into my mouth and down my lungs. At the same time, intense heat singed my clothes, my skin. It felt scalding hot and it took all my willpower not to scream out. I was drowning and burning to death at the same time.

My grip on the hull started to weaken. And the old boat, once strong and firm, now felt fragile and weak.

Got to hold on.

More waves crashed against my back. But they were a bit lighter, a bit easier to manage. Flames continued to burn my skin. But they felt a few degrees cooler.

The waves shot over me, shot past me. The river calmed down and the canoe flopped back into the water. It rolled once, then twice. It started a third roll. But its momentum slowed considerably once it turned upside down. Swinging my body from side to side, I managed to right it again.

I tried to get up, to ready myself for whatever hellish thing came next. But I was weak. Hell, I couldn't even cough. So, I just lay at the bottom of the hull, spitting up water and trying to gather my strength.

More large waves crashed into the boat. I rose to my knees. But the canoe quaked violently, forcing me to sprawl out again.

Mounds of icy water careened inside the boat, soaking my clothes and freezing my burnt skin. I rose up. Cupped my hands together and frantically scooped water out of the canoe. But a roaring noise, even louder than the wall of water, caused me to freeze. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my flashlight from my pocket.

Rock walls rose on either side of me, stretching well over twenty feet in height. They hemmed in the mighty river, forcing its raging waters into a narrow fifty-foot channel. It was a magnificent waterway, yet far more treacherous than anything I'd ever seen.

How the hell am I going to survive that?

Chapter 122

A wave burst forth from the angry rapids. It caught me square in the face and I felt myself slipping, sliding out of the canoe.

Another wave rocked the ancient watercraft. I skidded to the other end of the hull. Then the canoe jerked in the foamy surf and I felt my legs slip over the side.

An even larger wave crashed into the canoe at an angle, catching me in the ear. My sense of balance vanished. I was helpless, a slave to the river's whims.

And then I toppled out of the canoe.

I extended my hands as I crashed into the river. My fingers closed over splintered wood. Tightening my grip, I held on for dear life.

The boat shot into a whirlpool. My body slowly lifted out of the water, propelled along by the tremendous force, until I was perfectly perpendicular to the old canoe. Powerful gusts of wind stabbed at my face. Waves of cold water splashed me again and again.

My muscles strained. Bit by bit, I dragged my body closer to the boat.

The wind howled. The river erupted with rage. The current quickened and shifted directions continuously.

I shoved my right elbow inside the hull and braced myself against the frame. The canoe shot to the right. It swept up against some partially submerged stalagmites. My body jolted. Waves of water splashed over me.

Blinking away the moisture, I stuck my left elbow inside the hull. With one final heave, I yanked my body out of the river.

I tumbled into the boat like a ragdoll. The canoe banged into another stalagmite. A loud, screeching noise filled my ears.

Multiple waterfalls appeared on either side of me, dumping their foamy contents into the river. The water crashed against the choppy surf, giving rise to a deafening roar. A thick white mist floated overhead.

I squinted. Just ahead, a couple of stalagmites jutted out of the river, impervious to the relentless currents. Then a beam of light swept over me. I ducked my head as bullets hurtled through the air.

A solitary raft, filled with four of Votan's men, trailed me by fifty feet. Its engine, tipped sideways, looked busted. Two of them used their hands to paddle, in what seemed to be a fruitless attempt to control the craft. The other two men sat in the middle of the raft. They clutched pistols. Fortunately, the swift current kept them from drawing a bead on me.

I heard a faint rustle. Whirling to the side, I saw the second raft slide next to my canoe. Not wasting any time, a heavily muscled man dove at me.

I lashed out with my boot. It slammed into his shoulder. The man screamed and jerked backward. He crashed into the water. Before he could get his bearings, he smashed face first into a stalagmite.

I grabbed my pistol from my holster. But my canoe veered and I reeled to the side. The gun dropped into my boat, splashing into a pool of water. I lunged for it but it squirted just out of my reach.

Looking ahead, I saw more giant stalagmites. Desperately, I slammed my body against the canoe's left side, trying to redirect its path.

The canoe rocked as a second man jumped into it. He didn't bother trying to gain his balance. Instead, he lunged at me. I grunted as his fist hammered into my belly.

The man reared back for a second punch. I twisted my neck. His knuckles grazed the side of my face, narrowly missing my cheek.

I snuck another glimpse at the stalagmites. They were getting close. In the dim light, I could make out angry waves pounding against them.

I aimed a kick at the man.

But he parried the blow.

The canoe spun to the side. I held on tight as it whipped across a whirlpool, barely missing the jagged stalagmites.

The man fell to the bottom of the hull. Above the din, I heard more splashes. Tilting my head, I saw the second raft pull alongside me. Another man crouched in its hull, ready to leap.

My canoe spun in a half-circle. I sprawled onto the bottom of the boat. With a fierce glare, the first man rose to his knees.