The Exodus Quest

II

Knox braced himself for imminent discovery as Griffin arrived around the back of the Toyota, but instead of looking down, he was staring up into the sky. It took Knox a moment to hear what had snagged his attention, an engine like a chain saw, buzzing loudly for a moment before dying away again. Griffin's frown turned to a scowl. He slammed the hatchback down without looking, marched back to the driver's window. 'You hear that?' he demanded.

'Hear what, Brother Griffin?'

'That!' He jabbed a finger at the sky. 'It's a damned remote-controlled aircraft. That Frenchman Pascal is taking pictures of our site.'

'Are you sure?'

'How many remote-controlled aircraft have you seen here since we started?'

'None,' acknowledged Peterson.

'And you think it's just coincidence there's one today, do you?'

A few beats of silence. 'Will he find it?'

'Damn right,' said Griffin. 'Have you forgotten how we found this place?'

'Then you'd better stop him,' said Peterson.

'How do you mean?'

'I mean exactly what I say. Take our security men. Get that camera from him before he can do anything with it.'

'We can't do that!'

'You have no choice, Brother Griffin. Unless you don't mind your precious students paying for your cowardice.'

'Fine,' scowled Griffin. 'But then we're out of here.'

'And a great loss that will be,' said Peterson. He put the Toyota into gear, lumbering away over the rutted ground, taking Knox with him wherever it was he was headed.