The Solomon Scroll

CHAPTER 43

They stood some distance away from the foot of the mesa. Nick scanned the massive formation with binoculars, looking for a way up. The day was clear, the sun bright in a cloudless sky. The morning was still cool before the heat of day. The mesa was hundreds of feet high, formed of reddish stone streaked with lighter colored rock.

"Looks like there's a goat track going up the side."

Nick handed the binoculars to Ronnie.

"You would need to be a goat to go up it," he said.

Selena took the binoculars and studied the narrow track as it crawled up the side of the mesa. About two thirds of the way to the top it curved around the edge of the sheer rock wall, out of sight

"I don't think that path is natural," she said. "Look where it curves around out of sight. There are steps cut into the rock."

She handed the binoculars back to Nick. He focused on the spot.

"I think you're right."

"The tomb is up there," Selena said, "I know it is." Her voice was excited.

"Something is, anyway."

They found the beginning of the trail, crude steps cut into the side of the mesa. They were little more than depressions, rounded and treacherous, eroded by time and weather. Nick put his foot on the first one. Bits of rock crumbled away under his weight.

"Been a long time since somebody went up these," he said.

"We go slow, it should be all right," Diego said.

"Stick close to the wall. I'll lead. Diego, you take our six."

"Hey, this is a walk in the park. Nobody shooting at us."

They headed up the side of the mesa. The ground fell away beneath them. Nick was used to heights but he knew better than to look down. He kept his eyes on where he put his feet. There were places where all that remained of the steps was a short slope of crumbling rock, a trap waiting to send one of them to certain death below.

After what seemed like a long time they came to the spot they'd seen from below where the steps went around the side of the mesa. Around the curve the steps led to a wide, flat shelf shaded by a rock overhang. A dozen feet back from the edge was the outline of a cave, filled in with a wall of rock that blended in with the rest of the cliff face.

"Got to be a reason for blocking off that cave," Diego said.

"It must be the tomb," Selena said.

"Only one way to find out." Nick laid his pack on the ground. He took a long drink from his water bottle and walked over to the sealed cave. He took out his knife and began digging into the packed dirt around the rocks.

"Let's open it up."

An hour later the rocks were piled to the side, revealing an ancient wooden door.

They stood together looking at it.

Diego looked up at the overhang. "No way you'd spot this from the air."

"This might not be the tomb," Nick said. "It could be an old monastery. Either way, it's what the scan picked up."

Lamont sat down and massaged his leg.

"How's it holding up?"

"Nothing to worry about. I thought you said we were going for a stroll."

"We are," Nick said. "It's just a little more vertical than I'd figured."

"I wouldn't want to try those steps in the rain," Selena said.

"Or wind." Diego opened a bottle of water and drank.

Nick activated the comm link.

"Director, do you copy?"

A click, hissing atmospherics. Harker's voice came through after the satellite delay.

"5 x 5 Nick."

"We've reached the objective. There's a door closing off a cave in the side of the mesa. It could be a tomb or something else. We haven't gone inside yet."

"Good work."

"Once we're inside, we'll be out of contact. No way a signal is getting through this rock."

"Understood. Report back when you know what you've found."

"Will do. Out."

Nick looked at the ancient door. "Let's see if the King and Queen are receiving," he said.