Page 22 (1/2)

"Coors in Peru?" Rodgers asked dubiously

"I can show you the labels on the broken bottles," o thirsty"

"No fear of that with a jungle just beyond the pass," Pitt said with a slight smile

Giordino stared at Pitt, but there was no return smile "So hoe call in the marines?"

Pitt shrugged "With the to, and the one in our helicopter looking like a luers "What about your communications at the sinkhole site?"

The photographer shook his head "One of Amaru's men shot our radio to junk the same as yours"

"Don't tell e thirty kiloh the forest primeval to the project site at the sinkhole, and then another ninety kilometers to Chachapoya?"

"Maybe Chaco will become worried when he realizes all contact is lost with the project and send in a search party to investigate," Rodgers said hopefully

"Even if they traced us to the City of the Dead," Pitt said slowly, "they'd arrive too late All they'd find would be dead bodies scattered around the ruins"

Everyone glanced at him in puzzled curiosity

"Amaru claimed we have upset the applecart of powerful men," Pitt continued by way of explanation,

"and that they would never allow us to leave this valley alive for fear that ould expose their artifact theft operation"

"But if they intended to kill us," Shannon said uncertainly, "why bring us here? They could have just as well shot everyone and thrown our remains into the sinkhole"

"In order for the Path raid, they aovernment, your university officials in the States, or the faical students had paid enormous sums for your release, all the better They'd have simply considered the ranso and murdered all of you anyway"

"Who are these people?" Shannon asked sharply