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“Trying to speed up the process before the air in here gets too scarce I’ve cleared a few inches of space so we can slide the slab into it andon the other side”

The three stood about a foot apart and pushed the slab the other ith their shovels The slabthey’dappeared on the other side of the slab, and the dirt sifted in much faster than before

“Let’s rest for a while,” Sam said The others sat dohile Sam spread the dirt around The rate was much faster now, and when they ithin four or five feet of the ceiling, the flow stopped Sah the last of the dirt above it A shaft of sunlight shone through, illu in the chamber

They all took off their infrared goggles, blinking in the light They listened but heard no sound offrorapevines to the next Fresh air flooded in

They gathered beneath the opening and worked to clear more room above that side so they could push the slab into the newly cleared space When they rolled the slab back, there was enough of an opening to allow Remi to slip out She cli I don’t see anyone Pass me a shovel”

Sa and she worked for a few minutes “Okay, push the slab another few inches”

Sah rooh too

“I can hardly believe this,” Albrecht said “We’re out”

They used the shovels to cover the iron slab, but they didn’t have enough dirt left aboveground to level it with the surrounding land Sam looked around “Hear that?”

“A car,” said Remi They all ducked low in the depression Remi raised her head and peered out “Wait It’s Tibor’s car”

The car sped up and stopped and then Tibor got out “Why didn’t you call?” he asked “Didn’t you find it?”

“We’ll explain later Just get us out of here,” said Saed”

They all clio the other way, toward Budapest”

“Perfect,” said Saot a head start When thoseto find a tomb, just as we did”

“It wasn’t a tomb?” Tibor said