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Austin turned to Nina "Would I be able to persuade you to get a motel room as well?"

"No," she said emphatically

"Why does your answer not surprise , I want you close to Joe and me And do exactly e tell you to do Nohere is this incredible artifact that's supposed to provoke the attack?"

Nina sot it in the 'vault"

Ned and Carl went back to their work, and Nina led the way to a metal shed that had been thrown up next to an RV She opened the padlocked door with a key at her belt There was no electricity, so they lit a gas camp lamp Thorses had been set up inside with thick planks running crosswise On the planks was an object covered with a painter's canvas drop cloth

Trout said, "It's a's age The boys at the NUMA lab cooked up a batch of caliche that would ordinarily take centuries to accumulate" He paused for dramatic effect, then whipped the cloth off "Voila "

Austin and Zavala stared for a ht from the lamp, then moved in for a closer look Austin reached out and touched the bronze surface "Is this what I think it is?" he said

Trout cleared his throat "I believe the term its creators used was artistic license What do you think?"

A broad grin crossed Austin's face "I think it's perfect," he said

The Yucatan, Mexico

18 GAMAY WAS REGRETTING HER STAR Trek co the narroo-lane road at warp speed Chi seeate with an advanced type of radar Since he was too short to see over the top of the steering wheel, there could be no other explanation for the ease hich he whipped the wideframed vehicle around potholes and suicidal armadillos The woods on both sides were a verdant blur

Trying a ploy to slow him down, Ga?"

The professor attempted to talk over the loud whir of the heavytreaded tires and the rush of air around the boxy vehicle Ga His lead foot came off the accelerator, and he switched on the AC

Refreshingly cool air flowed from the vents "Don't knohy I didn't do this before," he said "Thank you for asking about the dictionary Unfortunately I've abandoned work on the project for the ti"

"I'm sorry to hear that You must be busy at the museum"