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　　　　Pitt　shrugged。　〃With　the　tomb　robbers'　radio　missing；　and　the　one　in　our　helicopter　looking　like　a　lump　of　Swiss　cheese…〃　he　broke　off　and　turned　to　Rodgers。　〃What　about　your　munications　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　me；〃　Shannon　said　resignedly；　〃we　have　to　trudge　thirty　kilometers　back　through　the　forest　primeval　to　the　project　site　at　the　sinkhole；　and　then　another　ninety　kilometers　to　Chachapoya？〃
　　　　〃Maybe　Chaco　will　bee　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　we　would　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　them　to　make　it　look　like　a　Shining　Path　raid；　they　may　have　had　it　in　their　mind　to　play　the　hostage　for　ransom　game。　If　the　Peruvian　government；　your　university　officials　in　the　States；　or　the　families　of　the　archaeological　students　had　paid　enormous　sums　for　your　release；　all　the　better。　They'd　have　simply　considered　the　ransom　money　as　a　bonus　to　the　profits　of　their　illegal　smuggling　and　murdered　all　of　you　anyway。〃
　　　　〃Who　are　these　people？〃　Shannon　asked　sharply。
　　　　〃Amaru　referred　to　them　as　the　Solpemachaco；　whatever　that　translates　into。〃
　　　　〃Solpemachaco；〃　Shannon　echoed。　〃A　bination　Medusa/dragon　myth　from　the　local　ancients。　Folklore　passed　down　through　the　centuries　describes　Solpemachaco　as　an　evil　serpent　with　seven　heads　who　lives　in　a　cave。　One　myth　claims　he　lives　here　in　the　Pueblo　de　los　Muertos。〃
　　　　Giordino　yawned　indifferently。　〃Sounds　like　a　bad　screenplay　starring　another　monster　from　the　bowels　of　the　earth。〃
　　　　〃More　likely　a　clever　play　on　words；〃　said　Pitt。　〃A　metaphor　as　a　code　name　for　an　international　looting　organization　with　a　vast　reach　into　the　underground　antiquities　market。〃
　　　　〃The　serpent's　seven　heads　could　represent　the　masterminds　behind　the　organization；〃　suggested　Shannon。
　　　　〃Or　seven　different　bases　of　operation；〃　added　Rodgers。
　　　　〃Now　that　we've　cleared　up　that　mystery；〃　Giordino　said　wryly；　〃why　don't　we　clear　the　hell　out　of　here　and　head　for　the　sinkhole　before　the　Sioux　and　Cheyenne　e　charging　through　the　pass？〃
　　　　〃Because　they'd　be　waiting　when　we　got　there；〃　said　Pitt。　〃Methinks　we　should　stay　put。〃
　　　　〃You　really　believe　they'll　send　men　to　kill　us？〃　Shannon　said；　her　expression　more　angry　than　fearful。
　　　　Pitt　nodded。　〃I'd　bet　my　pension　on　it。　Whoever　made　off　with　the　radio　most　certainly　tattled　on　us。　I　judge　his　pals　will　soar　into　the　valley　like　maddened　hornets　in。　。　。〃　he　paused　to　glance　at　his　watch　before　continuing；　〃。　。　。　about　an　hour　and　a　half。　After　that；　they'll　shoot　down　anyone　who　vaguely　resembles　an　archaeologist。〃
　　　　〃Not　what　I　call　a　cheery　thought；〃　she　murmured。
　　　　〃With　six　automatic　rifles　and　Dirk's　handgun　I　reckon　we　might　discourage　a　first…rate　gang　of　two　dozen　cutthroats　for　all　of　ten　minutes；〃　muttered　Giordino　gloomily。
　　　　〃We　can't　stay　here　and　fight　armed　criminals；〃　Rodgers　protested。　〃We'd　all　be　slaughtered。〃
　　　　〃And　there　are　the　lives　of　those　kids　to　consider；〃　said　Shannon；　suddenly　looking　a　little　pale。
　　　　〃Before　we're　swept　up　in　an　orgy　of　pessimism；〃　said　Pitt　briskly；　as　if　he　hadn't　a　care　in　the　world；　〃I　suggest　we　round　up　everyone　and　evacuate　the　temple。〃
　　　　〃Then　what？〃　demanded　Rodgers。
　　　　〃First；　we　look　around　for　Amaru's　landing　site。〃
　　　　〃For　what　purpose？〃
　　　　Giordino　rolled　his　eyes。　〃I　know　that　look。　He's　hatching　another　Machiavellian　scheme。〃
　　　　〃Nothing　too　contrived；〃　Pitt　said　patiently。　〃I　figure　that　after　the　bushwhackers　land　and　begin　chasing　around　the　ruins　searching　for　us；　we'll　borrow　their　helicopter　and　fly　off　to　the　nearest　four…star　hotel　and　a　refreshing　bath。〃
　　　　There　was　a　moment　of　incredulous　stillness。　They　all　stared　at　Pitt　as　if　he'd　just　stepped　out　of　a　Martian　space　capsule。　Giordino　was　the　first　to　break　the　stunned　silence。
　　　　〃See；〃　he　said　with　a　wide　grin。　〃I　told　you　so。〃

　　　　Pitt's　estimate　of　an　hour　and　a　half　was　shy　by　only　ten　minutes。　The　stillness　of　the　valley　was　broken　by　the　throb　of　rotor　blades　whipping　the　air　as　two　Peruvian　military　helicopters　flew　over　the　crest　of　a　saddle　between　mountain　peaks　and　circled　the　ancient　buildings。　After　a　cursory　reconnaissance　of　the　area；　they　descended　in　a　clearing　amid　the　ruins　less　than　100　meters　（328　feet）　from　the　front　of　the　conical　temple　structure。　The　troops　spilled　out　rapidly　through　the　rear　clamshell　doors　under　the　beating　rotor　blades　and　lined　up　at　rigid　attention　as　though　they　were　standing　for　inspection。
　　　　These　were　no　ordinary　soldiers　dedicated　to　preserving　the　peace　of　their　nation。　They　were　mercenary　misfits　who　hired　themselves　out　to　the　highest　bidder。　At　the　direction　of　the　officer　in　charge；　a　captain　incongruously　attired　in　full　dress　uniform；　the　two　platoons　of　thirty　men　each　were　formed　into　one　closely　packed　battle　line　led　by　two　lieutenants。　Satisfied　the　line　was　straight；　the　captain　raised　a　swagger　stick　above　his　head　and　motioned　for　the　officers　under　his　mand　to　launch　the　assault　on　the　temple。　Then　he　climbed　a　low　wall　to　direct　the　one…sided　battle　from　what　he　thought　was　a　safe　viewpoint。
　　　　The　captain　shouted　encouragement　to　his　men；　urging　them　to　bravely　charge　up　the　steps　of　the　temple。　His　voice　echoed　because　of　the　hard　acoustics　of　the　ruins。　But　he　broke　off　and　uttered　a　strange　awking　sound　that　became　a　fit　of　gagging　pain。　For　a　brief　instant　he　stiffened；　his　face　twisted　in　inprehension；　then　he　folded　forward　and　pitched　off　the　wall；　landing　with　a　loud　crack　on　the　back　of　his　head。
　　　　A　short；　dumpy　lieutenant　in　baggy　bat　fatigues　rushed　over　and　knelt　beside　the　fallen　captain；　looked　up　at　the　funeral　palace　in　dazed　understanding；　opened　his　mouth　to　shout　an　order；　then　crumpled　over　the　body　beneath　him；　the　sharp　crack　of　a　Type　56…1　rifle　the　last　thing　he　heard　before　death　swept　over　him。
　　　　From　the　landing　on　the　upper　level　of　the　temple；　flat　on　his　stomach　behind　a　small　barricade　of　stones；　Pitt　stared　down　at　the　line　of　confused　troops　through　the　sights　of　the　rifle　and　fired　another　four　rounds　into　their　ranks；　picking　off　the　only　remaining　officer。　There　was　no　look　of　surprise　or　fear　on　Pitt's　face　at　seeing　the　overwhelming　mercenary　force；　only　a　set　look　of　determination　in　the　deep　green　eyes。　By　resisting　he　was　providing　a　diversion　to　save　the　lives　of　thirteen　innocent　people。　Merely　firing　over　the　troops'　heads　to　momentarily　slow　the　assault　was　a　futile　waste　of　time。　These　men　had　e　to　kill　all　witnesses　to　a　criminal　operation。　Kill　or　be　killed　was　a　cliché；　but　it　held　true。　These　men　would　give　no　quarter。
　　　　Pitt　was　not　a　pitiless　man；　his　eyes　were　neither　steel　hard　nor　ice　cold。　For　him　there　was　no　enjoyment　in　killing　a　plete　stranger。　His　biggest　regret　was　that　the　faceless　men　responsible　for　the　crimes　were　not　in　his　sights。
　　　　Cautiously；　he　pulled　the　assault　rifle　back　from　the　tight　peephole　between　the　stones　and　surveyed　the　ground　below。　The　Peruvian　mercenaries　had　fanned　out　behind　the　stone　ruins。　A　few　scattered　shots　were　fired　upward　at　the　temple；　chipping　the　stone　carvings　before　ricocheting　and　whining　off　into　the　cliff　of　tombs　behind。　These　were　hardened；　disciplined　fighting　men　who　recovered　quickly　under　pressure。　Killing　their　officers　had　stalled　but　not　stopped　them。　The　sergeants　had　taken　mand　and　were　concentrating　on　a　tactic　to　eliminate　this　unexpected　resistance。
　　　　Pitt　ducked　back　behind　the　stone　barricade　as　a　torrent　of　automatic　weapons　fire　peppered　the　outside　columns；　sending　chips　of　stone　flying　in　all　directions。　This　came　as　no　surprise　to　him。　The　Peruvians　were　laying　down　a　covering　fire　as　they　crouched　and　dashed　from　ruin　to　ruin；　moving　ever　closer　to　the　base　of　the　stairs　leading　up　the　rounded　front　of　the　temple。　Pitt　moved　sideways　like　a　crab　and　edged　into　the　shelter　of　the　death　palace　before　rising　to　his　feet　and　running　to　the　rear　wall。　He　cast　a　wary　eye　out　an　arched　window。
　　　　Knowing　that　the　round　walls　of　the　temple　were　too　smooth　to　scale　for　an　attack　and　too　steep　for　the　defenders　to　escape；　none　of　the　soldiers　had　circled　around　to　the　rear。　Pitt　could　easily　predict　that　they　were　gambling　their　entire　force　on　a　frontal　assault　up　the　stairway。　What　he　hadn't　foreseen　was　that　they　were　going　to　reduce　a　lot　of　the　palace　of　the　dead　on　top　of　the　temple　to　rubble　before　charging　up　the　stairway。
　　　　Pitt　scurried　back　to　the　barricade　and　let　loose　a　long　burst　from　the　Chinese　automatic　rifle　until　the　final　shell　spit　across　the　stone　floor。　He　rolled　to　one　side　and　was　in　the　act　of　inserting　another　long；　curved　ammo　stick　in　the　gun's　magazine　when　he　heard　a　whoosh；　and　a　forty…millimeter　rocket　from　a　People's　Republic　of　China　Type　69　launcher　sailed　up　and　burst　against　one　side　of　the　temple　8　meters　（26　feet）　behind　Pitt。　It　detonated　with　a　thunderous　explosion　that　hurled　stone　like　shrapnel　and　tore　a　huge　hole　in　the　wall。　Within　seconds　the　ancient　shrine　to　the　death　gods　was　clogged　with　debris　and　the　evil　stench　of　high　explosives。
　　　　There　was　a　loud　ringing　in　Pitt's　ears；　the　reverberating　roar　of　the　detonation；　the　pounding　of　his　own　heart。　He　was　momentarily　blinded　and　his　nose　and　throat　were　immediately　filled　with　dust。　He　frantically　rubbed　his　eyes　clear　and　gazed　down　at　the　surrounding　ruins。　He　was　just　in　time　to　see　the　black　smoke　cloud　and　bright　flash　produced　by　the　rocket's　booster。　He　ducked　with　his　ha