Above the rows of sarcophagi, the cave ceiling is rough. I find a single narrow opening, like a chimney flue. I stick my head into it and point the flashlight upward. The opening continues for as far as I can see—more or less at the same width. I try to get my shoulders in. I can just about do it. The limestone surface of the tunnel doesn’t have many footholds, but it’s narrow enough to squirm up by balancing your weight against the sides.
We hear the sound of the limestone door being slowly pried open. I call to Ixchel, “Come on, jump up, the way I did!”
“But … the curse …”
“Just jump! Stay clear of the Adapter.”
Ixchel does as I say. When she arrives next to me on top of the sarcophagus, I hand her the flashlight. I cup my hands to give her a leg up.
“It’s narrow,” she says. “You okay with that?”
“‘Course. You?”
“I have to be, don’t I?”
“All right, go!”
Ixchel disappears into the chimney flue. I glance down to see that the stone door has moved apart enough for me to see the face of one of Martineau’s team.
An idea strikes me—a beautiful idea.
I jump down, land near the door, reach through the opening. Before he realizes what’s happened, I’ve yanked off the guy’s gas mask. He bellows with anger and thrusts an arm through the widening gap, trying to grab me. I jump down onto the central platform, grab the Adapter, make a final dive across, and climb onto the sarcophagus directly under the chimney.
Standing beneath it, I call out to Ixchel and toss the gas mask upward. I give her three seconds to put it on. Then I stuff the Adapter into my back pocket. I hear Madison groan as he slides into the room, easing his arm sling through the narrow gap in the door.
He’s two seconds away from catching me.
I scramble into the chimney, feeling around desperately for a decent handhold. Without someone to give me a hand getting in, I begin to wonder whether I’m going to make it. I only just manage to lever my whole body into the chimney.
Madison is almost directly beneath me. I hear him jump onto the central platform. In another swift leap, he’s on top of the sarcophagus. Ixchel’s ahead of me, climbing steadily with the flashlight in her mouth. The space is incredibly tight. I can’t imagine how Madison will fit. Ixchel’s smaller, more slightly built than I am; I have to squirm through every inch. Madison’s hand grabs my foot. I kick viciously until he shouts in pain and lets go.
Underneath us, the commotion continues. With only one thing to concentrate on—moving upward—I can actually hear what they’re saying.
People shout at Madison to move aside, to let someone else in—a specialist they call “Priya.” I sense Priya filling the gap underneath me. The chimney darkens. She’s blocking the faint light of the lamp. Now we’re all three climbing in a determined manner. It’s horrible. I don’t suffer from claustrophobia normally, but this is almost too much. I manage only by thinking just one thought.
Keep moving up.
I want to ask Ixchel how much further. Or anything about what lies ahead. Is it going to be a dead end? But even that thought is too distracting. The second I take my mind off the grim task of wriggling up the nightmarish tube, I stop climbing.
And I can’t stop.
Being squashed by surrounding rock starts to feel more like pain. Or maybe it’s just my muscles complaining about the work of inching up the chimney flue. Above me, Ixchel yells out in frustration. “How much further can it possibly be?!”
“I don’t know,” I shout back. Ixchel is only a foot or so above me now. I can’t see past her into the tunnel beyond. I keep hoping that she can see the exit. But no. She’s as desperate as I am.
Priya says nothing, no complaining. I hear the steady breathing in her gas mask. She keeps moving upward. I don’t dare stop for a second, or she’ll gain on me.
“Just keep going, Ixchel,” I shout. “You’re doing great, you’re amazing. Just don’t stop. I’ve got one of them on my tail. Can’t shake her off.”
Priya laughs, but says nothing.
There’s a cry from Ixchel. She stumbles. The next thing I know, her right foot has landed on my shoulder. She’s fallen. “Get off me!” I shout. Panic kicks in. Trapped between a nonmoving Ixchel and a moving Priya, I’m almost crazy with claustrophobia. I yell louder. “Move! Keep moving!”
And then Ixchel makes the sound I’ve been waiting to hear: she yells in triumph. “I’m at the top! There’s a way out!”
The light ahead disappears for a second. There’s a short scream. Then silence. It sounds like shock and fear rather than pain.