The Medallion of Petra - An Archaeological Thriller

The Medallion of Petra Sam Riley book 29 written by Christopher cartright narrated by David Gilmore prologue Saudi Arabia January 17 1991 it was a particularly cold day in hell so far it was shaping up to be the cold oldest winter in recorded Saudi history temperatures on the rain swept desert dropped to the low 30s Fahrenheit while nightly 40 mph winds drove the windchill factor down into the Teens major William Harrison known to his friends as Bill rolled over there was ice on his damned sleeping bag who knew the desert froze in Saudi Arabia something had

woken him he checked his watch it was 2:36 a.m. Baghdad time he was about to roll back and try and get some more broken sleep glad to be still warmish inside his sleeping bag a moment later the Tranquility of the Arabian Knight was shattered by the Roar Of jet engines and the Thunder of artillery Operation Desert Storm a United Nations sanction campaign to expel Iraq forces from Kuwait had commenced led by the United States a coalition of 34 Nations launched one of the largest air assaults in military history targeting key installations in Iraq and Kuwait

task force Normandy consisting of 9 ah64 Apache helicopters from the US Army's 101st Aviation regiment 101st AB n dvn accompanied by four Air Force MH 53 pave low Special Operations helicopters flying fast and low open fire after their 27 Hellfire missiles destroyed Iraqi radar sites the Apaches followed with 100 Hydra 70 rockets that knocked out the associated anti-aircraft guns the attack created a 20m gap in in the enemy's air defense network opening a corridor through which US Air Force F-15e Strike Eagle Fighters supported by ef-111 Ravens raced into Iraqi airspace virtually unopposed these were followed

by hundreds of US Air Force Navy Marine Corps and Coalition fixed wi aircraft and cruise missiles operating with near impunity us and Allied Forces forces pummeled Iraqi positions and supply lines for the next 42 days and nights the skies Over Baghdad were illuminated by the Eerie glow of anti-aircraft fire And the brilliant flashes of exploding missiles while Iraq was subjected to one of the most intensive air bombardments in military history stealth bombers invisible to radar delivered their deadly payloads with surgical precision along with Coalition forces who flew over 100,000 sorties dropping 88,500 tons of bombs

which widely destroyed military and civilian infrastructure in a makeshift tent Pitched in the Arid expanse of the Saudi Arabian Desert major William Harrison stared at a map sprawled across the table before him there were roughly 100,000 Iraqi soldiers occupying Kuwait a country with just 6,880 square miles of mostly arid landscape Bill only cared about one of these enemy combatants hayar camel Bill considered the few details known about the man which didn't amount to much despite the best efforts of the CIA the Man was little more than a spectre he was born somewhere in the Middle

East he was an arms dealer with Global Connections and he was dangerous camel's goals were currently aligned with the Iraqi Army but that was more likely a result of the enormous Financial rewards such an alliance brought his coffers than any real friendship or shared ideology with Saddam Hussein Major Harrison glanced at the single photo they had of him on file The Arms Dealer was notoriously sneaky the CIA had even nicknamed him Teflon for his uncanny ability to slip out of any difficult situation it was black and white and depicted a man of Middle Eastern appearance

which made finding him like searching for a particular piece of straw in hastac The elusive figure's lean frame beled a formidable presence in the shadowy world of illicit Weaponry in his 40s he had mastered the art of remaining in visible in plain sight using his average unassuming appearance as his best disguise with sharp eyes that missed nothing and a calm demeanor that never faltered idar camel moved through the underworld with the ease of a psychic ghost always one step ahead of those who sought to capture him Bill closed his eyes as he tried to picture

where the notorious enemy Combatant might be hiding Major Harrison had the weathered rugged appearance of a man who had spent his life mastering survival in the harshest conditions standing well over 6 feet his muscular build indicated a life of rigorous physical training the kind that sculpted his body to endure and adapt his face marked by a network of fine lines that hinted at decades under scorching Suns and in biting colds was framed by a closely cropped beard that Was speckled with intermittent shades of silver his eyes a penetrating shade of gray mirrored the ocean depths

he had often traversed as a Navy SEAL all those years ago those eyes could flicker with humor in one moment and turn Steely the next echoing the Swift shift between the calm and storm inherent to his profession Harrison moved with a deliberate assured composure a silent signal of his capability and Readiness The very embodiment of the toughness expected of a seal recognizing his skills in intelligence gathering and Analysis The Joint Special Operations Command jok offered him a transfer to the intelligence support activity Isa a clandestine unit known for its Elite intelligence operations this transfer was

facilitated through an interservice agreement allowing Harrison to retain his seal skills while transitioning into A role that capitalized on his intelligence expertise in particular he was assigned to capture the elusive arms dealer hayar camel it was only meant to be a brief secondment maybe just a few weeks that was now 10 years ago and Bill had spent most of his career hunting the man three men also awake quietly slipped into his tent Bill nodded a silent greeting the air was thick with the tension of an impending ground assault Yet inside the shelter a sense of

relaxed Focus prevailed largely due to Harrison's steady leadership at 40 the Navy SEAL had seen his share of conflicts but none quite like this his eyes sharpened by years of strategic missions surveyed his team assembled under the special missions unit of the joint Special Operations Command each member had been chosen for their unique abilities crucial for the task ahead to infiltrate Iraq and Capture the elusive arms dealer haidar camel the CIA had been hunting camel for more than a decade and this was the first time they had definitive Intel that indicated where he was albeit

the middle of a war zone Bill had been asked to lead a mission to infiltrate and extract him an Eclectic fourman team had been assembled for this extraordinary rendition all had a special forces background each from different areas of The US Armed Forces to his right sat Sergeant First Class Jack Cooper his posture alert as an army green Ray Cooper brought invaluable experience in unconventional warfare to the table at 35 he was Adept at blending into hostile environments his skills in languages and cultural negotiations key to navigating the complex tribal Dynamics they were about to

face his presence covered the flexibility and resilience needed for The mission across from Cooper technical Sergeant Dominic Barnes monitored communication equipment his youthful face a contradiction to the critical role he played the tall and lanky 27y old Air Commando would be their link to the skies ensuring that air ground operations would run seamlessly his expertise in combat control and Par rescue was vital a Lifeline in the truest Sense beside Barnes Captain Malcolm gford sat cross-legged absorbed in his laptop his fingers flying over the keys as he collated the latest intelligence reports the intelligence support activity

officer at 32 was the Oracle turning raw data into actionable insights his work would dictate their movements once inside Kuwait his ability to predict camel's patterns crucial to their success gford wore thick glasses and could have passed for a close Relation if not family member of a young Bill Gates but like most things in life his appearance was deceptive he had started his career in the Navy he scored the highest Mark in his induction group during the initial physical screening test and a recruitment officer recommended he try out for Seal training not only did he

complete buds basic underwater demolition SEAL Training but did so with the highest overall marks and went on to serve six years as a seal before discovering that he was particularly capable and interested in the rising world of computing he retrained and had been a computer whiz with the Army's intelligence support activity ever since a path not widely different from Bill's own Bill's gaze lingered on his team a mixture of Pride and the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders The winds outside whipped sand against the the canvas they seemed louder suddenly the Bombs Over Kuwait

had finally gone silent Bill closed his eyes and Drew his breath a moment later a young man in an Air Force uniform stepped inside the tent Major Harrison Bill noticed his visitor wore the winged Insignia of the United States Air Force Aviator most likely a helicopter pilot yes I was told you wanted to deploy during the ground assault that's right I Want my team inside as soon as we have boots on the ground in Kuwait understood sir once the land has been taken and the region secured we'll fly your team in I'm sorry son that's

not good enough it's imperative my team's there before our people cross into Kuwait the person we are seeking is too dangerous to be left on his own he's likely to slip through the crack of the entire Coalition force and disappear into the desert I can't risk that I've Spent too many years trying to hunt him down I need to be there I understand sir the young officer looked torn all the same none of our helicopters will be landing anywhere inside Kuwait bill blinked but he wasn't surprised it wasn't a matter of lack of Bravery or

incompetence he pictured the battle if the kid said it was impossible to land there he meant it all right who can get us inside the Pilot's lips formed a hard Line that would be the first and second brigades from the first Infantry Division the mechanized division Bill said with familiarity yes sir bill grinned then you had better introduce us before they depart without us the bulldozer assault 23 February 1991 the Sikorski mh-53 pave low hummed through the dark early morning Sky its rotors beating a steady Rhythm against the cool air major William Harrison Sat by

the window his gaze fixed below as The helicopter flew the scene was eerily illuminated by sporadic flashes of artillery fire in the distance casting long menacing Shadows across the land he glanced at his watch it was 0340 the Horizon tinged with the faintest promise of dawn yet the ground below lay shrouded in the darkness of the desert night hidden in the inky black ahead lay the Saddam line the defensive fortifications had been constructed by Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Army on the Kuwait border with Saudi Arabia it was a formidable obstacle to The Liberation of Kuwait consisting

of a series of flame trenches ditches filled with oil to be ignited in case of attack and sand burms trench Works anti-tank ditches barbed wire and Mine Fields backed by the threat of chemical and biological weapons the objective of Hussein was to force the coalition to engage in slow and costly trench Warfare well-entrenched enemy soldiers cannot normally be defeated without attacking troops dismounting from their vehicles to engage but Colonel Lon mager and Colonel Anthony Morino commanders of the division's first and second Brigade decided to ditch standard trench warfare Doctrine when they grasped the opportunity presented

by the shifting Sands instead of going in on foot they plan to send M1 Abrams Tanks modified With mine sweeping plows and m728 combat engineer vehicles to bury the trench lines completely the helicopter banked sharply the nose dipped and the pilot set up to land as they approached the Coalition forces bill could make out the Silhouettes Of Tanks and armored vehicles lined up and poised for the assault the tanks some fitted with massive plows were ready to breach the extensive minefields and Fortifications despite the darkness the organized chaos of the ground forces was evident a

sign of the meticulous planning that had gone into this moment the pave low descended its powerful lights cutting through the preon Gloom spotlighting patches of sand and scrub as it neared the landing Zone Bill watched as the ground crew signaled them in their movements precise under the cover of Darkness The helicopter's Landing lights flickered across armored Vehicles bristling with Weaponry their Crews reviewing systems and loading armaments the helicopter touched down with a slight jolt the Roar of the engines mixed with the distant thuds of heavy artillery Harrison felt the vibration through the soles of his

boots as he unstrapped himself and prepared to disembark around him his team did the same each man rechecking his gear readying themselves for the mission Ahead stepping out onto the ground bill was hit by a blast of cold air carrying with it the scent of oil and Gunpowder the ground forces were a hive of activity soldiers and Engineers moving with purpose amidst the armored leviathans as he stro toward the command vehicle his mind was clear focused on the task ahead the early morning operation to to breach the Saddam line was about to begin and with

it a crucial phase of Operation Desert Storm as the rumble of Tanks gearing up for the bulldozer assault filled the air major William Harrison LED his team toward the cluster of tank commanders gathered for the briefing the first to catch the tank Commander's eyes Harrison moved with quiet Authority his uniform slightly different from the standard issue his boots dustier and warm in places only the harshest terrains could reach slung over his shoulder was a Custom Modified M4 carbine equipped with a suppressor and an advanced optic site hinting at operations far beyond regular infantry engagements flanking

him was Jack Cooper the team's Green Beret noticeable not just for his sight but for the array of non-standard gear strapped to his tactical vest his helmet was fitted with a night vision Mount though the goggles were currently clipped to his belt alongside a variety of multi-tools and a Handheld GPS unit tools not typically issued to regular forces Dominic Barnes the air Commando walked slightly apart constantly scanning their surroundings his demeanor was relaxed but alert a portable radio handset hooked to his back the kind used for secure lines far beyond the typical frequencies his hands

even at rest seemed ready to reach for the sidearm at his thigh a compact silenced pistol bringing up the rear was Captain Malcolm gford the intelligence support activity officer his gaze hidden behind a pair of ballistic sunglasses he carried a lightweight laptop bag presumably filled with reconnaissance data and intelligence reports strapped across his chest unlike the others his presence was less about Firepower and more about the invaluable data he carried data that could change the course of their mission in an instant Major Harrison approached The growling M1 Abrams his boots kicking up the fine desert

sand as he reached the hatch the tank commander poked his head out his face slick with sweat from the cramped overheated interior the tank commander glanced at Bill's eclectic Special Forces team what can I do for you sir he called down wiping his brow with the back of his hand Bill's brows Drew down my crew needs to hitch a ride to the front line any chance you could give us a lift the Commander studied him trying to judge what he was doing there they were a strange group four members of Special Forces all from different

parts of the Defense Force he guessed you're an intelligent yeah we are pursuing someone in particular idar camel he's in the Iraqi Army no he's an arms dealer and a close friend of Saddam Hussein the Department of Defense has him on their terrorist list he's as cunning as a fox and as Murderous as one locked inside a hen house this is the closest we've come to pinning him down Bill paused his gaze intent we taking no chances of him slipping away understood we're about to bulldo our way right through their trenches if those fine gentlemen

up at HQ from the combat engineers are right we should be finished by lunchtime the commander met his gaze do you want to wait until we finished our job and take one of the helicopters into Kuwait Bill shook his head that won't work Pilots won't want to land there anytime soon and I don't want to wait we've been after this guy for a long time years in fact if he slips through we might not get another chance he studied the massive Abrams tank so how about it can we hitch a ride the commander shook his

head a Grimace Crossing his features I wish I could help but it's impossibly small in here we're packed in Like sardines as it is there's not enough room for the people who work here let alone those who don't gaze lingered on the powerful machine its engine humming a steady bass note that vibrated through his boots his eyes drifted toward the array of armored vehicles lined up in a neat row it seemed incredible that such a large machine didn't have room for four guys but he'd been inside tanks before they were brutally Spartan inside no worries

I'll keep looking try one of the Bradley down the line the commander advised pointing farther along the column of armored vehicles they've got a bit more room you might have better luck there thanks I'll check it out Harrison replied giving a nod of thanks he turned to Signal his team his mind already plotting the next move as they made their way toward the M2 Bradley's hoping for better luck 10 minutes later they were all inside the cavernous interior Of an M2 Bradley armored Fighting Vehicle it it was 4:00 a.m. when the massive Coalition of tanks

and armored vehicles equipped with powerful bulldozzer plows began its treacherous Journey North into Kuwait Bill clung tightly to the handles inside the armored vehicle which had been converted for the Grim task at hand the interior was Stark and functional lit by the dim glow of instrument panels and small overhead lights that cast Harsh Shadows across the faces of the the occupants every surface was metal cold and hard to touch with cables and control systems snaking along the walls the air was thick with the smell of oil and metal a tangible reminder of the tanks lethal

purpose The Heavy Metal Beast rumbled forward part of a line of military bulldozers and tanks modified with plows engineered to breach the Iraqi trench system that zigzagged across the desert Landscape like the scars of some great Beast the massive cumin VTA 93t 8 cylinder diesel sent 600 horsepower through its drivetrain into the Twin caterpillar tracks as the machine lurched over the uneven terrain Harrison peered through the viewing Port his gaze fixed on the horizon where the Earth was churned into raw upheaval The Trenches ahead were comp Le Lex Labyrinth a network of deep cuts into

the Earth they were packed With Iraqi soldiers who had been ordered to hold at all costs the Coalition strategy was as brutal as it was efficient they would use the plows mounted on tanks and bulldozers to fill the trenches effectively burying the enemy and their equipment under tons of sand and Earth the noise inside the armored vehicle was deafening the Roar of the engine mixed with a crunch of sand and rock and the occasional clatter of small Arms fire pinging harmlessly off the Tank's reinforced exterior the air was thick with diesel fumes and dust making

each breath a gritty effort Bill wedged himself between the cramped seats and the humming Machinery his team Barnes Cooper and gford were similarly positioned their bodies pressed into the cramped and noisy space that seemed less hospitable than the Relentless desert outside eight M1A1 tanks punched simultaneously through the sand BMS and Trenches at the southwest corner of Iraq's defensive perimeter then they turned to their flanks to face the Infantry men in the trenches they had just crossed in most cases two M1 A1 tanks with plows shaped like giant teeth were assigned to each section of the

trench line the tank s took up positions on either side of the trenches most of them 3 ft wide and 6 ft deep Bradley Fighting vehicles and Vulcan armored personnel Carriers straddled the trench lines and fired into the Iraqi soldiers as the tanks covered them with mounds of sand Bill gripped the handles of the Periscope adjusting the angled mirrors carefully the device was a narrow tube extending upward crowned with a mirror mired prism that captured the scenes above and brought them into sharp if somewhat restricted Focus the pariscope allowed him a narrow window to view

the world outside much like the slit visor Of a knight's helmet as he peered through the lens the desert stretched out before him a vast beige landscape deceptive in its Tranquility the Bradley forged ahead and the scenery shifted abruptly Bill's eyes were drawn to the Monstrous bulldozers flanking their path massive armored vehicles that had been modified for one of the most Grim tasks of war the bulldozer heavy blades were down pushing mounds of sand and Earth ahead of them Bill's stomach tightened as he realized what lay beneath the artificially created Dunes Iraqi trenches hastily dug

and now being buried by the Relentless advance of the bulldozers it was a brutal tactic aimed at neutralizing the entrenched positions that were too dangerous to clear by infantry the Stark reality of war was laid bare it was effective efficient horrifyingly suffocating and murderous through the Periscope he Watched as the Earth moved in slow deliberate waves the sand Disturbed from a long rest now served as both weapon and burial ground the scene was surreal like watching an indifferent nature reclaiming man-made destruction only this nature was steered by human hands outside the scene was apocalyptic the

bulldozers massive blades affixed to their fronts pushed mountains of sand into the trenches the ground trembled with the weight of the Machinery and the air was filled with the sounds of Earth being torn apart bill could see in brief glimpses the desperation of soldiers caught in the onslaught figures scrambling as the dirt cascaded in burying weapons and Men alike setting up neat and tidy rows of land to churn through their Advance was working with the dedicated efficiency of a farmer plowing the fields he watched an M1 Abrams tank ride over a large sand burm its

powerful Caterpillar tracks chur in through the sand with all 68 tons of armored vehicle leaving in its wake a series of arms and legs poking out through the sand in its wake the moral ambiguity of the tactic gnawed at him the Stark reality of War laid bare in the most Primal of actions Earth moved lives extinguished yet amidst the chaos there was a methodical Precision to the operation each segment of the trench was targeted systematically the bulldozers Advancing under the cover of tank and artillery fire leaving behind a landscape reshaped by War's brutal calculus Bill

felt a hand on his shoulder grounding him back to the present he turned slightly to see Cooper his expression Grim but Resolute give it a break sir Cooper shouted his voice barely audible over the hum of the Bradley's engine Bill didn't respond there were no words adequate for the moment only the silent Acknowledgment of harsh Necessities he blew out a breath turning back to the gruesome scene his gaze lingered on the landscape a tableau of survival and sacrifice etched into the dusty canvas of the Kuwaiti desert the image would stay with him a stark reminder

of the cost of freedom and the heavy burden of command with a final sigh he relinquished the Periscope looked at Cooper his lips forming a hard line I Know it's better than sending in Americans on foot equipped with bayonets yet there is no honor in it he thought but didn't say much better for us Cooper confirmed emphatically as the M2 Bradley continued its Advance it occasionally shuddered as it ran into tougher resistance remnants of fortifications and disturbingly softer barriers that went unspoken among the crew the faces of the crewman inside were set their eyes focused

each man Grappling with a task at hand in his own Silent Way Bill's thoughts were a tumult of strategy and survival the immediacy of the mission clashing with the haunting images of what lay behind them Relentless the Bradley p pushed forward they were part of a line of Steel and Diesel that carved a path through the heart of enemy defenses reshaping the battlefield in its Grim wake Bill reminded himself that this wasn't his decision that decision rested on the Shoulders of Colonel Lon mager and Colonel Anthony Marino he was just along for the ride part

of a larger Coalition in the fight to liberate the Kuwait people yet his team was in the Middle East for one purpose alone at 6:45 a.m. the mechanized division had broken through the Saddam line and raced virtually unopposed across the desert into Kuwait decades since mankind fought in the trenches of World War I Bill said drawing a solemn breath we haven't Gotten any better at making it easier instead we've just managed to make the process of killing people more effici efficient Cooper Shrugged War as hell Highway 80 Kuwait 26th February 1991 hayar camel planted his

foot on the accelerator behind a thick pair of aviator sunglasses which he always wore he checked the speedometer it was stuck at 81 milph which was no real surprise its odometer was stuck at 320,000 miles no matter what he did to encourage His overused and abused Toyota Hilux to increase its Pace it would not budge faster along Highway 80 the sun scorched six Lane artery connecting Kuwait to Iraq the Iraqi Army was in full Retreat the slippery man named Teflon had joined a massive Convoy of Iraqi soldiers these men were racing North in a desperate

Exodus sneaking through the desert landscape their vehicles Laden with the spoils and burdens of War he glanced at a sign up ahead mutla Ridge Police Station with his dark hair talel from the drive and his handsome features set with grim determination Hadar appeared every bit the seasoned Iraqi fleeing the chaos if he was caught he would certainly try and surrender presenting himself as an Iraqi soldier SI far better they should think of him as a soldier even one who might have committed potential war crimes than for them to know who he really Was then at

least there was a chance if they knew the truth he would probably never be allowed to see the light of day again let alone be allowed to roam free once more no he'd rather die than go that way with that morbid thought in the back of his mind he heard a distant sound that caught his attention it triggered some sort of primitive warning alarm a series of military trucks approached caml accelerated as he tried to navigate His truck through the crowded Lanes in the distance the ominous drone of Coalition aircraft grew louder a harbinger of

an impending assault hayar camel gripped the steering wheel of his Toyota Hilux his knuckles white with tension as the vehicle rattled along the dusty road the distant Roar of engines grew louder a menacing Crescendo that Drew his eyes upward his gaze locked onto the dark Silhouettes slicing through the sky they were Grumman A6 Intruder Jets easily recognizable by their stout bodies and midwing configuration Tails sticking up like the Dorsal fins of predatory fish this isn't going to end well Hadar muttered under his breath an ominous chill crawling down his spine The Intruders designed for all

weather and night attacks were harbingers of Destruction their presence was never a casual Affair the Jets aligned over the congested Roots ahead and his worst fears materialized doors on the undersides of The Intruders swung open releasing a deadly rain of mk20 Rocky two cluster bombs the bombs small but lethal parachuted down before detonating midair scattering bomblets over a wide area the ground erupted in explosions plumes of dirt and fire marking the graves of vehicles and Men alike the Iraqi forces caught in a Sprawling traffic jam had nowhere to flee they were trapped in a lethal

bottleneck and extremely one-sided battle as the Americans would say this was a high tech turkey shoot in the most horrific sense haidar's heart pounded as he slammed on the brakes his truck skidding to a halt at a safe distance from the chaos unfolding ahead the initial strike was just the beginning almost immediately a second wave of Attackers roared into view this time ah64 Apache Attack Helicopters their distinctive forward word profiles and stub Wings equipped with missile pods and machine guns they swooped in like birds of prey their guns chattering angrily as they strafed the baguer

retreating Army the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and burning oil the sounds of explosions and gunfire creating a Symphony of Destruction haidar ducked down in his Seat feeling the Tremors of the earth and the Heat of the nearby blast each explosion was a reminder of the rapidly closing net around him and his men as the Apaches made another pass their rotors beating a Relentless rhythm in the Smoke Filled Sky Hadar knew they were running out of time and options every moment they remained was a moment closer to death he glanced at the

rearview mirror catching sight of his men their faces etched with panic he Needed to make a decision and he needed to make it now with a deep breath haidar threw the Hilux into reverse steering away from the main road and toward the dubious safety of the desert terrain there was a bright flash next to him he didn't see where the bomb landed much less where it exploded but he felt the shock wave the Toyota Hilux slid to the left he gripped the wheel and fought to regain control but he couldn't even feel the steering a

a split second later The Toyota's front bullbar dug into the Sand Dune sending the four-wheel drive violently cart Wheeling down a sandbank before coming to a stop overturned and wrecked haar was still holding the wheel for life he blinked took a split-second check of himself and realized he was still alive his eyes darted to the right squinting against the harsh midday Sun his gaze locked on the Iraqi panhard M3 vtt armored car trudging up the Steep face of a massive Dune the vehicle's Wheels spun flinging sand into the air as it struggled for traction the

amphibious Light Armored Personnel vehicle had been built by the French but never adopted by the French army instead the M3 series was procured in vast quantities by Foreign armies and security forces especially in Africa and the Middle East by the time production ceased in 1986 it was the most common wheel APC produced by any Western nation in the World haar smiled he should know he brokered most of those sales during that time a moment later he spotted the ah64 Apache helicopter its silhouette menacing against the clear sky a mechanical woring sound followed and the apache's

wing-mounted launchers wrote rated aligning a pod of Hydra 7s toward the struggling M3 a brief pause a tense moment Frozen in time and then a rocket burst forth trailing a plume of smoke as it sliced through the desert Air the single Hydra 70 rocket left the muzzle at a velocity of 2300 ft per second increasing its speed to 2425 ft per second by the time it struck the panhard empty 3 it was a direct hit the impact was catastrophic the Hydra 70 designed to penetrate armor before exploding struck the vehicle's rear where the engine lay

the explosion was instant and ferocious engulfing the armored car in a ball of fire and black smoke shrapnel flew in all directions Tearing through the thin metal body of the M3 like a hot knife through butter the vehicle structure buckled under the assault the rear part crumpling inward as the fuel tank ignited adding to The Inferno what remained of the panart was a twisted smoldering wreck half buried in the sand it had so desperately tried to conquer the smoke from the burning wreckage billowed into the sky a dark column visible for miles it was enough

to raise him to his task of survival Idar grabbed a matiba auto revolver from its holder built into the side of the door and crawled out of the wreckage of the Toyota carrying nothing but his weapon the weapon had been a gift from Emilio goni the renowned Italian Firearms designer Jon had been working on its design since 1987 aiming to create a semi-automatic revolver that aligned the barrel with the bottom of the cylinder for better recoil management it was still in the Testing phase but Jon had gifted him a prototype knowing his interest in unique

weapons the revolver was chambered in 44 magnum giving it significant stopping power its distinctive design also reduced the twisting motion upon firing enhancing Precision heat found it to be incredibly accurate and Powerful it made him feel more in control although it wasn't likely to do anything against the Apache gunot ships it was better than being Unarmed a moment later he spotted two Iraqi soldiers attempting to escape on a motorcycle a rugged Yamaha xt500 its engine was revving as it climbed the Dune beside him Hadar lifted his revolver aimed at the front Rider and fired the

rounds struck the motorcyclist Right Between the Eyes the dead soldier fell backward and the bike skitted toward the ground it's engine still running rear wheels spinning against the soft sand and bucking the Plion passenger off the second Rider flew hitting the ground hard rolling down the dunes like a giant tumble weed he stood up dazed and a little disoriented hayar exchanged a brief glance with the Iraqi soldier the Man's eyes darted between his dead colleague and Hadar trying to determine if one of his own team had murdered his friend his eyes landed on the Killer's

weapon the Iraqi soldier spread his hands in a plating gesture he had no wish to be Murdered too the bike's engine finally stalled and fell silent idar tucked the revolver into his jeans grabbed the Fallen motorcycle and red it with the fingers of his left hand squeezing the clutch he gave a swift kick to the starter and the engine roared to life he opened the throttle released the clutch and the bike sped off he turned du West into the Kuwait desert maneuvering the Yamaha xt500 through the debris strewn Battlefield he Sped toward the relative safety

of the open desert his heart pounded as he navigated through the chaos the motorcycle's engine growling beneath him he felt the sting of near misses bullets kicking up sand at his heels but miraculously none of them connected with every mile gained the sounds of battle faded into the background replaced by the open desert haar disappeared into the expanse a lone figure riding into the uncertainty of The barren regions as the sun began to set painting the sky with Strokes of orange and red he had left the devastation alive and free for now the rumble of

hayar cel's motorcycle diminished into a sputtering cough as the engine finally gave in succumbing to an empty fuel tank the bike rolled to a stop he got off scanned the dusty sunbaked Earth he was getting close to the Iraqi border he sighed well he would just have to walk There removing his aviator sunglasses idar stared at the Towering smoke rising in the distance from Highway 80 small remnants of a once proud Iraqi Army he wanted to cry but not a single tear would fall from his piercing purple eyes it was known as the first space

war ushering in the first major military operation to make extensive use of space enabled capabilities including GPS satellite Communications and friendly Force tracking which provided ground Commanders with never before seen situational awareness and command and control capabilities for army forces employed across the battlefield major William Harrison shook his head despite the giant leaps in technology there was still no sign of hayar camel it had taken roughly a 100 hours from the time Coalition troops were on the ground through to the Iraqi army surrender now 4 days later there was not A single report of his

Target the Teflon coated rat had slipped through their net again Captain gford glanced up from his laptop he slapped his hand on his desk and cried out we've got a hit Bill looked over his shoulder say what now hiar camil gord's eyes were wide and he wore a big grin we've got a lead Tariq al-hashimi an Iraqi soldier who surrendered says he saw camell where Bill almost shouted the word a place called mutla ridge mutla Ridge Bill's expression went blank where's that somewhere along Highway 80 where our attacking forces destroyed a line of some 300

Iraqi army vehicles during their Retreat it's a place they are now calling the mile of death let's go Bill nearly jumped to his feet but managed to remain seated and for God's sake let's pray he wasn't killed in the attack gford nodded the information camel could reveal was worth 10 times as much with him alive than dead he's still Alive Bill's eyes narrowed you're certain yeah the officer interrogating the Iraqi soldier says Tariq Al hasimi told him he saw camel riding West into the desert on a motorcycle during a bombing raid Bill's shoulders slumped that

was 3 days ago our Target could be anywhere by now if he was a normal person he would probably be dead in the desert but not camell we're not that lucky he's a Survivor so he'll have gotten out and Could be anywhere by now he'll lay low and bunker down in a bolt hole somewhere until this whole thing blows over and when it's done he'll go back to selling billion dooll weapon systems to dictators and despots around the world no way we're going to find him gford suppressed a grin unless we knew where his bolt

hole was you're kidding me we got the location yeah there's a hidden series of tunnels at nimrud in Iraq Bill's eyes Narrowed isn't that the ancient Ian City that's the one apparently there's a secret doorway that leads to the tunnels below dating back more than 3,000 years he says he can tell us how to find it how does Tariq al-hashimi know all this because his twin brother kareim Al hashimi worked directly for Camel sometimes Kim was used as an intermediary between camel and Saddam Hussein I see Bill's eyes narrowed can this Tariq be trusted the

interrogation Officer seems convinced his Intel is genuine why would Tariq an Iraq National betray an illegal Armament supplier a guy his own brother worked for gford grinned because camell was standing near a wck Toyota during the attack on the Iraqi Convoy at Highway 80 at the time Tariq was riding plion on a motorcycle trying to escape into the desert that's when and where he saw our Target but why give him up Bill still wasn't getting it did tariq's loyalty disappear the second The Iraqi Army was in full retreat no it wasn't that it seems our

opportunistic Target spotted two Iraqi soldiers on a motorcycle he needed wheels so he shot the first Rider dead and stole their bike gford tilted his head shooting his boss a teasing smile want to take a guess who was riding in front on the bike Bill's eyes widened in Dawning realization Karim al-hashimi tariq's twin brother that's right we've got him Bill shouted excitedly assemble the rest of the team we're going to nimrud nimrud North Iraq the Sikorski helicopter cast a lonely Shadow over the desert it was flying low cutting through the crisp winter air its rotors

scattering the icy Breeze across the barren landscape of Northern Iraq as it followed the course of the tigas river outside the helicopter the Iraqi desert seemed particularly cold today There was a slight dusting of snow delicately coating the crest of the Dune the cold Touch of winter met the sand of the desert creating a fleeting Harmony between elements rarely seen together it was almost as beautiful as it was desolate major William Harrison peered out the window his Keen gaze tracing the Contours of the landscape below he and his team had all read up on the

city's history the remnants of nimrud once a majestic city of the Assyrian Empire Sprawled beneath them well over two millennial old it was proof of both the Grandeur and the transience of human Endeavors as they approached the helicopter banked slightly giving Harrison a clearer view the ruins lay scattered like a half-remembered puzzle the outlines of temples and palaces blurred by centuries of sand and strife the famed zigurat the pyramidal shaped Temple tower that was once an architectural and religious structure Character istic of the major cities of Mesopotamia had been reduced to a shadow of its

former self yet here it still stubbornly stood against the ravages of time its eroded steps defiantly pointing Skyward Bill gazed through the window observing nimrud below now blanketed in that rare veil of snow the remnants of the once Assyrian Capital were softened by white the edges of temples and Palace ruin blurred under the frosty Cover we're 2 minutes out from the LZ sir announced the pilot over the headset thank you Ric Bill replied recalling how a helicopter crewman had once called him and his men self-loading and unloading cargo it was certainly more flattering than what

they called paratroopers who were known as meat bombs after a beat he added any movement on the ground not n that I can see Keep Your Head on a swivel we need to be sure this isn't an ambush understood Bill Glanced at his team two minutes out gentlemen time to look Lively two minutes the crew all acknowledged Bill kept his focus on the snow scattered ground surveying the historical tapestry unfolding beneath them here amid the cradle of civilization Whispers of the past mingled with the chill of the present he felt reassured by the lack of

footprints in the snow but only just the Sikorski mh-53 Pavo hovered Just above nimrud his choice for his team's insertion after nodding confirmation of his intent to a helicopter crewman Bill slid the side door open intensifying the Roar of the rotors a fierce storm of snow swirled as he peered out at the breathtaking sight the massive Stone winged Bulls of the lammasu stood Sentinel at the entrance of the Northwest Palace half buried in the sands of time the helicopter's down Draft created a hazy Veil around the Colossal statues ropes Harrison shouted his voice barely audible

over the helicopter's downdraft the crew quickly lowered the ropes thick lines uncoiling and dropping to the ground below bill turned and scanned his seasoned group of elite operators Sergeant Cooper the rugged army green beret cradled his M4A1 carbine with an attached m203 grenade launcher the weapon matte black finish gleaming in the dim light of the Helicopter beside him Tech Sergeant Barnes the youngest of the group and an air Commando checked his suppressed MP5 submachine gun the compact weapon perfect for Close Quarters combat GF the intelligence support activity officer methodically adjusted the scope on his HK416

the assault rifles Advanced Optics allowing for Target acquisition bill was the first one out the door like all good officers he led from the Front grabbing his scope he slid down the coarse fibers burning slightly against his gloves as he descended the iconic Courtyard of the Northwest Palace with its crumbling walls and Faded reliefs rushed up to meet him he landed lightly on the ground quickly moving to secure the area go go go Bill shouted motioning for the others to follow the team moved with practice EAS sliding down the ropes and spreading out as they

hit the ground they Disembarked swiftly their boots crunching on the thin layer of snow bill his own M4 A1 ready for action led the way his eyes scanning for any sign of danger the smell of stone mixed with a sharp Tang of disturbed dust filled the air as they made their way toward the palace entrance the pave low hovered momentarily before lifting off disappearing into the sky as quickly as it had arrived Harrison and his team were now on their own deep in the core Of one of history's most storied sites Far Behind Enemy Lines

in the ancient heart of Iraq he signaled to his team their figures bundled against the winter cold momentarily captivated by the Stillness of their surroundings the snow dusted stones of nimrud bathed now in the soft light of a low winter sun observed silently witness to another human chapter in their Timeless Vigil let's move out Harrison commanded his low voice crisp in the cold air the team cast long Sinister Shadows over the expanse of nim rude they reminded bill that he had an uneasy feeling about the mission they had finally gotten a lucky break but to

him something sounded Bogus the intelligence officer who had interrogated the Iraqi soldier was convinced his prisoner was telling the truth but then he wasn't the one about to risk his life on the word of a P it all seemed too easy either they had gotten really lucky and Camel had made the mistake of shooting one of his own men thus leading the Man's brother to betray him or bill and his team were walking into a trap even though this was the first Real Lead intelligence had obtained and Bill wasn't going to risk losing it moving

silently and efficiently Bill's team approached tidar camel's hidden Lair nimrud with its spraw ing ruins under the harsh Desert Sun appeared isolated from the time and turmoil surrounding it the air was thick with a scent of dust stirred up by military movements occasionally mingled with the faint more natural Aroma of wild grasses that stubbornly sprouted between the crumbled stones from afar the usual Tranquility of the place was intermittently Shattered by the distant thuds of artillery it reminded Harrison of the dark realities Beyond these archaic Thresholds still no Footprints other than their own that was a

good sign they neared the massive Stone figures of winged bulls with human heads known as lammasu that once guarded the city's Grand entrances the sounds of the distant conflict were muffled here as if the ruins themselves absorbed The Echoes of the present allowing Only The Whisper of the breeze and the occasional bird call to be Heard Harrison treaded softly over the fragmented relics underfoot each step of physical connection to the Assyrian Kings like ashern sural II and shal manir III whose aspirations had once breathed life into this now desolate landscape despite the war raging not

far from the site there was a pervasive sense of calm within the boundaries of nimrud the intricate carvings on the walls depicting scenes of hunting Warfare and Divine rituals stood as a frozen narrative captured in stone echoing the current Strife in Eerie parallels here in the Solitude of nimrud Major Harrison experienced a poignant reflection on the cyclical nature of human conflict and the enduring Legacy of civilizations long vanished the site offered not just a pause from the present Warfare but a profound insight into the impermanence of power and the enduring and sometimes Not so enduring

impact of cultural heritage Bill lifted his hand pausing every man in his tracks his team stopped Fanning out in a defensive perimeter the entire area had appeared abandoned from the sky thermal imaging taken from the helicopter's forward-looking infrared known known as Fleer revealed no heat signatures throughout the entire ancient city but that didn't mean his Target didn't have an entire Army hiding within Stone Tunnels they had been moving for roughly 15 minutes it was a slow methodical Advance prepared at every stage for camel's men to attack now at 8:25 a.m. they had reached the entrance

to what had been reported as camel's Lair bill looked up the Towering lammasu stood proudly at the entrance of the Northwest Palace its immense form a blend of a bull's body and Eagle's Wings and a human's head symbolizing the Assyrian protective deity its meticulously carved Facial features though weathered by Millennia still bore an expression of fierce guardianship intricate copor inscriptions adorned the beast's flanks Nar in stories of long dead Kings and long forgotten victories Bill drew a deep breath he couldn't help but be captivated by the imposing statue as he approached it with a sense

of reverence and curiosity his fingers traced The Contours of the Kor feeling the grooves and indentations worn Smooth by time as he examined the base of the lam masu he noticed a series of small almost imperceptible depressions in the stone arranged in a seemingly random pattern despite their appearance the arrangements of the marks were far from random time to see if that P was telling the truth Bill murmured to himself as he began studying the pattern closely as he pressed one of the Depressions a soft click echoed in the Stillness encouraged he pressed another then

another following an intuitive sequence with a final push the base of the lammasu shifted slightly and the ground beneath it began to tremble a hidden mechanism activated and with a low grinding sound a section of the stone wall beside the statue slid open dust and debris cascaded down as an Elco was revealed shrouded in darkness Harrison Shone his flashlight inside the Beam cutting through the Gloom to illuminate the hidden space inside the AL Cove amid cobwebs and layers of dust lay a Sleek modern digital keypad in congruously placed among the relics of the past Harrison's

eyes widened in Surprise and a grin spread across his face well would you look at that he said turning to his team camel has a taste for bygone history but still enjoys modern security he beckoned gford forward who Stepped up with his equipment think you can handle this bill asked gford shot him a grin and examined the digital keypad shouldn't be a problem sir he replied confidently good man Bill said gford pulled a small device from his pack a multifunctional tool designed for hacking various electronic systems plugging it into the keypad he connected it to

his compact laptop the screen of gord's laptop lit up with streams of code Bill glanced at it without much Comprehension defiant energized and alert his team scanned their surroundings their ears alert to any new sounds Bill had his finger on the trigger of his Heckler and MP5 SD for a moment he St teared down the barrel of the suppressed submachine gun as if seeking their target I'm running a Brute Force algorithm to break the encryption gford explained his hands playing the keyboard like a concert pianist this might take a Few moments Bill watched as lines

of code flashed by the laptop working tirelessly to crack its security after a tense few minutes a soft chime signaled success the digital keypads left light turned green and a hidden mechanism within the AL Cove word to life got it gford said triumphantly closing his laptop well done Bill replied the floor beneath them began to tremble once more and with a deep Rumble a section of the ground slid Away revealing a dark passage descending into the depths of nim Rude the team exchanged looks of anticipation and readiness Bill's eyes swept the modern passageway below it

was lit up by a small array of LED lights that flickered on as the secret doorway opened reminding him strangely of the emergency lighting on a commercial airplane somewhere in the Primitive part of his brain a warning flickered and he thought if I went to the trouble of Setting up a hiding place like this I would have an armed guard with a machine gun hiding in the dark Ready to Mow down anyone who walks through this door Bill glanced at Cooper can you get some eyes inside this thing I'm on it Cooper replied retrieving a

small case from his pack I'll put a snake down there and see what we've got good idea it feels with a puzzled frown Bill shook his head something feels wrong you think we're walking into an ambush Cooper Offered Bill's lips flattened into a hard line I don't know but I sure as hell have no intention of being made a fool by a murderous Teflon coated arms dealer like Hadar camel agreed Cooper opened the case and removed the fibr scope snake a flexible tube likee device with a tiny camera at one end it was the same

sort of thing plumbers used to investigate the cause of a blocked drain pipe the technology Was simple but effective allowing them to appearer into the tunnel without exposing themselves sending in the scope Cooper said positioning the device at the entrance of the tunnel he sat back with his shoulders and head propped up against the stone Lam masu taking some cover so he could concentrate on what he was doing like a kid he held a compact video screen his fingers deafly manipulating the controls Bill glanced at the screen over Cooper's shoulder G And Barnes kept two

submachine guns aimed at the tunnel's entrance to welcome any of camel's men who might be planning to greet them Bill had two grenades ready to go the blast inside that confined space would kill anyone unlucky enough to be around his eyes returned to the feed it showed a grainy view of the tunnel's Interior the snake's infrared night vision camera displayed the image in an eerie Green Glow bill knew the technology used Infrared which was monochrome but since the human eye was particularly sensitive to Green the Geniuses at DARPA used the false color to help distinguish

the faintest glow possible the snake illuminated the narrow winding passage revealing occasional side corridors branching off Into Darkness the fibros scope's tub slid along its lens transmitting the Eerie silent visuals back to Cooper's screen Bill's eyes flicked between the screen And the tunnel itself his pulse speeding with anticipation Cooper paused Bill frowned what do you see I thought there was the faintest flicker of movement can you go back Bill asked yeah I'm rotating the camera 180° Bill watched there seemed to be nothing but more abandoned tunnel I guess I imagined it said Bill nodded take

your time his voice low and intense we can't afford to have this Operation go tits up I'm relying on you to be sure it's safe for infiltration agreed draw tense Cooper began guiding the fibros scope deeper into the maze Bill and Cooper huddled close together eyes fixed on the Green Tinted feed from the snake the night vision infrared cast an eerie glow over the scene turning the darkened corners of haidar camel's Lair into a ghostly landscape the camera moved with a steady deliberate Pace as it snaked through the labyrinthine Corridors revealing glimpses of stone walls

and occasional flickers of light there was a closed door it appeared to be made of solid wood Cooper worked the head of the snake manipulating it until the fibros scope slipped under the door he didn't extend it far maybe just half a foot past the door Cooper grinned the camera picked up faint Reflections off The Damp stone walls creating a detailed map of the lair ahead the new tunnel also appeared Narrow and winding again with occasional side corridors branching off Into Darkness minutes passed as the fibros scope navigated the complex passages suddenly the screen displayed

a large enclosed space the camera's infrared light revealed the outlines of five figures inside it looks like we found kamal's crew Cooper observed his voice tinged with satisfaction and anticipation good work but what are they doing in there Bill Asked noticing the enemy combatants were all sitting and gathered near each other watching a movie Cooper hazarded Bill Shrugged sitting around a table to discuss their next gold digging operation viewing current Intel feeds as they know we are here Cooper muttered the question under his breath I sure as hell hope not Bill said five Tango in

a room with only one apparent exit at the end of the main tunnel they've no idea What's about to hit them like shooting fish in a barrel I like those odds me too Bill said let's go get them Cooper quickly reeled in the fiber optic snake it was almost at the entrance when the camera shook the Green Vision swayed backward and forward what in the world are you doing bill asked it's not me Cooper gasped with surprise I don't have control over it the feed jerked violently the camera swung wildly disorienting them with rapid shifts

in Perspective Cooper's fingers Flew Over the controls trying to steady the image but it was clear something had gone wrong the erratic movement suggested the camera had been discovered the feed finally stabilized a moment later the camera feed came full circle and Bill found himself staring into the confused Visage of an Iraqi guard staring straight into the lens the man's face filled the screen each detail magnified by the Night vision's Green Glow his skin was weathered and tanned from decades spent under the harsh Sun his nose was Broad and slightly crooked as if it had

been broken once and never healed quite right A Thin Mustache clung to his upper lip quivering with the rapid breaths he was taking thick eyebrows framed his wide startled eyes which darted nervously betraying a fleeting moment of panic in the fraction of a second that Bill had to observe him the guard's Expression transformed into a series of Rapid visceral reactions first there was confusion his brows knitted together as he tried to comprehend what he was holding then fear a flicker of realization crossed his eyes as he understood the danger he was in finally resolve his

features hardened and his lips pressed into a thin line as he stealed himself to take action Bill's heart raced as he watched this rapid succession of emotions play out The guard's eyes locked onto the camera for a brief moment it felt as though he was looking directly at Bill and Cooper seeing through the screen and into their hidden Vantage Point Bill said I think our silent entrance is about to be blown Bill's eyes darted from the end of the fiber optic snake to the guard about to blow their cover he lifted the barrel of his

MP5 suppressed submachine gun he was hoping to get a shot off before the guard called out to the rest of his team Then a ghost swept past his line of sight it was Barnes his tall gangling figure moved with the speed of a sprinter and the stealth of a shadow he must have seen the guard reach for the optical snake and made his move instantly in a fraction of a second Barnes had the fiber optics cable wrapped around the guard's throat the snake boasted a pull weight in excess of 300 lb thanks to its internal

aramid yarn known as the Strength member the tensil power of the fiber exceeded that of a steel filament of the same size it acted as a perfect Gat the man opened his mouth to scream no sound came out the guard reached for the cable his fingers frantically and in effectively trying to free the pressure constricting his throat in a traditional Gat used by the Assassins of a bygone era if performed correctly the thin wire sliced through the victim's windpipe cored arteries and snapped the brain Stem killing the person instantly but this wasn't a traditional garat

and Barnes was having trouble maintaining a proper grip on the fiber optic snake it wasn't allowing him to increase the pressure the guard kept fighting Bill stroe toward them with a confident yet somewhat casual gate it was as though he had all the time in the world as he stepped up to the guard with a speed hone from two decades of Training in his deadly craft he withdrew his cabara knife driving the blade up through the intercostal space between the guards fourth and fifth rib all in one motion the blade pierced the man's heart killing

him within seconds Barnes held the makeshift garat tight for another few seconds then lowered the guard quietly to the ground Cooper said nicely done improvise adapt overcome Barn said making a tribute to the Green Beret Motto Cooper nodded with a grin welcome to the team Bill led the assault inside the dungeon-like Fortress the air grew cooler and the light dimmer with each step the stone walls were adorned with remarkable carvings and drawings from the city's long forgotten Glory no one noticed them they continued their descent navigating the maze with cautious ease the tunnels gradually widened

and the oppressive Stone gave way to more modern Reinforcements the air grew warmer tinged with a faint scent of Rich Wood and Polished metal finally they reached a heavy wooden door at the end of the passage Bill stared at the door its presence a stark surprising contrast to the rough Stone Wall surrounding it it was beautiful crafted from an elegant chocolate wood its dark brown Hues were highlighted by the soft glow of their flashlights the natural grain of the Wood formed intricate patterns each swirl and knot telling a story of time and nature PA to

a smooth finish its Sheen hinted at the craftsmanship involved it was crisscrossed by Massive iron bands that reinforced its structure and added an extra layer of security the bands were adorned with ornate Assyrian motifs each hammered into the metal with meticulous detail a large iron ring served as the handle it was cold to the touch upon Closer inspection Bill not noticed subtle carvings along the edges of the door depicting scenes of long dead Warriors and mythological creatures their forms intertwined in a dance of protection and strength mounted to the side of the door was an

electronic lock complete with a digital keypad that glowed faintly in the dim light it took only a second for build to take all this in gford let's see you work your magic again he said Stepping aside to give the intelligence support activity officer room to work gford approached the lock examining the keypad and its electronic mechanisms shouldn't be a problem he said pulling a small tool kit from his pack he connected a portable hacking device to the keypad and began to work over the controls lines of code flashed across the device's screen Bill watched intently

as gford worked his magic the beeps and clicks of The keypad filling the quiet of the tunnel minutes passed the tension growing palpable as gord's brow furrowed in concentration suddenly the device emitted a harsh beep and the screen flashed red gford cursed under his breath oh that's bad what is it the systems got a secondary encryption layer I didn't anticipate it seems to have triggered an early warning system trip WI fire of some kind Bill quickly Ordered new plan he pulled a small strip of plastic explosives from his pack along with a Detonator carefully he

affixed the explosives to the lock ensuring it was positioned for maximum effect the rest of the team retreated up the tunnel a few seconds later bill followed his team to take cover fire in the hole he said and pressed the Detonator a sharp control controlled explosion echoed through the tunnel and the lock shattered with a Burst of Sparks and smoke the heavy door shook as the force of the blast reverberated through it the remnants of the modern lock dangling uselessly by its side time to go Bill approached the door giving it a solid Push the

door opened despite A desperate shoulder shove the door creaked slowly and heavily on iron hinges the sound echoed through the tunnel like a ghostly whisper from the past the chamber they entered was a stark contrast to the AER Tunnels it resembled a luxurious Airbnb more than a bunker with plush leather couches Sleek modern furniture and tasteful artwork adorning the walls a large state-of-the-art computer setup dominated one corner multiple monitors displaying streams of data the room was softly lit by stylish lamps creating a deceptively peaceful Ambiance haar camel sat in the center of the room surrounded

by four of his senior bodyguards weapons casually Resting beside them they were unprepared eyes with shock and alarm they reached for their rifles the moment of stunned silence shattered as Bill's team open fire the next few seconds were lost in a blur special forces training took over as they took advantage of their surprise and stormed camell's bunker bill and his team moved with deadly efficiency their training and experience turning the room into a Battleground bullets tore through the air shattering glass and splintering Wood the luxurious Decor was quickly transformed into a chaotic scene of Destruction

bills Heckler and kooch MP5 barked taking down one of kamal's bodyguards with a well-placed shot Cooper and Barnes moved in tandem their weapons Spitting Fire as they Advanced cutting down two more guards gford using his Colt Commando car 15 with surgical Precision dropped another guard as he tried to take cover behind an overturn table their target caught in the Crossfire tried to flee but was met with a hail of bullets Bill's shot struck true hitting Kamal in the back the round exiting through his stomach the Arms Dealer staggered and fell blood pooling beneath him the

last of kamal's bodyguards made a violent stand but was quickly dispatched by Barnes whose suppressed MP5 sent the man crumpling to the floor the fire in the man's heart had been extinguished and he kept his hands firmly fixed to his abdominal Wound silence fell over the room broken only by the soft hum of the computers moaning and a heavy bre breathing of dying men Barnes Cooper bill called secure the room if you find anyone alive try and keep them that way they might have information understood they both replied in unison anyone injured gford caught a

through and through in the bicep of his non-dominant arm but that was the worst of it he was holding the wound bill Turned to gford you okay he asked yes sir the ghost of a smile crossed his face that's good Barnes having finished securing the room with Cooper grabbed a medical kid out of his pack and began treating him he glanced at the table the Tango had been so intently surrounding he saw flatbread topped with cheese what looked like pickles maybe or some sort of weird vegetables there was also meat it smelled like lamb the

instant Barnes Realized what it was he snorted a soft laugh they had been eating pizza their targets assumed the man in the tunnel was on guard and were too busy filling their stomachs to respond to their attack Bill said to his Intel Support Officer when you're done getting bandaged check the computers download everything you can Langley are going to want to analyze them add infan item I'm on it gford replied Bill stroe toward the the reason for his team's entire Operation their target idar Cel cautious aware of how cunning camell was he trained the barrel

of his Heckler and Coke MP5 on him then he sighed with relief Teflon hadn't slipped away this time and he would never slip away again the Arms Dealer was clutching his abdomen the dark Crimson spreading across his once Immaculate shirt his hands were slick with blood a steady stream flowed from where his fingers cradled himself in an impossible attempt To stem the flow the Man's eyes darted toward a large revolver resting on the ground beside him Bill recognized the name of the gunsmith's name emelo Joni but not the firearm itself he kicked the weapon away

camell gave him a look that suggested he needn't have bothered shots and bleeding out he was not in any position to be a threat iar camel Bill said I've been searching for you for a very long time Bill stared down at his adversary a bullet had entered from the back and appeared to have pierced his abdominal aorta his utterly unique and amazing purple eyes dilated every living creature knows when it's mortally wounded and the face camell War showed the resignation of one accepting The Facts of Life he was dying Bill had seen that look before

his skin was mtled his face Ashen gray the wound was mortal and even if camel had been in a leading Medical theater with a team of expert trauma surgeons the outcome would have been the same their target would finally pay the ultimate price for his sins he was going to meet his m he had a certain level of genuine relief appeared to wash over camel to Bill it made no sense Barnes arrived to stand beside him Bill exchanged a quick glance with Barnes who said we've got three dead One Survivor here not long for the

world right he nodded see what you can Do to keep him alive yes sir Barnes replied Bill met camell's gaze is there there anything I can do to make you more comfortable he asked camell shook his head there's nothing you can do for me now his violet eyes met Bill's gaze but there may be time yet for you to do something for Humanity that surprised him every file he had on the Arms Dealer was implicit camell did not follow any Religious or altruistic practice he worshiped the god of money Bill tilted his head to the

side Humanity protects something for me he said his breath ragged there is no one else camell's words were slowly clearly spoken unrushed what cell closed his eyes like a player throwing in his last card he knew it was over there was nothing to gain by fighting instead camel began to lift one Bloody hand toward his neck Bill moved the barrel of the MP5 toward his head in a distinct motion that suggested any sudden moves and what minutes camell had left in this world would be taken from him camell ignored him slowly very slowly he reached

to grasp a medallion that was hanging around his neck bill went to one knee startled by the artifact a thick silence sat in the air the jewelry was composed of a curious amalgamation of metals brass and Gold primarily yet colorfully interspersed with faint traces of unknown Alloys The Medallion was unique not just in its composition but in its structure it was not a singular piece but but rather divided into five separate fragments each designed to unite with Precision to form the whole each fragment was a Marvel unto itself adorned with intricate carvings and etchings that

when examined Individually appeared to be abstract symbols and images there were depictions of deities celestial bodies and cryptic inscriptions in a language he didn't recognize there was something tantalizing about that medallion for a moment an instant that seemed Timeless bill could swear he felt it abruptly the spell was broken camel handed The Medallion to him take this bill accepted the pendant what is it the naans a key to a temple full of riches And a weapon oh such a weapon his expression incredulous Bill stared at the jewelry this is a key it is a very

old map camel panted discovered amidst the shifting Sands of a long forgotten desert somewhere in the Middle East what do you want me to do with it camell's mouth corked into a faint smile that choice belongs to you the decision About what to do with it has haunted me long enough it is now left to the living Bill had been chasing camel for years he knew everything about the illegal armaments dealer or at least everything the CIA had on him and they hadn't mentioned an exceptionally old key to treasure but this was the first time

he'd spoken to him it all seemed surreal the man appeared intelligent polite and well spoken even respectful bill was still unconvinced of The medallions value how do I read the map it must be taken to a place camell's face Twisted a portrait of pain a place to reveal the truth where Petra Adar camel Drew in a few shallow breaths they were slow and ragged as though even taking air in caused Untold effort let the Setting Sun on winter solstice penetrate across its lens and it will reveal the way to Yuber the Atlantis of the Sands

what Bill frowned why camell ignored the questions praise Allah it is a relief to finally be rid of it camell's voice was progressively becoming softer quieter now it was barely a whisper I have carried this burden for as many lifetimes as years your men have been alive camell's words stopped Bill stared at him the man was now white as a ghost his hands which had returned to keeping a firm grip on his abdominal wound had Finally gone limp blood trickled out from his wound but had stopped pulsating altogether cell haar what happened to the people

of Yuber Bill gripped his shoulder firmly and shook him as though he might Rouse him from his deathbed what am I supposed to do with this damn thing gford crouched down and felt for a pulse holding it there for a good minute he's dead yeah Bill shook his head frustrated with their mission achieved gford was surprised by his Commander's Sudden Outburst did you get anything from him nothing Bill lifted The Medallion to show him only more questions gford suppressed a grin he left you a gift Bill pushed to his feet something like that says it

leads to some kind of secret cave built by the ancient navaan stunned gford laughed really how Bill examined The Medallion and shook his head I have no idea it was made up of five individual Pieces the first piece cast in brass bore the weight of The Medallion it was an outer ring decorated with carefully etched symbols of the Sun and Moon setting the foundation for the other parts to align the second a crescent-shaped slice of gold slid perfectly into a slot on the outer Brass Ring it bore the Visage of an early deity believed to

guard the underworld suggesting the Dual of existence life and death light and dark The third and fourth pieces smaller fragments of intricately designed brass and gold formed the upper and lower halves of a central disc these sections were etched with what appeared to be a stylized topographic representation depicting a specific region of the ancient world finally the fifth piece a narrow spindle of pure gold locked into the center of The Medallion this piece was most curious of All as it changed the focus of a small Crystal at the center of The Medallion as though it

might form a sort of prism under sunlight to direct the ray what did camel say gford persisted he said we need to take it to Petra during the winter solstice and the setting sun will guide us to the lost city of Yuber the Atlantis of the s hands gford laughed some more sounds like the plot for the Last Crusade Bill frowned the what you know Indiana Jones And the Last Crusade I didn't watch it all three of his team who now stood around him gasped gford arched an eyebrow you've never seen Indiana Jones Bill Shrugged

some of us get enough excitement in our day jobs that we don't need to watch action and adventure movies Barnes said it's pretty good bill made a face that suggested he didn't care if I get stuck I'll read a good book Instead one of camell's guards began to chuckle it was one of those evil sardonic cackles as though their enemy was going to have the last laugh and the joke was on them Bill exchanged a glance with Barnes I thought he was dead not yet anything you can do for him Bill asked no he's going

to die the man's laugh increased in Pitch screeching like a howling witch Bill smirked I'm wondering if it's time you speed up the process Barnes suppressed a Grin there's laws against that sort of thing I know Bill said funny that really I mean it's okay to kill them when they have guns but now when half dead and no better prognosis were not allowed to finish the job Barnes Shrugged go figure the guard squealed with Insanity perhaps The Madness of a dying man Bill had seen it happen previously their brain stops getting enough blood and therefore

the oxygen it needs consequently their ability to make sense Of the world around them becomes less and less possible the sound grad on his ears he turned his gaze toward the soldier who had been propped against a wall the guard stared back at him his gaze penetrating and intense he was an older man in his 60s at least with a salt and pepper beard that was far more salt than Pepper he was missing multiple teeth and the ones that were still present looked rotten yet he wore a broad grin that Suggested he'd found something genuinely

amusing there were multiple bullet wounds in the Man's legs shoulder and torso none had hit vital organs but the combined injuries had meant he'd lost a lot of blood if they were near a modern hospital equipped with a state-of-the-art surgical facility he probably would have survived even so it was all too late now it was clear the man was too far Gone like haidar camel the guard was fully aware that he would soon meet his God the last minutes of his life on Earth were flying away and yet he seemed to find something so overwhelmingly

comical he just couldn't stop laughing bill made a bemused grin all right what's so funny the dying man said water first Bill offered the dying man a bottle of water the man swallowed savoring every mouthful knowing it would soon be his last when he was finished The man met Bill's eye directly lord caml gave you the Medallion Bill's eyebrows Rose and that amuses you yes as you would say it is funny as all hell there was something chilling about the way the guard's voice changed as though the dying man was certain something bad was going

to happen to them all because of The Medallion as though the Ambush against These unbelievers had been set and now he couldn't help but laugh about it why the man's gaze was sardonic you will see your boss said it leads to an ancient cave filled with wealth and a powerful weapon was he lying no then what the man side everything comes at a price a price he thinks we must pay bill wondered he met the dying Man's eyes trying to decide whether his words could Be trusted he found that generally there was a certain level

of honesty that could be found on one's deathbed yet Perhaps not this man an enemy combatant they had killed Bill's eyes narrowed and the man met his gaze everyone who has followed that map is now dead it is cursed and now so are you Bill Shrugged you think the naans booby trapped their City before it was buried I do not but no he gave a half Shrug that cost him the last of his energy yet everyone who has ever gone to that city has never come back what about your boss Bill said the man laughed

some more Lord camel he wasn't a man he was a god a god Bill asked aware of the corpse on the other side of the room and surprised by the man's use of the word well he's dead now what makes you think he was a God he knew things no one knew that just made him smarter than most not a Particularly difficult achievement in today's world it doesn't make him a god listen the first time I saw the Lord my father had taken me to meet this strong and powerful man I was in awe of

him haar camel commanded everyone's respect although he spoke quietly his voice was more powerful than any I'd heard before when he spoke all of those around him would listen I was only 4 years old but already I knew how to recognize Greatness you met him 60s something years ago 64 years ago I am 68 but the Lord lived forever now do you see why I call him a god Bill held back a smirk as the Lord was certainly dead now sure there was no date of birth in camell's CIA file that wasn't unusual birth and

death Registries weren't exactly popular in Iraq even so it was estimated that he was roughly 40 years Old even then he could have passed for a 30-year-old maybe your memories have mixed him up with somebody else Bill suggested no my father was his rightand man the Lord camel has been a part of my life for 64 years I have forgot gotten many things but I could never forget him the man looked at The Empty Bottle his eyes searching for more Bill offered him Cooper's bottle of water he drank it greedily his breaths came in gurgling

Ragged gasps he was very close to his last breath the dying man gave a slight nod a silent thanks from one Warrior to the next bill held up the AR effect what is this evil thing called he stared at bill with malice in his eyes and whispered almost as though its name were forbidden some Call It The Medallion of Petra chapter 1 Jackson Hole airport Wyoming present Day Darren Young hated lying always had even before he'd first stepped onto a plane he'd been nervous about it then his dad had mentally scarred him for life it

was on a flight from his home in Seattle through to Florida to go to Disneyland to meet up with his extended family for his grandfather's 70th it was his grandfather's idea best way to make sure all the grandkids came smart guy who the hell gets damaged from a trip to Disneyland Darren's younger brother who had taken great Relish in the knowledge that he wasn't afraid of the thought of flying while his older brother was already terrified had teased him about it for weeks meanwhile Darren had practically begged his parents to drive there his dad had

gotten out a series of Interstate road maps used By Truckers and made him calculate the distance 3,000 1,133 mil there was no chance they were Going to take an Overland trip there for the weekend they would be flying commercial on the flight they had hit turbulence it was only a minor disturbance and a normal part of perfectly safe flying but his dad had been disappointed in his oldest son for being a coward and unable to control his fears his father considered himself tough and he wanted his son to grow up and be a man that's

why his Dad decided to tell his oldest son that the jerking And rumbling of turbulence was the sound of a wing coming off and that they were all going to die it had been a joke and to his dad's credit it was only a split second later that he realized he'd gone way too far something had snapped in seven-year-old Darren Young's immature brain his amigdala the part that's responsible for one's instinctive fight ORF flight response went berserk to this day he couldn't remember what happened but according to the air Marshall's report he ran down the

aisle screaming until he reached the emergency exit and tried to open the hatch at 38,000 ft it was a long time before he ever stepped on board a flight again Darren blinked a moment later he was in interrupted from his nightmare by a good-looking air hostess in her early 40s with blonde hair hazel eyes and an easygoing smile his heart began a frenzy of palpitations again how much he would give to return to those easy days when The only thing he had to be afraid of was the fear of flying his fears were instinctive but

they were misinformed and the dangers had been unfounded instead his current problems were very very real and every bit a matter of life and death the woman said the aircraft is ready for you Mr Young Darren looked up at her sorry the aircraft is ready she repeated politely if you would like to come with me I'll take you to your seat Darren stood up at 62 he appeared older than he should his once Rich chestnut brown hair was now streak with silver deep lines etched across his forehead and around his eyes revealing years of stress

he was a little pudgy around the belly but otherwise his arms and legs were quite muscular and full of strength hinting that he'd once been quite active his eyes took a furtive last glance across the small waiting lounge of the private jet terminal there were only five Passengers there none of them stood to board that was because he was the only person boarding the private jet an embrio Phenom 300E he'd considered flying commercial but it was too easy for them to follow him a private jet was a different story he' paid in cash and been

advised that the pilot would submit the flight plan after they were in the air the flight plan would eventually be traced and they may even guess he was on board but by Then he was hoping to be a long way away Darren had hired the entire jet at the last minute it had cost him the price of a new car and not a cheap one either something like a mercedesbenz or a BMW the bank manager wasn't happy about releasing that sort of money as cash especially when he discovered Darren had plan to put it in

his backpack and walk out of there without any sort of security and had tried to suggest any Number of other practical means of transferring the money but none of those would have worked they were all traceable in the end he had the right paperwork so the bank let him walk out with it looking at him as though he was in the gravest danger all he could think at the time was If Only They knew how much danger he was really in the private jet company had been fine with it he'd stepped up to the reception

and handed over a single brick of $100 Bills it seemed smaller than he expected the movies always show a guy or girl with a suitcase stuffed full of cash instead $100,000 seemed like nothing one brick of $100 notes 10 currency straps each one filled with a $100 $100 bills adding up to an easy hundred grand he handed the brick over to the young professional lady at the desk it felt light in his hand just 2.2 lounds and amounted to more than what he usually earned in a year it was painful it would Take him a

long time to recoup that sort of money under ordinary circumstances then again where he was going everything was going to take a long time he would need to start all over again snow crowned the mountains to the east as Darren walked along the tarmac up ahead he spotted the Sleek embria Phenom 300E the crisp Wyoming Air nipped at his skin as he made his way up the steps greeted by the warm smile of a neatly Dressed air hostess the air hostess from the private Lounge wished him a good flight and closed the door with a

gracious nod the new Hostess guided him through the cabin its modern interior bathed in soft ambient light he was enveloped by an atmosphere of refined luxury which felt spacious despite the aircraft's modest size polished wood accents and plush leather seats greeted him their creamy tones adding to the sense of Opulence there were eight seats in total each wide and ergonomically designed she spread her hands gesturing to the aircrafts eight available seats take a seat anywhere you like Mr Young he settled into his plush seat the fine leather welcoming him like a familiar Embrace two more

air hostesses greeted him one male one female all three looked like they belonged on the set of a Calvin Klein photo shoot they told him their names which he instantly forgot And advised him they were there to provide him with anything he might need to make his light more comfortable Darren fought the urge to open his laptop he wanted to see what their response was going to be nothing could be as bad as he imagined even so it was too risky doing so while still on the ground no he was better off waiting at least

until he was in the air the female Hostess said can I offer You champagne or would you like something else Mr Young Darren said champagne will be fine please the air hostess with practiced Elegance poured him champagne its bubbles dancing playfully in the light he took a sip savoring the complex flavors that spoke of distant Vineyards and skilled craftsmanship hoping the alcohol might settle his nerves at least until he was off the ground she gave him an impish grin can I get you anything Else his heart was racing his hands were barely able to hold

the glass he said when can we be in the air as soon as you're ready I want to be off the ground as soon as humanly possible I don't care about anything else her blue eyes met him with a polite gaze but there was the slightest almost imperceptible concern behind those eyes as though she didn't like to see a passenger so uneasy she spoke reassuringly that's not a problem I'll Go let the pilots know you're ready to take off that's it Darren drew a breath just like that just like that she smiled once more he

couldn't help noticing her playful smile Darren said I can see why billionaires like to fly privately a moment later she was gone he watched her go the air hostess moved quickly her lith frame more like a model on the runway than an air hostess although she moved a little quicker and with a certain unfaltering urgency that His voice must have carried across to her she spoke to the captain who turned around gave him a warm welcoming nod and a thumbs up his heart plummeted in his chest he was always a nervous flyer but in this

case his life was actually at risk come on come on what's taking so long he thought to himself his eyes scanned the tarmac outside for any sign he was being followed it was empty there weren't a lot of private jets at Jackson Hall airport and the Private jet Lounge didn't see much traffic three Lear Jets were parked on the outskirts but they were all closed up and looked like they hadn't been flown in a while most likely owned by some millionaire more likely billionaire who rarely used them there was a single taxi way that traversed

the distance of three or four miles to join the runways at the commercial section of the airport the aircraft he was watching came to a stop a shadow of fear crossed His face they were at an intersection with the main Runway circuit his gaze glanced backward through the oversized Windows sweeping the tarmac all the way back to the private jet Lounge the landscape seemed barren there weren't even any maintenance workers or luggage carts like you would see in a commercial terminal nobody was following him a moment later he watched as two commercial Jets passed across

the intersection finally he felt the Reassuring subtle shift in the aircraft's engines and the private jet gently moved forward he couldn't take it anymore he popped open his laptop switched and on his eyes landed on the little Wi-Fi symbol with restraint he kept the cursor hovering above the symbol and remained determined to keep it there until they were in the air even then he needed to be on the aircraft's Wi-Fi not his own as the aircraft taxied to the runway Darren Felt a subtle shift in momentum the world outside bluring into streaks of color the

engines hummed with restrained power and Opus of technology and engineering the steward approached Daren his uniform Immaculate exuding an air of professionalism and calm he had the well muscled tone of a jimm junkie if Darren had to guess they were there more for show than ability when he opened his mouth he came Across slightly effeminate I'm afraid I'll need you to switch off your laptop Mr Young until we're above 10,000 ft he said politely but firmly Darren glanced up meeting his eyes briefly then nodded the attendant reached for the laptop closing it with a gentle

but decisive click before taking it from Darren's hands she opened a small discret Locker built into what appeared to be a coffee table in front of Darren the table's design relied its Functionality a hidden compartment seamlessly integrated into its polished surface the air hostess carefully placed the laptop inside ensuring it was Secure before closing the locker with a soft reassuring click the Embraer Phenom 300E taxi to the end of Runway 19 the engines humming with a restrained Vigor Darren Felt The Familiar anticipation as the jet paused momentarily then surged forward the rumble of the tires

against the tarmac Resonated through the cabin a deep rhythmic vibration that intensified as the engines roared to life then the powerful thrust pressed him back into his seat the jet accelerating rapidly down the runway the engine noise grew louder a rising Crescendo that filled his ears blending with the subtle rattles of the cabin as the aircraft reached takeoff speed Darren's heartbeat quickened mirroring the rhythm of the Jet's Powerful Ascent the nose lifted the rumbling vibrations transitioning to a smooth steady climb as the wheels left the ground through the window the landscape below began to unfold

in a panorama of shrinking details the runway quickly fell away replaced by a patchwork of green fields and winding roads Darren could see the intricate web of small towns and Scattered houses each becoming smaller and more distant as the jet Ascended the sun cast Long Shadows over the landscape highlighting the undulating terrain with a golden hue they climbed higher The View expanded to reveal the world below Rivers snaked through the countryside their glistening surfaces reflecting the Morning Light forests and Hills rolled out toward the Horizon a sea of green interspersed with the occasional clearing or

sparkling Lake the clarity of the day allowed Darren To See For Miles the world below stretching out in Serene picturesque detail at about 1,000 ft he couldn't wait any longer with the jet steadily climbing he leaned forward opened the drawer and retrieved his laptop with a sense of urgency he powered it on fingers moving quickly as he logged onto the aircraft's Wi-Fi just as he began to type the steward appeared beside him again a glare of underlying disapproval on his Face I'm sorry Mr Young it's an FAA safety requirement that all laptops bestowed away during

takeoff Darren glanced his way frustration clear in his eyes I get that it's just what I need to look at really can't wait any longer the steward took a firm but apologetic tone even so I must still ask you to please respect the rules Darren kept his eyes locked on the laptop he opened his email server Scrolled down and there it was a message from his employer it was titled we don't accept resignations fear wrapped itself around his chest like steel bands Darren clicked on the email it was short and to the point Dear Mr

Darren Young there is is a pressure triggered bomb implanted on your embar Phenom 300E if you are reading this it means you're above 10,000 ft and the pilot has Given the all clear to use digital devices I regret to inform you there is now nothing you can do the bomb is activated above 10,000 ft and set to explode as soon as you drop down under again have a nice day the flight attendant opened his mouth to protest Darren's use of the laptop Darren didn't hear what the man said he couldn't believe it was all happening

again only this time it was for real it was literally his worst Nightmare playing out his brain froze for a split second and instantly he was taken back to that time as a frightened child when he was certain the plane was going to crash the flight attendant kept talking Darren didn't hear a word of it instead he shouted there's a bomb on the plane he knocked over his laptop and began running toward the cockpit Darren's heart pounded his voice cracking as he yelled Bomb Panic gripped Him his thoughts a chaotic swirl as he pushed past

the two stewardesses who are just beginning to realize the gravity of the situation is only focus was on the cockpit on getting the pilots to land the plane immediately just as he neared the door a hand clamped down on his wrist with surprising strength Darren turned expecting to see the good-looking Steward his delicate features and calm demeanor belii the iron grip he had on Darren's wrist before he could react the steward twisted his wrist in a precise controlled motion pain shot up Darren's arm as his knees buckled involuntarily the steward had him in some type

of complex martial arts wrist lock jujito hapkido Krav Maga chinna or Judo whatever the hell it was it worked the next thing he knew he was on the ground the steward's knee pressing into his back immobilizing him completely stay down the steward commanded his Voice steady and authoritative in 's hand he gripped his cell phone one of the female flight attendants pried his fingers open and removed the cell phone the captain unclipped his harness and clambered out of the cockpit leaving the first officer to fly the aircraft a mixture of urgency and determination etched on

his face his eyes were sharp scanning the unfolding chaos as he pushed himself through the curtains that separated the flight deck from the Cabin his movement were quick but controlled reflecting his probable military training before turning to civilian piloting the overhead lights cast Shadows on his furrowed brow highlighting the lines that spoke of more than 10,000 hours of flight time as he stepped into the aisle his tall frame straightened exuding Authority the gold stripes on his sleeves catching the light marking him as the leader in this Airborne vessel his gaze fell on Darren subdued on

the floor by the steward and his eyes narrowed in recognition of the threat Darren had posed the captain's face remained composed but his eyes flickered with concern and determination my name's James Jarrett I'm in charge of this aircraft you want to tell me what's going on son Darren said there's a bomb on the plane the captain exchanged a glance With one of the air hostesses one of them handed him Darren's cell phone he was gripping this Captain Jarrett's face hardened what the hell do you want it's not me Darren said trying to stand up but

finding the steward's grip like a vice okay okay it's my employer I resigned yesterday and have been on the run ever since I thought I might have escaped but obviously they caught up with me a shadow of incredulity washed over the captain's face someone wants to Blow up my aircraft because you quit your job it's a long story you need to listen to me very carefully the message said there's a pressure activated bomb designed to be triggered once the aircraft reaches 10,000 ft the captain's face turned white we've already passed 10,000 ft Darren swore are

you sure yeah I handed over to my first officer at 10,000 ft and came back here to see see what this Ruckus was all about Darren said we need to find the Bomb Jarrett said why can't we just land no Darren shouted the message says that as soon as we descend below the 10,000 ft Mark the bomb will explode okay Jared said the aircraft isn't that big we'll just have to look for it we've got time up ahead in the cockpit there was a garbled message via the radio from the control tower Darren couldn't hear

it but he heard the first officer reply copy that confirming we're changing our Altitude to 9,000 ft a moment later Darren Felt it before he saw it the aircraft's angle of attack changed abruptly the steady climb they had been on was interrupted and the plane paused in midair buoyant and unmoving it stayed there Darren's stomach lurched with that familiar unsettling sensation of weightlessness a momentary floating as if his insides were left behind the engines hum shifted straining louder as The aircraft adjusted its pitch the nose dipped forward and they transitioned from their Ascent into a

sharp descent the cabin tilted and the aircraft began its descent Jarrett ran back toward the cockpit Darren Broke Free and followed the explosion was small but but jarring a sudden concussive force that reverberated through the cabin Darren Felt the blast more than heard it a sharp impact that rattled his bones and sent a wave of heat through the confined Space the aircraft shuddered violently he could feel the abrupt change in the plain's attitude as the elevator was damaged the embrio Phenom 300E pitched forward into a steep nose dive The Horizon Vanishing as the Earth filled

the windshield Darren's heart pounded in his chest as he wrestled against the inertia fumbling to retrieve his phone from his pocket it wasn't there he turned to the air hostess quick give me my cell phone She handed it over without reservation can you stop this his fingers trembled slick with sweat as he unlocked the device and opened the messaging app no but I know someone who can catch the person responsible and make them pay he didn't see the flight attendance response his mind was narrowed into absolute Focus there was only just enough time to text

his wife not a final goodbye I love you he did love her but there wasn't time for that Instead he wrote the one thing he knew could help and clicked send he watched as the message lingered with a not delivered notification there was no cellular reception at this height Darren cursed the irony of modern Technology's limits he could see the ground rushing up to meet them through the cockpit window the landscape becoming alarmingly detailed seconds felt like hours as he stared into the phone willing it to find A signal in the cockpit Captain Jarrett and

the first officer frantically kept fighting with the controls trying different options attempting to troubleshoot the problem it was a losing battle Darren had no doubt his employer had made sure the bomb had severed some vital part of the aircraft they were all doomed as soon as the jet passed 10,000 ft the aircraft continued its uncontrolled descent and he braced himself against the seat eyes darting Between the phone and his rapidly approaching hard Landing his eyes remained glued to the iPhone screen the embor Phenom 300E plunged toward the ground there was no doubt in Darren's mind

it would be all over any second now his cell phone began to pick up local reception just as they broke through a lower altitude the phone buzzed in his hand a signal icon appeared weak but present just one bar a split second later the message turned from no Cellular network to delivered he drew a deep breath grateful for the small wind as his eyes locked on the very last message his wife for 40 years would ever receive from him it read find Sam Riley chapter 2 on board the tahila Mediterranean Sea the tahila hummed with

life as its engines thrummed up speed Sam felt the subtle vibration beneath his feet a constant reminder of the vessel's extreme power to weight ratio he stood In the mission room surrounded by technology and what could only be best described as magic at the center of the room a digital Round Table projected holographic images flickering with data and Maps next to it an imposing figure Loom a 7ft tall Golem crafted from the rare and shimmering oric Calcom its metallic form both Noble and intimidating stood erect and imposing it Was as if it was on duty

guarding the secrets of the room at the foot of the Golem caliburn a golden retriever lay sleeping his chest rising and falling in a peaceful Rhythm recently the dog had taken an innate liking to the Golem often found resting beside the metallic giant he seemed drawn to its presence the contrast between the animate and inanimate the organic and the forged was Stark yet oddly Harmonious Sam's gaze lingered on the Golem marveling at the craftsmanship and the power it symbolized the sound of the engines grew louder a crescendo that signaled that the tahil had picked up

speed lurching free of the water and beginning to aquaplane Tom pushed open the door with his back and stepped into the room holding a tray of food he glanced at Sam you want to tell me where we're heading it depends what have you brought Sam Asked toas Tom took a bowl of Olives off the tray placing it on the table they were followed by hummus toui battered and fried baby squid meatballs various cheeses marinated archo carts sundried Tomatoes crackers white bread fried in olive oil sliced corizo sausages along with a couple of bottles of Han

light beer and a lightly cooked chunky cubed ribey steak oh yum Sam said dropping into the seat nearest the food we are off to Akaba in Jordan suddenly Wide Awake caliburn stood up and gave a soft and joyous woof Tom set the plate of steak down in front of him unlike most golden retrievers caliburn wasn't a food inhaling type of dog in fact the jury was out whether he was actually a dog at all he was more like an extremely Discerning person who had a higher IQ than over half of the human population eyes meeting

Tom in heartfelt Thanks caliburn daintily took one strip of his steak into his mouth and began chewing so Jordan Tom frowned a curious expression on his face what's in Jordan The Medallion of Petra that makes sense Tom grinned scooping up a cracker with Mano cheese and an olive into his mouth I mean he mumbled while chewing if you're going to have a medallion of Petra it may as well be kept in Jordan right wrong it's been away from Jordan For thousands of years for safekeeping Tom laughed of course it has Sam and Tom sat in

silence for a while artfully creating toest Delicacies trying various combinations and both moaning with pleasure caliburn kept an interested Gaze on both as he continued eating Tom swallowed okay he said still not quite following what the current plan was so why is The Medallion in Jordan now Sam licked hummus off his fingers Then reached for a napkin it's been stolen from a friend and I'd like to get it back The Medallion of Petra was stolen Tom tilted his head never heard of it what's it story I'm not sure but Legend is that the early naans

who ruled parts of Saudi Arabia Southern Syria and the Sinai Peninsula for centuries built a weapon of unimaginable power at the height of its power it allowed the naban Kings to rule great lands bringing in huge Amounts of gold and wealth they built giant trading posts that summon people from all over the Known World Petra Tom popped fried bread impossibly layered with sundried tomato artichoke blue cheese a couple of squids and a meatball piled on all into his mouth at once surprisingly it all fit exactly Sam said noticing that virtually all the food was gone

and taking a swig of beer only Petra wasn't Their first Trading Post hm Tom mumbled a questioning sound over his chewing no Sam said there were many spread out across the various regions of what is now known as the Middle East so what went wrong this weapon like all forms of unimaginable power tended to corrupt Kings and bring the fall of nations in this case the weapon was making their own people sick sick Tom drew a breath that nearly Drained his beer how so I don't know bleeding gums hair falling out blister and ulcers on

their skin and so on shoot Tom said and almost spit his beer out they were dying of radiation caliburn looked up at that studying the faces of both humans he clearly didn't like the idea of a weapon that exposed people animals and plants to nuclear radiation either possibly Sam said what was the weapon we don't know some say it was a terrible Force an arc Of light or something it killed large numbers of people in the subsequent days after use huh Tom stretched back in his chair perhaps to give his full stomach more room to

digest the large meal he just ate it sounds like they had the first chemical biological or radiological weapon of mass destruction sounds like it there are stories of the great nabian Kings killing entire armies without firing a Shot a type of plague yeah maybe Sam Shrugged or some sort of rudimentary uranium based weapon that sickened the population not a bad way to win a war thousands of years ago so what went wrong for them Sam set his empty fork and plate onto the tray you mean other than the sickness yeah if they had this incredibly

deadly weapon what happened Sam said uus greed betrayal take your Pick Tom's eyes narrowed the weapon backfired in a way the nabian people began to get sick some called it the Great Plague or famine only apparently it wasn't it was caused by this unknown Armament Tom arched an eyebrow did they decide to destroy the weapon Bingo Sam said beginning to idly rip the lab off his beer the Kings and rulers of the time fought those with the power refused to abdicate during the battle a large Sandstorm struck what is now modern-day Jordan it was one

of those once in a century sandstorms for the region strong winds lifted an immense amount of sand and dust from the desert floor creating a wall of sediment capable of burying a city a habo Tom noted correct typical in the desert regions but this was a particularly bad one what happened the storm buried the original capital of the nabian people leaving it to rot in Antiquity and myth didn't anyone try to Dig it out some did but they were reportedly attacked and killed it was thought that God unhappy about the creation of such a weapon

had sent the habo to bury it Sam drew a breath the navaan people were ordered to forget about the city but someone decided to Mark its whereabouts that location was allegedly inscribed into an ancient Medallion Tom grinned The Medallion of Petra right now Legend has it when placed at a certain point in Petra During winter solstice this Medallion will point to the original capital where this deadly weapon and unimaginable Treasures have Lain buried for thousands of years so why now Tom said I mean what's happened to make you drop everything and head to Jordan Sam

said do you remember Bill Harrison Tom frowned as in Colonel William Harrison we served under him in Afghanistan I never met him but I knew Of his reputation he was a straight shooter an intelligent and capable leader known to lead from the front what about about him he was very good to me sort of took me under his wing so I feel like I owe him something Sam paused his eyes on Tom but he was looking back many years to a Time long past long before the colonel joined operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan he served

in Special Forces in Operation Desert Storm he was in the Gulf War yeah but not in the main Ara he was doing something different heavily clandestine everything about his mission has been redacted Sam pushed his empty beer away he was a major back then and was leading a carefully selected team of Special Forces to locate an illegal arms dealer by the name of hayar camel who he ended up locating and killing bill was always good at his job but after this he Started to really climb the military ladder right I remember hearing that somewhere he

was pretty good one a bunch of well deserved medals in his time so before he died haar Cal gave Bill The Medallion of Petra the four Special Forces soldiers fought about what to do with The Medallion in the end as The Medallion came apart into four separate pieces with a fifth piece in the middle to hold them all together and as each is required to make it work a covenant was Formed it would take all four of them to agree to use it to find the lost naan City you mean they individually kept their own

peace and sat all them all this time yeah the more they looked into it the more they became concerned that the city wasn't meant to be found what happened as each person in the group died one by one the part of The Medallion were bequeathed to the remaining members of the group and now Only the colonel remains alive that's right how is the old man Tom asked finishing his beer HEK dying Sam's eyes were flat cancer well that sucks caliburn who had finished his stake and licked the plate had been attentively listening to their conversation

Sam hadn't showed his grief but being an empathetic and aware sort of person in a dog's body he had felt Sam's sadness in sympathy caliburn put His head on his friend's knee Sam stroked caliburn and scratched his ears it's okay buddy the colonel says he's okay with it Sam took a deep breath and Shrugged making a face that suggested what do you do says he's killed more people than he'd cared to remember in his life and survived more firefights than anyone has a right to while those around him good men and women were not so

fortunate he figures he's been on Borrowed time for many years besides like I said he was in the Gulf as part of Operation Desert Storm so he always knew it would catch up with him he was lucky to make it this long Sam took a few minutes to shower caliburn with attention until he went off to get a drink of water and returned to lie down nearby Tom removed caliburn's plate from the floor then they both packed away the dishes they had been using onto the tray Tom asked what does Operation Desert Storm have to

do with the big sea everything Sam said some bright spark decided to use depleted uranium rounds in Iraq and Kuwait roughly 94400 to be exact well crap whose bright idea was that ours Sam spread his hands and a gesture indicating that war was incredibly stupid but it did wonders for Innovation depleted uranium was favored for tank kinetic energy penetrator and autoc Cannon rounds because it is self-sharpening and flammable on impact with a Target such as an armored vehicle the nose of the rod fractured in such a way that it becomes sharper preventing the dispersal that

takes place with tungsten penetrators surely that breaches state federal or International agreements concerning nuclear Armistice no depleted uranium doesn't have enough radioactive isotopes to Cause cancer in fact not only did we use it to attack people but because of its high density depleted uranium can also be used in tank armor sandwiched between sheets of steel armor plate for instance some late production M1 A1 and M1 A2 Abrams Tanks have depleted uranium modules integrated into their chaam armor as part of the armor plating in front of the turret and there is a program to upgrade the

rest it's also 1.67 times as dense as lead only Slightly less dense than tungsten and gold so why is everyone who fought in the Gulf dying of cancer because they were wrong depleted uranium almost certainly causes cancer Sam Shrugged apparently it's a mixture of problems ranging from the use of Organo phosphates toxic smoke from burning oil wells and exposure to depleted uranium with du now known to be highly Carcinogenic it's so common that we have a name for it Gulf War syndrome as of 2018 the number of Gulf War veterans who developed the Gulf War

syndrome following exposure to high quantities of du has risen to about onethird of the 800,000 US forces deployed large numbers of Iraqi and Kuwaiti children are born with ears eyes fingers and limbs missing and there are similar abnormalities among the children of Western Gulf War veterans Wow Tom accidentally burped excuse me so tell me has the world learned its lessons and stopped using depleted uranium rounds Sam raised an iconic eyebrow does the world ever learn Tom frowned that bad hey Every Nation Who currently owns tanks and has access to spent uranium uses depleted uranium rounds

after all war is hell so why not at least make it a little more efficient At killing people in the meantime horrifying Tom shook his head dismissing the obvious problem okay so Bill Harrison counts himself lucky to get this far Sam said he does so what happened to The Medallion of Petra the colonel says he put the four pieces of The Medallion together for the first time in 30 30 something years he wanted to see it see what yubar come again it's the Arabic name For a lost city somewhere on the Arabian Peninsula TE Lawrence

AKA Lawrence of Arabia referred to it as the Atlantis of the Sands and the name's kind of stuck Atlantis of the Sands Tom played the words on his lips with a smile I like it no wonder he thinks you can reach it what happened to the city it's thought to have been destroyed by a natural disaster as a punishment by God right and now the colonel wants to reach it Tom asked why Sam said he didn't want to find the weapon or the gold he wanted to find the city see it with his own eyes

then with The Medallion around his neck he was going to let the secret of Petra finally lay buried for eternity okay so what he wants your help to locate this long gone City no he's a sick man probably too sick to even go on one last adventure what happened someone stole The Medallion what a random Thief no Someone who knew what it was he sure yeah the colonel was a cautious man bordering on neurotic circumspect in every way he says he got lucky to live that long but people in Special Forces tend to make their

own luck he kept each one of the four pieces of The Medallion in separate safes one in his own house another at a bank one with his lawyers alongside his will and another with me what happened yesterday all four were stolen over how many days just one In fact all four were taken at the same time it was a detailed and cleverly planned attack my house in Portland Oregon was broken into nothing else of value was stolen with the exception of my piece of The Medallion so it's safe to say whoever stole it knows the

medallions value right Tom said so we're racing off to Jordan to get it back you beta Sam nodded and we're going to find yubar the Atlantis of the Sands calburn set up then and gave a loud bark of agreement chapter 3 Petra Jordan if ever there was a person genetically Built For War it was Pax West the man looked like a giant yet he moved with an ease that bellied his formidable frame as he navigated through the bustling crowd at Petra at 6'6 and 260 lbs he walked liily with a disciplined posture and calculated gaze

beneath his tough tan skin muscles Rippled each fiber refined Through The Crucible of Relentless training and combat achieving a near perfect balance of strength agility and endurance he had an attractive face with striking symmetry that he knew women seemed to find appealing this wasn't vanity just a simple observation nor was it without imperfections his nose slightly deformed bore the remnants of an old break that had never been properly set he had Piercing green eyes and deep brown hair kept in a classic taper a little longer than a traditional military cut his smile was warm and

genuine revealing a row of near perfectly aligned white teeth unshaven a light stubble covered his chiseled jawline and imperceptible cleft chin pax's expression remained unreadable an obtuse mask that conveyed an almost bored Detachment his eyes devoid of any Telltale flickers scanned his surroundings with a clinical Detachment he had always been like this even as a child he lacked the typical emotional responses that others might display any semblance of feelings he revealed were a carefully constructed facade an internal mask he carried out of necessity rather than genuine emotion from his perspective the world was a series

of calculated movements and responses devoid of the Nuance that Others experienced so naturally those who had once served with him and knew him best had learned that this made him intensely capable infinitely dangerous and by definition a psychopath Pac stood at the entrance of the seek the narrow Gorge that served as the gateway to Petra as he stepped through the shadowy passage the Sandstone walls towering above him he felt the archaic City's history wrap around him like a cloak its rock walls Were a vibrant mix of orange and red carved by nature and man into

a corridor of historical Whispers light played off the Sandstone casting Dynamic Shadows that seemed to merge with Echoes of the past the edges of his lips curved into a broad smile today he was wearing the mask of a happy tourist enjoying the historical sightseeing that Petra had had to offer it was one of his better disguises Practiced so often that any who glanced his way would have noticed his genuine smile his smile was the one thing that most people would remember about him after his sheer size a throng of tourists formed a colorful tapestry of

languages their sense of awe and excitement palpable as they wandered through buildings and walls of the past despite the chaos PX stood ahead above them all granting him an unobstructed view of Petra as he Emerged from the seek the sunlight ahead illuminated the treasury Al kazna its ornate carvings and helenistic architecture told stories of civilizations long gone but not yet forgotten pax's gaze lingered on the structure appreciating the craftsmanship and the sheer effort it would have taken to carve such a mon directly out of the rock face he glanced up at the treasury taking in

the intricate details the Towering columns the sculpted figures of mythological beings and the urn that crowned the structure all spoke of a time when Petra was a thriving Metropolis around him cameras clicked and voices Rose in amazement children pointed eagerly and guides spun Tales of treasures and archaic rituals yet amidst the noise and movement Pax remained an island of calm his eyes continued to survey the scene always alert always watching not just the beauty of Petra But the flow of people around him his path stayed clear and his presence remained unobtrusive despite his size leaving

the inspiring sight of the treasury behind Pax retreat d a small folded piece of paper from his pocket on it was the handdrawn image of a medallion intricately depicted were the mechanics of four separate pieces which all joined a fifth one in the middle that held them together there were Multiple pieces of precious stones which worked together to form an enigmatic lens each one designed to cause a unique fraction for the light of winter solstice allowing the bent beams of sunlight to land at a unique location depicting the final resting place of yubar he folded

the image away and instead opened a topographical map of Petra it was still nearly two months out from winter solstice he would need to find the time and date Exactly that was the only way The Medallion of Petra worked his watch could would tell him the time of the Setting Sun on winter solstice but that wouldn't necessarily match the time the naans had set there might be a discrepancy even of just a few seconds or minutes from a modern time piece and the sword of one used 3,000 years ago and even just a few seconds

would be enough to throw off the precise directions he had to follow from The Medallion no he must be exact and and to do that he would need to use the same timekeeping device used by natian priests Pax ran his gaze across the topographical map they landed on Jebel MBA one of the tallest nearby mountains that watched over all of Petra a place where the seasons were tracked he studied the digital watch on his wrist and considered the problem of knowing the time defined time was the Indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the

past present and future regarded as a whole yet determining what hour it was the day of the week and the seasons had changed throughout the ages time was calculated based on the position of the sun sun dials and water clocks were first used in ancient Egypt around 1200 BC incense clocks were being used in China by the 6th Century with the Invention of mechanical clocks during the Middle Ages people could finally measure time accurately and consistently the naans didn't have the luxury of mechanical clocks yet their High priests must have known the exact time of

day the seasons and the axis of the planet he glanced at the mountain Jebel MBA the high place of Sac rice was located on top of the Jebel MBA Mountain it was mainly used for the sacrifice of Animals to the natian God duara it was up there that the naban priests performed bloodthirsty rituals but when and how the answer was at very precise times during exact moments of the seasons Pax turned toward Jebel MBA and started walking he had to find where the nabies kept their no longer in use and long forgotten timekeeping device chapter

4 Suez Canal Egypt the tahila approached the northern Entrance to the Suz Canal one of the unique features of the tahila was her Helm it was positioned in the middle of of the command center which itself was positioned below decks at the heart of the vessel the mid ships but the system was built onto an elevator allowing the controls to rise onto the otherwise nearly flat Deck with a press of a button the helm Rose like a periscope revealing a Sleek Hightech control station on Deck the Helm's polished stainless steel wheel and advanced navigation screens

glinted under the afternoon light allowing Sam to steer the motor yacht with Precision out at Sea more often than not tahila was running on automated plotting systems and advanced autopilots yet during a canal Crossing it was imperative to have an actual person in command of the boat out of sentiment more than necessity Sam had taken control of the wheel Matthew the Tahila skipper who had navigated the sewer as Canal many times over the years was happy to relinquish responsibility for once Sam had decided it was too nice a day to be spent below decks especially

while sailing calm Waters standing on the deck Sam felt the warm breeze on his face so different to the enclosed Command Center below the feeling of guiding the powerful vessel through the historic Canal while surrounded by the expans of Desert and the shimmering Waterway couldn't help but make his chest tighten with joy this was Perfection Bliss contentment nothing could be better the air was cool the late afternoon sun casting Golden Tones over the landscape and the rhythmic hum of the engines was a comforting backdrop to Sam's thoughts he was focused on the horizon present in

the pure delight of the moment when he felt a familiar presence Approach from behind from behind him Amira's slender arms wrapped around his waist Sam's heart swelled with love this was better it was Perfection she pulled him in tight reving in his Embrace her touch was gentle yet firm a blend of strength and tenderness Sam turned to face her placed one hand hand over hers savoring the closeness he could feel the soft curls of her hair brushing against his neck as She rested her head on his shoulder he leaned back slightly taking in her beauty

framed by thick black lashes amir's Brown Soulful eyes looked up at him she was utterly irresistible her skin a warm golden brown with a subtle hint of olive seemed to Glow in a Setting Sun her high cheekbones and full lips encouraged him he wanted to kiss her they stood there for a moment wrapped in Each other's arms the world around them Fading Into the background it was a beautiful day made all that so much nicer simply by having Amira to share it with Amir lifted her head and kissed him softly her lips warm and inviting

Sam responded losing himself in the sweetness of the moment he could taste the promise of forever in her lips after a few seconds he pulled away to concentrate but they remained close their foreheads touching with a mirror He felt that deep connection that words could never fully capture he was in love completely and irrevocably and in that moment nothing else was on his mind as they motored into the as Canal the atmosphere of the journey enveloped them 155 years old the canal was rich in history and its tranquil Beauty provided the perfect backdrop for treasured

moments of intimacy the Canal's Banks were lined With palm trees and dotted with small villages their lights twinkling like stars in the evening Darkness Sam held a mirror close feeling her heartbeat sink with his they watched the world pass by lost in their own little bubble of Happiness the tahila moved steadily forward carrying them toward akaba for now they were content to Simply Be Together savoring the Romance of the moment and the promise of many more to Come Amira changed her tone from sensual to serious and curious she bit her lower lip lost in deep

thought is it difficult to navigate the suaz canal that depends Sam replied without hesitation on what on What boat you're navigating she arched a delicate eyebrow such as Sam pointed his chin toward a nearby vessel see that cargo ship ahead of us sure that's called a panamax it has the largest Dimensions capable of steering through the Panama Canal it can carry a maximum of of 5100 teu that stands for 20t equivalent units shipping containers her eyes widened taking in the vessel's sheer size she shot him a grin full of gleaming white teeth it was a

heartbreakingly beautiful smile I guess a ship that size is on the more difficult scale for steering through the canal not really a boat like that is at the smaller end of those that Transit through the Suz each day for example the Ultra-large container vessel the biggest capable of navigating the Suz Canal can carry more than 14,51 teu you seem to really know a lot about cargo ships Sam lifted his shoulder my family comes from Shipping he said as he considered how much that fact had shaped his entire life he'd once tried to run away from

the sea after his brother drowned but instead he just kept being brought back to it every path he walked Took him there until he finally gave in and accepted that the ocean was where he belonged she looked at him ready to ask more but seemed able to tell his explanation was unfinished they let that silence linger for a while Sam drew a breath my grandfather started global Shipping I spent any of my summer vacations on boats not too distant to those big ones you see over there he said pointing to a massive cargo ship on

The other side of the canal and I can tell you the pilots who bring those ships through the canal they're magicians her brow knitted and her tone conveyed her surprise you don't think you would be able to do it not if I spent the rest of my life practicing really every everyone has their limits Sam opened the throttle swinging the tahila around a small sailing yacht That was slowly motoring into the canal she frowned the flicker of seriousness tightening her jaw what about this ship the tahila yes how difficult is it to take a vessel

like this through the canal easy it's comparatively small giving me plenty of room for error and has the sword of power to wait ratio of a high-end sports car in short picture a race car on a highway it has plenty of room to maneuver around other vehicles And the ability to accelerate past any wind issues or break on a dime without any concern for windage knocking us off course wow Sam you're really doubling down on the car metaphors Sam gave a quick easy laugh technically only one's a metaphor the other one was simile Amir laughed

too Sam listened to her and decided it was a nice laugh throaty and unguarded she said I'll keep that in mind next time I try my hand at writing A novel but in conclusion you will easily take the tahila through the Suez Canal Sam nodded honestly if it weren't for laws stating we were obliged to have a person on watch throughout the transit the autopilot would have happily done the job job anyone could take her through the canal not anyone almost anyone why not she pressed her lips firmly together not me Sam grinned sure you

could don't be silly I've never even sailed the boat she said shaking her Head her face creased with an attractive yet worried frown Sam Shrugged it's easy to sail besides I'll be here anyway then with her classic curiosity she asked is it even called sailing when it's a motor yach probably not I suppose technically it might be called motoring but language development generally lags behind sailing technology as far as I'm aware since the Advent of steam Diesel and electric Motors one still sets sale there's probably a more official term for it but I still like

the word sailing Sam Shrugged either way Amira replied I'm not steering your boat while we're in the Suez Canal Sam slanted her a sorrowful yet knowing look that's a Pity because without anyone at the helm we're almost certainly going to crash into something he let go letting the wheel Relax with twin jet propulsion systems the tahila was far more naturally balanced than a traditional Motor Yacht with a screw conventional Cruisers were prone to causing the boat to deviate to port or starboard depending on which direction the screw turned even so the tahila wasn't immune to

the little nuances of the environment small changes in Wind ripples along the water or changes in current consequently the tahila began to drift to starboard Almost immediately Amira squealed pressing her hands on Sam's chest she pushed him fix it no way he said she's your ship now you have the wheel you take control then to prove his point he stepped back away from the helm altogether a gentle but firm beeping sound identified that the taha's current course would eventually run ground it was like one of those modern car warning alarms one indicates the driver might

Have lost their attention and drifted out of their Lane Sam Amir shouted this isn't funny Sam stood behind Amira the gentle hum of the tahila engines vibrating through the deck beneath their feet with a soft smile he wrapped his arms around her from behind his presence warm and reassuring he lifted her hands to the wheel her delicate fingers gripping it with a mix of curiosity and trepidation here let me show you Sam Murmured his breath warm against her ear he placed his hands over hers guiding her movements with a light yet confident touch together they

made a few gentle Maneuvers the yacht responding smoothly under their combined direction to their North the vast expanse of the ocean stretched out before them to their South a canvas of endless blue giving way to the bustling entrance to port s Sam helped her to steer turning the Tahila due south and into the main Channel at the northern mouth of the Suez Canal towering cranes and cargo ships of Port SED framed The Horizon and attention grabbing comparison to the Open Sea they had just sailed across the Canal's entrance loomed ahead a narrow gateway to one

of the world's most crucial waterways amir's initial uncertainty melted away replaced by a growing sense of control and excitement as they Navigated past the imposing infrastructure once he felt her confidence build Sam slowly released his hands from the wheel he slid his arms around her slim waist moving in close resting his head beside hers he whispered you've got her now she's all yours Amira smiled her eyes reflecting the shimmering Waters of the the canal ahead they stood there and twined the world around them forgotten as they navigated the Channel A Perfect Blend of Guidance and

Trust after 20 or so minutes the novelty wore off and airor relinquished control of the helm to Sam once more Sam returned to the wheel scanning The Horizon the canal stretched out before him a straight ribbon of water cutting through the desert on either side the flat arid landscape of Egypt unfolded punctuated occasionally by small settlements and collections of date palms the sun hung low in the sky Causing the Rippling water of the canal to Shimmer like moled and gold as the yacht progressed they passed by Massive container ships their towering hulls dwarfing the tahila

the bustling activity was evident in the constant movement of ships and the occasional sight of workers on the banks waving as the tahila glided past the air was warm and dry carrying with it the faint scent of the sea mixed with the earthy Aroma of the Desert Sam and Amir chatted their conversations occasionally dispersed by spells of food drinks or contented silence hours later the canal widened as they approached the great Bitter Lake a natural expanse that provided a brief respit from the narrow confines of the canal here the water was deep blue a sharp

contrast to the Sandy Shore flocks of seabirds circled overhead their calls piercing the Stillness of the desert Sam laughed and pointed as a group of Flamingos took flight their pink Wings Vivid against the clear sky it was one of those near magical sights Amir asked any chance you will ever leave chasing the bad guys out of your life and sail away with me forever a smile flickered across Sam's face then he remembered The Relic Hunter who they now knew was a woman you think there's only bad guys out there okay bad guys and girls she

turned her head you know what I Mean I do Sam admitted it was an appealing concept I would if you will he teased playfully she pushed him gently what does that mean forget the Relic Hunter and spend your life enjoying a second chance with me she frowned you know I can't do that I know he regarded her and I can't help but chase the bad guys why my friend needs my help she looked him directly in the eye your friend is dying of cancer he doesn't Need you to go find an ancient naban city one

that has been buried for 3,000 years what about the weapon hidden along with the city what about it if it's found it might be dangerous in the wrong hands she gave him a direct look what's a 3,000 yearold weapon compared to Modern Weaponry he Shrugged who knows I think you want to find this ancient city Uber or whatever it's called and as much as it's nice to be able to do it for your friend the truth is you need to Find it for yourself it's just the way you're built yubar Sam corrected her and yes

the story is too intriguing to Let It Go like you said Tom might be curious about it but I need to find it figuring things out finding things it's who I am she shot him a fierce grin and I love you as you are his ocean blue eyes sparkled thank you I love you too he said speaking in a soft low Voice exactly as you are Amira just like you I need to find The Relic Hunter I know neither of us stop halfway still is it doesn't mean we can't have this Sam spread a hand

outward toward the Magnificent landscape of the Egyptian desert life can be good there is beauty everywhere good people magical Landscapes and wonderful company she said you really believe that don't you I do he replied don't you she blinked Opened her mouth and shut it again genuinely mulling it over Sam closed the Gap and kissed her it was slow and soft her lips were warm and inviting the tip of her tongue met his when he pulled back a bit and studied her she was radiant Amira pressed her lips together trying to suppress a grin then she

laughed okay I could be convinced the tahila left the lake behind the canal narrowed Sam slowed The Vessel to just8 knots as they entered the final single Canal of the Suz it was here that the everg had run ground a few years ago followed by the Trident GS even more recently both events made the Suz Port Authority and any Skipper whose vessel navigated the region extra careful a 24t crater scarred the Eastern Bank remnants of the grounding of the Trident GS where only months earlier Sam and Tom Had worked to refloat her the accident had

nearly bankrupted global Shipping which in turn would have bankrupted his father and most likely himself it had also brought a mirror to Sam and for that he would be forever grateful Sam kept the tahila heading south until they finally emerged into the Gulf of Suz the vast expanse of the Red Sea lay before them its Waters of Rich blue Sam eased the throttle forward as They left the canal behind the Open Sea offering a welcome change the tahila picked up speed cutting through the soft Rippling waves as it headed south the Sinai Peninsula loomed to

their left its rugged mountainous terrain a nice change from the flat deserts they had left behind the Peaks Rose sharply from the sea their Rocky slopes dotted with sparse vegetation on the right the coast of Mainland Egypt stretched out a Continuous line of sandy beaches and occasional Resort towns as they changed course now heading north into the Gulf of akaba the scenery became even more dramatic the turquoise Waters of the gulf were framed by the jagged Heights of the Sinai to the west and the reddish brown mountains of Saudi Arabia to the east the sun

dipped below the Horizon casting Long Shadows over the mountains and turning the sky into a canvas of deep blues and Purples Nightfall descended as the tahila continued its Journey the lights of akaba gradually coming into view the city sparkled against the darkening Sky a beacon of civilization after their Voyage Through the canal Sam guided the yacht toward the harbor the outlines of ships and docks becoming clearer as they approached they welcomed the city of akaba at night it was magnificent from the coast Sam saw colorful illumination from hotels Restaurants and marketplaces stretching along the shoreline

reflecting off the calm Waters of the Gulf Street lamps cast a warm glow on the promenades and the occasional of neon signs added to the Lively atmosphere the mountains surrounding aaba were shrouded in darkness their Silhouettes Stark against the star studded Sky the air was warm carrying the mingled scents of saltwater and distant Spices from the markets the city was a bustling Hub music and laughter drifted across the water blending with a gentle lapping of waves against the yacht's hull the tahila dropped anchor off the coast of akaba they had arrived Amira slipped her hand

into his they stood in silence taking in the beauty of the scene before them turning toward her Sam cued her face gently staring at her in the soft Moonlight he Leaned in their lips meeting in a lingering kiss Sam whispered tomorrow we go in search of The Medallion of Petra Amira raised her eyebrows a playful expression on her face and tonight Sam laughed a deep warm sound that echoed in the Stillness of the night tonight I have other plans with that he pulled her closer and kissed her once more chapter 5 akaba Jordan Sam stood

at the stern of the tahila the morning sun cast a Golden Glow over the Tranquil water surrounding akaba he watched as Tom approached the concealed trunk built seamlessly into the tahila stern genius engineering had succeeded in housing their Sleek Runabout a wager 34 The Wager 34 was a new addition on board the tahila Tom pressed a series of buttons on a hidden panel and with a sof soft hum the hydraulic system engaged the Trunk lid lifted smoothly revealing the wager 34 nestled within as the hydraulic arms extended the Runabout began to move horizontally out of

its birth leaving the small boat in its cradle a few feet above the water it was a stunning vessel exuding luxury and performance in equal measure at 34 ft in length it was compact Yet full formidable designed for both speed and comfort with Sleek lines and Polished teak Finish it was surprisingly stable out at sea but equally belonged in the French Riviera Tom watched the automated system carefully as it gently lowered the wager 34 into the water the process was seamless like the small cogs of a clock that worked to Perfection every second of every

day he had used advanced technology embedded in the taha's design once the Runabout was afloat Tom signaled to Sam who stepped forward to join him Sam grabbed the Painter the Rope which attached the bow of the Runabout to a cleat on the trunk's Cradle ensuring it didn't drift away from the tahila without anyone on board as he moved to step onto the Runabout a sharp bark pierced the morning air Sam turned to see caliburn standing at the edge of the deck his golden fur shimmering as it blended with the surroundings this was a faint echo

of his octopus DNA which allowed him to Produce chromatophores or little sacks in an animal's skin and hair follicles filled with pigmentation that erupt in response to external impulses in its nervous system it was part of caliburn's autonomous nervous system and as such occurred involuntarily it was also an early indication that something was wrong sometimes it was an instinct or sense of precognition that even caliburn hadn't recognized and Sam had learned to Trust hey there caliburn Sam said a forced smile tugging at the corners of his mouth what's the matter caliburn barked again his gaze

locked onto Sam's with a mix of eagerness and concern it was clear the dog wanted to join him Sam knelt down rubbing caliburn's neck and scratching behind his ears the dog's eyes closed in contentment for a moment but then reopened filled with a silent plea that Sam felt hard to ignore you can't come with me this time Buddy Sam said softly rubbing caliburn's ears I know you want to but Petra is not safe for you they still have a problem problem with wild dogs and rabies out there calburn let out a low whine Sam could

see the disappointment in his gaze and it tugged at his heart he gave his friend one last reassuring Pat hoping caliburn understood you'll be safer here on the tahila Sam continued I'll be back before you know it caliburn gave a curtain bark And looked back toward the stairwell into the ship Sam followed his meaning why don't I bring the rest of the gang to look out for me I am Sam said reassuringly just not right now winter solstice is still a couple of months away right now we're just doing reconnaissance of the city and setting

things up if we all go together I'm afraid we'll stand out like a private Army instead of mingling in with the Rest of the tourists whoever Stole The Medallion of Petra will find it hard not to take note caliburn leveled his doleful eyes on Sam once more he made a single bark Sam said you think I should take them with me anyway another bark it was always like this with caliburn generally a few guesses in the wrong direction on Sam's part but more often than not Sam could understand caliber the dog had highly attuned gut

Instincts and Sam had learned long ago not to ignore it yet it was full daylight they planned to look like tourists and they didn't plan to be gone long enough to get into trouble it's all right caliber Sam gave him another gentle rub along his man as he tried to give his friend his most reassuring grin now that you've warned me I'll take Extra Care besides I'll have Tom with me He marked again he stared across the deck of the tahila toward the helm which was normally retracted below decks Into the Heart of the motor

yach Sam arched an eyebrow what's everyone else doing another bark in affirmative who and Elise are going to make their way out to Petra shortly they'll set up a few dozen hidden surveillance cameras to become our eyes on Petra Sam paused for that to sink in wondering if it was strange that he didn't need to explain to his dog the concept of setting up covert surveillance in a foreign country Amira and Genevie are going to go sightseeing and find out about any current security forces in Petra people we may be able to work with or

without when winter Solus approaches Matthew and Veyron will stay with you and the Golem to look after the Tahila Cal burn looked away as though refusing to meet Sam's eyes Sam said you have to admit it's a good plan a safe plan the air whooshed from caliburn's lungs in a forlorn sigh but he appeared to accept the situation he gave a single bark and then settled down on the deck his gaze never leaving Sam as he moved to join Tom on board the wager 34 Tom stood at the wheel he pressed the start button like

a modern car and its twin engines purred into life he glanced At the golden retriever and said take care of everyone for us caliburn caliburn gave a single bark Tom shifted the twin throttles forward and the Runabout quickly skimmed toward the main Harbor at akaba Sam glanced back at caliburn who was laying down on the deck his head resting on his pause his friend watched intently as the wager 34 cut through the water its streamlined Hull designed for skimming across the surface there was Something about caliburn's unusually persistent concern it was as if he had

an anxious feeling like something bad was going to happen to Sam in Petra well he would take extra care that was all a thought nagged at the back of Sam's mind maybe he shouldn't be going at all let someone else go for him yes there was a certain truism he couldn't shake never dismiss animal intuition chapter 6 Tom guided The Wager 34 into the akaba marina the harbor was a bustling Hive of activity with a mix of Modern Yachts and traditional fishing boats bobbing gently in the waves the city of akaba sprawled along the coastline

a vibrant blend of old and new with whitewashed buildings Market stalls and the occasional minet piercing the skyline Sam stepped off the vessel onto the jetty as Tom expertly maneuvered The Wager 34 alongside an empty Birth Sam grabbed a rope and began leftly tying off the lines with practiced ease Tom Switched Off the engine the harbor master came out to greet them and provide them with the bill for docking Sam tapped his phone to pay for a week letting the Harbor Master know that the wager 34 would be coming and going back to the tahila

which was at anchor out in the bay ready to stretch your legs Tom asked a grin spreading across his face Sam said I'm Ready to find something to eat the two men walked along the harbor the sound of their footsteps blending with the ambient noise of the city waking up they passed by stalls selling fresh fish spices and colorful textiles eventually making their way to a small place called Cafe araba it was a Charming spot with outdoor seating shaded by large leafy trees the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air mingling with the

Aroma of baked goods they found a table near the edge of the patio offering a view of the harbor and the mountains Beyond a waiter approached greeting them warmly and handing them menus two cappuccinos please Sam said the waiter frowned I am sorry sir we don't make that sort of coffee Sam frowned okay what do you make gaas sadad the waiter replied referring to the Arabic coffee deeply ingrained in the Jordanian culture sure I guess Sam replied seeing doubt flicker across Sam's expression the waiter said it is very much like coffee everywhere taken in black

with cardamon flavored coffee saffron threads a pinch of ground cloves a pinch of ground cinnamon oh yeah that sounds good Sam exchanged a glance with Tom who gave him an imperceptible knob we'll both go with that very good sir the waiter nodded then gesturing to A menu he asked would you like something to eat yes please Sam glanced at the list of specials what do you recommend the waiter smiled the lamb Shawarma with a side of fresh tabuli perfect Sam said the waiter looked at Tom and for you sir Tom Shrugged make it two of

those please as they waited for their order Sam and Tom sipped their coffees enjoying the rich smooth flavor the cafe Was beginning to fill up with locals and tourists when their food arrived the plates were piled high with tender spiced lamb and fresh tabouli this looks amazing amazing Sam said digging in the flavors burst in his mouth A Perfect Blend of savory and fresh Tom made a hum of pleasure his mouth full definitely a good choice the cafe was a mix of locals and tourists creating a lively atmosphere the rich Aroma of freshly brewed coffee

filled the air blending With the soft murmur of morning conversations they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes both appreciating the brief respit from their usual high-paced activities finally Sam leaned back savoring the last sip of his coffee on one wall a TV was mounted broadcasting the morning news in Arabic with English subtitles scrolling at the bottom sipping his coffee Sam glanced up his attention drawn to the TV there was An image of a wrecked aircraft a News Bulletin flashed on the screen breaking news plane crash in Jackson hle Wyoming FAA investigators on the

scene the image of the remnants of a downed aircraft filled the screen Sam's gaze caught the image he didn't recognize the aircraft it was little more than burned wreckage now but it was unusual enough to capture his interest both he and Tom watched the News for a minute ah it was an Embraer Phenom 300E registered to a private jet charter company out of Wyoming the pilot was an experienced Aviator with more than 15,000 hours of command spread out across three decades including 10 years flying F14 Tomcats in the US Navy in the 1990s before moving

to a career in commercial Aviation he had spent the last 6 years flying private jets logging More than 4,000 hours in command of the Embraer Phenom 300E according to the news the flight was privately chartered and had taken off without any incident reached 10,000 ft before being advised by the control tower to descend to 9,000 the jet began making the routine change to altitude before suddenly entering a complete nose dive Timothy Clark a local teenage and amateur plain spotter recorded the Aircraft's takeoff for his social media channel that photographed and recorded various aircraft taking off

and landing at his local airport he posted a video of the Fateful Flight the video had already acred more than a million views on the side of the news channel it was being played on repeat Sam stared at the images they were hard to ignore humans have been hardwired through Evolution to focus on the negative this Wasn't just the effect of sensationalism it was programmed into our DNA across Millions upon millions of years of evolution humans who paid attention to negative news were more likely to survive long enough to pass on their DNA simple math

those who took note of someone dying from eating the toxic Berry were more likely to survive than those who took note of someone feeling happy about A sunrise traced back to prehistoric days primitive man had to be able to register threats to avoid danger and increase survival rates individuals who were more attuned to Danger stayed alive longer and passed on their genes of course Evolution was about keeping one's genes alive and didn't give a second thought to a person's General well-being or what such a trait might do to the mental health of such Survival focused

organisms in the modern world where bad news from around the globe's nearly 8 billion inhabitants was constantly fed to us through the internet TV and social media a constantly negative Focus led to stress and an early grave Sam watched the image of the aircraft climbing normally before its nose dipped at first it was a gentle change in the aircraft's angle of attack as though the pilot had intentionally reduced his aircraft's Altitude most likely at the request of the air traffic control tower then as the aircraft settled into its gradual descent something changed there was a

sudden shift no obvious tuft of flames or sign of an explosion but the jet shifted from gently moving downward into an and nose dive the pilot either suddenly pushed the wheel all the way forward or something had malfunctioned on the elevator at the tail which adjusted the aircraft's pitch either way That plane had fallen from the sky in a near vertical descent the whole thing was recorded right up until the point the aircraft's nose collided with the ground in a field no more than a few thousand feet from where it had taken on just minutes

earlier the controlled Tower clocked them traveling at 700 mph some 200 Mi faster than the embria Phenom 300E maximum speed it was an unsurvivable crash it shook Sam there was something almost primitive about it airplanes rarely fell out of the sky although the statistics change every year in most years the chance of of a plane crashing is roughly one out of every 11 million flights the Embraer Phenom 300E was a modern safe jet with an impeccable safety record its pilot was a renowned Airman with Decades of experience that sort of quality airmanship could only be

truly earned Flying military jets like the F14 Tomcats this would have allowed him to develop a visceral understanding understanding of the aircraft's pitch yaw and roll developing a deep appreciation for the interplay between energy inertia and wings as a pilot Sam knew that airplanes were living things a picture of the pilot in command James Jarrett came onto the screen he was in the US Navy Aviator uniform standing next to an F-14 Tomcat the best Pilots Do not sit in cockpits so much as strap them on the United States Navy manages to instill a sense of

this in its fledgling fighter pilots by ramming them through rigorous classroom instruction and then requiring them to fly at bank angles Without Limits including upside down Sam thought there was no way a man like that loses control of his aircraft no matter what computer glitches might do to confuse him with him at the controls the only Way an aircraft like those crashes was if there was an outright physical engineering or mechanical failure or sabotage Tom looked at him do they have any idea what caus the crash Sam shook his head not yet did the pilots

give any explanation on the radio nothing their last transmission was to acknowledge their planned descent to 9,000 ft Tom said seems to me something broke something important Sam nodded I totally agree a British tourist sitting at a Table beside them while looking at the TV said looks like one of those Boeing 737 Max computer glitches all over again what did they call it the M cars mcass Sam corrected him short for maneuvering characteristics sticks augmentation system designed to manage flight stabilization yeah that's the one the British tourist replied Sam shook his head unlikely Boeing discovered

that the aircraft had a tendency to push the nose up when Operating in a specific portion of the flight envelope specifically flaps up high angle of attack and manual flight mcass was intended to mimic the flight behavior of the previous Boeing 737 Next Generation eliminating the need for Pilots to have simulator training on the new aircraft mcast was designed by Boeing to alleviate the need for its Pilots to compensate for an excessive angle of attack by adjusting the horizontal stabilizer before the Aircraft would potentially stall on the Boeing 737 Max right the British tourist turned

to Sam accepting that he must have some sort of understanding of the aviation industry by his responses this private jet couldn't have the same problem no I mean it's possible but where the Boeing 737 Max caters to the mass Market competition of commercial airlines where even the cost of training Pilots with any new updates or procedures becomes Paramount to its business model success the embor Phenom 300E is designed for the niche market of the ultra rich in this case the business model doesn't care about paying for its Pilots to spend a few hours in a

simulator updating their skills to any new procedures AO there's no reason for Embraer to build such a system the British tourist played that concept out in his mind all right so What did cause a multi-million doll private jet to fall out of the sky Sam Shrugged he considered the question seriously a computer glitch Sam didn't buy it no way a veteran pilot such as James Jarrett was going to crash because of such a glitch even if embrio had tried to save money he closed his eyes recalling the image of the aircraft falling out of the

sky a no sta like that whatever happened it will be mechanical Something went wrong with the elevator I'm almost certain of it you just wait and see what the FAA investigators come up with but mark my words there's been a problem in the aircraft's elevator system okay I will replied the tourist before going back to his English breakfast an older man in a well-tailored beige linen suit stepped into the cafe the man locked eyes with Sam and Tom Sam stood up offered his hand and said you must be Professor Malik alaroo chapter 7 since the

time of Aristotle Western science has known that form determines function this applied to buildings as well as bodies Sam always felt that the opposite was also true function determines form for example the classic swimmer's body with hours of doing laps is characterized by broad strong shoulders that taper into a narrow vshape at the pelvis while a distance Runner is lean and lithe with this in the back of his mind Sam took Malik alaroo in at a glance he looked to be in his early 60s with a lean wiry frame which implied he was both fast

and strong perhaps he had lived a lifetime of physical labor or constant movement his skin was weathered a deep tan etched with fine lines that spoke of working under the harsh Sun Malik's Amber eyes were alert and assessing missing nothing in their Examination of his surroundings his beard once clearly black was now streaked with gray neatly trimmed it still showed signs of of hasty utilitarian cuts it made him seem both wise and intelligent the professor was dressed in a traditional Jordanian cafa draped over his shoulders and a simple but neatly pressed thob paired with well-worn

desert boots the attire practical and Respectful of his Heritage hinted at someone who straddled different worlds with ease he greeted Sam and Tom with a warm smile his eyes crinkling at the corners Sam Riley and Tom bow I presume Sam said that's us it is a pleasure to finally meet you both I've heard much about your endeavors Sam shook his hand firmly the pleasure is ours Dr alar ruko your expertise and the history in the region Is unparalleled Tom cocked his head in agreement we appre appreciate you taking the time to meet with us Dr

alaroo waved a hand dismissively nonsense any opportunity to discuss the history of my people and share knowledge is one I gladly Embrace shall we sit and talk the professor ordered another pot of gawa sadad and settled into a cushion seat across from Sam and Tom the waiter Quickly arrived trailing the rich Aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the subtle spices of the cafe he took a deliberate sip of his Arabic coffee savoring the intense flavor before dressing them as they began to converse it was clear that Dr Malik alfaro's passion for history was infectious

he spoke with enthusiasm weaving stories of long dead civilizations with ease his hands gesturing animatedly as he described Significant events and discoveries Sam noted his air of resilience a quiet confidence that suggested he had seen much and survived more he couldn't help but think that Malik was a man of hidden depths whose true capabilities were not immediately evident but would likely prove formidable to understand the mystery of yubar Malik began his voice steady and authoritative it is crucial to First learn about the Ancient naban people he paused to break off a piece of baklava the

syrupy sweetness a contrast to the bitterness of his coffee he took a bite before continuing the naans he continued after swallowing were a Semitic people who settled in the region that is now Southern Jordan around the 4th Century BC the naans were a nomadic tribe that began migrating from Arabia during the 6th Century BC over time they abandoned their nomadic ways and settled in southern Jordan the naab desert in Palestine and Northern Arabia their capital city was Petra renowned for its grandiose buildings temples and tombs carved out of solid sandstone Rock Sam and Tom leaned

in as Malik paused to sip his coffee the naans were exceptional water Engineers building an extensive system of dams canals and reservoirs to irrigate their land this skill was essential in the Arid desert environment they called home Malik swallowed another bite before continuing the naans were also skilled Traders facilitating commerce between China India the Far East Egypt Syria Greece and Rome they traded in spices incense gold animals iron copper sugar medicines Ivory perfumes and Fabrics Petra became a wealthy commercial Crossroads linking various cultures he paused his eyes gleaming with the thrill of recounting History we

know little about natian Society but it's recorded that they spoke a dialect of Arabic and later adopted Aramaic their Community was governed by a royal family though a strong Spirit of democracy prevailed Sam and Tom exchanged intrigued glances as Malik Continued the natine worshiped a Pantheon of deities with the Sun God duara and the goddess Alat being the most prominent Malik leaned back as the naans grew in power and wealth they attracted attention from their Northern neighbors the seusd king antigonus attacked Petra in 312 BC but despite initial success his forces were ultimately annihilated by

the naans in the desert the naans remained largely independent despite Ongoing conflicts with the solids and later the tmes he took a moment to gather his thoughts then continued helenistic culture greatly influenced the naans evident in their art and architecture especially when their empire expanded northward into Syria around 150 BC however the growing power of the naans concerned the Romans in 65 BC the Romans ordered them to withdraw their forces from Damascus though the naans managed to either defeat the Romans or pay tribute to avoid conflict detention remained Malik paused to take another sip of

his coffee his Amber eyes glinting with the passion of a scholar deeply immersed in his subject Tom leaning forward asked what happened to them the nabies Tom nodded yeah the professor smiled a touch of Sadness in his expression they also constructed a wall to fortify the city although Petra was almost naturally defended by the surrounding Mountain s building an empire in the Arid desert also forced the Naes to excel in water conservation as I mentioned before Sam held on to that thought have all the irrigation systems been mapped my goodness no some have been of

course but there's a veritable Maze of water Canals which feed throughout Petra and nearby lands only recently has the development of autonomous and remote controlled underwater Vehicles reached a point where they could begin to map out the hundreds of miles of tunnels dams and reservoirs we don't have an aerial view of them no the professor shook his head you see throughout the ages most forms of construction involved adding something such as stones or wood but the Naans worked by removing what was already there like the great Renaissance sculptures they worked by carving away unneeded sections

of stone to form their constructions Sam said including Water Irrigation canals tunnels dams and reservoirs all of it the professor confirmed interesting and the culture what was it like we do know that naan women were granted more rights than any other Society of The past really how so women enjoyed a legal status which allowed them to own property including slaves they conducted a wide variety of economic transactions without the guardianship of men including inheriting and bequeathing Estates they had a great deal of a economy and responsibility over family and Clan life including marriage divorce parentage

and custody they also played significant roles as Temple Priestesses Sam suppressed a grin just making sure I have this straight they believed in slavery and women's equal rights aha he replied beused slavery was ubiquitous in the anci world but no other Society came even close to granting women the rights they enjoyed in naatia except perhaps Palmira also a caravan culture one reason for this social Arrangement may have been the long Absence of men on trade missions women had to keep the settlements running in good order while the men were away how did scholars learn so

much about women's writes from back then mostly from their coinage their coins Sam asked the professor handed him two naan silver coins here look at this one was a Salah the other a draam Sam looked at the first one it depicted the bust of a queen the second one had the bust of a King and queen together Sam smiled as he looked at the happy couple how romantic that's King obodos II right Sam agreed although he hadn't heard of him the professor said from 30 BC onward obodos II initiated a cornage reform that included the

Queen's bust on every silver coin her name is not given in the inscription but we know her to be hagaru the bronze also presents the king and queen in jate busts with double Cornucopia on the reverse a design that would become an eay fee in naan minting until the end of the kingdom was it normal in any other Society to have a queen's bust on a coin at the time no this was a unique Paradigm in ancient minting here is aritas IV again the Queen's name is left out of the inscription but we know her

to be Halu in ad16 aritas would marry shakat the whose Name would appear on the coinage as it does on the reverse of this denomination C bronze that's fascinating it gets better the professor handed him another coin look at this Sam studied the coin it featured the ubiquitous double Cornucopia a palm branch and someone's initials p p he turned the coin over in the palm of his hand what is it Sam asked when King aritas the fourth Philopatric and queen Halu antipas's first child fale was born in 425 BC the event was celebrated by a

coin it is incredible L instructive to note that aritas was willing to commemorate the birth of his first girl child on a coin he did not strike any coins to commemorate the births of his other children even the boys what do you think it means it proves that the naans followed a matrinal legitimacy of the new King the professor took another drink when Rabel II took the throne in ad70 he was merely a boy and his mother served as Regent she is pictured on the drams and bronzes of this period and named as the Queen

Mother on the dram it was obviously important to the naans to establish the matrinal legitimacy of the new king Sam took another bite of his baklava savoring its sweet Taste returning to the fall of the naan Empire what do you think went wrong chapter 8 the professor looked thoughtful for a moment I'm getting to that Malik said as the naans grew in power and wealth they attracted the attention of their neighbors to the north the cusd king antigonus who had come to power when Alexander's empire was divided attacked Petra in 312 BC his army met

With relatively little resistance and was able to sack the city but the naans ruled for centuries after this indeed they did the professor agreed the elucid King stole such great quantities of booty that it slowed their return Journey North and the naans were able to annihilate them in the desert after which records indicate that the naans were eager to remain on good terms with the solids in order to perpetuate their trading Ambitions throughout much of the 3r century BC the tmes and scids wared over control of Jordan with the solids emerging victorious in 198 BC

naatia remained essentially untouched and independent throughout this period the professor drank some more of his coffee although the naans resisted the military conquest the culture of their neighbors affected them greatly helenistic influences can be seen in naban art and Architecture especially at the time that their empire was expanding northward into Syria around 150 BC however the growing economic and pol itical power of the naans began to worry the Romans in 65 BC the Romans arrived in Damascus and ordered the naans to withdraw their forces two years later Pompei dispatched a force to Petra the natine

king aritas iiiii either defeated the Roman Legions or Paid a tribute to keep peace with them but eventually naatia did fall Paul to the Roman Empire yes the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC augured a period of relative Anarchy for the Romans in Jordan and the parthan kings of Persia and Mesopotamia took advantage of the chaotic situation to attack the naans made a mistake by siding with the parthians in their war with the Romans after the parthians defeat pet had to pay tribute to Rome when they fell behind in paying this tribute they were

invaded twice by the Roman vassel King Herod the Great the second attack in 31 BC saw him take control of a large swath of natian territory including the lucrative Northern trading routes into Syria he paused to take another bite of canafe despite these setbacks the beans continued to prosper King aritas IV who ruled from 9 BC to 40 ad build Settlements along Caravan routes bolstering the incense trade they allied with the Romans to Quail the Jewish uprising of 70 AD however it was only a matter of time before naatia would fall under direct Roman rule

the last naban Monarch Rabel II struck a deal with the Romans that as long as they did not attack during his lifetime they would be allowed to move in after he died upon his death in 106 Ad the Romans claimed the navaan kingdom and renamed it Arabia petria Petra thrived under Roman rule growing to house tens of thousands of people the Romans built roads Forts and urban infrastructure such as colon streets and theaters which can still be seen in cities like Jes however the shift in trade roots to Palmira and increased Seaborn trade led to

the decline of nabian Commerce by the fourth Century ad the naans had Abandoned the city and their culture faded into history Sam and Tom sat back absorbing the rich events shared by Malik the professor smiled taking another sip of his coffee understanding the naans is essential to unraveling the secrets of yubar they were masters of the desert and their legacy holds many Clues to the Mysteries we seek Sam asked what happened after the naans left Petra Professor Malik alaroo was Thoughtful again he then said the Byzantine period began in 324 ad when emperor Constantine I

founded Constantinople and converted to Christianity Jordan had an early Christian Community with nearby Pella serving as a refuge for Christians fleeing Roman persecution the byzantines built many churches and chapels throughout the region and Mosaic Artistry flourished particularly in madaba pausing to enjoy A piece of Bak Malik then shifted to the next era in the 7th Century the rise of Islam dramatically changed the region after the prophet Muhammad's death Muslim armies swiftly dismantled Byzantine control the decisive battle of yarmuk in 636 CE opened the way for Muslim conquest of the Levant he continued During the umay

period which began in 661 ad Jordan prospered due to its proximity to the umad capital in Damascus the umiads built caravaner bathouses and desert palaces such as Kus or amra showcasing their love for hunting and Leisure Malik refilled his coffee cup and continued in 750 ad the abids overthrew the umiads and established their capital in Baghdad Jordan became a provincial Backwater though it saw population growth until the 9th century the fatimids of Egypt took control in 969 CE and struggled with various Syrian Factions for dominance Sam said the abbasids established their capital in Baghdad yeah

the professor wrinkled his nose his voice sounded curious why does that interest you The Medallion of Petra Sam said thinking seriously it was found with an illegal arms dealer who had lived in Baghdad for decades there's no record of where or how he found The Medallion but there must be a Link possibly but without knowing where the Arms Dealer found The Medallion to begin with it's hard to say besides you must remember that Petra was a major trading post it would be easy to imagine something as precious as The Medallion would have been sold or

stolen somewhere in the 3,000 years since its creation you're right it's probably nothing Sam said go on taking another bite of canaf Malik explained the Crusades began in 1096 Spurred by a plea for help from the Byzantine emperor Alexius and the desire to reclaim Jerusalem the Crusaders built fortresses in Jordan such as karak and shach to protect the route to Jerusalem however the Muslim Commander salahadin alui or Saladin defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of hittin in 1187 liberating Jerusalem and ending Crusader dominance in Jordan the iub dynasty ruled until the Mongol invasion in 1258

Ad which the mamluk sultan biars repelled the mamluks ruling from Cairo LED Jordan into another period of prosperity they built castles and Caravans arise to host pilgrims and strengthen trade however a Mongol invasion in 1401 ad weak governance and widespread disease weakened the region Malik cleared his throat sipped his coffee then continued in 1516 ad the ottoman Turks Defeated the mamluks and Incorporated Jordan into their empire the Ottomans were primarily interested in Jordan as part of the pilgrimage route to Mecca building fortresses to protect Pilgrims from Desert tribes however weak administration led to a period

of stagnation with many towns abandoned and agriculture declining Malik's voice took on a solemn tone the four centuries of Ottoman rule saw General stagnation in Jordan however During World War I the Ottoman Empire sided with the Central Powers and the Arab land saw an opportunity for liberation Sharif Hussein bin Ali King of the Arabs launched the great Arab Revolt in Alliance with Britain and France hoping to establish a unified Arab State he continued the syes PCO agreement and the balfor Declaration however led to a patchwork of mandates and protectorates denying the Arabs their promised unified

State despite this the hashimite family secured rule over trans Jordan Iraq and Arabia in 1946 trans Jordan gained full Independence becoming the hashemite kingdom of Jordan under King Abdullah Malik's expression grew more serious the balfor Declaration commitment to a Jewish homeland in Palestine led to increased Jewish immigration causing tensions and conflict with the Arab population the situation escalated after World War II culminating in the 1948 Arab Israeli War following the Declaration of Israel's independence this led to the displacement of many Palestinians a tragedy that continues to affect the region today Sam met his gaze waiting

to hear his take on it instead the professor said the Heartbreak of Palestine is a comparatively modern debate if I offer my opinion I'm afraid it will do nothing To help you locate yubar Sam's eyes narrowed what do you know about yubar chapter nine the high place Petra Pax understood why Petra was called The Rose City it was due to the distinctive color of the Sandstone from which it was carved with the urgency of his mission he left the Heart of the City at a quick Pace heading south he navigated using familiar landmarks he turned

right at The Grand Theater its rows of carved Stone seats echoing with the ghosts of long dead performances the theater an impressive structure cut into the mountain side served as a guidepost for the beginning begin of his climb the narrow Trail then led him through a series of twists and turns the way marked by weathered signs and occasional cans stacked by previous hikers the local bwian Nomad offered to ease his burden by selling him the use Of a donkey the Beast looked old and Haggard as though another trip up the mountain was likely to kill

it let alone one with pax's 260 pounds on top he politely declined the offer and kept walking the path was narrow bordered by Jagged rocks and sparse vegetation that clung tenaciously to life in the arid climate the scent of dry Earth and sun-warmed stone filled the air occasionally mingling with the Tangy smell of wild herbs as PS climbed higher The sounds of the bustling valley below began to fade replaced by the distant calls of birds and the gentle rustle of the Wind Through the rocky Crags he continued his Ascent turning again at the first Obelisk

a tall slender Monument that pointed Skyward serving as both a historical marker and a navigation Aid the Obelisk with its worn edges and ancient inscriptions had witnessed countless pilgrims who had Made this Journey Through the Ages every so often he would pass groups of tourists making their way up or down the trail some on foot and others riding donkeys camels dressed in all their finery or even mules the donkeys sturdy and surefooted moved with a slow steady Rhythm their Hooves clattering softly against the stone tourist conversations whispered through the narrow confines of the trail a

mix of languages and accents that Accompanied his journey the occasional Bray of a donkey and the jingle of its harness provided a rustic soundtrack to the climb Pax moved with a deliberate Pace his height and muscular build giving him an advantage on the Steep Ascent he paused occasionally to take in the breathtaking views that unfolded with each step higher the valley below spread out like a living map the remnants of Petra Nestled among the rugged terrain the rose- Red Cliffs glowed in the afternoon sun their Hues shifting subtly with a changing light as he neared

the top the trail grew steeper the steps carved into the Rock were more pronounced Pax felt the strain in his legs but he welcomed the challenge his determination unwavering the air grew thinner cooler and the sense of History became almost Palpable finally he reached the summit of Jebel MBA and the view was glorious the view from this vantage point was nothing short of awe inspiring the entire expanse of Petra lay beneath him a sprawling city of stone carved by human hands and time it was hard to believe that this whole area remained unknown to the

Western World until 1812 when a Swiss traveler rediscovered it surveying the scene before him Pax took a deep breath the cool Mountain Air Filling his lungs the sense of solitude and reverence at the high place was profound far altered from the bustling activity of the valley below below him the treasury gleamed like a jewel the monastery stood proudly against the rugged landscape and the intricate Network work of tombs and dwellings wo through the valley in an intricate tapestry the high place of sacrifice on Jebel MBA was an ancient altar carved Into the living Rock by

the naans the smooth Stone surface stretched out before Pax bearing the marks of countless rituals performed over centuries the air was cooler up here a gentle breeze Whispering through the cags carrying with with it the scent of dry Earth and distant Sage two imposing obelisks stood Sentinel at the site their tall slender forms reaching Skyward these monolithic pillars Weathered by time and the elements bore inscriptions and symbols their meanings lost to all but the most dedicated Scholars their presence both commanding and reverent casting Long Shadows that shifted with a 's passage at the heart of

the high place was the sacrificial altar a rectangular platform intricately carved from the stone and framed with obelisks the edges of the altar were adorned with ornate reliefs depicting Scenes of rituals and offerings channels and grooves meticulously cut into the rock formed a complex network of blood drains designed to carry away the life blood of the sacrificed these drains converged into a central Basin a somber reminder of the sight's purpose the altar surface was worn Smooth by centuries of use its once sharp edges now rounded and softened as Pax walked across the Plateau the sense

of History was palpable The Echoes of past ceremonies seemed to linger in the air and the weight of the past pressed down upon the place he could almost hear the distant chants of priests and the solemn murmur of gathered crowds their eyes turned towards the altar in reverence and fear Pax studied the obelisks their ancient timekeeping devices positioned carefully these tall slender pillars cast Shadows that moved In accordance with the sun's trajectory across the sky as the sun rose and set the length and direction of the Shadows would change marking the passage of time the

naans had aligned these pillars with such Precision that their Shadows would fall on specific markers or scales carved into the surrounding Rock indicating different times of the day or different dates throughout the year the naans with their deep understanding of astronomy and the cycles of nature use These shifting Shadows to measure time determine the solstices and even track the changing seasons he imagined the naans observing the shadows in the early morning noting how they stretch long and lean then gradually shortening as the sun climbed higher at noon when the sun was directly overhead the Shadows

would be at their shortest almost disappearing beneath the obelisks Pax understood that the sun's path Across the sky varied throughout the year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and the Shadows cast by the obelisks reflected these changes by observing the variations in Shadow length and Direction the naans could identify the solstices and equinoxes key events that marked the turning points of the solar calendar this knowledge allowed them to align their agricultural activities and religious ceremonies with the natural Rhythms of the sun enhancing the spiritual and practical significance of their rituals the obelisks were

more than 18 ft High Pax stared at them in awe they were remarkable structures because they had been carved directly out of the rock face not built upon it he recalled reading somewhere that the naans built by taking away Stone instead of adding it as with the most traditional Construction his eyes swept the massive area of negative space meaning that all the open space around the obelisks surrounding them had been carved away it was almost unimaginable to him the truly epic scale of excavation involved dedicated to the nabian gods duara and alusa their iron rich

Stone glowed in the Sun and they acted like like totems of this once Hallowed Ground Pax kept moving until his hand reached the sacred Altar the area included a large triclinium where celebrants at the sacrifice shared a communal supper in the middle of the high place there was a large stone block preceded by three steps this was called a motab also known as a repository where the god statues involved in the procession would have been kept next to it was the circular altar reached by another three steps and the stone water basins nearby were used

for cleansing and Purifying the faint bleet of sheep or the clunk of a goat Bell evokes the ancient scene except that no ordinary person would have been permitted to enter this holy of holies at that time cast an eye across the superb Panorama in front of you far above the Mortal going Z below and it was easy to see how this sight must have seemed closer to the heavens than to the Earth he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper Unfolding it carefully it revealed the image of a medallion pax's

eyes narrowed it bore a detailed photo intricately designed which was said to hold the key to unlocking one of Petra's greatest secrets Pax placed the piece of paper on the side of a small Al Cove roughly 5T high and spread the paper until it was completely open he studied the drawing noting the symbols and the Craftsmanship he held the paper up aligning it with the view of Petra below as if seeking a hidden connection between The Medallion and the city a flicker of light reflecting off something high in the nearby mountain in the distance caught

his eye an ordinary person would have dismissed it as some form of random reflection a tourist might have expected it to have come from a nearby camera if a tourist even recognized the Oddity at All yet to PX it struck immediate alarm bells in some deep recess of the Primitive and infinitely Primal side of his mind the flicker of light was far too constant to be caused by random chants he turned his gaze directly to the east looking up at alh habis the Crusader castle and stared at the location where the light was coming from

his eyes narrowed and glared with intensity the flicker of sunlight remained for a few seconds and then Disappeared entirely Pax waited a few minutes to see if the light flashed once more it didn't so so he refolded his image of The Medallion and returned to his reconnaissance of the ancient city once more he stepped toward the edge and looked out upon Petra chapter 10 Crusader Castle Petra The Watcher known as Ali Al Salim surveyed The Village um Saun it was early morning yet in the Height of Summer this was a place where the Relentless Sun

dominated the landscape the village with its Stone and mud brick buildings seemed to emerge naturally from the earth the ochre tones blending seamlessly with the surrounding Hills Ali Alim had set out just as the first light of dawn began to creep Over the Horizon the early morning air was still cool a brief respit before the heat of the day ascended the path to Petra was Well trodden and Ali walked with a steady familiar Pace his boots kicking up small clouds of dust with each step the cloudless sky a vast expanse of blue reflected the heat

that turned the Sandy terrain into an undulating sea of shimmering waves Hardy desert plants dotted the Arid land and the sparse acacia trees their gnarled branches twisting under the weight of a pitiless sun offered scant Respit in the oppressive Stillness of midday the only sounds would be from the occasional Bray of a donkey or the distant melodic call to prayer dust swirled gently in the hot Breeze carrying the faint scent of dry Earth and desert blossoms the air heavy with a promise of afternoon Repose made the village seem almost Frozen in Time Ali Al Salim

was a young bedwin man in his early 20s his features already Sculpted by searing wind his hazel eyes held depths that seemed too profound for his age mysterious as the Landscapes he watched over tall and lithe his movements mirrored the fluid Grace of the surrounding sand dunes the sun had kissed his skin to a warm bronze and his chestnut hair was usually concealed beneath the traditional cafa protecting him from Sun and Sand he wore attire that honored his Heritage while suiting the Practical Needs of his daily vigils a light colored thobe that combed the heat

paired with well-worn sturdy boots around his neck he carried a symbol of his lineage in the form of a silver amulet etched with symbols it was an heirloom that had been in his family for Generations Ali thought back to the time when the duel one of the early bedwin tribes claiming ancestry from the naans were moved from Petra to um Saun it was when Petra was designated a UNESCO world heritage site a decision that was made to preserve the ancient city from the wear and tear of present day habitation the move was was met with

mixed feelings pride in the recognition of Petra's significance but also sorrow for leaving their ancestral homes creating a new Village to reside in the budel adapted as they always had as Ali maintained his watch his gaze was drawn to a young man from the badoul he was up early perhaps checking his donkeys Camels or mules preparing them for use by tourists Ali's people saw in their sons the future of the buul and a bridge between the ancient and the modern he sighed despite everything he felt a deep sense of connection to both the land and

its people tasked as a watcher Ali Al Salim was charged with guarding the secrets of Petra and awaiting the one prophesied who was to uncover yubar his life o ated between long Stretches of solitude and brief interactions with Outsiders whom he guided through the ruins all the while concealing his true Mission despite his youth Ali carried a gravity that earned him respect and a touch of Mystique among both his people and visitors this established him as a valued yet enigmatic figure within his community it was all a mask as Ali was hiding his true Feelings

Ali Alim had never been one for Grand aspirations growing up in a ramshackle dwelling on the outskirts of Petra he watched as life ebbed and flowed around him with a detached resignation the youngest of five siblings he often found himself overshadowed by the ambitious Pursuits of his older brothers and sisters each carving out a path of of significance within their Community Ali in contrast drifted through his early years without Much aim his days marked more by idle wandering than any meaningful Endeavor when the mantle of the Watcher fell upon him it was not through choice

but by default as his family believed it was high time he shouldered some burden of responsibility the role steeped in Prophecy and revered by his ancestors seemed to Ali nothing more than a relic of the past a Dusty tradition kept Alive by the stubborn faith of the old his Home a small dilapidated Hut with walls that whispered of collapse mirrored the skepticism with which he viewed his inherited duty every morning as he left his humble abode he did so with a sense of irony rather than Pride dressed in worn garments that spoke of poverty rather

than the desert's harshness Ali would make his way to the historic sites of Petra with a languid stride his duties involved overseeing The safety of what was left of the past while awaiting the arrival of a prophesized savior who would find yubar the Atlantis of the Sands the idea nearly made him laugh to him these Tales were weathered as the Sandstone Cliffs that housed them thus he fulfilled his role of Watcher with a half-hearted diligence that carefully concealed his disbelief Ali's approach to his sacred task was one of minimal effort he did Just enough to

avoid reproach but never ventured beyond the call of necessity he interacted with tourists and locals alike with a polite disinterest steering them through the archaeological City while sharing Tales his heart no longer found enchanting to his eyes the Legends were just that stories to amuse visitors and keep the elders nodding in approval Ali lived day by day bound not by faith in his mission but by the Unspoken obligation to his family's Legacy a legacy he neither cherished nor truly intended to honor if something better came his way the landscape gradually transformed as he neared Petra

the flat Sandy terrain of um Saun gave way to rugged Rocky outcrops and narrow winding paths the scents of the desert morning dry Earth faint traces of sage and the occasional hint of blooming wild flowers filled the air as he approached the narrow Gorge that served as the main Entrance to the ancient city the Towering Cliffs on either side closed in their red and pink Hues glowing in the soft light Ali found sightseers here already yet the bus convoys of those who only visited for the day had not yet arrived it was said that over

a million people visited Petra every year in English the seek literally L meant the shaft it was a dim narrow Gorge which in some points was no more Than 10 ft wide it wound its way for approximately 3/4 of a mile and ended at Petra's most elaborate ruin Al kazna which was the treasury the seik was alive with the sounds of early morning the king of pigeons echoed off the canyon walls and the soft murmurs of other early risers preparing for the Day's Journey could be heard the cool shaded passage offered a brief reprieve from

The Morning Sun Ali took his time letting his fingers Trail Along the smooth ancient rock walls that had seen Millennia of History emerging from the seek the breathtaking sight of the treasury greeted him its Grand facade bathed in the golden light of dawn Ali paused for a moment seeing it from the eyes of a tourist allowing himself to be swept up in the beauty of the scene before continuing his journey he navigated through the heart of Petra passing the street of facades and the theater each Step taking him deeper into the ancient city The Climb

to alh habis was a daunting one but Ali was accustomed to its challenges the path wound steeply upward the rough Stone steps cut into the mountain side as he ascended the sounds of the bustling sight below began to fade replaced by the rustle of Wind Through the rocks and the occasional Cry of a distant bird of prey the higher he climbed the more the smells of the valley changed the earthy Scent of the Rocks mingled with the crisp clean air of the High Altitude every now and then he would catch a whiff of incense carrying

on the breeze from the vendors below a reminder of the thriving community that called Petra home reaching the summit of alh habis Ali paused to catch his breath the Crusader Castle stood before him its Stones weathered but steadfast he made his way to the highest Vantage Point his Eyes sweeping across the vast expanse below from this height Petra was a mosaic of color and history the sun now higher in the sky cast Long Shadows across the Rose Red Cliffs and the intricate facades carved into them the treasury gleamed like a jewel and the distant Monastery

stood proud against the rugged landscape the entire Basin filled with The Whispers of the past and the hum of present day activity lay spread out Beneath him despite his Antiquated calling he carried with him a very expensive pair of binoculars Ali reached into his worn leather satchel and carefully pulled out the pair of military grade binoculars their dark matte finish absorbing the sunlight the weight of them felt reassuring in his hands He adjusted the focus with practiced ease bringing regions of Petra into sharp relief lifting the binoculars to his Eyes Ali began to scan the

spra in expanse below the highquality Optics revealed details that were invisible to the naked eye he first directed his gaze toward the treasury its intricately carved facade revealing even the smallest chisel marks from those who had crafted it centuries ago the pinkish red stone glowed warmly in the Morning Light each detail crisp and clear slowly he panned across the street Of facades where the Shadows played across the weathered tombs and dwellings carved into the rock face the binoculars picked up subtle variations in color and texture the bustling activity of tourists and locals alike moving through

the narrow passages appeared in Vivid detail he could see the Expressions on their faces he the Snippets of conversation carried on the Wind turn tur in his attention to the theater he could see the precise rows of Seating the well-worn steps and the occasional lizard basking in the sun he then shifted his Focus to the distant Monastery perched majestically at top of hill The Climb was arduous but the reward was breathtaking the monastery's grand facade stood out against the rugged backdrop its columns and reliefs as clear as if he were standing right before it he

watched as Tiny figures tourists made their way up the winding path their Journey captured In Striking detail Ali's eyes then moved to the surrounding landscape the rugged Hills and hidden valleys that extended beyond the main city he could see the small Trails winding through the rocky terrain the sparse vegetation clinging to life in the Arid environment he viewed remote paths long abandoned structures and secret niches that even frequent visitors might Overlook Lowering the binoculars Ali took a deep breath absorbing the Panorama he had just meticulously examined watching was a daily activity but he wasn't bored

yet each detail each sight he saw no matter how many times he' viewed them deepened his appreciation cre ation for his home raising his binoculars once more his gaze landed on the high place of sacrifice there beside the series of towering obelisks used by the ancient Naan priests for measuring the precise movement of the Stars keeping track of time seasons and years a man stood out after a few minutes or so the man pulled out a folded piece of paper and began studying it then he stared down toward the archaeological remains of Petra Ali would

have loved to know what was on that piece of paper that's when he realized that he was a giant 6'5 if not taller as he could tell by The man's relation to one of the known alcoves the alve was definitely 5T tall and the man had rested a piece of paper on top of it as one might a map and was now in the process of studying it he towered above the AL Cove looking down on it far below the prophecy stated that a great warrior would one day return to lead the Z to their

true Kingdom a place called yubar This Man At a Glance looked like a great Warrior he watched the giant for a while a curious grin on his parted lips the man kept studying the grounds he looked decidedly out of place more like a soldier surveying a landscape For an upcoming battle than a tourist lost in the city's ancient wonder Ali kept the binoculars fixed on the man he stared at him with interest and Fascination in his heart could this be the warrior that would show them to their ancient Kingdom He didn't look that special although

he did did seem hard and strong like a soldier AKA a modern-day Warrior but apart from that there was nothing Mystic about him no great power that suggested he could see things that others could not in that instant the warrior turned directly toward him Ali's binoculars locked on the strangers green eyes for a split second Ali felt that piercing gaze SL right into his Soul he dropped the binoculars and ducked down low behind a wall a few minutes later he glanced over the wall the man had returned to his original reconnaissance his piece of paper

was left folded completely open on the alve Ali lifted his binoculars up adjusting the focus of the lens until he could clearly see the description on the paper ice poured into into his veins when he saw what it Was in that instant Ali finally became a True Believer in the prophecy the seemingly great warrior had been carrying a document on it like a map was an intricately drawn image he lowered his binoculars and in his mind the image would remain burned into his memory forever it was a perfectly drawn depiction of an ancient Relic some

called it The Medallion of Petra chapter 11 Sam watched alar ruk's animated face The professor's eyes were alive as he folded his hands across the table so you want to know about the Atlantis of the Sans Tom leaned forward we're hoping you can tell us it's more than just a myth alaroo spread his arms it is difficult to say for sure Sam said we've heard so many conflicting stories we were hoping you could shed some light on the various searches for it alaro frowned his expression thoughtful let me start with what I do Know for

sure Sam said go on yubar has been a subject of Fascination and speculation for nearly 3,000 years his eyes narrowed and his voice softened you know what this means don't you there has to be some level of Truth to its existence alaroo threw back his head in a full-throated laugh either that or the nabian shore knew how to set up a great story one to last the Ages so witch is it Sam asked the professor took another sip finishing his coffee possibly a bit of both Sam topped up his cardamon flavored coffee from the pot

he turned from the mug exchanging glances with both Tom and alaroo more alaroo nodded please Tom shifted his mug toward Sam sure fill me up no we never fill the cup the professor corrected never with gawa sadad instead we only pour small amounts at a time so that one can Savor the coffee slowly and Mindfully right Sam said pouring a little more coffee into their cups returning to alaroo he asked so what are some of the longlasting concepts across the ancient narrative it is often referred to as the lost city of Iram mentioned in the

Quran as a city of lofty pillars that was destroyed by a catastrophic natural event alaroo took another sip of his coffee placing the mug back on the table he said in all the Legends yubar was Referred to as the greatest Metropolis of naatia its largest Trading Post and capital the Ancient King who ruled at the time had come to remarkable power not only by governing the trade routs of spices and incense but also by overcoming all who challenged him through his military might Sam's eyes narrowed how did a nomadic people gain such military power the

professor opened his mouth to Talk he then clammed up as though what he was about to reveal wasn't for the ears of westerners or was too implausible to share Sam said please Professor go on we want to hear it no matter how improbable it might sound the professor drew a deep breath his face looking at him with an expression that suggested it was more science fiction than history again what I have heard May simply have been imagination a fantastic Myth a saga born out of an old world narrative designed to make the naban Empire appear

in its greatest light what did it say the naan King held a powerful weapon it was said to be possible to destroy entire armies attacking them as if from within themselves taking their bodies apart with some Unholy Misfortune that robbed them of their very life force their skin turned to p uals their hair and teeth fell out and eventually they Simply succumbed to death some sort of early form of radiation Warfare indeed the professor arched a thick gray eyebrow if written accounts are correct one has to assume that the naban king had discovered uranium although

that is doubtful fanciful at best Sam said you don't believe the stories no I believe that yubar existed And it was once buried but the thought that its naan King carried the earliest form of nuclear weapon I find that very difficult to accept what else do you suggest as an explanation for reports of an Unholy device that robbed entire armies of their very life force folklor and myths Mr Riley the professor laughed once more it was a deepthroated belly laugh you of all people know the role embellishment plays In their development it's Chinese Whispers on

steroids see how an insignificant anecdote changes into a tall tale when passed around a small party of people over only a few minutes then imagine what happens to the narrative so of the naans Millennia ago and it's very easy to see how such fantasy May develop you could use that argument in every historical narrative Sam countered indeed but in this case I have more Facts to back me up facts certainly the professor spread his hands for a start there is no indication that uranium was ever found along the Arabian Peninsula secondly even if there was

it still wouldn't explain how the king had managed to deliver it to invading armies no the story is probably a case of a very clever ruling Warrior who succeeded in many battles before God himself chose to crush his Capital interesting Sam said mulling over the professor's Argument so you don't really believe yubar existed I didn't say that at all really no it's one of the few facts historians agree with yubar definitely once existed some 2500 to 3,000 years ago and was destroyed by some sort of natural disaster Sam said if it did exist that still

leaves the question where could it be hidden chapter 12 Sam watched as the professor gathered His thoughts the professor said if these stories are true ubar is most likely buried under the Sands of the Arabian Peninsula any chance you could narrow that down at all for us Sam asked his tone hopeful if he wasn't actually Crossing his fingers at the moment he was thinking of it the professor nodded the legend of ubar gained attention largely due to TE Lawrence better known as Lawrence of Arabia Lawrence was captivated by the idea of An abandoned city buried

in the Sands of the Arabian Peninsula he referred to it as the Atlantis of the Sands and believed it to be a great trading Hub rich and Powerful that vanished Without a Trace Sam and Tom listened intently their eyes fixed on alaroo as he continued in the early 1990s sir ranor F inspired by Lawrence's writings and using the latest technology of the time embarked on an expedition to find Yubar using satellite imagery provided by NASA they identified what appeared to be ancient Caravan rots converging at a point in the rub alali also known as the

empty quarter the largest continuous sand desert in the world alaro took a small bite of mes before proceeding fines and his team uncovered what they believed to be an ancient Fortress or caravansarai at a place called shisir in Oman the site included evidence of a large fortified settlement that had been Destroyed by natural forces possibly a collapse into a limestone Cavern caused by a sudden influx of water while some hailed this as the discovery of yubar others remained skeptical pointing out that the findings did not conclusively match the Grandeur as described in traditional lore Tom

interjected so where do people suppose it can be found if not at shazir there are several theories Al Faruk replied apart from shazir some believe it might be located further west towards the gy desert others suggest it could be hidden beneath the vast Dunes of the empty quarter itself which remains largely unexplored due to such harsh conditions interesting Sam murmured and what exactly was yubar supposed to be yubar was reputed to be a wealthy and prosperous City a hub of trade and culture according to Legend it was built by the people of AD who were

Known for their architectural prowess hence the reference to the pillars it was said to be a major trading center facilitating the exchange of goods such as frankincense myrrh and spices which were highly valued in ancient times alar ruk's eyes sparkled with the passion of a true scholar the city was incredibly wealthy its riches and opulence drawing traitors from far and wide however it was also seen as a place of great huous and moral Decay which ultimately led to its destruction from within as described in the Quran the sudden disappearance of both population and buildings added

to its Mystique turning it into a symbol of lost Grandeur as well as a cautionary tale about the impermanence of human achievements Sam absorbed this information considering the implications so yubar might have been real but its exact location and true nature remain a Mystery exactly alphar ruk agreed the search for yubar is as much about uncovering our past as it is about understanding the stories that shape our perceptions of History while The Medallion of Petra may or may not point to yubar the pursuit itself will undoubtedly reveal much about ancient civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula

the legend of yubar has captivated explorers and Scholars for Centuries he paused Gathering his thoughts and Sam could see the passion in his eyes in February 1992 the New York Times announced a major archaeological Discovery a team of archaeologist led by Nicholas clap claim to have found yubar using ancient maps Satellite photographs they excavated a site at shisir in doar Province Oman where they found the remains of what they believed Was a large octagonal Fortress this discovery generated significant excitement worldwide though it faced skepticism from some Scholars and the Saudi Arabian press Tom scribbled notes

quickly his eyes wide with attention Sam too felt a surge of interest what about earlier explorers he asked ah yes alaroo nodded in 1930 Bertram Thomas was one of the first modern explorers to approach the southern edge of the rubbe AL Kali the Empty quarter his bedwin guides told him of a lost city destroyed by Divine wrath though he found no trace of yubar he marked a track on his map that was said to lead to archaeological ruins as I mentioned previously TE Lawrence was convinced that an Undiscovered civilization lay hidden in the desert sands

the professor continued Wilfred theer visited the well at shazir in 1946 and noted the remnants of a crude Stone Fort though he found some early Islamic shards he didn't uncover anything definitive in 194 a geological party from petroleum development Oman carried out a survey and noted the White Cliff and crumbling Fort at shazir yet they too were unimpressed by the sight Sam looked up from the notes he was taking and what about more recent efforts in 1953 Wendel Phillips attempted to follow Thomas's track but was thwarted by heavy Sands alar ruko explained however it was

collaps team in the late 1980s and early 1990s that made significant Headway they uncovered a fortress dating back 2,000 years and a vast Limestone table beneath a collapsed gate suggesting a large settlement that might have been yubar he bent closer his voice lowering Sam leaned forward in anticipation despite these discoveries Some Scholars remain divided theories about ubar's location vary singan filby for instance believed the lost city was wabar where he found what he thought were meteorite impacts rather than any kind of archaeological find Tom nodded thoughtfully so there's still arguments over whether shazir is truly

yubar indeed alaro confirmed the debate continues some point to religious texts like the Quran which describes Iram of The pillars a city destroyed as a Divine punishment others like ranu fins believe yubar might be identified on ancient maps as om manum Emporium marked by tmy in 150 ad Tom leaned back in his chair digesting the information so what about The Medallion of Petra we've heard legends that it points to the location of yubar alar ruk's expression grew more skeptical The Medallion of Petra is an Intriguing artifact and its cultural Mythos has persisted for many years

it is said to have been created by the naans the same people who built Petra and it supposedly contains a map to yubar but do you have doubts Sam interjected I do alaroo admitted while the idea is compelling there is no proof to support the concept that The Medallion truly points to yubar the naans were Traders and Builders and while they might have had knowledge of Other civilizations linking The Medallion directly to yubar feels like a stretch he paused to take another sip of his coffee his gaze steady on Sam and Tom that said the

pursuit of this type of folklore often leads to remarkable discoveries even if The Medallion does not point to yubar it could still reveal something of great historical significance Sam nodded appreciating the professor's balanced perspective so you think it's worth Exploring but we should manage our expectations the professor's eyes lit with a little magic honestly I think you've been sent on a Fool's errand you don't think it's worth investigating the professor laughed I think even if there's only a 1% possibility of anything coming from this the chance to find yubar is far too alluring to even

consider forgetting about all right Sam said pushing to his Feet any last words good luck the professor said standing up and shaking samk hand if you find it I want to be the first to know chapter 13 pax's green eyes swept the area around him the sacrificial altar with its flat platform hinted at mysterious ceremonies of the past he imagined the priests and worshippers gathered here performing rights to appease their gods it held a solemnity that resonated with The history it had witnessed he retrieved his drawing of The Medallion of Petra folded it and placed

it back into his pocket he'd committed its every detail to memory previously but standing here it just seemed right to study it again from this Vantage Point Pax looked back across Petra below the city sprawled out in a woven rug of Reds and Browns interspersed with the sparse green of scattered shrubs and Grasses the Royal tombs with their grand facades lined one side of the valley the Great temple the colon Street and the Roman style Amphitheater were visible each structure telling its own story of Petra's diverse cultural influences the w m The Valley in which

Petra lay stretched out beyond the city bordered by rugged Cliffs and distant mountains the contrast between the human crafted Marvels and the Timeless natural Beauty of the landscape struck PA deeply as the sun began its descent casting Long Shadows across the ancient Stones Pax felt Petra's secrets were just Within Reach veiled by the Sands of time he felt a sense of purpose a drive to uncover the secrets that lay hidden in this ancient Metropolis Pax ran his eyes along the seek this was the main entrance leading to the City of Petra starting at the dam

and ending at the opposite side of the Treasury it was built from a split rock with a length of about 2 mi and a width of 18 ft and height up to about 24 ft most of the stone was natural and another part was sculptured by the naans at the beginning of the seek he viewed the remains of the city's gate on both sides there were channels to draw water from warima the valley of Moses from outside the city to the inside from the right it was evident that the water flowed through Pottery Pipes but

the Left Channel was carved from The Rock and covered with panels of stone at the start of the seek the original natian dams were still clearly visible the floor of the seek was paved with stone slabs these were decorated with naan sculptures mostly representing Gods It is believed that the statues of gods and their sculptures were situated very close and even adjacent to the channels due to the nabian belief that water was Sacred in addition on the left side there were Idols called sabinos statues Pax fixed his gaze in on the dam it had been

built to protect the city from floods that occurred during the seasonal rain from the mountains and Hills across the valley in the 1 Century ad the dam was accurately reconstructed by the government in 1964 redirecting flood waters into a tunnel during excavation they found the city's original name had been Rakim upon their arrival the Greeks had renamed the city Petra meaning the rock the name Petra had stuck Pax smiled with headyy satisfaction he was well in time in fact he was early winter of solstice wasn't for another two months then he would return with The

Medallion of Petra and after more than 3,000 years the Navan most ancient and Powerful City would finally be revealed he imagined the rays of Sunlight glistening through its precious stones cut with absolute Precision scattering the light in such a way to reflect the final resting place and hidden location of the once greatest city of the naans Pax closed his eyes when he opened them again he imagined himself standing on the steps of yubar the Atlantis of the Sands chapter 14 The Open Air library W room the two camels moved slowly through The Wy room Jordan's

pink hued Wy room was a jewel among deserts Rocky and coarse but saturated with fine pink sand though the landscape was terrestrial the Panorama was more reminiscent of the Martian surface with reddish sand and mountains looking like the Arid and red surface of Mars W room was a Hollywood favorite for films set on the red planet wedged between the Sandstone Mountain and the valley region of Southern Jordan the area is characterized by tall near vertical mountains of iron rich erosion resistant um ishin Sandstone separated by flat bottom valleys of aluvial sediments aolian Sands and salt

pans the um ishin was the thickest formation in the lower Paleozoic upper Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone underlying the disi and uman Sandstone formations and the overlying salib arosc rock Formation the s in turn overlies the eroded acaba complex of plutonic granitoids an aquifer forms along this lithologic contact with springs forming on the Eastern Mountain slopes aluvial fans compose most of the sediments aolan systems include tone the ellipsoidal pan to bow-shaped natural rock cavities that appeared like a giant honeycomb Natural Bridges and sand dunes sand dunes include barans climbing Dunes consisting of sand ramps that Reach the

tops of hills and Echo Dunes consisting of Sands that have crawled over a hill to be deposited on the Le side it was known as a big open a library besides stunning desert Landscapes W room boasted an astounding cultural landscape 25,000 petroglyphs Rock carvings with some 20,000 inscriptions and 154 archaeological sites have been discovered within the single Valley Tracing the evolution of human thought and the early development of the alphabet the petroglyphs mostly engraved on rocks Boulders and Cliff faces span all eras from the Neolithic to the naban they represent human figures holding bows and

arrows and animals like camel Ibex and horse as well as symbols like lines and circles offering a rare window into the long-term patterns of pastoral Agricultural and urban human activities Here these petroglyphs also reveal the climate change from mildly humid climate to the current arid desert climate the numerous writings were mainly in four different scripts thumb IC naan Islamic and Arabic testifying to the widespread literacy among the Societies in this Arabian Peninsula one of the most prevalent petroglyphs in the W room involved the image of an animal Standing Tall and proud its elongated neck and

distinctive Hump clearly carved with deliberate Strokes its legs are depicted in mid stride capturing a sense of movement and the enduring Spirit of one of the greatest desert creatures the camel Sam hated camels he shifted uncomfortably in the saddle of his the sun had just begun to Crown the Eastern Horizon when Sam and Tom had mounted their camels in the dusty outskirts of Akaba the ancient city with its mingled scents of spice and sea faded behind them as the desert's vast expanse unfolded ahead Sam perched awkwardly at top his camel felt every jolt and sway

with a Grimace his discomfort was palpable a stark contrast to Tom who rode with an ease that made it seem as though he and the camel were a single fluid entity his eyes narrowed against the harsh Sun of the W room Valley remind me again why we had to take camels to Petra it's good for us Professor Malik alaroo was adamant that we needed to see Petra from the ground as the better one had for Millennia before us Tom's gaze slowly swept the valley walls ahead in a deliberate left to right motion it was the

only way we'd ever break the code and work out where the Medallion of Petra was guiding us Sam pressed his lips together yet Elise Samira Genevie and who are all flying the Eurocopter to Petra Tom Shrugged they setting up a permanent base camp it would be impractical to carry all that on Camel Back don't you think Sam said I think it's impractical to carry myself on Camel Back what's wrong with camels Tom asked sitting comfortably on his Beast his body moving in syn with the animals awkward steps Sam grinned leaving aside the fact that a

camel is seven times my weight and is uncomfortable to ride on I'm not keen on any animal that is likely to kick bite or spit at me a camel made a strange grunt as if interacting with Sam's comments with indignation Tom laughed the feeling appears to be mutual give me a motorcycle any day yeah well a motorcycle won't be anywhere near as reliable out here Sam laughed I'll Take my chances I hate to tell you this Sam Sam interrupted him then don't but I want to Tom said without even trying to hide the pleasure he

seemed to be taking in Sam's discomfort all right all right carry on Sam allowed Tom said I think it's fairly safe to say that we're just going to keep finding ourselves in a position where we need to ride camels it does seem to feel like that wouldn't it be easier to change your Mind decide you love camels and enjoy riding them Sam's mouth formed a bemused smile sure but trying doesn't make it so it's really not that hard I mean you've mastered much more difficult skills over the years s arched an eyebrow you think sure

all right so what am I doing wrong keep your hips loose Sam Tom called over his shoulder his voice carrying easily in the clear crisp air let your body move with the camel not Against it I don't like abdicating control it's not that much different to sailing you just have to ride the waves instead of trying to to fight them H not sure I agree with the analogy but okay Sam tried to relax his body attempting to mimic Tom's rhythmic almost dance-like movements but each attempt felt more like a battle than a ballet the camel

a stoic Beast with long eyelashes and knowing eyes seemed to Tolerate Sam's inexperience with a sort of resigned patience as they traversed the rocky desert terrain The Majestic outlines of mountains began to shape the Horizon the scenery was a colorful painting of burnt orange and red influences so vivid they seemed almost surreal under the ever brightening Sky Tom LED them along ancient Caravan routes the same paths that Traders and travelers had etched into the land thousands of years Ago you need to trust your camel Tom advised during one of their brief stops amused by Sam's

continued struggle he demonstrated how to hold the res lightly guiding the camel rather than controlling it they've been navigating these lands long before us let him feel you're not fighting every step Sam watched listened and learned gradually his grip loosened his body softened and he began to feel the Rhythm of the camel's gate the animal responded to his Newfound call with a smoother ride and Sam couldn't suppress a small smile of achievement the journey to Petra was long and the sun climbed High casting Deep Shadows into the undulating folds of the desert they passed occasional

ruins remnants of naban prosperity which stood as silent Sentinels over the Timeless landscape by the time the rose red City Of Petra began to reveal itself carved exquisitely into the Cliffs at the desert's end Sam's initial dread had given way to a quiet Pride to the north Sam glanced up at where the street of facades turned into colon Street two major dirt roads that led to Petra forming one road out the front of the Nim fum Sam stared at the remains of the nyum it was situated at the Confluence of two water courses dedicated to

the water nymphs and was probably one of the Improvements made to the city after the Roman annexation it is a semicircular public Fountain near the junction of w muza and W Alm mataha six natian columns decorated the facade virtually nothing remained of the ancient super structure and even the retaining wall was apparently modern these monuments were originally natural gratos which tradition assigned as habitations to the local nymphs they Were sometimes so arranged as to furnish a supply of water as at Pilan side a neum dedicated to a local water nymph kentina was built along Hadrian's

Wall in the northernmost reach of the Roman Empire subsequently AR icial Grotto took the place of natural ones the nyum of the Roman period extended the sacral use to recreational aims they were borrowed from the constructions of the helenistic East at a minimum Roman nyam may be no more than A niche set into a garden wall but many larger buildings are known most were rotondas and were adorned with statues and paintings they served the three-fold purpose of sanctuaries reservoirs and assembly rooms the fountain at Petra was originally embellished with marble facing the lower level painted

plaster on the upper level and topped with a half doome roof forming a giant Niche water cascaded through seven Carved Lion's heads into small basins on the sidewalk Sam stared at the remnants of the once proud nimf and found his mind wandering to an old Shakespearean quote time's glory is to calm contending Kings to unmask falsehood and bring truth to light to stamp the Seal of time in aged things to wake the m and Sentinel the night to wrong the wronger till he render right to ruin proud buildings with thy hours and smear with Dust

their glue glittering golden Towers Shakespeare the rape of lucre as Sam and Tom rode their camels along a well-worn trail into Petra Sam's gaze was drawn to a massive bulldozzer working diligently on a nearby roadway the machine a caterpillar d8t with its imposing presence stood out starkly against the rugged landscape its broad flat blade methodically pushed through the rocky terrain carving a path with an almost mesmerizing Efficiency the powerful engine roared echoing through the canyon as the tracks left deep impressions in the sandy soil Sam noted the Precision with which the operator maneuvered the Behemoth

preparing the ground for the construction of a dam that would Aid in controlling the Region's scarce water supply the the position between the ancient past and the present was striking Humanity clearly had a persistent drive to reshape the World they continued along a wide Valley known as the Baba seik translated from Arabic meaning the gateway to the seek riding into Petra flanked by towering Cliffs and Monumental architecture that had withstood the ravages of time Sam felt a connection not just to the history that surrounded him but to the journey itself tourists began to line the

valley so much so they were forced to Dismount and walk their Camels they walked by the Titanic coffee shop it had a large poster of the ill-fated Cruise liner implausibly sailing over the desert followed by a sign for soft drinks ice cream snacks and international pH cards Sam suppressed a grin at the out ofpl marketing gimmick since when did the RMS Titanic become part of Petra's attractions since it did so well at the box Office then turning to the Indiana Jones gift shop Tom said at least this one looks interesting not really Sam shook his

head Petra is unique and mysterious in and of itself these Movie themes are tacky as they distract from the authentic history of the nabian people a boy no more than 12 years old pushed toward them offering to sell them a small Indiana Jones doll expecting a tiny replica of the Titanic was going to be on offer next Sam politely said no thank you and kept walking behind him he heard Tom say sure I'll buy a little Indie doll Sam turned around an incredulous grin on his parted lips as he watched Tom handing over two Orange

Five din Bank notes in exchange for the toy Sam shook his head I can't believe you bought that how could I resist Tom handed it to him it's like a little version of You Sam looked at it very cute then he handed it to a kid who was walking past the child happily took it without even saying thank you Tom frowned not so cute it was absolutely adorable Sam smirked but we both know Indiana Jones was a much cooler hero than me you know the difference between him and me though Tom rubbed his chin that

no matter how much Harrison Ford ages he's still better looking Sam opened his mouth to argue the point then closed it again he gave a Dismissive wave of his hand that wasn't the answer I was thinking of okay I give up Tom said what is the difference between you and Indiana Jones Sam grinned my life is real Tom laughed a few minutes later Sam said look at that Tom followed his gaze toward the seek what is it Sam grinned welcome to Petra chapter 15 hand in hand Elise and who boogied Across Petra like a couple

of globe trotting lovers taking selfies at every opportunity with a variety of poses they breezed through through the bustling city as if they were the only people in the world Elise at 5'6 appeared taller than who who was just shy of 5 feet she wore her cargo shorts and a white tank top revealing her strong toned arms her light brown hair was pulled back in a Loose ponytail and her unique purple eyes framed by long eyelashes sparkled with mischief the luxurious and extravagant yet compact like a Q3 camera was slung over her shoulder blending in

perfectly with her wealthy tourist Persona who with his Perpetual grin was an unimposing figure his boyish face difficult to place in age wore lines of strain that contrasted with his cheerful Expression dressed in a casual outfit of beige short and a light blue t-shirt he carried a backpack filled with their surveillance equipment he was the boyfriend effortlessly maintaining the guise of a Carefree traveler their first stop was the seek the narrow Gorge that served as the main entrance to Petra Elise marveled at the Towering walls of sandstone their vibrant Hues shifting from Deep Red to

Golden yellow in the sunlight she and who took turns taking photos of each other Alisa's laughter echoing off the canyon walls as who exaggerated his poses for the camera between open obvious selfies Elise discreetly set up a small highdef camera behind a large rock formation with its lens pointing toward the entrance this would capture the constant flow of visitors continuing their Journey they Reached the treasury its Grand facade carved directly into the rock face Elise pretended to adjust her camera settings as she surveyed the area for a suitable spot to place another surveillance device who

ever the performer struck a dramatic pose drawing amused glances from other tourists Elise took the opportunity to slip a tiny camouflaged camera into the crevice of a nearby column ensuring it had a clear view of the iconic Structure their next destination was the street of facades a row of impressive tombs and houses carved into the Cliffside Elise and who meandered through the area still spping pictures of each other with exaggerated enthusiasm Elise found a discret location behind a weathered Tombstone to plant another camera its cam flage blending perfectly with the ancient stone as they moved

on they reached the theater cut into the Hillside elely admired the sweeping view of the seating area calculating the best angle for their surveillance she and who took turns pretending to be actors on the stage much to the Delight of nearby tourists who joined in on the impromptu performance Elise quickly hid another camera in the shadow of a br broken column ensuring it covered the entire Amphitheater their final stop was the monastery Al deer a towering Monument similar in Grandeur to the treasury but More isolated requiring a steep climb to reach Alis and who made

the Trek with the same touristy enthusiasm pausing frequently for photos at the top Elise scanned the area for a suitable place to conceal the final camera who feigning exhaustion leaned against a boulder providing AAS with the perfect cover to hide the device in a crevice nearby with their mission complete Alis and who descended from the monastery Mingling with the throngs of tourists and blending back into the crowd elely felt a sense of accomplishment as she reviewed the footage on her handheld monitor the cameras capturing clear and unobstructed views of pet Ra's most famous landmarks they

had successfully set up their surveillance Network all while enjoying a day of sightseeing and one of the world's most breathtaking historical sites as they made their way back Through the seek Elise glanced at who who flashed his everpresent grin not bad for a couple of tourists huh she said her eyes shining with satisfaction who chuckled not bad at all he replied giving her a wink as they disappeared into the crowd elely fully enjoyed the nabian city more than she expected she wondered if it triggered some sort of ancient memory from her DNA who asked now

where Elise stared Toward the desert let's get back to Camp we'll set up a series of autonomous drones which can fly on a continuous rotation to provide 24-hour coverage of Petra chapter 16 it was a Mera and Genevieve's task to set up their camp together they worked methodically Under the Desert Sun their movements fluid and precise the shelter was made of lightweight high strength materials To form a geodesic dome placed against the backdrop of Petra and the W room the future istic geodesic dome really did look like a martian habitat it was 8 weeks before

the winter Solstas accordingly the desert held a deceptive mix of scorching heat during the day and a biting cold at night Amira with her deep brown eyes and wild mass of curly black hair tied back moved with ease her warm golden Complexion and athletic frame made her appear both graceful and resilient dressed in a lightweight longsleeve shirt and cargo pants to protect against the harsh Sun she pounded the stakes into the ground with expert Precision ensuring the encampment would withstand the Desert Winds Genevie with her short dark hair giving her the appearance of an elf

worked on the other side her blue eyes framed by long eyelashes were focused And determined she wore a fitted dark jacket and cargo pants her tan complexion and natural beauty enhanced by her formidable presence Genevieve's movements were quick and efficient proof of her competence and discipline as the head of security on the tahila Amir glanced at Genevie admiring her partner's unwavering Focus despite Genevieve's past as an enforcer for the Russian mafia she had a Perpetual Calmness that Amira found reassuring let's get the workstation set up Genevie said her voice carrying a hint of her Russian

accent a remnant of her past life she unzipped one of the large duffel bags they had brought and began to unpack the satellite internet equipment right Aira scanned the interior of the tent I'll organize power sources and communication device devices Elise will need a stable connection to track everything happening in Petra she displayed an economy of movement as she set up the portable power generators she connected the necessary equipment and began arranging the devices on a makeshift table they had brought along Genevie assembled the Satellite Dish outside the tent then set it up using a

military version of the satfinder app fortunately satellite stay in the same place in the sky thanks to their geostationary Orbits based on her GPS location she chose the best satellite to use from the list pointing her dish in the right direction she then shifted the dish to determine the perfect azoth elevation and lnb tilt according to her app Amir glanced out at her partner noting the contrast between Genevieve's Fierce BL blue eyes and her impossibly permanent grin despite the cold that would soon envelop the desert night Genevie seemed Unfaced focused entirely on their mission satellite

is up and tested we have a strong signal now geneveve said re-entering the tent and wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead perfect timing Amira said smiling Alisa is ready to begin surveillance we need to be ready for the winter Solstice that's when they'll use The Medallion of Petra to reveal the location of yubar we'll be ready Genie's expression Was No Nonsense no one's getting past us together they double check the equipment ensuring everything was operational Amira typed a few commands into one of the laptops establishing a secure connection to Elise within moments elise's

voice cracked through the speakers connection is solid Elise said her voice filled with confidence I'm getting clear feeds from all cameras we all set on this End good to know Elise genev replied we'll keep everything secure here let us know if there's any change the desert's chill began to set in as night approached but Amir grabbed her Glock 19 and announced she was going to head off into the desert to get some shooting practice in she didn't know how but one day she was going to find The Relic Hunter and when she did she would

be ready chapter 17 the treasury Petra Sam stared up at the Decorative Stone n positioned high above the massive colonades the Arab iic name Al kazna translated in English to the treasury it was a name derived from Legends regarding the Decorative Stone urn high on the second level which was actually solid Sandstone it became called alaza in the early 19th century by the areas BNS who believed it contained Treasures multiple Legends told of Wealth being stored there one spoke of an Egyptian pharaoh and his armies who escaped the closing of the Red Sea and created

the kazna by Magic as a safe place for his Treasury and continued in his pursuit of Moses this led to the name kazna El farun the treasury of the Pharaoh Swiss Explorer Johan ludvig Burkhart wrote of another local legend that ancient fonic Treasures were hidden in the urn significant damage from bullets Could be scene on the N which the Jordanian government attributes to bwin shooting at it as they believe the legend and hoped for jewels to pour out in contrast to the theories of treasure some people believed naans built the treasury for a very different

purpose Sam's gaze fixed on the facade of the ancient structure like the rest of the archaeological City it was carved out of granite and sandstone Many of the building's architectural details had eroded during the 2,000 years since it had been sculpted from the cliff there were several remnants of sculptures once thought to be those of various mythological figures associated with the afterlife on top were four Eagles that would carry away the souls the figures on the upper level were dancing Amazons with double axes the entrance was flanked by statues of The twins Castor and Pollock

who lived partly on Olympus and partly in the Underworld recently a local archaeologist put forth the theory that the treasury's original purpose wasn't to store the natian gold but instead to hold an intricate timekeeping device similar to the obelisks at the top of the high place of sacrifice starting from the top the crown had 12 curves for the 12 12 months of the year there were 12 columns again matching the 12 months Of the year above the first layer of columns were seven cups each one representing the days of the week Sam and Tom stepped

inside in contrast to the elaborate facade the interior was comprised of a plain main chamber and three anti- chambers with an interior volume of around 71,000 cubic feet at the back of the smallest antichamber there was a basin with a hole in it Thought to be used as a religious instrument possibly for blood new research suggested it was actually a water clock to measure the time water clocks were one of the oldest time measuring instruments in existence the simplest form of water clock with a bowl-shaped outflow existed in Babylon Egypt and Persia around the 16th

century BC other regions of the world including India and China also provided early Evidence of water clocks but the earliest dates are less certain a water clock uses the flow of water to measure the passage of time there are two types of water clocks inflow and outflow in an outflow water clock a container is filled with water and the water is drained out slowly and evenly the container has exact markings as the water leaves the vessel an observer can see where the water level is with the Lines in this way a person can track how

much time has passed an inflow water Clock Works in the same way except instead of flowing out of the container the water is filling up a mark container as the vessel fills the Observer can see where the water meets the line mindes and tell how much time has passed some Modern time pieces are called water clocks but work differently from the ancient ones their timekeeping Is governed by a pendulum but they use water for other purposes such as providing the power needed to drive the clock by using a water wheel or something similar or by

having water in their displays Sam imagined the naban priests or SC who would have tended this clock using water to measure hours Mark ceremonial events or perhaps even track the movements of celestial bodies each drip was carefully Calibrated and the flow rate meticulously controlled by the angle and smoothness of the channels the Precision was remarkable it was said to be accurate to within a minute over several hours a testament to the advanced standing of hydraulics and timekeeping possessed by the naans as he ran his fingers over the smooth edges of the Basin Sam could almost

hear the soft rhythmic dripping that would have echoed through the Chamber he imagined the steady calming sound guiding the activities of the ancient Ci's inhabitants the water clock was not just a tool it was a symbol of the natin inine ity evidence of their ability to blend practicality with Artistry the question remained for what purpose did the naans need to measure time so accurately more importantly did it have something to do With The Medallion of Petra chapter 18 Sam and Tom stepped out of the treasury and into What could only be described as a wave

of moving people while musling through the crowd of tourists Tom who wasn't small got knocked sideways by a man but not just any man more like a big strong giant The Stranger apologized but there was something about him Tom ended up taking a good look at The man who stood a good couple of inches taller than himself something primitive stirred in in Sam's gut at witnessing that meeting the stranger was 6'6 and solid as a brick wall he might have simply been a large tourist after all even enormous people must enjoy viewing historical sites and

archaeological cities yet there was something about the fellow's intense and knowing gaze that guy wasn't just idly viewing The remnants of Petra he was using his entire body instinctively searching and scanning as a professional Soldier would during a reconnaissance mission Sam stared at the stranger despite the moving crowd his piercing green eyes held on to Sam's a moment longer than was normal as though like Sam the giant was trying to figure him out gauge him somehow it was Sam who broke off their interaction and walked away after a 100 Ft or more once the giant

disappeared beyond the ocean of people Sam exchanged a glance with Tom he didn't say what he was thinking didn't have to Tom observed it's not every day I find myself looking up at someone indeed Sam met his gaze then continued walking interesting what Tom asked I don't know but he sure doesn't appear to be a tourist Tom said you don't think exmilitary types might decide to check out UNESCO World heritage sites on their time off sure I do Sam admitted I just don't think he's a run-of-the-mill tourist you think he stole The Medallion it's a

possibility yeah Sam nodded I don't think he set this up but he's involved there's something about him when he looked at me I felt recognition there maybe he's an admirer of your work my research with the Master Builders sure why not there's only a Handful of experts in the world who have read my dissertation and even fewer who accept my interpretation of the data Tom Shrugged then again maybe it's not that Sam said my guess he's been tipped that we're likely to arrive in here with a mission to retrieve The Medallion of Petra you think

he's the one who stole it unlikely he might have been part of it but he's not the one making the decisions he's the hired help if I had To guess he's the brawn of the operation not the brains the guy looks like a thug plain and simple Tom grinned hey way to discriminate against the big guy Sam laughed you're smart you quite like a demon and you're built like a tank mark my words that guy is the hired help not the one running the show besides did you see his muscles they're just there for show

he probably takes steroids and only works the action movie Muscles the ones that look great but don't really do anything for you you want me to find him and have a chat Tom asked ignoring the compliment Sam was basically telling Tom Tom that despite the fellow's size he was smarter stronger and better in a fight Sam knew Tom could take him no let's leave him be Sam made a mental note of the man we'll keep our eyes out for him later as we get closer to Winter Solstice you sure Tom grinned it would be nice

to go hand toand with someone my own size for once Sam laughed Tom was one of those people who rarely fought in hand-to-hand combat people generally took one look at his size and left him alone despite this Tom won his battles although he was a better Marksman than a martial artist Sam said you know that's unfair given your training a poser like that guy wouldn't last two seconds you're right let's leave him Be Sam watched the stranger's head bobbing over the crowd and slowly disappearing I'll give his description to Elise and see if she can

find any information on him or at least keep her digital eyes peeled for any movement sounds good Tom scanned the sky it was getting later in the day they had already scouted out most areas of the ancient city now what Sam Shrugged now we wait you mean now that we've got nearly 8 weeks to kill until winter solstice yeah Tom looked around at the carvings that lined the seek his gaze caught on the man with a camel sculpture I mean ancient history is fascinating and all but I have no interest in killing the next two

months here no neither do I I don't suppose you have a better idea well that depends Tom laughed I'll bite on what Sam Grinned have you ever been diving at akaba underwater Military Museum chapter 19 Pax still felt those penetrating blue eyes on him he had felt as though they hadn't left ever since he'd bumped into those two marines he guessed they were no longer in the service but maybe they still were and were merely on leave he couldn't tell just by looking at them still there was something about the way they held Their posture

that alertness in their gaze they were definitely Marines Navy Seals had the same sort of posture and alert expression they might have been seals but he doubted it he had been out of the Navy longer than he'd been in it but once a seal always a seal they were true Warriors highly trained disciplined and distinguished their motto was on time on target never quit it was nearly 20 years since he'd first completed the basic underwater Demolition SEAL training he served for four years including six rotations to the sandbox during the second Gulf War and two

in Afghanistan no those two weren't frog men he would have been intrinsically recognized them if they were they were Marines he was willing to bet his life on it they might currently be genuine tourists but he doubted it he'd watched them studying the high place of sacrifice unlike the throngs of day Trippers who idly glanced at the sacred obelisks and sacrificial platforms those two men seemed to study it observing The View more like a warrior preparing for battle they might have pretended to take the occasional selfie and whatnot but he hadn't been fooled they were

performing reconnaissance through and through he'd followed them from a distance as they searched the various regions of Petra all in total they had spent three days Gathering data not even The most motivated tourist was likely to commit to that amount of time combing through the ancient city to confirm it he'd intentionally bumped into the big guy there was something innately military about the response a big guy like that wasn't used to having someone knock him people in general tended to give him a wide birth Pax would know after all he was a big guy too

people automatically walked around him always giving him room a normal person that is A civilian might take a front to the challenge to his personal space he might get angry or take the more civilized route of backing down apologizing and going about their day no harm no foul but a marine like a seal like anyone who had trained and served in the armed services they had responded with the same sort of inbuilt military reaction their bodies tensed each muscle ready to launch into a response acutely aware of their Surroundings in the flicker of an eye

they're ready to establish if a genuine threat has been made if so they'll have determined the course to eliminate it pack saw all those movements in the big guy and with the trained Restraint of a marine the guy accepted his apology and kept walking they were Marines no doubt about it the question that remained for PAX was were they retired or off-duty Marines on a vacation to check out the Site sites or had they been hired to steal The Medallion of Petra that was 2 days ago now and although he hadn't seen them since they'

headed out into the desert to the east of Petra he still felt eyes on him it wasn't a gut instinct thing he'd learned long ago to distrust that sensation instead it was a sort of Sixth Sense an uncanny ability to know when he was being watched he strowed down the seek behind him he could hear the Movement of footsteps trying to be quiet and failing at it he picked up his pace and behind him Five Guys began moving to match his stride chapter 20 inside the geodesic dome Petra desert Elise stared at the computer monitor

in front of her it displayed the view from the drone's telescopic lens lounging back she propped her feet up on the edge of the table blissfully unaware that her sneakers were scuffed And mismatched Alisa's fingers danced with the dexterity and Genius of a seasoned hacker while her eyes remained glued to the screen she appeared as delighted as a kid engaged in a particularly successful session of gaming yet despite her casual attire youthful appearance and consumate joy she was actually hard at work the surveillance drone under her expert control buzzed high above the Historic City of

Petra its camera sweeping over the rugged terrain and the tight twisting Gorge known as the seek from her Vantage Point Elise could see everything amid the throngs of tourists a tall figure moved with purpose standing ahead Above the Rest the drone's camera zoomed in capturing the man's muscular build and Military bearing Elise had seen him before but didn't know his name he was her current Target and he was being followed I think I found something what is it who asked look at this guy he's huge something stirred in who Warrior brain no way that guy's

just here as a tourist he's doing reconnaissance or something Sam mentioned he and Tom had run into a big guy they thought he was most likely an ex-military type turned mercenary her view shifted slightly revealing five ban men trailing the target they moved with practiced stealth Blending into the flow of people yet keeping their eyes fixed on their Quarry each man was clad in traditional attire their cillas wrapped tightly around their heads partially obscuring their faces the sun glinted off the curved daggers at their waists hinting at their intent and the danger they represented who

leaned over her shoulder watching the screen intently they've been on him since he entered the seek he muttered Elise Nodded her Focus unwavering yeah they're not letting him get out of their sight but neither are we the drone's camera followed the big guy as he walked with measured strides seemingly unaware of the men trailing him the seek contracted ahead forcing the crowd into a single file Alisa's fingers twitched adjusting the drone's position for a better angle as the big guy moved further along the gorge he Approached a section where the walls pressed in tighter than

ever creating a natural bottleneck suddenly her Target veered off the main path slipping into a shadowy crevice in the Rock the bins hesitated for a moment Then followed their movements immediate and precise Elisa's pulse quickened as she maneuvered the Drone lower tracking their movements I think he disappeared into some sort of cave who observed his Tone cautious we need to keep a close eye on this Elise bit her lip her mind racing the Drone hovered above the attenuated entrance it's camera capturing the men as they filed into the dark opening one by one the big

guy was out of sight swallowed by the Shadows within stay sharp she murmured to herself her grip tightening on the controller we'll find out who he is and why they're after him the Drone feed Flickered slightly as it adjusted to the low light its sensors compensating for the sudden change Alisa's eyes skimmed across the screen scanning for any sign of the big guy or his pursuers the cave seemed to wind deeper into the Rock a labyrinth within a labyrinth who said now what Elise Shrugged now we wait chapter 21 Pax moved swiftly through the seek

his broad shoulders occasionally brushing Against the cramped walls The Towering Cliffs on either side created a sense of claustrophobic Grandeur the ancient Sandstone worn Smooth by Millennia of wind and water he kept his Pace steady his instincts alert to the five Shadows trailing him the bwian men dressed in traditional garb were not particularly large or imposing but Pax knew better than to underestimate them as he neared a particularly narrow stretch of the seek Pax spotted a side Cavern partially Concealed by a cluster of Boulders without breaking stride he turned off the main path and slipped

into the cavern the darkness within swallowed him whole until his eyes adjusted the BN hesitated only briefly before following their footsteps echoing softly in the confined space inside the cavern widened slightly offering just enough room to maneuver but still tight enough to limit his movements Pax turned to face his Pursuers his green eyes calm cold and calculating the bin spread out circling him their knives gleaming in the faint light filtering through the narrow entrance I don't believe this P said I must be getting old old one of the bedan asked a questioning smirk on his

face Pax nodded yeah there was a time when whoever sent you to kill me would know that they'd need to send a lot more people the first bwin opened his mouth To reply but then he decided to attack he lunged his knife aimed at pax's midsection Pax side stepped smooth ly grabbing the attacker's wrist and twisting sharply Pax was 66 with roughly 260 lbs of weight behind him his muscles were attuned to fighting with both technical skill and years of real experience there was a loud snapping sound it was the thin tendons of the attacker's

wrist straining past their point of no return and breaking much Like the string of a violin being overtightened the knife clattered to the ground as his attacker fell to his knees crying out in pain Pax moved toward the man instead of away from him leading with his elbow his ulna the large strong bone which ended at the tip of his elbow connected with the man's face the speed and nature of the blow was somewhat like a razor sharp scthe there was a bone shattering sound as the man's jaw gave way it was simple Physics kinetic

energy 101 Mass times velocity squared Pax was the bigger Mass his elbow the fastest velocity and his attacker's jaw the weakest point the second attacker came in low aiming for pax's legs Pax stepped forward the new asants leg connected with pax's Shin it was a big mistake on the bn's part apparently this guy hadn't learned anything from the earlier physics lesson his Pal's smashed face should have taught him mass times velocity squared In this case pax's shins were used to carrying 260 l pounds of weight give or take say 20 lbs each leg since bones

are living tissues just like muscles they respond to physical activity by increasing density pax's bones had been well strengthened by years carrying heavy loads they were further reinforced by an equal amount of years in an underground MMA ring where The Shins themselves had been hardened through repeated stress fractures from kicking And being kicked the Collision was Swift and brutal Pax imagined that his as salant must feel like his leg had slammed into a sander block the sickening snap echoed through the cavern the sound of bone shattering under the force of pax's shin it was a

sharp piercing noise like a dry Branch breaking in two followed by a thud as the attacker recoiled clutching his smashed leg in agony the silence that followed was Filled with the attacker's pained gasps Keening Agony and the faint lingering Echoes of the sound of that brutal break pack stood firm unyielding his expression as hard as Granite while the attacker rolled on the ground defeated by his own miscalculation two more men rushed him simultaneously each one carrying a traditional bwin knife called a jambia they appeared more decorative Than lethal but beneath their showy exterior they were

crafted from razor sharp Damascus steel Pax knew better than to underestimate their weapons ornamental or not with one lucky hit a jambia would slice right through him Pax pivoted using the tight confines of the chamber to his Advantage he grabbed the nearest man by the shoulder and swung him around using him as a shield against the other aggressor the second man's knife slashed harmlessly instead it slid Along his fellow aggressor back drawing a Yelp of surprise and pain Pax released his human shield with a shove sending him staggering into the third man who had just

regained his footing the Fourth Man hesitated eyeing Pax wearily he darted in with a quick thrust aiming for pax's rib Pax blocked the strike with his forearm then delivered a punishing knee to the man's abdomen doubling him over a swift movement with his right forearm and a Hacking motion to the back of the man's neck sent him to the ground choking coughing and gasping for breath the fifth and final man backed away his confidence in tatters Pax Advanced his movements fluid and predatory eyes wide with with Terror his last foe slashed wildly Pax caught his

wrist twisting it until the knife dropped a powerful head butt followed Stupify the attacker Pax finished him off with a precise punch to the jaw Sending him to the ground alongside his Fallen buddy Breathing heavily but otherwise unscathed Pax surveyed the scene five men lay on the cavern floor groaning in pain and clutching their injuries none of them would be getting up anytime soon he bent down to pick up one of the Fallen knives examining it briefly before tossing it aside targets down unarmed no longer a threat Pax moved swiftly his senses alert as he

checked the Fallen attackers One by one he searched their pockets and pouches his movements methodical and precise when he reached the third attacker he found a worn leather wallet opening it he discovered a stack of colorful Bank notes Jordanian dinars the bank notes were a vibrant array of colors each more striking than the last the 50 din note was a deep royal blue adorned with intricate patterns and the portrait of King Abdullah II the 20 din note was a rich Green depicting the ancient city of Petra in all its Glory the 10 din note was

a bold red featuring the icon ionic treasury Al kazna with its Majestic columns and ornate facade the smaller denominations were equally detailed each a work of art representing the history and culture of Jordan it was a small fortune Pax grinned pleased with this find the Dinars would offer him some much needed spending money around Petra in its local currency there was no Longer an urgent need to find a bank he removed the bank notes placed them in his pocket and threw the wallet on the ground the fourth man had nothing of value but the fifth

had something interesting it was a cylindrical object tucked into the attacker's belt carefully he pulled out a rolled up Scroll the scroll was old the parchment slightly brittle but still intact pax's curiosity was peaked he quickly tucked the scroll into his jacket and Rose to His feet with one last glance at the Fallen Men He stepped out of the Cave the harsh sunlight blinded him for a moment as he emerged into the open the heat of the desert a harsh contrast to the cooler Shadows of the cave in the sunlight Pax opened the scroll his

eyes widened with interest at the image of the person depicted on the scroll well well isn't that interesting chapter 22 from a well concealed position The Watcher stared at the men lying moaning or unconscious on the ground some of the blows they had taken were surely hard enough to kill them he wondered if he should have intervened then again he knew that wasn't part of the job he was a watcher there to report about those who came with The Medallion of Petra and to watch over yubar not to intervene during any wouldbe robberies besides the

large Warrior appeared to be more than capable of Looking after himself his eyes stared at the warrior the huge man he had spotted three days ago at the top of the high place of sacrifice the warrior was a fighter who had easily taken out all five of the people who had attacked him as though he didn't have a care in the world he hadn't killed them he could have stabbed them to death with a rone jambus but he didn't this had surprised him to Ali's mind his actions seemed quite Restrained that said while three of

them were still squirming and reeling in pain the other two were no longer moving at all the Watcher did wonder if he had in fact killed them the warrior had disarmed them and searched them he took money from a wallet then he moved toward the last as ENT and removed what appeared to be a scroll then he had walked out of the cavern as casually as he had entered it the warrior grinned as if he still didn't have a care in the World chapter 23 police kept her eyes locked on the Drone footage of the

cavern she watched as the big guy stepped outside the cave back into the W room and into her view he was carrying something he didn't have when he went inside it was a type of scroll not an old-fashioned or ancient type more like a modern poster or something all rolled up he began walking deeper into the valley after about 30 seconds he spun around and stared into The sky his eyes locking onto the Drone with a tilt of his head a Ry smile flashed across his face the Drone was small and hovering at an altitude

of roughly 2,000 ft with a high-tech powerful zoom lens that allowed a closeup of the ground from that elevation who glanced over her shoulder what's he looking at at least shook her head I don't know if I had to guess I'd say he's looking at us is it even possible for him to see the Drone with His Naked Eyes no way Elise said her voice emphatic and unequivocal then what's he looking at if I had to guess I'd say he's got a sixth sense some sort of Intuition or inexplicable awareness that someone is watching him

I don't buy it no neither do I but he's picking up something like most gut instincts this one is based on little nuances his senses are spotting so small his brain probably isn't yet entirely aware Consequently he's probably guessing where the Drone is and then staring at it with that the giant gave the impression he had forgotten about the Drone and kept walking Elise tracked him for another 20 minutes her Target dropped down onto a stone seat in the shade of nearby Rocky outcrops he took out the rolled scroll and opened it theise zoomed in

adjusting the lens on the Drone until the image came into Focus she recognized the face Instantly it was a picture of Sam the poster reminded her of one of those old-fashioned wanted advertisements from an old western film underneath the picture was the name Sam Riley and Below were the words Wanted Dead or Alive followed by a $20,000 reward chapter 24 Elise picked up her satellite phone she hit Sam's number he didn't answer it she tried again come on Sam for once in Your life answer your damn cell phone she then tried the tahila Matthew answered

the ship's dedicated satellite phone hey Elise how are you enjoying the desert put Sam on she replied without preamble it's nice to hear your voice too oh I'm doing fine thanks for asking Elise said it's important Matthew sorry Elise Sam and Tom aren't here where are they she asked quickly theyve decided to take a couple rooms at The kinsky hotel in akaba said something about enjoying the forced break and making the time to have an overdue vacation of sorts you want the number Elise hung up without replying she'd already Googled the hotel and clicked on

the call now button kinsky Hotel this is T speaking from the concierge team how may I help you T Elise said briskly my name is Elise I work for Sam Riley if you bring up his reservation you will see that he Has me listed as his in case of emergency contact she could hear him typing in the background probably corroborating her story after a few seconds he said what can I do for you miss I need you to listen this is very important Sam Riley's life is in danger I want you to find him and

put him on the phone it's a matter of life and death I understand he replied in his most official concierge voice there was also a hint of Suppressed resignation as though he'd heard all sorts of stories of emergencies over the years by people wanting him to go out of his way to help them please wait I will send a porter up to his room police drew a breath relieved she said thank you tyam came back on the line several minutes later are you there miss yes I regret to inform you Mr Riley and his associate

are not reachable right now alely felt her heart thump against her rib cage Please it's vitally important that I get a message through I very sorry that's just not possible Elise said find him put a phone in his hand and tell him to call Elise like I said Miss that's just not possible why not because Mr Riley and his associate are currently underwater diving the akaba underwater Military Museum Eli shook her head of course he is it is a very good dive site Miss tyam said Proudly I'm sure it is Elise said realizing acknowledging him

was the fastest way to get real help listen I need you to send someone to the dive site as soon as he's out of the water I need you to put a cell phone in his hand and tell him to call Elise bill us whatever you want but I need that to happen can you do that please yes tiam replied his voice taking a serious tone I shall go myself thank you Ty Elise said I just Hope you can reach Sam Riley in Time chapter 25 akaba underwater Military Museum Sam stood at the edge of

the sunlit akaba beach next to him Tom pulled his dive gear over his shoulders and tightened the straps on his boy and C control device as he gazed out at the Azure Waters that held the akaba underwater Military Museum The Horizon seemed to melt into the sea and Sam felt like he was on a Genuine vacation for once it was wreck diving but hardly technical in all honesty they had with informed consent and knowledge willingly paid to visit a Mindless tourist trap but it was a good one the Underwater Museum included 21 separate military machines

which had been stripped clean and sunk into the shallow Waters including armored vehicles battle tanks and a pair of helicopters Sam and Tom quickly checked Over each other's dive gear before waiting into the water they were diving in single tanks with normal face masks it was nice to be doing what he considered recreational diving again sunny weather albe it a little cool it being toward the end of Jordan's Autumn clear white beaches visibility in excess of 100 ft and shallow easy Dives they stopped when they were roughly waste deep in the water Sam looked at

Tom you ready to dive sure am Tom replied can't wait all right let's do this Sam placed the regulator into his mouth stepped into the water and slowly dipped his head under the waves he took his Compass bearing setting a course D West together they swam out following the natural Contour of the bay the sand turned to seagrass and they began their descent in Earnest the remains of two anti-aircraft guns marked the start of the underwater Trail Sam instinctively swallowed equalizing the pressure in his ears as he descended he heard the unmistakable sound of an

approaching speedboat faint at first and then rapidly growing louder like the standup Applause given after an impressive performance he glanced up at the dark shadow skimming quickly above the vessel's engine made a piercing whine as its twin propellers churned the water it Resonated through Sam's body as it raced overhead the pitch Rising and then falling in a swift Doppler effect at the 21 ft Mark they were greeted by the first sunken Vehicles a set of Willis MB Jeeps also called US Army trucks first placed into service in 1941 they were a highly successful off-road capable

light military utility vehicle Sam studied the submerged Vehicles it seemed a fitting tribute to one of the first offer road cars ever Made after World War II it became a trademark for four-wheel drives and copied many times for military and civilian purposes a couple of snorkelers were playing above and occasionally attempting to free dive down to the sunken vehicles from the shallow Waters knowing that it took close to an hour to navigate the full circuit Sam and Tom kept moving at a depth of 45 F feet they approached a carefully Arranged line of military vehicles

simulating a battle lineup the bottom sloped gently to the South Sam led the dive following the line of relics to the south after swimming over five British fv71 fet Scout cars armored made in the early 50s and used for reconnaissance they reached two FV 101 scorpion light tanks followed by an fv103 Spartan personnel carrier carrying up to seven people it was made in the late 70s and used for Transport of specialist teams Sam switched his flashlight on using his beam he focused on the dark inside turret of one of the Scorpion light tanks also British

made with a crew of three it was quickly Deployable in a battlefield the Scorpions often LED the way in hostile zones before the big tanks could get there nearby Sam saw the razor sharp beam of Tom's flashlight slicing through the darkness as he Searched the other side of the tank the akaba underwater Military Museum was still relatively new and the reef had only just begun to become encrusted with Barnacles and sea life they descended to 60 ft still traveling south they reached reached the famous Chieftain tanks main battle tanks made in the UK and well

known in the Middle East as khed Shear tanks next came the massive rattel 20 infantry carrier designed in the early 70s by the South Africans it looked like a tank and was the first wheeled infantry fighting vehicle to enter service worldwide this was followed by two American 195 2 m42 dusters these were armored light anti-aircraft air defense guns built for the United States Army Sam and Tom checked in with each other viewing their gauges both were still sitting around the 160 bar Mark after so many years their breathing efficiency bordered between exceptional and somewhat mysterious

starting at 220 bar they had barely touched their Supply even in shallow water most tourist divers would be reaching their halfway mark by now pleased with their Air Supply Sam and Tom agreed to descend to 75 ft Sam set the beam of his flashlight on the side of an FV 104 Samaritan British Army armored ambulance which could hold Six casualties also the chieftain armored recovery vehicle nicknamed the crane looking a little like a cross between a tank and a bulldozzer its principal task was to recover and repair damaged tanks from the battlefield at 90 ft

they passed an MI 155 caliber field gun developed and used by the United States military it was used in World War I and World War II Then They Came Upon two Bell ahif cobra Attack helicopters Sam and Tom circled around the twin helicopters mainly as Sam loved Choppers of any kind a sort of serene aquatic silence enveloped them as they descended into the depths of the Red Sea their flashlights piercing through the dark blue Waters the cobra attack helicopters rested on the Sandy seabed their once fearsome forms now festooned with Vibrant corals and teeming with

marine life cobas were the Mainstay of the US Army with their combat debut in South Vietnam during 1967 until replaced by the ah64 Apache in the 1980s Sam motioned to Tom and they swam closer to the nearest Cobra their movements smooth and controlled as they approached Sam's flashlight beam illuminated the cockpit revealing a kaleidoscope of colors as Small fish darted through the open Windows he hovered for a moment marveling at how nature had reclaimed this symbol of human conflict Tom entered the fuselage his light sweeping across the interior the beams revealed schools of fish seeking

refuge in the metal confines their scales reflecting the light in shimmering bursts Sam's Light caught a flash of silver a large Barracuda languidly Swimming past its Sleek body reflecting the artificial glow he signaled to Tom and pointed toward the tail section where clusters of sea anemones swayed gently in the current signing back Tom swam over carefully navigating through the narrow space they worked in tandem their flashlights crisscrossing revealing the secrets hidden within the wreckage Sam made a small circle with his index finger pointing upward Tom gave him a Thumbs up it was time to turn

around and make the return Journey Sam pointed to himself and then to Tom positioning his index fingers one in front of the other indicating that he wanted Tom to take the lead Tom signaled okay and started off turning their Compass bearing 180° they headed in a Northerly Direction Sam glanced at his gauge 120 bar they had chewed up some of that air quickly at the deeper depth it couldn't Be helped not a problem as they would be in shallower water soon their Air Supply would be more than enough to meet their needs Tom began following

the lineup of military vehicles moving along the gently sloping incline toward the North Sam and Tom drifted silently through the Underwater Museum their flashlights carving Paths of light through the blue haze ahead the sunken silhouette of a rattel 20 infantry carrier reemerged resting on the seabed like a sleeping Giant the armored vehicle once a formidable presence on land was now cloaked in a thick layer of Alan Coral its edges softened by time and the Relentless ocean currents the rattel 20's robust angular body bore the scars of its past yet after 50 years of use it

stood strong and resilient evidence of its formidable South African engineering its six large Wheels were partially buried in the sand encrusted With Barnacles and teeming with small fish that darted in and out of the crevices the vehicle's turret with its 20 mm Cannon jutted Skyward now serving as a perch for various Marine creatures as they swam closer Sam's flashlight beam focused on a small hatch on the side of the carrier its heavy metal door a jar he gestured to Tom who nodded and swam towards it the light from their flashlights Illuminating the dark Interior the

open hatch seemed to invite them in revealing a shadowy glimpse of the vehicle's contents schools of tiny fish swirled around the entrance shimmering in the beams of light like living Jewels Tom entered the wreck first his light revealing the skeletal remains of the seating and control panels now draped in seaweed and adorned with colorful corals Sam followed scanning the inside With his light marveling at how the ocean had transformed this once intimidating war machine into a peaceful underwater habitat the interior was a vivid demonstration of rust and Decay intertwined with vibrant signs of marine life

Sam watched as Tom passed through the door to swim outside feeling philosophical he stayed a few minutes longer marveling at how all things change with a passage of Time with a sigh he swam toward the open hatch Sam's flashlight beam swept across the interior of the rattel 20 and a sudden movement caught his eye he focused the light revealing a red sea octopus locked in a fierce struggle with a moray eel the octopus's body a brilliant blend of Reds and Browns pulsed with color as it fought to escape the eel's grasp its eight arms wried

and twisted trying to evade the eel's sharp teeth the moay eel a sleek and menacing Creature with a serpentine body had one of the octopus's arms firmly in its jaws the octopus in a desperate bid for Freedom began the process of autotomize much like a lizard who drops his tail the octopus casts off an arm Sam's eyes narrowed his heart racing as he willed the octopus to survive he was mesmerized as the octopus deliberately severed its own limb the detached arm continuing to move independently the Moray eel distracted By the wriggling limb released its grip

on the octopus and died toward the dropped arm eager to gorge on its unexpected meal the octopus now freed scurried away into a dark corner of the cabin its movements rapid and fluid Sam marveled at the creature's Escape strategy recalling how an octopus's arm could regenerate within 2 to 3 months the severed limb still twitching and writhing Kept the eel occupied allowing the octopus to find a new hiding spot Sam left the armored personnel carrier outside he glanced around seeing the faint flicker of Tom's light in the distance somewhere down near the Scorpion light tanks

he kicked his legs Finning toward them a moment later his breathing became somewhat labored his rib cage felt like it was becoming wrapped in Steel with each breath of air more difficult to suck out Through the regulator he took another couple of hard breaths and then his regulator stopped completely he reached for his dive gauge it revealed Zero Bar there was no way he'd run out of air last time he checked his gauge a few minutes ago he still had more than 100 bar remaining it was as though someone had switched off his tank his

heart started making a deep slow thud out of air he had multiple options in the fraction of a second his mind Revved up for survival Computing the possibilities first he could Ascend to the surface he was only in 50 ft of water not impossible to make rapid no Deco stop surface second he could remove his dive tank and try and open the air valve on the tank but there was no obvious explanation why it had developed problems to begin with Argo no certainty that he would resolve the problem in time to take a Breath the

third option and most sensible would be to borrow some air from Tom his eyes scanned the area there was a light coming from inside the turret of the Scorpion light tank it reflected off a series of slowly Rising bubbles that drifted toward the surface Sam kicked his fins hard he had time to reach Tom not a lot but enough Sam could hear the sound of his heart hammering in the back of his ears He kept his mind on Tom's diving light focusing on what mattered and dare he say drowning out the urge to breathe it

was another 30 ft away 20 10 5 sam entered through the open hatch on the Scorpion light tanks turret inside he was greeted by a single dive flashlight it was lying on the side of the Interior tank Hull its Beam still fixed against the empty driver's seat Sam scanned the rest of the interior in a second it was otherwise Empty he spun around turning like an Olympic swimmer pushing his fins against the steel base of the tanks Hull Sam raced for the hatchway it shut a split second before he reached it it Sam grabbed the

hatch then in a moment of sheer Terror he fought to open it the hatch pushed against something solid and in an instant Sam realized he was now trapped chapter 26 Tom's eyes apprehensively rake the line of submerged military hardware he Frowned there was no sign of Sam he looked up hoping to see his silhouette against the surface nothing not even the flicker of Sam's flashlight or any bubbles Rising toward the surface Sam had disappeared Tom wasn't particularly worried but it was bad form on Sam's part to lose him together they were used to diving alone

in caves there they had ample redundancies built into their dive gear to make up for the fact they Weren't working in pairs he wasn't using his own dive gear and neither was Sam out here in these warm shallow Waters it was easy to overlook the value and importance of a buddy system especially compared to the level of technical diving Sam and he normally performed even so it was bad practice considered lazy on a tourist dive more than that it added danger to something that should have been close to free from risk of any kind Tom

switched his Flashlight off allowing him to search for Sam's flashlight in among the wrecks of military hardware he waited a full minute turning around slowly then he spotted a pair of fins Tom swim sprinted in that direction the fins were moving quickly as though Sam were trying to race somewhere although even that didn't make much sense he was swimming Due West into deeper water Tom picked up his pace and grabbed him by the ankle the diver Jolted turned to glare at him it wasn't Sam just another tourist diving in akaba the diver was attached to

a small electric diver propulsion vehicle Tom lifted a hand in a plating gesture the diver looked at him nodded and then opened the throttle of his diver propulsion vehicle which whisked him away chapter 27 Sam's lungs burned he was trapped inside the Scorpion light tank without Air and not many seconds left to live he pulled free the velcro of his buoyancy control device the small jacket opened and he removed his arms from it placing the BCD and dive tank attached to its cradle at the back on the base of the Scorpion light Tank's interior his

eyes landed on the Tank's knob it was locked completely shut Sam turned it open air hissed into the regulator Sam depressed the release valve expelling excess seawater from the inside before taking a Long slow deep breath he picked up the dive gauge 70 bar it wasn't a lot at a depth of 66 ft air was compressed to three atmospheres meaning that it was three times denser than surface air more importantly he was going to consume three times as much with each breath at this depth than he would on the surface Sam did a mental calculation

if he could slow his breathing reduce his metabolism by not moving he could make that last somewhere Between 10 to 15 minutes it wasn't long panic which had pulled back when he took that breath began to settle in again as Sam realized he was still trapped inside the Scorpion light tank the hatch above him was firmly locked leaving him with no immediate means of Escape his scuba Tank's Air Supply was running dangerously low each breath reminding him of the ticking clock desperation gave way to a sudden idea he unclipped his dive tank and Positioned it

against the steel hull of the Scorpion with a steady hand he began to tap against the metal surface forming a distinct pattern three short Taps three long Taps followed by three short Taps again he might have had trouble tapping out a story but everyone knew that sequence Tom would instantly recognize it as SOS tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap tap the sound of metal on metal echoed Inside the narrow confines Sam's Morse code was Rusty after all these years he paused for a few seconds and then went again he had to keep

it up until Tom or even another scuba diver arrived or he died trying his breaths grew shallower the air in his tank had nearly depleted but Sam kept tapping clinging to the hope that someone would hear his SOS and come to his Aid the cold steel of the tank and the Pressing weight of the water above him added to his sense of isolation but the steady Rhythm of the Morse Cod gave him a thread of connection to the outside world inside the tank Sam's breath grew shallower each one a struggle as the air in his

scuba tank finally ran out dread surged through through him his heartbeat pounding in his ears he kept tapping the morse code his movements growing frantic tap tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap tap the midal surface of the tank Echoed his desperate SOS but as his Air Supply depleted completely he felt his chest tighten he tried to take another breath but nothing came the realization hit like a wave and fear gripped him he continued tapping his strength waning with each passing second tap tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap his vision

blurred the edges darkening his hands once steady now trembled Uncontrollably the cold grip of unconscious began to take hold and despite his efforts to stay awake the world around him faded into darkness the last sound he heard was the faint haunting echo of his final Taps against the steel hull then absolute silence chapter 28 tap tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap tap Tom's heart hammered in his chest he Swam through the submerged military hardware at the akaba underwater Military Museum his flashlight beam cut through the Clear Water Illuminating the ghostly Silhouettes Of

Tanks helicopters and armored vehicles Tom paused trying to pick up the faint sound of the SOS tapping he had barely heard earlier the underwater environment made it difficult to pinpoint The Source echol location was incredibly unreliable sound traveled differently Underwater bouncing off metal surfaces and distorting in the dense medium the ocean played tricks on his ears tap tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap tap each Echo seemed to come from mult multiple directions at once and the overlapping Reflections from the various sunken relics created a confusing cacophony it was challenging to echolocate accurately

as water density and the reflective surfaces of the vehicles scattered the sound waves Unpredictably Tom knew that even the slightest misdirection could lead him away from Sam's SOS he swam past a bell a1f Cobra helicopter its once deadly frame now a habitat for marine life the morse code Taps grew fainter then louder as if mocking his efforts Tom paused again holding his breath to listen more intently tap tap tap pause tap tap tap pause tap tap tap the sound seemed to come from his left He adjusted his Course moving swiftly past the rattel 20 infantry

carrier its open hatch gaping Like A Silent Scream every second felt like an eternity he knew Sam's Air Supply was limited he passed another tank its turret pointing uselessly into the abyss the SOS Taps grew clearer their Rhythm More distinct Tom's pulse quickened with hope the speed of the tap tap tap increased to a frantic Pace he imagined Sam's Panic they were both on the same Timeline both started with the same amount of air in their tanks and both run out of air at the same time Tom stopped he waited for the next SOS tap

tap tap pause tap tap silence Tom's heart rate went up a notch Sam had stopped trying there was only one possible scenario Tom could imagine imagine where that happened Sam was unconscious or he was dead Tom drew a breath his eyes locked In the direction of the origin of the SOS he narrowed the possibilities to a Rotel 20 infantry carrier an fv103 Spartan personnel carrier and four scorpion light tanks it suddenly seemed hard to suck air through the regulator Tom tried another breath and then nothing he was out of air out of time and so

was Sam Tom's eyes narrowed on the array of military hardware ahead of him there were too many vehicles to search through Them all before he too passed out he needed to get lucky and to do that he needed some way of improving his odds the rattel 20 infantry carrier and fv103 Spartan personnel carrier both both had their large rear access hatches wide open three of the Scorpion light tanks had the hatches above their turrets open one was swung firmly shut a pair of small yellow zip ties locked the hatch shut Tom kicked his fins as

hard as he could all 6'4 in of his muscular frame Working to reach that scorpion out of air his lungs burned and every cell in his body begged him to swim to the surface he gritted his teeth not yet Tom reached the hatch he tried to yank it open the plastic zip ties held firm he grabbed his titanium dive knife from where it was attached to the pouch of his BCD and stabbed the blade into the zip ties the first one split instantly the second one cut partially he hit it again and again on the

third strike the Zip tie gave way Tom opened the hatch he swam down to the bottom of the tank Hull's interior where Sam's lifeless form lay his face mask was attached and his regulator was still in his mouth there wasn't much he could do they were both out of air 66 ft beneath the surface Tom released Sam's weight belt he instantly became positively buoyant and began floating up toward the open hatch Tom grabbed him and then released his own weight belt together they shot Toward the surface like a pair of rockets water rushed across their

faces their speed picked up exponentially as the air inside their bcds and lungs expanded as their depth decreased Tom opened his mouth forced to breathe out all the way to the surface then he noticed Sam's chest it was rapidly expanding into a barrel Tom grabbed abbed his friend's jaw manually opening it this allowed his windpipe to unkink as the expanding volume of air in his Lungs must be expelled as they shot toward life-saving air a split moment later they broached the surface like a pair of whale Cales Tom took a deep breath he looked at

Sam his face was white his lips a mtled blue and his lungs were still still in the water Tom tilt Ed him on his side his head back opening his Airway holding Sam's jaw in his right hand in a type of pistol grip and using his thumb and index finger to pinch his Nose shut Tom took a deep breath then he sealed his mouth over Sam's exhaling steadily into his lungs with two quick breaths come on Sam Tom muttered his voice filled with desperation he paused to check for any signs of breathing then repeated the

process process carefully opening Sam's jaw again and delivering another breath the seconds dragged on each one in eternity finally Sam's chest heaved as his lungs filled he coughed violently Expelling some water relief washed over Tom as he supported Sam who gasped for air both of them floating in the gentle waves of the bay until Sam's breathing appeared to settle into some sort sort of Rhythm then his best friend's eyes popped Open Tom gave him a hard look are you alive Sam appearing decidedly Punchy like maybe he had had too much to drink Sam smirked you

took your time getting to me Tom you weren't easy to find I never Doubted you tomk eyes widened really well maybe a little at the end better late than never anyway Sam Shrugged hey Tom yeah buddy Sam's lips parted in a warm smile thanks for saving my life again chapter 29 Sam had a headache given he'd passed out and nearly drowned it was to be expected it wasn't pleasant but he'd had worse he and Tom slowly swam across the surface toward the shore they took off Their fins and clambered up onto the beach Sam's Vision

blurred mildly someone approached a man in his mid 40s as he drew nearer Sam noticed he had tanned skin neatly trimmed black hair and a well groomed beard framing his serious expression his white shirt and dark trousers fluttered slightly in the the warm breeze but his Focus remained entirely on Sam The Stranger was gripping a cell phone he gave him an urgent yet curious look are you Sam Riley Sam nodded yeah he handed Sam the cell phone a very persistent and demanding young woman named Elise ordered me to put this in your hand she told

me I was to watch you and not let you go anywhere until you call her Sam's eyebrows Rose but he took the phone thanks somehow calling her it felt like a test between 30 to 180 seconds of oxygen deprivation you lose Consciousness scary As hell but only minutes ago he had been there done that at the one minute mark his brain cells would have begun dying at 3 minutes lasting brain damage becomes more likely at 5 minutes death is imminent Sam calculated that he had been without oxygen for two to three minutes taking a deep

breath savoring his lungs filling with air like he never recalled savoring it before he dialed Alisa's number from memory Sam was pleased that he remembered her number Easily he'd passed the test clearly he hadn't been without oxygen enough to become brain damaged from The Experience Elise picked up on the first ring we have a problem Sam whoever is searching for The Medallion of Petra they're here and they know you're searching for it too there's a reward out for your life someone is going to come after you it could be anyone thanks for the heads up

Sam's lips twisted into a Ry grin I'm worried Elise said it's okay I'll inform Tom we'll keep our heads on a swivel and be ready for anything Sam you need to get back here any second you could be attacked people are trying to kill you too late he caught his breath on a sudden and unexpected choke of laughter the sound of it seemed a little higher and harsher than usual oddly Sam wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or Cry my dear Elise he said said they already tried chapter 30 camel Dive Center akaba Sam

stepped into the dive shop from its back door after coming through the alley the place was closed but the owner was an old friend of Sam's Omar who had been telling him to come dive in aaba for years had left him a key Sam and Tom were in the washroom at the back of the store in the process of stripping their diver gear they had placed their Bcds regulators and masks into a plastic bath filled with soap and began the process of washing off the corrosive saltwater the local police had arrived and were checking the

beach for any sign of the divers who had attempted to murder Sam so far Sam and Tom were the only two divers to step out onto the beach this meant that the people who attacked him were still underwater or more likely had surfaced onto a boat in the Bay Tom finished washing and rinsing his gear and hung it up to dry how are you doing Sam I'm all right he sighed out a heavy breath a little shaken up glad you were there it's not the first time you've saved my life but still thank you again

you're welcome again Tom regarded him unable to conceal his concern I'm going to have another look at the beach see if the police have made any Headway vetting the boats in the local area sounds good I won't be long Tom asked you want me to wait for you Sam shook his head no I'm fine I'll just finish tidying Omar's gear then lock up for the night right I'll see you out there Sam lifted his BCD from his bucket draining the excess fresh water from inside its bladder he attached it to a purpose-built scuba drying rack

behind him he heard footsteps Sam called out what did you forget Tom nothing a feminine voice answered Absolutely nothing he spun around with a jolt the stunning woman greeted him with a smile and a Baretta hello Sam it's been a long time ice poured into his veins when he saw that she was holding the Baretta with its Barrel pointed right at him chapter 31 Sam stared the sight of her took his breath away it was like seeing a Ghost she was Exquisite and still bewitching yet memories are like mirages people from our past are never

quite as we remember them experiences are never quite as good or as bad as those we recall and yet here she was after all this time Sam's heart did a double step and despite the weapon being aimed at him he couldn't help thinking she was every bit as attractive as he remembered her all Those years ago it's you a grimly sardonic smile curled his lips You're The Relic Hunter she tilted her head and gave a slight bow like the star performer at a circus it was a gesture as if to say you got me it

would have been cute if she had not been holding a loaded weapon on him why Sam asked reeling with shock why What you could have done anything with your life why did you choose this you mean Relic running the woman asked giving him a hard defiant stare the same reason anyone does anything I don't understand Sam muttered more to himself than to her he was remembering the loving girl he'd fallen for all those years ago it's the money Sam it was so easy more importantly I am good at it I see Sam said even though

he didn't He was still in shock now what he asked now nothing forget about The Medallion of Petra forget about me and go pick another archaic battle or artifact to fight over what the hell do you want with the Med Delian anyway she arched a dark eyebrow really Sam he nodded you want the treasures of yubar I don't care about treasure I Wouldn't even bother to be here if this was just about a horde of naan gold then what there's a weapon a powerful weapon the king of yubar once used to rule the Arabian peninsula

what the hell are you going to do with a chemical biological or radiological weapon oh Sam the woman shook her head how naive you've become I remember you being so much faster on the Uptake what do I do with everything I don't collect ancient relics I trade them selling them to the highest bidder you're going to sell a CBR weapon to a bunch of terrorists right again she said grinning broadly as though she were toying with him and before you ask me why let me remind you that terrorists are some of the highest bids out

there although I think they would see themselves as bereaved victims or Freedom Fighters Honestly I can't say I really looked into it that much the fact is they're willing to pay I can't believe you'd go through with this so naive I figured you'd say something like that she shook her head you just can't let it go can you Sam heard footsteps behind him praying it was Tom he turned but it was a stranger with sunborn skin wearing a long white tunic sleeveless cloak and a distinctive head cloth he was a better One and he was

holding a traditional knife a split second later something to the right side of him moved Sam saw it from his peripheral vision it was big and fast and it rushed toward him he spun away trying to protect his head but it was too late the big guy was on him Sam turned again trying to maneuver his way out from under this new opponent a moment later an aluminum dive tank slammed into the back of his skull for a split second Sam heard what sounded like Crepitus the noise fractured bits of bone make when they rub

together he found himself thinking in the millisecond of Consciousness he had left huh that wasn't too bad it doesn't even hurt everything went black and then it was lights out completely chapter 32 Tom glanced at his watch and frowned for the second time today Sam wasn't here when he should have been here already strange Unexpected it had been over 10 minutes since he'd walked out the front door of the Dive Center Sam was almost finished with his gear when he' left so what in the world was he doing something about it rang alarm Bells at

the Primitive lizard part of his brain he was worried more of a gut instinct than anything then it hit him the nearby shops were all shut there was nowhere for Sam to get distracted and kill 10 minutes Lingering Tom wondered if he had been injured in the underwater attack it was possible Sam looked a little more shaken up than he did for his usual near-death experiences Tom had checked him for any injuries like knife wounds but there weren't any maybe Sam had needed to hold his breath longer than he thought possibly long enough that it

had done some damage nobody's brain liked to be deprived of oxygen he envisioned Sam passing out on the concrete floor of the Dive shop Tom began to step back from the beach what had he been thinking he shouldn't have left his friend alone Tom turned and ran back to the shop Tom forced open the door to Camel's Dive Center in aaba the small bell above the door jingling to announce his arrival the place was dimly lit the scent of saltwater and neoprene thick in the air rows of wet suits hung along one wall and the

shelves lined with various dive equipment filled the rest of the space He glanced around expecting to see Sam rinsing his gear in the back room as us ual Sam Tom called out his voice echoing slightly in the quiet chop there was no answer just the faint dripping of water his lips pressed together in a hard line Tom walked through the narrow aisles towards the back room it had been a good 10 minutes longer than expected since he last Saw Sam and he was starting to get worried Sam are you still in here he Called again

his concern growing he rounded the corner and his breath caught in his throat Sam was sprawled on the ground his dive gear scattered around him behind his head a pool of dark Crimson blood slowly spread across the tiled floor an aluminum dive tank lay discarded nearby a clear sign of the violent attack Sam Tom shouted dropping to his knees beside his friend his heart pounded as he checked for a pulse Fingers trembling Sam was still alive relief washed over him as he felt the faint but steady thump beneath his fingertips help someone help Tom yelled

his voice cracking with urgency police anybody almost immediately two police officers who had been patrolling the area searching for a suspect rushed into the dive shop the they had heard Tom's desperate cries and quickly made their way to the back room one of the officers A tall man with a Stern face immediately assessed the situation what happened here he demanded but his tone softened as he saw Sam's condition he's been hit Tom said his voice shaking I I think it was that dive tank please you need to call an ambulance the officer didn't hesitate he

grabbed his radio and spoke urgently into it this is Officer mmud we have a visitor down at camels Dive Center akaba head trauma unconscious requesting Immediate medical assistance his partner a younger officer with a concerned expression knelt next to Sam checking for further injuries he's still breathing we need to stop the bleeding to keep him alive until the ambulance arrives Tom nodded his hand still pressed gently against against the towel he had used to try to stem the bleeding hang in there Sam help is coming minutes fell like hours but Finally the sound of sirens

pierced the silence paramedics burst through the door quickly assessing Sam's condition and lifting him onto a stretcher you did good one of them said to Tom as they prepared to transport Sam to the hospital he's in good hands now Tom nodded watching helplessly as they wheeled Sam out and into the waiting ambulance one of the paramedics climbed into the driver's seat the other into the back beside Sam Tom followed without Asking stepping up into the back of the ambulance he closed the back doors and crammed into the small chair directly behind Sam's stretcher determination and

anger burned in his eyes he was going to find out who did this and make sure they paid for what they'd done to his friend the treating paramedic opened her mouth it was as though she were about to explain to Tom that he couldn't come with his friend to the hospital in her ambulance but she took one look at Tom's Hardened expression and his size and simply nodded her dark eyes said okay you can come too chapter 33 Tom's heart pounded with a mix of fear remorse resolve and rage the ambulance roared to life its

siren blared into the Twilight its blue and red flashing lights casting Eerie Shadows on the road and whitewashed walls of nearby buildings Tom kept his eyes fixed on Sam Who lay motionless on the stretcher his face pale and blood still seeping from the wound on his head the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor provided a small Comfort a sign that his friend was still fighting Tom watched helplessly as the treating paramedic a young woman with a determined expression continued to perform a series of tasks while the ambulance rocked and turned a long time ago he'd

flown a Metac helicopter in Afghanistan it had never ceased to amaze him how the paramedics and field doctors could work in such an uncontrolled environment as he watched her now it was hard not to be impressed by her skill and expertise she gave him oxygen and inserted a large intravenous canula into Sam's right arm set up a drip all the while the ambulance kept rocketing along at speed along the bumpy roadway she checked Sam's vitals again her brow Furrowing in concern we have signs of Cushing's Triad she said glancing at her colleague driving the ambulance

his intracranial pressure is rising she clambered up to the front and handed the driving paramedic a small piece of paper with Sam's injuries and Vital Signs can you give the hospital the heads up we've got an enclosed head injury with signs of raised ICP Tom's heart sank further he had never heard of Cushing's Triad it didn't sound good the paramedic looked worried the driving paramedic passed along a rapid fire list of Sam's injuries and Vital Signs and the Receiving Hospital advised to redirect to Prince Hashem bin Abdullah military hospital where a Neurosurgical team would be

waiting for them after a few tense minutes Tom asked what's Cushings Triad it's a bad sign the paramedic said without Preamble tomk heart skipped a beat how bad it's a trio of symptoms high blood pressure irregular breathing and a slow heart rate that indicate a dangerous pressure inside the skull called raised intracranial pressure Tom saw the line of apprehension in the set of her mouth go on there's nothing we can do for it in the preh hospital care setting she Drew In a breath her eyes meeting his for the first time without urgent surgery it

could literally cause Sam's brain to be squished within his skull and he will die okay Tom said his eyes watching the city's lights whiz by with a blur the ambulance was going as fast as it could they would arrive at the hospital soon there was a Neurosurgical team waiting for them airgo nothing more could be done right now Tom had learned long ago to not stress the things he had no Ability to change and to change the things he did thank you he said to the woman my friend will be all right he's the luckiest

man I know she gave a crisp reassuring smile that's good because right now he's going to need all the luck he can get Tom glanced out the window watching the Twilight deepen into night The Familiar sights of the city blurred past the mosqu minet silhouetted Against the darkening Sky the bustling sus closing for the evening and the distant glimmer of the Red Sea reflecting the last rays of the Setting Sun the flashing lights of the ambulance cast fleeting Shadows that danced and twisted with every turn it created a real almost dreamlike atmosphere 6 minutes later

the ambulance pulled up at Prince Hashem bin Abdullah Military Hospital someone opened the back door of The ambulance the driving paramedic came around exchanged a quick glance with a treating paramedic silently indicating Sam was ready to be taken out of the ambulance and he slowly pulled the stretcher out they wheeled Sam in through the emergency room where a doctor gestured for them to skip the ER and head straight into a theater Tom was stopped at the entrance to the surgical room by an older man in a surgical mask presumably one of the Surgeons the surgeon's

pale blue eyes stealed and took in tomk concerned look and said we'll do the best we can for him Tom nodded thank you and watched as Sam disappeared behind closed doors chapter 34 Prince Hashem bin Abdullah Military Hospital Amir Idris leaped out of the taxi her heart hammered as she took in the imposing facade of Prince Hashem bin Abdullah Military Hospital a helicopter landed on the roof bringing with it more Injured soldiers but she barely heard it she stepped inside the air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the hum of activity it only

added to the agonizing dread gnawing at her insides she knew Sam had been badly injured and every step she took inside the hospital felt like walking deeper and deeper into quicksand inside the sterile Corridor stretched endlessly lined with the somber faces of those waiting for news About their loved ones amir's footsteps echoed as she hurried past them her mind racing with a thousand wha ifs as she turned a corner her eyes met Tom's he stood near a set of double doors his tall frame almost blocking the view behind him relief washed over her but it

was short-lived the worry etched into Tom's features was unmistakable she quickened her Pace her boots clicking against the polished Floor tom she called out her voice trembling despite her attempt to gain control have you heard anything yet Tom wrapped her in his big arms hugging her not much he's out of surgery and in the Intensive Care Unit the surgeon said he'd come out and talk to us with an update about the operation shortly okay so we just wait afraid so she looked at Tom you want to tell me what happened his jaw clenched then he

began he filled Her in about the dive at the aaba underwater Military Museum the attempt to murder Sam by trapping him in the Scorpion light tank the police searching for the Rogue divers and finally the assault at the dive shop when he was finished explaining he said apparently Sam was in the right place at the right time if there is such a thing when you have high impact cranial injuries due to treating soldiers and civilians who are routinely metac here from nearby Wars the prince ASM bin Abdullah Military Hospital has a very good Neurosurgical facility

with Decades of experience that's something I guess she admitted even better Professor anel rter a German trauma specialist and neurologist was in the hospital giving a talk on cranioplasty post severe damage he scrubbed in for Sam's operation the upshot is Sam was getting literally the best surgical Treatment available in the world Today Amira Drew in a breath whatever happens we won't have to second guess if this had happened somewhere else perhaps he would have gotten lesser treatment and had a different outcome agreed Tom's brows remain knitted in a worried frown as he turned to face

her is there anything I can do for you Amira she shook her head no I don't need anything I just want to see Sam I Understand he replied together they waited in silence an hour maybe two pass the double doors opened she looked up and saw an older man with silver hair neatly combed back with intelligent blue eyes magnified slightly by his wire rimmed glasses the man was dressed in a tailored navy suit with a white lab coat thrown over it he was carrying a leather case over his shoulder it seemed slightly out of place

more like the sort of thing a Junior doctor might carry around or a medical student his gaze caught sight of Tom and Amira thought she saw a flicker of recognition his eyes then turned to her he met her with a kind smile full of warmth and she wondered how many times he had had this very conversation with other relatives before he said are you Amir Idris yes she said standing up to meet him he drew a breath I'm Professor Ansel RoR I operated on Sam Riley Amira watched him but he said nothing more like he

was waiting for her to speak first she took the hint and simply said Thank You professor you're welcome RoR spread his arm gesturing toward the double doors to the ICU if you would both like to come with me you can see your friend I'll talk you through the operation and likely outcomes there you're welcome RoR spread his arm gesturing toward the double doors to the ICU if you would both like to come with me you can see your friend I'll talk you through the operation and likely outcomes there chapter 35 Tom followed the professor and

Amira into the ICU he wished the man could have simply told them Sam was okay or not okay he never knew why surgeons and doctors made you wait as if they had to build up the tension and prepare you for the news Good or bad the three of them walked past the nursing station where a receptionist was typing and two nurses were sitting down currently writing clinical notes there was a digital whiteboard with the various patients names reasoned for their ICU admission treating teams and bed number it identified the entire Ward held 42 patients his

mind strangely drifted to the meaning of life from that book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams it seemed fitting that the answer 42 was found in an intensive care unit that specialized in traumatic head and Ballistic injuries the professor LED them into a private room Tom's heart sank as he stepped into the brightly lit ICU his eyes immediately drawn to the figure on the bed Sam lay there almost unrecognizable his face was swollen a modled array of bruising around his eyes giving him a Ghostly battered appearance the back of his head was

completely bandaged with a clear tube emerging from beneath the gauze draining fluid from his skull Tom's gaze shifted to the array of medical equipment surrounding the bed monitors displayed Sam's Vital Signs and intracranial pressure the screens carried on in a constant dance of lines and numbers along with emitting a cacophony of beeps and hums the meaning of these displays were a mystery to Tom Adding to his growing anxiety Sam was unconscious his chest was rising and falling in a Mechanical Rhythm due to a hose protruding from his throat which was connected to a ventilator Professor

RoR standing beside the bed explained Softly sat tube is called an andr tral tube and is breathing for him for now we have him in an anesthetically induced coma to give his brain the best chance to heal Tom swallowed hard his eyes never Leaving Sam's face the man who had always seemed Invincible now lay utterly vulnerable his life sustained by a web of Technology r calm steady voice continued to explain the situation but Tom found it hard to focus his mind reeling with concern and the Stark reality of his friend's condition Amira recovered quicker she

moved in and squeezed Sam's hand she gently brought it to her mouth and Kissed his palm I'm here Sam whatever you're going through right now know that I'll be here with you it was simple poignant and identified her love for him Tom pressed his lips together helping him to hold back the tears blurring his vision he turned to the surgeon is he going to be okay doc we'll have to wait until we take him off anesthetically induced coma and he Wakes up to really see amir's face was unreadable fixed on Sam's face and not not

on the surgeon Tom said what's your guess at this stage the professor said it appears the aluminum dive tank crushed parts of both his occipital and parietal bones of the skull but amazingly didn't seem to damage or at least cause significant damage to any part of his brain there's some swelling here which is normal and to be expected But I don't think we will find much in Z of lasting deficits what are you saying Tom asked wanting to hear a more definitive answer he's going to be okay the professor pursed his lips the fractures to

the skull actually saved his life really yes ordinarily in these types of injuries there are problems because any bleeding or swelling in the brain has nowhere to go the skull is called a Cranial Vault meaning that nothing gets in or out when this sort of traumatic event happens the brain can swell but has nowhere to expand without intervention the brain can be crushed but this didn't happen to Sam no the professor seemed pleased Sam got very lucky in Sam's case his fractured cranial bone saved his life Tom looked at the professor begging for some sort

of confirmation to hold on to so he's going to be Okay the professor frowned we'll have to wait and see but I think so the emotional damn burst and tears cascaded down Tom's face thank you the professor went on to explain what he'd found during surgery Tom tried to listen to the Drone of medical jargon but it was as though he was hearing from a distance his Focus drifting in and out the surgeon had clamped a small bleed on his brain and somewhere Sam would need a Form of cranioplasty in a week or so after

the swelling in his brain subsided Amira picked up on that and asked what sort of cranial plasty are we talking about here the professor nodded he opened up his leather satchel and retrieved a plastic skull from inside he placed it on a table at the end of the bed then pointed to the back where Sam skull had been damaged all of this bone was split into So many pieces it would be impossible for it to go back together what happened to those pieces zor moved entirely okay Amira took a moment to accept that apologetically she

said go on Professor he retrieved a small piece of titanium this is a cranioplasty mold historically they have been made out of everything from gold to Ceramics dating back to the Egyptian pharaohs but this Is what I use in all my patients it's light and easy to work with extremely strong much stronger than bone in fact if he had this done previously he probably wouldn't have needed to come to hospital after his Clash Vista an aluminum dive tank the professor said the last part with expert interest as though he was going to make a real

Improvement on Sam's original skull then he continued titanium is good because it forms an Impenetrable seal protecting the cranial Vault from bacteria or viruses while providing excellent structural protection and low heat transference heat transference Tom asked it has to do with theal conductivity right Tom said still not following the professor said pure titanium has the seral conductivity of 17 VTS per meter Kelvin which is a quarter of that of iron and a 23 of copper Tom frowned in English Doc in the older days when people used iron for this sort of thing patients would often

complain about headaches as their cranial plasty got hot or cold depending on of eer in the case of titanium this won't be a problem right Tom said wondering why the professor needed to go into lecturing to fellow doctor details instead of simply telling him Sam would now have a titanium shield in his skull the surgeon finished by explaining That in a few days time they would wake Sam check that his brain function was normal and then operate on him to insert the titanium cranial plasty when the professor was finished and he and Amir had discussed

a few more things about recovery times and whatnot he went to leave Amir and Tom were welcome to stay as long as they liked Amira sat down dutifully getting comfortable as though she wasn't moving until Sam was Awake Tom followed the surgeon outside the room he caught him and asked is there anything you saw from Sam injuries that might help us find who did this the professor gave him a puzzled look that's really more for the police I'm afraid Tom pressed his lips together anything at all that might help the professor paused appearing to genuinely

think about the question and not dismiss it out of Hand just one thing I can say go on whoever did this he frowned hesitated I mean the person who was able to use S dive tank this such Force to damage the cranial Vault like that the surgeon drew a breath his eyes twitching as though the cognitive machine behind them was Computing some sort of complex equation he Shrugged what Tom persisted the professor Said he'd have to be V hell of a big guy chapter 36 one week later Sam's eyelids felt like they were lined with

lead he was in that surreal limbo between sleep and Consciousness where he could make out voices he could recognize but wasn't quite awake enough to talk back to them the sounds seemed to come and go sometimes he was more aware of them at other times he simply heard voices with no Meaning finally he opened his eyes a dull throbbing pain resonated through his skull his surroundings were blurry at first the sterile whiteness of the hospital room gradually sharpening into Focus the soft hum of medical equipment provided a constant mechanical soundtrack to his Awakening he tried

to move but found his body sluggish and uncooperative the scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils mingling with the Faint Aroma of fresh flowers from a nearby table he managed to turn his head slightly his gaze landing on the two familiar faces seated anxiously by his bedside Tom's rugged worry lined face broke into a smile hey buddy welcome back he said his voice a mixture of relief and warmth Amira her eyes glistening with unshed tears threw her arms around him holding him tight Sam thought it's nice to see you Too Sam's mouth was dry and he

struggled to find his voice Tom Amira he managed to croak his throat feeling raw and unused the effort exhausted him and he sank back against the pillows closing his eyes for a moment to steady himself sometime later he heard Tom's voice again you had us worried Sam smiled oh yeah why is that he listened to the familiar sound of Tom's baritone Laugh it's a bit of a story what happened Sam asked my head hurts like hell yeah the surgeon said that would probably happen Sam tried to Blink away the fog in his memory he frowned

and said surgeon memory loss this can't be good Sam blinked his vision clearing further the sterile impersonal environment of the hospital room was softened by their presence machines be Beeped steadily arhythmic guarantee that he was still alive still fighting how long he asked the words coming out slowly each one and effort a week Tom replied 5 days in an induced coma to let your brain settle and two days for the drugs to leave your system Sam nodded weakly the information slowly sinking in with dribs and drabs five days of Oblivion and a Further two days

of drifting in and out of Consciousness he looked at Amira her deep brown eyes pooled with water and euphoric Joy did she think I would die he wondered am miror I sh she interrupted placing a finger gently on his lips don't try to talk too much just rest we're here and that's all that matters he closed his eyes again exhaustion pulling at him the pain the Uncertainty the sterile surroundings all of it was bearable with Tom and Amira by his side their presence was a balm a promise that he was not alone in this battle

as he drifted back into a more restful sleep Sam felt a flicker of gratitude he had survived the surgery and for now that was enough perhaps a long road to recovery lay ahead but with friends like these he knew he wouldn't walk it alone maybe Tomorrow he would find out what actually happened to him chapter 37 36 hours later Tom walk watched as Sam's ocean blue eyes opened he didn't say anything Sam had gone in and out of Consciousness more times than he could remember and he'd stop getting his hopes up every time that he

would come around fully and tell him he was all right that everything was going to be okay this time Sam drew a breath opened His eyes and met Tom's gaze you're still here he said don't you have someplace better to be Tom shook his head no there really isn't anywhere else I'd rather be right now liar Sam said then with a Ry grin he said thanks Tom appreciate it you're welcome silence lingered in the room for a few minutes Tom finally broke it do you remember what happened no Sam started to shake his head then

thinking better of it he didn't Tom stepped Closer maybe don't do that you've had a serious head injury and done some damage to your skull the surgeon said he repaired it best he could but I don't know I don't think you should be moving it if you don't have to Sam asked what happened someone hit you in the back of the head with an aluminum dive tank ouch Sam grimaced I'm kind of glad I don't remember it that sounds painful yeah well you're lucky to be alive did you save my life again not really unless

You count calling for help then yes I saved your life you didn't intervene afraid not I got there a few minutes too late Sam grinned I'm alive so I'd say better late than never yeah you said that before during our dive too really Sam said I don't remember what happened it's a long story we'll get to it Tom said I don't suppose you remember who attacked you afraid not what's the last thing you do remember camels Sam drew a breath I really hate Riding camels Tom laughed but his gaze showed real concern do you remember

where we were heading yeah Petra we were searching for the person who stole the Medallion of Petra and we were on a race to find yubar that's a start Tom said do you remember diving the akaba underwater Military Museum oh I've always wanted to dive the akaba underwater Military Museum Sam Informed him do you know a friend of mine owns the local dive store ironically it's called The Camel Dive Center Tom said I I guess that's a no then Sam frowned we already dived it yeah any good absolutely definitely worth it at Sam's request Tom

pressed the motorized button on the bed to sit him up a little higher then used a pillow to help make him comfortable when you get back on your feet we'll do it again I look forward to it they sat There the silence lingering eventually Sam asked so what's the damage Tom Shrugged the surgeon says you got lucky Sam Shrugged I usually do this time was probably your closest call Tom's voice took a somber tone apparently your occipital and parietal bones in your skull got crushed that's the back of your head if you're wondering Sam grimaced

at the thought of what caused such such an injury go on it was actually good luck Probably saved your life the surgeon said Sam arched an eyebrow really yeah something to do with the skull absorbing most of the force and then giving space for the brain to swell without being constricted by a solid cranial Vault right so now I have what a giant hole in the back of my head I'll have to be extra careful from now on actually there was a leading trauma and neurosurgeon visiting the hospital at the time to give a talk

at a conference Not only did he save your life but he's performed a cranial plasty now the back of your skull is stronger and harder than ever Sam said that's great luck Tom tilted his head to the side wait till you get the bill it was probably worth it definitely worth it Sam smiled excellent it looks good too Tom suggested but a lot of hassle to get here I wasn't exactly trying for a cosmetic Improvement Sam Shrugged it Wasn't like I went out of my way to get it I know I still feel bad that

I left you alone long enough to give whoever attacked you a chance it's all right bad things happen sometimes it'll be okay yeah Tom agreed what did they make my new skull out of iron copper or Ceramics Sam asked the cranial plasty yeah titanium That's Good Sam squeezed his eyes shut thinking about that for a second good thermal Conductivity not too hot or too cold Tom suppressed a grin yeah that's what the doc said Sam smiled do you know the Incas used to use gold and silver in cranial plasty dating back more than 2500 Years

Tom shook his head I didn't know that it's true but the Egyptians were into cranial plasty even earlier some archaeological evidence suggests as early as 7,000 years ago a process called cranial trepanation they would drill a hole in the skull after trauma And release the pressure afterward they would fill the round hole with a piece of obsidian I don't suppose any of the patients lived you would be surprised it was usually a one-off operation but a small percentage of the Trane skulls had undergone more than one surgery and survived each time as per evidence of

bone repair the ancient Egyptian surgeons were the best in the world at The time Tom opened his mouth to ask a question but by now Sam was on a roll with his history lesson and he closed it again happy just to hear Sam talk Sam said in World War II tantalum was widely used but was soon abandoned after the war due to its high price and difficulty to obtain it also has high thermal conduction which would make it a nightmare whenever it got hot or cold indeed Tom replied A amused smile Planted across his face

Sam paused what Tom grinned it's good to see that aluminum tank didn't do any lasting damage to your memory or your personality leave it to you to be thinking about what was used by the ancient Incas Egyptians in World War I surgeons at this point Professor anel RoR stepped into the room he greeted Sam warmly and appeared delighted to see him talking animatedly about history Tom let them talk for some time with the Professor going through a series of tests designed to determine Sam's current cognitive function afterward Sam asked how long before I can return

to normal the professor said it's hard to say everyone's different want to have a guess not really please Sam said I won't hold you to it we're here to track a very specific archaeological movement that occurs during the winter solstice I would hate to miss It the surgeon thought about that for a few moments how far away is that three months to Tom corrected him it should be fine realistically your brain got off lightly you can leave the hospital in two weeks if all your observations are within normal parameters that would put you in some

sort of extraord ordinary category for recovery after such a serious head injury but I think you just got Lucky the surgeon glanced at the chart as though that might have something to do with his future then he said all in all you should be right to gradually increase your activities until you're ready to go back to everything within 6 to 8 weeks was there anything in particular you want to do yeah how long until I can go scuba diving the surgeon laughed he seemed to think Sam was joking then realized he wasn't and said oh

you're serious diving Into an environment where your body must cope this increased pressure maybe hold off on that as long as you can how long Sam persisted hard to say but I wouldn't even consider it for 6 to 8 we weeks by then the wounds will have all healed so you're not at risk of infection the cranioplasty will have had time to fuse properly Vis your skull the surgeon Shrugged ordinarily I would say give it a year but with your injury your brain was never damaged just that Shield Called your skull truth is this that

titanium in your head you're probably safer now Z you've ever been chapter 38 geodesic dome desert near Petra Amira would have preferred to spend all her time in the hospital with Sam but he wouldn't hear of it elely was working on her laptop managing and reviewing the 24-hour surveillance program who had taken to having da walks Through Petra searching for anyone who might have been responsible for Sam's attack or failing that anyone dumb enough to pick a fight with him he needed to bleed off some of the tension he'd been building up in the only

way he knew how Genevie stepped into the room Amira glanced at her are you busy geneveve shook her head not really just killing time why can you please teach me to Shoot I thought you already knew how to use a firearm I can I mean I've used a gun before but no I don't really know how to shoot accurately Sam says you're the best shot and equally deadliest person he's ever met I need to learn to hit what I'm aiming at like you why geneveve asked her mischievous blue eyes revealing a tone of curiosity more

than accusation is it because Sam got Attacked no Amir thought about that for a few seconds her head tilted as she was pondering the question maybe a little but it's not about Sam what happened to Sam just reinforced my decision and what decision is that amir's lips formed a persistent and willful line I'm going to find The Relic Hunter and when I do I'm going to put a bullet in her head chapter 39 Amira and Genevie stood side by side in a secluded part of the desert far enough from their campsite near Petra to avoid

drawing attention the sun hung low in the sky casting Long Shadows and cooling the air Genevie had had set up a series of targets empty cans and makeshift bullseyes made from cardboard boxes arranged at varying distances Amira's deep brown eyes usually full of warmth and interest were now sharp with purpose she wore her Usual lightweight long sleeve shirt and cargo pants her curly black hair tied back to keep it from her face she wanted to be ready to become an expert markswoman and to track down and kill the Relic Hunter who was responsible for her

husband's death Genevie her short dark hair framing her Elfin face adjusted her stance and checked the firearm Amira had chosen to become proficient in a Glock 19 it was accurate reliable and not Overly powerful making it an ideal choice for someone looking to hone their shooting skills all right Amira began her blue eyes focused and calm the first thing you need to know is that shooting is as much about mental discipline as it is about physical skill take a deep breath and clear your mind Amira nodded taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly

she watched as Genevie demonstrated the proper stance Feet shoulder width apart body slightly leaning forward you want to be stable but flexible Genevie explained hold the gun firmly but don't grip it too tight it should feel like a natural extension of your arm Amira mirrored Genevie stance feeling the weight of the Glock in her hands it felt foreign yet empowering she adjusted her grip as geneveve guided her hands into the Correct position good now focus on the front sight Genevie instructed pointing to the small post at the end of the barrel align it with the

Target and keep your eyes on it the rear sight should be blurred your aim is to keep that front sight steady taking a deep breath Amira aimed at the nearest Target a tin can perched on a rock about 10 ft away she felt the cool metal of the trigger under her Finger her heart beating a steady rhythm in her chest when you're ready gently squeeze the trigger Genevie said softly her voice steady and reassuring don't jerk it let the shot surprise you Amira exhaled and pulled the trigger four times the first shot hit the can

the next three went High disappearing in the distance Genevie smiled you are seriously pissed off aren't you Amira a Little she admitted don't shoot angry but I am angry of course you are but when the time comes your inner rage won't help you hit the Relic hunter that kind of Fury will only lead you to miss and get yourself killed being proficient with a Glock as with any weapon requires a certain level of mental discipline it's every bit as important as physical right so what are you recommending that I dedicate some time to Yoga Genevie

thought about that for a second actually it wouldn't hurt any form of meditation will help you hit the target talk to who about it he meditates every day and you should see him fight okay I will Amira said now teach me to shoot try to gently squeeze the trigger instead of pulling at it and one shot at a time is all you can ever take when can I start taking more than one never you only ever fire one shot Hit the target then fire a new shot no matter which way you do it you're still

only ever shooting one shot at a time what if I get a machine gun or a submachine gun then I hope you're planning on carrying a hell of a lot of rounds Amir said doesn't Elise carry an Uzi yeah but that's her choice yet even then it's rare that she simply opens it up generally she's shooting short bursts but with a pistol it's one shot At a time always Genevie Shrugged well only if you really want to hit the targets okay now try again Amira exhaled slowly and squeezed the trigger the gun recoiled slightly in

her hands and the shot rang out echoing across the desert the tin can wobbled but remained standing Amira frowned a mix of frustration and stubborn grit in her expression not bad Genevie said with an encouraging smile let's try again Remember it's about consistency take your time they spent the next hour repeating the process geneveve offering tips and corrections as Air's aim steadily improved each shot brought a bit more confidence a bit more Precision amir's Focus was unwavering a resolve to master the skill evident in every movement all right now let's move on to some of

the farther targets Genevie said Pointing to a cardboard box set up about 20 yard away same principles apply take your time and trust your training right feeling a surge of competence Amira took aim focusing on the front sight and aligning it with a distant Target her breaths were steady her mind clear she squeezed the trigger and this time the bullet hit the Box dead center a triumphant smile spread across Some Mira's face as she lowered the gun Genevie clapped her on the shoulder well done you're getting the hang of it what do you think geneveve

smiled I think the Relic Hunter won't know what hit her chapter 40 Pax West was enjoying himself he stroe through Petra with purposeful strides his towering figure casting a long Shadow against The sunlit Rock the Grandeur of the rose red City surrounded Him its intricate carvings and Monumental structures Whispering Tales of a bygone era in his hand he carried a state-of-the-art ground penetrating radar device the gssi seir 4000 capable of viewing up to 12 ft into the soft Sandstone his green eyes scanned the landsc Cape searching for clues that lay hidden beneath the surface he

approached the First wall an imposing structure that had withstood the test of time then He placed the gssi seir 4000 against its weathered face the device hummed Softly As it sent electromagnetic waves deep into the Rock revealing a hidden world beneath the screen lit up with a telltale signs of a buried canal pax's heart quickened as he made a note of its location in his journal his handwriting neat and precise despite the excitement coursing through him he continued his exploration moving from one wall to another each time uncovering More of the naian ingenious water management

system as he approached a particularly large yet unassuming wall Pax felt a thrill of anticipation he placed the G SSI sear 4000 against it and the device once again came to life this time the radar revealed a series of interconnected dams each meticulously constructed to control the flow of water through the city pax's eyes widened in admiration at The sophistication of ancient engineering he spent hours carefully mapping out the network his mind piecing together the intricate puzzle of Petra's water system system with each new discovery he felt a deeper connection to the inhabitants who had

built this Marvel they had not only created a city of stunning Beauty but also a masterpiece of practical design a place to ensure their survival in the harsh desert Environment as the sun dipped lower in the sky casting Long Shadows across the Sandstone Cliffs Pax took a moment to stand back and admire his work his journal was filled with notes and diagrams each one detailing the Ingenuity of the naans he knew that his findings would add a new chapter to the understanding of Petra revealing secrets that had been buried for Millennia with a sense of

satisfaction Pax packed up the gssi Seer 4000 and began the track back to his base camp Petra had given up some of its Secrets but there was still much more to uncover and less and less time each day to do so Pax marveled at the data displayed on the screen of the gssi Seer 4000 each scan brought more evidence of a hidden and intricate web of canals dams and Gates these long dead people were not just skilled Architects but master hydrologists and Engineers he noted how the canals ran beneath the city surface strategically place to

divert water away from vulnerable areas during floods the series of dams were designed to ensure that even the heaviest rains would not overwhelm the city these dams acted as Guardians their Gates opening and closing to direct the water into reservoirs and storage areas ensuring a steady supply for the city's needs pxs had uncovered a sophisticated System capable of shifting large amounts of water around the city using gravity and carefully planned gradients to their advantage the canals were not merely for immediate use but were also designed to fill hidden reservoirs storing precious water for future irrigation

and consumption he could Envision how during a sudden downpour the gates would be lifted and the canals would spring to life channeling water through the city like veins delivering life sustaining Blood the dams would hold back the torrent releasing it in controlled measures to prevent erosion and flooding while underground storage ensured that the water could be used during the dry season the Precision of the engineering was astounding each element of the system was designed with foresight and an understanding of the natural landscape the canals were lined with materials that minimized ized leakage And the dams

were constructed with durable materials to withstand the test of time and the elements the naans had transformed Petra into a thriving Oasis a feat that required not only Advanced engineering skills but also a profound respect for and knowledge of their natural surroundings Pax knew his discoveries would shed new light highlighting the naans as one of the ancient world's greatest Civilizations he made his way back out from the seek and began to walk along the Wy room 15 minutes later he reached the parked bulldozzer the machine a caterpillar d8t stood out starkly against the rugged landscape

with its imposing presence he climbed up into the heavy machine's cabin it was time to go to work chapter 41 Prince Hashem bin Abdullah Military Hospital Sam had conflicting feelings as He stepped into the hospital within which he had spent so much pain confusion and fog brain time it had been only 6 weeks since a team of medical professionals had saved his life despite the severity of his injuries he felt pretty good Professor anel RoR had returned to his usual post of director of neurosurgery in karita universitat medine Berlin leaving Sam in the care of

the hospital's neuro Rehabilitation Unit led by Dr aan sulan the team were happy with his progress and confident he had no neurological side effects from the trauma to his brain the sutures to his head wound had healed well and his hair was was well on its way to regrow concealing his injury he had no neurological deficits had regained his full cognitive function although no memory of the day of the attack or even the few days earlier he Didn't suffer from headaches or seizures and had taken long hikes around akaba each day along with gym sessions

to slowly regain his strength for those who didn't know him within another month or two it would be nearly impossible to tell he'd had a major head injury much less a titanium skull this was Sam's last checkup at the hospital and he'd promised to visit professor anel rer in six months time to let him know how he had gotten On at the end of his visit Dr sulan the head of Rehabilitation approached him to wish him luck he stood before Sam a tall middle-aged man His Kind Dem meaner and Innovative approach to Patient recovery and

earned him a stellar reputation in Jordan they chatted for a few minutes and then Dr sulan said there's a man in bed 24 on level six who wants to see you another patient Sam's heart lurched his thoughts instantly feared that Tom or who had been Attacked yes recently transferred here from the United States really said Sam's face took on a puzzled smile who Dr sulan said I'll let you see for yourself Sam thanked him and went to find the mysterious patient he took the elevator up to the sixth floor the doors opened his eyes landed

on the sign at the entrance to the ward it read pallative care Sam found room 24 and knocked a somewhat familiar voice Answered come here Sam stepped inside hello Sam came a voice from his past and the last person he had expected to see Sam stared and felt sadness and gratitude he said it's been a long time so it has agreed Colonel Harrison former US Navy SEAL turned US Army retired chapter 42 Colonel William Harrison wearing sleepwear must have risen from his bed to greet his visitor his once formidable Frame was now noticeably diminished despite

the ravages of cancer he walked over to Sam with a military stride refusing to let the disease Rob him of his dignity he held out his hand Sam felt a lump form in his throat as he reached out and clasped the old older man's hand feeling the cool papery skin beneath his fingers the grip was weak but the connection was strong a silent exchange of respect and gratitude Colonel Sam greeted him the Colonel offered a small weary smile Sam he replied his voice a soft rasp yet carrying the same commanding presence I couldn't stay away

Sam took in the sight of the man who had once been an indomitable force in his life Colonel William Harrison was a shadow of his former self the strong commanding presence that had once LED Elite teams through some of the most dangerous missions was reduced to fragility ravaged by the Relentless Advance of cancer the Colonel's skin was palid and his cheeks were sunken shoulders back his posture upright was evidence of the strength that had always defined him despite his condition Harrison's gaze was steady as it caught and held Sam saw no fear only a quiet

acceptance he said if you'll excuse me I prefer to sit down Sam gave a wooden smile of course Sam watched as Harrison lowered Himself into the chair beside the bed the effort it took evident in the slight Tremor of his hands despite his condition there was a dignity in his movements a refusal to let his illness Define him Sam walked closer noticing the thinning gray hair that framed his face nothing like the thick dark hair he remembered from their days in the field the Colonel's breathing was labored he struggled with each rise and fall of

his chest The lines etched into his face told a story of a life lived on the edge of battles fought and won and of the final unwinable battle he now faced Sam met his old Commander stey gaze what are you doing here sir I heard you were causing trouble again Harrison said a hint of humor in his voice Sam chuckled the sound bittersweet you know me sir can't seem to stay out of it silence lingered for a few moments Then Sam broke it why are you here sir I didn't have anywhere else to be shouldn't

you be resting in a hospital Stateside why Harrison gave him a Ry grin that's what sick people do to get better I'm not going to get better it's terminal and that's okay you don't have family you want to share time with he shook his head Emily my wife died God Rest her Kind soul a couple of years after we were married we never had children and I never remarried Sam looked at him were you ever tempted tempted yes Harrison answered but I never found anyone who could live up to what I had with Emily and

it just didn't seem fair on any other woman to try do you get that sometimes Sam Shrugged yet when things have been Amazing it's impossible to recreate that experience memories lie to us too things were never as good or as bad as we remember them maybe Harrison agreed even so the point moot now okay so no family don't people make bucket lists or something at these times no bucket list Harrison said I don't have anything I've been waiting to do in my life the gulf taught me not to wait if you have a burning desire

to achieve Something do something or try something people should go out and do it then don't wait until you've got two feet in the grave before giving it a go Sam gave him a bemused half grin that seems fair so what brings you to aaba I've decided I want to see yubar I thought you weren't even convinced it exists I wasn't Harrison said that was until I heard someone made an attempt on Your life then I knew it must be real or at least whoever Stole The Medallion sure as heck believe so Sam spread his

hands I hate to tell you this but it's not the first time someone's made an attempt on my life you don't think it's connected no it probably is Sam pressed his lips together I just felt it's important to give you an unbiased opinion of the facts thank you so how much time have You got not much doctors don't seem to be any clearer when they're dealing with a certainty of death some tell me I have six weeks others tell me I'll be lucky to make one what do you think you have Sam asked Harrison looked

at him Defiance blazing in his Steely gaze I don't like to give up dying of cancer isn't giving up it's recognition of The Facts of Life but I'll tell you One thing now that I've decided to hang around long enough to find yubar that's what I sure as hell intend to do I'll rest here my doctor back home is already leased with the paliative care team here when you find yubar they've agreed to give me a concoction of amphetamines and steroids they won't prolong my life but they might just give me the energy I'll need

to reach it you in Deal Sam grinned it's winter soltice in 4 days he locked eyes on his old Commanding officer who was grinning back at him I'll let you know when I found yubar chapter 43 Wy room Pax drove the bulldozzer across the EXP the fine dust of his passing hung thick in the still air the soil of the desert was strange stuff once the thin surface turf was broken it became a track of fine powder or sand the machine rumbled along beneath him as it pushed through the desert the Sun hung high in

the sky casting sharp shadows and making the air Shimmer with heat pax's hands gripped the the controls his mind focused on the task at hand yet his thoughts occasionally drifted to the sound of gunfire that had become a daily occurrence over the past few weeks He adjusted the bulldozer path and his Keen eyes caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance there she was again the woman who had become a fixture in his Routine she stood with a rifle in her hands her stance strong and determined as she aimed at a Target set against

a rocky outcrop even from a distance Pax could see her striking Beauty her brown skin glowed under the harsh sunlight and her wild mass of curly black hair framed her face like a Halo of Untamed Beauty her high cheekbones and full lips gave her an Air of Elegance while her Soulful brown eyes burned with a fierce Intensity today as always she looked both both stunning and Furious a potent combination that made it impossible for PA to look away he watched as she took aim and fired the sharp crack of the rifle echoing through the desert

her movements were fluid almost graceful despite the raw power of each shot Pax had heard her shots every day a constant reminder of her presence and her Mission he didn't know what drove Her but he could sense a deep unrelenting purpose behind her actions his eyes narrowed as he observed her trying to decipher the Enigma that was this mysterious woman there was something about her that stirred both admiration and curiosity within him she was clearly skilled her Marksmanship hon to Perfection but there was also a bitter undercurrent of anger that set her apart Pax pulled

the bulldozer to a halt turning off the engine to better Hear the rhythmic sound of her shooting he leaned against the metal frame of the machine his gaze fixed on her as she reloaded her rifle with practiced ease her every movement was precise a display of dedication and training for a moment Pax allowed himself to wonder about the source of her rage what had driven her to this desolate place and what demons were she trying to exercise with each squeeze of The trigger he knew better than to approach her sensing that Solitude was a part

of her process but he couldn't help but feel a connection to her struggle as he watched her fire another shot hitting her Target with uniring accuracy Pax felt a newfound respect for the woman in the desert she was a warrior in her own right a force to be reckoned with and he could couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were destined to cross in a meaningful Way with a sigh pack started the bulldozer engine once more the rumble filling the silence left in the wake of the gunfire he resumed his work but his thoughts remained

with the beautiful and angry woman who had become an unexpected part of his desert landscape who was she and what was she doing here in Petra chapter 44 Elise shivered from the sudden change In temperature a common misconception about the Middle East was that it was always hot dry and sunny while that may be the case in summer she was quickly learning that Jordan does have a winter season it had been slow to hit but as December moved along she had noticed Petra beginning to receive a great deal of cold and cloudy days along with

rain and even snow sleet and hail the Temperature hovered in the low 30s in Fahrenheit and dropped to below freezing at night although she hadn't seen any signs of it the locals were adamant that flash floods were common in Petra at this time of the year it wasn't this that bothered her in truth it wasn't any particular threat that bothered her at all it was was the fact that Elise was bored there had been no sign of the big guy who had appeared with the wanted Poster with Sam's name on it and the price of

the reward with the single line chilled her dead or alive three days ago she'd caught her first break her surveillance program had spotted an image of the very man walking into the W room the time stamp had been an hour earlier and so she quick brought up the manual controls to a drone maneuvering above the W room she gave a quick search but he was gone Elise made a mental note to review the earlier Footage and see where he'd been and more importantly where he might be heading that was a week ago and since then

there had been no sign of him had he disappeared and left Petra entirely Amira grabbed a thick Woolen jacket she picked up her Glock ready to go out into the desert and get in some shooting practice she was keeping up the routine with dogged consistency Elise smiled at her enjoy your target practice thanks Amira Replied stepping close to her what are you doing not much Elise frowned to be honest with nothing happening I'm going a little stir crazy hands on her hips Amira regarded her when we first got here you set up an AI program

to search for anyone with the Medallion of Petra or signs of Performing military style reconnaissance and so on that's right among other things why Amir glanced at her multiple computer monitors each displaying Various fixed and dynamic views of Petra any chance you could use that program to find someone else I mean someone not in Petra you want me to find the Relic Hunter Elise asked quick on the uptake is it possible maybe maybe not we don't have a lot to go on could your AI program search the internet for signs of her it's possible the

hard part will be sifting through the thousands of other legitimate Relic Hunters to do so the trick will be finding someone who Operates illegally how would you do that I'd have to search for her digital footprints on the dark web Elise thought about it for a few seconds it would have to be a major Data Mining and machine learning operation but it could be done how I have my waist Amira smirked then pressed her such as i' analyze large data sets from the dark web identify patterns or anomalies that Could lead to the Relic Hunter

something relating to her might have been left on the dark web forums marketplaces or chat rooms I need to find some sort of pattern in the way the Relic Hunter communicates the type of artifacts being sold and the timing of sales how hard would that be Elise Shrugged it's possible but it would take time there's a lot of data to search for I can crawl the dark net in the same way Google and other search engines vacuum Up the data on the internet there instead of hiding people are doing their best to be seen everyone

wants to be famous these days Amir said is that the only way Alise shook her head and enjoying amir's kniv T there's plenty of other options for example I can do a sort of network analyses to map out the connections between various dark web users and identify potential Associates or intermediaries of The Relic Hunter this Could help me narrow down the search and focus on a smaller group of suspects interesting Amira said her eyes flashing an intriguing blend of casual interest and Malice elely opened a secure connection to the dark net and began running just

such a program as she talked to Amira feeling happy to have the distraction I'm setting up a program called cryptocurrency tracking she opened the program clicked a series of Parameters and hit run since transactions on the dark web are often conducted using cryptocurrencies I'm going to try and track the flow of funds associated with The Relic Hunter sales how can you do that Amir asked I mean you don't even know who she is yet that's a good question this will have to be synchronized with some of these other data mining programs together there will be

some matches and it will start to Narrow the field bit by bit by analyzing blockchain data I might be able to trace the movement of cryptocurrencies and uncover The Relic Hunter's wallet addresses any other magic tricks in there Amir asked her face impressed and animated I'll set up a series of honeypots and decoys they might be a long shot but she must sell her stuff somehow honey pots and decoys Amir asked uh-huh honey pots or decoys can be Used to lure The Relic Hunter into a trap for example I could pose as a buyer interested

in purchasing archaeological findes and Engage The Relic hunter in a transaction to gather more information about their identity and operations Amir picked up a bag full of 9mm parabellums for the Glock okay thanks Elise no problem Amira paused at the door to the tent if this does work how long do you think It will take I can't say how long it will take Elise admitted then with a grin she said but I can tell you I will find The Relic Hunter chapter 45 Pax brought the bulldozer to a stop he pulled the park brake and

switched the engine to off a moment later he heard the report of a gunshot his eyes stared at the beautiful woman in the distance she took another few shots quickly emptying her magazine 19 rounds to be exact by the sounds of things most likely a Glock 19 but could have been a czp10f or even a Beretta with special purpose 19 round magazine Pax smiled she seemed to be getting better still still shooting angry pulling the trigger with an angry jerk as though she could imagine the man's head literally being blown off with each shot and

that's not a sexist thing either more it was unlikely Pax Thought more it was unlikely Pax thought that she was that angry with another woman but who knew he thought about starting the bulldozer again but he didn't have anywhere to be and she' peaked his curiosity he would have left her to herself if he wasn't a little bored besides she was a strikingly beautiful woman and he was curious what had happened to make her so mad more of a curiosity thing rather than lust he Didn't have time for romance or any interest in starting a

romantic Endeavor with a pretty girl right now especially one is incensed with rage as this one seemed to be not because she was lovely although she was definitely that but because he was bored and there was something about her that piqued his curiosity what drove a woman like her to practice so much to fire endless rounds down range it was that question that made him Do something stupid he clambered down from the bulldozzer and walked toward the woman with the gun at 50 ft he shouted out to her hello there she was wearing a pair

of Shooters ear muffs and didn't hear him he stepped forward but didn't get too close it was always dangerous startling a person with a gun especially someone as mad as she was instead he waited and watched her for a few minutes a backpack rested on a nearby Rock upon which lay a thick Woolen jacket he'd guessed she'd removed it as she'd warmed up shooting his eyes swept across the makeshift shooting range back toward the woman she wore a fitted black tank top that accentuated her slender athletic build and a pair of rugged khaki cargo pants

which allowed for easy movement her boots were sturdy well worn and covered in a fine layer of dust from the desert floor her weapon was a Glock 19 black boxy with a dull polycarbonate Sheen her wild mass of Curly black hair was tied back in a high ponytail and her face she really was something so Brown sweat glistened on her skin as she stared with unwavering Focus her grit and tenacity were sexy as hell as she took a deep breath her chest heaved what a figure she planted her feet in a shooter stance shoulder width

apart relaxed and aimed with a well practiced fluidity of movements she squeezed the trigger the sharp crack of the round echoed through The desert and the target responded with a satisfying thud her first shot landed true the second third and subsequent ones tended to drift high it was a common mistake even back home in the USA Pax felt that Civilian Marksmanship was appalling for a nation obsessed with guns the woman kept shooting each one was Rising a little higher than the last if they had been traced she would have stitched a near vertical Line the

woman fired her last shot quickly removing her empty magazine inserting a full one she turned around as if suddenly aware of her surroundings and looked at him blinked with surprise some sort of emotion pasted her eyes not anger not fear curiosity then again maybe it was fear she glared at him defiantly who are you my name is PAX he said he didn't ask her name and she didn't offer it she gave him a ruul grin as in peace yeah the Name doesn't suit you he Shrugged there are some things in life we don't get to

choose you look like a killer what's a killer supposed to look like he asked a curious expression on his face I mean with all due respect ma'am I'm not the one coming out here to shoot every day why are you here she asked her tone dangerous he spread his hands showing that he was unarmed I'm not going to hurt you I just came to say hi her eyes flashed with irritation she Suppressed it and set up another set of cans to shoot for the record I'm not afraid of you I didn't think you were Pax

replied A bemused smile on his lips I was just letting you know I'm not going to try and sell you anything or convert you to some ancient belief system it's just that I've been camping out here myself for the past few weeks and couldn't help but notice how much time you've been spending Practicing she turned to face him the Glock in her hand you've been stalking me no he repudiated that concept immediately I just keep a fairly mindful interest in the exact location of someone firing hundreds of rounds you know just so I don't get

killed so what do you want nothing just peace like the name says I still don't believe it's your real name okay PEC said she didn't believe him and he didn't want to waste his Breath trying to persuade her you want me to stop shooting she asked is that it no I'm happy with the background noise it's not like you're doing it at night and keeping me from sleeping sing Pac smiled I just wanted to offer some tips her eyebrows lifted and her expression flashed with interest her lovely face so alive and animated seemed to be

trying to make sense of him she looked wary Pac said I really don't mean You any harm I'm not afraid of you she reiterated although her voice was less certain then as if to prove the point she said I'm the one holding the gun remember Pax nodded right you're the one holding the gun he smiled and wondered what she would think if only she knew how little that Glock would do to protect her from him if he'd had any intention to hurt her her eyes drifted between him and the bulldozzer what are You doing out

here anyway Pax tilted his head making an obvious movement toward the bulldozzer then when she didn't seem to catch on he said I'm driving a bulldozer why why not no I mean why are you driving a bulldozer are you a bulldozer driver I don't even know if that's a word either way you don't look like one Pax Shrugged and you don't look like an angry shooter and yet here you are The woman studied him you're a bulldozer driver I'm whatever I must be for whatever job takes my fancy I had some time to kill no

pun intended out here some people practice their shots others go for long strolls through the mountains and The Valleys I noticed some Road Works going on and asked for a job her doleful brown eyes narrowed you're kidding me pack Shrugged I'm not what does it pay terrible so why do you Do it because everyone has to do something he Shrugged the same reason I'm talking to you now she met his gaze suspiciously because you have time to kill yeah and because in a former life I spent some time learning to shoot that's why I thought

I'd offer to help she laughed why why not she said what do you think the likelihood is that a woman alone in the desert was going to appreciate a Stranger especially one as big as you offering to help them learn to shoot he Shrugged as though he didn't have a care in the world I can't say I've never tried before I'm not giving you my gun she said emphatically Pax spread his hands again in a gesture of Supplication I wouldn't ask you to her lips made a Ry expression and she asked okay I'll bite what

can I do to improve my shooting well he stepped forward she Lifted the Glock and aimed the barrel at him her eyes flashed with anger another step forward Pax and I'll shoot you dead with no regrets she was a passionate woman he saw now strong emotion made her eyes widen and her cheeks pink Pax took a step back any other rules before I inadvertently risk getting my head blown off no risk about it she said from this distance I'll kill you okay he said his tone less than Convincing and you don't think I can hit

you from here maybe I mean I'm a fairly big Target hard to miss really but it's unlikely you will and if you do the shot probably won't be fatal he suppressed an apologetic grin after all I've seen you shoot oh really and what's wrong with my shooting his green eyes narrowed if I tell you do you promise to not shoot me in an effort to prove me wrong she grinned Maybe okay okay what I don't think I want to take my chances perhaps it's best if I just go probably he turned around without saying goodbye

wait she said Pax turned to face her again yeah what am I doing wrong are you going to shoot me he asked his tone that of a strict parent no she licked her lips I'll try not to so what have you got for me Pac said there are four basic ways of missing with a short barreled handgun Even at close range it's easy to do you can miss high Miss low Miss left and Miss right she smiled thanks for the geometry lesson he continued without acknowledging her observation missing high is always the most likely as

you've proven time and time again the woman paused his words suddenly resonating with her how do you know P said basic laws of physics go on she said all guns kick upward as they fire Newton's third law for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction inevitably new Shooters with machine guns Stitch a vertical line that rises upward forever a classic fault training is mostly about learning to hold the muzzle down suppressors can help because of the extra weight so what do I do to circumvent them what the laws of physics what do I

do to get around them PX smiled he was enjoying himself for first you need to adjust your grip Pax Explained hold the gun as high up on the back strap as possible this reduces The Leverage that causes the muzzle to rise and remember to use both hands your dominant hand should grip the gun firmly while your support hand wraps around applying pressure from the sides keep your thumbs pointing forward along the sides of the gun she nodded adjusting her grip as he spoke your stance is also cruel Pax continued stand with your feet Shoulder width

apart and lean slightly forward this is called The isos Stance it helps to absorb The Recoil through your body action and reaction make sure your wrists are locked and your elbows are slightly bent to act as shock absorbers she tried the new stance feeling out the difference in stability by rocking back and forth now about the trigger Pac said try to squeeze it instead of pulling it I want you to do so as smoothly and Consistently as possible jerking the trigger can cause the gun to move more than it should and after you shoot maintain

your grip and stance for follow-up shots this follow-through is important is that it give it a go he stepped back watching her align the sights and fire again she fired three rounds they formed a nice tight grouping the edges of pax's lips curved upward in a warm smile well done thanks for the help she said you're Welcome my name's Amira pleased to meet you Amira her eyes narrowed tell me how did a bulldozer driver become an expert Marksman I told you before in a past life I needed to learn to do a fair bit of

it why what did you do originally Pax drew a breath wondering how far back he should go it was a long story but he decided to go with a simple truth I studied an arts degree majoring in ancient history and Languages an incredulous grin formed on her parted lips and that taught you how to shoot Pax grinned no I didn't have the money for college so I joined the Navy and ended up going through on Uncle Sam's dime are all US Sailors expert marksmen Pax Shrugged I don't know but all Navy Seals are she looked

at him not sure whether or not to believe him before returning to her practice Pax watched her for a few Minutes then said I'd better go she thanked him and waved goodbye he got back into his bulldozzer glanced at his watch and began driving toward Petra chapter 46 an alarm rang on Alisa's laptop it was using an AI program she developed herself to track multiple fixed cameras set up throughout Petra for any signs of someone using The Medallion of Petra right now it was going off her eyes widened as she glanced at the Notification one

of the 24 fixed cameras had picked up something of importance with a swift click she brought the image to the Forefront enlarging it until it filled the entire laptop monitor the screen displayed a flicker of powerful light compressed into a razor edge Alisa's heart raced as she realized what she was seeing The Medallion of Petra was active she knew that this ancient frenel lens was designed to harness the Setting Sun of the winter solstice To guide light to a very specific spot revealing the location of yubar her fingers moved quickly zooming in on the source

of the light she had expected it to come from the high place of sacrifice but the camera's view indicated otherwise instead the light was emanating from Jebel al- madah another prominent peak in Petra she focused the camera on the mountain scanning for the precise location of the beam Sam had gotten it wrong The Medallion was Designed to be used on top of Jebel al- MBA not the high place of sacrifice the user must have worked in a team with someone from the high place of sacrifice providing the precise time and a second person using The

Medallion from the top of Jebel al- MBA as she adjusted the lens the source of the light became clearer The Medallion was positioned with meticulous precision directing the powerful beam down into the valley Alisa's breath caught in her throat as She followed the trajectory of the light her eyes tracked its path narrowing in on where it landed the camera zoomed in on the impact site revealing a Sandy and Barren area beneath the beam's focus the powerful light was doing more than just Illuminating the area it was burning a direct hole in the ground the heat

was intense the transformation rapid elely watched in awe as the sand melted and fused creating a smooth Glossy surface and a deepening hole she enhanced the image trying to gather as much detail as possible the glassy patch grew larger the beam unwavering in its intensity elely leaned closer to the screen her eyes scanning the area around the beams impact the glass was spreading the sand around it continuing to melt and fuse she tried to determine the precise spot the light was meant to reveal the beam's focused intensity Suggested it was uncovering something significant either the

entrance to yubar itself or a secret map buried far below the sand the questions swirled in her mind as she continued to monitor the camera feed The Medallion beam was a Revelation a piece of the puzzle that had eluded researchers for years Elise knew she had to understand its full potential and the reason for its activation with a determined glint in Her eye she began to formulate a plan to investigate further as the camera continued to record the mesmerizing transformation of sand to Glass Elise felt a sense of urgency this discovery could change everything they

knew about Petra and the ancient Technologies it housed she couldn't wait to delve deeper to uncover the Mysteries that lay hidden beneath the shimmering surface as she adjusted the lens the source of the light became clearer The Medallion was directing the powerful beam down into the wadim muza valley near the entrance to the seik she imagined the complex ancient Medallion working as a frenel lens unlike a simpler dioptric purely refractive form of lens a frenel lens used the cad dioptric combining refraction and reflection to capture more oblique light from the light source and add it

to the beam making it more powerful the design was popular in Lighthouses which allowed the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design in theory a frenel lens could be made much thinner than a comparable conventional lens in some cases taking the form of a flat sheet a Fel lens reduced the amount of material required compared to a conventional refractor by dividing the Lens into a set of concentric annular sections an ideal frenel lens would have an

infinite number of sections in each section the overall thickness is decreased compared to an equivalent simple lens this effectively divides The Continuous surface of a standard lens into a set of surfaces of the same curvature with stepwise discontinuities between them all in total it was drawing the power of the sunlight and using it to pierce a very specific point in the Sand she picked up her sat phone and made the call Sam picked up instantly the lease we made a mistake Sam what happened winter solstice based on the natian calendar isn't tomorrow it's today and

The Medallion is being used right now where it's landing on a small opening at the end of the W room roughly 300 ft south of the seek I'll drop you a GPS pin at the exact spot Sam went quiet for a few seconds as he checked out the GPS coordinates she just sent him elely Glanced at the map on her monitor it showed the GPS location burned into the sand then Sam and Tom tracking only a few hundred feet down from it Sam said Tom and I are almost there chapter 47 Sam and Tom ran

toward the seek the sun hung low in the sky cast ing long Deep Shadows over the rugged expanse of the Wy room the heat of the day was giving way to the cooler Embrace of dusk but the sense of urgency driving Sam and Tom forward had not diminished they sprinted along the expansive Trail their breaths quick and labored sweat mingling with the dust clinging to their skin they could visibly see the intense beam of light piercing the sand up ahead there it is Sam shouted pointing to a small Al Cove nestled within the Valley's wall

the natural indentation was partially hidden shrouded by the overhanging rock formations that now glowed with the soft golden Hues of the Setting Sun the natural Al Cove was roughly twice the width of a small truck and penetrated into the Sandy rock walls some 200 F feet they reached the AL Cove just as the sun's last Rays pierced through a narrow crack in the Rocks focusing a single intense beam onto the sand below the sand hissed and popped under the concentrated heat some of it turning to Glass Before Their Eyes a moment later the beam of

light began to wne they dropped to their knees and Began digging furiously next to the molten patch their hands clawing through the hot sand the sand was scorching burning their hands but they pushed through the pain tossing aside handfuls of it with desperate speed the light faded and with it the Searing heat that had transformed the sand Sam's fingers hit something solid and smooth his hands tore across the silky texture he kept going moving more and more sand away Tom joined him and Together they uncovered a clear flat surface it was perspects anachronistically out of

place in the ancient desert landscape any chance you can find the edge Sam asked maybe we can lift it Tom ran his fingers along the top of the perspects I doubt it I can't even find an edge frustrated they began to dig around it only to discover that it extended far beyond their initial expectations Completely sealing whatever lay beneath they paused for a second and stared at the glassy material it was thick and placed over the top of more sand which appeared to cover whatever map was hidden beneath it what if we dig over there

Sam suggested beginning to Tunnel another six feet away you try six feet in the opposite direction and one of us will hopefully get lucky agreed Tom said his fingers Excavating into the soft sand like kids at the beach they Were both speeding to reach the seemingly endless bottom of the sand only instead of competing against the inevitable flood of the waves and Tides they needed to access the ancient map for yubar before whoever used The Medallion of Petra tried to locate it a couple minutes later both Sam and Tom had dug holes nearly 2 feet

deep in the sand before their progress was abruptly hindered by The Continuous sheet of Perspects Sam frowned what the hell is this Tom said looks like the ancient naans went to Great Lengths to protect whatever is down here this wasn't the naans Sam shook his head and pointed at the edge of the glass-like material this is polymethyl meth acly AKA perspects it wasn't invented until the 1920s therego someone else built this place more recently thereo someone already attempted to use The Medallion of Petra to locate the Lost City They reached this point and went to

a lot of trouble to prevent others from finding it again in the future hadn't they heard of ground penetrating radar probably not it wasn't invented until the 1970s right Tom laughed how do you remember these sorts of details Sam Shrugged I don't know historical dates and numbers just come naturally to me so we know that someone found the map sometime after after the 1920s and then covered it to prevent other people from easily finding directions why Sam grinned and more importantly if they found the map to yubar why didn't they use it that's a good

question while we're at it how are we going to get what we came here for this perspects looks thick I don't know we might need to use a drill or something a moment later a thundering Roar penetrated the rocky Crass the rumbling grew louder accompanied by the unmistakable clatter of large caterpillar tracks grinding against the rocky terrain the powerful engine growled sending vibrations through the ground beneath their feet the approaching sound grew louder Echoes bouncing off the Sandstone Cliffs creating an ominous Symphony that filled the narrow passage Tom said said any idea what that might

be Tom swallowed hard if I had to guess I'd say someone's Brought a battle tank chapter 48 it was too late to extricate themselves from the AL Cove the tank was nearly upon them Sam exchanged a glance with Tom there's no way of getting out of here we'll have to hide Tom eyes reached a small ledge on a crevice in the rock face there Sam tracked where he was pointing some 20 ft above them a small Niche had been carved into the rock face it had probably served as a Beetle by the naan but hadn't

been used since the Romans seized control of Petra at the beginning of the 2 Century the beetle translated as the house of God was an ancient Shrine heed directly into the sand Stone Cliff though it had been centuries since it served any religious purpose The Beatles still retained a sense of solemnity and mystery its entrance was narrow framed by weathered sculptures that hinted at its sacred past small handholds and footholds worn Smooth by time were carved into the stone allowing them to scramble up a series of small notches were carved into the pink stone wall

Tom climbed first followed by Sam Sam reached the Beetle and pulled himself inside the interior was just large enough for them to conceal themselves offering a clear view of the ground below to where the map to yubar lay buried under the perspects the chamber was cool and dark in contrast to the fading heat Outside faint carvings adorned the walls depicting long forgotten deities and scen from a bygone era Breathing heavily Sam and Tom settled into the Shadows peering down through the narrow opening of the beetle the Deep Al Cove allowed them to hide completely their

forms invisible against the darkened Rock Sam and Tom darted further into the crevice squeezing into the tight space just as the machine came into view they Were wrong it wasn't a tank it was a large bu bulldozer similar if not the actual one they had seen working on the tourist Road into Petra the massive machine rolled into the valley its caterpillar tracks chewing up the ground beneath it dust and sand billowed around it creating a haze that obscured the details of the vehicle Sam and Tom held their breath watching as the bulldozzer rumbled Closer the

powerful engine roared echoing through the W room like a beast on the prowl they watched as the bulldozzer came into the large Al Cove it drove straight over the Buried perspects and kept going without slowing the driver maneuvered the vehicle toward the wall below them then the massive bucket in front of the bulldozer slammed into the soft pink Sandstone wall that formed the end of the AL Cove it made a loud Metalon Stone sound several rocks tumbled the bulldozzer reversed and then drove in again on the third time small trickles of water flowed from the

bucket half buried into the Sandstone Sam recognized the driver he was the big guy they had seen weeks earlier in Petra and most likely the guy who hit him with the dive tank the bulldozzer backed away as more water escaped it backed away further as if Preparing for a running start to increase its velocity the bulldozer massive bucket with its Jagged teeth raised ominously High drove in full speed it slammed into the Sandstone with a thunderous crash dirt and debris flew into the air obscuring their view momentarily through the settling dust Sam saw the impact

site clearly the bucket had struck the base of an ancient Dam a structure they hadn't even Realized was there the small spurts of water began to spill from cracks in the Sandstone jetting out with increasing Force the driver seemed unconcerned and began backing away continued backing away he either intended to damage the ancient Dam or wasn't worried about it although from his height Sam was pretty certain he should be Sam's eyes widened as he took in the scene the pressure behind the dam was Immense and the cracks widened rapidly the little spurts of water turned

into powerful Jets each one carving away more of the Sandstone then water ripped through the wall creating a torrent breaching its boundaries until the wall could no longer remain standing Sam and Tom scurried to the back of the beetle as the dam broke completely chapter 49 Pax casually shifted the gearbox into reverse he planted his foot on the Accelerator and the Caterpillar d8s C15 asert engine gave a grally roar sending all 347 horsepower into its tracked drivetrain it didn't move fast bulldozers didn't have that option Pax had gotten quite comfortable with the machine over the

past few weeks and was infinitely patient it would reverse at the speed it could reverse and that was it his green eyes locked onto the hole he'd carved into the ancient Dan little cracks widened rapidly to big ones Pax Had learned that The Medallion of Petra had been used to locate the map to yubar many times before it was then easy to conjecture that whoever had the map wouldn't destroy it but would instead hide it what could be better than to bury something in a desert full of sand AO once The Medallion pointed to the

map of yubar the next race would be to uncover it to find it while leaving the ancient map Intact Pax was never going to win his map locating battle with a shovel so he needed a little help the force equation is FAL M A where f is the force m is mass and a is acceleration in other words Force equals mass time acceleration Newton's Second Law a great amount of water generating a large Force combined with speeding acceleration would shift large amounts of sand in an instant fortunately the naan were expert hydrologists who built hundreds

of miles Of irrigation tunnels dams and aquifers throughout Petra Pax had spent weeks mapping out the city's more than 20 dams using ground penetrating radar he just hoped he was right about the size of this Dam there was a chance a small one that it had extended deep into the mountain there was no real way to tell but from what he'd managed to diagram it looked to be no bigger than say an Olympic swimming pool plenty of water Mass to Wash away the sand within seconds but not enough to drown him yet if the mass

of water was the size of several football stadiums yeah that would be ugly he and his bulldozer would be crushed while accelerating themselves into Gorge Rock then together they would tumble 5 miles off into the desert either way he was about to find out right now large cracks ripped through the soft Sandstone they splintered and held for another couple seconds before giving away completely a torrent of water and broken rocks rushed to greet him forming the crest of a tsunami likee wave Pax slowly lifted the bucket using its steel as a massive Shield the caterpillar

d8 bulldozzer weighed roughly 88,000 lb it was Heavy enough that Olympic pool-sized water wasn't going to shift it the top of the cabin Was 12 ft high in the narrow confines of the gorge he could see in an instant that it was going to topple that height he glanced around for a split second considering whether to try and jump onto one of the nearby rocks or attemp to make a run for it Pax dismissed the idea in an instant only a fool would think they were capable of outr running it the flood was going to

shoot out like a high-speed train the first wave hit the bulldozzer Sending a surge of water churning its way around the cabin swirling and bubbling it reached his lower legs slowly engulfing the inside through the cabin's protective glass windshields he vaguely recalled they were built with reinforced double paneled glass this was to protect the operator from Rock shards and other projectiles hitting the driver's body with shrapnel Pax hoped the glass would hold For a moment he thought he was going to be okay then he spotted another wave the force of this new surge wasn't dispersed

by Stone or debris with a glance pack saw it had a clear run like the second wave of a tsunami he knew it would overrun his cabin there was nothing that could be done about it the wave rushed around in and over the top of the cabin Pax sucked in a couple of quick deep breaths of air then held his breath and closed his eyes as water cascaded over Him he was now nothing more than a passenger live or die it was entirely up to chance Pax held on tight to the side of the cabin

trying to prevent the wave of water from slamming him back and forth and around and around like a ragd doll inside the cabin he was stuck underwater the seconds ticked by soon his lungs began to burn he held on promising he could take a deep breath after he'd slowly counted to 10 seconds After all anyone can hold their breath for 10 seconds this counting game went on for some time a long long time he wasn't sure how many times he' played before he made himself a final promise at the end of this 10-second wait he

would take a deep breath whether he was still underwater or not he counted to seven then eight at 9 seconds the torrent of water dissipated almost as quickly as it arrived Pax tilted his chin upward and Drew a shallow breath in the small space of fresh air over the next few seconds water drain from the cabin and once again he was left high above the flash flood his finger still gripped the frame of the bulldozer his knuckles white with pressure he grinned the bulldozer engine was still running its exhaust pipe high above the floodline he

was about to put it back into gear and move toward the map instead he heard the report of multiple High-powered rifle shots one pinged harmlessly against the bulldozzer bucket the second one landed on the cabin's roof just shy of 5 in from his head chapter 50 Hearts pounding from their near Miss Sam and Tom stood at the edge of the beetle that huge rush of water so fast so loud here and gone again it was astonishing how quickly water can alter the entire environment or how much Damage it can do looking down on the now

subsiding crash of water which cascaded Across The Gorge stripping away all the soft sand and Shifting the bulldozer Sam saw the faintest signs of the specs he and Tom had been digging for he watched Spellbound as the water fully dissipated revealing a view beneath the perspects For the First Time The High powerered erosion did more than strip the sand on the surface it had washed away all the sand beneath the perspects leaving in Its place a three-dimensional map Sam stared at it the map of Petra and its surrounding mountains emerged glittering and radiant Under The

Shining Moon the map was crafted from gold its Contours and features had perfectly captured the ancient city in stunning detail the waters Relentless Force scoured away the sand revealing more of the golden map Petra's iconic structures the treasury the monastery and the intricate network of tombs and temples Sparkled beneath a Rushing Water the surrounding mountains Rose majestically their golden Peaks glinting under the soft light that filtered through the chamber along the three-dimensional W room the smoldering remains of The Medallion of Petra's piercing sunlight marked a distinct location the water now a calm stream continued to

flow across the map polishing the gold to a brilliant Sheen Sam tra the intricate lines with his eyes noting landmarks and Pathways his mind raced with possibilities and connections Sam's gaze swept the entire radiant map before finally landing on a small section recently melted by a bright burst of sunlight aka the sharpened beam of The Medallion of Petra it indicated the entrance to yubar existed somewhere High along one of the peaks of the near by Wy room Sam took a quick photo with his phone it was Roughly 34s of the way up the mountain say

3,000 ft up on either the jabal AL Qatar or possibly jabal um adami the highest peak in the W room on the three-dimensional map were three distinctive geological seams connecting a vertical line where the pink Sandstone met a streak of Deep deep granite and a third seam most likely artificial of an Azure Stone which featured a short thin horizontal strip of some type of blue stone Tom snapped a few more photos with His phone just in case Sam's got damaged a few shots are better than one Sam then sent the photos to Elise with a

single message the entrance to ubar is here can you find us the GPS coordinates for this point and find out how we can reach it Elise texted back almost immediately I'm on it as the water finally receded leaving the map gleaming and pristine Sam stood back a sense of awe and purpose settling over him he Grinned here we go Tom this is our way to yubar Tom opened his mouth to reply but Sam didn't hear what he said instead acting in unison they turned their faces up drawn toward the distinctive high-pitched wine that was slicing

through the otherwise quiet air the sound was unmistakable The Telltale hum of a drone its electric motors buzzing with an insect-like persistence shielding his eyes from the Sun with one hand Sam squinted as he searched the sky for the source of the noise there it was hovering effortlessly Against The Twilight Sky the drones rotors spun rapidly creating a mechanical Symphony That Grew louder and more pronounced the longer he listened the pitch of the wine fluctuated slightly as the Drone adjusted its position its agile movements casting small shifting Shadows on the ground below Sam watched the

Sleek compact frame of the device its lights blinking rhythmically as it maintained its steady hover we're not the only ones looking for yubar Sam observed his gaze fixed on the approaching drone any second now someone else is going to have the map and we'll be racing them to the entrance Sam glanced at Tom who hadn't said a word Tom had already unzipped his backpack revealing the disassembled part Of his Heckler and Coke HK416 rifle Sam smiled with appreciation as Tom's skilled hands worked with quick Precision first Tom retrieved the lower receiver the core of the

rifle and then the upper receiver with the barrel and handguard with a swift motion he aligned the two parts securing them together with the takeown pins it was all worked with a smooth muscle memory of many hours of training that he and Tom would never forget yet all the same Sam Couldn't help but admire the speed and efficiency with which Tom readied his weapon next Tom pulled out the bolt carrier group and charging handle sliding them into the upper receiver the metallic click as they locked into place was reassuring Tom attached the adjustable stock to

the lower receiver adjusting it to his preferred length finally he reached for the magazine loaded with 5.56 mm rounds and Inserted it into the Magwell with a satisfying snap Sam glanced up spotting the Drone where he had last seen it hovering in the distance its cameras sweeping the area Tom now with his HK416 fully assembled brought the rifle to his shoulder and peered through the attached Red Dot sight Sam perceived Tom's breathing as it slowed while he tracked the drone's movement waiting for the perfect moment With a calm deliberate squeeze of the trigger Tom fired

the rifle bucked slightly in his grip the shot missed by no more than an inch Tom drew a breath and fired a second shot in immediate succession this one hit the Drone striking with with pinpoint accuracy that revealed his impressive Marksmanship the Drone wavered then spiraled out of control crashing into the ground in a cloud of smoke it was Followed by several shots being fired from nearby and a moment later an explosion erupted from high above them stunned Sam caught and held Tom's gaze what the hell did you chamber your rifle with Tom shook his

head that wasn't me horrified Sam looked up the explosion had set off a small Avalanche above them duck Sam shouted he and Tom took cover inside the Beetle and several tons of rock and dirt fell from above landing on the perspects and Covering the map to yubar once again