Page 15 - Unlikely Stories 2

The Antiquities Commission

of those huge geological features—volcanologists and hydrologists
still debate that topic—perhaps the ancients imitated that
configuration in laying out the offerings we now puzzle over. That
clue led me to extrapolate from what has already been put on the
map to a new center. That is where we are headed.”
Trelim popped a concentrated nectar tablet in his stoma. “Let’s
get moving. We don’t want to get caught out there at night.”
Together they dug at the soil overhead, ducking as a cascade of
rock and sand fell past them. Immediately pulling down their
gridshields and taking a last dousing of precious water on their bodies
beneath protective coverings, they scrambled out into daylight.
“This way!” Ozok had his bearings and was on the move. Trelim
followed, slowed by the pack of tools and surveying instruments on
his back. The Blue Crater was behind them now, serving as a
landmark for their return trek. They both anxiously scanned the
horizon for signs of an impending dust storm. Clear all around.
They were on ground that had not been disturbed in recent times.
Trelim saw a huge gash in the petrified lava flow: Ozok had turned
and was heading in the direction it seemed to point. Trelim trudged
along, wondering how much longer they could continue before their
time ran out.
“I found it!”
Ozok’s triumphant yell spurred Trelim on. Yes, there was a
crumbling pile of bent and splintered metal, patinated and buffed by
the eons. The archaeologist excitedly danced around it, pointing and
waving. Trelim advanced, throwing down his load and briefly raising
his visor for a better look.
“Don’t get too close! We’ve got to make a record of this before
anything is disturbed.”
Trelim stopped, but kept looking. “We don’t have the luxury of
hanging around here. Check your gas tank! We’ll barely be able to get
back to our tunnel before we’re in trouble—and we’ll have to make
better time than we did getting here.”
Ozok suddenly became aware of their situation. “If only we had
been closer when we came out of the ground! You’re right—well, we
know where it is now. When I come back with a full-scale research
team, then it will all get done, and done right. But wait—I’ll have no
proof! Nobody knows we are up here. I’ll have to take one item back
with me. I’ll note where it came from, of course.”
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