Karl Drbal … made a cardboard model of the Great Pyramid about 6 inches high and placed within it an ordinary razor blade. The blade was supported at a point that marked one third of the distance between the base and the apex of the pyramid, at the same level as the King’s Chamber in the Great Pyramid, and both blade and pyramid were oriented north-south. Karl Drbal shaved more than a hundred times with that single blade.
—Marshall Cavendish, The Unexplained
YUCATAN PENINSULA PRE-CONQUISTADORS
“Follow the directions exactly,” Kenny said, handing Baranov the calculator. “When you leave the pyramid put the calculator on the ledge here,” Kenny said, pointing.
The sun was up but still fighting through the trees, barely illuminating the shelf Kenny indicated.
“You must remember to put it here,” Kenny said firmly.
“Seven times you have told me this, thank you very much,” Baranov protested, releasing the clip in the M-16 and
checking the number of rounds. “Why is this so important?”
Kenny smiled.
“It is the map and you are not the only one to use it.”
That made no sense to the Russian, but it was no odder than being several hundred years in the past.
Elizabeth held her rifle awkwardly. She and Phat had fifteen minutes of instruction and ten minutes of practice just after dawn. At first she tried to refuse the weapon, but Baranov insisted. “There are some nasty beasts in that pyramid,” he reminded her. She remembered the carnage. She took the weapon.
Elizabeth hugged Jennifer and Valerie, saying good-bye. They would stay behind with Kenny and Kawabata.
Kenny was still repeating the instructions, a routine he had started last night and continued until well into the morning. Baranov nodded and grunted regularly, feigning attention as he practiced with the calculator.
“Everything is set up for you to make the trip to Fox Valley, but you must make adjustments to get to the moon and then back.”
“I understand,” Baranov said.
“That is the only way home for you.”
“Yes. You have explained it well.”
“You have only a fifteen-minute window once you have the bomb.”
“Fifteen minutes. I remember.”
They were at the entrance. Now Baranov turned to Kenny, offering his hand.
“Trust me. This is what Leo and I do for a living.”
They shook hands, and then each person shook Kenny’s hand as they passed and entered the pyramid.
Kenny sent the others back to the village, waiting in one of the small stone houses by the entrance. Uncovering a hidden computer he called up the Randall-Puglisi model, studying it. An hour later hands rested on his shoulders, massaging. Then there was a light kiss on the nape of his neck. Kenny turned, and Nikki sat in his lap. They kissed deep and long, then Nikki rested her head against his.
“How did it go?” Kenny asked.
“It’s all set,” Nikki said.
“Did you … ?” Kenny started to ask.
“Yes, dear, I put the calculator back.”
“Then we’ve done all we can,” Kenny said. “Now we have the long wait.”
“Will you sleep with me tonight?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you there when I’m finished.”
Getting up, she walked to the door and then paused.
“I wish they could all end up as happy as we are.”
“They’ll have to find what happiness they can in whatever future is ahead of them.”