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"Did you feel that?" Nick said.
"It was a tremor."
"I've got a bad feeling about this."
The earth shook again. They staggered to keep their balance. Dirt sifted down between the seams of the cypress planks lining the roof of the tunnel.
"Run," Nick said.
They ran down the tunnel. Every step sent agonizing shocks through Nick's side. Another tremor almost knocked them to their feet. Planks were starting to come down from the ceiling.
The walls of the tunnel were moving. Dirt poured from the ceiling. A low, rumbling vibration began.
The ladder to the shrine was ahead. The sound of the earthquake echoed through the tunnel, like the roar of a primeval beast.
They reached the ladder.
"Go," Nick yelled.
Selena started up the rungs. Behind them the roof of the tunnel was coming down, a cascade of dirt and noise and rock.
Nick grasped the ladder and started up, his ribs protesting with sharp stabs of pain. Selena got to the top, reached down with her good arm, and helped pull him out of the hole.
The floor tilted under their feet. They scrambled through the shrine and out into the open, out of the building. Something fell behind them with a loud crash.
The earth shook and groaned, knocking them off their feet. A crack opened in the ground, widening as they watched. The noise was deafening. Nick tried to stand, but the shaking earth made it impossible.
The crack grew wider, moving toward them. He grabbed Selena's hand.
"Come on."
They crawled as fast as they could on hands and knees, trying to get away from the gap racing toward them. It caught up to them and Selena slipped over the edge. Nick had her hand. He grabbed her arm with his other hand.
"Nick."
She looked up at him, terrified.
"Hold on. I've got you. Hold on."
Slowly, he pulled her back from the edge, his chest on fire. They chasm in the earth started to close. Desperate, Nick pulled with all his strength and got her out. Seconds later, the walls of the crack slammed together.
The rumbling and vibration died away. They lay on the ground, exhausted.
"Is it over?"
"I think so," Nick said. "For now. There may be aftershocks."
Sirens wailed in the city outside the grounds of the shrine. A glow lit the sky in the distance. Something was on fire.
"That was close," Nick said.
"Too close."
They stood. Nick hugged her, then took out his phone. Harker picked up.
"Yes, Nick."
"Nobuyasu is dead. We found the treasure. It's buried for good, along with Nobuyasu and his thugs."
"I told you not to kill him," Elizabeth said.
"I didn't, Selena did. It was him or us. I don't think you have to worry. No one is going to find his body anytime soon, if ever."
Nick heard Elizabeth sigh over the phone.
"I'll call you later. We both need to get to a hospital."
"All right, Nick. Call me when you can."