We decided to make camp at the necropolis and spend the night.
It’d been a long day—complete with a three-story rock-slide ride that had left Beck and me feeling a little banged up. But thanks to the secret invisible-ink map, we were the only ones who knew the final path to Paititi, so we weren’t in as huge a hurry as before.
“We’ll leave at first light,” Dad announced. “Your mother just advised me via a satellite-phone text that she and Chaupi have successfully stalled for time in Lima. The president and interior minister know we are very close to finding the Peruvian people’s long-lost treasure. In fact, they may even want to help us. Señor Rojas is, as you might imagine, upset. He is used to getting his way and buying whatever he wants. Too bad he’s never been up against a negotiator as tough as Sue Kidd or a leader as determined as Chaupi.”
“Awesome,” said Tommy. “I could definitely sleep. I’m totally wiped out.”
“Us, too,” said Beck and me.
“I am also feeling somewhat somnolent,” said Storm, because it would’ve been way too easy for her to simply say she was drowsy.
“I’m tired, too,” admitted Chet Collier with a yawn. “Exciting stuff today. Bad guys with guns. Big yellow sapphires. Golden corncobs. Secret maps painted on walls. Group hugs. I also shot some great footage of a pile of dry bones. I might be able to sell that video to the Pets Channel. They do programs that dogs like to watch.”
“One last thing,” said Dad, reaching into his pocket. “Before we all retire for the evening, I’d like to make a special presentation to honor you, Storm, and your big, beautiful brain. Your mother and I would like to give you a small token of our love and esteem.”
He popped open the lid on a small jewelry box.
“These are your mother’s favorite earrings. And she insisted that, tonight, I pass them on to you.”
Dad helped Storm slip on the earrings.
Then we all crawled into our sleeping bags.
This may seem weird but, as tired as I was, I had trouble falling asleep. I guess because my brain realized that, the very next day, we would be walking into the ancient Incas’ Lost City of Gold—a treasure that had eluded explorers for centuries. Thinking about that got my heart beating fast and my adrenaline pumping.
I was so stoked, I figured I’d just lie there all night staring up at the stars.
But then a mosquito bit me on the neck and I completely conked out.
At least I thought it was a mosquito.