CHAPTER 67

“We’ll worry about Paititi later,” whispered Dad. “Now we have to focus on rescuing your brother. Before dawn.”

“We should strike tonight,” said Storm.

Dad nodded. “We will.”

He scratched out our new battle plan in the dust with a stick. Fortunately, the moon was bright enough that we could see his doodles without turning on our flashlights and giving away our location.

“As we just heard, they don’t have any weapons,” said Dad.

“Except the knife that guy Supay is always carrying around,” I countered.

“It’s for the sacrificial rite,” said Dad. “They won’t want to sully it with blood in combat.”

“Good,” I said. “Because I don’t want to sully it with my blood either.”

“We’re going to have to work as a team and strictly follow our individual assignments,” Dad continued. “Something you guys haven’t always been great at.”

Beck and I looked at each other.

Remember when we were supposed to stay on the Lost and guard the Room while Mom, Dad, and Tommy went looking for treasure on Cocos Island?

You may have forgotten about that. Dad hadn’t.

Then there was that time when Chaupi’s village flooded and Beck and I went swimming after his son Yacu even though Dad specifically ordered us not to do anything so foolish.

(That one ended up being totally heroic, too.)

“We’ll do better this time,” said Beck.

“Way better,” I added.

“Good,” said Storm. “Because Tommy’s life depends on it.”

“Here’s your first assignment, twins,” said Dad. “Steal the horses. During the distraction, Storm and I will go for Chet and the keys to Tommy’s shackles.”

“Don’t worry, Dad!” I said. “We’ll stick to the plan this time. We’ll steal their horses!” Then, after a beat, I asked, “What horses are we talking about here?”

“I didn’t see any horses either,” said Beck. “Do they have horses now?”

“He means the motorcycles,” said Storm. “It’s a metaphor.”

“Ohhhhh,” we said. “Got it.”

Hours later, Collier and his crew extinguished their torches and lanterns and crawled into their sleeping bags and blankets.

We waited another hour to make sure they were sound asleep.

Then, on Dad’s signal, the four of us slunk down the steep stone steps that led into the valley. The chirps and croaks of tree frogs covered whatever sounds we might’ve made.

When we reached the foot of the steps, Beck and I slipped off to the right. Storm and Dad went left.

They were going for Chet Collier’s key ring.

We were going for the ATVs!