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nd Sally； that is。 They hadn't yet discussed the particulars of his translation fees。 One step at a time。
〃We called you here；〃 the man continued； 〃because there is a rumor。〃
They had been speaking in English； but Clyve decided to respond in German； which he spoke fluently； as a way of throwing them off balance。 〃Whatever I can do to help。〃
There was an unfortable shifting in the wall of gray； and the man continued to speak in English。 〃There is a pharmaceutical pany in the United States by the name of Lampe…Denison。 Do you know of it？〃
Clyve continued in German。 〃I believe I do。 One of the big ones。〃
The man nodded。 〃The rumor is that they are acquiring a ninth…century Mayan medicinal codex containing two thousand pages of indigenous medical prescriptions。〃
〃There can't be two。 It's impossible。〃
〃That is right。 There can't be two。 And yet the rumor exists。 The price of Lampe stock has risen more than twenty percent over the past week as a result。〃
The seven gray men continued looking at Clyve； waiting for his answer。 Clyve shifted； crossed his legs； then recrossed them。 He had a momentary frisson of fear。 What if the Broadbents had somehow made other arrangements for the Codex？ But they hadn't。 Before she left； Sally had reported back to him in detail on how things stood； and since then the Broadbents had been inmunicado in the jungle； unable to strike deals。 The Codex was free and clear。 And he had great faith in Sally to do his bidding。 She was bright； capable； and very much under his thumb。 He shrugged。 〃The rumor's false。 I control the Codex。 From Honduras it'll be ing directly into my hands。〃
Another silence。
〃We have deliberately refrained from inquiring into your affairs； Professor Clyve；〃 continued the man。 〃But now you have one million of our dollars。 Which means we are concerned。 Perhaps the rumor isn't true。 Very well。 I would like an explanation for the very existence of this information。〃
〃If you're implying that I've been careless； I can assure you I've spoken to no one。〃
〃No one？〃
〃Except my colleague； Sally Colorado…naturally。〃
〃And she？〃
〃She's deep in the Honduran jungle。 She can't even contact me。 How could she contact anyone else？ And she is the soul of discretion。〃
The silence around the table stretched on for a minute。 Was this what they had called him all the way to Geneva for？ Clyve didn't like it。 He didn't like it at all。 He was not their whipping boy。 He rose。 〃I am offended by the imputation；〃 he said。 〃I'm going to keep my end of the bargain； and that's all you gentlemen need to know。 You'll get the Codex； and you'll pay me the second million…and then we'll discuss my fees for translating it。〃
That was greeted with a further silence。 〃Fees for translating it？〃 the man repeated。
〃Unless you intend to translate it yourselves。〃 They looked like they'd just sucked lemons。 What a gaggle of morons they were。 Clyve despised businessmen like these： uneducated； ignorant； their slavering greed hidden behind a genteel facade of expensively tailored fabric。
〃We hope for your sake； Professor； that you will do what you've promised。〃
〃Don't threaten me。〃
〃It is a promise； not a threat。〃
Clyve bowed。 〃Good day； gentlemen。〃
66
Seven weeks had passed since Tom and his two brothers had gathered at the gates to their father's estate…but it felt like a lifetime。 They had finally made it。 They had reached the tomb。 〃Do you know how to open it？〃 asked Philip。
〃No。〃
〃Father must have figured it out； because he robbed the tomb once；〃 said Vernon。
Borabay set some burning torches in niches in the rock walls； and together they made a minute inspection of the tomb door。 It was solid stone； set into a doorway squared out of the white limestone of the cliffs。 There was no keyhole； no buttons or panels or hidden levers。 Surrounding the tomb； the rest of the rock had been left in its natural state； with the exception of a number of holes drilled into the rock on either side of the door。 Tom held his hand over one and felt a cool flow of air…evidently airholes to the tomb。
The eastern sky brightened with a predawn light as they examined the area around the tomb。 They rapped on the door； called； hammered and pressed and tried everything to open it。 Nothing worked。 An hour passed and the door remained immovable。
Finally Tom said； 〃This isn't working。 We need a new approach。〃
They retired to a nearby ledge。 The stars had disappeared； and the sky was brightening behind the mountains。 It was a stupendous view across a fantastical wilderness of jagged white peaks； like teeth rising from the soft green palate of the jungle。 〃If we take a look at one of those broken tomb doors；〃 said Tom； 〃maybe we can figure out how it works。〃
They retraced their steps and； four or five tombs back； came to a broken door。 It had cracked down the middle； and one part had fallen outward。 Borabay lit another brand； then hesitated at the door。
He turned to Philip。 〃I coward；〃 he said； handing him the brand。 〃You braver than me； little brother。 You go。〃
Philip gave Borabay a squeeze on the shoulder and took the brand。 He went into the tomb。 Tom and Vernon followed。
It was not a large space； perhaps eight by ten feet。 In the center was a raised stone platform。 On the platform sat a mummy bundle； still upright； its legs drawn up to its chin； its arms folded in its lap。 Its long black hair was braided down its back； and the dried lips were drawn back from its teeth。 The mouth had fallen open； and an object had dropped out。 When Tom looked more closely he saw it was a piece of jade carved in the shape of a chrysalis。 One hand of the mummy held a polished cylinder of wood about eighteen inches long； decorated with glyphs。 Ranged around were a small selection of grave goods： terracotta figurines； broken pots； some carved stone tablets。
Tom knelt down and examined how the door worked。 There was a groove in the stone floor； set into the groove were polished stone rollers on which the door rested。 They were loose； and Tom picked one out and handed it to Philip。 He turned it over in his hand。
〃It's a simple mechanism；〃 he said。 〃You get the door rolling and it opens by itself。 The trick is； how do you start the door rolling？〃
They examined it all around； but there was no obvious answer。 When they emerged from the tomb Borabay was waiting for them； an anxious expression on his face。
〃What find？〃
〃Nothing；〃 said Philip。
Vernon emerged from the tomb holding the cylinder of wood that the mummy had been clutching。 〃What's this； Borabay？〃
〃Key to underworld。〃
Vernon smiled。 〃Interesting。〃 He carried it back along the passageway to their father's tomb。 〃Funny that the stick should fit so perfectly into these airholes；〃 said Vernon； shoving the stick in several holes； almost losing it in one。 〃You can feel the air ing out of these holes。 See？〃 He went from hole to hole； testing with his hand the flow of air from each one。 Finally he stopped。 〃Here's an airhole with no breeze ing out of it。〃
He inserted the stick。 It went in about fourteen inches and stopped； leaving four inches exposed。 Vernon picked up a heavy； smooth rock。 He handed it to Phili