The Mechanic [BL]

[95]

Chapter 95 – Feathered Serpent City (1)

In Mexico, the altitude restrictions on aircraft were often lax and many of them weren't piloted by Hermes of Eden, but by humans. Although this afforded more freedom, the annual traffic accidents caused by aircraft collisions were more than a hundred times that of the developed countries.

The medium-sized aircraft in which Zhang Xun and the others were flying was piloted by a middle-aged woman who said very little, maintaining a high altitude to swiftly sweep across the hot and inhospitable land of Northern Mexico and dodging several police patrol cars along the way.

The complex and rugged terrain condensed into large areas of three-dimensional colour at certain altitudes, as if some careless painter had thrown paint on a canvas.

"The Feathered Serpent City is deep in the Mexican rainforest, near the Mayan ruins. There's a number of villages and towns scattered outside the city, we'll settle there first." Todd's eyes swept over Zhang Xun, Enoch, James and Diego in turn.

Zhang Xun noticed a faint red bruise under Todd's collar. Knowing what such a mark meant, he flicked his eyes to James and raised an eyebrow.

James stood his collar up, trying to hide it.

Diego asked, "Didn't you guys say last time that they had the gate shut? Is there a way we can get in?"

"No entry. Cindy is currently being quarantined and observed in the hospital in the town near Feathered Serpent City." Todd's face was unpleasant as he stared at Zhang Xun, "You have to find a way to get us in."

Zhang Xun pursed his lips and nodded, "They'll let us in. It's just that once we get in, I don't know if we'll be able to get out. You don't have to go in with us."

"No, my sister asked me to follow you all the way in to see what you're up to." Todd said, sweeping his eyes over James and pretending to look out of the window as if nothing was wrong.

James really didn't look good today. He had expected to be in better shape today after a very passionate night and a good night's sleep, but the headache hadn't subsided and was even getting worse. He hadn't even eaten breakfast in the morning and his throat was rumbling with acid.

"Jamie, are you all right?" Zhang Xun asked with some concern, noticing James' tired demeanour.

"Yeah, he seems to be pretty unwell today." Diego teased, "Is it from too much physical exertion last night?"

His words were immediately met with a knife-like gaze.

"I'm fine, I've probably got a bit of a cold." James shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

Zhang Xun nodded, he trusted James' judgement, but across the room Todd frowned and scratched his hair with some annoyance, hiding the hint of unease in his eyes.

That morning, he had seen strands of hair on James' pillow.

It wasn't uncommon for people to lose their hair, so perhaps he was worrying too much? After all, James had said there was nothing wrong with his protective clothing......

Enoch, on the other hand, observed James for a moment and then looked at Zhang Xun, seemingly thinking about something.

A few hours later, the aircraft began to lower its altitude. After crossing over a mountain range the view below the craft had changed completely. A vast expanse of tropical rainforest spread along the undulations of the Earth, suffused with heat and humidity and faint clouds of mist twisting between the branches like long trailing strips of gauze. The further they flew towards the centre-south, the more dense the rainforest became and eventually the land in view was completely covered by green waves.