15 - The Price We Pay

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The second my head breaks the surface, I drag in a full breath- only to freeze

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The second my head breaks the surface, I drag in a full breath- only to freeze.
Singh is standing on the rocks, gun leveled straight at us. My pulse spikes so hard I taste blood.

But the worse part?

Big John isn't anywhere.

John b's hand brushed mine under the water- a silent don't panic- but even he can't hide the tremor in his breath.

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa! Easy now young Routledge easy! Go for a little swim now did you? Step out of the water and put your hands up both of you. Now! Put your hands up." Singh shouts

John b lifts his hands immediately. I follow, trying to keep my breathing steady even as my skin prickles with cold.

"Put your.. put your hands up! Easy now. Very good. Drop the flare. Drop it!" Singh yells

"I'm gonna put it down," John B says carefully, placing it on the ground.

"Very good. Looks like you're carrying a load there young Routledge. You want to tell me about it? What is in the bag? Show me what's in the bag." He says, pointing the gun straight at me.

John b steps slightly in front of me.
"Okay okay okay. Keep it right here. Look. Hey. You want it? There you go." He says.

And he tossed him the bag.

My stomach drops. The gold. Everything we just risked our lives for.

"So you found El Dorado at last. I know I was right to keep you alive you know. But unfortunately for your son the celebration will be short-lived. You have three seconds to come out before I start firing." Singh says

I grab john b's hand instinctively.

"One." Singh shouts

My heart slams against my ribs. Where is big John?

"Two!" Singh yells

I squeeze John b's hand tighter. Maybe for the last time. Maybe-

"I'm here Singh. Over here"

We whip around.

Big John stands at the mouth of the cavern- soaked, bleeding, raised arm clutching a stick of dynamite.

Holy. Shit.

"You kill us I'll make sure this thing blows. That roof won't hold and you'll never see El Dorado. Drop your gun. Drop the gun!" Big John says

For a moment Singh actually hesitates. Then he presses the gun to John b's chest.

A shot of terror burns through my whole body.

"No, if my son dies, we all die." Big John says

But Singh just shakes his head.
"You see the problem is I don't believe you John. I don't believe that you would blow up your opportunity to see El Dorado even to save your own son and even your own son knows that you know. You've proven it time and time again John you know that. This John is the great quest. This is what we've been looking for our whole lives. So put that thing out and join me." He said

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