Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 18.1 - A sudden attack

Chapter eighteen

A sudden attack

"Are you sure about this?" Sam asked.

Kay sighed. "No, I'm not. But it's not like we can do more. You've translated your best, I did the same. Unless you let Jessie read the whole thing, this is as far as it goes."

"I'm not letting Jessie read it all. I only gave her fragments specifically so she wouldn't get the whole picture. I don't want all of this reaching Snitch Gravel in case she's a spy," Sam mumbled and turned the map in his hands.

"You still think she's a spy, then?"

Sam looked at Kay. Her voice had been wary. "You like her don't you?" He folded the map, trying to turn it into a minuscule square. "I like her, too. I think everyone does. Jimmy told me he hasn't found anything suspicious about her. She doesn't hide, skulk, wonder off alone or even ask for privacy. But we can't take any chances."

"Still, she's coming in with us," Kay said blankly.

"She won't be any danger inside the temple. She'll be cut off from the outside world. And if she tries anything, we'll ambush her."

"Are we ready to go?" Jimmy came towards them and threw a small plastic bag at Sam.

Sam raised his eyebrows. "Nails?"

"Yes, nails. Put them in your survival kit. You never know when you're going to need them." Jimmy gave one to Kay as well, and she put it in her backpack.

"Okay, but four nails?" Sam added them to his already crammed backpack. They had decided to leave camp outside and pack survival kits for everyone. It was a lot less to carry. At least it had been at first; until everyone started coming up with ideas as to what to add.

"That's all I could spare. I'm using the rest for traps," Jimmy said.

"You're done with the traps. You and Steve finished yesterday. We're going in the temple, coming out and going home. We won't need more traps," Sam pointed out.

Jimmy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. If only it were that easy."

Sam started unfolding the map. Jimmy had a point. He doubted it would be that easy as well. By the time he managed to bring the piece of paper to its original state, the rest of the group had gathered before him.

"Alright, everyone, listen carefully. We only have one of these," he waved the map, trying to straighten it up. Maybe folding it in the first place hadn't been such a good idea. "So this time, you'll literally have to do everything I tell you to. One misstep could mean death. A horrible, sudden, mangling death. Your corpse might be beyond recognition."

"Alright, we get it, you don't have to get all graphic on us," Kyle said.

"I'm saying this especially for you and Tom. You throw yourselves in the way of danger without thinking. Fortunately, Jimmy and Jerry have good heads on their shoulders. And everyone else actually listens when I talk."

"You traitor! You should be on my side," Tom said.

"Not when you're—" Sam frowned. He thought he heard something moving behind him. The temple was behind him.

"When I'm what?" Tom asked.

Sam whipped around and jumped back. Eye Patch appeared from behind one of the snake statues and made a grab for the map Sam was holding. His fingers closed inches from it. More men scrambled over the wall on the side of the stairs. There weren't many of them and they didn't appear to have any weapons. They were probably there to take the map and run.