Page 42 of Wild Temple (Tyson Wild Thriller #84)

I took a step back, psyched myself up, then sprinted toward the pit.

I leapt into the air, traversing the chasm of doom. My foot touched down on the pillar, then I springboarded across to the other side and landed on the ledge.

My pulse throbbed my ears.

I looked back at the pit after I landed and caught my breath. The central pillar was still standing. That was a good thing. Otherwise, I'd be stuck on the side for all eternity. And if the legends were true, and Mata Vaya did extend life, that might be a long time.

I took my next steps with caution, wary of false floors. I figured most of the booby traps in this place had already been sprung by countless explorers before me.

Booby traps in ancient temples always seemed like the stuff of fantasy movies, but there were ingenious ways to rig up deadly traps with primitive materials.

With pressure plates in the floor, cables made of vines, counterweights, and bamboo spring arms, it was possible to shoot poison darts through holes in the walls.

But after centuries of decay, any organic material used to create such booby traps had long since disintegrated.

Still, I kept a cautious eye and did notice suspicious holes drilled into the cave walls just ahead.

I crouched below and continued with caution.

No poison darts flew at me.

I continued down the long, narrow passageway without triggering any devices.

I stepped into a large, domed room. The natural formation had been enhanced by the primitive builders.

Maybe they weren't so primitive after all.

Alcoves were cut into the walls, and the remnants of ceremonial urns remained.

Some fractured, some still intact. There was a stone altar in the center of the room, and a shaft of light that seeped through a fissure in the ceiling illuminated the centerpiece.

The air in the cave was damp and thick. Cooler than outside in the jungle, and that was a welcome relief.

I continued past the altar and crept into the chamber beyond—another cavernous area that was home to a pool of water so blue it almost seemed fake. The builders of the temple had carved steps from the stone that led into the water. Fed by a natural spring, this was the Water of the Divine.

The Spring of Life.

My flashlight beam penetrated the surface and illuminated the translucent water.

The crystal clear, natural spring water was untainted by pollution.

I knew better than to drink water from unknown sources.

It could contain bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and all kinds of nasty things.

It may have been rumored to give life-extending properties, but it might also make you sick.

So far, I hadn't seen another way out of the cave.

Something rippled the surface as I moved to the edge of the water. I took a quick step back. There was something in there. I'm not sure I wanted to find out what it was.

I searched around the chamber, looking for another way out, but didn't find anything.

I was in the cave long enough that the others got curious. Footsteps and voices echoed off the cave walls, and flashlight beams slashed the darkness.

One by one, they made the crossing. First JD, then Hannah, then Brooke. They were still cuffed, and it was difficult to get the proper momentum without full arm mobility.

Fortunately, they all made it across with relative ease.

The center column seemed to be holding up well.

Caspian and his goons followed.

I had made my way back through the temple to join them.

Caspian smiled. "I see you survived. Did you taste the water?”

I shook my head. "Be my guest.”

Caspian and his goons marched us back to the cistern. The dickhead's eyes rounded with awe and wonder when he saw the translucent pool of water. "The Well of the Divine," he muttered to himself in a hushed breath .

Caspian grabbed his canteen, unscrewed it, and poured out what water remained. It splattered against the stone floor.

He took a step toward the well, mesmerized by the calm, reflective water. Caspian navigated the steps to the edge of the well, knelt down, and dipped the canteen in to fill it. Bubbles rose as water poured in.

With a jolt, his face twisted with pain.

He jerked his hand away from the water. Caspian hadn't seen the black snake weaving through the pool. Caspian scampered away from the cistern as the snake slithered onto the shore. He clutched his hand as it bled from two puncture wounds.

I took advantage of the distraction and lunged for Richard’s gun. I drove him into the wall of the cavern as we struggled for the pistol.

His counterpart took aim at me, but JD put his shoulder into him, throwing him off balance. He splashed into the water, kicking and flailing, freaking out that there might be more snakes—guardians of the sacred water.

He drew his pistol and took aim at me.

I put a few heavy fists into Richard's kidneys, keeping my other hand on the gun. I had him wrapped up against the wall.

His comrade blasted off two shots.

The report was deafening in the cavernous space. Bullets rocketed across the cave and smashed into the walls around us. Bits of stone chipped away .

I came across Richard's face with a hard right to the jaw. I stripped the weapon from his grasp.

I put two shots into Richard.

He slumped against the wall and slid to the ground with a groan.

The waterboy fired two more shots in my direction. With blurry eyes full of liquid, both shots missed by millimeters.

I don't think he was the best swimmer in the world.

With a face full of panic, he bobbed at the surface, clawing at the water. The well had a steep drop-off, and he was barely treading.

I returned fire, my pistol hammering against my palm.

My bullets streaked across the cavern and pelted him in the throat and one to the head.

He sank into the water, blood swirling.

Caspian's right arm had already gone numb. He’d broken into a cold sweat, and his breathing was labored. He looked at me with terrified eyes, gasping his last breaths.

So much for an extended lifespan.

His chest went still, and his eyes fixed. Caspian wouldn't hurt anybody anymore. It seemed the spirits of Pura Jiva had determined he wasn't worthy.

“Is everybody okay?" I asked.

With terrified eyes, the girls nodded.

I glanced at JD, and he gave me the thumbs up .

I looked around for the black snake of death but didn't see it anywhere.

I took Caspian’s canteen and sealed it up, then grabbed Richard’s. It was damn near empty. I poured the last few drops out. He was closer to my size, so I took his shoes. Then, with a cautious eye, I approached the water’s edge. I knelt down and filled Richard’s canteen.

I’m not typically the superstitious type, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. I pulled off the cramped boots and soaked my aching feet in the water. I didn’t see the snake. What could it hurt?

The cool water was refreshing.

I sat there for a moment, basking in it.

When I’d had my fill, I got up, dried my feet off, and tried on Richard’s boots. They felt pretty good. A damn sight better than the tiny boots I’d been wearing.

I gave Brooke a canteen of the sacred water. "Take this back to your mother. Who knows?”

She smiled, and her eyes misted. She gave me a hug and squeezed tight.

"We need to get moving," JD said. “There's a little daylight left. I say we push through the night."

I was in full agreement. I wanted to get back to Rex as soon as possible. There was a slim chance he was still alive. Unlikely, but possible.

We made our way back across the altar room and down the entrance hall to the chasm of doom.

We all stared at it with trepidation. It was just as daunting as the first time we had crossed.

Only now, it seemed more ominous. So close to escaping Pura Jiva with the sacred water.

I couldn't help but feel the temple had one last trick up its sleeve.

"Who’s first?" I asked.

Brooke said, "After you.”

I marched a few paces back, got a running start, then leapt into the air when I reached the ledge of the chasm.

Just like before, my foot touched down for an instant on the pillar, and I sprung into the air for the second leg of the journey.

I landed on the other side without incident and breathed a sigh of relief. But there were three more of us to go.

Caspian and his crew had left their backpacks on this side of the chasm. At least we would have tents, bedrolls, and a few supplies for the journey back. But the soldiers had taken most everything.

Hannah was the weakest of the bunch. Still thin and weary and maybe a tad bit dope sick, she stepped back from the chasm and prepared herself. She filled her lungs, then sprinted toward the edge. She leapt into the air and sprang off the column, and I caught her as she reached the other side.

She looked astonished that she made it a second time.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded.

Brooke was up next. She stepped back, composed herself, then made a mad dash. With a solid stride, she leapt into the air and touched a foot down on the center column.

That's when disaster struck.

The column cracked and fell away just as she attempted to spring across.

Her momentum carried her forward, but she didn't have enough to land safely.

She plummeted toward death, but managed to grasp the ledge at my feet before she fell away.

Her panicked eyes looked up at me as her fingertips lost their grip.