Chapter Text
“Bertram! It’s here.”
“Excellent. Does Barclay know?”
“No, we’ll grab him on the way.”
The two men briskly strode down the dim corridor, smiles barely contained. Bertam swept back a mop of blonde hair, trying to expel some of his growing excitement. They swung open the door to the archive room. A tall man, in wool trousers, a tie and rolled up shirt sleeves dropped the small stone idol he had been inspecting.
“Shoot Cavendish! You scared me.”
The young man’s anger faded as he recognised the elation on his friend’s faces.
“Is it here?”
“By Jove, Barclay it is.”
The stone idol lay forgotten as the men hurried down winding corridors until they found their quarry.
“You there!” Bertram snapped his fingers at a porter who was slumped, having a cigarette, next to a large wooden crate. “Don’t hang about, open her up!”
The porter took a final puff before disdainfully throwing his cigarette on the floor. He picked up a crowbar leant against the wall and pried open the crate. Anticipation getting the better of him, Cavendish barged the porter out of the way and pushed the lid off the crate. He stepped back, eye wide. Barclay and Bertram rushed to join him. They looked down at a large chest, ornately decorated with snakes and stars.
The porter - still waiting to be dismissed - crept forward curious. He let out a gasp of amazement as he examined the chest.
“What is it? If you don’t mind me askin’”
Cavendish turned to the man, with an eager glint in his eye and moustache twitching.
“This depicts an emissary of Kukulkan, the Mayan snake god, bringing misfortune from the stars.”