
    ,,*APT] ,,XVII

    ,,! ,,LO/ ,,MAP

,! ON-M>*+ -PANY ( :ITE M51 )
_! ,9DIAN ATT5DANTS1 CAME 6A HALT ON !
$GE (! CLE>+ Z !Y CAU<T SI<T (!
T5TS ALR SET UP "!4 ,! B>B>IC *ANT
(! NATIVE BE>]S C1S$ ABRUPTLY1 & "!
0 A LOOK ( SURPRISE %[N ON ! FACE (
,PROFESSOR ,F5IMORE ,BEE*]4 ,=
  ,PROFESSOR ,BEE*]
X WAS1 9 ! L1D (! RIVAL EXP$I;N4

  8,B.S MY %OE LACES60 EXCLAIM$ ,MR4
,DAMON4

8,IS X RE,Y ,BEE*]80 ASK$ ,N$1 ?\< HE
  KNEW
Z WELL Z ,TOM T X 0 ! "Y >*AEOLOGI/4

8,X C]TA9LY IS60 DCLD ,TOM4 8,& HE HAS
N]VE 6FOLL[ U S CLOSELY60

8,MAYBE HE ?9KS WE H N]VE 6GET "H
AH1D ( HM10 SU7E/$ ,N$1 SMIL+ GRIMLY4

8,PROBABLY10 AGRE$ ,TOM1 )A %ORT LAU<4
8,WELL1 X EVID5TLY SURPRISES HM 6F9D U
  "H
AT ALL1 AF ! M1N TRICK HE PLAY$ ON U TO
GET ,JAC9TO 6L1D U 96! JUNGLE & DES]T
U40

8,T'S "R10 ASS5T$ ,N$4 8,WELL1 :AT'S
! NEXT MOVE80

,"! SEEM$ 6BE "S D\BT AB ?
ON ! "P ( BO? EXP$I;NS4 ,AT ! SI<T
( ,PROFESSOR ,BEE*]1 ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]1
  :O _H
-E \ ( 8 T5T1 HURRI$LY TURN$ 6,TOM
& ASK$ HM :AT HE ?"\ X BE/ 6D4






8,D60 EXCLAIM$ ! E35TRIC ,MR4 ,DAMON1
N GIV+ ,TOM "T 6REPLY4 8,:Y1 /&
YR GR.D1 ( C\RSE6 ,B.S MY H\SE &
LOT6 B WE'RE "H F/6 ,=! MATT] ( T1
,I SUPPOSE ! JUNGLE IS FREE & WE C NO M
OBJECT 6HIS -+3 "H ?AN HE C 6\R
-+4 ,F/ -E1 F/ S]V$1 ,I SUPPOSE IS !
LAW (! =E/40

,M1N:ILE ! SURPRISE O3A.N$ 0!
UNEXPECT$ MEET+ ( _! RIVALS SEEM$ 6H
SPR1D "S?+ L 3/]N,N AM;G !
:ITE MEMB]S (! ,BEE*] "PY4 ,Z =!
NATIVES !Y EVID5TLY DID N C>E "O WAY OR
! O!R4

,"! 0 A HA/Y 3SULT,N AM;G !
PROFESSORS A3OMPANY+ ,MR4 ,BEE*]1 & !N !
LATT] HMF ADV.ED T[>D ! T5TS ( ,TOM
& 8 FRS & ASK$3

  8,H[ L;G H Y BE5 "H80

8,I DON'T SEE T WE >E CALL$ ^U 6ANSW]
T "Q10 REPLI$ ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP] /I6LY4
  8,P]H N1 & YET----0

8,"! IS NO P]H AB X60 SD ,PROFESSOR
,BUMP] QKLY4 8,I "K :AT YR OBJECT IS1
Z ,I PRESUME Y D M9E4 ,&1 AF :AT
,I MAY T]M YR 4GRACE;L & UNSPORTSMANLIKE
3DUCT T[>D ME & MY FRS1 ,I PREF]
N 6H ANY?+ FUR!R 6D ) Y4
,WE M/ MEET Z /RANG]S "HAF40

8,V WELL10 & ,PROFESSOR ,BEE*]'S VOICE 0
Z COLD & UNCOMPROMIS+ Z 0 8 RIVAL'S4
8,LET X 2 Z YR WI%4 ,B ,I M/ SAY ,I
  DON'T
"K :AT Y M1N 0UNSPORTSMANLIKE 3DUCT40

8,AN EXPLAN,N WD 2 WA/$ ON Y10
SD ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP] /I6LY4 8,B 9 ORD] T
Y MAY "K ,I FULLY "U/& :AT Y DID
,I W SAY T YR EF=TS 6?W>T U "?
YR TOOL ,JAC9TO CAME 6NO?+4 ,WE >E "H
AH1D ( Y40



8,JAC9TO60 CRI$ ,PROFESSOR ,BEE*] 9 R1L
  OR
SIMULAT$ SURPRISE4 8,:Y1 HE 0 N MY
  ,8TOOL1'
Z Y T]M X40

8,YR D5IAL IS USE.S 9 ! LI<T ( 8
3FES.N10 ASS]T$ ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]4

  8,3FES.N80

8,N[ LOOK "H60 EXCLAIM$ ! OLD]
PROFESSOR1 8,I D N PROPOSE 6L[] MYF BY
QU>REL+ ) Y4 ,I "K C]TA9LY :AT
Y & YR "PY TRI$ 6D 6PREV5T U

F GETT+ "H4 ,B WE GOT \ (! TRAP
Y SET = U1 & WE >E ON ! GR.D F/4
,I RECOGNIZE YR "R 6MAKE EXPLOR,NS Z
WELL Z \RVS1 & ,I PRESUME Y H N
FALL5 S L[ T Y W N RECOGNIZE !
UNWRITT5 LAW 9 A CASE ( ? K9D--! LAW
: SAYS ! "R ( 4COV]Y 2L;GS 6!
"O :O F/ MAKES X40

8,I % C]TA9LY ABIDE 0S* 3DUCT Z
IS USUAL "U ! CIRCUM/.ES10 SD
,PROFESSOR ,BEE*] M /I6LY ?AN 2F4
8,AT ! SAME "T ,I M/ D5Y HAV+ SET A
  TRAP4
,& Z = ,JAC9TO----0

8,X W 2 USE.S 64CUSS X FUR!R60
BROKE 9 ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]4

8,!N NO M NE$ 2 SD10 RETORT$ !
"Y] MAN4 8,I % GIVE ORD]S 6MY FRS1
Z WELL Z 6! NATIVES1 6KEEP AWAY F
YR CAMP1 & ,I % EXPECT Y 6D !
SAME REG>D+ M9E40

8,I %D H SU7E/$ ! SAME ?+
MYF10 CAME F ,TOM'S FR1 &! TWO RIVAL
SCI5TI/S FAIRLY GL>$ AT "O ANO!R1 ! O!RS
( BO? "PIES LOOK+ ON ) 9T]E/4





,PROFESSOR ,BUMP] TURN$ & WALK$
  DEFIANTLY
BACK 6HIS T5T4 ,PROFESSOR ,BEE*] DID !
  SAME
?+4 ,!N1 AF A %ORT 3SULT,N AM;G
! :ITE MEMB]S (! LATT]'S ORGANIZ,N1
_! T5TS 7 SET UP 9 ANO!R CLE>+1
REMOV$ & SEP>AT$ 0A SCRE5 ( TREES &
BU%ES F ^? ( ,TOM ,SWIFT'S FRS4 ,!
NATIVES (! ,BEE*] "PY AL )DREW A LL
WAY F ^? ( ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]'S
  ORGANIZ,N1
& !N PREP>,NS = SP5D+ !
NI<T 9 ! JUNGLE W5T ON 9 ! RIVAL
H1DQU>T]S4

  8,WELL1 HE C]TA9LY _H N]VE1 6D5Y1
PRACTIC,Y1 T HE _H SET ,JAC9TO UP 6D :AT
HE DID10 -;T$ ,TOM4
  8,I %D SAY S60 AGRE$ ,N$4

8,H[ D Y IMAG9E HE GOT "H NE>LY Z
SOON Z WE DID1 :5 HE DID N />T UNTIL
LAT]80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4

8,HE DID N H ! UN=TUNATE EXP]I;E
( 2+ DES]T$ 9 ! JUNGLE10 REPLI$ ,TOM4
8,HE PROBABLY _H ,JAC9TO1 OR "S ( T
UNPR9CIPL$ SC.DREL'S FRS1 %[ HM A %ORT
R\TE 6,COPAN & HE CAME ON F "!40

8,WELL1 ,I DID HOPE WE MI<T H ! GR.D
6\RVS1 AT L1/ =! PRELIM9>Y EXPLOR,NS
& EXCAV,NS4 ,B X IS N 6BE4 ,MY
RIVAL IS "H10 SI<$ ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]4

8,DON'T LET T 4C\RAGE Y60 EXCLAIM$ ,TOM4
8,WE C FI<T ALL ! BETT] N[ ! FOE
IS 9 ! OP51 & WE "K ": HE IS40

8,YES1 ,TOM ,SWIFT1 T IS TRUE10 AGRE$ !
SCI5TI/4 8,I AM N GO+ 6GIVE UP1 B ,I
% H 6*ANGE MY PLANS A LL4 ,P]H
Y W -E 96! T5T ) ME10 & HE
NO4$ 6,TOM & ,N$4 8,I WANT 6TALK OV]
C]TA9 MATT]S ) Y & ,MR4 ,DAMON40

8,PL1S$ TO10 ASS5T$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 &
8 F9ANCIAL SECRET>Y NO4$4

,A LL LAT]1 SUPP] HAV+ BE5 EAT51 !
CAMP MADE %IP%APE &! NATIVES SETTL$
D[N1 ,TOM1 ,N$1 ,MR4 ,DAMON & ,PROFESSOR
,BUMP] ASSEM#D 9 ! T5T (! SCI5TI/1
": A DRY BATT]Y LAMP GAVE SU6ICI5T
  ILLUM9,N
6%[ A NUMB] ( MAPS & PAP]S SCATT]$
OV] AN IMPROVIS$ TA#4

8,N[1 G5TLEM510 SD ! PROFESSOR1 8,I H
CALL$ Y "H 6G OV] MY PLANS M 9
DETAIL ?AN ,I H HI!RTO D"O1 N[ WE >E ON
! GR.D4 ,Y "K 9 A G5]AL WAY :AT
,I HOPE 6A3OMPLI%1 B ! "T HAS -E
:5 ,I M/ 2 SPECIFIC4

8,ASIDE F 2+ ON ! SPOT1 2L :1
OR 2L ! VIC9;Y ":1 ,I 2LIEVE1 LIES !
LO/ C;Y ( ,KURZON &1 ,I HOPE1 ! IDOL (
  GOLD1
A SITU,N HAS >IS5--AN UNEXPECT$ SITU,N1
,I MAY SAY--: CALLS = DI6]5T AC;N F
T ,I _H C.T$ ON4


8,I REF] 6! PRES;E ( MY RIVAL1
  ,PROFESSOR
,BEE*]4 ,I W N DWELL N[ ON :AT HE HAS

  D"O4 ,X IS BETT] 63SID] :AT HE MAY D40

8,T'S "R10 AGRE$ ,N$4 8,HE MAY GET UP 9
! NI<T1 DIG UP ? C;Y & SKIP ) T
GOLD5 IMAGE 2F WE "K X40

  8,H>DLY10 GR9N$ ,TOM4

8,NO10 SD ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]4 8,EXCAVAT+
BURI$ CITIES 9 ! JUNGLE ( ,HONDURAS IS N
Z SIMPLE Z T4 ,"! IS M* "W 6BE
D"O4 ,B A3ID5TS MAY HAPP51 & 9 CASE
"O %D O3UR 6ME1 & ,I 2 UNA# 6PROSECUTE
! SE>*1 ,I WANT "O ( Y 6D X4 ,=
T R1SON ,I AM GO+ 6%[ Y ! MAPS
& ANCI5T DOCU;TS & PO9T \ 6Y
": ,I 2LIEVE ! LO/ C;Y LIES4 ,N[1 IF Y
W GIVE ME YR ATT5;N1 ,I'LL PROCE$40



,! PROFESSOR W5T OV] 9 DETAIL ! /ORY
( H[ HE _H F.D ! OLD DOCU;TS RELAT+
6! LO/ C;Y ( ,KURZON1 &( H[1 AF
M* LABOR & RESE>*1 HE _H LOCAT$ !
C;Y 9 ! ,COPAN VALLEY4 ,! GRT IDOL (
GOLD 0 "O (! *IEF POSSES.NS ( ,KURZON1
& X 0 (T5 REF]R$ 6IN ! OLD
PAP]S2 COPIES & TRANSL,NS ( : !
PROFESSOR _H ) HM4

8,B ? IS ! MO/ VALUA# ( ALL10 HE SD1
Z HE OP5$ AN OIL$-SILK PACKET4 8,& 2F
,I %[ X 6Y1 SUPPOSE Y TWO "Y M5
TAKE A LOOK \TSIDE ! T5T40

  8,:AT =80 ASK$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4

8,6MAKE SURE T NO EMISS>IES F !
,BEE*] CR[D >E SN1K+ >.D 6OV]HE>
:AT WE SAY10 0 ! "S:AT BITT] ANSW]
(! SCI5TI/4 8,I D N TRU/ HM1 9 SPITE
( 8 ATTEMPT$ D5IAL40



,TOM & ,N$ TOOK A QK B ?OR\<
OBS]V,N \TSIDE ! T5T4 ,! BLACK;S (!
JUNGLE NI<T 0 9 /RANGE 3TRA/ 6! LI<T
!Y _H J LEFT4

8,DOESN'T SEEM 6BE ANY "O >.D "H10
REM>K$ ,N$1 AF WAIT+ A M9UTE OR TWO4

8,NO4 ,ALL'S QUIET AL;G ! ,POTOMAC4 ,^?
,BEE*] NATIVES >E HAV+ "S SORT (A S;G-
FE/1 ?\<40

,9 ! 4T.E1 & F ! DIREC;N ( _!
RIVALS' CAMP1 CAME ! WEIRD *ANT4

8,WELL1 Z L;G Z !Y /AY "! WE'LL 2 ALL
"R10 SD ,TOM4 8,-E ON IN4 ,I'M ANXI\S TO
HE> :AT ! PROFESSOR HAS 6SAY40

  8,"EY?+'S QUIET10 REPORT$ ,N$4

8,!N GIVE ME YR ATT5;N10 BE7$ !
SCI5TI/4


,C>E;LLY1 Z ?\< AB 6EXHIBIT "S1
PRECI\S JEWEL1 HE LOOS5$ ! OIL$-SILK
  WRAPP+S
& %[$ A L>GE MAP1 ON ?9 B T\<
PAP]4

8,? IS DRAWN F ! OLD *>TS10 !
PROFESSOR EXPLA9$4 8,I "W$ ON X _M
  MON?S1
& X IS ! ONLY COPY 9 ! _W4 ,IF X 7
6BE DE/ROY$ ,I %D H 6G ALL ! WAY
BACK 6,NEW ,YORK 6MAKE ANO!R COPY4 ,I H
! ORIG9AL "! 9 A SAFE DEPOSIT VAULT40

8,WDN'T X H BE5 WISE 6MAKE TWO
COPIES80 ASK$ ,TOM4

8,X WD H ONLY 9CR1S$ ! RISK4 ,)
"O COPY1 & T 3/ANTLY 9 MY POSSES.N1
,I C 2 SURE ( MY GR.D4 ,O!RWISE N4
,T IS :Y ,I AM S C>E;L ( ?4 ,N[ ,I W
%[ Y :Y ,I 2LIEVE WE >E AB OV] !
ANCI5T C;Y ( ,KURZON40


8,OV] X60 CRI$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,B.S MY
GUNP[D]6 ,:AT D Y M1N80 & HE LOOK$
D[N AT ! E>!N FLOOR (! T5T Z ?\<
EXPECT+ X 6OP5 & SWALL[ HM4

8,I M1N T ! C;Y1 L _M O!RS (
,C5TRAL & ,S\? ,AM]ICA1 IS BURI$ 2L !
REFUSE ( C5TURIES10 W5T ON ! PROFESSOR4
8,V SOON1 IF WE >E =TUNATE1 WE % 2
LOOK+ ON ! CIVILIZ,N ( HUNDR$S ( YE>S
AGO--H[ L;G NO "O "KS4

8,3SID]A# EXCAV,N HAS BE5 D"O 9
,C5TRAL ,AM]ICA10 W5T ON ,PROFESSOR
  ,BUMP]1
8& C]TA9 RU9S H BE5 BR"\ 6LI<T4
,NE> U >E ^? ( ,COPAN1 :ILE T[>D !
FRONTI] >E ^? ( ,QUIRIGUA1 : >E EV5
BETT] PRES]V$ ?AN ! =M]4 ,WE MAY VISIT
!M IF WE H "T4 ,B ,I H R1SON TO
2LIEVE T 9 ? SEC;N ( ,COPAN IS A L>GE
C;Y1 ! EXI/;E ( : HAS N BE5 MADE
C]TA9 ( 0ANY "O SAVE MYF--&1 P]H1
,PROFESSOR ,BEE*]4

8,C]TA9LY NO "P ( X HAS SE5 ! LI<T (
"D = _M C5TURIES4 ,X % 2 \R PL1SURE
6UNCOV] X1 IF POSSI#1 & SECURE ! IDOL (
GOLD40

8,H[ L;G AGO D Y ?9K ! C;Y 0
BURI$80 ASK$ ,TOM4

8,X WD 2 H>D 6SAY4 ,F ! C>V+S
& HI]OGLYPHICS ,I H /UDI$ X WD SEEM
T ! ,MAYAN CIVILIZ,N LA/$ AB FIVE
HUNDR$ YE>S1 & T X 2GAN P]H 9 !
YE> ,A4 ,D4 FIVE HUNDR$40

8,T WD M1N10 SD ,MR4 ,DAMON1 8T
! ANCI5T CITIES 7 9 RU9S1 BURI$1 P]H1
L;G 2F ,COLUMBUS 4COV]$ ! NEW
_W40







8,YES10 ASS5T$ ! PROFESSOR4 8,PROBABLY
,KURZON1 : WE N[ SEEK1 0 BURI$ DEEP =
NE>LY FIVE HUNDR$ YE>S 2F ,COLUMBUS L&$
AT ,SAN ,SALVADORE4 ,! SPECIM5S ( WRIT+
  &
>*ITECTURE "HTO=E 4CLOS$ 9DICATE T4
,B1 Z A MATT] ( FACT1 X IS V H>D TO
DECIPH] ! ,MAYAN PICTOGRAPHS4 ,S F>1 LL
  B
! ABIL;Y 6R1D _! CAL5D>S & NUM]ICAL
SY/EM IS POSSESS$ 0U1 ?\< WE >E GRADU,Y
MAK+ H1DWAY4

8,N[ ? IS ! MAP (! 4TRICT1 & 0!
M>K+S Y C SEE ": ,I HOPE 6F9D :AT
,I SEEK4 ,WE % 2G9 DI7+ "H10 & HE
MADE A SMALL M>K )A P5CIL ON ! MAP4

8,( C\RSE10 ! PROFESSOR EXPLA9$1 8,I MAY
  2
WR;G1 & X W TAKE "S "T 64COV] !
]ROR IF WE MAKE "O4 ,:5 A C;Y IS BURI$
  ?IRTY
OR =TY FEET DEEP 2N E>? & GRT TREES
H GR[N OV] X1 X IS N EASY 6DIG D[N 6X40
  8,H[ D Y "E EXPECT 6F9D X80 ASK$ ,N$4

8,WELL1 WE W S9K %AFTS "H & "!4 ,IF
WE F9D C>V$ /"OS1 ! REMA9S ( ANCI5T
POTT]Y & W1PONS1 "PS ( BUILD+S OR BUILD+
/"OS1 WE % "K WE >E ON ! "R
TRACK10 0 ! ANSW]4 8,& N[ T ,I H
%[N Y ! MAP1 & EXPLA9$ H[ VALUA#
X IS1 ,I W PUT X AWAY AG4 ,WE % 2G9
\R EXCAV,NS 9 ! MORN+40

  8,AT :AT PO9T80 ASK$ ,TOM4

8,AT A PO9T ,I % 9DICATE AF A FUR!R
3SULT,N (! MAP4 ,I M/ SEE ! 3FIGUR,N
(! C.TRY 0"DLI<T 6DECIDE4
,& N[ LET'S GET "S RE/4 ,WE H _H A
H>D "D40

,! TWO T5TS H\S+ ! F\R :ITE MEMB]S
(! ,BUMP] "PY 7 CLOSE TGR1
& X 0 DECID$ T ! NI<T WD 2 DIVID$
96F\R WAT*ES1 6GU>D AG/ POSSI#
TR1*]Y ON ! "P (! ,BEE*] CR[D4

8,X SEEMS AN UNK9D PRECAU;N 6TAKE AG/
A FELL[ SCI5TI/10 SD ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]1
  8B
,I C N AF=D 6TAKE *.ES AF :AT HAS
O3URR$40

,! O!RS AGRE$ ) HM1 & ?\< /&+
GU>D 0 N PL1SANT X 0 D"O4 ,H["E
! NI<T PASS$ )\T 9CID5T1 & !N
CAME MORN+ &! EXCITE;T ( GETT+
BR1KFA/1 OV] : ! ,9DIANS MADE M]RY4
,!Y DID N L ! COLD & D>K;S1 &
ALW WELCOM$ ! SUN1 NO MATT] H[ HOT4

8,& N[10 CRI$ ,TOM1 :5 ! M1L 0
OV]1 8LET U 2G9 ! "W T HAS BR"\ U
"H40

8,YES10 AGRE$ ,PROFESSOR ,BUMP]1 8,I W
3SULT ! MAP1 & />T ! DI7]S ": ,I ?9K
! C;Y LIES1 F> 2L ! SURFACE4 ,N[1
  G5TLEM51
IF Y W GIVE ME YR ATT5;N----0


,HE 0 SEEK+ "? 8 \T] COAT POCKETS1
AF AN 9E6ECTUAL SE>* 9 ! 9N] "O4 ,A
/RANGE LOOK CAME OV] 8 FACE4

  8,:AT'S ! MATT]80 ASK$ ,TOM4

8,! MAP--! MAP60 GASP$ ! PROFESSOR4
8,! MAP ,I 0 %[+ Y LA/ NI<T6 ,! MAP
T TELLS ": WE >E 6DIG =! IDOL ( GOLD6
,X'S G"O60

  8,! MAP G"O80 GASP$ ,MR4 ,DAMON4

8,I--,I'M AFRAID S10 FALT]$ ! PROFESSOR4
8,I PUT X AWAY C>E;LLY1 B N[----0

,HE C1S$ SP1K+ 6MAKE A FUR!R SE>*
9 ALL 8 POCKETS4

  8,MAYBE Y LEFT X 9 ANO!R COAT10 SU7E/$
,N$4
  8,OR MAYBE "S (! ,BEE*] CR[D TOOK X60
SNAPP$ ,TOM4


