Cult of the Black Jaguar Read Online Free Page A

with it the worst of his symptoms, he was able to sit up and open his eyes. His hand moved to his shoulder.
    â€œIf you’re looking for the dart that did you in, don’t bother, I already removed it,” Harrison said.
    Ethan held up a shaky arm and Amos grabbed it, helping him to his feet. “Good to have you back, boss. You’ve been out cold for a while.”
    â€œIt feels like I just came off a two-week bender.” Ethan rubbed his forehead while he waited for the world to stop doing lazy circles around him. “Jesus, what the hell did they shoot me with?”
    Harrison thrust the wooden cup of juice at him again, but Ethan pushed it away. Even the smell was nauseating.
    â€œSome kind of local toxin, probably a curare derivative,” the English doctor said. “Lucky for you they want us alive. Some of those Indian poisons can kill a man in under a minute. Veracruz left the juice, said it would wash out the poison. He also left our canteens.”
    â€œIs everyone else all right?” Ethan glanced around the stone-walled room and took a quick headcount. Their party was all there.
    Most importantly, Jenny was there, sitting beside her father. Both of them looked exhausted. Jenny started to rise, but Ethan motioned for her to stay with Heathcliff.
    â€œBruised and sore, but no broken bones.” Amos shrugged. “There was a bit of a tussle after you went down. Luz and Popi were hiding in buildings to either side of us. A classic trap. We put up a good fight, but in the end the professor told us to surrender.”
    The younger man’s tones indicated his distaste with the decision.
    â€œBetter to be prisoners than dead.” Heathcliff reclined against one ancient wall. Jenny patted his hand and held a canteen at the ready.
    â€œYou made the right decision,” Ethan agreed. He looked down at his wrist, but his watch was gone. Peering out of the small, square windows lining the walls he saw the sun still had a ways to go before it set. “It looks like late afternoon, maybe four or five o’clock. What’ve you been up to while I was out?”
    â€œCooling our heels and conserving our strength, mostly.” Amos waved his hand at the room. “They took everything we had; belts, watches, pocket knives. And our packs, of course.”
    â€œWhat about the door?”
    â€œIt won’t budge. They’ve got it braced from the outside. And the windows are too small for even Jenny or Harrison to fit through.”
    Amos scuffed his boot against the dry earth. “Sorry, boss. I wish I had better news.”
    â€œNot your fault, Rory. There was no way to know Hector and his men were crazy. We’ll just have to be ready for any opportunity to escape.”
    He turned and faced the others, cleared his throat to get their attention. “I don’t intend for—” He stopped at the sound of voices from outside. A moment later the door opened, filling the dim quarters with golden, late afternoon sunlight.
    Ethan’s long-barreled Colt held out in front of him, Veracruz entered the prison. Popi and Luz followed close behind, rifles at the ready.
    Veracruz pointed at Jenny. “It is time to prepare for the ceremony. You will accompany us to the temple, where you will be cleansed before the sacrifice. The rest of you will stay here until your blood is needed.”
    â€œNo!” Ethan lunged at Popi. Two punches to the stomach doubled the man over and knocked the gun from his hands, but the guide surprised Ethan by drawing a thin, obsidian-bladed knife and slashing across Ethan’s midsection. The stone blade, sharp as German steel, sliced through Ethan’s field vest and flayed open the flesh along his ribs.
    Ethan cried out in agony and fell backwards, hands over the bloody gash. He tried to get up, but a heavy boot caught him in the chest, knocking the wind from him. Arrows of pain shot outwards from the knife wound.
    Ethan