“There’s no fixing this,” Marika said with a heavy sigh. “But maybe we can hold off anyone finding out what happened.”
Pindor’s face brightened. “What do you mean? Your father’s up here all the time. He’ll see it.”
Marika crossed to a stack of books that had toppled over during the commotion. She picked up two books, stepped over to the ruined section of the table, and covered the hole with the books. She stacked one atop the other. “Get the rest,” she ordered.
Jake and Pindor quickly collected the books. The pile rose again to a teetering tower. Jake shared a grin with Pindor. The hole was now hidden, and the scorch mark under the table was easy to miss.
Marika inspected their work. “Papa leaves stacks like these all around and forgets about them.”
“So he might not find the hole for several moons!” Pindor said.
“No, he’ll find out sooner than that,” Marika said with a stern pinch of her brow.
“How?” Pindor asked.
“Because I will tell my father all about it. But I’ll wait until the morning after the Equinox.”
“Mari!”
“No, Pin. He must be told. Still, it’s no reason to ruin the celebrations. It was my father and mother’s favorite day. And now there’s only the two of us….” Her words died away, but she glared at Pindor. “I will not have the Equinox ruined! But after the celebrations, I must tell Papa.”
The boy grumbled under his breath. It sounded like he was far from agreeing with her. In this instance, Jake sided with his Roman friend. If anyone found out what they did, Jake feared, his career as an alchemist’s apprentice would end.
“Well, at least I won’t miss the game,” Pin said.
The sun was already heading toward the horizon as they exited the Astromicon.
Pin glanced one more time through the door before Marika closed it. “No wonder someone tried to get rid of you,” he said to Jake. “Your sy-enz is nothing but trouble.”
“I didn’t know.” Jake looked over at Marika. “I wish I could do it all over again.”
“My father always says, Look twice and step once, because down some roads, there’s no turning back.” She pulled the latch on the door and sealed the Astromicon. They gathered the remains of their picnic lunch in silence, lost in private worries and regrets.
Look twice and step once…
Jake remembered pushing Kady’s half of the coin into the golden pyramid back at the British Museum. Even back then, he had leaped without looking and dragged Kady along with him.
Down some roads, there’s no turning back.
Did the same hold true here?
Jake straightened with the picnic blanket folded in his arms. Beyond the castle walls, he spied the stone dragon stationed in the woods, guarding the great temple. Jake refused to believe that there wasn’t a way back home. Still, he felt the pressure of time like bands of steel squeezing his chest. Once the accident here was discovered, he would lose all hope of exploring the pyramid. He had one more day at best.
But that might just be enough.
Jake remembered Pindor’s pained concern about missing the Olympiad. Everyone’s going to be there! Jake’s eyes narrowed as he stared over at the pyramid. With the whole town looking toward the stadium, who would be watching the other side of town?
This might be his one and only chance. He had to sneak over there and discover what secret lay within the crystal heart of Kukulkan.
Still, Marika’s words echoed in his head.
Look twice and step once…
If he attempted this and failed, there would be no turning back. He would surely be imprisoned or banished. And what about Kady? She would likely share his fate.
“Are you ready?” Marika asked.
Jake nodded.
He’d better be ready.
PART THREE
16
GAME DAY
As Jake climbed down the stairs the next morning, he spotted Marika and her father already in the common room. They moved like a well-oiled machine: placing bowls on the tables, testing a pitcher of hot chocolate with a finger, cutting a pink melon into slices. Balam whispered in Marika’s ear, drawing a silly grin. She giggled when her father found the chocolate too hot and sucked on his burned finger. They moved with the ease of years of love. It was an effortless and happy dance of the morning, shared by father and daughter.
Jake paused in the middle of the stairs, remembering similar mornings at Ravensgate Manor: of his mother helping Aunt Matilda fry eggs and bacon, of his father at the table in his socks and robe, buried in one of his journals. He remembered laughter and hugs and warm smiles.
“Looks like someone’s finally come to join us!”
Jake shook himself and reluctantly pushed aside the ghosts of his parents. He lifted an arm in greeting to Marika’s father and continued down the stairs.
During the night, Jake had put together a plan, plotting it all out in the dark. He steeled himself for the bit of acting necessary to put the first stage of his plan in action.
Jake limped off the last step and faked a pained wince and a gasp. He felt a real twinge at having to deceive Marika and her father, but he had no choice. He hobbled toward the table.
“What’s wrong?” Marika asked.
Jake leaned down and rubbed his right leg. “After sleeping, my leg’s cramped up. And…and…” He put a palm to his forehead. “And I don’t think I’m feeling all that well.”
Balam hurried to his side, tested his forehead, and urged Jake to sit down. “Let me see your leg. Stingtail venom is nothing to be taken lightly.”
Jake hiked up his pant leg. Balam examined the healing scratch on Jake’s calf. “No redness. No puffiness,” the old man said with relief. “Looks fine. The muscles must’ve been bruised by the venom and tightened up.”
Jake nodded. It sounded good to him—and fit his plan. He needed to be left behind when everyone headed over to the stadium for the big game. Once alone, he’d have his best chance of sneaking over to the temple.
“Maybe you’d better spend one more day here in the tower,” Balam said. “It’s a shame that you’ll miss the Olympiad.”
Jake forced his face into a mask of disappointment. “I’ll just lie down. Maybe by the evening I’ll feel well enough to go to the Equinox party.”
Marika touched her father’s arm. “Papa, I can stay with Jake. We can’t leave him alone. What if he needs something…or becomes sicker.”