Free The Spirit Banner by Alex Archer

wanted to pass on the information but didn't want to make it easy in case it fell into the wrong hands. Remember, there's no way for anyone at that time to verify the map short of going there themselves. So a few subtle alterations and, voilà—the secret is safe."

Davenport frowned. "So the map's a fake? It won't lead us to the tomb?"

Annja smiled. "The map's authentic all right, in the sense that it is as old as we expected it to be, and more than likely penned by the individual we think penned it. The thing is, it just doesn't give accurate directions to the tomb. At least, not directly. The location of the tomb is in there, we just have to break the code to get it."

Davenport's eyes shone with curiosity. "Code?" he asked.

    * * *

    T HE CUTTER SHUT OFF the torch and set it aside. He drew out a long-bladed combat knife. He used it to wedge up one side of the rectangle he'd cut in the roof, and then slid a gloved hand beneath it. A sharp tug broke the last remaining edge and the piece came free in his hand. He passed it to the others and then cautiously stuck his head down through the opening he'd created.

The work area was immediately below them, just as they'd been told it would be.

There was no need for instructions. The entry team had been briefed thoroughly before their departure and they all knew their own individual assignments. One man stayed behind to cover the roof while the leader and the last remaining team member lowered themselves through the hole they'd cut and dropped lightly to the floor below.

They were in!

    * * *

    "L ET ME SHOW YOU ." Annja closed out the maps and brought up several pages from the journal itself. She pointed out the strange addition to each letter that had caught her eye in the first place, then showed them how selecting only those words brought up another message hidden inside the text of the first.

    Beneath the watchful gaze of the eternal blue heaven
    The spirit of the warrior points the way

    To where the blood of the world intertwines
    And the voice in the earth has its say

    The sixty brides rode sixty steeds
    And now rest beneath the watchful eyes of those
    who came before

    In their arms is the truth you seek
    The way to all that was and more

    Then climb to the place where Tengri and Gazan
    meet

    It is there that the Batur makes his home
    "What the heck is that?" Mason asked, bewildered. "I'm not one hundred percent sure," Annja replied nonchalantly, "but if I had to guess, I'd say it is probably directions to the final resting place of Genghis Khan himself."

10

    Annja's announcement was met with renewed excitement from the two men.

"Do you think you can decipher it?" Mason asked.

Annja nodded. "I've worked through the first stanza already, I think. And I've got some ideas about the others. But understand, there's no way to be certain. We could get all the way there only to discover I was wrong about the first part, which would then call the rest of the solution into question, as well. It's a crapshoot."

She didn't miss the look that passed between the two men.

"Let's say, just for the sake of argument, that I can figure it out. What, then?" Annja asked.

Davenport laughed. "What, then? Why, we go after it, of course!" he said. "In fact, we'd better start making plans to do so now. The off-season is coming on quickly over there, so we'll have to wait until spring, of course, but that will give us time to get things organized and allow you a chance to work out the puzzle to your satisfaction before we leave the country. We'll need to get travel and dig permits from the Mongolian authorities, arrange for local guides and transportation, never mind choosing the right individuals to be a part of the dig team." He must have seen something in her face in reaction to that last statement, for he suddenly turned to her with a grin. "You are coming along, right?" he asked.

With a start, Annja realized she did want to go. Very badly, in fact. Working with the map and diary