Capítulo 5: Panic..

Abigail points her torch upward looking at the graffiti one after the other. She moves slowly tracing the drawing on the wall.

She realizes she has gone far from the others when the drawings come to an end. She felt as if she just finished reading a book; she noticed the foreign words written beneath the drawings.

Abigail: that was epic ( she sighs; suddenly she could feel someone coming behind her; at first, it was "just," but then it became closer.. she waited for the person to get very close to her and then reacted. She felt the person's hand on her shoulder; she quickly got hold of the hand, twisted it, and then pushed the person with force, causing the person to hit the wall hard. The person fell.. looking u,p she realised it was a Smith.

Abigail: oh my gosh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to; I thought you were something else... I am so sorry(she apologised, extending her hand towards him for assistance. She supported him). Are you okay?

Smith: was I supposed to? (walks past her, and she notices his hand bleeding)

Abigail: where have you been?

Smith: Here and there ( turn to her) found anything?

Abigail: Um...no, do you mind telling me what happened to your hand?

Smith: I had a small fall

Abigail: you should get medical assistance from Doctor Frank before your wound gets contaminated.

Smith: thanks

Abigail:( turns to leave) we should get going. We've been called. (she walks away)

At the earth's surface...

Henry: sir? We can't just dispatch the team off (He said, making an effort to convince the director... while they take a walk in the environment ). Come on, I mean, this is gonna be a hit for us; it's the best we've ever handled... we're so close to the best part. The drawings, description, and writing including the antiques are conservation of the

Director:( he stops and turns to Henry, Henry stops in shock) Henry! Henry!! Henry! ( he shouted at the top of his voice) you value position and awards; I respect that, but mind if I remind you that it's an order from the board, and we can't disobey it. We've gathered enough, get the team prepared we're leaving any moment from now( he sighs, then pats Henry on his back and walks away)

Henry: but it's barely two days... Aish! ( he shouted in defeat, using his feet to stamp against the ground.)

Henry went back to the campsite, setting things in order and giving out instructions.

Smith walked into a tent. He saw a man in black trousers and sleeves attending to a lady. He was the team doctor. He adjusted the spectacle he was wearing around his neck, a Stethoscope. When he was done, the lady left, and he turned to a smith who was standing all the while. 'Sniffing...'

Frank: you're just gonna stand over there?...( he stood up) Come on have a seat( he offered) hmm? ( smith walks over to a stool, and he sat down. Doc Frank brought out his medical equipment. He sat in the opposite seat, taking Smith's hands, he observed, then he brought out a sterile spirit to cleanse the wound, and then he brought out a sterile dressing pad.

He holds the bandage on either side of the pad, lays the pad directly on the wound, winds the short end once around the limb and the pad winds the other end around the limb to cover the whole pad.. ties the ends together over the pad to secure it, and put slight pressure on the wound.) All done... it's a light cut so it'll take time to heal.

Smith: thanks, Doc Frank, I appreciate it.

The tents were dismantled, and the equipment was loaded on the bus in a few moments.. the archaeologist, director, supervisor, managers, and drivers were all set to go. Their ride was two long coastal buses that could accommodate all of them. Since they were 30 in number they were split into 2, 15 in the first bus and 15 in the second bus. The engine started, and the bus fell off.

A man in spectacle was reading a newspaper; he pushed his spectacles to the ridge of his nose, sniffing; beside the man was Henry, who seemed frustrated.

Henry:(clear throat) So you read that every day you're bored?

Frank: it has a nice headline and is interesting enough to keep me busy every time... I get them to order at my table every morning ( turn to Henry) are you okay?

Henry: Yeah, sure, I am not sure.

Frank: expect disappointment and you'd never get one.

Henry: (smile faintly)

After a few minutes of driving so close to the exit of the town, the second bus stopped. Henry came down to meet with the driverr,r, who alighted from the bus to check on it. The first bus had left, and there was no sight of it.

(voices in the bus) : what's going on???

Henry: what's going on?

Driver: I think the bus's current socket just cut off.

Henry: is it gas...?

Driver: no electrical. (coughs hard)

Henry: Sorry

Driver: thanks, it's not that bad... it's gonna last till we get to the busy side of this area.

Henry: is there a way for that?

Driver: I can manage.

A few minutes later the driver was done fixing the bus. They continue their trip, but then the driver, Michael, notices something strange. The exit they took out of the town only brought them back to the spot where the car broke down. They were going around in circles.

Henry: what the hell is going on? We've been going around in circles( he said, annoyed, he stepped down from the bus along with Frank and the driver. They stood facing the exit road.

Frank: why do we keep going around in circles?

Michael: this is the road we took while coming here, a day back and this is the road the first bus took...

Henry: excuse me ( he brought out his phone and dialled the director's number, but the signal was jammed, and the number was unavailable). No signal. Is this the outskirts of this town? ( he shouted in frustration after multiple tries)

Frank: this is unbelievable.

Henry: hey Michael.. are you sure this is the right way? (Henry bit on his bottom lip a bit ) we should glimpse for another route... ( his eyes caught sight of another road, and he went that direction to check it out. They followed him) How about we take This road?

Driver: I am not certain about this road; seems unfamiliar. There wasn't a road here in the first place.

Henry:(exhales) Whether there was or wasn't, I think we just need to pass through this road.

Frank: he's right; I never noticed a road here A day back.

Henry: Michael, it's a road- road, it leads to somewhere. Let's go! ( they entered the bus) no need to panic, guys; we've got the situation under control. So ease your mind. So ease your.. your worries... I have a bad day already( he mumbled to himself; Michael drove onto that road after a while of driving on a lonely road without signs of stores, houses, or people. The car broke down the driver got down to check out the problem.

He asks everyone to get out of the car...

Henry: what's the problem again?

Michael: I think we have to continue the journey on foot, it's totally bad( look around) and judging about this town. It's blurry.

Henry: gather around! ( he instructed, the archaeologist to gather around) the car Just broke down, and honestly speaking( deep breaths), we can't get it done now.

Nora: why not? We can just get an engineer or call someone to get it fixed ( she stutters)

Henry: if you just take a look around, you'll understand what I mean...( they look around)...that we are in the middle of nowhere.

Crowd: what?? (panic)

Henry:(stutters) No, no, I didn't mean to frighten you guys; that's not what I mean. What I meant is, we can't get an automobile engineer here this place is - is a bit uninhabited.

Adam: sir(he called)

Henry: Yeah, any questions?

Adam: do you know that compass can't geolocate today? ( Adam said lifting the compass in his hand above his head so everyone could see, Henry walked to him)

Henry: I believe your name is Adam right?

Adam: yeah am the new guy who got transferred months ago into your department.

Henry: Adam Richard (mutters, then he smirks) Well, Adam, I did not notice Compass can't geolocate today...

Adam: time keeps fluctuating, not accurate ( Henry brought out his phone to check it out, he looked at Adam with alarming eyes)

Henry: I admire your significance of observation Adam, but do me a little favour ( he drew his face closer to Adam's ear) don't scare the crowd( Adam nodded and Henry went back)

Frank: I don't like this

Henry: circular routine, bad signal, compass, and time fluctuating ( exhales hard) am getting terrified now.. a little. ( turn to the crowd) get the valuable stuff you'll need during this journey, I don't know how long we're gonna walk...hoping for help.