CHAPTER XV
Under the Dragon's Claws
The Spindrift group jumped into action. Rick, Tony, and Chahda carried the earth scanner into the recess and set it up. Scotty consulted with Angel, and at a word from the Filipino, Balaban the Igorot climbed the wall to the terrace above their heads where he sprawled among the rice with rifle ready.
Angel moved to the left about fifty feet, while Scotty moved the same distance to the right. Dog Meat ran down the meadow to the road, crossed the terrace, and took up a watch on the village.
"Work fast," Tony said. "They must know we're here. If they didn't see us, they at least heard the motors."
Rick was already at work. He plugged in the probe, checked the controls, then turned them over to Tony. The scientist set the controls and turned on the activation switch.
Rick moved the probe in a long sweep, starting in front of the dragon, while Tony and Chahda watched the scope.
"Standard pattern," Tony reported. "Keep it moving ... no change ... no change...."
Rick stepped sideways and moved the probe through a slightly different arc. "No change...."
Again Rick took a step and swung the probe. He kept moving until the probe had nearly covered the ground in front of the dragon, then he took a position next to the bronze statue and covered the ground directly under its nose.