Rick breathed freely for the first time. "Tony, I think he's going for it!"
"I certainly hope so," the scientist said with relief. "But regardless of how the decision goes, the artifacts must be collected. Let's get some work done."
How to get the dragon away from the underground crypt was solved with the truck winch. The cable was passed around the pedestal and the whole business hauled forward. Then Rick, Scotty, Angel, and Chahda began to dig while Tony examined each inch of progress for signs that the crypt was being reached.
A whistle came from outside. Dog Meat beckoned. The party stopped digging and hurried out in time to see a station wagon come to a halt on the road above the village. Six men got out and were met by an elderly Ifugao. But before they were ushered to the village they took time to stare at the Spindrift expedition.
The Spindrift group stared back with a combination of fear, disappointment, and disgust. Four of the men were strangers. One was an American—James Nast. The sixth was the Assistant Secretary of the Interior!
CHAPTER XVI
Flying Spears
"Just like the old saying," Rick observed. "Birds of a feather flock together. A crooked Filipino, a crooked American, and a crazy Ifugao are now in conference. And what is the conference about?"
"They talk about who wins next World Series," Chahda suggested brightly.