The Deadly Mind Game: Troy Rollock Series, #2

By Alex Zabala

Voted as Grand Master Semi-Finalist in the 2023 Clive Cussler Adventure Writers Competition! Here are some quotes from the judges:

 

"Fun opening and snappy dialogue. There are a LOT of archaeology stories in the competition, but this one is well-written and fun."

 

"I loved the archaeology hook. Intriguing story, engaging characters, and a robot! Fantastic descriptive scenery."

 

"Intriguing story, engaging characters, fantastic scenery, what could go wrong? I loved it."

 

"Interesting characters with whom we can identify. Great descriptions of scenery and action."

 

 

At home in New Mexico shortly after the adventure in Guatemala, Troy Rollock receives a surprise; an envelope containing a check for fifty thousand dollars from an unknown-to-him person named Albert Edwin. Along with the check is a written invitation to follow cryptic clues that will lead to the final prize: a relic worth two million dollars! Troy accepts the challenge and employs his Secret Society of Savant Archaeologist crew (SSOSA) to assist him while traveling the globe in an attempt to decipher the incredibly complex clues. Things take a potentially deadly turn after Troy and SSOSA learn that the secretive Mr. Edwin has elevated the stakes by giving Troy an opponent, an old enemy bent on killing him. Follow along as Troy and his crew unravel the mystery to unmask this man and discover why he started a deadly mind game.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcani Arts
• Release date: Jun 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223408697

Book preview

Chapter 1

Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mexico

The only thing worse than the cramped conditions was the dust. Troy Rollock wasn't exactly claustrophobic, of course, or at least he kept trying to tell himself that. It was just dusty down in a tunnel underneath the Pyramid of the Sun. Dusty and hot. The only thing worse than the cramped confines was the dust, the heat, the bugs...he could have kept the list going but he shook his head and tried to concentrate on what was in front of him. Are you almost done? he asked, his voice sounding muffled through his respirator.

I am almost done, a computerized voice answered immediately. Please try to be patient, Troy.

He felt a fresh wave of annoyance wash over him. It's easy to be patient when you don't have to worry about the heat and the dust, he retorted. What do you know about heat and sweating?

The scorpion-shaped robot in front of him did not pause its excavation. That is true. My most important parts are hermetically sealed. I know nearly everything but I do not know what it is like to sweat.

Troy rolled his eyes and rested against the wall. I'm going to ask David to reprogram you so you can understand sarcasm and innuendos.

My creator has made me complete. I am fine the way I am. Your predicament is your own fault. You do not need to be down here with me.

He wanted to say something else sarcastic but it would have been lost on the robot in front of him. Besides, the worst part was that AART was right. The Archaeological Artifact Recovery Tool (AART) had been designed by David Nix to be a perfect tool for excavation and retrieval operations like the very one Troy found himself on. With its advanced artificial intelligence it could handle all but the most complex jobs on its own, which meant there was no need for Troy to be down here babysitting it. Even worse, the job they were handling had a distinctly dangerous aspect to it.

The existence of a tunnel beneath the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan had been known since the early 1970s. In 2005 an earnest search had revealed that the 130-foot tunnel led to a chamber filled with a dazzling array of artifacts. Thousands of objects had been discovered, including unusual yellow spheres, human-shaped figurines, obsidian blades, and numerous arrowheads. But the reason that Troy and his team were here today was because recent radar technology and hypotheses suggested that even more grandiose finds were waiting beyond the original chamber.

The dangerous part was that scans suggested a substantial amount of liquid mercury was present in the area. Thus the reason he was clad head-to-foot in a hazmat suit, complete with a full-face respirator. That made the already-claustrophobic trip even harder to endure. Which, again, made the robot correct. He didn't have to be here. In fact, his team had tried very hard to encourage him to not be here. So why was he here?

It was a question he'd been asking himself a lot over the last few minutes. His crew had called it stubbornness. There was definitely some truth to that accusation, he had to admit. But his drive to be down here in the tunnel with AART went beyond simple stubbornness. Some part of him needed to be down here, to be the first in centuries or even millennia to see that which was hidden away. He had a deep-seated drive to uncover secrets, to unravel mysteries, to find things others had intended to hide.

AART's digging suddenly stopped, its eight legs articulated rapidly as it backed up slightly. What's wrong? Troy demanded. Is there mercury?

No, I would have warned you had that been the case. This final segment of rock is of a slightly different composition. I need to adjust my drilling pattern.

Don't start digging just yet, I need a drink. Troy waited for the dust to settle a little before unlatching his respirator so he could get a drink of ice-cold water from his water bladder.

What are your thoughts on why there is such a large amount of liquid mercury down here? AART asked.

Troy looked at the robot. I thought you knew nearly everything.

I know the theories that others have put forth regarding the mercury, but as I was not here when these pyramids were built I cannot know for certain the ancient's reasoning.

He snorted. Good point. I like the theory that mercury is a byproduct of heating cinnabar. That process was used to produce a pigment to decorate jade objects and to color the bodies of their royalty.

I also agree with that particular theory. The prevalence of jade in Mesoamerican life would certainly have led to a large amount of liquid mercury. There must be a large cache of jade and/or royalty waiting for us, which would explain why there is so much mercury.

Which would explain why the people who lived here are all dead now, they died of mercury poisoning, Troy quipped.

AART went silent for a few seconds. Troy, the people who constructed these pyramids lived nearly two thousand years ago. They would have died of old age long before—

It's sarcasm, AART, Troy interrupted before sighing and pulling his respirator back on. Just keep digging, will you?

Rio Jordan wiped the sweat from her forehead. She partly wished that she was in the tunnel next to Troy, being the first to see antiquities after they'd been buried for so long. She was very much like him in that regard, and that was one of the things that attracted her to him. Her need to be the first to achieve something had been relegated to the realm of nuclear physics. Then she'd hired the Secret Society of Savant Archaeologists (SSOSA) and subsequently joined them, and now she shared Troy's burning desire to unearth the mysteries of the past. Said desire burned a little less brightly than his, though, which is why mostly she was happy to be safely above-ground while Troy joined AART. Sure, it was hot up here, too. But at least it wasn't cramped and dusty as well.

She looked around. Okay, it was dusty. They were only 25 miles from Mexico City, and there was still plenty of dust to be kicked about despite the urban sprawl that was almost literally on the doorstep of the Pyramid of the Sun. She shook her head in amazement. Here she was at an antiquities dig site and she was less than fifteen minutes away from a grocery store. It was a far cry from the dense jungles of Guatemala that had comprised her first outing with SSOSA.

You really need to keep your hand off the joystick, David, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

She glanced over at the speaker. Ashni Sengupta, a brilliant electronics engineer from India, was standing next to David Nix, their robotic expert and the designer of AART. David was particularly over-protective of his arachnid invention and had a tendency to try to take a hands-on approach.

You need to trust your AI, Rio said as she walked over and looked at the banks of monitors. Thankfully the heavy-duty tarp was keeping the sunlight at bay; without it the heat from the computers and the light would certainly have melted all of them by now.

David reluctantly removed his hand from the joystick that would allow him to manually override AART's movements. I know, I know, he grumbled. I just...according to the spectrometer the rocks are a different composition here. I was worried AART might not react properly.

Both women leaned in closer to the monitor that showed the radar and spectrometer readouts. Did he react properly? Ashni asked.

Of course he did, he responded, a hint of indignation in his voice.

Then trust him and relax.

Rio tapped her pen against the radar screen Maybe he's just nervous because there are only 45 centimeters between AART and the royal chamber.

That too, David admitted. This is it, you guys. We're only 18 inches away from making history.

Finding history, Rio corrected with a smile.

Where are the museum reps when you need them? Ashni asked, obviously irritated. They went to all the trouble of cordoning this area off, and they hovered over us like vultures for the whole setup, but now that we're at the goal they disappeared.

They obviously underestimated how quickly AART can excavate, David answered with pride.

Ashni stood up on her tip-toes and looked around. Do either of you think we should wait for them?

Instead of answering, David leaned forward and spoke into the microphone. Troy, the museum reps aren't here. Do you want to wait for them?

How much further? Troy's partially-garbled voice responded immediately.

42 centimeters now, Rio answered, also leaning toward the microphone.

Sixteen and a half inches, Troy said, performing the calculation instantly. There's only a little more than a foot between me and the royal chamber? Heck no, keep digging. Let the museum reps miss out on the glory. We're still recording, right? Okay good. AART, keep going.

The speakers went quiet and David leaned back. That's exactly what I thought he'd say.

Rio smiled as she looked over in the direction of the tunnel. Yes, that was exactly what she knew Troy would say. There was nothing that could stand in the way of Troy Rollock and a mystery waiting to be solved.

Troy smiled and propped himself up from his prone position. The tunnel was far too short to stand up in so he simply leaned forward like a sprinter getting ready for the starter's pistol. The second AART had opened a hole big enough for him to go through, he was going in. His pulse started pounding in his neck and he had to take several deep breaths to try and calm himself.

What was on the other side of those rocks was anybody's guess. The radar images had been fuzzy and only showed a large underground chamber with no details, but the consensus among the team was that the find was going to be spectacular. Considering what had already been found in the other tunnels down here, however, there was no doubt in his mind that this might be the single greatest discovery in SSOSA's recent history.

I have bad news, AART said as he suddenly stopped drilling.

Not now, Troy snapped. We're almost there! Keep digging.

I am detecting substantial quantities of mercury beyond this wall.

That gave Troy pause. Define substantial, he said. Enough to be a problem even with my hazmat suit?

Potentially. It is definitely a large amount.

Troy closed his eyes and sighed. You're kidding.

I'm sorry, Troy, but as you know my maker did not grant me a sense of humor. I have been attempting to replicate one, but this is not a situation where—

Nevermind, Troy interrupted. He clicked his headset on. Hey, guys, I need you to get a decontamination crew over here on the double.

What's the problem? Rio asked.

Even over the static, he could tell she was worried. Nothing yet, but AART is detecting substantial amounts of mercury in the chamber, more than we planned for.

Are you sure you should risk it? Ashni asked.

Troy looked over at where AART stood motionless. They'd been down here digging for what felt like hours. Yes, he said resolutely. There's no going back now. I'll get in, snap some pictures, take a more accurate reading of the mercury levels, and then get out.

Okay, but please be careful.

Troy smiled a cocky half-smile. Don't worry about me. I get to be the first to see this chamber in centuries. Catch you top-side, and make sure the tunnel entrance is clear.

Second, AART said after he resumed digging.

What?

You will be the second to see this chamber in centuries. I will be the first, since I am the one digging it open.

Troy snorted. That was almost a sense of humor. Okay, I'll be the first human in centuries to set eyes on a king's treasure.

And I will be the first robot to assist you!

Hate to burst your bubble, but the Mexican archaeologists had a small robot cruising around the other tunnels before you. Tlaloc II, I think.

Compared to me, Tlaloc II is a toaster oven.

That gave Troy pause. Excuse me?

That was an attempt at a sarcastic take down. Throwing shade, I believe it is called?

He couldn't help but chuckle. Once this is over we're definitely having David work up a better sense of humor.

The rock wall suddenly collapsed in a plume of dust before AART could respond. Troy squeezed his eyes shut automatically. Wearing a full-face respirator meant he didn't have to do that, of course, but reflexes were reflexes. A loud whirring sound kicked in as the top-side pumps began sucking the dust out and replacing it with fresh oxygen, a setup that they'd anticipated would be needed. Troy waved at the dust in front of his face to try and get it out of the way, but it was much thicker than he thought. His headlamp, despite being a full 20,000 lumen, wasn't able to penetrate the thick cloud. AART's headlamps, which were even brighter, weren't a whole lot more effective.

Keep digging and lift yourself up, Troy ordered. The arachnid responded immediately, obviously understanding what Troy had in mind. There was no side for AART to move to in order to let Troy through, which meant he was going under. He army-crawled beneath the robot and headed toward what he hoped was a hole large enough for him to fit through. At this point I might be the first person in years to enter the room, but I won't be the first person to see the room because I can't see anything!

His hands and knees touched a paved stone surface. His heart soared. He was in the chamber! He reached behind him, grabbed the air pump hose, and pulled it further into the chamber. Wispy shadows filled a chamber that was much bigger than the tunnel and he could barely keep his breathing controlled. Slowly but surely the dust began to clear and the sheer magnificence of the royal chamber came into focus.

This is amazing, he whispered to himself. Gold, silver, and jade objects were piled high around the entire exterior of the chamber but he barely noticed them. A large sarcophagus sat in the middle of the room, beckoning him to come closer. He switched on his head-mounted sports camera and looked slowly around the room, careful to record absolutely everything. His adrenaline was spiking and he felt more alive than he had in months. This, this was why he did what he did! As Rio would say, he was finding history...and he was relishing every millisecond of it.

Troy! AART practically shouted. Troy spun around just in time to see the robot lift its arms over its head and brace them against the ceiling. You must vacate!

What's wrong?

The ceiling is weak. I did not sense it before, but now there is no doubt. There is going to be a cave-in.

What? But we just got here! Troy exclaimed as a hollow pit seemed to open up in his stomach.

A sickening rumble was his answer. Dirt and rocks began to fall from the ceiling and his feet finally unglued from the floor. He sprinted over to AART