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silver keypad, and started punching in the numbers.
    The three joined Ben, crouching around him in anticipation for another jolt.
    A green LED to the side of the buttons lit up after he keyed in the last digit. A white light winked above the airlock, and the countdown timer started at fifty-nine seconds.
    “Bet you didn’t expect this on your first day?” Maria said.
    “It’s going to be okay, right?” Ethan said.
    “We’ll be fine. Trust me,” Ben said.
    The truth was, he didn’t know what the hell was happening. For the past thirteen years, he’d robotically carried out his shifts, eaten, slept, and studied. This was as new to him as it was to the new arrival.
    Whooshing from behind the airlock grew louder. The timer neared zero.
    “Ready guys?” Ben said.
    The airlock slid open with a reassuring hiss. Light filled the corridor.
    Ben stepped into the bright silver space. The others joined him. He looked over to Maria, who returned his gaze.
    A neutral female voice came from the internal speaker. “Door closing.”

Chapter Five
    Charlie yawned and reached over the dashboard of his truck to get his Wayfarer shades. The sun’s glare reflected off his rearview mirror. The clock on the dashboard indicated it had just turned 8 a.m.
    Some overly loud radio presenter was just finishing up the morning show. He mistook himself for Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam, only he didn’t have the talent and this wasn’t the ‘60s, but still, the next track on was James Brown’s “I Feel Good.”
    Despite himself, Charlie sang along as he cruised across the deserted Virginia Dare Memorial bridge that connected Roanoke Island with the North Virginia mainland. They’d be at the dig site in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in less than thirty minutes.
    “Jesus,” Pippa said, sitting up from her slouched position in the passenger chair, wiping at her eyes. “How can anyone be so damned perky at this time of morning? Especially after that journey.”
    “It’s only been nine hours. We’ve made good time. Come on, Pip, sing with me. I feel nice! Sugar and spice.”
    Pippa turned the radio down. “I don’t know what’s worse: your singing or your chirpy mood. Have you taken something while I was asleep?”
    Charlie grinned. He hadn’t taken anything, but the thrill of the road trip and the discovery was enough to keep him buzzing all day. He loved these kinds of trips, driving across the state, watching dawn approach. It had a sense of change to it, the colors in the sky brightening, bringing with them a new sense of momentum, a promise of new adventures and truths waiting to be uncovered.
    “Don’t be a grouch, Pip. We could be making massive news by the end of the day. Think of the opportunities. You’ll be more famous than Zavi Rammas.”
    “Zahi Hawass,” Pip corrected.
    “Yeah, that dude.”
    Charlie continued on, taking Highway 64 through Manns Harbor, leaving the glistening Croatoan Sound behind. A few gulls were busy fishing as he continued toward the mainland.
    A few more cars appeared on the road, but being an early Saturday morning, the place still felt like it was deserted. Charlie always liked this part of the world. Lots of greenery. It felt natural. The Wildlife Refuge itself was one of the first places he had visited here once he was approached to survey the place.
    “If we have time, you fancy hiring some kayaks for a trip down Mill Tail Creek? I hear it’s a real nice trip heading up to Alligator River.”
    “I don’t do boat trips,” Pippa said. “I prefer a nice quiet bar and some food. I’m starving.”
    “There’s still some donuts in the back.”
    “Want one?” Pippa asked.
    “Nah, I’m good. I’ll get some eggs in town after we’ve finished at the dig. So tell me, if we check it out and prove the beads were definitely there at the time, and by now we know for definite the freaky little bastards aren’t human-made, at least from that period, what’s your