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longer. It’ll be over before you know it.”
    Though the words were whispered, they sounded vaguely like a threat. Maybe because they were accompanied by another rumble of thunder.
    Jake shrugged and moved out of Drummond’s shadow. He stared up toward the sky again. The moon was almost completely in front of the sun. Even with his goggles, the sun’s corona around the edge of the moon blazed and made his eyes ache.
    Jake blinked and turned as a bell chimed, starting the official event. Finally! He felt his heart thump harder. All eyes were drawn forward as the museum curator held up an arm to silence the murmur in the crowd.
    The camera lights, shining on Kady, were suddenly extinguished. She sagged as if she were a plant shut out from the sun.
    “Here we go,” Drummond said.
    The curator lifted his scissors. “If we could have the Ransom children up here with me!” he called out. “It is only appropriate that they be here for this auspicious occasion. In honor of their parents, Drs. Richard and Penelope Ransom.”
    Morgan Drummond pulled Jake out of hiding and into the limelight. They collected Kady on the way to the stairs.
    A smattering of applause encouraged them up the steps.
    The curator continued, “I’m sure everyone knows the story of the Ransoms, how they discovered the Mountain of Bones, one of the most remote and inhospitable Mayan archaeological sites. Surmounting all manner of obstacles—from man-eating jaguars to malaria-bearing mosquitoes—they explored a magnificent tomb full of relics priceless to history and to our understanding of the ancient Maya. The British Museum, along with the generous and philanthropic support of Bledsworth Sundries and Industries”—the curator nodded to Drummond as heclimbed the stairs with Jake and Kady—“are proud to present in public for the first time the MAYAN TREASURES OF THE NEW WORLD !”
    Another burst of thunder followed his pronouncement.
    As Jake and Kady reached the top of the stairs, the curator pointed to the skies and yelled, “Behold!”
    All the lights were turned off in the courtyard.
    Jake gaped upward. It was happening!
    The moon moved an imperceptible amount and fully covered the sun. The eclipse had gone total. The sun’s corona shot dazzling rays around the darkened moon, as if a black sun blazed in the heavens.
    Jake held his breath in wonder.
    Under the glow of the eclipse, the room dimmed to an eerie twilight. The courtyard’s marble surfaces took on a silvery sheen, as if the floors and walls glowed with an inner light.
    The curator spoke into the darkness. “The Maya themselves predicted this eclipse through their ancient astronomical studies and calculations. We chose this celestial moment to open the exhibit.” He turned with his giant shears. “Mr. Ransom, would you like to help me?”
    A spotlight flared and flooded the top of the steps.
    Jake tore his gaze from the skies and down to the red ribbon. He knew the hallway to his parents’ treasures laybeyond this thin ribbon. He nodded, anxious to move on. “Let’s do it.”
    The curator grinned and held up a hand, signaling Jake to wait stiffly as cameras flashed below. Kady stood with her arms crossed tightly across her chest. Jake knew he would pay later for stealing her attention now.
    Like he had any choice.
    Jake grasped one half of the scissors and together with the curator cut the ribbon with one swift snap.
    As the shears closed and the ribbon fell away, a blinding crackle of lightning shattered across the sky. Thunder immediately boomed. The roof overhead rattled with the close impact. The audience was struck into a frightened silence—then patters of soft laughter followed.
    The curator winked at Jake. “Well, we couldn’t have timed that any better, could we, lad?” He took the shears and straightened.
    Jake turned to stare up at the sky. Storm clouds rolled over the view of the eclipse and blotted it out. A deeper twilight swallowed the courtyard.
    The