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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 13, 2018 20:56:49 GMT -6
Zeke took a seat on one of the chairs that were inside the room, and Jacob sat down next to him.
"That guy was certainly interesting, wasn't he?" Zeke chuckled, talking about Zeal.
"Yeah, he was." Jacob agreed with a nod. "Don't you think it was a little weird, though? I don't think he was trying to lie about whatever he says he saw. He really seemed to believe it."
"He probably does believe it." Zeke replied. "When you've travelled as much as I have, you see people who swear on their lives that they saw something crazy all the time. But time and time again it just turns out to be their imaginations running wild. You can't let their stories draw you in."
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 8:36:02 GMT -6
The two didn't need to wait long, a woman in her late twenties came in. Her cinnamon brown hair was tied back in a bun, half lense glasses perched her nose with her blue eyes.
"You must be Ezekiel," the woman greeted. "I'm Mary Torel. We talked on the phone as we schedule your arrival."
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 9:10:57 GMT -6
"Please, call me Zeke." the archeologist replied with a warm smile as he stood up and shook the woman's hand. "It's nice that we can finally speak in person. Thank you so much for allowing us to come to your beautiful village to dig for artifacts. I would like you to meet my assistant, Jacob."
Zeke motioned to the young man who was standing next to him.
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 9:19:17 GMT -6
Torel shakes the younger mans hand after Zeke.
"If my memory is right you're looking for remains of a civilization that use to exist just beyond our village?
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 9:22:02 GMT -6
Zeke nodded his head in confirmation. "Yes, that is correct. I was hoping that you could show us where the site is. We don't plan to start digging until tomorrow, but I would like to get a lay of the land today if possible."
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 9:23:55 GMT -6
"Won't be a problem. I've already gone through the maps of every category that I think shall help expediently. Just be sure to remember our agreement and I think we can do business. Unfortunately I'm gonna be having my hands full most of the time. With all the robberies, but we're also expecting a medical team. A lot of the people have been finding bites on their bodies that weren't there when they went to bed."
She holds out her wrist, showing two puncture marks that has already scabbed over and would heal in less than a week.
"It's a bit strange but it could be vampire bats, though nothing in any research shows that they lived here."
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 9:31:26 GMT -6
"I promise that I will keep my end of the agreement." Zeke said, addressing what Ms. Torel said about them doing business, "All of the artifacts I find, I will show them to you in case you would prefer to keep any of them. And half of the profit that we make from selling the artifacts to museums will go to you and this village."
Zeke had always thought it was only fair to let his hosts receive half of his profit. It was their home lands that he dug in, after all. And he and Jacob could still live very comfortably with the money that they kept for themselves
"Your bitemark..." Jacob interrupted, staring at the scabs on the woman's wrist, "That guy outside said that is how some strange creatures mark their victims."
"Jacob!" Zeke huffed, clearly now agitated with his assistant, "I literally just told you not to get sucked into stories like that!"
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 9:34:24 GMT -6
"Zeal, of course. Sorry about him. He's been 'tormenting' and 'scaring' a lot of visitors with his stories of seeing the thieves but claiming they are beasts. I assure you the worst animals around here are within the wild cat family, panthers, and such. And they don't just leave a bite they leave bones. Again though I apologize he can be a pest but he is harmless."
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 9:54:11 GMT -6
"No need to apologize." Zeke replied, "I've ran into quite a few people like him over the years, and I don't let them get to me. Jacob is still a little naïve and impressionable, so I hope you understand his inquisitiveness. But anyway, you said that you have some maps for us. May we seem them?"
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 9:56:57 GMT -6
"Of course. Jeff could you grab the maps? I left them on the desk next to the books."
"Right away madame," the staff member said.
He went into a back room and was back right away. He sets the maps down in Torel's desk. Torel unfolds one of them and sets it down flat.
"This right here is the village, and this is the outer wall surrounding us."
She pointed to each one with her finger as she explained.
"And over here." She trails off to the side to an open area without the darker patch which was for thick foliage. "this here is where you claimed there would be the remains of a long gone civilization. Where you intend to dig."
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 10:05:07 GMT -6
Zeke and Jacob stared at the map and listened intently to Torel. Once she was done, Zeke spoke up again.
"You said that panthers tend to be spotted around this area. Do you think we will need any sort of extra protection while we dig?"
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 10:08:59 GMT -6
"As you suggested we have a supple of tranquilizer darts, to avoid the dangers of using bullets. Do you have the money for them?"
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 10:13:41 GMT -6
"Of course." Zeke answered as he fished out his wallet from his back pocket, took out a few bills worth hundreds of the local currency, and handed them to her.
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Post by softscales on Apr 14, 2018 10:16:08 GMT -6
Torel counted only to make sure, and indeed every penny that was promised was there.
"I think it shall be a pleasure to do business with you. Now is there anything else you'll be needing?"
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Post by sleepwatcher on Apr 14, 2018 10:33:55 GMT -6
Zeke thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, that should be everything. I would like to see the site where we will be digging in person now, if that is alright."
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