Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx by James Rollins

palm-sized ankh made of gold. An exact match to the one inscribed on the watchcase. Under the cabinet’s bright halogens, Jake also spotted jewels imbedded in the gold: a diamond in the center, surrounded by a ruby, an emerald, and a sapphire.
    The same pattern and colors as the crystals in his apprentice badge.
    The four cornerstones of Calypsos.
    Jake pointed across the room. “It’s here! That’s got to be it.”
    Kady squinted—then stiffened beside him. “The jewels,” she said, understanding instantly.
    Jake rushed forward.
    â€œWait!” Kady called out, but she wasn’t warning him to come back. She wanted to keep up with him.
    They circled around the slab to get a better look.
    Together they gazed into the cabinet.
    â€œThat has to be the lock for Dad’s key.” Stepping back, Jake reached to his neck and fished out the pocket watch.
    â€œBut how are we going to get inside the case?” Kady asked.
    Jake was beyond subtlety. He was ready to smash it open and deal with the consequences later. Turning, he searched the room for something heavy. Breathless with anticipation, he leaned a hand on the slab for support.
    Kady called to him. “What about picking the lock?”
    Jake turned to tell her that was impossible—
    â€”when cold claws clamped onto his wrist.
    Jolting away in horror, he jerked back his arm. The mummy’s dried claws remained latched onto his arm.
    â€œJake!” Kady yelled.
    He stared down at the grakyl on the slab. Its eyes had opened and bore into his, full of fire. The claws turned icy on his wrist as faint words filled his head.
    â€œI see you …”
    No
! Jake recognized that hoary voice. It was the Kalverum Rex, the Skull King.
    â€œNow come to me …”
    Jake’s arm was yanked with such force that he was pulled out of this world and into another. Darkness consumed him, swallowed him whole.
    Words, louder now, scratched out of the blackness. “The Key of Time … mine at long last …”
    Jake screamed, but he had no voice here.
    â€œWith the Key, I’ll destroy all you love …”
    Jake felt himself still being pulled by his arm, drawnever closer to the Skull King. He fought the inevitable pull, but there was no substance here, no toehold to catch himself.
    Help me
!
    As if hearing his plea, a band of fire snapped around his other wrist like a lasso of fire. It snagged his arm and refused to let go. Jake was soon stretched between the two forces.
    Claws of ice on one side, a band of fire on the other.
    Thwarted, the Skull King screamed in fury. “NO!”
    Even with his arms about to be ripped from his sockets, Jake still found comfort in that cry of dismay. At last those icy claws ripped loose. Nails dragged across the back of his hand, scratching to grab him again.
    Then he was free.
    A curse still chased after him.
    â€œI will find you … Mark my words … You will be mine …”
    The words faded back into the void as Jake’s body flew through the darkness, drawn by the fiery band around his wrist.
    But to where?
    As if hearing this thought, too, Jake felt himself flung away, spinning head over heels. Darkness shredded around him, pierced by blinding light. Sights and sounds swirled like a tornado of confetti: the screech of a hunting bird, the flash of a golden sea, a river of rock.
    A scream burst from his throat as the world righteditself and crashed down upon him. He fell to his knees—
    â€”into sand.
    Jake stayed kneeling, not comprehending what he was seeing. Under a burning sun, a vast sea of sand spread all around him, rising and falling like waves. Adrift and alone, he gaped at the vastness.
    Had he been transported to Pangaea again? If so, where was the jungle? Where was the valley of Calypsos?
    He slowly gained his feet.
    Where am I?

PART TWO

6

STRANDED

    Jake turned in a slow circle and surveyed his new world. He shaded his eyes against