Chapter One

Maqluba, Malta March 18

As the trio left the ancient chapel, a large bird slowly circled high over their heads. It followed them for a while as they trudged down the dirt road that would take them to the crater, then seemed to lose interest and moved away to make a last circle over the center of the chasm before it flew off into the late morning haze.

Intrigued, Rick Olsen halted to watch it fly away. Its size and gliding flight suggested a vulture and he wondered what had brought it there. With a grunt and a shrug he rearranged the strap of the large wooden box he was carrying, then staggered forward.

Two steps ahead of him, the shorter man strode forward burdened only by a rope and knapsack. The third member of the group, a small white dog, joyfully pranced around them, thrusting his nose in the holes in the rock wall in hopes of locating an interesting critter.