“Not here, Eva,” Rovender replied, and hopped off of Otto. He stared up at the ancient monuments that surrounded them. “Fortunately for us, they prefer open areas.”

“Look!” Eva brushed the sand away from the rock she was standing on. “These are steps.”

“Yes,” Rovender said. “Steps leading down . . . someplace.”

She sprinted across the half-buried step to Otto and put the palm of her hand on his forehead.

Are you okay? she thought to him.

Safe. You. Me.

Are we safe?

Noise. Hurt.

It’s the sound of the birds, right? she said to him silently. They are pretty noisy.

Hurt. Noise.

Eva looked around and noted that there were not many turnfins in this open area. Even though she was desperate to explore, she stayed near Otto. The water bear shuffled over to one of the nondescript rocks jutting up out of the sand and pulled off a large clump of enormous lichen.

“Eva,” Muthr said, peeling back one of the wide gray leaves. “Can you ask Otto to remove all of this lichen?”

“Sure.” Eva walked over to the stone formation that was jutting up from the top of the steps. The other formation, almost identical in size and shape, was many meters away. They were like large newel posts on the top of a wide stone staircase.

Otto grabbed the lichen with his short, sharp beak and sheared off the growth. As he munched it up with relish, Eva recognized the aged, pitted rock underneath.

It was a sculpture.

A sculpture of a lion.

CHAPTER 38: RUINS

Both of these sculptures are of lions,” Muthr said, scrolling through endless data on the Omnipod. “I am sure it means something, but it may take us some time to determine what exactly that is.”

“It would probably be best to dig down to where these steps lead and take a look around,” Rovender observed. “I am sure more clues will present themselves.”

“A fine idea, Mr. Kitt,” Muthr said, and looked up from the Omnipod. “For the moment I do not detect any large life-forms in the area, and you are positive that no sand-sniper will attack in this vicinity?”

“I am sure.” Rovender tapped the stone steps with his walking stick. “Besides, there are not many creatures that I know of that would inhabit an ancient place where spirits likely still remain.”

Muthr returned her attention to the display on the Omnipod. “Look here. It seems as if there may actually be a cave, or a chamber, that we could explore. But it is considerably far below the surface. This is going to take some time to excavate.”

“I bet Otto could do it,” Eva said.

“Really?” Muthr looked at him.

“Let me ask.” Eva closed her eyes and stroked Otto’s side.

“Yes. He said he’ll do it before he rejoins his herd.” Eva scratched the giant water bear’s chin. “Just show him where you want him to dig.”