Sam ran the rope through the hand straps of the first two Roman scuta, then made a bundle of javelins and a bundle of Roman gladius swords, the standard-issue Roman short sword. He climbed to the surface, set the artifacts in piles, then threw the rope down to Remi.

After a couple of minutes, she called, “Haul away!”

When he pulled up the rope this time, there were five undecorated helmets belonging to common soldiers, two scuta, and four breastplates. He leaned down into the entrance, wearing a helmet as he stuck his head in the chamber. “Is that everything?”

“My heart goes pit-a-pat for a man in uniform,” said Remi. “What was that?”

“What was what?”

“There was a light, like a beam, that went past in the air behind you.”

He pulled back and looked across the field in each direction. “I don’t see anything now. Probably just an airplane’s landing lights as it came in toward Reims. It’s not the year 451 anymore.”

“Then you should update your wardrobe.”

“Grab the rope and I’ll pull you up.”

Chapter 16

OUTSIDE CUPERLY, FRANCE

WHEN THEY HAD REACHED THE SURFACE AND WERE IN the night air again, they sat on top of the chamber surrounded by the high pile of dirt from the excavation. Remi said, “We should probably take a couple rails off the fence and drive the truck here to load up, as we did in Italy.”

“Not a bad plan,” said Sam. “I’m not eager to walk back and forth to get it all.”

“I love it when you have the sense to agree with me,” she said.

“Really? I’ll try to remember that.”

“As long as you’re not trying to flatter and manipulate me into doing nice things for you at some later time,” she added.

“Oh?” he said. “Would that be bad?”

“Sort of bad. Not I’m furious at you bad, but certainly not your best behavior.”

“Certainly not,” he said. “But my best behavior? That’s a very high standard.”

“Of course,” she answered. “Shall we do this?”

“Okay,” he said. “Since it was such a good idea.”

“Thank you.”

She picked up a bundle of javelins he had tied together, strapped a gladius in its sheath around his waist, and picked up the shield with the message on it. They both climbed out of the excavation. There was a loud snap as a bullet passed overhead and they jumped back into the hole. A second later, there was the sound of another shot.

Remi raised her head over the edge of the trench and put her night vision goggles on.

“Get down,” said Sam.

“Did you hear the shot? He’s about three hundred yards out. He couldn’t even hit a big target like you.”

“Not on his first shot, but I’ll bet he’s zeroed in now.”