The light flickered in the fireplace, casting an eerie shadow over the room as Hadji leaned over his open book.  Next to him, Jonny was chewing on an apple, watching his friend.
    Hadji finished the page and closed the thick textbook before addressing him, "It appears to be time to pick Jessie up from the airport."
    "'Bout time."  Jonny grumbled as he polished off his apple, jumped to his feet and threw the core in the garbage.
    Sighing he slowly stood, adjusting his turban.  "Jonny if I had gone when you had told me to; we would have been nearly three hours too early."
    "Yah, well if we don't go now, we'll be late and then you'll have to deal with Jessie."
    The thought of an infuriating the moody red-head was one that could provoke nightmares and Hadji  rose his hands in a sign of compliance, "Point well-taken, my friend."
    "Will you let me drive, Hadj?"  The blonde asked as he juggled the van keys in his hand.
    When he tossed them up, Hadji ed them out of mid-air.  He gave his friend a lope-sided grin, "I do not think so."
    "I am sorry Jonny but in order for you to drive I would have to be eighteen and at the moment I am still seventeen.  Now, let's go before Jessie decides we both should be ground up fro Bandit's dog food."
    Jonny chuckled but quickly went to the car and buckled up.
    At first the drive was quiet but Jonny could remain silent only a few moments before he felt confined, "What do you think Jessie's bringing home.  She said she had a surprize, something she wanted to show us that her Mom had given from that dig in South America."
    Had iled to himself, "It could be anything.  But whatever it is it must be special.  I've never heard so much excitement in her voice."
    "Yah, I can't wait!"
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    They watched as the girl in blue jean shorts and a white tank top made her way down the stairs, holding a small package 'tightly' against her chest.
    As one, the boys moved up to meet her.
    "Watcha got Jess?"  Jonny asked as he tried to get a better look.
    Raising a single hadn, she placed it on his shoulder and pushed causing him to back up a few feet.  "Oh no you don't Jonny, not till we get home.  Besides, it's a gift to Hadji.  Not to you."
    "Me?"  Hadji asked in surprise.  His voice raising an octave.
    Jessie smiled sweetly at him, "It just seems to have been made for you but you'll have to wait till we get home before you see it."
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    They just managed to get into the house when Jonny started begging for Hadji to open the package.
    Jessie gave Jonny a heated look before handing Hadji the package with a smile.
    Hadji carefully opened it and pulled out the artifact.  When he got a good look at the tiny plaque, his face paled.  "May the Gods have mercy."