Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow (28 page)

Jake fought against a shudder of revulsion. Here was positive proof that some connection existed between the past and the present. But what was that link? Jake forced his gaze away, keeping his knowledge hidden.

“So are you all done here?” Drummond asked.

Jake shared a glance with Kady. As the shock faded, a
fire had entered her eyes. He read the answer to Drummond’s question in her face. It matched his own.

Are they done here?

For once, Jake and Kady were united in their answer.

No…we’ve only just begun.

Over the years, I’ve always included a note at the end of my thrillers, where I address what’s true and what’s not in my novels—so I thought I’d do the same here.

But before I get started, a bit about myself. Though I earned my degree in veterinary medicine, I’ve always been an armchair archaeologist. I’ve loved all things buried and lost to time. In fact, I maintain a Cabinet of Curiosities at home, where I display all manner of the weird and strange: from giant fossilized specimens to tiny, pinned insects. And gracing the top of the cabinet is a massive 100,000-year-old mammoth tusk from China. Every day, the cabinet reminds me of that joy of the grand adventure that is life in this world.

So as you might guess, the young adventurer Jake Ransom is close to my heart—and for Jake, I saved my wildest and best adventure of all.

In a nutshell, Jake’s who I was as a kid. Someone ever
curious about the world, a bit impatient, bold at times, wary at others, slightly geeky but knowing it and unable to change. He also is plagued by an older sister who thinks she knows more than she does. Growing up with three brothers—and three sisters—I understand that relationship all too well. The arguments, the resentments, but ultimately a deep and unshakable bond of family.

But back to Jake. At heart, Jake is a true adventurer, someone ready and willing to take the path less traveled…no matter how much trouble he might get into.

Like Jake, I love to travel and I love archaeology. But like Jake, my travels over the years have gotten me into a few jams. I’ve swum in jungle rivers only to discover a crocodile basking in the sun on the riverbank. I’ve gotten myself trapped—in caves, hanging from ropes, and jammed in a crack unable to move. While scuba diving, I’ve come close to stabbing my hand on one of the most poisonous spiny fishes in the world (one poke will kill you in seconds).

Jake is just the same—maybe a bit too adventurous for his own good—and he’ll get himself into just as many scrapes as close calls. It will take all of Jake’s ingenuity, skill, and friendships to pull him through the dangers and adventures to come.

The series is chock-full of the fantastic, but it’s also grounded in reality. Each novel centers on a different lost culture from Earth’s past. First up are the ancient Maya.
Throughout the book appear various Mayan glyphs, the symbolic writing of these Mesoamerican people. The glyphs in the book are real, and each plays an important role in the adventure. Likewise, details of the Mayan culture—from the clothing they wear to their astounding skill at astronomy—are all factual and integral to the story. Additionally there are several fun facts, too—like how the ancient Maya invented chocolate and chewing gum.

As to the science in the novel, all the dinosaurs that appear are real creatures from the fossil record, and the discussions about spectrums of light, refractions, and mixing of colors are all based on fact.

Lastly, for this series, I’ve also created my own cryptic language, snatches of which appear in this novel. The alphabet breaks down to English equivalents, so the more industrious readers can translate these bits of language to reveal secret messages.

So that’s just a hint of the truth behind the fantastic world of Jake Ransom. I hope you grab a backpack and come join me—the adventure is just beginning!

—James Rollins

Jacket art © 2009 by John Rocco

Jacket design by Hilary Zarycky