Explorer Academy Book 6: The Dragon's Blood

Explorer Academy Book 6: The Dragon's Blood — page 9
Explorers compared to your other missions I know this may seem easy said Professor Ishikawa But don’t take it for granted A good explorer needs sharp observation skills It takes patience to learn to look beyond the tip of your nose but when you do he motioned to the orchid mantis it can make all the difference Did he say tip of your nose Lani nudged Cruz We should name this mission Operation Proboscis Splendid idea Lani Professor Ishikawa swung around That’s what we’ll call it Operation Proboscis Lani smiled so hard her eyes disappeared Leaders you may depart when your team is ready instructed Professor Ishikawa We’ll meet at the lodge at four this afternoon Team Cousteau Professor Luben motioned for them to gather round I have our search coordinates Dugan don’t forget your hat Cruz be sure to put your other glove back on That goes for the rest of you Keep as much of yourself covered as possible We don’t need anyone coming down with dengue fever or malaria Cruz tucked his water bottle into the side pocket of his pack pulled up his socks and slipped on his other glove Some of the teams were backtracking but Professor Luben was leading Team Cousteau farther along the trail Slinging his pack onto his shoulders Cruz fell into line behind Emmett who was following Sailor Bryndis and Dugan Lani brought up the rear After hiking for about 10 minutes they took a fork The path quickly narrowed Thick broadleaf bushes hugged the trail so tightly that they had to turn sideways in some spots to make their way through As he wriggled past a plant with long purple nettles Cruz was glad Professor Luben had been so insistent about protecting their skin I’ve been thinking Lani whispered into Cruz’s ear about the clue Cruz had been thinking about it too Constantly Not quite two weeks ago they had unlocked Cruz’s mom’s journal for the latest hint To find the seventh cipher you must seek both the ordinary and the extraordinary extraordinary in an object we both hold close to our hearts a holographic Petra Coronado had directed Something others use to forget the past will 12