As we suspected, the last piece indicated the location of the First Emperor's tomb, as well as how to enter without setting off what we now knew were automatic crossbows and dangerous mechanical traps placed to keep tomb raiders out (to keep us out, that is). A full reading of the jiance was thus very important. Even Fernanda, who hurried back as soon as Biao found her, was visibly nervous, leaning over the slats as if she could understand what she was looking at. Lao Jiang was forced to order her to move back before sitting down and placing his glasses on his nose. The rest of us gathered behind him in complete silence and peered over his shoulder. “What does the new piece say?” I asked after quite some time. The antiquarian slowly shook his head. “These ideograms are a little smaller than the others, and some I can't read at all because the ink has smudged,” he finally replied. “Just what we needed,” I murmured, inching a bit closer. “Read what you can.” He grunted something unintelligible and reached a hand out toward Biao.
