When Horace arrived at the dig site, he was made fully aware of what he had been sent here for. He had thought he fully understood the magnitude of the discovery, but it was truly a different thing to stand here facing its majesty.
A large, gleaming object lay in the background of the dig site, workers sitting and having their lunch, staring, full of awe, at the object. Horace had been told not to go near it, had been told it was dangerous, but not briefed on what that meant. However, he was smart enough to know he wouldn't have been given the order with no reason. He hollerred at the workers to take their eyes away, and focus on their meals, lest he make it the last they eat. He would have not one man or woman lost to lust over this object on his watch. This was his site now, and he intended on protecting it.
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Roland stared even after Horace's order. He couldn't take his eyes away from it, it was just too stunning. He obsessed over it day and night, just wanting to go near it, see it for what it was, feel it in his hands. He, like the rest of the men still here, had been kept out of eyeshot of it, and he was just so curious. He could feel the claws of curiosity digging in his skull, and it scratched and scratched until insomnia ran rampant throughout the camp, for he was not the only one with this beast. However, his curiosity seemed worst of all, others even telling him to try and get some rest, that his eyes looked ready to burst. He knew they were right, but he just couldn't help it...had to have it...
'No, no...' his mind echoed, reaching for some solace in reason, 'It's not your place. Your place is assisting Horace. You get the water, you make the food. You do not go around grabbing up valuable, ancient artifacts.'
Valuable indeed...So wonderful...If only it were mine... Voices, a cacophony in the corridors of his mind, was the last thing he heard before he finally, FINALLY, drifted off for a short rest.