Inca Gold

Inca Gold
By Clive Cussler
Simon & Schuster, 1994. 537 pgs. Fiction

This story has a rather long, slow beginning with essentially two prologues before the story really begins--the first set in the year 1533, the second in 1578. Then the real story begins in 1998 when NUMA Agent Dirk Pitt becomes involved in the rescue of a couple of archaeologists in Peru. One thing leads to another and the entire party are captured by a group of violent artifact smugglers. The illegal smuggling operation is connected to a large international antiquities business. Ultimately the story focuses on the search for and acquisition of an Incan treasure trove of staggering size--golden artifacts worth a billion dollars. There's scuba diving (of course), helicopter dogfights, underground rivers, ancient artifacts, tons of gold, oh, and a demon of death.

SML