by Michael Cole
"Then what? Tell me. What was your reservation?"
"It was Phillip. From the first time I laid eyes on him, I knew the man would be trouble."
"You won't get any argument from me on that score."
Eric guided her to the water's edge. They sat silently as the last vestiges of sunlight disappeared from the sky. Catalina watched a full moon rise over the lake.
"It's so peaceful here. It's hard to believe the jungle can be so violent." Looking at Eric's profile under the light of the moon, Catalina thought him more handsome than she had ever seen him. His face had lost its tension; the scar beneath his eye adding a touch of mystery to his roguish good looks. She turned toward him and gently touched it with her fingers. "How did you get that?"
"A couple of mestizos jumped Chris in a bar one night. I tried to even out the odds. One of them had a knife."
"You'd do anything for Chris, wouldn't you?"
"He's my partner. He's also my best friend-my only friend till I met you." Eric pulled Catalina close. "I'm glad you broke it off with Phillip." He moved his face closer to hers. When she didn't pull away, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. It started out as a gentle kiss, but then he placed his arms around her and, with parted lips, kissed her passionately.
No one had kissed her with such longing or desire. It was as if Eric was reaching out for her soul. The embrace kindled such passion, such yearning, that she pulled away, a little frightened by these new emotions.
* * *
Eric was surprised by her sudden move. He felt her passion and wondered what it was that had made her draw away from the embrace. Was he moving too fast? He wanted to ask her, but an inner voice told him it wouldn't be a good idea.
She spoke first, her voice breaking a bit, but she forged on, "Maybe we should go back; they're probably wondering where we are."
"You mean Phillip is wondering. Forget about him. Stay here with me. Let's enjoy this beautiful evening together."
Eric waited for Catalina to make the first move. He wanted her to stay. He wanted to probe, to see what she really wanted out of life.
Catalina didn't say a word but she remained where she was, apparently comfortable with her own thoughts.
"Mind if I ask you a personal question, Eric?"
"Go ahead."
"If we really do find the Golden Disk of the Sun, and the cache of gold that the quipu described, what would you do with your share?"
"I'd build a nice house, probably in Manaus. Other than that, I don't think I would do anything differently from what I'm doing now. I consider this place to be my home. I understand the Amazon. When I'm here, I am at peace."
"What about the danger?"
"The Amazon isn't nearly as dangerous as its purported to be, that's only if one takes precautions." Eric laughed good-naturedly. "I think it would be more dangerous to live in Los Angeles than here. From what I've read about L.A., if the smog doesn't give you lung cancer or a car doesn't run you over, your chances are better than even that you would get either raped or mugged."
It was Catalina's turn to laugh. "Believe me. I'll take my chances in L.A. There are predators there, for sure, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about a cougar attacking me. It's pretty safe in Beverly Hills."
"Actually, Catalina, I'm more leery of Phillip than I am of the Amazon."
"How can you be apprehensive of a coward?"
"Because cowards tend to be unpredictable. He's been spurned by you, and he has also lost face. Mark my words, he is probably sitting in his tent right now blaming me. He'll try to redeem himself. He won't be able to live with the thought of not having you."
"I've known Phillip for a long time. He'll pout for a while, but he will get over me."
"I think you are underestimating him. He's insanely jealous and possessive of you, and in my book that makes him dangerous."
Catalina was about to respond when Eric quieted her. Pointing a finger across the lake, he whispered, "Look. It's a binocular bear. They like to come down to the river at night."
She strained to see. Finally, she spotted the animal. It was about the same size as a panda. "Oh, I see where it got its name. Those round rings around its eyes make it seem as if he's looking through a pair of binoculars. He really looks quite harmless from here."
"Even a small binocular bear can be dangerous. I've seen a female put up a good fight against a cougar to protect its cubs. Did you know it's the only bear in South America?"
"I had no idea."
"It's considered an endangered species. There aren't many of them around anymore."
Catalina gave Eric a quick hug. "You're just a walking encyclopedia, aren't you?"
Eric shook her shoulders. "Well, since I'm your guide, I figured I'd better give you your money's worth." Then, turning more serious, he said, "Okay, it's your turn. What would you do if you had a fortune?"
Catalina grew pensive. "Whether we find the gold or not, I've been toying with the idea of writing a book. Just looking for the Golden Disk of the Sun should make a good story. Don't you think?"
Eric smiled. "Whether you know it or not, you hit upon a great idea. I'll tell you what. Why don't we work on a book together?"
Catalina tried keeping a straight face. "We would never get anything done."
A cold breeze blew in from the lake. Even though Catalina was wearing a jacket, she shivered. Eric pulled her closer to him. When Catalina leaned into him, his lips met hers in a long, lingering kiss. This time Eric was the first to pull away. "I guess we had better turn in for the night. We have a long day ahead of us. I'm hoping to reach Suchu Urcu tomorrow."
"Then what?"
"Then we'll find out just how reliable your derrotero really is."
CHAPTER 26
Catalina woke up to the sound of Eric's words: "Time to go."
Hearing his voice, she relived the brief moment of intimacy the two had shared the night before. His kiss had stirred her very being. Can this be love? Reluctantly, she gathered up her belongings and dismantled her tent. Still deep in her own thoughts, she didn't hear Phillip approach.
"Did Eric give you a private guided tour of the lake last night?" he asked her sarcastically.
Catalina was about to go on the defensive, but then she decided not to. After all, she was no longer accountable to Phillip, not after she had made it clear their engagement was off. She took her time formulating her response. "It's really none of your business, but if you must know, Eric and I had a wonderful time last night."
Phillip's face drained of color. He was about to say something when Eric walked up.
"We're ready to go if you two are."
Without saying another word, Phillip grabbed his machete and began to cut a path through the undergrowth. He thrashed his way up the mountain, panting and perspiring as he struggled to cut not only scrub, but also the vines that were choking everything in their path. Once he tired, Chris took over. By the time they had all had a turn with the machete, Eric called for a break.
Within a couple of hours they had climbed high enough to get a bird's eye view of Rio Topo. It reminded Catalina of a giant shimmering mirror as the lake reflected the rays of a rising sun. From her vantage point above the lake, she spotted an eagle. With its wings spread, the majestic bird spiraled downward toward the river bank where she and Eric had sat the night before. Ah, Eric. You are so much more than Phillip will ever be. No matter what happens, I will always have you to thank for making me see Phillip for what he really is-a selfish, spoiled, embittered man.
* * *
They had climbed for another hour when Eric's hopes of a sunny day were dashed. The ominous black clouds forming on the horizon promised another downpour. Slipping his poncho over his head, he picked up his pace, hoping the others wouldn't fall behind. He was very much aware what could happen if it rained too hard, particularly on a mountain like Muela Del Diablo where the ground was composed largely of shale. If there was a slide, all of them would be exposed to imminent danger.
>
Eric's worst fear was realized. After they climbed for another few hundred feet the sky opened up, and a torrential downpour blocked all visibility. This country is so unpredictable, he thought. Maybe that's what draws me to it. Would I be happy settling down in a city like L.A.? Would Catalina be willing to live in Brazil?
Eric was jolted back to the present when he heard the thunder. By the sound of it, he knew a big storm would soon be upon them. He glanced up at the sky. It looked angry. Instead of seeing the top of the mountain, all he could see were large billowing black clouds. Just then, a streak of lightning tore across the sky. A split second later the mountain echoed back the thunder.
Eric waited for Catalina to catch up. "It looks like it's going to get pretty nasty. I better go look for some shelter. We're going to catch the brunt of this storm. There is always the danger of mudslides if the ground becomes overly saturated."
"I'll come with you," Catalina said.
"No. I want you to remain here with the others. It'll be safer. Don't worry. I won't be gone long."
* * *
No sooner had Eric gone off into the jungle than it began to rain. Not wanting to be placed in a situation where she would have to make conversation with Phillip, Catalina approached Chris. The rain was now pelting the ground with such force that she had to practically shout in order to be heard. "Is this weather normal?"
"No. I don't like the looks of this storm. It usually doesn't rain this hard, at least not at this time of the year."
It seemed like an eternity before Eric reappeared. "Quickly. I want all of you to follow me. I found shelter up ahead."
Phillip started off toward Eric at a brisk pace. "I don't like the looks of this storm. We're being foolish risking our necks for something that probably doesn't even exist." He glanced backward toward Catalina. "I told you this place is too dangerous, but you wouldn't listen."
Catalina started to say something, but Eric's words cut her off. "Shut up, Phillip. Now is not the time to complain." He led them to a cave-like entrance. It looked as if someone had chiseled a large, gaping hole out of a piece of bedrock.
Eric shouted, "Everyone, get inside."
Catalina shivered as she entered the cave. "It's cold and dark in here."
Eric took Catalina's hand, leading her farther into the pitch-black darkness. "We must get as far away from the entrance as possible. The way it's pouring, the whole side of the mountain is liable to collapse."
The cave ended up not being a cave at all, but a tunnel. They walked mainly in darkness with only a flashlight to see by. Eric was beside Catalina who was trembling. He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry. We should be safe enough here."
"What is this place?" Catalina asked. "It seems as if the tunnel is taking us deeper inside the earth."
Eric stopped. "A couple of hundred meters I'd say. It's a scavon, which is nothing more than a volcanic chimney. There are quite a few of these on the mountain."
When they could go no farther, Eric and Catalina huddled next to one another at the far end of the tunnel, waiting for the storm to subside. It was now pitch-black as Eric had turned off his flashlight in order to conserve the batteries.
"Listen," Catalina whispered, her voice laced with concern.
"I don't hear anything but the rain," Eric replied.
"I'm not talking about the rain. Can't you hear it?" Catalina groped around for Eric's hand. When she found it, she squeezed it with all of her might. "It sounds like a thousands bowling balls are raining down on us!"
"It's a mudslide!" Eric exclaimed.
Phillip was beside himself. "What if the mud blocks the entrance to the tunnel? Then we'll never be able to get out!"
"Don't be so negative," Eric replied. "At least we are safe enough here. There is nothing any of us can do, but wait."
Closing her eyes, Catalina buried her face in Eric's chest. Her mind could think of nothing but the impending danger. Please, God. If this is the end, let it be quick.
The mud hit the top of the volcanic chimney with the force of a bomb. Slowly, the rumbling became fainter and fainter. The scavon had done its job; the avalanche had apparently passed them by.
Eric whispered in Catalina's ear, "I want you to stay here. I'm going to take a look." He returned within minutes. "The rain has stopped. I think the worst is over, but just to make sure, we'd better stay here for a while longer. There could be some residual slides, and even though they wouldn't have the force this one had, we don't want to take any chances."
Phillip, who had been silent up to now, whined, "You can stay here if you want, but I am getting out of here. If I stay cooped up in this hole any longer, I'll lose my mind."
Shut up, Phillip!" Eric tensed. Because it was pitch-black, he knew Phillip wasn't aware he was sitting close to Catalina. He whispered in her ear, "I'm not about to stop him. If he doesn't want to listen to my advice, then that's his problem." It was difficult enough to be responsible for all of their lives without Phillip's continual bitching.
Once he left, Eric relaxed. Phillip was nothing but a thorn in his side, but he was glad he had met Catalina. She was everything he admired in a woman: smart, courageous, even tempered, and above all, she had a good sense of humor. The question he kept asking himself was would they make a good match? The two of them were so different he wondered if they could make their relationship work. Again, he had to remind himself that Catalina was accustomed to the finer things in life, a life he didn't much care for.
Chris's voice sounded hollow in the tunnel: "I can certainly see why the Indians get spooked around this mountain. They would tell you all of this is the devil's doing."
Eric laughed. "To tell you the truth, I'm glad. As far as I'm concerned, I'd just as soon not run into any of them."
Catalina was comforted by the thought that Eric was close by. "I'm just thankful you found the scavon."
Another fifteen minutes passed. "I think we waited long enough," Eric said. "It should be okay for us to leave now."
The force of the mudslide had uprooted plants and trees on its journey down the hill. The devastation was nothing like they'd ever seen. "It's a good thing you managed to find us shelter," Catalina exclaimed. "If not for you, we would all be dead."
Phillip, who was standing on a ledge looking at the mountain, joined them. "This has to be Satan's backyard. No wonder the Indians are afraid of this place. It would be suicidal to continue."
Catalina worked at keeping the anger out of her voice. "You can leave if you like, Phillip, but I'm not about to give up. Not after coming this far. What about you, Eric?"
"I'm with you all the way," Eric said. He admired Catalina's determination. It was as if Valverde was beckoning for them to find the Golden Disk of the Sun.
As usual, Phillip had to have his say. "I'm the one paying the bills or have you forgotten? I insist you lead us out of this place!"
Eric glanced at Chris. "What say you? Do we go back, or do we go on?"
"I say we go forward. We've come too far to stop now."
There was fear written all over Phillip's face. "I'll give each of you ten thousand American dollars if you take us back."
Eric said, "Chris and Catalina want to go on-as a matter of fact so do I. Sorry, Phillip, but it doesn't appear your money is going to buy you much today. You've been outvoted!"
CHAPTER 27
Eric glanced at his watch. He had to stand guard for two more hours before Chris would relieve him. The night was unusually still. Even the marsupial frogs that hardly ever ceased their incessant croaking were silent. Suddenly there was a rustling from the other side of the campground, not far from Phillip's tent. Eric opened the flap of Phillip's tent to make sure all was well. Relieved, he saw Phillip fast asleep. Could it have been Chris or Catalina? He quietly examined their tents and found them sleeping as well.
He cautiously entered the jungle and crept toward the noise. As luck would have it, the moon ducked beneath some clouds. He decided to wait till morning to see i
f he could spot any tracks. He figured it was either some animal or those two Indians who had been following them for the past few days. He returned to his watch just as a light rain started to fall. He was tired, bone-tired. He pulled his poncho around him and spent the rest of the time focusing on staying alert.
Eric didn't think the night would ever end. When dawn finally arrived, he entered Chris's tent and gently prodded him awake.
Chris glanced at his watch. "Why didn't you wake me sooner? I should have relieved you hours ago."
"You looked like you needed the sleep."
"What about Phillip and Catalina?" Chris asked. "Are they up?"
"Catalina went to find some wood, and I believe Phillip is still sleeping."
Then Eric added, "Chris, I think we are still being followed. Last night I heard a rustling sound, and I saw a couple of bushes move. I don't think it was an animal. I'm pretty sure it was an Indian, maybe two of them." He pointed to the far side of the campground. "They must have been observing us from that thicket while I was standing watch."
Eric rolled up his sleeping bag and began to dismantle his and Catalina's tents. "The rain has most likely covered up their tracks, but I'm going to walk over and take a look. Want to come?"
Eric and Chris carefully examined the ground next to the bushes. "See anything?" Eric asked.
"No tracks, if that's what you mean," Chris said, "but look at this."
Eric took a small black feather from Chris's hand. "Where did you find it?"
"Lying on the ground. Do you think it belongs to an Indian?"
Eric examined the feather. "Maybe, maybe not. Don't tell the others. Let's keep this just between you and me. Phillip is spooked as it is, and although Catalina has been doing well so far, I don't want to cause her any undue stress. Keep your eyes open. Also listen for bird sounds, particularly if they are coming from more than one location."
"You really do believe we are being stalked, don't you?"
"I'm not sure. Remember a couple of Indians followed us for a while. It's impossible to tell if they're the same ones. I'd like you to take the lead once we begin our climb. I'll take up the rear. This will give me a chance to slip away. I'll follow the three of you from a distance. Maybe I'll be able to spot them or at least pick up their tracks."