by Michael Cole
Once they broke camp and began their ascent to Suchu Urcu, Eric dropped out of sight. One minute he was walking behind Phillip, and then he simply vanished. Chris hacked a path for the three of them to follow in an area where there were trenches, chasms, and caves. It seemed as if the vines had a stranglehold over the rain forest. Like a cancer, they spread their rope-like appendages over everything in sight: ground, bushes, even trees. They hadn't walked far when Catalina realized Eric wasn't there. "Where is he?" she asked Chris in a broken voice. "He was here just a few minutes ago."
"Not to worry," Chris said. "He probably stopped to take a leak."
"Shouldn't we wait for him?" she asked.
"Eric can look out for himself. He'll catch up to us."
When Phillip took over the arduous job with the machete, Eric popped back into view. "What say we take a break?"
"See anyone?" Chris asked Eric in a hushed voice.
"There were two of them," Eric whispered back. "They are definitely following us."
"What do you make of it?"
"We'll talk later," Eric said. "Keep a sharp lookout, and make sure your gun is within easy reach-not that I think you'll need it, but just in case."
A scream pierced the air. Eric rushed to Catalina's side. "What's the matter?"
She was shaking. "I saw an Indian out of the corner of my eye. Our eyes made contact. It couldn't have been for more than a second. He had very dark skin. He looked like a pygmy."
"It's okay," Eric said as he placed an arm around Catalina's shoulder. "It couldn't have been a pygmy. There aren't any in Mato Grosso."
"Maybe not, but this one was quite small. He couldn't have been more than four feet high."
"The Indian you saw, and one other, have been following us for quite some time. I don't want anyone to panic. If they had meant us harm, they would have attacked us by now."
"He looked ferocious," Catalina said. "I spotted a black feather sticking out of his nose."
Eric shot Chris a knowing look. "I believe you saw a Murcego. I've been told they guard a complex of tunnels that lead somewhere deep within Muela Del Diablo. Some people have claimed they have heard strange choral sounds emanating from the mountain's bowels."
Phillip took the safety off his gun. "If one of them gets too close, I'll shoot."
Even though Eric knew Phillip's gun was empty, he said, "That would be beyond being stupid. There are probably hundreds of them in this area and only four of us. They have poison darts, spears, and probably bows and arrows. If they had wanted to kill us, we'd all be dead by now. What we have to do is use our heads and remain calm. Very calm. We need to keep heading toward Suchu Urcu."
"Then what?" Phillip asked. "It seems we're trespassing on their turf. Once we get past that ledge, we would be-"
Chris walked up to Phillip. "Would you please shut up! You need to talk less and listen more." Chris turned toward Eric. "You were saying?"
"The Murcego Indians are undersized, but don't underestimate them as they have great physical strength. The two following us must be scouts. They're watching our every move, that's a given, but I seriously doubt they are planning an attack-that is, unless we enter a cave or tunnel they deem off limits."
"That's just great!" Phillip said. "We've come so far, encountered all of these dangers, and now you are saying they won't let us anywhere near the Golden Disk of the Sun."
Eric tried to keep his voice even. "I never said that, Phillip. In fact, I doubt if they even know about the treasure. I told you they supposedly guard a series of tunnels that lead deep inside this mountain, a mountain that some had tried to enter only to be forever lost to our world. There are Indians who will tell you that's where the Star Walkers live." He immediately thought of his father. It would have been just like him to have entered one of those forbidden passageways.
"So where do we go from here?" Catalina asked.
"We need to reach Suchu Urcu," Eric said. "Once we get there, we'll set up camp. Then I'll take another look at the original derrotero. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out the rest of Valverde's directions. Let's hope the treasure is not in one of the tunnels the Murcego are guarding. If that is the case, we would have no choice but to abandon our search for the Golden Disk of the Sun. Does that sound like a plan?"
CHAPTER 28
They had been plodding their way toward Suchu Urcu, making some progress when Eric stopped so suddenly that Catalina bumped into him.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"Look above you. There are three of them. Or at least three that I can see." He estimated them to be a few hundred meters away. Even from that distance, Eric recognized them by their short, stalky bodies.
"Here is living proof the Murcego exist," he whispered. "Some call them Bat Indians because they are primarily nocturnal. Did the Indian you see look anything like them?"
"Yes," Catalina replied. "He was dark-skinned and undersized just like the ones above us."
Eric lowered himself to his knees so he could unstrap his rifle and take off his backpack undetected. Although only three Indians had made themselves visible, he was certain there were more. Any sign of aggression could cause them to swarm down the mountain toward the four of them. "I want the three of you to remain here," he said in a level voice. "Act natural and don't make any sudden moves."
"What are you going to do?" Catalina asked.
"I'm going to get closer. Hopefully one of them speaks Quechua. It looks to me like they're guarding a large opening, probably a tunnel entrance."
"Look!" Phillip shouted. "I can see at least twenty more."
"I told you to keep your voice down," Eric hissed. "They are just as curious about us as we are of them. It's quite possible they have never seen a white man-or woman before."
Catalina whispered, "What are they holding in their hands?"
"Machetes," came the reply. "Theirs are longer and more pointed than ours. They're definitely guarding something. The question is what?"
As Eric advanced toward the Murcegos, he raised both hands in the air to show the Indians he was unarmed. The closer he got, the more of them he saw. Once he was near enough to be heard, he cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted in Quechua, "I come in peace."
There was no immediate response. He walked closer, hands spread in front of him, palms outward, a universal gesture for peace.
A Murcego with a spear, obviously their leader, circled Eric, appraising him. He pointed his spear toward the tunnel and said in broken Quechua, "It is forbidden for strangers to enter these tunnels."
"We have no interest in entering the tunnel you and the others are guarding," Eric replied in Quechua, hoping to sound more confident than he felt. "All we want to do is climb the mountain to Suchu Urcu."
The Murcego's eyes narrowed into a pair of slits. "What is your purpose for going there?"
Eric thought quickly and handed him Jonathan Shade's picture. "I am looking for my father. I believe he might have passed through here several months ago. Have you seen him?"
The Indian studied the photograph, grunted, and shook his head. "No such man has been here."
"Are you sure?"
"My people would have known. They would have told me if they had seen a white man." The Murcego pointed his spear toward the western slope of the mountain. "You and the others may pass in peace."
Disheartened, Eric headed down the slope toward the others wondering if it would have been possible for his father to slip by the Murcegos undetected. Fifty or so years ago, Carl Huni, an American naturalist, had made a study of the Murcego and their relationship to the tunnels they guarded. Huni claimed the Murcego were akin to bloodhounds. They could detect the smell of a human from as far as a hundred paces away. One would think the Murcego would have surely known if his father had been in the area. That meant one of two things. Either his father had entered a tunnel they weren't guarding or the Murcego was not telling the truth.
Although the Murcego had told him they could proceed
to Suchu Urcu, Eric was certain they would be followed. And the treasure? Would these ferocious little men present a problem?
CHAPTER 29
They arrived at Suchu Urcu quite late. Eric was too tired to hunt for food, but then no one was hungry. They sat by the fire with Chris standing guard. Phillip's eyes darted constantly around the campground. It was as if he expected the Murcegos to attack at any moment. Finally, without saying a word, he left for his tent.
"Good riddance," Chris said and threw a capsivella bush on the fire.
"I'd like to have another look at the derrotero, if it's not too much trouble," Eric asked.
Catalina took her wallet out of the waterproof pouch. She looked inside, paused, then looked again. She ran her hand through the wallet's lining. "I can't understand what happened to it. It was in my wallet. I saw it right before I went for a swim.?.?.?. Just a minute. I might have placed it in my backpack for safekeeping." She rushed to her tent, and thoroughly rummaged through all her belongings. Finally, she opened an inner compartment of her backpack, removed a folded piece of paper, and put it in her pocket. Frustrated, she returned to the campfire. "I don't know what happened to it. I just know I couldn't have lost it."
"It's okay," Eric said. "Let's think this through. When did you see it last?"
"Before I went for a swim, I recall unstrapping the pouch from my waist. I placed it underneath my clothes, took out my wallet and looked inside. After making sure it was there, I placed the wallet back in the pouch and put it back underneath my clothes."
"Then what did you do?"
"I waded out into the lake. I remember glancing toward the direction of my clothes. At the time, I could have sworn I saw the bushes move, but I wasn't sure, and since it was only a fleeting image, I thought it might have been my imagination."
"It wasn't me," Chris said. "And it wasn't Eric."
"What about those Indians who were following us?" Catalina asked. "Do you think one of them might have-"
"Highly unlikely," Eric interjected. "Why would they want to steal a piece of parchment? They would have taken the whole wallet."
Catalina added slowly, "Then it had to be Phillip. But why would he steal something that already belongs to him?"
Chris clenched his fists. "I don't know why he took it, but I sure as hell aim to find out." He started toward Phillip's tent when Catalina stopped him.
"It's really no big deal." She handed a duplicate to Eric. "Even if he did take the original, I made a second copy."
"You did what?" Chris asked.
"You don't think I'd be foolish enough to cart an original without making several copies. You know, just in case one of them got lost or something." Catalina glanced at Eric. "The only reason I took the original with me in the first place was because I didn't want you to think I was being anything but truthful about my discovery."
"Great thinking! The copy you gave me got wet the last time it rained. The last paragraph was so blurred that it was virtually impossible to read." He took a look at the derrotero Canstancia had just given him. "This will do nicely."
"You aren't going to let Phillip get away with it, are you, Eric?" Chris asked. "My vote would be to go in there, turn him upside down, and make him cough up the original. At least that way, we would know for sure whether he had taken it."
Eric kept his voice low. "I don't think that would be in our best interests, at least not at this time. Let's look at it from a logical perspective. Phillip would have reasoned that sooner or later we'd accuse him of the theft. I'm sure he's already planned some cock and bull story in order to cast the finger of suspicion away from himself. If we say nothing, he'll wonder why. What difference does it make whether it's the original derrotero or a copy as long as it leads us to the Golden Disk of the Sun? I would just as soon he not know that we suspect him of stealing the derrotero. It might put a wrinkle in his plan, whatever it may be. If, however, we don't find the treasure, I'll make sure he pays us extra for all the trouble he's caused us. Hell, I'll take it out of his hide if I have to."
"Eric's right," Catalina said. "I don't know why Phillip did what he did, but since it won't affect our search, let him think he screwed up our chances of finding the gold."
Chris relaxed. "I guess you are right, but I'd like nothing better than to go in there and bash the bastard's head in." Picking up his machete, he said, "I'm going to scrounge up some more fuel for the fire."
As soon as Chris was out of sight, Eric pulled Catalina to him. He gently caressed her face. "I need to tell you how wonderful you are. You're beautiful, you're intelligent, and you are brave. I can understand why Phillip is pissed. He knows what he is losing." He wrapped his arms around her and felt her responding to his touch. He kissed her, her mouth parting slightly as her lips met his. He felt her body lean into him, and he responded in return. He cared for her, more than he had cared for a woman in a long, long time.
Eric backed away from Catalina when Chris re-entered the clearing. He had an armful of capsivella bushes, which he placed near the fire. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I think you should know that Phillip is watching the two of you from his tent."
Their moment broken, Catalina said good night.
"Damn that Phillip," Eric said. "And I was just making some progress with Catalina. The S.O.B. is always lurking nearby." Eric placed a hand on Chris's shoulder. "I know it's your turn to take the first watch, but I also know I won't be able to sleep. Would you mind if I kept an eye on things for a while?"
"Be my guest. Wake me up when you get tired, and I'll take over."
* * *
Phillip closed the flap to his tent, disgusted when she saw Catalina kissing Eric. With each passing day, Catalina was becoming more and more enthralled with Eric Shade. He, on the other hand, could barely get her to talk to him. Phillip didn't want to lose her; she was his only hope for happiness, for having a normal life. He had to find a way to discredit Shade if he had any hope of reconciling with her. The more he thought about Eric Shade, the more resentful he became.
He lay inside his sleeping bag and plotted. He had to kill Shade, but it would have to look like an accident, or else Catalina would never forgive him. Also, Chris would be after him with a vengeance. He knew he could do it. But then what? He didn't want to have to depend on Chris, but how else could they get back to civilization? To hell with the gold; Catalina was his gold.
And then it came to him! He would have to be patient and bide his time, but the more he thought about his idea, the more he felt it had some merit.
As he rolled over, a Machiavellian grin appeared on his face. It won't be too much longer, Shade. You'll soon find out that you can't take what belongs to me!
CHAPTER 30
Eric woke up an hour or so before dawn. Because of Phillip's erratic behavior, he hoped to find the treasure soon. With or without the gold, he had to get the hell away from him. Although he'd been optimistic in front of Catalina, inwardly, he wasn't that confident of locating Valverde's landmarks. He crept toward Phillip's tent. Since he couldn't hear anything, he had to assume Phillip was sleeping.
Eric went to wake up Catalina. "Why don't you join Chris and me by the fire? Since Phillip is still sleeping, this would be a good time for the three of us to take a closer look at the derrotero."
Catalina rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Sure thing. Give me a minute, will you?"
The three of them gathered close to the fire. Eric began translating Catalina's copy of the derrotero: "?'Go forward from Suchu Urcu in the direction and with the signals indicated till you come to a planalto. On the far side of the planalto is a bridge made of frailejones, which spans a deep gorge. Cross the bridge and continue to head toward the mountain's summit.'?"
Eric stopped reading and addressed Catalina. "As you know, a planalto is a plateau, but I must say some of Valverde's verbiage puzzles me. What direction? What signals?"
Catalina glanced at Chris. "That doesn't mean anything to me. Does it to you?"
"
Not really. We must remember in a five-hundred-year time frame the topography of the Amazon would have changed, perhaps dramatically. Despite Valverde's confusing statements, I figure we should be able to locate the plateau. A raised section of land would not have undergone much change; however, the frailejones is a Spanish term for tall trees. Some of them could be seventy-five meters long or longer. It would've been logical for Indians to have used the trees to form a bridge. Wood deteriorates over time, particularly in a place like the Amazon. Termites and a variety of other vermin could have weakened the wood to the point that standing on it could prove to be dangerous."
Eric picked up a small twig. Using the palm of his hand, he swiped a portion of dirt to level the ground. He then drew an X in the dirt with the twig. "Okay, let's say this is Suchu Urcu. A chasm would have to run in an east-west direction. I know the bridge Valverde made reference to couldn't be too far east because the terrain there is far too jagged."
"I see your point," Catalina said. "So what you are saying is, we have to continue to walk in a northwesterly direction."
Eric nodded. "That would be my vote. I would say our first order of business is to find the plateau. Once we find it, we'll have to look for the chasm and bridge."
Chris said, "From what you say, that shouldn't be an insurmountable task. But as I said earlier, wood rots, so the bridge may not be safe to cross."
"There is only one way for us to find out," Catalina said. "Don't you agree?"
* * *
They continued to forge their way up the mountain. The vines as well as the underbrush in that area was so thick that it took the four of them over half a day to reach the area Valverde had referred to as the planalto.
Once they were on the plateau, Eric could see the four monolithic boulders that framed the section of the mountain the Indians referred to as Suchu Urcu. "We are definitely on the right track," he whispered to Catalina.
Catalina squeezed Eric's arm. In a low voice, she said, "Oh my God. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we found the Golden Disk of the Sun."