by Michael Cole
Louder, so Chris and Phillip could hear, Eric said, "I think we can get to those boulders before nightfall. How do the rest of you feel about pushing on?"
When Chris and Catalina sided with Eric, Phillip threw his hands up in the air. "I guess no one gives a damn how I feel. I'm tired. I'd just as soon camp right here."
"Quit feeling sorry for yourself," Eric said. "Chris and I will cut a path to the rocks. All you need to do is follow us."
* * *
Once the tents were up and they had eaten, Eric turned to Catalina. "Would you like to take a closer look at the boulders?" They walked hand in hand to the massive monoliths.
"Look at all those inscriptions," Catalina said. "Some of the writing must be at least forty feet from the ground. It's amazing that anyone could have etched those caricatures into solid stone without the use of a scaffold."
"This whole mountain is shrouded in mystery," Eric said. "I must admit that's probably what draws me to this place. I'd love to come back to see if I could talk the Murcegos in allowing me enter one of those tunnels. There's no telling what I'd find."
"Who knows? Maybe you'd run into the Star Walkers," Catalina said jokingly.
"Maybe," Eric said. "I'm convinced the tunnels are being guarded for a reason?.?.?. and I would be willing to bet it's a damned good reason."
The sun was about to drop below the horizon when Eric and Catalina turned in to get some much-needed sleep. Chris was to take the first watch, which meant Eric had six hours to rest before it would be his turn to stand guard.
* * *
The following morning the four finally arrived at the chasm. Eric immediately became discouraged. The gorge was unlike any he had seen. He estimated it was at least a five-hundred-meter drop to the water below. "There is no way for us to get to the other side unless we find the bridge Valverde wrote about."
Chris took a step closer to the precipice. "I see what you mean. That sure is a long way down."
"In order for us to save time looking for the bridge, we need to split up into two groups," Eric said. "Chris, you and Phillip walk west while Catalina and I will head east. Whichever of our group finds the bridge will fire a shot."
Phillip approached Eric. "You would use any excuse to be alone with Catalina. Why don't I go with you? Catalina could go with Chris."
Eric met Phillip's gaze head on. "To tell the truth, you aggravate the hell out of me."
"Why do we have to split up? I thought you knew where you were going? After all, aren't you supposed to be a knowledgeable guide?"
Eric had had enough. He advanced toward Phillip who immediately went for his gun. Chris lunged at him, knocking him to the ground. Standing over him, Chris shouted, "Stupid fool! You would've ended up with a bullet in the middle of your forehead before you could pull the gun out of your holster. If I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut and do what Eric says. By arguing, all you're doing is wasting time."
Phillip pulled himself to his feet. Slinging his backpack across his shoulder, he threw Eric a nasty look.
"There will be a day of reckoning, Shade. Mark my words. And it will be soon."
"Any day, any time," Eric shot back. He pulled Chris aside. "If he whines one more time, I swear I'm going to break his arm. That will really give him something to complain about."
* * *
Reluctantly Phillip followed Chris. He was consumed with hate for Eric. All he could think of was exacting revenge. The idea had come to him last night. He wanted to kick himself for not thinking of it sooner. It was his responsibility to scatter the foul-smelling strychnos fruit around the perimeter of each tent to stave away the dangerous creatures of the jungle, particularly spiders and scorpions. This evening, once Eric decided where to set up camp for the night and the trenches were dug, he would gather and place the strychnos into everyone's trench except Eric's. It would be taking a risk. Eric was exceptionally observant; however, once Eric finished his duties, he would most likely sit by the fire next to Catalina. It would also be dark. The beauty of the plan is no one would notice anything different. He would be simply doing his job. One or two bites from a scorpion or some other poisonous vermin, and it would be all over.
Eric had repeatedly warned everyone to be on the lookout for scorpions. Phillip recalled him saying that twenty-five species were extremely dangerous, and one bite was enough to kill a human. With luck, by morning Eric would be out of the way. He'd then have to convince Chris to give up the search for the Golden Disk of the Sun. Knowing how Chris would feel about losing his best friend, Phillip didn't think it would be too difficult to talk him into abandoning the quest.
* * *
Catalina was tired and thirsty. They had walked a couple of miles without a break. As if reading her mind, Eric stopped. "Let's take five, shall we? Want a drink? A drink of water, that is."
She took a couple of swallows from his canteen. Although the water wasn't cold, it was thirst-quenching.
"Do you think Chris will have trouble with Phillip?"
"I doubt it. Believe me, Chris can take care of himself. Besides, Phillip doesn't have a vendetta against him."
"What do you mean?"
"Come now, Catalina. You know the answer to that question as well as I. Chris is not the one posing a threat to Phillip's relationship with you. It's me, and it doesn't even matter whether his perceptions are accurate or not."
Catalina looked searchingly into Eric's eyes. "Are his perceptions accurate?"
Eric's answer was long in coming. "If I thought I had a chance with you?.?.?. in another time and place-"
Catalina didn't let Eric finish his sentence. "There is no other time and place. We are here, the two of us. Haven't you guessed by now how I feel about you?"
Eric started to say something, stopped, then started again, "It's only natural for you to feel the way you do, but once we get back to civilization, you'll forget about me. Right now you need me, because you're counting on me to protect you. I am a guide, plain and simple, and I really don't want to be anything else."
Catalina tried to remain calm, but her trembling voice betrayed her. "Tell me you don't care for me, and I'll drop the subject."
Eric placed his hands on Catalina's shoulders. "I've thought about this a lot. I just don't want either one of us to get hurt, that's all. We live in totally different worlds, you and I. This is my world. Yours is in California."
When Catalina searched Eric's eyes, she could see they were focused solely on her. "I discovered something about myself in the Amazon. In all the years I've been with Phillip, I was afraid of striking out on my own. It was a comfort to me to know that he was always around fussing over me and taking care of all of my needs. I must admit I had grown complacent. Living in Beverly Hills is a far cry from living in Manaus. There is no poverty in Beverly Hills, and very little crime. Although I had no money of my own to speak of, I've never lacked for the creature comforts life has to offer: my own horse, a condo, a car, dinner out on Fridays, going to either an opera or a play at least once a week. Being here with you in the wilds made me realize how foolish I've been. You see, I talked myself into believing that love wasn't all that important. Since I met you, I've come to the realization that I was wrong. All the security and material comforts in the world aren't worth much unless they can be shared with someone you care for. I realize I haven't known you long, but in this place it seems as if it's been a lifetime."
Eric's strong hands encircled her. He knew she could feel his hardness pressing against her. She moaned as she drew nearer. She pressed her face against the stubble of his cheeks. Her voice was husky. "You are very special to me; you know that, don't you?"
Eric wanted to make love to her, but he knew now was not the time nor the place. Catalina meant much more to him than just a roll in the hay. He also wasn't sure if he was ready to commit to a relationship. He was so set in his ways. He wondered if Catalina would be willing to put up with his penchant for the Amazon.
A shot shattered their moment of
intimacy, and Eric reluctantly moved away. "That has to be Chris. They must have found the bridge. From the sound of it, I'd say it couldn't be more than a couple of kilometers away. Let's go meet up with them."
* * *
Within a half hour, they found Chris and Phillip. The chasm was deeper in this part of the gorge. "That must be at least a six-hundred-meter drop," Chris said.
Eric corrected him, "Close to seven hundred, I'd say." As usual, Eric took command of the situation. He examined the three frailejones that comprised the bridge. Even though the trees were tied together with hemp, Eric knew that walking on top of them with no guardrail for support wouldn't be easy. He cautiously stepped forward. "They seem to be sturdy enough." He tied one end of the rope around his waist and handed the other end to Chris. "If I fall, it will be up to you to pull me up."
Without thinking, Catalina blurted, "Please be careful." The minute she said the words, she glanced at Phillip. He stood rigid with his jaw clenched and watched as Eric placed all of his weight on the bridge. At first he only ventured out a few feet to test the strength of the centuries-old timbers. Then, he walked as far as the rope would let him.
When he came back, he was smiling. "It appears safe." Without wasting any more time, he took off the rope, placed his arms out in front of him for additional balance, and walked the fifty or so meters to the other side of the chasm.
"Why don't you go next, Catalina?" Eric shouted. "Don't look to the left or to the right, and whatever you do, don't look down. Extend your arms outward for balance and walk straight toward me."
"Okay," she replied in a shaky voice. "Here I go." Catalina cautiously placed one foot in front of the other. She was halfway across when she unconsciously looked down and saw the turbulent water swirling among jagged rocks far below her. It was like staring into the jaws of death. She felt lightheaded, and for a moment seemed to be paralyzed and unable to move.
Eric shouted words of encouragement, "You are more than halfway across. I know you can do it. Don't think, just walk."
"I don't know if I can."
Eric's voice was calm. "If I didn't think you could do it, I wouldn't have let you try. The more you think about it, the more difficult it will be for you."
It took all the willpower Catalina could muster to continue. After taking a couple of cautious steps, she broke out into a run. The forward momentum of her body gave her the impetus she needed to get across. Once she was close enough, Eric reached out and grabbed her outstretched hands. "I've got you," he said. "I knew you could make it!"
It was Phillip's turn. He cautiously stepped on the timbers only to back away. "I need a rope."
"We don't have a rope long enough," Chris said. "You said you're an expert mountain climber. I'm sure you can do it."
Phillip cautiously placed his feet on top of the frailejones, but when he looked down, he immediately jumped off. "I don't think I can make it."
When Eric saw Phillip back away from the bridge the second time, he yelled, "Stay put. I'll come help you." Eric turned toward Catalina. "Wait for me here." He crossed the bridge to where Phillip was standing. "This is what you are going to do. Do you know how a crab walks?"
"Of course. Crabs walk sideways."
"Good, because that's exactly the way I want you to walk. Get on top of the bridge and put your arms straight out. I'll take one of your hands and Chris will take the other. We will help you stay balanced. All you'll have to do is shuffle your feet sideways."
Phillip was about to object, but Eric cut him off. "Here is your chance to prove to Catalina that you are not a wimp. What's it going to be? You really only have one of two choices. Either you let Chris and I help you across, or you will have to wait here till we return. Do you really want to spend two or three nights in the Amazon by yourself?"
Phillip gritted his teeth and stepped on the bridge.
"That a boy," Eric said. "You can do it. Just take it slow and easy." Once they were safely on the other side of the gorge, Eric led them to a clearing. "We might as well set up camp right here. I know it's early, but I think all of us could use some additional rest. You all know your jobs. Let's get those tents pitched, the ditches dug, and a fire lit. I'm going to see if I can shoot us something for supper."
Phillip purposely placed Eric's tent toward the end of the clearing. He felt that by putting it there, Eric would be less likely to notice whether or not he placed the strychnos in his trench. Later that evening, while Chris was in his tent and Eric and Catalina were huddled close to the fire, Phillip was in his sleeping bag envisioning a dozen scorpions inserting their poisonous venom into Eric and crawling all over his dead body. There was nothing else to do, but wait till morning.
CHAPTER 31
Later that evening, Eric and Catalina huddled together close to the fire. Eric was reading Valverde's directions to her when he suddenly stopped, looked up, and put his hand on her arm.
"Is there a problem?" she asked.
"No. Not really. I just heard some rustling in the bushes. It's probably Phillip. He must be up and about."
"How do you know it's Phillip?"
"Because only Phillip would make so much noise." Keeping his voice low, Eric continued to read from the derrotero, "?'Halfway up the western slope of the mountain you will find a seam. On the other side of it is a tunnel closed with certain herbs, which they call salvaje. Remove the salvaje and enter the tunnel, the one where the water from the mountain falls. On the far side of the tunnel, you will find a tarn. Beneath the tarn is a scavon. Swim through the scavon and you shall find a grotto. On the far side of the grotto there is a portal made of granite. Beyond the portal you shall find the Golden Disk of the Sun.'?"
Catalina was confused. "Valverde is talking in riddles. He mentions a seam. What seam? And what does he mean, 'enter the tunnel, the one where the water from the mountain falls?'?"
Eric pondered Catalina's questions. "That part of the derrotero does seem rather vague. I believe a seam is a fissure, which is nothing more than a crack in the earth. Valverde says to enter a tunnel where water from the mountain falls. That suggests there is more than one tunnel. As you know, Muela Del Diablo is riddled with them. In fact, they are known as the chincana, or a place where one gets lost. It stands to reason the tunnel we are seeking can't be full of water or we wouldn't be able to enter it. This makes me think Valverde's grammar must have been faulty."
"Now I get it," Catalina interjected. "He probably meant we will need to enter a tunnel where the water flows over it. I'd say the tunnel we are searching for is beneath a waterfall. I now remember that a tarn is just another word for a pool of water. I would have to assume the water from the waterfall empties into it."
Eric nodded. "I agree. The rest of Valverde's instructions seem fairly straightforward. As you know, a scavon is nothing more than a volcanic chimney. Apparently we will have to swim through one to reach the grotto, he referred to. Then we will have to find an entrance to the treasure chamber, which apparently is a slab made of granite."
Catalina asked, "Does he provide any information as to how it can be opened?"
Eric folded the derrotero and placed it in his pocket. "No. That could mean it should be fairly easy to open."
A look of skepticism crossed Catalina's face. "So far nothing has been easy. Looks like we have our work cut out for us, doesn't it?"
* * *
Phillip sat in his tent, waiting impatiently for Eric to turn in for the night. He could see he was still with Catalina reading from a piece of paper. He assumed it was a copy of the derrotero. He recalled Catalina had told him that initially she had given Eric only a partial copy. Since the derrotero was incomplete, he couldn't understand why she hadn't voiced a concern over the disappearance of the original he had taken.
He realized he shouldn't concern himself with such trivia. He needed to focus on staying awake so he could sneak out in the early morning hours and place the strychnos in the trench around Eric's tent. He knew Eric stood guard over the
campsite from six till twelve at night at which time Chris took over. He glanced at his watch. He had hoped Eric would have gone to bed, but it was already after midnight, and he and Catalina were still talking.
Finally, after what seemed like an interminable amount of time, Phillip watched Eric place the paper in his jacket. When Catalina leaned over to kiss Eric, it hurt him deeply. It was almost like experiencing physical pain. He sucked in his breath, knowing he should pull away, but he couldn't. Why could this not be him kissing Catalina so passionately? Why would a sane woman paw over some derelict who was one step away from the poorhouse? He couldn't understand how anyone could give up the creature comforts he had to offer for a roll in the hay.
He wished this was only about lust, but there seemed to be a bond of mutual trust and respect that had formed between Eric and Catalina that was much stronger than the one that had existed between the two of them when Phillip had been mentoring her. It pained him to think the rapport they had for over eight years had deteriorated to little more than polite, guarded conversation.
The Amazon had changed her. She seemed much more confident and self-assured. Phillip could only hope that when they returned to California, she would revert back to her old self. He didn't like her newly found independence. The more he thought about her involvement with Eric, the angrier he became. If Eric survived, it would only be a question of time before the two would become lovers. The thought made him livid. He felt betrayed. Here he was-well educated, rich, and in good health-but he didn't have the one thing he desired most, Catalina Rivera.
* * *
After Catalina had gone to bed, and Chris took over the watch, Eric entered his tent. Although he was dead tired, he couldn't sleep. Thoughts of Catalina raced through his mind. She was young. Certainly much younger than he, but she also seemed wise beyond her years. They both had quite a bit in common. They loved the outdoors and were intrigued with South America's ancient past, a past that to this date was still mostly a mystery. Their quest, whether successful or not, would end soon. Then what? Would she return to California and marry Phillip? Would a woman like Catalina, one used to the finer things life has to offer, be willing to lead a simple life in Manaus? She needs me right now, but what about later? I have absolutely nothing to offer her. Even if I were to return to teaching, we would be just one of the masses trying to eke out an existence.