by Rai Aren
The day came. It was cloudy and cooler than normal. His captors had gotten bored of watching him every minute and had taken to leaving him to work on his own for hours at a time. They didn’t think the risk was too great, after all, they wouldn’t expect him to have the will or strength to attempt escape in his weakened state, and even if he did, the chances of him surviving out there alone or not being captured were slim to none.
Regardless, Rick waited for his guards to wander back through the rear gates and into the city. He was a man with nothing left to lose. He swallowed his fear. It would do him no good. If something else waited for him out there, so be it. He’d rather die on his own in a bid for freedom, facing whatever fate would throw at him, than die a captive, broken man. Besides, he reasoned, he must have something left to live for, some redeeming qualities left to share, or the transformed anaconda wouldn’t have spared his life. Whatever it was, it had to be more than his life here offered him. He grabbed hold of the belief that he still had some kind of greater purpose left in the world.
Finally alone, he dashed as quickly and quietly as he could to where he had hidden the change of clothes and other supplies. He stripped down and changed into the threadbare t-shirt and pants, which were a loose fit, but they’d have to do. He exchanged his worn out hiking boots, for the combat boots. His were too worn for a panicked journey through the jungle. He didn’t have a knife; they had long ago taken his meager possessions away from him, but he had hidden a couple of tapered branches that he’d use as weapons or walking sticks, whatever the situation called for. He hastily buried his old clothes, glad to be rid of them, and grabbed his shoulder pack of supplies.
He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasted no time. He bolted into the jungle, never looking back.
CHAPTER
15
A man took a seat on one of the barstools in a small, dingy lounge near the airport. It was half full, a mix of some locals, some tourists. Loud music played from a jukebox. He wore a ball cap, old dirt-stained khakis that looked a size or two too big, and a worn-out touristy t-shirt advertising one of the local beers. He was a shabby looking sort, slim build, with a scruffy beard and a tangled mess of hair. His scratched sunglasses were hooked on his collar and his eyes had a sunken look, with dark circles framing them underneath. The man looked like he hadn’t slept in a very long time.
He ordered a Coke, no ice. His hands were scarred and rough and shook slightly. He was a man haunted by the experiences of his life.
The big-bellied bartender with the long, slicked back ponytail and pockmarked face didn’t bother making eye contact with him as he set his Coke down. People came and went from here all the time. Most of them looked like lost souls. They didn’t matter to him.
The man in the cap sat there quietly sipping the flat soda and munching on the free peanuts. In a few hours he would fly out of this place. Forever. He couldn’t wait. Then, he overheard a group of young men, not much older than twenty he surmised, talking excitedly about ‘Z’. He knew what they were here for.
“So, we’ll check in at the hostel, then ask people there where we could find a good guide. The travel blog said this hostel is one of the best places to stay and find connections to locals.”
The man in the cap got up, put a couple of dollars down on the bar for the Coke and walked over to their table, limping slightly. “So you’re looking for ‘Z’ – the lost city of gold?” he asked.
That got their attention.
“Yeah, you know something about it?” one of the young men asked, his eyebrows raised. The group sized the stranger up, taking note of his dirty, tattered clothes, and slightly disheveled appearance.
“I know it’s nothing more than a legend,” he said, then coughed and cleared his throat, “and that a lot of good people have died trying to find something that doesn’t really exist.”
Another piped up, “Oh, it exists all right. It’s just that no one has found it, yet. We intend to be the first.” They all high-fived one another, wide grins all around. “Yeah!” they said.
Out of the corner of his eye, the stranger noticed another table of men, locals from the looks of them. Two of the three glanced in their direction, but quickly averted their gazes. He took note that they weren’t speaking amongst each other, only listening. He grew nervous.
“Believe me,” he urged, focusing his attention back on the young travelers, “it’s a fool’s errand. Many people have died trying to do what you’re planning. You’ll just end up paying a high price chasing a fantasy.”
“Sounds like someone’s been jaded by their own failures,” another said smugly, winking at his pals. He glanced up at the stranger standing unwelcome and uninvited at their table. “Listen, old man, why don’t you just keep ambling on by in your sad, lonely life, hanging out in bars, looking for people to talk to, and leave the real living to the rest of us.” He waved his hand dismissively.
The group snickered, regarding him with derision mixed with pity. One man whispered how he had obviously seen better days.
“Suit yourselves,” he said, trying to hide how much their insults stung him. He looked back over at the other table; the local men’s faces bore serious expressions. Still they were silent. He turned back to the table of young, cocky, unmarred faces. “But remember this moment. You were warned.” And with that he left.
The end...
“A man who embarks on a journey must know when to end it.”
– Tahir Shah, House of the Tiger King
Author’s Note
This story, Lost City of Gold, was inspired by actual events of those, including Percy Fawcett, who have gone seeking the Lost City of Z in the Amazon jungle. It is also dedicated to all of the adventure seekers out there who strive to uncover more of the mysteries of this world...you inspire me...
I would love to hear back from fans of this story. I will be developing more archaeological adventure/mystery/thriller short stories and novels for my Ancient Quest Mystery series.
Thanks for taking this journey with me and happy reading always!
Rai Aren
Acknowledgements
Big thanks go out to my husband for his constant support and enthusiasm and help with this story. Your feedback motivated me to improve it. Your own creativity always inspires me to reach farther and be better.
I’d also like to thank Gary Val Tenuta, who created a very cool cover for me that inspired the journey of writing this story and helped me to picture the story as I wrote it. Thanks also for your invaluable feedback and detailed edits, which acted as catalysts for me to write some enhancements to important scenes.
Thanks go out as well to my editor, Janet Bessey, for helping me to polish the story and work out the kinks!
About the Author
Rai Aren is the co-author of the award winning, bestselling archaeology adventure novel, Secret of the Sands, and its sequel, Destiny of the Sands. She is also the author of the final installment of The Secret of the Sands Trilogy, Revelation of the Sands. Lost City of Gold was her first solo effort. She looks forward to penning more stories for her Ancient Quest Mystery series. There are a lot more fun & exciting adventures to come!
Rai has a life-long interest in archaeology and adventure stories and movies. She can usually be found cuddling with her rescue kitties, hanging out with her family, binging on her fave sci-fi & mystery shows, and reading and writing mystery and adventure stories.
For news on upcoming releases and exclusive bonuses, sign up for Rai’s newsletter:
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Rai also often tweets about her interests in archaeology, space exploration, sci-fi, books, movies, and more: twitter.com/raiaren You can also visit her at: www.raiaren.com to learn more about her writing, visit her on Facebook: Rai's Facebook page or send her an e-mail at: [email protected].
Other Works
GO ON ANOTHER THRILLING ARCHAEOLOGY ADVENTURE WITH THE SECRET OF THE SANDS TRILOGY...
Find The
Secret of the Sands Trilogy box set at your favorite retailer
THE SECRET OF THE SANDS TRILOGY
Hidden deep below the Great Sphinx, and within the heart of the Great Pyramid lie otherworldly secrets...
Hold on for a wild ride! The Secret of the Sands Trilogy is an adventure story in the spirit of Indiana Jones & The Mummy!
SECRETS. DESTINY. REVELATIONS.
DISCOVERY. WAR. REDEMPTION.
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Secret of the Sands
For 12,000 years a dark and deadly secret has been hidden deep below the Great Sphinx. In present day Egypt, two archaeologists discover mysterious artifacts belonging to an unknown civilization. A frightening and awe-inspiring story unravels as the archaeologists race against time to decipher the dangerous knowledge they hold...
Destiny of the Sands
Some secrets cannot remain hidden...and some cannot be forgiven...
The Great Sphinx of Giza has guarded a secret, both dangerous and incredible, for 12,000 years. Now deadly enemies emerge, and those involved must face startling truths and deep sorrow, in the fight against the forces of tyranny...
Revelation of the Sands
A stunning revelation of secrets and destiny that will change everything...
Complete the epic journey begun in Secret of the Sands...
The mystery deepens. The danger is ever-present. Incredible discoveries await.
The Great Sphinx is not the only ancient wonder that has incredible secrets hidden deep within it. But uncovering these secrets will have life-changing consequences. There will be no turning back. It will take a great deal of courage and the testing of faith, on multiple fronts, to face them...
The final chapter in this archaeology adventure trilogy now unfolds. The characters you’ve come to know are suddenly thrust down a new, completely different, and even more personal path, to a point of no return. Their journey is about take another perilous turn with mysterious and surprising outcomes that will alter the course of their lives forever.
Journey through some of the most magnificent ancient places on earth and join this final adventure in the Secret of the Sands trilogy...
Find The Secret of the Sands Trilogy box set at your favorite retailer
You can also click here for the paperbacks on The Book Depository
Here’s more info on the individual books...
2009 ReadersFavorite.com “Fiction-Mystery” Silver Medalist
For 12,000 years a dark and deadly secret has been hidden deep below the Great Sphinx of Giza...
Find Secret of the Sands at your favorite retailer
SECRET OF THE SANDS
A PROPHECY WAS TOLD...
An ancient prophecy, thousands of years old, told of the coming of the Chosen one, but she will be both loved and feared, and some will stop at nothing to defy everything she represents
A SECRET LONG BURIED...
A secret power that once proved too deadly, was hidden away deep beneath the sands of Egypt, only to be revealed by its sworn guardians when the time came that the knowledge would be safe
A DEADLY RIDDLE IS UNLOCKED...
Two young archaeologists fatefully unearth unusual artifacts dating over 12,000 years old. The exhilarating find however, is wrong - very wrong. The artifacts shouldn’t be there...they shouldn’t even exist at all
A POWER UNLEASHED...
Now after remaining dormant for 12,000 years, the secret has been uncovered, and its true purpose suspected. What will be the greatest discovery in human history will either change us forever or destroy us for trying...
CONTINUE THE ADVENTURE WITH...
Some secrets cannot remain hidden, and some cannot be forgiven...
“High adventure, past and present, merge into a multi-leveled tale of epic proportions in this triumphant sequel to the best-selling novel, Secret Of The Sands!”
– Gary Val Tenuta, author of Ash: Return Of The Beast and The Ezekiel Code
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DESTINY OF THE SANDS
A JOURNEY BEGUN...
Must now be completed. A reckoning is upon those whose fates are inextricably linked to the mysterious sands of ancient Egypt
THE SECRET ONCE BURIED...
Is now hunted by those powerful and corruptible enough to chart a new, terrifying, and ultimately deadly course in human history
SORROW AND FEAR...
Cannot stand in the way of those who will defend the ways of peace and defy those who are determined to take everything from them
AN ANCIENT PROPHECY...
Will finally reveal itself, and the startling truths, which it holds. The guardians must now trust in those who by destiny were chosen to tell the sacred truth...or destroy all traces of it...
COMPLETE THE EPIC JOURNEY WITH...
From the Shadows Surfaces...
A new enemy, and an even greater challenge to face a truth that is about to reveal itself...
Vengeance is Sworn for the Pain of the Past...
Choices were made and destinies forged. The past propels the future of those left scarred, toward an uncertain and precarious fate...
A Difficult Journey Begins and Ends...
In the sands of Egypt, to uncover deeper truths and startling realities that will be both frightening and awe-inspiring...
A Revelation of Life Itself...
Will break free of the earthly and otherworldly confines that have held it in secret for so long. Faith and trust will be severely tested, and a journey to the past and future all at once will be undertaken...
From the Great Sphinx to Petra to the Great Pyramid, join this final adventure in the Secret of the Sands trilogy...
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