Fool's Gold

by PJ Skinner

  ***

  Carlos arrived at Doña Elodea’s house to find her chatting with Segundo. Carlos was tired and drawn and sweating with exertion. When Segundo saw that Carlos was alone, he leapt to his feet.

  ‘Where’s Wilson?’ he asked.

  ‘He’s escaped. He got away as I arrived to shore. I’m sorry; I turned my back for a minute, and he was gone.’

  ‘That man has nine lives. How did he do it?’

  ‘He must have released himself during the trip while I was fighting the river.’

  ‘Where can he have gone? Are there many ways out of town?’

  ‘We are at the end of the line here. Rijer is watching the riverbank and there’s only one road out of town but we must go now if we want to catch him.’

  Doña Elodea tried to protest that it might be dangerous, but they were gone, running fast up the street. Wringing her hands, she sat down again.

  ***

  Mike and Gloria were approaching Riccuarte in the pickup when they saw someone stumble out of the undergrowth on the edge of town. He was filthy and looked ill, but Gloria recognised him immediately.

  ‘Stop the truck!’ she ordered the driver, who slammed on the brakes. ‘It’s Wilson,’ she said, but Mike was already struggling with the ancient door.

  Mike and Gloria jumped out of the truck and started chasing Wilson. Behind Wilson, Carlos and Segundo appeared running from the outskirts of the town. Wilson looked up and down the road. He ran straight at Mike and Gloria, swerving at the last minute around them, and past the truck. Mike turned and ran after him. He had always been a fast runner. Now he ran as fast as he could, skipping over the ruts in the road. His heart was pounding. He felt heroic as if he was in a movie. He was catching Wilson. Reaching out to grab him, he felt a sharp pain in his left arm. He fell to the ground as Carlos and Segundo ran past. They caught Wilson, who was unable to run far or fast due to the after effects of the ayahuasca. Gloria reached Mike.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked. ‘I thought you had him until you fell.’

  But Mike did not answer.

  ***

  The workers dug the earth out from the centre of the platform. Bit by bit they exposed some steps that led down to a stone door with a large and elaborate serpent cipher on it. There was a solemnity to the work, which surprised Sam. It was more like an exhumation than the excavation of a treasure. Don Moises was very subdued and could not be persuaded into conversation. Alfredo was drugged with excitement and could not communicate either. It was not at all what Sam had imagined. The horseplay amongst the workforce had ceased, and they cleared the steps with a certain reverence, like people cleaning a church. They worked very slowly, as if preserving their strength for a great effort. Sam’s excitement drained away as the mood affected her, too. She sat with Alfredo apart from the group, eating the last of her precious chocolate supplies and taking photographs of the digging.

  By early afternoon, the steps and the door were clear of earth.

  ‘I think we should go back to Arenas until morning,’ said Don Moises, ‘it is too late to continue tonight.’

  Alfredo looked like he was going to disagree. He stood up and walked over to the newly cleared steps and peered into the hole.

  ‘The clouds are gathering again,’ said Sam.

  They returned to the village where they left most of their goods in the canoe and only took the bare essentials to the house. Nobody looked pleased to see them. Sam felt their hostile stares boring into her back as she walked through the village. The women prepared their evening meal as before but there were no attempts to communicate and they melted into their houses.

  ‘They thought they were rid of us,’ she said to Alfredo.

  ‘I think they did.’

  After a frugal supper, Alfredo and Sam sat on the steps deep in thought.

  ‘How are you feeling now?’ said Sam.

  ‘Earlier I was elated but I’m having a moment of horrible clarity. I’m not sure if I’m more worried about finding the treasure or not finding it.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘What happens if we discover it? It’s a national treasure. I like Mike but I’m pretty sure that most, if not all, of the treasure will be heading out of the country one way or another.’

  ‘I guess that’s correct. I don’t know Edward. But if he’s like Mike, he’ll sell it to the highest bidder.’

  ‘The problem for me is that as a historian and a patriot, I’ve been struck by the thought that I have agreed to plunder the history of my country for money. I’m no better than a grave robber.’

  ‘Maybe it will go to the Sierramar national museum.’

  ‘Unlikely. They are broke. I’m desperate to see the treasure after all these years of searching but what if that leads to it being plundered by Edward and taken away from Sierramar?’

  Sam didn’t have an answer. Alfredo stood up in a determined manner and walked into the night.

  ‘Where are you going?’ she said.

  ‘I need to speak to Don Moises.’

  ‘Can I come?’

  ‘No. I’m sorry, but this is something I need to do alone.’

  He headed into the darkness.

  ***

  Moises was on his balcony making good headway with a bottle of unadulterated chicha. He looked unsurprised to see Alfredo.

  ‘I need to talk to you. Is that okay?’ said Alfredo.

  Moises nodded. ‘I’ve been expecting you.’

  It was going to be a long night.

  ***

  Carlos and Segundo wrestled Wilson to the ground without too much trouble. The effort of running had ended his resistance. Segundo tied Wilson’s arms behind him with a piece of cord and shoved him in the back, pushing him in the direction of Riccuarte. Carlos knelt on the ground beside Mike and felt his pulse.

  ‘Is he dead?’ asked Gloria. She was white with shock.

  ‘I don’t think so. We’d better take him to Doña Elodea. She’s the village healer.’

  Carlos bent down and levered Mike over his shoulder. He managed to get him into the front seat of the truck, which was still stopped in the middle of the road. The driver was happy to drive to Doña Elodea’s house with Carlos balanced on the tailgate of the truck shouting instructions. Gloria followed slowly behind the truck with Segundo and Wilson, who was shuffling along like a very old man. They were showered in muddy water as the truck dropped into a large pothole.

  Once back in the village, they stopped long enough for Segundo to throw Wilson into the local lock-up where he had been held and continued on to Doña Elodea’s house. The driver had helped Carlos carry Mike into the house and was emerging from the front door, munching on an empanada.

  ‘Driver, can you take us to San Lorenzo tonight?’ asked Segundo.

  ‘Sure. Let me unload all the groceries first, and I’ll come back after lunch to collect anyone who wants to go.’

  Gloria went into the house and was relieved to see that Mike was lying down, but he had his eyes open. Doña Elodea had put some sort of poultice on his chest. She looked around when Gloria entered and said, ‘Angina attack.’ Then, she continued fussing around Mike and mixing odd-looking ingredients in bowls. Gloria suspected that she was a witch, but she didn’t say anything in case she was right. Mike had regained some colour and began to be quite chirpy.

  ‘Did we get him?’ he asked. ‘Did we get Wilson?’

  ‘Yes. He’s in the lock-up. We’re going to take him out with us tonight.’

  ‘Tonight? What do you mean tonight?’

  ‘Mike, be reasonable. You’ve had an angina attack. Have you ever had one before?’

  ‘Um, yes, I did tell you that I’ve got a heart problem.’

  ‘I thought you were exaggerating. Why didn’t you tell us how bad it was?’

  ‘You wouldn’t have let me come.’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t. Anyway, you should go to the hospital for a check-up with your history.’

  ‘What about Alfredo and Sam
?’

  ‘Because of us, Wilson has been captured and cannot hurt them. They’ll be fine, and who knows? Maybe they’ll find the treasure and bring it home.’

  ‘But, I’m fine now.’

  ‘How do you know that? Do you think I’m going to let the source of my salary go into the jungle to have another heart attack? Forget it. We’re going home.’

  Mike smiled.

  ‘You can’t fool me. You love me more than a bank. Okay, I’ll go. I lost consciousness for a moment, that can’t be right after running such a short distance. Sam and Alfredo were safe now and might be about to make an astonishing discovery.’

  ‘I’m taking you to the hospital in Calderon. We can wait for news there. We can phone my father from San Lorenzo to let him know we’re safe. I’ll get him to send a car to Riccuarte to wait until Alfredo and Sam come out of the jungle,’ said Gloria. ‘Get some rest. The driver will be back at about three o’ clock, and you must be ready to travel.’

  ‘Go and smoke and leave me in peace.’

  Gloria left, grabbing one of Doña Elodea’s empanadas on her way.

  ***

  The driver returned for Gloria, Mike and Segundo in the late afternoon. They loaded Wilson into the back of the truck, wrapped in sacks and gagged to prevent problems. Segundo sat in the back of the truck with him. One look at Segundo had convinced Wilson that there was no hope of escape, especially when he caught a glimpse of the Luger in his waistband. Once they got to San Lorenzo, he would find out who sent him. If he had not already been killed by Segundo, it was because someone wanted him alive. He suspected the hand of El Duro in his kidnapping.

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ he said.

  The look he received in reply convinced him not to ask again.

  Mike and Gloria sat in the front. The driver did not try to touch Gloria’s knee on the return trip, as Segundo had had a little talk with him about respect for the daughter of Señor Hernan Sanchez, which almost made him faint in fright. Mike was subdued but had recovered from his turn. They reluctantly stayed in the only habitable hotel in San Lorenzo again. Gloria bought a mosquito net on their way through the market and took it into her room like contraband. They ate in a nearby cantina, but no one was in the mood for food. Gloria went to the local shop where they had the only telephone line in the village and called her father to tell him that everyone was safe.

  ‘Papi? It’s me, Gloria. Can you hear me?’

  ‘Yes, chickpea, I can hear you. Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes, Daddy. It’s been a bit of an adventure. Mike had an angina attack, but he’s fine now. I’m taking him to the hospital in Calderon.’

  ‘Did you find Wilson Ortega?’

  ‘Yes, he’s in the local prison for the night. Segundo is looking after him.’

  ‘Excellent news! Where are Sam and Alfredo?’

  ‘They’re still in the jungle. It would be great if you could send your driver to Riccuarte to wait for them. I expect they’ll be very tired when they come out. We don’t have any news of their progress, but they’re safe now that Segundo has captured Wilson.’

  ‘That would be my pleasure, sweetheart. Can you ask Segundo to speak to me, please?’

  ‘He is right here. Oh, and can you send the driver to collect us tomorrow morning so that we can catch the afternoon flight to Calderon? He can then return to Riccuarte to wait for Sam and Alfredo.’

  ‘I’ll call him after I speak to Segundo. Take care, and I’ll see you very soon.’

  Gloria put the receiver down on the shelf and went to get Segundo. He walked over and lifted the telephone to his ear.

  ‘Good evening, boss,’ he said.

  ‘Good evening, Segundo. I hear that you captured Wilson before he could do any harm. You’ll be well rewarded for your loyalty.’

  ‘No problem, boss. He can’t escape from me.’

  ‘I want you to deliver him to El Duro. Can you do that for me? He’s expecting you. It’s perfectly safe.’

  ‘Okay, boss.’

  ‘Leave first thing in the morning, will you? I don’t want the gringos interfering in this matter.’

  ‘Okay, boss. You can rely on me.’

  ‘Yes, I can, I know that, Segundo. You’re a good man in a crisis. Look after yourself. You know where to pick up your money.’

  ‘I do, boss. Thank you.’

  Segundo replaced the telephone with a smile.

  Everyone went back to their rustling rooms for an early night. Wilson was found lodgings in the town jail after Segundo had had a quiet word with the local policeman and slipped him ten dollars.

  ‘This man’s dangerous and he’s very persuasive. Whatever you do, don’t listen to anything he says.’

  ‘What’s he done?’

  ‘He is a rapist. We’re taking him back to justice in Calderon.’

  ‘We should lynch him here and save time.’

  ‘My boss would not like that.’

  The policeman pocketed the dollars with a grin. He stayed well away from Wilson, having a healthy sense of self preservation. The scarred man was not to be trifled with.

  Chapter XXIII

  They travelled to site early. The nightly rain had washed the entrance clean and the steps descending to the stone entrance looked new. The entrance was shut off by a stone door. How on earth were they going to get in through solid rock? Sam took out her camera but Don Moises asked her to put it away again.

  ‘You may not take any photographs,’ he said.

  ‘But I have to,’ said Sam and she turned to Alfredo for support. He shook his head.

  ‘You’ll understand shortly,’ he said.

  It had to be something to do with his chat last night but he wouldn’t talk about it. ‘You’ll see,’ is all he would say. What was obvious was the elevation of his mood since the night before. He was a different man.

  Alfredo and Sam descended the steps to the stone door. Alfredo walked like a man entranced, his feet hardly touched the ground. Sam had never seen anyone so happy. When they reached the door, they felt it from corner to corner.

  ‘I can’t find any catch or hinge,’ said Sam. ‘How are we going to open this? It must weigh over a ton.’

  Alfredo muttered to himself and reached into his rucksack for his notebook. After leafing through the pages for a few minutes, he found the page he was looking for.

  ‘I can do it,’ he announced, dazed.

  ‘We can’t open it without first getting permission from the gods,’ said Don Moises, who had grown in stature. ‘We must perform the blessing ceremony first.’

  Alfredo nodded and whispered to Sam, ‘There’s a short ritual that is going to take place now. This is incredibly important to them. You must take part, or they will not let you into the chamber.’

  Sam nodded back but she was confused. How did Alfredo know this? She couldn’t believe that they were going to open the door and see the treasure. Was it really still there? She couldn’t comprehend it. She was most definitely awake, as she had pinched herself black and blue, and she couldn’t remember ever getting a bruise in a dream.

  ‘You knew this was going to happen, didn’t you? What do we have to do?’ she asked Alfredo.

  ‘Yes, I knew. Moises told me last night. Shush now. Do what I do.’

  Don Moises beckoned one of the workers forward. He was carrying a large hessian sack, which he gave to Moises reverentially. Moises pulled out an embroidered robe with a serpent cipher on the back and front. He pushed his head though a hole in the middle. Sam was speechless with amazement. A shiver ran down her spine. Alfredo did not show any surprise at this development. He had been expecting it.

  Moises took a golden beaker out of the sack and raised it to the sky. Another worker came forward with two bottles of opaque liquid, which he gave to the now priestly looking Don Moises. Moises opened one of the bottles and poured it into the beaker. He drank from it and passed it around the workers. Alfredo tried to take it, but they handed it back to Moises. He poured it on the
steps, muttering an incantation in a strange language. Moises opened the other bottle and offered some of the liquid in a beaker to Sam and Alfredo. It was bitter and grainy, but Sam did not complain. She was feeling as if she had gone back five hundred years to the time of Atahualpa. She didn’t understand how calm everyone was, as if they had known this was going to happen. Alfredo held the beaker up and drank with something approaching ecstasy.

  ‘The door may be opened,’ said Don Moises.

  ‘I’ll do it,’ said Alfredo.

  Two of the strongest workers went down the stairs with Alfredo who, using the instructions in his book, showed them where to place their hands on the door. They pushed the door hard on its left side. To Sam’s astonishment, after a couple of meaty shoves, it rotated relatively easily, swinging open to leave a narrow entrance. It was pitch black inside. Alfredo reached into his rucksack and pulled out a torch. He beckoned Sam down the stairs.

  ‘Are you ready to be astounded?’ he asked.

  She nodded mutely and felt her way into the chamber. Alfredo switched on the torch and pointed it inside. The reflections from a thousand precious objects flashed back at them. There were life-size human figures made out of beaten gold and silver, birds and animals, gold and silver flowers. There were goblets, ewers, salvers and pots full of the most incredible jewellery and golden vases full of green stones that looked like emeralds. Everything was exquisite. Sam had not been prepared for such a sight. Her mouth dropped open with astonishment. This had to be the find of the century. She now knew what it had felt like for Howard Carter when he discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb.

  They moved into the chamber followed by Don Moises, who handed Sam another torch. With her heart in her throat, she walked forward into the chamber being careful not to tread on any of the artefacts. She squatted down on her haunches to take a closer look at one of the treasures on the floor - a cornstalk with a golden ear and silver leaves and tassels. The delicacy of the workmanship and the ingenious designs attested to the rare talent of the artisans. There were no words to describe how she felt. It was like Aladdin’s cave.