by A. K. Smith
Here he was taking a widow and a son who obviously had a problematic relationship, on a diving trip. Would they know the difference if he took them diving to another cenote, not the one on the map? How could they? They didn’t even know about the trip. It was the right choice. He would take them to a somewhat remote cenote, one he knew by heart, and could safely lead two beginning cave divers through the cave system.
He convinced himself it was in their best interest, the smart thing to do. His mind made up, he formulated a plan.
A loud angry voice carried to him. “I just didn’t realize we would be camping, I mean maybe I thought we would be camping for a night, two at the most…” long pause and then, “but I didn’t realize we would be camping for five nights.” Ryder’s toe kicked a canvas duffel with a sleeping bag showing through. A childish reaction, his eyes showing darkness underneath, the corner of his mouth turned down, arms crossed. A boy in a man’s body.
Tim’s wife was standing around the equipment with a look of uncertainty. “Well, let’s talk to Scout, I know your father planned this trip, so let’s get a better understanding of what’s going on.”
Scout joined them. “Let me show you what I have planned, your father wanted a day or two of revisiting cavern diving and basic cave diving for Ryder here and then…” He swallowed. He hated liars and prided himself on his honesty. Still, somehow this seemed like the best play of action. “He wanted to explore several beautiful cenotes that very few have seen.” He gripped his chin with his thumb and finger. “What we can do to cut down the camping time, is to go out today and tomorrow to review cavern diving and basic cave diving. I can change our destination to something close by. You can return to your rooms for the next two nights. Then I can take you to the cenotes which will require a little bit of hiking, crossing a few rivers and a night or two of camping.” Scout paused, waiting for the questions regarding the cenote Tim Jackson wanted to show his son. Did they even know he had the map?
Kendall looked at Ryder. “What do you think?”
Ryder huffed, dropping his shoulders slowly, his back turned. “Fine, whatever, when do we leave?”
Chapter 19
“Okay, we are going to wash off, no body oils, suntan lotions, no bug spray. We want to really make sure nothing is on the outside of the tanks…stickers, peeling paint, anything that could fall off into the cenote.”
Scout helped rinse everyone’s skin before they tugged their wet suits over their slippery muscles. A little awkwardness filled the air, the estranged pair barely acknowledging the other. Scout continued to explain the fragile environment of the cenotes, as he went into a lengthy monologue of the Yucatán’s valuable assets and the efforts to keep the unique cenotes protected from humans. His voice filled the tense empty silence between Kendall and the kid. “There are many countries where fresh water is worth more than gold; I think we are living on top of a treasure. Here in the Yucatán, we have an enormous shelf of land perforated with fresh water running underneath, we just need to make sure it stays that way.”
The perimeter of the large crystal-clear pond, was surrounded by lush green vegetation and curvy wooden trees. The sides, the darkest of wet browns resembled a beaver dam stacked full of twisty branches and twigs tangled together, forming a spectacular natural circle around an intense, unnatural blue-green color.
“This is the cenote ‘Naharon’, meaning Crystal; it is only 45 feet or 14 meters maximum depth, there is no permanent guideline. Once we go over a review of cavern diving safety and techniques, we will work together on using a guideline and reel in the water. The cavern entrance is on the west side of the cenote and down below visibility is excellent.”
They were standing over a deep hole, luminescent water reflecting back an unreadable expression on both their faces
“It’s beautiful.” Kendall’s head bent over the edge. “The color seems fake, it doesn’t seem real.”
Scout studied her profile. “It definitely is real but it’s unlike any other water I’ve ever seen in my life.” He whispered. “There’s something about this water, the color, the feel of it, its mysterious beauty gets inside you.” He turned his head catching her eyes. “That’s why I had to move down here, to the Yucatán, all because of the cenotes. The damn cenotes.”
****.
After an hour of instruction, and being quizzed on use of reel and line, lights, propulsion techniques, problem solving, and practice sharing equipment, Scout wondered if they knew he was testing their ability. Kendall had her cavern certification and Ryder was both cavern and cave certified. They had both explored caverns in Florida.
“The Florida caves are unique in their own right, but you will be astonished at the clarity and beauty of the Yucatán caves,” Scout said. This is a cavern on steroids—wait until they see this. It didn’t matter how many caves he dived or how many cenotes he explored, this underworld electrified him.
“Are you ready?” he asked. “Remember the signals, keep your distance and follow me. He flicked the flashlight attached to his suit on and off. “Light check.”
The steady beat of breathing underwater filled his head, like a drumbeat it both relaxed him and pumped euphoria into his bloodstream. The decorations were a magnificent work of art. Scout involuntarily smiled even with the regulator in his mouth. He pointed the light on a formation which resembled a drinking straw. Cave decorations came in all shapes and sizes; they grew from the ceiling and from the floor; resembling rippled sheets or even twisted worms. Stalactites and stalagmites were the most commonly known, but decorations in the cenotes were outstanding. His light illuminated the magnificence of the cave.
Light blue, deep blue, emerald, turquoise, a hodgepodge of hues resembled the mixture of colors of a kaleidoscope. They were inside the wheel and someone was turning it, blending all the colors together. Clear, crystal, crisp and sharp…depending on which way you looked, natural light from the sun spotlighted the water. With every different angle the view and vibrancy changed. Remarkable. Inexplicably brilliant. Hues so full of luminosity it appeared there was lighting underneath.
The day flew by. The beauty in the underworld, possibly impacting the bitterness between Kendall and Ryder and the rugged terrain. The caves were only accessible by traveling back a dirt road, climbing over a fence and paying a small fee in pesos to the always present landowner.
The second cenote, nicknamed Carwash, was like pulling up to a large lake. Wooden platforms provided easy entry to the water. Attached to a large rock at the beginning of a passageway was a sign in English:
Prevent Your Death
Go No Further
Unless Trained
in Cave Diving
Many Open-Water Divers
(even Instructors) Have Died
Attempting to Dive Caves
Scout pointed to the sign. “Underneath there are several rooms with different passageways leading in opposite directions away from the entrance. Divers enter rooms, lose orientation, and die without having enough air to make it back to the entrance.” As soon as the word die left his lips, he wanted to swallow his words.
The silence in the air became thick like layers stacking themselves on top of each other creating a distance between all three of them,
Even the two Sherpas, Enrique and Roberto, who knew no English, knew something changed the group’s attitude.
Scout, fluent in Spanish, had short private conversations with Enrique and Roberto throughout the day. He had worked with them before, and respected their local knowledge, their kindness, and work ethic. They were both good men, working hard to take care of their families. Enrique, part Maya, handled the paying of each cenote owner, answering a few questions in a Spanish/Mayan dialect, Scout couldn’t decipher.
At the last cenote of the day, the landowner exchanged a few words with Enrique gesturing toward Ryder. Enrique translated. “He wants you to take your cap and shades off,” Scout said to Ryder. An odd request. Scout attempted to analyze the expression on the la
ndowner’s face. His body language rigid, his face strained under a pair of sunglasses. Why?
Kendall flashed a beautiful smile, and said, “See what happens when you bring a reality TV star to the jungle, Ryder, you’re famous even in Mexico.” She watched Ryder stare at the old man. She laughed and said, “Perhaps they have satellite and watch your show.”
The landowner never smiled. He ignored Kendall. His body turned toward Ryder, beaten-up black sunglasses perched on his nose. Shirtless; his years showed on the sagging of his skin, his hair long and straggly, gray even on his chest, and a face full of time lines. Ryder took his cap and glasses off.
In slow motion, he removed his slightly bent lopsided glasses. The old man’s eyes grew larger. Intense light blue eyes in caramel-colored skin, mesmerized by Ryder. After a few seconds of staring, the glasses went back on and the landowner stood up, turned and retreated back to his shack.
The curious moment passed in silence. Kendall attempted a joke. “Ryder’s fame follows him everywhere.” No one laughed.
As they hiked back from the last cenote, Ryder stuck his earbuds in, blocking out any chance of conversing.
“So, it’s a reality show about plastic surgery?” Scout wanted to understand.
“Yes, but it’s more like a soap opera, with the patients falling over the plastic surgeon and even hitting on Ryder. It’s interesting, I guess…if you like Reality television.”
“And, it’s popular, people want to watch it?” From behind, Scout analyzed Ryder’s physical features.
“Yes, it’s one of the highest rated reality shows for the last two seasons.” Kendall raised her palms. “Crazy world we live in, right?”
****
The last cenote caught the late afternoon sun. The escaping rays broke through the canopy of jungle creating a thousand pinpoints of circles on the water. Ryder was still thinking about the man at the entrance. He sensed a connection when he took his glasses off, like the calm and serenity that filled him as he entered the cenotes. Weird.
“Well, I think it’s time we should be heading back to the resort. It’s been a great day. You have all done an excellent job. Tomorrow we’ll explore a few more cenotes in this vicinity, and I think you will be ready to try some passageways. Wednesday we will head out for the camping trip exploring an unknown cenote off the beaten path.”
“Seriously?” Ryder looked at Scout. “So the cenotes we visited today are not off the beaten path?”
“No, not really, the cenotes we explored today anyone can find if they research it. They have all been explored and mapped and the majority have miles of mainlines.” Scout put his hat and sunglasses on. “The one I’m going to take you to involves a journey just to get there, not accessible by cars or vehicles.”
“Sounds mysterious.” Kendall grinned. “And I don’t know how to thank you, Scout, it felt incredible to get back into the water again. The cenotes really are magnificent, spectacular…especially down under. It’s like another world.” Kendall paused. “I can see why Tim loved diving in them so much.” At the sound of Tim’s name Ryder lost the feeling of peacefulness, wondering for the hundredth time today, why he was here with Kendall.
The special moment had passed. They were no longer simply divers, enjoying an adventure, exploring an unusual unknown land together.
The Sherpas loaded up Scout’s vehicle and they were on the road heading to the resort. For an old guy who seemed to be removed from technology, Scout pulled out the latest version iPod, scrolled through the music with a flick of his finger and landed on a playlist. Soon the sounds of the Rolling Stones’ “You can’t always get what you want” filled the quiet space.
The lush, thick jungle settings slowly turned into low-density shrubs as they left the mostly uninhabited area of the Yucatán and headed toward civilization where beautiful resorts decorated beachfronts at the end of long dirt roads. Kendall and Scout were laughing in the front seat. He couldn’t stand her happiness another moment longer. He popped in his ear buds, shutting everyone out.
****
Kendall took in the picturesque scenery and glanced over at Scout noticing for the first time his uniqueness and his rugged good looks. It has been so long since I recognized another human being as a man…even thought about someone as a member of the opposite sex. There’s something charming about him. He has kindness in his eyes. She had always been attracted to kind but rugged men. What was his story? How did he end up here? Everyone had a story.
Looking out the window she tightly clutched the side of the seat. It was eighteen months since she had thought of another man. Almost two years since a member of the opposite sex held her tight, looked directly in her eyes or stirred up any old feelings of attractiveness. She realized the difference with Scout Whitman. He didn’t have pity in his eyes. Steve or any other man who knew Tim back in Maryland projected pity every time they conversed. Scout met Tim, but he didn’t know him. He didn’t know the two of them together. Somehow, it made a difference.
She took a deep breath and let out a loud sigh without even realizing it. Ryder was sitting in the backseat with his ear buds, oblivious to anyone else. She turned her head to the left to sneak a peek at Scout. He was staring at her, and smiled. “It wasn’t that bad of a day, was it?”
Kendall’s mouth turned up involuntarily. He seemed so sincere as the sunlight lit up his face. “It was a great day, Scout; it was really a great day.”
****
Upon returning to the resort, Ryder jumped out of the rover before Scout barely had it in park, pushing down his ear buds and stretching.
“How about we take a look at the menu and order a delicious meal and get our rest tonight?” Kendall faced Ryder, but he averted direct eye contact.
“I’ve got plans.” It was an unkind, snappy retort. Ryder pulled his hat off and ran his fingers through his hair, never glancing her way. He walked over to Scout. “What time are we leaving tomorrow?”
Scout studied the body language of both of them. “I’ll be here at seven o’clock, it’s a big day tomorrow. Rest up, I’ll need all of your mind, body, and energy to be there.”
“Sure, see you then.” Ryder nodded and walked away without glancing at Kendall.
Kendall watched Ryder’s back. “Thanks, Scout, it was a great day—He just misses his dad. I thought maybe this would bring us closer together, but well, we’ve never been close…but I’m still hopeful.” Her smile did not reach her eyes.
Scout’s heart went out to her. Ryder was making it tough. “See you at seven a.m.” With a heavy slow pace she walked back to the entrance of the resort. He knew hurt, he had a front row pass to that emotion. Scout hoped she would turn around, but she never did.
Chapter 20
Five words.
Ryder uttered only five words since they woke up this morning.
“Four days left to go.”
Not spoken to her, but tensely enunciated with grit, as he strutted out the door to their room. This was not what Kendall had pictured when she envisioned the trip Tim wanted her to take with Ryder.
At least the dives were spectacular. Scout, an excellent instructor, continued to test their ability. Yesterday, they stayed in the limits of natural sunlight and did checks, making sure they exited with two thirds of their air supply. Today, they each carried two battery-powered lights to go deeper. An experience of being pioneers, explorers in a non-commercial world untouched by humans.
As they left the natural light and followed the guideline, they were immersed in an underground maze of fragile decorations and majestic formations. Scout was teaching them to respect the delicate limestone, showing them techniques that would not damage these amazing natural wonders. The visibility good, the dive incredibly beautiful and both Kendall and Ryder proved their ability to follow safety techniques, showcasing their skills to maintain a parallel swim and not stir up silt or damage fragile creations.
The last cenote of the second day called “Ponderosa,” meaning Eden was up a d
irt road on a very steep hill. Organically wild, she envisioned this resembled the Garden of Eden, with wild green and brown twisted trees, fluorescent foliage and fauna. The smell delightfully fresh and pure. The landowner had spent quite some time in the cenote, decades, by the age of the structure. A curvy large stone stairway was built into the rock, leading down into the earth, ending with a ladder and a fifteen-foot drop-off into the cenote.
Looking down was like discovering a magical entrance to a secret underworld. The water so clear the reflection of their souls might bounce back. The air cool, crisp and clean. Scout explained the cenote water contained a rare quality of minerals or ingredients that made the particles in this space feel different in the nose, mouth, and skin. The change in the air unexplainable, but the impact of something different was noticeable.
Scout placed a hand-drawn map on the clipboard. There were several cavern zones, most marked with an installed gold permanent cavern line leading the way through the tunnels.
“We need to follow the line, no deviating, one area of the cavern has depths over 70 feet, and at about 33 feet a halocline. That’s the depth we should stay at—33 to 40 feet,” Scout explained.
“What is a halocline again?” Ryder asked, excluding Kendall, by standing in front of her.
“Halocline comes from the word ‘halo’ meaning circle and ‘cline’ meaning change in continuum.” Scout moved to the side to create a circle of conversation. “The halocline occurs when saltwater meets and interacts with fresh water. Because the limestone of the cenotes allows saltwater to penetrate, the two will merge at some point. It’s like mixing oil and water, when a diver swims through the halocline it almost seems like they are coming out of the water into a dry cavern.” He added with a smile in his eyes, “Depending on how the light hits the halocline it can be illusionary, enchanting, creating an underwater experience reflecting unusual colors. You have to experience it for yourself.” Scout stood on the stairwell leading into the earth.