by David Meyer
No one had gotten close to the Library of the Mayas in centuries. Not Wallace Hope. Not anyone. And now, we were on the verge of discovering it. I could feel it, sense it.
I felt a rising desire inside me. Thoughts of retirement started to feel like distant memories. I wanted to see the library. I wanted to touch it, to hold it in my hands. The desire consumed me, occupying a part of my very soul.
"I assume those names are self-explanatory," Graham said.
"Pretty much," Tum replied. "Razor House had a little twist to it. Supposedly, razors and blades lived inside it. They were able to move about by their own free will."
"Okay." Beverly brushed wet hair from her face. "So, we've got four more houses to go."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"Xibalba had six houses but nine levels," Tum said. "Metnal was the lowest of those levels."
"What do you know about the other three levels?" Emily asked.
"I can't be sure they exist. But if they do, we should probably assume the cenote was one of them."
Heads bobbed, nodding in agreement.
"So, which level is this one?" Graham spun his head toward the cavern. "The water's cold, but it feels warm in here. Hot House, maybe?"
I shifted my beam. The area beyond the pool was uneven and littered with natural lumps of all shapes and sizes. Dozens of small, glittering objects rested between the lumps.
I cringed slightly. "This is Jaguar House."
"What makes you so sure?" Dr. Wu asked. "I don't see any jaguar corpses."
"Hunahpu designed this entire pyramid—this entire crater—to last centuries, maybe even millennia. Live jaguars wouldn't have fit with his plans. But dead jaguars, well, that's a whole other thing." I aimed my beam at one of the glittering objects lining the floor. "Those are jaws. Jaguar jaws. And they look sharp as hell."
Chapter 97
"I've been meaning to ask you something." Emily paused. "What does the Popol Vuh say about Xibalba's fate?"
Tum stepped cautiously around a set of jaguar jaws. Although many centuries had passed since the creature's death, he still felt a hint of sadness. "What do you mean?"
She stepped over the last set of jaws and walked into the next tunnel. "Was it destroyed?"
"I'm not an expert." Tum followed her into the tunnel. "But as I recall, Hunahpu and Xbalanque only outwitted the death gods. I don't think they actually destroyed them or Xibalba."
"I guess that makes sense when you think about it. Obviously, Hunahpu thought the death gods were still alive when he enslaved them here."
Blood rushed to Tum's head. For the first time, he fully understood why Chaac and the other Maya gods had drawn him to Xibalba. His destiny was to finish the job started all those years ago by Hunahpu and Xbalanque. They'd enslaved the death gods.
Now, he had to kill them.
Chapter 98
"Holy smokes." Dr. Wu gawked at the ceiling. "Are those …?"
Grabbing his shirt, I yanked him back into the passage. "Yeah," I whispered. "Those are bats, hundreds of them."
"Looks like they're sleeping." Graham's face turned grim. "Let's keep them that way."
Just two minutes earlier, we'd passed through Jaguar House with little trouble. Beverly had tripped at one point. Fortunately, she'd managed to avoid the many sets of jaws that had been cemented to the limestone floor.
The doc's gaze remained locked on the ceiling. "They're giant. I wonder how they got so large."
"Could be evolution." I frowned. "Or radiation."
Faces tightened around me. They'd taken the news of a possible radiation risk reasonably well. But as we ventured deeper into the earth, I could see they were becoming increasingly concerned about it.
I allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The bats were unusually tall with an average height of at least a foot. The tunnel in which they slept was on the short side, no more than five feet from floor to ceiling. Of course, it was difficult to say for sure, what with all that white stuff covering the floor.
"It stinks." Beverly wrinkled her nose. "I don't think I've ever seen so much guano."
"So, what are we going to do?" Dr. Wu asked. "Just crawl under them like nothing's wrong?"
I gave him a meaningful look.
"You're joking, right?" He frowned. "Tell me you're joking."
"I wish I was."
I turned away from Bat House and switched on my flashlight. Carefully, I blocked most of the beam with my hand. We stood in a long, curving passage, about fifty feet below Jaguar House. Despite the dim light, I saw twitching eyes, the licking of lips, and the itching of non-existing scratches. The others were nervous.
I didn't blame them.
"Come on, Cy." The doc winced. "That cave is at least fifty feet long."
"If we try to scare them, they might flood this tunnel. And for all we know, they're carrying rabies or some other disease."
Eyes twitched faster. Tongues flicked across lips. Itching turned into full-fledged raking.
"Let's make this quick." Dr. Wu shook his head. "I hate bats."
"Keep it down." Graham smirked. "They might hear you."
"Screw you, Dutch." The doc tried to control his breathing. But he seemed on the verge of a breakdown.
"No talking and no rushing. We take our time and stay as quiet as possible." I looked at everyone. "Agreed?"
Heads nodded.
I glanced at the doc. "Can you do this?"
He tried to speak, but no words came out. So, he nodded instead.
I glanced at Emily. "What are the odds of you having another episode anytime soon? Because this would be a really bad time for it."
She exhaled. "Unfortunately, they're impossible to predict."
I extinguished my beam and stuffed the flashlight into my satchel. Then I dropped to my knees and crawled into the cave.
Bile rose up in my throat as I entered the dark space. It reeked of guano and urine. Holding my breath, I crawled into a mound of guano. Before long, I was completely covered in the stuff. It felt soft yet crunchy, wet yet dry. The odor was even more disturbing. Every time I moved, it smelled like wet rats smashing into my nostrils.
Clenching my eyes shut, I continued to crawl. Guano worked its way down my shirt and up my pants. It got in my boots, my hair, my ears. There was no way to avoid it. No way to escape its revolting stench. Only two thoughts kept me going. Escape.
And the Library of the Mayas.
I crawled out of the guano mound and moved toward an even bigger pile. I shifted forward, taking care to be as silent as possible.
Tiny rocks, thousands of them, crunched under my knee. Too late, I realized Hunahpu had covered a section of floor with gravel. In the small space, it sounded deafening.
Slowly, I lowered my head to the ground.
This can't be happening.
Wings flapped above me.
Eek! Eek!
And then all hell broke loose.
Bats swarmed the cavern floor. Sharp claws dug into my back. Powerful teeth clamped down on my neck. Hot breath touched my cheeks.
Dr. Wu screamed.
Tum scrambled forward. So did the others. Before I knew what was happening, they were crawling over me, crawling over each other. Fingers clutched my legs. Torsos clambered over my back. Boots kicked at my face.
The bats grew more ferocious. They pecked me. Scratched me. Chewed me. Clawed me to shreds. I no longer felt pain. All I could feel was sticky blood pouring out of my body.
I struggled forward. The bats flocked to me. I smelled blood on their breath. Felt their wings beating against my face. I tried to move, but there were too many of them.
Dr. Wu screamed again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him jump to his feet. "No," I shouted. "Stay—"
His head slammed into the limestone ceiling. A soft, crunching noise sounded out and he crumpled back to the ground.
The bats left me and soared toward him.
I reached to my hols
ter. Pulled out my pistol.
The bats tore at his clothes. Ripped at his flesh.
I lifted the pistol. Squeezed the trigger.
The blast rocked the cavern. A couple of bats dropped dead to the ground. Momentarily disoriented, the others sailed into each other. They beat their wings, gnashed their teeth. Then they flew straight up and vanished from sight.
I pulled out my flashlight. Aimed the beam at the ceiling. The light revealed several dozen small gaps. Presumably, the bats used them to reach the surface for hunting purposes. I just hoped the gaps weren't the source of the flowing air.
I twisted the beam toward Dr. Wu. He lay motionless in a pile of guano. "Doc?"
When he didn't answer, I snaked to his side. Adrenaline raced through me as I laid eyes on a deep, bloody gash on top of his skull. "Good lord."
Emily swallowed. "Is he …?"
I felt his pulse. "He's alive. But he needs help."
Chapter 99
"I just …" Dr. Wu winced as he touched his head. His eyes rolled backward and he looked ready to pass out. "I just need a minute."
"You're lucky you didn't crack your skull," Graham said.
"I know."
"I bet you've got a concussion. A bad one too."
The doc took a few deep breaths. Then he rose unsteadily to his feet. Graham and Beverly slid under his shoulders, propping him up.
A bit of air pushed against my face as we walked down a long, curving tunnel. At the bottom, the tunnel opened up into a small cavern.
A sense of revulsion came over me as I walked into it. It wasn't claustrophobia. Sure, the tight quarters, low ceilings, and endless limestone were beginning to get to me. But the odor was the real problem.
"It smells like," Graham sniffed, "rotten eggs."
"There must be a sulfur deposit around here." Beverly's nose wrinkled in disgust. "A big one too."
"The quicker we get past it, the better." Graham used his free hand to aim a beam into the cavern. "So, which houses are left?"
"Hot House and Razor House," Tum replied. "And possibly two other levels."
Ancient blankets were strewn across the floor, covering every conceivable inch of walking space. Others hung from the walls. Still others dangled from the ceiling or lay in heaps upon the ground.
I took a close look at one of the blankets. It appeared to be constructed from cotton. Various patterns had been painted on it. Although ravaged by time and insects, I could still see traces of the original dyes.
My gaze skipped past the reds, greens, and purples. It fell on a brilliant azure color.
"That looks like Maya Blue," Tum said.
"What's Maya Blue?" I asked.
"It was a blue pigment developed by some of the ancient pre-Columbian cultures. You can still find it at many Maya sites. It's incredibly resistant. It even holds up to chemical solvents and acids."
"How do you know that?"
"It's actually a famous mystery among ancient Maya scholars," Tum replied. "They know the materials used to make it—indigo and a clay mineral known as palygorskite. But the sources of those materials have long been a matter of debate."
"Well, I doubt we'll find the answer here." Emily took a few steps into the cave. "But maybe the library can—"
Dust kicked into the air as her boots struck the blankets. Hacking loudly, she stumbled forward a couple of feet. More dust shot into the air. Dust was everywhere, engulfing the cavern. The smell of sulfur was overpowering. I started to reach for my respirator.
That dust … it's sulfur dust. But that means …
"Run," I shouted.
Emily lurched forward. Beverly and Graham, still helping Dr. Wu, were close behind her. Tum and I trailed them by a considerable margin.
Dust swirled. Small shocks of static electricity jolted my body.
I picked up the pace. Static electricity struck my sides, my legs, and my arms. It accosted me from the blankets and from Tum. It seemed to come from everywhere at once.
Sulfur particles ignited in the electrified air. They shot in all directions. A few of them singed my skin. But the vast majority careened into the blankets.
Oxygen flew out of my mouth as the cave burst into flames. A burning blanket dropped from the ceiling, nearly striking my head. It hit the ground, lighting a blanket at my feet. The fire quickly consumed the dry cotton and jumped to my clothes. I felt the heat, the burning.
Tum started to lag behind. I grabbed his arm and we staggered through the fire. Smoke curled into the air. I couldn't see anything.
Through the crackling flames, I heard distant shouts. I angled myself toward them. But I'd swallowed far too much smoke. My footsteps grew heavier. My body sagged.
Somehow his foot slipped under my own. Our legs got tangled up. With my last bit of strength, I shoved Tum toward the shouts. Then I fell. More dust shot into the air. Brilliant fire erupted around me.
And then my mind slipped into darkness.
Chapter 100
The blast reverberated through the eastern end of the crater. Rubble shot into the air. Chunks of limestone crumbled to dust.
Votan waited for the smoke to clear. Then he darted to the ancient wall. "It worked," he called out. "We're through."
Dora snapped her fingers. "Bring them here."
A couple of men strode out of the jungle. They carried two deflated rubber rafts, two outboard engines, and several toolboxes between them.
Dora quickly inspected the equipment. "Okay, wait here. We're going to check out the river."
She crossed over the debris and vanished into darkness. Votan followed her to a steep walkway. It was smooth and covered with dried red flakes left over from the juice concoction.
As he descended the walkway, a cool mist appeared. The sound of rushing water grew louder.
Dora lifted her beam. A massive river flowed in front of them. It moved at a rapid pace, weaving an intricate course through large stalagmites.
Even from a distance, Votan felt its mighty power. The river was truly a force of nature. He felt absolutely certain it would take him to where he needed to go. "Bring the rafts," he shouted. "I want to be on the water in five minutes."
Chapter 101
Flames smacked against my cheek. My face shot to the side. A stinging sensation ran down my spine. Desperately, I tried to stand up. But something pinned my arms down.
"Cy."
I tried to pinpoint the voice's location. But my mind felt foggy and I couldn't concentrate.
"It's me." Beverly voice, soft yet firm, floated into my ears. "You'd better wake up. I'd hate to have to slap you."
I wrenched my eyelids open. My vision—like my mind—was a blur. I blinked a few times and noticed varying shades of flickering light. I struggled to stand up, to get away. But I couldn't move.
"Calm down," she said. "You're going to be okay."
I blinked a few more times and saw she was holding one of my arms. Graham held the other one. I twisted my head from side to side, searching for the flames. "The fire. It's—"
"Out." She tried to look nonchalant, but I saw deep concern etched in her eyes. "The blankets were bone dry. They burned away in less than two minutes."
I tried to sit up. She pushed me back down again.
"You're burnt," Graham said. "Let the doc treat you. You're lucky to be alive, you know."
Agonizing pain ripped through my right leg as cool liquid washed over it. I bit my tongue to keep from screaming. "How's …" I clenched my fists as the pain intensified. "How's Tum?"
"I'm fine." Tum grinned. "Just a little shaken up. You saved me."
"Is everyone else okay?"
"Yes. You're the only one who got burnt."
"Lucky me." I gritted my teeth. "What happened?"
"You passed out in the middle of the flames, that's what happened. Craziest thing I've ever seen." Graham shook his head. "Beverly and I dragged you here."
More liquid splashed against my leg. It felt cool against my skin.
> "Any pain?" Dr. Wu's voice was slightly slurred and he appeared disoriented.
"No," I replied.
"Then you're good to go."
Graham released me. Beverly did the same. I sat up. My body felt dehydrated. My throat was parched.
I looked at my lower half. My right pants leg had been cut off at the thigh. The area just above my boot was red. Fortunately, there were no blisters or other signs of second-degree burns.
The doc handed me a small canteen. It was almost empty. I took a few greedy sips and gave it back to him. Then I stood up and tested my leg. "So, I guess that was Hot House."
Tum nodded. "That leaves Razor House and possibly two other levels."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" As I stared down another steep stretch of tunnel, I forgot the fire and my aching leg. All I could think about was the library. "Let's go."
Chapter 102
"This looks simple enough." Graham studied the cave. "We just need to stay away from those blades."
The cave was shaped like a rectangle with a length and width of fifty feet and ten feet, respectively. A yawning void—the exit—called out to me from the opposite end.
Dozens of blades had been cemented into the walls, floor, and ceiling. As far as I could tell, they'd been harvested from old weapons. While rust had taken its toll, they still looked sharp as hell.
"Razor House was filled with sharp blades," Tum said. "They were able to move around on their own accord. Sort of like they were living entities."
My eyes lingered on the cement that held the blades in place. "Well, I don't think that'll be a problem."
My gaze drifted back to the exit and I felt a gust of cool air. We'd passed through the scorpion river and five of six houses. After Razor House, two other levels likely awaited us. What sort of traps would they contain? Would we find the Library of the Mayas on one of them?
What about the death gods?
I turned the question over in my mind a few times as I inched into the cave. The pyramid had been specifically designed to keep Hun-Came and Vucub-Came imprisoned. All evidence pointed to the strong possibility that the death gods were actually caches of highly radioactive metal left over from an ancient extrasolar meteor.