Torrent

by David Meyer

  He twisted his head and at last, saw the creature from the jungle. "You've come to save me," he realized. "Like I saved you."

  The creature studied him for a moment. Its bright green eyes lingered on Tum's face as if it recognized him.

  Tum smiled. "The fifth world is coming, my friend."

  Without warning, the creature lowered its head. Its jaws opened wide.

  Tum felt intense pain as teeth ripped into his neck. They scraped down his stomach, carving him open. He didn't understand it, couldn't understand it. He'd saved the creature. So, why was it hurting him? And why didn't Chaac or one of the other Maya gods aid him? Hadn't he just fixed things? Hadn't he done everything asked of him?

  Blood poured out of Tum's chest as the creature began to feast on his organs. He tried to wrench away, but his strength faded. He leaned his head back. Rested it on the cool limestone ridge as his life slipped away.

  "Why, Chaac?" His eyes closed over. "I don't …"

  Chapter 120

  Emily raced across the cavern. Then she turned to the river and feasted her eyes on the library.

  Her library.

  She gazed at the gold plates, at the knowledge contained within them. She had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't experiencing another hallucination.

  She'd waited her whole life to see the Library of the Mayas. She'd dreamt of it thousands of times. And yet, even her wildest dreams paled in comparison to the real thing.

  Something caught her eye. She swung her flashlight beam toward the smaller dome. Her brow furrowed as she saw the tiny objects. "No. No, it can't be."

  Throwing caution to the wind, she hopped into the river. The rising water splashed into her. She was amazed at the force.

  She ducked her head into the icy river and swam forward. Less than a minute later, she reached the dome.

  As she surfaced, she saw two giant hunks of semtex mounted on the gold plates. They'd been duct taped into place well above the water level. Smoke floated into the air as small wicks burnt toward blasting caps.

  Immediately, she knew Tum was responsible. When she'd seen him wade out to the dome, she'd thought he was on her side. She'd thought he'd been trying to save the library.

  Apparently, she'd thought wrong.

  She reached for a hunk of semtex. Carefully, she extinguished the flame and undid the duct tape. Then she heaved it downriver, hoping the fast-moving water would sweep it far away from the library.

  Her breathing slowed. The library had survived Votan's army. It would survive the semtex too.

  Her confidence grew as she reached for the second hunk of semtex. Beverly had clearly been wrong about the library. The idea that the two domes could explode like nuclear bombs was beyond preposterous.

  At the last second, she pulled up. She gave her head a fierce shake. She was having another hallucination. That was the only thing that made sense. Tum had no reason to hurt the library.

  Abruptly, a massive shockwave swept over her. The temperature turned boiling hot. The cave system roared until her ears no longer worked. A brilliant white light flashed. It smashed into her. It grabbed hold of her arms, her legs, her torso, and her head. It latched onto her very soul.

  And then it exploded inside her.

  Chapter 121

  The ground rumbled. The air roared.

  I looked over my shoulder. My jaw dropped.

  The georeactors … they must've exploded.

  A wall of water raced toward me. It crashed against the twenty-foot high ceiling, ripping stalactites from the limestone as if they were toothpicks. Large flames stabbed out of the water's edges, searing the rock and sending giant tufts of smoke into the air.

  I threw myself into the hull and braced myself against the ancient wood. The wall of water smashed into me, over me, all around me. It tore at my body, threatening to yank me from the canoe.

  The boat swept backward and upward. It flipped in all directions until I could no longer tell up from down.

  Tremendous waves struck my back over and over again. Water forced its way into my mouth and down my lungs. At the same time, intense heat singed my clothes, my skin. It felt scalding hot and it took all my willpower not to scream out. I was drowning and burning to death at the same time.

  My grip on the hull started to weaken. And the old boat, once strong and firm, now felt fragile and weak.

  Got to hold on.

  More waves crashed against my back. But they were a bit lighter, a bit easier to manage. Flames continued to burn my skin. But they felt a few degrees cooler.

  The waves shot over me, shot past me. The river calmed down and the canoe flopped back into the water. It rolled once, then twice. It started a third roll. But its momentum slowed considerably once it turned upside down. Swinging my body from side to side, I managed to right it again.

  I tried to get up, to ready myself for whatever hellish thing came next. But I was weak. Hell, I couldn't even cough. So, I just lay at the bottom of the hull, spitting up water and trying to gather my strength.

  More large waves crashed into the boat. I rose to my knees. But the canoe quaked violently, forcing me to sprawl out again.

  Mounds of icy water careened inside the boat, soaking my clothes and freezing my burnt skin. I rose up. Cupped my hands together and frantically scooped water out of the canoe. But a roaring noise, even louder than the wall of water, caused me to freeze. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my flashlight from my pocket.

  Rock walls rose on either side of me, stretching well over twenty feet in height. They hemmed in the mighty river, forcing its raging waters into a narrow fifty-foot channel. It was a magnificent waterway, yet far more treacherous than anything I'd ever seen.

  How the hell am I going to survive that?

  Chapter 122

  A wave burst forth from the angry rapids. It caught me square in the face and I felt myself slipping, sliding out of the canoe.

  Another wave rocked the ancient watercraft. I skidded to the other end of the hull. Then the canoe jerked in the foamy surf and I felt my legs slip over the side.

  An even larger wave crashed into the canoe at an angle, catching me in the ear. My sense of balance vanished. I was helpless, a slave to the river's whims.

  And then I toppled out of the canoe.

  I extended my hands as I crashed into the river. My fingers closed over splintered wood. Tightening my grip, I held on for dear life.

  The boat shot into a whirlpool. My body slowly lifted out of the water, propelled along by the tremendous force, until I was perfectly perpendicular to the old canoe. Powerful gusts of wind stabbed at my face. Waves of cold water splashed me again and again.

  My muscles strained. Bit by bit, I dragged my body closer to the boat.

  The wind howled. The river erupted with rage. The current quickened and shifted directions continuously.

  I shoved my right elbow inside the hull and braced myself against the frame. The canoe shot to the right. It swept up against some partially submerged stalagmites. My body jolted. Waves of water splashed over me.

  Blinking away the moisture, I stuck my left elbow inside the hull. With one final heave, I yanked my body out of the river.

  I tumbled into the boat like a ragdoll. The canoe banged into another stalagmite. A loud, screeching noise filled my ears.

  Multiple waterfalls appeared on either side of me, dumping their foamy contents into the river. The water crashed against the choppy surf, giving rise to a deafening roar. A thick white mist floated overhead.

  I squinted. Just ahead, a couple of stalagmites jutted out of the river, impervious to the relentless currents. Then a beam of light swept over me. I ducked my head as bullets hurtled through the air.

  A solitary raft, filled with four of Votan's men, trailed me by fifty feet. Its engine, tipped sideways, looked busted. Two of them used their hands to paddle, in what seemed to be a fruitless attempt to control the craft. The other two men sat in the middle of the raft. They clutched pistols. For
tunately, the swift current kept them from drawing a bead on me.

  I heard a faint rustle. Whirling to the side, I saw the second raft slide next to my canoe. Not wasting any time, a heavily muscled man dove at me.

  I lashed out with my boot. It slammed into his shoulder. The man screamed and jerked backward. He crashed into the water. Before he could get his bearings, he smashed face first into a stalagmite.

  I grabbed my pistol from my holster. But my canoe veered and I reeled to the side. The gun dropped into my boat, splashing into a pool of water. I lunged for it but it squirted just out of my reach.

  Looking ahead, I saw more giant stalagmites. Desperately, I slammed my body against the canoe's left side, trying to redirect its path.

  The canoe rocked as a second man jumped into it. He didn't bother trying to gain his balance. Instead, he lunged at me. I grunted as his fist hammered into my belly.

  The man reared back for a second punch. I twisted my neck. His knuckles grazed the side of my face, narrowly missing my cheek.

  I snuck another glimpse at the stalagmites. They were getting close. In the dim light, I could make out angry waves pounding against them.

  I aimed a kick at the man.

  But he parried the blow.

  The canoe spun to the side. I held on tight as it whipped across a whirlpool, barely missing the jagged stalagmites.

  The man fell to the bottom of the hull. Above the din, I heard more splashes. Tilting my head, I saw the second raft pull alongside me. Another man crouched in its hull, ready to leap.

  My canoe spun in a half-circle. I sprawled onto the bottom of the boat. With a fierce glare, the first man rose to his knees.

  A heavy fist crunched into my jaw. My ears popped. My head flew backward and I sagged into the hull. The man reached down and picked me up by the shirt. I blinked a few times, clearing my blurry vision.

  I heard more splashing noises. Twisting my head, I saw the first raft skirt across the rocky waves, regaining position behind me. The two gunmen rose to their knees and lifted their pistols.

  I chopped at the man's neck. He let go of my shirt. I pushed him backward and ducked down.

  Bullets careened into the man. He hovered for a moment. Then he slumped on top of me, his body riddled with holes.

  I felt water splashing inside the canoe. The boat had held up remarkably well so far, but I knew it couldn't take much more.

  The canoe trembled as the second man crossed into it. His arm snaked forward. He tried to steady a pistol.

  I dipped behind the first man's corpse. Pushing with all my might, I thrust it toward the second man. The canoe shifted. The second man's eyes opened wide. He lost his balance and stumbled backward. I heard a soft yelp as he vanished into the rapids.

  The canoe reeled to the left. Bloodcurdling screams erupted from the second raft as my boat ploughed into it. The raft veered out of control and collided with the rock wall. It flipped over, spilling its remaining occupant into the stormy waters.

  One down. One to go.

  Abruptly, the first raft shot out from behind my boat. It headed toward the right and then crept forward until I could almost touch it. Pistols swung in my direction, ready to fire.

  I hoisted the corpse out of the hull. Shoved it into the water.

  The two navigators widened their eyes. Thrusting their arms into the river, they desperately tried to redirect their raft. But they were too late. The raft smacked into the dead body and spun away from me.

  I quickly retrieved my pistol. Lifting it, I took careful aim. The gun recoiled with a loud blast. A hissing noise sounded out. I took two more shots. Then the raft started to deflate.

  The passengers screamed. The raft spun violently, pitching them into a whirlpool. I waited for the last one to disappear beneath the waves. Then I turned around and faced front. I was exhausted, but my adrenaline was pumping like crazy.

  I was amazed to see my flashlight was still rolling around inside the hull. I retrieved it. The beam poured into the ancient cavern, marking the first time it had seen light in centuries. As if on cue, the current softened. My canoe slipped out of the rapids and entered a slightly calmer section of the river.

  I closed my eyes and pictured my friends. I saw Beverly and Graham. Dr. Wu as well.

  Another image thrust its way into my brain. I tried to ignore it, to shove it out of my mind. But Votan wasn't easy to forget.

  The ground trembled. The canoe quaked. Chunks of rock slipped from the ceiling and splashed into the water.

  The ground trembled again, this time a little fiercer. I realized the exploding georeactors had caused massive stress to the maze of caverns. Now, the caverns were starting to crack and crumble.

  I kept a wary eye on the ceiling and did my best to navigate away from falling rocks. As I did so, memories of the rapids flashed through my mind.

  I hadn't seen Votan in either raft. So, I couldn't be sure what had happened to him. But deep down, I knew he was alive.

  An intense anger welled within me as I thought about the people he'd killed in the Maya Mountains. "We're not done," I vowed quietly. "We're not done by a long shot."

  Chapter 123

  Water pounded against rock. I tightened my jaw as I recognized the sound of yet another waterfall. It sounded bigger than the other ones put together.

  The ground quivered again. Larger chunks of stone fell from the ceiling. Entire slabs of rock broke away from the walls and crumbled into the river. Above the din, I heard a soft scratching noise. It was accompanied by heavy breathing.

  The breathing grew louder. It echoed in the massive chamber, bouncing off the walls. I turned my head, trying to get a fix on it. But the waterfall, coupled with the collapsing rocks, drowned it out.

  I switched on my flashlight. Aimed it upward. The ceiling shuddered under my beam. I glanced at the walls. More slabs crumbled into the river. But there were no signs of life.

  A tributary flowed into the river from my right, adding a massive amount of water. The river sped up considerably.

  I raced further downstream and passed another tributary. More water poured into the main river. The canoe took off like a rocket.

  About a hundred feet away, I saw the river pour into a giant underground lake. A rocky shore, soaked with water, rested a foot above the lake on the left side. Several passages led away from the shore, heading off to parts unknown.

  The river continued past the lake and into darkness. I couldn't see where it went, but the sound of crashing water spoke volumes.

  Paddling hard, I broke away from the river and into the lighter waters of the lake. Small sheets of rock dropped from the ceiling. They disintegrated in mid-air. Dust shot in all directions until it became difficult to see.

  Rocks slammed into wood. Shifting my beam, I saw several ancient canoes lying on the shore. Broken bits of rock surrounded them. The canoes were in extremely poor shape. As I studied them I finally understood their purpose.

  They were escape vehicles.

  Hunahpu and Xbalanque had sealed off the crater. But they'd never intended to seal themselves off inside it. So, they'd built the canoes in order to transport themselves and their workers to the end of the waterway.

  However, Hunahpu and Xbalanque had died before it was time to leave. So, their workers had taken their bodies, climbed into the canoes, and sank the ones they hadn't needed. Then they'd navigated the cave river, abandoned the canoes, and gone outside, sealing the path behind them. They'd proceeded to venture deep into the jungle before finally building the sarcophagus and burial chamber.

  I paddled the canoe to shore and climbed out of the hull. The ground quaked as I set foot on it. Rocks fractured from the ceiling. They crashed into my canoe, nearly missing my head in the process.

  I looked at the various tunnels, trying to decide which one led outside. I couldn't wait to taste the fresh air, to feel the breeze wafting against my skin. But first, I had to find the others.

  I heard footsteps and spun around
. My beam illuminated a shadowy figure limping out of a passage. "Dutch." I waved my hand. "Over here."

  His head twisted toward me. Blood ran down his cheeks. His face looked heavily bruised and he appeared exhausted.

  "Are you okay?" I frowned. "Where's everyone else?"

  Abruptly, Graham lifted his chin. "Get out—"

  Something slammed into his head. He shouted in pain and fell to his good knee.

  My eyes flicked to the person behind him. My heart raced.

  "Hello Cy," Votan called out. "Welcome back from the dead."

  Chapter 124

  I never saw it coming.

  The giant mass leapt from above. It soared through the air like a missile and smashed into me. Bowled me over. Dust kicked into my eyes. Wretched pain rendered the rest of my senses nearly useless. I blinked a few times and looked up. The nagual was perched on top of me. Its bright green eyes studied my face. Its sharp claws dug deep into my stomach.

  I saw Beverly start toward me. But a menacing look from Votan, coupled with a pistol swung in her direction, forced her to hold up.

  The nagual lowered its head. Giant curved teeth grazed my skull. I thrashed to the side but it held me down with ease. I tried to lift my right arm but a heavy paw stopped me short. I lashed out with my left one. But the creature easily shook off the blow.

  It reared up. Coiled its muscles.

  I unsheathed my machete. Slashed it through the air. It sliced into the beast's thick hide. The animal froze as I pushed with all my might, twisting the blade into its flesh.

  The nagual snarled and leapt backward. The blade stuck in its hide for a moment. I tried to hold on to it, but the abrupt movement caused the machete to clatter to the ledge.

  As I gained my footing, the ground shivered. Small stalactites, which until now had resisted the tremors, started to break loose. They fell to the ground and shattered into millions of pieces.

  The nagual's first blow had been slightly off-target. A few inches to the right and it would've crushed me under its meaty paws. I doubted it would make the same mistake again.