The Forbidden Script

by Richard Brockwell

  The jungle outside was becoming colder by the minute. Jason and Danny were still pushing forward as fast as they could. They had at least another twenty minutes before reaching the entrance to the tomb. Danny wondered if they were still heading in the right direction. He thought twice about asking Jason, so he kept up his pace walking behind him.

  Not too far away, Danny heard rustling among the bushes. He directed his flashlight to see a pair of ghostly eyes staring back at him. He was not sure if it was human or some wild animal following them. He kept quiet, not wanting to tell Jason for fear it was just something harmless.

  Helen proceeded to the outer perimeter doorways she had seen. Carlos and Diego followed her with deep interest. The flamed torch she was holding lit up the entrance to a small passageway leading them into a twenty foot square room. In the middle of the room was what seemed to be a sarcophagus made entirely of granite. The lid was covered with Mayan inscriptions.

  Carlos said, “we find gold inside coffin yes?”

  Helen reads the hieroglyphs. “It seems to be the burial chamber of one of the high priests. This is old, very old, dating back to the ancient Mayans. It could be hundreds, even thousands of years old.”

  Carlos pushed her aside.

  “We open up, see if gold is inside.”

  The sarcophagus itself was not very large since the Mayan people were a small sized race. The lid was about two inches thick and did not seem to be that heavy to move. It slid open quite easily despite being untouched after all these years. Helen made sure the two men were careful not to break anything. Once the coffin was open, she held the flamed torch over the open sarcophagus. As expected, there lay the bones of a high priest. Placed around the skeleton were small marble figurines and jade beads, which were used as an offering to pass over into the underworld. Carlos picked up some of the items but threw them back inside.

  “No gold! There is nothing of value here,” he said.

  Carlos then grabbed Helen by the neck.

  “You find us gold! Or I kill you right now!”

  Helen tried to explain to him that gold was not considered valuable to the Mayan people. It was just another item like jade, marble and obsidian which was one of the mostly used minerals of the Mayan civilization. Helen encouraged them to close the sarcophagus and continue their search for something of value.

  They Left the high priest’s burial place and entered the next doorway only to find a sarcophagus of another high priest with the exact items inside the coffin. Helen saw where this was going. She was convinced the remaining burial chambers all contained generation after generation of high priests. So as like before, no gold was found in the coffins, and Carlos was becoming impatient.

  “Lady! Your time is up. We find no gold so now you die!”

  He reached for his gun, pointing it to Helen’s forehead, forcing her to her knees.

  “Wait! Please stop!” Said Helen, begging for her life.

  Click… click, Carlos cocked the firing pin of his gun, ready to press the trigger. With her arms stretched out as if to block the bullet, she said, “you saw twelve identical burial chambers, but I saw thirteen. There could be one more sarcophagus left that we haven’t opened.”

  Carlos looked over to Diego, who shrugged his shoulders as a gesture to think twice and check out the remaining burial chamber. He lowered his weapon and lifted Helen to her feet. She stumbled over, still shaken by her assailant’s actions.

  “Get up! Lead us to the remaining burial chamber,” said Carlos.

  Helen managed to gain some strength and got to her feet. She led the way back out and into the large cavern. They went past the statues and up to higher ground. Carlos immediately grabbed her by the arm.

  “Where you go? Why we are going back out?”

  Helen pulled her arm free from his grip and continued walking towards the cavern entrance where the flamed torches were lit. She then looked down over the large cavern area, pointing to the far end.

  “There! Over there on the opposite side is another doorway. It’s separated from the others, which must mean, whoever is buried in there must have been of great importance.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Jason was having second thoughts to whether or not they were in fact, going in the right direction, when he noticed the rock that Helen had sat down on.

  “We made it! See Danny we found the site. Hurry! Before something happens to Helen!”

  They entered through the hanging moss and began the descent down the stone steps.

  Danny said to himself, “here we go again.”

  Helen knew she was in trouble if they did not find gold soon. They made their way to the last burial chamber. She could hear Carlos breathing deeply behind her. This was her last hope once they passed through the doorway. With her flamed torch held out in front, they walked for five minutes through a passageway taking them upwards. When they came to the chamber, Helen saw right away that this room was not like the others. The room was much larger and had Mayan inscriptions and drawings on all four walls. The sarcophagus was also much larger, with clay pots filled with colored beads and small figurines and daggers made of obsidian laid all around it. The sarcophagus lid was painted with liquefied gold. Carlos was anxious to open the coffin, but Helen stopped him.

  “Wait! I want to see who lies here before we disturb it.”

  Helen read the inscriptions and after a few seconds her eyes sparkled with delight.

  Carlos said, “what is it? Who is buried inside?”

  She ran her fingers over the inscriptions.

  “This is the burial chamber of a king who ruled nearly two thousand years ago. He must have been a well-respected ruler for him to have a chamber of this size, and with so many offerings.”

  The men pushed Helen aside ready to open the lid to the sarcophagus. Helen was the first to take a look inside. What she saw astonished her. It was not a skeleton that lay in front of her, but a body having skin and facial features still intact. This king was amazingly well preserved. The sarcophagus must be airtight, keeping the body from decomposing. The body was decorated with a necklace of golden beads and bracelets with precious gemstones. Across the chest lay a breastplate of solid gold, decorated with emeralds. The Mayan people secured their king’s spirit a certain passage into the spirit world.

  Carlos and Diego went for the gold, filling their rucksack to the fullest.

  “At last we found treasure! Now we must get out of here before your two friends arrive.”

  Helen moved back a few steps.

  “I found you gold! You can let me go now. That is what we agreed.”

  Both men looked at each other laughing.

  Carlos said, “no Missy, that is not what we agreed. You find gold, you do not die, that is what we agreed. Now you come with us.”

  She made a dash for the exit, but Carlos was quick enough to stop her. He grabbed her by the arm, twisting it, forcing Helen to shout out in pain.

  “Okay! Stop, please!”

  Carlos threw her face down onto the floor, laughing at her as she lay helpless on the ground. She lay there, tears rolling down her face. Carlos and Diego then stood Helen to her feet. Diego strapped the rucksack of gold to his back as he followed Carlos and Helen back into the cavern area.

  Meanwhile, Jason and Danny reached the bottom of the stone steps. The whole cavern was lit up before them with flamed torches blazing away as they cautiously entered with their weapons drawn. Danny couldn’t keep his eyes off the marvel that he saw before him. Jason was fully concentrated on the task ahead of him. His eyes were scanning the whole area for any sign of movement, when he heard voices coming from the other side. He was about to warn Danny to keep low, when he heard Helen shout out to him.

  “Jason! Help me!”

  He swore out loud as gunshots were fired from all directions.

  “That idiot of a woman couldn’t keep her darn mouth shut could she!”

  Jason urged Danny to back out from the cavern. They were no
w positioned on either side of the entrance. Jason chanced to take a look inside, but was held back as a shower of bullets penetrated the sides of the walls.

  “Them sons of bitches have automatic weapons!” Said Jason.

  Danny blindly fired a few shots, but Jason stopped him for fear of hitting Helen instead. After a few minutes, Carlos shouted out.

  “Hey mister! Back off or the lady dies right now! Show yourselves and drop your weapons!”

  Jason answered back, “how about you let the woman go, and I won’t blow your head off!”

  Carlos laughed.

  “You have big words mister. You Americans always the same with your big mouths. Me and my friend here we not afraid. We kill you down here where nobody finds you. Put down your guns, and I let you live.”

  Jason was about to explode. His face turned red with rage as he reloaded his Colt, ready to charge out shooting.

  “Jason!” said Danny, “wait! Think of Helen. I know you can take them out even without my help. But you’re putting Helen at risk. We can get them later. Think about it, will you!”

  Before Danny could continue. Jason was already out in the open. He had the two men in his sights at almost forty yards away. All it took was a single shot to the head, bringing Diego down in a second. Helen screamed as she saw the bullet penetrate his skull.

  On instinct, Carlos grabbed her, using her as a shield. He had underestimated his opponent. Carlos knew by experience that only a handful of men could make a shot like that. He took hold of his dead friends rucksack and slung it over his shoulder while holding Helen at gun point. Jason kept Carlos in his sights, ready to take a shot. Danny came out, standing between the gun and Helen’s assailant.

  “Danny move! Or I’m gonna shoot right through you!” said Jason, as sweat ran down his forehead.

  “Jason! Don’t risk the shot, we can get him later, listen to me for god’s sake!”

  Carlos called out, “lower your gun, or I shoot her right now!”

  Helen spoke out to him, “Jason! Listen to Danny, please!”

  He slowly threw his weapon to the ground and backed away from the entrance while Carlos and Helen approached them.

  “Move further inside! Do it now!” Shouted Carlos.

  They moved further away from the entrance while Carlos and his hostage walked slowly out of the cavern. Helen disappeared into the darkness, her eyes filled with tears. Carlos then took out a small plastic explosive, lighting it. He threw it against the wall of the cavern entrance. The explosion was enough to bring down the above wall blocking the entrance. Debris and dust engulfed the cavern as Jason and Danny tried to run for cover.

  Carlos and Helen made their way out into the jungle again. He tied her hands together. Helen thought this must be it, this is where he is going to kill me. Instead, he took hold of the rope and walked in the direction where they had come from.

  She held back, saying, “where are you taking me? Why won’t you let me go?”

  Carlos continued walking, pulling her by the rope.

  “I take you back to America where my boss is waiting for you. Now hurry. There is a private plane waiting for us.”

  The dust began to settle as Jason and Danny gained consciousness after having been blown at least twenty feet by the blast. Jason came around first and went over to his friend Danny checking for any signs of injury. He sat Danny up who was shaken by the blast.

  “Are you hurt?” asked Jason.

  “No, I don't think so. What about you?” said Danny.

  Jason replied. “I’m okay, but that bastard is gonna pay, big time!”

  CHAPTER NINE

  A small fixed winged aircraft took off from a deserted field with Carlos and Helen on their way to the States. She was guaranteed to be set free once her abductor was satisfied with her assistance. The aircraft had to stop for refueling, and then continued its flight to Florida, where they landed on a remote runway next to an abandoned hangar. They were met by a large black van. Helen couldn’t see the driver through the dark tinted windows and could barely walk from exhaustion after traveling for more than six hours nonstop.

  At his large house, Tony Barrette was awaiting Helen’s arrival. A guest room had been set up for her to keep her as comfortable as he can. Tony needed to gain her trust, as he wanted Helen to be truthful when decoding the ancient tablet. He has been waiting years for an opportunity like this to happen.

  Meanwhile, back inside the cavern, Jason begins to check the damage caused by the explosion. The large stone blocks from the wall above the entrance crashed down, making it nearly impossible for them to leave the same way they came in.

  Jason said, “I should have shot that son of a bitch while I had the chance. He and Helen could be anywhere by now, and for all we know she could be lying dead on the other side of those rocks.”

  Danny made an effort by clearing the smaller rocks, while Jason took one of the flamed torches and walked down to where the statues were standing. He suddenly stops where he is, feeling an icy chill all around him. Certain someone is standing behind him, he quickly turns around expecting to see Danny, but nothing, Danny is forty feet away removing rocks. Jason quickly dismisses it, blaming the aftereffects of the blast. He begins to exam each statue; his archaeological instincts takeover and soon forgets their situation. The engravings on the figures are incredible, the craftsmanship is stunning. He steps back a few paces to admire the statue in full view. Suddenly he thinks he sees something moving in a dark corner further inside the cavern, but like before he dismisses it for a rat or small rodent. He moves over to the next statue, and so on, one statue after the other.

  Then he calls out to Danny, “hey Danny! All okay over there?”

  “Would be faster work if you gave a hand!” said Danny.

  Jason thought otherwise.

  “What do you say we have a look around for another way out? Removing those rocks could take forever,” said Jason.

  Danny agreed and walked down over to Jason. They each took a flame and began to look around. Jason thought it better if they both split up. So they each took one side in an attempt to speed the search up.

  While both agents were busy looking for another way out, they failed to notice the dark figure hovering above the dead body of Diego. It was his death that brought the underworld spirit.

  After death, the spirit leaves the body wandering and lost until it is shown the way into the spiritual realm.

  Jason and Danny each entered one of the burial chambers but found no other way out. Danny was amazed at the sarcophagi, wondering how on earth did the ancient Mayan people manage to carry these solid marble coffins all the way down the long flight of steps. Jason, on the other hand, was positive there was another way out. He met up with Danny in the outer cavern.

  He said, “you carry on moving those rocks while I check out that last chamber over there.”

  Danny said, “okay for me, but I’m pretty sure there is only one way out of here. Might as well continue moving them darn rocks.”

  So Jason heads over to the remaining chamber, and Danny walks over to the blocked entrance, passing by the dead body of Diego on the way. He stops to look down at the lifeless corpse and notices something peculiar.

  “Hey Jason! Wasn’t this guy facing the other way?” Said Danny looking down at the body.

  Jason comes over to have a look. He looks down at the corpse and then at Danny.

  “You sure you didn’t move him? His back was facing the entrance, now it’s facing the other way. Are you playing a joke on me?” Asked Jason.

  “No, of course not! Why would I do that?”

  Jason then looked around the cavern. His vision penetrating the darkest of corners, but he saw nothing.

  “Well, it’s either that! Or else we’re not alone in this place!” Said Jason.

  Carlos pushes Helen into the back seat of the van and takes out a black cotton bag covering her head with it. They drive continuously for over three hours, when they stop outside Tony’
s house. The driver parks the van in front of the door, keeping Helen out of sight from neighbors. Once inside, Carlos removes the bag from Helen’s head. She does not have the strength to put up a struggle and follows him into a dark library room where Tony is waiting her arrival.

  Tony comes over to greet Helen with his hand held out, but Helen takes no notice. She just stares into his face waiting for an explanation as to why she was abducted and brought all the way back to the States. In front of her stands a middle-aged, blond-haired, good looking man, slim and broad shouldered. This man does not need money, she can see by the size and contents of the house that he is well off. So why would he break the law by abducting her for no apparent reason? Is he insane or maybe some sort of freak?

  Carlos forces her to sit down, but Tony takes her by the arm.

  “Carlos! That’s no way to treat a woman. Please will you show professor Shireberg to her room. I’m sure she would like to freshen up before we have dinner.”

  Carlos again grips Helen by the arm, leading her out of the library, and up to the guest room. He pushes her inside, locking the door from the outside and waits with his back to the door until she is ready.

  Finding herself alone, she runs to the window, trying to open it, only to find it nailed down. She looks outside onto a large garden with trees blocking her view of the neighboring houses. She then lays down on the large bed, staring up at the ceiling. Helen just realized it has been quite a while since she’s slept in a comfortable bed. She stretches out her arms, feeling the softness of the silk quilt cover. The room around her is large enough for two people. The walls are covered with flowered wallpaper giving it that feminine look. A soft fitted beige carpet, so soft you could actually sleep the night on it. On the opposite wall stands a large white wardrobe. Helen walks up to it and opens the two doors revealing the many different clothes hanging inside. She takes out a pair of dark blue jeans and a green cotton top. Next she opens a door by the large wardrobe and walks into a decent sized en-suite bathroom. Helen opens the hot water ready to take a relaxing bath.