Curse of the Ruins

by Gary Paulsen

  The man swallowed. “How long will you be staying?”

  Shala gave the others a warning look. “We’re not sure right now. We’ll let you know later.”

  The clerk grudgingly produced two keys. “You are on the second floor at the end of the hall.”

  “Come on, guys.” Shala pretended to yawn and took the keys. “I’m really beat. It’s been a long day.”

  They picked up their luggage and followed Shala to the stairs. At the top of the landing Katie stopped and peeked over her shoulder. The two men who had been waiting by the door had moved to the desk and were talking in whispers to the clerk.

  Katie pretended to have trouble with the wheels on her luggage. She knelt and watched the men through the railing. When they turned to leave, one of the men looked up the stairs.

  Katie drew a sharp breath. It was the thief from the airport.

  CHAPTER 5

  “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but it looks like Katie is right. Dad’s in some kind of trouble.” Sam spoke without looking up. He was hunched over a table with a screwdriver in one hand and a bundle of small multicolored wires in the other.

  “Great deduction, Sherlock.” Katie paced the floor beside the bed. “In case you missed it, we’re in trouble too. That clerk downstairs did everything he could to convince us to go home, and the man who stole my bag from the airport is still following us.”

  She stopped and stared at her brother. “What are you doing? We don’t have time right now for you to play junior inventor. We have to figure out what’s going on here.”

  Sam kept working. “I almost have this put together. It’s a simple locator. You never know when something like this might come in handy. And besides, working helps me think.”

  Shala was sitting on one of the hard wooden chairs. He walked over. “It looks a lot like a doorbell. What does it do?”

  “You had to ask.” Katie plopped on the bed. “Now we’ll be here all day.”

  Sam ignored her. “Actually, it did start out as a doorbell.” He popped a battery into the back of one of the pieces and handed it to Shala. “Here, you take the transmitter and go into Katie’s room and hide.”

  “Is anybody listening to me? We don’t have time for this.” Katie tapped her fingernails impatiently on the headboard.

  “It won’t take long.” Sam waited a few minutes after Shala had gone through the connecting door. Then he pushed a black button on the piece he was holding. They could hear a loud buzzing noise like a ringing doorbell.

  Sam picked up the device and stood in the doorway between the two rooms. He opened it and pushed the button again. This time it rang even more loudly. “No contest,” Sam called. “You’re under the bed.”

  Shala crawled out. “That thing is great! It’s small enough so that you could put it anywhere—in your wallet, on your dog, or even on an unsuspecting person.”

  “That’s the idea. It’s still got a few bugs, though. I’m trying to increase the range of the transmitter and also put in an optional detector. See this light? Hopefully, when I’m finished you’ll have the choice of either hearing the buzzer or seeing a small red flash when it picks up the signal.”

  “Are we through playing yet?” Katie was standing in the doorway. “Because if we are, I suggest we do something useful, like go look for Dad.”

  Shala handed the transmitter to Sam. “The main thing is not to panic. If we’re going to help Uncle William, we have to go over this whole thing logically, starting from the beginning. How did he wind up down here anyway?”

  Katie sat on the edge of the bed. “About six months ago Dad was asked to come to New Mexico to take a look at some ancient ruins that were recently discovered in the wilderness. El Debajo is considered a fantastic find. The only problem is, it has to be handled carefully because of local Native American beliefs. The group sponsoring him knows that Dad has dealt with these sensitive types of situations before, and that’s why they hired him.”

  “How many people are on your father’s team?” Shala asked.

  “The advance team is usually five archaeologists, including Dad. Normally he picks his own people, but this time there was a hitch. The government got involved and insisted that he work with a couple of their experts. So right now there are only three of them. More will come down if Dad thinks the site is worth it.” Katie frowned. “Dad told me that the government was afraid to let too many people in the ruins at once. This area has had a rash of kidnappings lately. It’s so close to the border, it’s easy for the bad guys to run to Mexico and hide from the authorities.”

  Sam put his invention on the table. “You think Dad’s been kidnapped?”

  “At this point we can’t be sure of anything.” Shala rubbed his temples, trying to concentrate. “The odds are against it. According to the registration clerk, Uncle William has been gone for several days. That’s long enough for a ransom note to turn up if some-body was holding him for money. No, there has to be another reason.”

  Katie started pacing again. “If he hasn’t been kidnapped, then where is he?”

  There was a soft tap on the door.

  “Who’s there?” Shala called.

  No one answered, but the knob turned and Pepe slid inside the room, quickly closing the door behind him.

  “How’d you do that?” Sam asked. “We had that door locked.”

  “I have many talents.” Pepe smiled pleasantly. “My cousin Pancho taught me everything about locks. At times it can be very useful.”

  “I bet. Did you find out anything about our father?” Katie asked.

  “Sí. I have information in which you will be interested.” Pepe kept his voice low. “Your father and his companions have been working at the Debajo ruins for several months. They often came into San Marcos for supplies. Professor Crockett was last seen here almost three weeks ago. But he and his friends have not been in town since.”

  “Where are they?” Sam demanded.

  “I have put myself in much danger coming here.” Pepe held out his hand, palm upward.

  Sam gave an exasperated sigh and handed Pepe another dollar. “No more fooling around. Where did they go?”

  “No one knows for sure, señor. But they are not here. That I can guarantee.”

  “That’s it? That’s all you know? Give me my money back, you little bandit. We already figured out that he wasn’t here.”

  Pepe quickly stuffed the bill in his pocket. “There is more. Strangers from across the border have been asking questions about the three of you around the barrios. They paid my cousin Felipe a lot of money to keep an eye on you and report everything you do back to them.”

  Sam’s eyes narrowed. “Well, you can tell your cousin—”

  “My cousin has to make a living too, señor,” Pepe interrupted. “He has a wife and two little ones. But do not worry. We have an understanding. He will only report those things we wish him to.”

  “Why are these people so interested in us?” Shala asked. “And what does it have to do with my uncle’s disappearance?”

  “These are very bad men, señor. It is possible they work for the Cartel, a powerful drug mafia located in Central America. The talk is that they are searching for something valuable which they believe you have.” The look on Pepe’s face turned grim. “And I am worried they will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.”

  CHAPTER 6

  “Hurry up, Katie!” Sam pounded on her door. “We’re supposed to meet Pepe at the market at eight, remember?”

  “I’m ready.” Katie made sure her papers were safe in the small leather bag she wore around her neck. She opened the door and spoke in a loud voice in case the clerk was listening. “Boy, I can’t wait to go shopping. I hear there are tons of great bargains in San Marcos.”

  Sam winked at her. “Let’s go. Shala’s already outside holding the taxi.”

  Katie followed him downstairs to the street and slid into the backseat of a dilapidated station wagon that had been painted bright yello
w.

  Shala had already given the driver instructions, and the man whisked them across town to the Plaza Bolivar, a market where New Mexican artisans had their various wares on display in long rows of houses, booths, and tents.

  After Sam had paid the driver, they got out and walked to one of the booths. The owner immediately tried to sell them some handmade leather goods.

  “What do you need, miss?” He smiled at Katie. “How about a new purse, maybe a money pouch. Just look at the fine craftsmanship. There is none better anywhere.”

  Katie picked up the carriel. “Hey. This is a lot like the little bag Dad sent me to keep my papers in. I wonder if he got it from here?”

  “No sale today, Uncle Carlos.” Pepe appeared behind them. “These tourists are with me.” He motioned for them to follow him.

  Katie set the pouch on the counter. “Sorry. Maybe later.”

  Pepe led them through a maze of chili peppers, handmade baskets, and silver jewelry to a small, dark adobe house that looked as if it had been built centuries earlier. Tiles were missing from the roof and the plaster was peeling off the outside walls. He lifted a brightly colored rug that hung from the doorway and held it up so that they could enter.

  The room was dark. A single candle was placed on a small round table in the center of the floor.

  “Wait here,” Pepe said softly. “I will find out if La Bruja can see you.”

  “La Bruja?” Sam whispered. “Doesn’t that mean—”

  “The Witch.” Shala nodded. “Why would Pepe bring us here?”

  A curtain parted and an elderly woman whose face was so wrinkled it was hard to see her eyes shuffled into the room. “Sit down, niños. My great-grandson tells me that you are needy. I will give you a reading.”

  Katie frowned. “I don’t think you understand, ma’am. Pepe told us to come here because we need information about our dad. We really don’t have time for anything else.”

  “Sit,” the old woman commanded. She closed her eyes and began swaying back and forth. In moments, a strange, high-pitched wail came from her lips. Then she stopped. Her eyes opened and she stared straight at Katie. She pointed a long, bony finger in Katie’s face. “You … you have the key. But you must be very careful. I have seen danger. Your friends may be your enemies. And your enemies will come for you. I see that you are part of the legend.”

  “Legend?” Katie frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The woman put her hand down. “Many thousands of years ago, this land was inhabited almost entirely by Indians. The story is told that one of these primitive tribes was supposed to have built a vast underground fortress for protection against invaders. It is said that when these underground people started digging they discovered rivers of gold in caves beneath the desert floor. But because of their superstitious beliefs, they did not touch it. They only used the gold-filled caverns as burial places to honor their dead. It is also said that these hidden tombs are some-where near the ruins of El Debajo.” The old woman smiled. “Now, tell me how you are connected to the legend.”

  Katie shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know. I’ve never heard it until just now.”

  La Bruja clapped her hands. “That is all I can see.” She stood and walked through the curtain.

  Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “Great. I’m sure this will be very helpful. I guess we’d better be going now.”

  Pepe stood in the doorway, blocking their exit. “My grandmother is a widow with no one to support her. The usual fee for a reading is five American dollars.”

  Sam sighed and dug into his wallet. “You and your relatives are going to break me.”

  Katie held up her hand. “This one’s on me, Sam. I haven’t figured out how we can use it yet, but I think La Bruja may have given us more of a clue than we realize.”

  CHAPTER 7

  It was still early morning, and the market was beginning to fill with people. The sellers noisily called out their wares, and the customers haggled over prices. Three teenagers and a small boy huddled near some large handmade baskets.

  “Can you arrange for us to get out of the city without anyone knowing about it?” Shala asked Pepe quietly. “We want to go to the ruins and check things out. If we’re lucky, Uncle William could be there, or at least maybe we’ll find the other members of his archaeology team.”

  “There might be a way.” Pepe looked thoughtful. “Go back to the hotel and pack your things. Do not go out. Tomorrow morning tell everyone you are taking the bus to the village of El Banco to go sightseeing.”

  “He just told you, we want to leave without anyone knowing,” Katie whispered.

  “In San Marcos this is impossible. The next best thing is to try and throw the men who follow you off your trail.” Pepe glanced around. “My brother-in-law drives the El Banco bus. Leave everything to me.”

  “Wait a minute.” Sam made a face. “How much is this going to cost us?”

  “Only a small fee. Since we are friends, I will give you a good rate. Trust me.”

  “Oh, I trust you, all right. I trust you to send me back home with an empty wallet.”

  “Oh no, señor.” Pepe winked. “Before you leave New Mexico, I will have your wallet too.” He patted Sam on the back. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have many important details to take care of on your behalf. Do not linger too long at the market. It might not be wise.”

  They watched him disappear into the crowd.

  “Where do we go from here?” Katie asked.

  “Back to the hotel. Pepe told us to go pack and wait,” Sam reminded her.

  Katie shrugged. “Pepe is a cute kid and everything, but I don’t remember anyone putting him in charge. It’s our father who’s missing. Don’t tell me you want to waste the rest of the day lying around the hotel when we could be out looking for him?”

  “I want to find Dad just as much as you do. I just think it would be smarter to play it safe. If we start acting suspicious now, we’ll blow everything. And since I’m the oldest—”

  “Excuse me. Ten minutes does not make you wise and all-knowing. I think the smartest thing to do is—”

  “Time out.” Shala stepped between them. “We’ll compromise. The odds are whoever is behind all this has their people watching us right now. Since we are tourists, we’ll act like it—and while we’re at it we’ll keep our eyes open for clues. Who knows, maybe something will turn up. If it doesn’t, we go back to the hotel and pack. Agreed?”

  Katie nodded grudgingly. Sam turned to study the people coming and going in the market. “I guess since we’re already here, the market is as good a place as any to start.”

  CHAPTER 8

  “So you’re Pepe’s uncle Carlos?” Katie pretended to be interested in one of the leather shoulder bags on display in his booth. “He seems like such a nice boy.”

  “Pepe? Oh, he’s nice, all right. A little too big for his britches sometimes, but … would you like to buy that purse, miss? I can give you a good price. Those happen to be on sale just for today.”

  “I’m not sure.” Katie glanced up and noticed Sam and Shala trying on sombreros at another booth across from her. She stifled a laugh and turned back to the counter. “A purse might be too bulky to carry around.” She put it back on the hook and picked up one of the money pouches. “These are pretty. My father bought me one a couple of months ago. He didn’t happen to get it here, did he? He’s a tall man with brown eyes and a black-and-gray beard? You would have recognized him by his hat. It’s one of those 1940s kind, like Indiana Jones wore in the movies.”

  Carlos thought for a moment and then shook his head. “No. I do not remember anyone like that.”

  “Well, thanks anyway. Your leather work is beautiful. Maybe I’ll come back and buy something before we leave town.”

  She sighed and turned to walk to the next booth. The last time she had spoken to her father had been a little over three weeks earlier. He had laughed and joked with her. He’d said that thi
s part of New Mexico was almost like a foreign country, instead of part of the United States. He had made no mention of anything being wrong, though. He’d asked if they’d received the presents he had sent them and told her to make sure and keep her ID and traveler’s checks in her new money pouch.

  She replayed the telephone conversation over and over in her mind, but nothing stood out as a clue.

  A booth in the next aisle that sold jewelry caught her attention. She had started for it when someone grabbed her arm. Before she could turn around, a black, smelly sack dropped over her head and was pulled snug around her neck. Two pairs of hands picked her up and carried her off at a run.

  Katie tried to fight but couldn’t move. She couldn’t get any air, and she felt herself starting to lose consciousness.

  A door slammed shut and she was dropped on the floor facefirst. Her arms were yanked tightly behind her wrists and secured with a coarse rope.

  Somone knelt beside her and spoke in a gruff voice. “I will loosen the cloth from your head. But do not call out or you will regret it.”

  Katie could feel the heavy material grow slack. She took several deep breaths and choked out, “Who are you? Why are you doing this?”

  “Quiet. We will ask the questions. You will answer. Where is the map of El Debajo?”

  “What map? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me go.” Katie kicked out with her feet.

  Someone else in the room laughed. “She has courage, this one. Too bad we may have to get rid of her.”

  Katie froze. She had heard the slow, even voice before. It was the man from the airport.

  “So, you recognize me. Good. Then you know that I mean business. Give us the map and we will let you live.”

  Katie swallowed. “Where’s my father?”

  The man kneeling beside her grabbed the back of her hair. “I told you we would ask the questions.”

  The thief from the airport laughed again. “She doesn’t seem to be afraid of us, amigo. Why don’t you go ahead and tell her what happened to her father? Then perhaps she will change her mind.”