The Crystal's Curse

by Vicky de Leo

  Chapter Ten

  Harry didn’t see Helen when she walked in. He was standing with his back to her, looking out the windows of the common room. One hand was in his pocket, the other fingered the rock he always kept with him. He’d told her it was his good luck charm because without it, he would never have met her. Helen hadn’t seen him for over a week this time. She watched as he put the rock in his pocket and reached up with both hands to massage his temples. He must have another one of those headaches, she thought. He turned and saw her then and gave her the smile that always melted her heart.

  “Helen, my love, you look more beautiful every time I see you.” He held out both arms and she walked into them, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest. He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly.

  “I missed you,” she said.

  “I know. I shouldn’t be here now. But I couldn’t stay away.”

  “Why, Harry? What’s keeping you from being with me all the time?” She knew she sounded desperate and whinny, but she couldn’t help it. “Is there someone else?” she whispered.

  He laughed and then tilted her face up with one finger to look into her eyes. “You are the only woman I have ever loved.” The smile faded from his lips. He got a faraway look in his eyes. “Helen, someday I won’t be able to come back. I try staying away so I won’t hurt you anymore, but I am not strong enough.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He closed his eyes. “I know. I wish I could explain it to you.” He held her tightly. He gave himself a slight shake and when he opened his eyes, the twinkle was back. “Enough of this feeling sorry for myself. I refuse to waste this time with you by wishing for what cannot be. I want your memories of me to be happy ones. We’re going horseback riding on the beach.”

  She changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. They rode on the beach until sunset. After taking the horses back to the stables, he drove them back to the beach, where he made a fire and spread out a blanket. She sat on the blanket, listening to the waves washing up on the shore while he unpacked a picnic basket. After eating, they lay side by side on the blanket and watched the moon come up. Helen propped up on one elbow to look at him. He had his eyes closed, his forehead creased as if from pain. She reached over and massaged his temples.

  “Is your headache back?”

  “It never really goes away.” He opened his eyes. “But I’ve got a much better cure.” He reached for her and pulled her down on top of him to kiss her. Later when he took her back to the dorm, he held her tightly for a long time, looked deep into her eyes and then quietly said, “Goodbye”

  Suddenly, Helen was terrified. He had said it with such finality. Before she could say or do anything, he turned and walked away. She wanted to run after him, beg him to stay, but she just stood there, frozen, staring after him. It was cold out now. She shivered. She waited until he was out of sight. Still she couldn’t make herself go inside. Other girls returned. They passed her laughing. She shook herself. He will be back. I’m being silly, she thought. Finally,the cold drove her into the dorm. She lay awake most of the night. By morning, she’d convinced herself that she’d overreacted.

  However, it was almost a month before she saw him again. As each day passed, the pain increased until finally she swore that she would never let him hurt her again.

  He rushed up to her as she was walking to class. “I just had to make sure you were all right,” he said out of breath.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” She asked, her voice curt. Even though she was determined not to let him to know how much his absence hurt, she couldn’t help the anger that seeped in to her tone.

  “No, I can see that you’re fine.” He sounded relieved, but also a little hurt.

  “Did you want something? I’m late for class,” she said coldly. She wouldn’t let him get to her this time.

  “No. Go on. I can’t stay anyway.”

  He stood there watching as she walked away. When she thought she heard him whisper, “I love you,” she turned back, but he was gone. She only saw him one other time after that. A week later, he was standing by one of the statues watching her. There was a crowd of people between them. She couldn’t pretend anymore. She hurried to join him, but by the time she got there, he was gone. She never saw him again.

  Helen opened her eyes. Her cheeks were wet from crying. Seeing Joshua tonight brought it all back with painful clarity. Now, she thought, I will find out what happened.

  Downstairs Sara told Joshua the story of her grandmother’s first love.

  “She wouldn’t have fainted just because you look like someone she once knew. I know Harry must have been her first love. It makes sense. She thought he dumped her, but if he disappeared around the same time, maybe something happened to him. What did your grandfather say?”

  “Just that he disappeared. He seemed reluctant to talk about him and I didn’t push.”

  “We need to get your grandfather and my grandmother together. If they won’t talk to us, maybe they’ll talk to each other.”

  Joshua nodded but his thoughts were elsewhere. He couldn’t get the word “disappeared” out of his head. He had disappeared from Guatemala only to reappear in Boston. What if someday he just disappeared again and there was no way back. Was he taking that chance by carrying the crystal around? Suddenly he said, “Sara, I need to know how you feel about me. Do you trust me?”

  “Of course I trust you,” she said puzzled.

  “I need to tell you something unbelievable. But I’m afraid if I do that you’ll think I’m a nut case and you won’t want to see me anymore.”

  Sara laughed. “Joshua, unless you are about to tell me that you are some crazed serial killer, I can’t think of anything else that would make me not want to see you.”

  Joshua took the crystal out of his pocket and showed it to her.

  “What is it,” she asked

  “I’m not really sure. I found it in the dirt in Guatemala. I told you about the discovery my parents made there. Well, when I stepped into the recess I told you about, I put this crystal in one of the holes. The next thing I knew I was here in Boston.”

  “You are not making any sense. How is that possible?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. My parents were standing there when it happened. When we spoke later on the phone, I asked them what they saw. They said the niche lit up and I disappeared. I don’t know what this is or how it works. I think it only works in connection with the recess, some kind of transportation device, but I can’t be sure. I’ve been carrying it around because it makes me feel confident. When I have it in my hand, I think I look different, stronger, and better looking. I’ve been afraid if I didn’t carry it, you wouldn’t find me attractive. But now I’m afraid that if I do carry it, I might disappear again just like Harry.” He looked up to see her reaction.

  She didn’t look disgusted, just puzzled. “Transportation device, you mean like ‘beam me up Scotty?’” she joked.

  “I know it sounds fantastic. But that’s what happened.” He hung his head.

  She could tell he was serious. This wasn‘t a joke. He really believed that he had transported from Guatemala to Boston. “Can I hold it?” she asked.

  “Only if you let me hold you at the same time. That way if you disappear, we’ll go together.” He stepped up behind her, put his arms around her, and then dropped it into her hands.

  She felt a surge of electricity go through her hands and up her arms. “Wow, it does give you a feeling of power,” she said. They were facing the fireplace. She looked up into the mirror above the mantel. “I do look different. My eyes are greener, my hair is shinier, and my complexion is perfect.”

  Joshua held on to her hands. He walked around in front of her and studied her face. “You always look that beautiful. I don’t see any difference at all.” He thought about it for a minute, “Did I look different to you this afternoon? I didn’t carry it to school today. I was afraid you noticed the difference at lunch.”
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  She shook her head. “If anything, you looked even more handsome today, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. Didn’t you notice the girls who were gawking at you outside my classroom?”

  “Gawking, huh? Do I detect a note of jealousy there?” He took the crystal from her hands and set it on the mantel. “Now what do you see?”

  Disappointed, she said, “I look like me again.”

  He was smiling now. “You haven’t changed, Sara. Don’t you see? Apparently the effect is only in our heads.” He took her in his arms. He was so relieved that he blurted out, “I love you, Sara. I want you to love me for me, not some rock-enhanced version of me. Besides, carrying this thing around gives me a headache. When my parents get here, I’m going to give it to my dad. He can put it in the museum with the other artifacts. I don’t care if I never see it again.”

  Sara was stunned. “You love me?” she asked quietly.

  He reached out and touched her cheek with his hand. “Didn’t you know? Didn’t the fact that I always want to touch you, that I can’t spend enough time with you, give me away?”

  “Oh, Joshua, I love you too.” She hugged him. He leaned down to kiss her, but she broke away to look at the crystal. “If that thing can transport people from one place to another, then we have to figure out how it works. This is a big discovery. It could change everything. What if Harry had something like this and is still alive somewhere?”

  “Whoa! Whoa! Could we go back to where you said you love me for just a few more minutes before we change the world?” He grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his embrace.

  She looked up at him laughing and said, “Sure, why not? I can give you a few more minutes.” She let him kiss her then. When he released her, she had forgotten about the crystal. They decided to go out to a movie and grab a hamburger to celebrate. Tomorrow would be soon enough to begin changing the world.

  Chapter Eleven

  While Sam and Ricardo crated and shipped the artifacts, Maria was busy deciphering the glyphs. Now that she knew this was a transportation device, she felt she could unlock the key to how it worked, and what part the glyphs played, without the help of Mr. Johansen. They knew that Joshua transported to Boston. She decided that four of the glyphs in the outer ring were directions. The top one was north, bottom south and the two sides east and west just like a map. She took the photographs they made prior to Josh’s disappearance showing which glyphs had been depressed. The glyphs had to be the way to indicate to the machine where you wanted to go. If she could tie the depressed glyphs to Boston, then she would have the answer to the others.

  They still had no idea what Josh had used to power it. He said he had picked up an unusual rock that fit into the holes. Both Sam and Ricardo had scoured the campsite. They didn’t find anything that fit that description. They theorized the builders may have quarried the rock elsewhere and left behind only the one rock that Josh used. They decided that since the room had been buried and sealed, whoever built it had not meant the device to be used again.”

  All they told the crew was that Josh had called and he was safe. Since everyone could see how relieved Sam and Maria were, they didn’t ask any questions. They simply went back to work, anxious to close up the site and go home.

  Erik Johansen showed up again the day after they shipped off the artifacts. Sam couldn’t see any reason not to show him around.

  Ricardo came into where Maria was working. “Eric Johansen came back. Sam is giving him a tour of the village.”

  “Thanks for the heads up.” She gathered up her work and stowed it in their tent.

  Showing Eric around, Sam said, “You came at a good time. We’re just beginning to backfill the village.” He pointed out where they found projectiles and potshards. “We found a large, almost complete cooking pot here.”

  Mr. Johansen didn’t ask many questions, or seem particularly impressed until they entered the cave.

  “This is where we found all the ritual relics and votive offerings.”

  “I thought your man said that there was a large painting which included glyphs?” inquired Erik.

  “There was a painting in the next room, but most of it had been destroyed. The pictures you saw of the glyphs were actually carvings we found. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you,” replied Sam.

  Maria returned and joined them as Sam led Erik into the room. She wanted to see his reaction first hand.

  Walking into the room, Erik stumbled on the steps, running into Sam. When he recovered and had a chance to look around the room, Sam asked, “What do you think?”

  “Yes, this is magnificent. Truly a one-of-a-kind find. I envy you. Is this how you found it?”

  “No, the steps and this opening were sealed. We just happened to notice a discoloration on the cave wall. When we opened this room, there was over four feet of rubble in here.”

  What’s your theory about why this was built?”

  “We’re not sure. We think it was probably for ceremonial rites of some kind,” said Sam vaguely. It was the position they decided to take until they could prove otherwise.

  Turning to Maria and laying his hand on her shoulder, Erik asked, “Have you been able to translate any of the glyphs?”

  “We were hoping you could help us with that,” she said. Uncomfortable with being touched by a stranger, she moved away from him. “I understand you said you had seen some of these before.”

  “Yes, well of course these,” pointing to the inner ring, “are from the Mayan calendar of months. Therefore, it would be logical to suppose that these in the outer circle represent seasons or years. They’re somewhat different from the usual glyphs, but it’s probably just artistic differences,” he said.

  “I thought they looked significantly different, but perhaps you’re right. Why do you suppose there are more month glyphs than the usual thirteen?” she asked.

  “I have no idea. Maybe they represent rituals performed during the month,” he replied. “I think you’re right. Obviously used for worship of some kind. I see that some of these glyphs recess. Is this exactly how you found it? he asked.

  “No, we found that all of the glyphs can be recessed in any number of combinations. We were hoping that by trying different combinations, it would help us understand their purpose. So far, the process hasn’t provided us with any new information. Perhaps you would like to try,” added Sam reaching over and depressing a couple of different glyphs.

  Ignoring Sam‘s invitation, he asked, “What interesting holes, what do you think their purpose was? Have you found anything to match them?”

  “We haven’t found anything. The only conclusion we can come to is that whoever built this attached something to the back wall. Feel free to step up and examine the holes. They have some interesting ridges inside. I’d appreciate your opinion,” invited Sam.

  Erik stepped into the recess and gave the holes a cursory examination. Stepping down, he said, “Yes, very interesting. I would say you’re probably right. They held a shelf for some kind of an offering. Well, it was most kind of you to allow me to see this. I hope I haven’t imposed on you. By the way did you find your son?”

  “Oh, yes, thank you for your concern.”

  Coming out of the cave, Erik surveyed the site. “Where is he? I didn’t see him around.”

  Sam waved a hand. “He was unhappy, and since we were closing the site, we sent him on ahead.”

  “Where is home for you folks?”

  Maria answered. “Oh, you know how it is we move around a lot. We will be in Washington, D. C. for awhile to write up our findings, and then Sam is scheduled for a lecture tour that will take us around the country.”

  “So you sent him to Washington?”

  “Why do you ask?” Sam’s tone was less cordial now.

  “Just curious,” Erik said lightly.

  “I’m afraid any arrangements we made for our son is strictly a private family matter,” said Sam coldly.

  “Yes, of course, I didn’t mean to
pry. Thank you again for showing me the site.” He got into his Jeep and left.

  Watching him drive away, Maria said, “That man is either an idiot or knows a lot more than he is letting on.”

  “I think he was just playing the idiot. His questions about Joshua concern me,” Sam said frowning. “I am more anxious than ever to wrap this up and get out of here.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Field agent Erik to Watcher One. Come in, please.”

  “This is Watcher One. Have you found the portal?”

  “Yes, it is on the archeological site. I believe that the archeologists stumbled upon it. According to them, the room it is in had been sealed up and buried.”

  “Then they must have activated it. Did you find the power stone?”

  “No, they claim they think the portal is a native ceremonial site. My scans show that the parents had no contact with the stone.”

  “What about the missing son?”

  “They claim to have found him. But he was not on the site and they were very vague about his whereabouts.”

  “What were the settings on the portal?”

  “Impossible to say. They had changed them.”

  “Do you think they know where the son is?”

  “Yes, they did not seem worried about him.”

  “We need to locate the son to make sure he does not have the power stone. You have permission to take whatever steps you think are necessary to find him. However, keep the damage to a minimum.”

  “Word in the village is that the crew will be leaving shortly and the parents are staying behind for a couple of days. I will let you know when I think it is safe to proceed. Could you have two agents available to assist me?”

  “Affirmative, Watcher One out.”