by Adam Hiatt
“Fine, the Moon Pyramid it is. But we should wait for the cover of nightfall before doing anything,” said Reddic. “It will be dark in less than two hours.”
“A rather astute suggestion,” responded Jaxon playfully.
“In the meantime, we need to procure some equipment.”
“What kind of equipment?”
“Just your basic Boy Scout stuff.”
“I think I know of a place you might like.”
Chapter Forty
The sun had disappeared behind the western hills, leaving only a radiant shade of orange in the dusky sky. With its headlights on high beam, the last car rolled out of the central parking lot onto a narrow dirt road. Squatting behind a Juniper tree adjacent to the Moon Pyramid, Reddic watched the red glow from the taillights slowly fade away as the car drove down the lane. Jaxon, kneeling behind his brother, popped up to his feet and brushed off his pants. Without turning, Reddic whispered, “Stay down. We wait another ten minutes.” Without protest, Jaxon dropped back down.
The last hint of the sun’s colored residue on the western horizon vanished behind a curtain of black, leaving only the faint glow of city lights on the horizon. Noiselessly, Reddic slid the straps of his backpack over his arms and rested it on the ground. It was a little heavier from the purchases that he made at the Bodega Aurrera, the local name of the newest Wal-Mart in Mexico, erected only two miles away in San Juan de Teotihuacán. The store was a smaller version of the infamous international franchise, most likely a result of the controversial nature of its construction. Some native residents viewed it as a flagrant intrusion of capitalism on Teotihuacán’s historic past. After all, the extraordinary pyramids were clearly visible from the store’s parking lot.
Nonetheless, it had everything that Reddic needed: nylon rope, night vision ocular devices, flashlights, knives, flares, matches, lighters, and bolt cutters. He also bought two black fleece sweatshirts, which they put on as soon as they were purchased. As they exited the building, Reddic dumped the newly acquired items into his backpack and skipped over to the green Volkswagen Bug. He wiped it clean of fingerprints and deliberately left the keys in the ignition before closing the door and walking away from the car forever, he told Jaxon, never to return.
After the brisk two-mile hike on foot Reddic was beginning to feel the added weight pull against his shoulders. He unzipped the backpack and removed a compact night vision monocular. Pressing it firmly against his right eye he peered down the Avenue of the Dead. He heard the crunch of gravel before he spotted it. A few paces away, inside the Moon Pyramid plaza, a sentry vigilantly patrolled the area. The drawback of night vision was that it turned every object into a shade of green, making it difficult to discern much detail. However, from what Reddic could tell the guard was armed and seemed to be listening for any unnatural sound disturbing the cool, calm night.
The guard marched through the square along the perimeter, retracing his footsteps with each passing lap. Although he was unable to see any other guards, Reddic knew that they were out there. The historic monument was too large to only have one sentry. He had worried about this, but had also anticipated it. If they were to gain access inside the pyramid they would need a diversion. En route to the Wal-Mart Jaxon explained that a team of archeologists, led by Arizona State University, had already dug out two tunnels inside the pyramid. Each tunnel’s entrance point was secured with iron bars to deter any unwanted or after-hour admittance. Trying to break in without a distraction would undoubtedly attract the presence of the guards.
From his backpack Reddic snatched up a booklet of matches and a package of lighters and stuffed them away in his pants. “Don’t go anywhere,” he said under his breath. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” whispered Jaxon.
“To take care of the guards.”
“You’re not going to kill them are you?” asked Jaxon in an elevated voice.
“Quiet,” Reddic hissed. “Don’t be silly. Now stay right here.” He plunged off into the night, circling wide behind the Pyramid of the Moon.
Despite the brisk jog, each step that he took was carefully calculated to be as silent as possible. For some reason Reddic had always felt comfortable in the night, like he was one with his environment. Sure his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to make out any objects in his way, but his sense of calm was much more than that. He moved differently, more stealthily in the night. His steps were shorter and lighter, his breathing more controlled. He knew how to make his movements sound like natural occurrences. He could filter every noise of his surroundings, being able to discern between expected and human induced sounds. Instincts accurately prompted him when to run, walk, crawl, or remain motionless. In short, he embraced the night, for darkness was his protection.
Crouching behind a small bush, Reddic listened for movement. As the crow flew he knew that he was only about five hundred yards away from where he left Jaxon, but he was on the opposite side of the Avenue. Even in the night he saw that he was directly across from the Pyramid of the Sun. It looked like a mountain of blackness in the pale moonlight.
He turned his attention to a rustling of gravel a short distance away. In between two stone platforms alongside the Avenue he saw the silhouette of another guard. He too stalked about in a prearranged pattern in front of the Sun Pyramid. A ways off to the south he spotted a third sentry. The pale glow of a lit cigarette gave his presence away. That made three guards near the north end of the Avenue of the Dead. Somehow he needed to find a way to persuade all of them to direct their attention on something away from the Pyramid of the Moon.
Stretching forth his hand, Reddic tore off a small piece of the bush he used for cover and felt the texture. Its foliage was dense and bristly, mildly irritating his fingers. Rubbing it between his hands, the shrubbery came off the woody stem and tumbled to the ground. Reddic grinned. The bush was perfect.
He reached into his pant pocket and removed the package of lighters. One by one he popped off the tops and dumped the fluid on the stubby branches. Stuffing the packaging in the bush, he pulled out the matchbook and struck a match between cupped hands. The tang of phosphorus filled his nostrils.
He took two steps back and flicked the match in the air. The bush burst into flames where the lighter fluid was spilled. A few short seconds later the entire shrub was a roaring conflagration. Reddic sprinted off to the north away from the fire. As he ran he heard panicked shouts.
“Luís, que pasó?” a voice bellowed. What happened, Luis?
“No sé. Ese arbusto se incendío de repente,” he responded. I don’t know. That bush just caught on fire all of a sudden.
“Necesitamos extinguirlo, ya!” the guard from the plaza barked. We need to put it out, now!
On the other side of the Avenue Jaxon’s eyes were riveted on the dancing flames. From his vantage point he watched three men congregate near the fire. They were yelling and pointing at one another, but he couldn’t make out the words.
“Let’s move,” Reddic said, kneeling beside his backpack.
“Is this you’re doing?” asked Jaxon.
“Yep and it won’t last forever. We need to go now.”
Moving in shadows they made their way to the junction of the stairs, called the Adosada, and the Pyramid of the Moon. There, a thin sheet of metal about six feet long covered a short ramp that dropped to an opening three feet below the Avenue. At the bottom of the ramp was a door made of iron bars just as Jaxon had described. Taking a flashlight from his pack, Reddic traced the frame with the beam of light. On the left side, halfway up the gate, was a thick padlock. He pulled out the bolt cutters and gave the flashlight to Jaxon.
“Shine it on the lock,” he said. Gripping the rubber handles, Reddic pressed them inward. His biceps and pectorals strained as the tool fought to cut through the steel lock. Unable to break it, he pulled back to catch his breath before continuing. The lock was stronger than he expected. Securing the cutter in place, he sque
ezed one more time. The lock snapped and fell to the ground.
Reddic wiped the sweat from his brow and stored the bolt cutters in his backpack. He grabbed another flashlight and reached for the gate. The hinges screeched as the door swung open. Shining the light into the dark abyss, he muttered, “Ready or not, here we come.”
Chapter Forty-One
Narrow and constricting, the tunnel burrowing beneath the Pyramid of the Moon smelled of old, damp dirt. The presence of moisture was a paradox, especially when considering the aridity of the site. The scent of stale earth, however, was to be expected. They were traversing inside of a giant stationary mound of dirt that was over two thousand years old. With these types of manmade structures the bottom level was always the oldest. Much like a Tel in the Middle East, when primeval engineers wanted a new structure they simply piled mounds of earth atop an existing level and refaced it. Therefore, since the completion of the pyramid itself dated back to the first century AD, there was really no way to accurately predict how old the bottom phase was.
Apart from the smell, the tunnel resembled a nineteenth century mining shaft. Thick timber posts, hammered into the walls, supported a wooden roof built with wide planks to prevent cave-ins. The floor was uncovered, firm and slightly U-shaped, and a string of bare light bulbs ran alongside the left wall. The safety precautions momentarily relieved Jaxon’s apprehension. Though he was not a claustrophobic, he knew that the composition of adobe brick and loose dirt would be prone to collapse at any given moment under normal circumstances. Conversely, he could sense Reddic was growing more angst-ridden with each step. The tunnel was obviously cut out to accommodate the height of an average scientist, not that of a basketball player. The constant hunch probably aggravated his lower back.
After about thirty yards the tunnel abruptly opened into a spacious cavity. The walls and ceiling were bare of support beams as a shell of metamorphic rock protected the hollow space. Jaxon swept through the opening with his flashlight and examined the anomalous hole. Pointing it to his left, three figures at the end of the shaft of light made his heart jump.
“Reddic, look at this,” he belted out breathlessly.
Standing upright stretching, Reddic wheeled around and caught sight of the objects. Sitting against the wall, side-by-side, with their legs crossed and hands clasped in front were three decayed skeletons.
Reddic stepped closer. They were adorned with ear and nose rings, morbid collars composed of imitation human maxillae and mandibles, and decomposing headdresses.
“Were they buried alive in here?” asked Reddic, squatting in front of the ancient bones. Black beetles crawled out of the skull’s eye sockets and open mouths. “Is that why they’re sitting like that?”
“I would surmise that they were, but not against their will,” Jaxon replied. “Based on their appearance I would say they were high-ranking social figures, like royalty or priests. If they were buried alive involuntarily then they would have been bound.”
“Why would anyone volunteer to be buried alive in here?”
“Maybe they weren’t supposed to be buried,” suggested Jaxon.
“How do you figure?”
“Well, there could have been another tunnel that fell in, trapping them inside.”
“That’s a valid point, I suppose, but it doesn’t look like they were in any real hurry to try and find a way out,” said Reddic. “It almost looks like they were guarding this tunnel.”
Jaxon jerked away from the skeletons and stared at his brother. “What did you just say?” he asked, looking like he was unsure that he heard right.
“I said it looks like they could be guarding the tunnel.”
“Oh my word, Reddic, you’re a bloody genius. You’re right. They were protecting the tunnel. It’s so obvious. There were three of them. The number three; used to represent a covenant or warning.”
“Or it could carry both meanings simultaneously, right?” Reddic added.
“Yes, yes, it could,” Jaxon said, mind reeling. “In fact, it makes sense. What if they covenanted to protect the Stone of Truth against looters and intruders while they lived, but after their deaths, which were quite likely hastened by being in here, their skeletal remains became a warning for all who entered?”
“I can’t argue with that.”
Jaxon’s flashlight fell to the ground, clanging off the rocky floor. “It’s here, Reddic,” he said quietly. He bent over to grab the light. “I can feel it.”
“Don’t get too excited, my friend. It’s a big pyramid.” Reddic walked away toward the tunnel with a smirk on his face. The truth was, he shared his brother’s optimism, but there was no chance his pride would allow him to share it.
Upon leaving the spacious cavity Reddic had to stoop over again to follow the burrowed out pathway. Unable to look ahead, he inspected the floor on which they walked. It had an odd appearance, looking out of place with the tunnel as a whole. It was a hard surface of packed, desiccated clay, cracked and fissured uniformly like a crumpled wad of paper had been unfolded and lain flat. Small smooth round stones hugged the gently sloped sides of the floor.
“Is there any chance a stream could have run through here?” he asked mid-stride.
“Are you referring to the floor?” Jaxon wondered.
“Yeah, you noticed it too?”
“I did and it’s not surprising. Underground streams, either in caves, pyramids or grottos were equated with the goddess worship.”
“In what way?”
“Water being the source of life was naturally associated with the female. The cave then, or whatever structure covered the stream, was a representation of the womb.”
“So this pyramid could have been constructed overtop of the stream?” Reddic asked.
“Certainly. The veneration of femininity was widespread anciently. Times have changed, I guess.”
Reddic had a thought. “Well if you’re right then I see no reason why the stone wouldn’t be somewhere near the end of this dried-up stream bed. It seems like it would be the logical path for any ancient tunnel.”
The hair on Jaxon’s forearms tingled as he processed his younger brother’s theory. If correct then they were close, very close. The anticipation of finally completing his research was almost overwhelming. Nobody in history had come this far, not even Dr. Langford. His heart beat rapidly against his chest as he contemplated the significance of the find. Oh how he yearned to plunge through the tunnel in a sprint, but Reddic obstructed his path. He shook out his arms and cracked his knuckles. This wasn’t the time to lose his poise. More than any other time in his brief academic career he needed to maintain a steadfast focus.
After another forty paces Jaxon tugged on Reddic’s sweatshirt. “Wait,” he said. “We’ve gone far enough.”
Reddic pointed his light up the tunnel and understood. The floor had changed. The cracked U-shape bed had disappeared, replaced by a flat porous sandstone surface.
“The stream looks like it originated from somewhere within this wall,” said Jaxon. Reddic dropped to his knees where Jaxon’s flashlight shined and pulled the matchbook out of his pocket. He lit a match and held it between his fingers against the wall only a few inches above the tunnel floor. The flame flickered away for a few seconds and then went out.
“There’s air on the other side of the wall,” Reddic said. “Whatever’s there it’s not solid.” Sitting on the floor, Reddic braced his back against the opposite side of the passageway. The tunnel was only three feet wide, so his knees were well off the ground. “I need your help down here,” he said.
Jaxon parked himself next to his brother and put his feet up. “On three we push,” Reddic said. Together they drove their legs into the side of the tunnel. Reddic grunted fiercely, like he was doing squats in the weight room. Half a minute passed by before they felt the prehistoric compacted dirt and rock start to dislodge.
“Harder!” he yelled.
“I can’t go any harder,” Jaxon grumbled. Reddic kicked out v
iolently, bashing his heels against the side. His feet burst through the wall creating a hole about two feet high. Dust billowed forth into their faces, causing Jaxon to cough spasmodically. Fanning away the dirt cloud, Reddic tossed his backpack into the opening and crawled through. Jaxon followed right on his tail.
Making his way through the notch, Reddic cautiously stood and aimed the flashlight. Jaxon arrived at his side shortly after and did the same. They swiftly scanned the room, realizing that they were inside of an isolated, hidden chamber. The shape of the floor was strange. It was round, cut of level sandstone, measuring about five yards in diameter. The walls were also smoothly sculpted and rounded, and the ceiling had a dome look to it. Two limestone arches straddled the floor, crossing at the apex, sharing the same keystone.
Just above the aperture where they crawled through, six feet from the floor, was a spherical orb mounted to the wall. It was roughly the same size as a beach ball. Examining it closer, Reddic noticed that five perfectly round holes were bored into its face. He stood atop his toes to peer inside. He thought he detected the scent of a petroleum-based chemical. Sure enough, at the very bottom was a clay bowl filled to its brim with a murky liquid.
Reaching for the matches, Reddic struck one and dropped it into the sphere. The chemical immediately ignited, producing a bright fiery yellow flame that illuminated the entire room. Beams of light spilled out of the five perforations. They spotlighted four odd-looking black obsidian objects protruding from the far wall and a stone altar in the center of the room.
Jaxon was too distracted to notice the rays of light. He was spellbound by a string of colorful etchings on the chamber walls. He slowly circled the room studying each scene. One showed a bearded man walking on dry ground through a body of water. Another depicted a woman wrapped in embossment being raised out of a burial hollow by a man wearing feathers. Yet another illustrated a multitude of people on their knees showing obeisance to a fair-skinned character.