by Ben Hammott
Greyson watched in amazement when the captain lit a thick cigar. He wondered how the man had the breath to smoke after the climb they had both just endured.
As he gazed around the verdant surroundings, Greyson noticed what he had at first taken to be tall stumps of felled trees, were actually columns of rock. Invigorated by the discovery, he approached the nearest one and peeled away some of the vegetation that all but smothered it. Though unadorned by any markings, the close-knit joints of the two-foot square stone blocks were unmistakably Maya. His searching gaze picked out more amongst the vegetation. They lined the stone path that led deeper into the jungle.
Eager to see what the columned path led to, he snapped off a few photographs and looked back at the captain puffing away on his filthy cigar. “You ready?”
Tembi blew out a stream of thick smoke and nodded. “Lead on.”
With excitement in his step, Greyson followed the path. Though tree roots had raised some of the slabs and vegetation had claimed footholds in the joints, for something constructed so long ago it was in remarkably good condition. They travelled down a gentle slope littered with large rocks to a stone bridge that crossed a small, fast-flowing steam, which Greyson assumed fed one of the waterfalls that splashed into the natural harbor below. Whatever lay ahead, from what he had seen so far, the availability of fresh water and the fish he had noticed in the lagoon below, presented it as a superior location for a civilization to set up home.
It wasn’t long before Greyson caught his first glimpse of substantial building works and sensed something truly magnificent was about to be revealed. Though overgrown with plant life, impossibly thick vine tendrils and a large tree that had encased one side of the two tall structures, their Maya architecture was unmistakable. The twenty-foot-high walls that led out from either side of the two stone towers continued into the distance until the thick jungle swallowed them. So surprised was he by the discovery, Greyson nearly forgot to photograph them, something he soon remedied. He snapped off shots as he approached the entrance formed between the impressive thirty-foot-high towers. The sturdy wooden gate he imagined had once barred the opening had long since succumbed to rot and had been devoured by the hordes of insects infesting the jungle.
Greyson received his second surprise in as many minutes when he peered through the entrance and stared at the two, large stone blocks positioned either side of the path. Both were the same size―a fifteen-foot cube―and set at a slight angle to the path so they faced anyone who passed between them. He approached the one on the right and with Tembi’s help, pulled aside the pale vines that hung like hair framing the large face set in the center. The stone around the central face was covered in carvings. Though the details appeared to be Maya, they seemed more refined, more detailed and with sharper edges than he was used to seeing. Tembi obliged by holding back the vines while Greyson photographed as much as he could. If Kramer had some workforce he could spare, he would return to strip both monuments free of vegetation, so he could photograph all their details.
“You seem impressed,” said Tembi, squashing the damp stub of cigar with a foot.
Greyson smiled. “I am. These are wonderful.”
“If you like these, you’ll love what comes next.” Tembi pointed at the dark opening at the far end of the clearing dotted with trees that had encroached into the space.
Greyson’s gaze followed the man’s outstretched arm, and moved to the side to peer past the tree blocking his view. So captivated had he been by the overgrown blocks, he had failed to see the entrance before. Though it too was overgrown, someone had cleared most of the pillared doorway set in the secondary inner wall. Excited to explore what lay within, he strode eagerly toward it.
After stepping out of the sunlight’s glare and into the dark chamber, Greyson halted while his eyes adjusted to the gloom and the details gradually appeared. The exit opposite opened onto steps rising to an opening shrouded by vegetation and a large gnarled tree that had chosen to grow there. A doorway set in the right wall was framed by carved columns and topped with a large stone lintel. Two statues, one either side of the opening, depicted two Maya Gods, Itzamma, the founder of Maya culture, and Kisin, the most commonly depicted god of death.
Birth and death, thought Greyson, crossing to the doorway.
He peered into the room, but it was too dark to see anything. Though not ideal, he used the camera flash to light up the darkness. Carved faces appeared briefly in the blazes of light. He stepped inside and aimed the camera at each wall as he took a picture. Every side of the small chamber was covered in carved faces of Maya gods and deities. Knowing he would have to return with lights to ensure he recorded each one, Greyson left the room and headed for the far exit.
As soon as he stepped through the doorway, Greyson froze. His eyes shifted nervously to the side and stared at the rifle barrel pressed against his head and then at the menacing man holding it. The man’s spectacles, one lens cracked and a piece of tape around the nose bridge holding them together, sat at a slight angle. A cruel grin, barely visible between the black wiry beard and mustache that framed his mouth, didn’t give Greyson confidence he would be alive much longer.
Tembi stepped through the doorway and glanced at the man holding the weapon. “It’s okay, Chico, he’s with me. A colleague of Kramer’s.”
Chico sighed. “You sure you don’t want me to blast a hole in his skull, Captain?”
“Maybe later.” Tembi grinned.
When Chico reluctantly lowered the rifle, Greyson slumped with relief and watched the armed man step into view from his hiding place. The stench from his grubby, sweat-stained clothes, vied for prominence with the foul reek of body odor that emanated from the man. Greyson took a step back to hopefully lessen the amount of foulness he had to breathe in.
“Are you one of Dr. Kramer’s guards?”
Chico nodded. “Many bandits and tomb robbers would like to get their greedy hands on what’s been found here, but if they come, Chico will kill them.”
Greyson almost gagged from the man’s rancid breath. After another step away, his disapproving examination of the man left him undecided if Chico wasn’t a former bandit or tomb robber who would previously have been at the front of the queue to steal anything of value. Maybe he still was.
“Where can we find the doc?” asked Tembi.
“He’s digging in the temple,” replied Chico, casually scratching his sweaty butt crack as if it was accepted practice while in company. “They’ve found a secret chamber or something.”
Tembi tapped Greyson on the shoulder as he passed. “Let’s go find your colleague.”
Grimacing in disgust when Chico’s ass-scratching finger vigorously probed a nostril, Greyson turned away and followed the captain.
They emerged from the foliage into a courtyard surrounded by buildings and at the far end a temple that displayed little resemblance to the surrounding typical Maya architecture. The temple that stood three stories tall wasn’t a stepped pyramid, but surprisingly cathedral-like. In the center of the flagstone-paved courtyard was a pool of algae-choked water. Trees that had planted themselves throughout the space hugged the buildings and dipped their thick roots into the pool.
Eager to record everything, Greyson snapped off photographs. He peered into the many dark openings he passed as the captain led him across the courtyard. Now that he had seen what Kramer had found, he wasn’t in such a hurry to leave. He could spend a month here and not explore everything. He briefly thought of delaying the exhibition, but quickly decided against it. The museum’s publicity machine had already started promoting it, and delaying it now wouldn’t be good for his career.
As they neared the temple, two men in conversation stepped out of its interior, squinting as their eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. Greyson recognized one of them as Kramer. The man’s clothes were soiled, and he now sported an unkempt beard.
When Kramer looked up and saw the new arrivals, his expression changed to surprise at rec
ognizing Greyson.
Kramer strode over with a smile on his lips. “Well, well, well, Greyson, they finally pried you away from your desk.”
Greyson shook the offered hand. “Actually, I volunteered to come, which surprises me as much as you, I expect.”
“Well, what do you think of the place?” Kramer waved an arm around the courtyard. “We haven’t explored all of it yet.”
“I think it’s the most amazing thing I have ever seen. And to tell the truth, I’m envious of your discovery. I thought you were mad when you set off, but you’ve proved me wrong and I’ve never been so pleased to have been so.”
Kramer beamed excitedly. “You’ve arrived at an opportune moment. We found something in the temple, a secret chamber containing lots of corpses.”
“A burial grave?” asked Greyson.
Kramer shook his head. “I don’t think so, as they were all armed. I think they were warriors, and there’s evidence they had food and water with them. I believe they were interred alive to guard something.”
Greyson’s eyes lit up. “You think it might be treasure?” Golden artifacts would boost the attendance of his exhibition beyond his wildest expectations. If there was enough of it and of good quality, it might even rival the Tutankhamen discovery.
“It’s possible, but I think treasure’s unlikely.”
Greyson’s hopes deflated. “Why is that?”
“Treasure they could have hidden and left guards to protect it without burying them alive. The food, water and air in the chamber wouldn’t have lasted for long. No, I believe even in death they were protecting something else, something we haven’t found yet.”
“But you are still searching?”
“Of course. My men are presently removing the bodies, weapons and any other artifacts from the chamber so we can see what else is down there.”
“Is it possible there might be another secret chamber?” asked Greyson, his excitement impossible to miss.
Kramer smiled. “I’m certain of it, but come, let’s get you something to eat. I’m sure you’re famished after your long trip.”
Greyson glanced at the temple entrance longingly.
Kramer laughed. “They’ll be plenty of time for you to explore later. Follow me and after you’ve eaten, I’ll show you what we’ve found so far. There are some artifacts I am certain you’ll find interesting.”
Perking up at the mention of artifacts, Greyson followed Kramer into a nearby building.
An hour later, the two flaming torches carried by Kramer and Greyson atmospherically highlighted the architectural details they passed on their journey to the temple.
Greyson held the torch gingerly at arm’s length; he had nearly singed his hair when a draught blew the flames near his face. “Why are we using torches and not flashlights?”
“Two reasons,” Kramer replied. “The artifacts you are about to see were designed to be viewed by a naked flame, hence they will add a certain atmosphere to the proceedings that would be lost by stark, battery-powered light. Secondly, I don’t have many spare batteries until I can order some to be brought with the next supply shipment, which is why I contacted the museum for further funding. Where I can, I use nature’s flames and oil lamps.”
“From what I’ve seen so far, and if the artifacts you’ve found are as equally impressive, I wouldn’t worry about the extra funding. If I am satisfied by your discovery, I’m authorized to transfer the funds, so you can have lots of batteries and anything else you need.”
“That’s good to hear.” Kramer paused at the dark temple opening and smiled at his colleague. “Greyson, prepare to be amazed.”
Greyson followed Kramer through the impressive carved entrance.
A short entrance hall, disappointedly unadorned of carvings, led to a large room half-filled with objects. Mummified skeletons, frozen in various poses, lined one wall.
Greyson’s mouth hung open as his eyes wandered over the objects highlighted by his torch. They were more than he had hoped for—the stone statues of the Maya gods and deities given movement by the flickering flames were briefly imbued with life. Slightly dumbfounded, Greyson wandered through the room. There were bowls, plates, vases, jade jewelry and jade-bladed knives, weapons and furniture. He almost fell to his knees and wept for joy.
“Greyson, come and look at these,” called out Kramer from across the room.
In a slight daze, Greyson headed for the row of bodies placed along the wall. Some sat hugging their legs with their heads resting on their knees. Some knelt with their backs leaning against the walls and others lay in various sleeping positions. One thing they all had in common were the weapons they each held or had beside them and the warrior uniforms they wore.
Greyson knelt beside a warrior who seemed to have remained on his feet until his strength had run out and he had slipped to the floor and died. Greyson examined the face stretched tight with dried skin. Flecks of gold sparkled in the light, an indication the warrior’s flesh had been covered in gold dust before his interment. The flames almost gave it life as the shadows flickered across the dead man’s face.
Greyson gently touched the fabric of the warrior’s clothes, expecting it to turn to dust from his touch, but it didn’t. He had never come across ancient material in such good condition. As he stood, he pictured them displayed back in the museum. They were going to need to increase the space allocated to the exhibition to put everything here on display. The logistics of transporting even the best of them from this remote location to England were mind-numbing, but somehow, he would do it.
“So, Greyson, how is my funding looking now?”
Greyson looked at Kramer. “You could ask for double and I’d authorize it.” He waved a hand around the room. “What you have found here is so amazing I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen them with my own eyes. Their quality far surpasses anything previously discovered. It’s as if the Maya had improved on their techniques.” He turned to the bodies. “And these warriors—well, what can I say? You know how rare it is to find anything as well preserved. They alone will astound the world.”
He held out a hand to Kramer.
“I congratulate you on your incredible discoveries. When this leaks out you’ll become as well-known and respected as Howard Carter.”
Kramer shook Greyson’s hand. “I don’t do it for the recognition. As long as it keeps the museum funding my expeditions, I’ll be happy.”
Greyson smiled. “When they learn of this, you could tell them you believe there’s a lost civilization on the moon and you need funding to build a space rocket and fly there, and they would approve it.”
Kramer laughed. “So, you do have a sense of humor.”
Greyson shrugged and grinned. “It has long been suppressed I’m afraid.”
“Come, there’s more to see.” Kramer headed for the doorway at the far end of the room.
“I’m not sure I can stand much more excitement.” Greyson’s eyes swept over the objects he passed as he followed. It was going to be an exhibition to rival all others.
When he stepped through the doorway and saw the statues that filled the room, he was again stunned by the unexpected sight.
“Do you notice anything strange about them?” asked Kramer.
Greyson looked back at the opening he had just passed through. “I assume the temple is orientated East to West to catch the rising sun.”
“It is,” Kramer confirmed.
“Then the statues are facing the wrong way.”
“Exactly what I surmised,” said Kramer. “And I think I know why. I believe they are a form of protection.”
Greyson wandered around the statues. “Protection against what?”
Kramer pointed at the far doorway the statues faced. “Whatever is concealed in there.”
Greyson stared at the doorway. “Is that where you found the dead warriors secret chamber?”
Kramer nodded. “It is.”
Kramer led Greyson into the next chamber, va
stly smaller than the previous two. The only objects in the room were a statue of the Maya god, Ah Puch, pushed to the side of the room, a large stone slab propped against the wall and a large opening in the floor corresponding to the size of the removed slab.
Greyson approached the fearsome god statue that was as tall as him. Ah Puch could either be depicted as a skeletal figure with a deaths-head face, or, as it was here, as a bloated figure covered in flaps and blotches of decomposing skin. A gruesome collar of dangling eyeballs plucked from its victims hung around its neck. Its skeletal face seemed to be staring at him, even though it lacked the inclusion of carved eyes to do so.
“Impressive, isn’t he?” stated Kramer, stroking a hand over one of Ah Puch’s stone shoulders.
“He certainly is,” Greyson agreed, working out the logistics of transporting it to England in his head.
“As you know, Ah Puch ruled the lowest level of the Maya underworld and was most closely identified with the Christian devil, keeping the souls of evil people in the underworld under torture. It, and later the scrapes on the floor running out from the base, were my first clue that he might be guarding a secret chamber.”
Greyson walked to the hole in the floor. A ladder, crudely formed from tree branches and rope binding it together, led down into darkness. “You moved Ah Puch aside and found the slab covering this opening.”
“Yes, and the chamber where we found the dead warriors,” explained Kramer.
“And you think there’s more to be found down there?”
Kramer nodded. “Like I said before, I’m certain of it. Follow me down and I’ll reveal why.”
After the two men had descended the ladder, Kramer pointed at the floor.
Greyson knelt beside the large slab inscribed with a single Maya glyph. “Xibalba!” He looked at Kramer. “The place of fear!”
“Yes, I believe that slab covers the entrance to Xibalba, the Maya underworld.”
A shiver ran down Greyson’s spine as he stood. He gazed around the room at the carvings covering every surface of the walls and ceiling. “They are all gods and deities of protection and life.”