"I've been able to make sense out of some of it, but I am having difficulty with a number of the words. I'm not that fluent in either Spanish or Quechua, not to mention Topuku."
Eric smiled. "Valverde wasn't all that good either. In fact, after looking at this, I'm beginning to wonder if he was delirious when he wrote it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, for one thing his Spanish was deplorable, but he also used an assimilation of Indian words for certain landmarks. Names have changed over the last five hundred years. It will definitely be a challenge to make sense out of what he wrote. Only a few conquistadors knew how to write, and those who did weren't able to write well. That's why some of them created a hybrid text; words that are part Indian, part Spanish, and part something else."
"How do you know so much about this particular style of writing?" Catalina asked.
"I used to teach South American history."
"At a local high school?"
"At the University of New York.
"I'm surprised."
"Surprised that I can read this text or that I was a university professor?" Eric watched as Catalina's face turned red from embarrassment.
"You have to admit you don't look the type."
"Oh? Do you stereotype professors into looking a certain way?" He laughed to let her know he was having a little fun with her.
"No. Not really, but it's just that-"
"I know," he interrupted. "You probably think that no one in their right mind would trade a New York lifestyle for this shack."
Catalina was quick to regain her composure. "I've only just met you, but one thing I am sure of. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your mind."
"I think the locals around here would disagree. You should hear some of the stories they tell about me."
Changing the subject, Eric continued, "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Without waiting for her to respond, Eric plunged right in. "What makes you want to go chasing after treasure in a place like Muela Del Diablo, particularly when you appear to be a lady of means?"
Catalina's eyes gravitated toward her engagement ring. "Oh, you mean because of this?"
"If it's real, and I assume it is, I'd get it off your finger. There are people around here who would kill you for a lot less."
Catalina removed the ring and placed it in her purse. She then took out a small package wrapped in newspaper. Unfolding it, she handed him the quipu. "Since you're a professor of South American history, I have to assume you know how to read one of these."
Eric took his time examining the yellow cords and knots. "How did you manage to get ahold of this?"
"It was sealed inside an ancient aryballos along with the derrotero."
Eric nodded his head in understanding. "You've just answered my question as to why you want to hire Chris and me. According to the quipu, there are a thousand pounds of gold buried inside that mountain." He gave the quipu back to Catalina. "This is all well and good, but I don't think either you or your fianc? realize how difficult the terrain is in that part of the country. The rain forest is virtually impenetrable. Not only would we have to do a lot of climbing, but we would also have to use machetes to hack our way through some pretty dense underbrush. That's exhausting work. Not only are there no trails, but the mountain is full of crevices and gorges. Also the ledges are composed of shale. Just when you think you've found some firm ground, you find yourself in danger of falling off a precipice."
He gazed intently at Catalina. "You look like you are in pretty good shape, but there aren't many climbers who are mentally prepared to scale Muela Del Diablo."
Catalina bristled. "I've climbed some steep mountains before. And I'm not afraid of high places. I was born and raised in Manaus, remember? I know how tough the Amazon can be."
"Okay, what about your boyfriend?"
"Phillip is probably in better physical condition than you are. He's a fanatic when it comes to working out."
"Okay, I'll take your word for it. If Chris and I were to agree to take you and your fianc? to Muela Del Diablo, and we lead you to the gold, what will our share be?"
"You mean above and beyond your normal fee?" Catalina quickly added, "I want to remind you that I have the derrotero."
"Which you admitted, you couldn't read," Eric countered.
Catalina thought for a moment. "What would you consider a fair split?"
Eric's brows furrowed. "We are going to a very dangerous place. I also don't think you realize what it's going to take to find the treasure. If you and your fianc? were to make a go of it on your own, you'd be dead before you reached the foothills of that mountain. You have no idea what's in store. We are going to have to skirt knife-like ridges that fall away to forty-five degree slopes. We'll need to traverse jungle-choked canyons and chasms where literally no white men have ever been. If you were to hire local Indians to show you the way, sooner or later they would steal you blind and abandon you. As I said earlier, legitimate Indian guides won't go near the place."
Eric paused to allow Catalina to digest this information. "To make matters worse, it rains almost every day. The temperature at night drops to thirty degrees. You end up being either wet or shivering most of the time. What I'm describing to you is typical for the region. Pray we don't run into any really bad weather. Sometimes you are immobilized by freezing fogs. The mountain itself is unpredictable. I was there once with my father when his compass needle went wild. We never did find out what made it go crazy."
He looked straight at her. "What you have to do is make a decision as to whom to trust. Since your grandfather recommended Chris and me, I believe you've already made that choice or you wouldn't have flown all the way from Los Angeles to meet with us. Am I right?"
Eric Shade surprised Catalina. When he first introduced himself, she thought him to be a little rough around the edges, but the more they talked, the more she began to realize that underneath his rugged outward appearance there was a very shrewd mind.
It was time to strike an agreement. "What would you consider a fair split? What would you and Chris want?"
"I'd have to check with Chris. If we were to find that treasure-and that's a big if-I would ask the Brazilian government for a ten percent finder's fee."
Catalina hadn't given a finder's fee any thought. "What if they didn't agree to pay it?"
"Then we wouldn't reveal the location of our find."
"Okay, getting back to your compensation. Assuming the Brazilian government would agree to pay a ten percent finder's fee. How much of that would you want?"
Eric appeared to ponder the question. "I'd want a quarter of whatever they paid us."
"What about Chris?"
"I can't speak for him, but I'll ask him once he gets home."
Catalina decided that without Eric Shade, she and Phillip wouldn't stand a chance of finding the Golden Disk of the Sun. Eric had convinced her that without a pair of knowledgeable, trustworthy guides, their search would be in vain. She handed Eric her card. "Either call me on my cell or send me an email once you find out from Chris what he wants. If his request is reasonable, I'll talk to Phillip Nash, my fianc?. He is the one who would be financing the expedition."
CHAPTER 15
Catalina left some photographs she had taken of the aryballos with Eric Shade. The agreement was for her to contact him as soon as he let her know what Chris wanted in terms of financial compensation. If Phillip agreed to hire the two guides, she would then email a copy of the complete derrotero so Eric could study it before departing for Muela Del Diablo. She had a good feeling about Eric Shade. Of course, there was always the risk he would leave to search for the treasure without her, but then again if he wasn't honest, now would be the time to find out.
As she flew over Manaus, Catalina glanced out of the plane's window. Like a snake without a head, the Amazon River spread out below her. The river's tributaries looked like the branches of some gigantic dead tree that had fallen to the ground. Beneath her lay the vast gree
n canopy of the rain forest. At the height she was flying, the Amazon appeared peaceful, but she knew it was a violent place, full of living creatures whose only objective was to survive.
She recalled what Eric had told her about Muela Del Diablo. He said the Indians who lived within the proximity of the mountain were a superstitious lot, and to this day they firmly believe that years ago the volcano received human sacrifices. In order to appease the gods, the natives would toss a virgin into the volcanic crater that's been dormant for centuries. She had asked him if he thought the legend had any truth to it.
"Who knows?" he'd replied. "Indians have been known to make human sacrifices, but throwing virgins into a crater? That seems a little far-fetched to me."
She closed her eyes and envisioned the four of them searching for the treasure. Her biggest concern was whether Phillip and Eric would get along. She guessed Phillip might be able to manipulate Eric's younger partner because Chris might be impressed with his money. Eric, however, was another matter. He didn't seem to be the type to tolerate Phillip's condescending attitude. She wished Phillip wouldn't treat everyone like hired help. She finally decided not to concern herself with variables beyond her control. After all, Eric and Phillip were grown rational men, or so she hoped.
* * *
Eric had the photographs of the aryballos spread out before him on the table. He was impressed with the finely etched symbols. Most were simple astrological shapes; a few were of jaguars and snakes. Below a facsimile of a condor, he saw the well-known cross, which the Incas called Qhapaq Nan or a Chakana. With a magnifying glass he studied the geometrical design of the highly complex, mystifying symbol: a circle with a square inside it. The inner square was aligned with vertices, right at the circle's midpoint. Then, inside the second square, there was another smaller circle, and inside that circle was another square.
Eric marveled at the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Chakana. The symbol described the walking path the Inca god, Viracocha, took on his way to heaven centuries ago. He was aware that the ancient pre-Inca temples and pyramids were all aligned perfectly with the Chakana. What boggled his mind was how a simple people with virtually no mathematical skills could have designed such a sophisticated geometric model. Was this further proof that the Star Walkers had been involved? Was the ancient Inca god, Viracocha, a Star Walker?
Eric was puzzling over the symbol when suddenly his heart went to his throat. There, in plain sight, were the figures he had seen before. Their features were partially obscured due to the wear and tear of the aryballos, but there were three of them; all three had beards and appeared to be wearing robes. He instantly associated the drawing with the three statues he saw at Ingregil. Although this was only the second time he had seen the figures in nearly twenty years, they had made a lasting impression on him. Again, he wondered if they were of this world or some other. But what puzzled him more than anything was why they were pictured on the aryballos.
* * *
Catalina and Phillip were dining at Phillip's favorite restaurant. As usual, Phillip ordered for them. Earlier, Eric had emailed to Catalina Chris's monetary requests. She decided this would be as good a time as any to bring the matter up with Phillip. She held off until the waiter had brought them their pre-dinner cocktails.
"I know I told you this when you called, but I believe Eric Shade would be a reliable guide."
Phillip took a sip of his martini. "Not as dry as I would have liked it to be, but it will do. I'm sorry, Catalina. What did you say?"
"I was quite impressed with Shade's knowledge of the Amazon. In addition to their per diem rates, this is what they want. Eric Shade wants a quarter share of any finder's fee the Brazilian government may give us. Chris Bordeaux would rather receive fifty thousand euros in lieu of the finder's fee. Apparently the government is slow to act, and he is eager to start college and buy the house he is renting."
"I don't foresee that as a problem. If we actually find the gold, particularly the mirror, the fifty thousand euros he's asking for would be chump change. However, paying twenty-five percent of the finder's fee to Shade seems rather steep, don't you think?"
Catalina did not want to disclose to Phillip the difficulties Eric Shade had said they would encounter in their quest for the treasure. "Not really. If they lead us to the Golden Disk of the Sun, I think they would be entitled to it."
"You are still determined to go search for that mirror in the Amazon, aren't you?"
"I am. You said you would come. You aren't changing your mind, are you?"
Phillip hesitated before answering. "As I recall, I told you I would think about it."
Catalina tried to keep the emotion out of her voice. "I really want you to come with me, but if you?.?.?."
"Don't even think about entering the Amazon with two strange men!" A look of exasperation crossed Phillip's face. "I'll go, but I certainly am not wild about it."
Catalina reached across the table and took hold of Phillip's hand. "Does that mean I can call them back and finalize the arrangements?"
"I am doing this mainly for you, Catalina. You know that, don't you?" Then he added, "Are you sure we need those guides? We've both climbed mountains before."
Catalina could tell Phillip's ego was doing the talking. "I know. You've told me you are a very capable climber, but this place is different. I've told you the stories about that mountain-most people won't go near the place."
Phillip said, "The idea that it's haunted is pure nonsense."
"Maybe so," Catalina retorted, "but Eric Shade and Chris Bordeaux are familiar with the terrain. They also know how to handle themselves in the Amazon. Why put ourselves at risk? Weren't you the one who told me to get the best guides money could buy?"
Phillip remained silent for a while. Then, he asked, "Do you really trust them?"
"I only met Dr. Shade, the older of the two partners. I have a good sense about him. I don't believe he would steer us wrong. Would you believe he used to teach South American history at N.Y.U.? But that's not what is really important. He was once a Green Beret with the Special Forces. Besides being familiar with the area, Shade knows all about survival techniques and also speaks Quechua, Spanish, Portuguese-and English."
"Oh, all right. Have it your way. When would you like to leave?"
Catalina thought it advisable to give Phillip a say in the matter. "Dr. Shade said we can go anytime you like, but the weather is less likely to be nasty if we were to leave next month."
"Okay. What do we need to bring with us?"
"Shade said he would give me a list of the kind of clothes we need. He and his partner would furnish all the equipment and supplies, but we would need to pay for them, of course. If it's all right with you, I'll send him a check as well as a copy of Valverde's instructions. He told me he wanted to study the derrotero so he could formulate the best route to take."
"What's to prevent him from grabbing the gold for himself?" Phillip asked. "We can put something in the contract to discourage that, can't we?"
Phillip was beginning to irritate Catalina. "Marcelo told me their references checked out. Either we trust him, or we don't go. What's it going to be, Phillip?"
Phillip threw his hands up in the air. "Whatever you want to do, Catalina. I just hope the trip won't be too dangerous for you."
Who are you kidding? I grew up in Manaus. I've been in the jungle dozens of times. You're the one who should worry about the dangers of the Amazon. Catalina was tempted to verbalize these thoughts, but instead, she placated his ego. "Don't worry, Phillip. I'll be fine. After all, I'll have you, and I know you would never let anything happen to me."
CHAPTER 16
No sooner had they entered Manaus than Phillip began to complain. The hotel where they were staying had mixed up their reservations with someone else. It meant Phillip and Catalina would have to stay in less expensive rooms.
She tried to smooth things over. "It's not that big of a deal. It will only be for one night. We're meeting our two gu
ides at the airport in Manaus. Shade rented a Bonanza and in the morning we're flying to the city of Confresa. We'll spend the night there. Shade has made provisions to rent a couple of jeeps. He told me we would need a vehicle with four-wheel drive. Apparently the dirt road that leads to Cerro Negro is not in the best shape. After that, we'll need to forge our own path through the jungle. In the instructions, Shade said Valverde mentions a volcanic chimney that leads to a grotto. He said once we find it, we will be close to the treasure."
"Sounds like you are on top of it," Phillip mumbled. "Let's go eat. I'm famished."
* * *
Phillip and Catalina sat inside a coffee shop at the Eduardo Gomes International Airport waiting for Chris and Eric to arrive. Annoyed, Phillip glanced at his watch. "They're already ten minutes late. The plane leaves in another twenty minutes. They better get here soon."
"Don't worry; they will be here." Phillip's insistence on punctuality irritated Catalina. She couldn't resist adding, "Besides, it's not as if the plane is going to leave without us. The four of us are its only passengers."
"That's not the point. It's important to be punctual. You of all people should-"
"Hi there, you must be Miss Rivera." The person who cut Phillip off in mid-sentence was a tall, and deeply tanned young man in his mid-twenties. "I'm Chris Bordeaux." Chris extended his hand first to Catalina and then to Phillip. "And you must be Mr. Nash. I'm glad to make your acquaintance."
Instead of shaking hands with Chris, Phillip mumbled a hello.
"Eric will be along in a few minutes," Chris said. "He's loading all the gear on the plane."
Catalina offered Chris a seat. "Would you like some coffee?"
"No thanks. I'm fine. Oh, here he is now."
As soon as Eric spotted Chris, he approached their table. "I'd like to introduce you to Phillip Nash," Catalina said.
Phillip stood. Barely acknowledging Eric, he said. "Now that we are all here, can we go?"
* * *
Eric Shade had a knack of assessing people quickly. The minute he laid eyes on Phillip, he knew it would only be a question of time before they ended up bucking heads.