The night became cool and dark, and the sounds of the animals kept me awake. It was an eerie feeling. I mostly couldn't sleep because of what my dad and I had talked about but I was also keeping one eye open in case Ward decided to pull a fast one.
Eventually daylight started to make its way back. I was grateful for sunlight but this journey we were on, terrified me regardless of the weather.
We collected everything we needed and packed up what we had out from last night. I didn't have much except for my backpack that never left me.
My dad packed his bag as my brother stood beside him. "So listen Sarah, you fall behind I ain't waitin'."
I walked up to her and spoke softly. "Don't worry, you can join the disappointment club...sometimes it's fun." I joked. She laughed but her smile faded quickly.
My brother joined us trying to comfort Sarah. He apologized for the way our dad was acting. Ward slowly walked over but kept his distance. "I'm not gonna be able to make it up that mountain. Honestly, i'd be slowing you down."
John B and Sarah walked off after she had thanked Ward for not coming with us. I watched as him and my dad met eye to eye standing in front of each other. I couldn't hear what they were saying but by their body language it looked tense.
"Dad, are you coming?" I called out to him.
He looked at me. He turned his head back to Ward but he had already been walking away.
My dad walked towards me. "Don't you believe for a second that I trust you."
I stood there taken back. I tried to say something but couldn't get anything out. I shook my head and followed behind him.
We started our journey through the jungle. I was paranoid the whole way about an animal attacking us or being bitten by the snake. I fell behind a couple times because a branch would casually be laying on the ground and I thought it was a snake.
Our dad yelled at John B and Sarah since they started falling behind. "Jo come on. Grumpy is getting mad."
"He yelled at you not me." I snapped.
"Yeah because he's mad at you." John B snapped back.
"Oh...ha ha you think you're so funny huh?" I rolled my eyes struggling to keep up with the two.
We worked our way through caves and branches as we continued to get further into the jungle. John B tripped but luckily for him Sarah caught him.
I laughed loudly causing him and Sarah to turn around and give me a look. I put my hands up in surrender. "Sorry but maybe lift your leg higher."
John B turned around flipping me off. "Hey pop, how about we take a breather?"
"How bout' not?" My dad responded back.
John B rushed over to my dad where the two exchanged words after Bird had enough of my dads bullshit.
"You okay?" Sarah walked over to me.
I placed my hands on my hips breathing heavily. "I'm fine, just this cramp won't go away."
Sarah starred at me. "Jo, as much as I don't care to ask about my brothers love life...when um, when was the last time you two uhh...you know?"
I looked around making sure my dad and John B weren't listening. I hesitated to answer. "I-..." I shook my head trying to play dumb.
"Seriously Josie. I'm not dumb. With the history you two have, when was the last time?"
"I don't know. Maybe a couple weeks ago but I'm not pregnant Sarah so just drop it okay?" I glared at her.
I didn't wanna think about the possibility of being pregnant and having a baby. It destroyed me the last pregnancy I had. The thought of that even happening to me again scared me more than the thought of dying.
My dad walked away from their tense conversation. Sarah and I stood awkwardly as John B made his way over to us.
"How did that go?" I asked.
"Well he's just a little obsessive. We should go and catch up." John B looked down slowly.
"And you don't?" Sarah smiled at him. He laughed looking off into the distance.
I sighed holding my hands on my hips. "Okay you two lets go."
"You sure you're okay Jo?" John B asked.
I walked past him getting in front of him and Sarah. "Never better."
Shortly after we arrived to the top of the mountain. It was beautiful. I've never seen something so heavenly in my entire life.
"We did it boy!" My dad smiled at my brother once we stood altogether. I looked down and back out into the distance.
I was used to my dad never being proud of me. Growing up before my mom left I had always been close to her. She always praised me while my dad protected my brother. Once my mom walked out, my dad almost got worse with the neglect he gave me.
We headed down to the other side of the mountain. It grew dark as we continued our journey. Before we knew it we arrived at one of the legendary marks, also known as the Temalacatl.
For so long I thought this treasure hunt was just a myth but suddenly I believed it. It all became real to me.
"Wow." I whispered.
My dad took in his surroundings. Everything he had dreamed of all led up to this moment. "This proves that the Kalinago were every bit the equal to the Mayans. This is gonna rewrite everything."
My dad cleared off the space realizing that is where the gnomon went. We stood back watching as he took it out of his backpack. The piece fit perfectly as he placed it on top. He explained to us what happens once the moon hits its Zenith.
We waited until the moon hit its Zenith and then finally the gnomon started taking action just as my dad had said. The four of us stood in awe watching the magic happen.
John B matched each symbol that the gnomon showed while my dad marked it down. Each symbol was matched and written down for translation.
Finally my dad came to a realization while we paired each symbol. "Oh my god, it's showing us the direction to El Dorado."
"So what does it mean?" I asked. My dad looked up at me then at Sarah.
"Dad just spit it out." John B spoke.
"I'm still figuring it out." My dad stuttered. I knew him well enough to know he was jusy holding back.
"I've got all the notes I just...we know whicj direction we're going, it's just um..." my dad was slow to speak.
"It's because we're both here." Sarah looked at me. "Big John, I am not my father. A-and I'm not brother. You can trust me."
"But I can't trust her. She was expecting a child with your brother and involved with keeping your father safe. My own blood betrayed me."
Tears started to brim in my eyes. John B noticed and grabbed my dads arm.
"Dad what does it say? Look at me, okay? If you can't tell them, tell me. Please dad." John B tried to get it out of him. "This is what we're doing, just gonna use us. Just gonna pull us in and push us out, just like you did with Mom, Jo, and I."
"John B just drop it!" I yelled raising my voice.
"What does it say?" My brother yelled again.
"Yes John! What does it say?" That familiar voice shouted off in the distance.
"Shit." I whispered.
TO BE CONTINUED....
