Cargo

Eclipse Of The Serpent

Bouncing along in the backseat of a black SUV following a convoy of assorted vehicles, the rough dirt track and unpredictable terrain jolt me with each bump and twist. The vehicles plough through the untamed landscape, leaving a cloud of orange dust in their wake. Despite the stoic faces of my captors, I can't shake the sense of unease that gnaws at me as we near what looks like a dig site. The ominous aura of the place, its isolation, seeps into my bones, and an inexplicable feeling of foreboding settles in the pit of my stomach. As we finally arrive at the site, my heart pounds in my chest. I can see the grim expression on the crew's faces, the tension in the air palpable.

In a storm of dust, the convoy grinds to a halt on a dry flat section of a riverbed that bends around an enormous rust-coloured hill.

As I step out of the SUV, I can't help but feel a sense of curiosity usurp my unease. The desert stretched out before me, its vastness and emptiness both majestic and eerie. In the heart of this barren wilderness, at the foot of this mound, lines of trenches and pits have been dug out, crisscrossing the dry riverbed. Wooden scaffolding and weathered tents dot the perimeter, providing a glimpse of humanity amidst the desolate expanse and shelter for equipment.

"Start on the artefacts," orders Miĉjo.

The secretive nature of the operation does little to alleviate my growing sense of apprehension. The intense sun beats down on me, adding to the already suffocating atmosphere. It is as if the desert itself knows the secrets that lay buried beneath the sand and is reluctant to reveal them.

The mood grows even more secretive as the crew pushes me to the centre of the site. The team of cajeros seem anxious, their eyes darting around suspiciously. There is more to this place than meets the eye. The men approach the four black utility vehicles that are parked in a line along what used to be the bank of a river and get busy unloading the crates. One by one they broke apart the timber slats and unpacked a collection of serpentine figurines made of dark stone. They carry them to the dug-out pits and gently place them inside.

Seven statues.

Each is half a metre tall, and heavy.

Once the seven artefacts are carefully positioned in their designated spots, the crew of cajeros commence their solemn task of burial. Shovels cut through the soft desert sand, and the rhythmic sounds of digging echo in the arid air. Each member of the team works with a sense of reverence as if this act is significant. As the trenches fill with sand, the artefacts are embraced by the earth, concealing their secret purpose. A sense of completion and closure settles over the crew, knowing that they have played a part in some kind of bizarre ritual.

"When the rains come," states Miĉjo with a smirk as his cajeros pound the soft ground with shovels. "All these artefacts will be exposed. Our understanding of human existence will be turned upside down."

Within the next hour, the trenches and pits, except one deep ditch, are filled and compacted, and the ancient riverbed, now the guardian of these statues, returns almost to its natural state. The scarred surface will eventually blend with the natural landscape after the cycles of time and weather.

"I don't understand the point of all this," I brave the threat of violence to express my bemusement. "Why would the Snake Island Foundation do this?"

Miĉjo laughs, "You don't even know what the Snake Island Foundation is."

"Well, it's not an archaeological institution, that's for sure."

"Don't be jumping to conclusions," replies Miĉjo, studying me intensely.

"You're faking something," I respond, annoyed about being treated like a fool. "This is some kind of archaeological forgery."

"Wrong," the tall, angular man retorts, his annoyance in obvious conflict with his reluctance to relinquish information. He points to the jagged hilltop and proclaims, "See that rise? That's no natural formation. That is an ancient marvel, the head of a sprawling earthwork sculpture that stretches an impressive kilometre to the west. This place was once a lush landscape. Millions of people, human people, lived here."