The Adventurers

Chapter 15

Pazzo stood looking across the gorge with thunder in his expression. His men reported that the only other option was a laborious climb down to the bottom and then back up the other side and the best place to accomplish that was a few miles farther south.

He toed the slashed vines that his men had pulled up then he looked at the two wounded men, one with an arm in a crude sling and the other with a bandage around his thigh; both had received bullet wounds from the soldier they'd fed to the anaconda.

"You," he called to the man with the wound in his leg. "Use that to cross over and we will shoot the cut vines over to you for securing." The man stared down into the gorge and then at the single vine still spanning the distance. "Better still, we can tie one around your waist to take with you. Hurry up, we haven't got forever."

He allowed one vine to be secured about his waist and he showed concern over the weight as he reached up to the one he would use. He tested it with his arm and it sagged slightly and swayed. Pazzo came over and gave him a nudge.

"Get on with it!" The man gripped the vine and swung out, grasping with his free hand. He hung there a moment and then switched hands, moving slowly away from the rim of the gorge. Several feet out he turned his head back and called for help; the vine around his waist was too heavy for the strength in his arms. Pazzo raised his gun and threatened him.

The man switched hands again and his fingers slipped. He jerked frantically on the vine and then both hands slipped free and he dropped, screaming until the vine around his waist stopped his descent with a loud crack and he dangled, broken, still a good distance above the bottom of the gorge.

Pazzo slammed his hand against the side of the tree where the vines had been anchored and swore aloud, his voice echoing across the empty space.

From his secluded observation point, Le Clerque watched the drama play out and shook his head over the total disregard for life. He muttered a brief prayer and made a sign of the cross toward the dead native. Pazzo and his lot moved off in the direction his men recommended and Le Clerque followed his original path down to the edge of the gorge.

He found the dead natives weapons, a bow and several arrows, and then tied off one end of the second vine that had once been one of the foot lines. He pulled it back up and sat down to consider how he might use it to advantage.

Le Clerque knew he would have little trouble crossing the gorge on the remaining vine but he wanted a return route that would be easier since he might be carrying whatever treasure was uncovered. Twenty minutes later he had tied the slashed vine in a loop around the one he would cross on and then shoved one of the arrows through the vine and shot it along as far as he could before setting out to cross.

When he reached his looped vine all he had to do was push it ahead until he and the second vine reached the far side. He anchored the second one and was pleased to have two for the trip back. Now he had time to track the first party and listen for Pazzo and his men to catch up.

* * *

Crossing the wide plateau was much easier although the lack of shade made it unbearably hot under the sun. What little breeze there was couldn't dry the sweat and the water was getting dangerously low. Sharp, scruff grass and brambles dotted their path and when the women requested a stop they could only manage a tight little group under a bush that they draped with bits of clothing for shade. The two natives sat out in the sun, hiding smiles and muttering between themselves.

Sax took out the satellite photos and asked Chessery for her map and they compared the pictures to the terrain and then to the map.

"There's the gorge you were asking about and this area here has to be this plateau." He turned the map around until it somewhat matched the photos. Matzumen says the lake is that direction so..." He fiddled with the map some more and looked at Chessery. "What do you think?"

She moved her finger over the map and stopped at a spot on the photo that looked to be a small hill covered in vegetation.

"I think that's our destination." She tapped the picture.

"You think."

"She looked at him and let out a long breath."The only clue that was never put on the map was that the Lake of Green Mist's eastern most shore," she indicated the boomerang shape on the map, "when lined up with the north south pass through those mountains, would cross a small river at the very point of the lost city's site." She tapped the photo and Sax saw the pattern.

"That's still about two days away we're going to have to find water before that."

"What about that river?"

"Two days, Chessery"

Jed made sure Krena and her daughter was comfortable and he came over, squatting down and studying the map.

"Maybe one of the boys could go on ahead and fill the canteens. He could be back in less than one day traveling alone."

"That's probably the best option even if it leaves us a little short handed."

"You think they're still a threat? Hell, it'll take them ages to climb in and out of that gorge."

"You're forgetting the other smoke the boys spotted. Maybe whoever that is, is better equipped for a crossing. We need to move as fast as practical and establish some kind of base at our destination because they won't stop coming."

Sax called the natives over and explained what he wanted. Matzumen left immediately with four canteens strung over his shoulder.

"I hope nothing happens to him with those; we only have this one left." Chessery said.

"I'll manage that." Sax took it and tied it to his pack. "Rations from now on and any tricks Tapuk can supply"

They set off again in single file across the wide plateau, Jed hanging back to help Krena when Luna became too heavy to manage. The small girl was having a hard time in the heat and Jed shared his ration with her when possible. At dark they organized a small campsite with a ditch of small fires around the perimeter and a larger one in the center.

Tapuk roasted some of the boar meat over the fire and chewed on a strange leaf he'd gathered from some of the bushes in the area.

"What's that he's eating?" Chessery asked.

"He's not eating it, just getting the juice from it. Do you want to try it?"

"Have you?"

"Once." His face was hidden in the flickering firelight and she wasn't sure if he was recommending it or not."

"Maybe later." She chose the safe way

"I'll get you some meat." Sax went to the fire and cut a chunk from the piece on the stick and put it on her mess tin. "It'll be very hot so be careful." Jed was doing the same for Krena and Luna and the three of them sat together across the site.

"She likes boar meat." He made a yum-yum sign, rubbing his stomach and pointing.

Krena nodded and smiled as she ate her own. "She like Jed."

He blushed, happy that it was getting dark. "I like her too," he said.

Tapuk took his meat and leaves and left the site. The night was getting comfortably cool after the heat of the day and an hour later when he returned Sax was lying comfortably by the fire checking his firearm.

"Men have just crossed gorge. I see the glow from fire way toward lake."

"Good work, Tapuk, looks like we have some breathing room."

"I also see glow from second fire maybe five hours that way."

Sax sat up. He was pointing to the way they'd just come. It was infuriating how he delivered his news. No concern. No priority He asked if he thought it was a big party or not but the native just shrugged; what was big? They held a quick meeting and decided to leave before light again.

Sax expected to meet Matzumen before noon and then there would be another night before they reached the spot on the map.