"Pedro lost his temper then, and the beating began. It did not stop until long after Jade had lost consciousness and Pedro had run out of breath..."
Alone in the world, Johnny Roberts has to face his worst fears, and overcome his greatest obstacles...
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Johnny helped the Guardian as they trudged slowly through the forest. The old man was very weak, and his injuries were dire, but he kept his pain to himself and soldiered on bravely. Johnny had thought that they were heading to the pyramid, and was surprised when the Guardian led him onto a different path. He had never been this way before, and hoped that the Guardian would have the strength to guide him back to the ship once they had found the crystal.
For several hours they made their torturous way forward until at last the Guardian indicated they should stop. Johnny set him down gently, and helped him lay back against the bole of a nearby tree.
'Are we here?' he asked, breathing heavily.
'Yes my Lord,' the old man replied, eyes closed. 'Up ahead you will find the ruins of a long forgotten temple, hidden in the trees. It is in there that you will find the Eye of the Sun.'
Johnny squinted through the trees dubiously. He couldn't see a temple. But time was running out. The sun was low in the sky and nightfall would be upon them shortly.
'Tell me what I must do,' Johnny said. The Guardian looked very weak, and Johnny sensed he didn't have long to live.
'My Lord, it is a dangerous path upon which you must tread. Many pitfalls and hidden dangers await the uninitiated,' he replied tiredly. 'I cannot continue, and cannot offer any further assistance, but I can offer some advice,' he said again.
Looking up at Johnny, he continued. 'Listen carefully. A Guardian of the lore comes to this place only three times in his life,' he said.
'Firstly, when he is initiated and accepts the mantle from his predecessor. It is at this time that the final secrets reveal themselves.
'Again, in the noon of his reign, when he has reached the height of his power and knowledge, the Guardian then returns. It is symbolic of his Guardianship, and it shows the gods that he does not neglect his duties.
'And for one final time, he will return, when he at last relinquishes his mantle to his apprentice. This I would have performed with Jade, had it been so ordained.' The Guardian paused, regaining some of his strength, before continuing.
'Had I died, and had you somehow found Jade, it would have availed you little, for she has never been here before. It is sacred ground and forbidden to all but the initiated, and Jade is uninitiated. You would never have found this place or penetrated its secrets,' he said.
'Inside, you will be confronted with many dangers, placed there to foil the uninvited. Trust in yourself. You are a god, Chonirobytz – I do not doubt this. You will prevail,' he said, looking up at Johnny.
'Follow the clues and use your head, my Lord, and you may yet find Jade and release her from the clutches of the evil men who have captured her.'
