CHAPTER FIVE

Frothy mist in several shades ranging from white to turquoise hovered above and about the canyon known as The Urubamba. The Urubamba was not your average mountain climber’s delight; its walls rose steeply, almost perpendicular to the narrow rolling river of the same name that slithered serpent-like along its base. The route outlined on the inside of the armlet that Talbot’s divers had dredged up from the Sacrificial Cenote had led the trio across a rope suspension bridge spanning the river, and up a narrow road that curved precariously about these Mountains. The small party continued to follow the path not listed on local maps. Rocky and uneven, it showed little sign of travel, unlike the one detailed in geographical manuals of the day that wove up two thousand feet to the abandoned Inca city of Machu Picchu.

Talbot was in the lead, with Lord Hayden and Elizabeth following. Behind them, four local Quechua Indians guided a pair of Llamas laden with supplies. The three archaeologists had replaced the light clothing worn in Yucatan with thermal wear, warm ponchos, head masks worn under hats, and high fur-lined boots to repel the bone chilling arctic cold of the snowcapped Andes. Elizabeth had purchased a Chola Derby that she donned over a colorful wool scarf, following the custom of many of the local women.

As they plodded slowly upward, single-file, along the narrow road through the thinning air, Talbot pointed to an irregular opening in the canyon wall about a quarter of a mile up that might provide shelter for the night. The lines inscribed inside the armlet, when traced and placed against the map, ended midway across the mountain. Lord Hayden had voiced the opinion that either the artist had tired of his etching and stopped, or knew for a fact that the wearer of the armlet would have previous knowledge of his destination. The mountains in their direct line of vision were honeycombed with fissures. The three antiquarians speculated and argued over the possibilities as they moved upward toward the opening.

"There are infinite possibilities," Lord Hayden remarked, as they continued footing upward, "even a passageway to the other side. We’re all aware of the numerous valleys which skirt these mountains, many of them unmapped and unknown."

Withal, Lord Hayden kept a close eye on his partner. For all her enthusiasm and feistiness, she was still new to this type of exploration, a novice to the unexpected dangers that might confront them as the road grew narrower and rockier. With these thoughts in mind, Lord Hayden halted the group and insisted on tying a rope around her waist.

"Do you really think this is necessary?" Elizabeth protested.

"Absolutely," Lord Hayden silenced her. There were times that she impressed him as incredibly stuffy and smug. "The height, the thinning air, a dizzy spell, a break in the road," he enumerated, "a slip, any of a number of hazards.

Twilight had descended by the time they reached the opening Talbot had indicated earlier, a cave, deep and wide with no end in sight. The party set up camp for the night. A comforting fire against the arctic night, canned stew, and more speculating on what lay at the end of the road, occupied the next few hours. At length Talbot said, "I have a confession to make. I’ve been here before."

Lord Hayden and Elizabeth glanced at him suspiciously. "Why the secrecy?" Lord Hayden asked.

"I didn’t believe I would have the answers to questions you two might pose, and since I’ve never gone past this point, I thought the information superfluous."

The man’s deviousness was no shock to Elizabeth. But to Lord Hayden who had taken Talbot at face value, the sudden breach of trust came as a surprise and a disappointment. What else had Talbot not told them?

Elizabeth was certain of Talbot’s insincerity. Feeling antipathy towards him, she stood up and strode to the cave’s opening to finish her meal. Here and there, the heavy mist about the mountains separated to allow her a glimpse of the dark blue skies, and stars large and close enough to hold in her hands. It seemed that way until she remembered those stars were millions of light years away. Lord Hayden came up behind her and closed his arms around her. He rested his cheek close to hers where the cold breezes had blown silky strands of her red-gold hair. Elizabeth remarked, "You need a shave," and moved out of his arms.

His features tightened with exasperation. "All right, I’m sorry," he sighed, not certain of the reason for his apology. But at least this time she was not playing a game. She was honestly angry with him. He eliminated the space between them and pulled her back into his arms. She was the one keeping something from him. Nevertheless, if the apology would soften the turf, then to Hades with his pride where the woman he loved was concerned.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, you’ve nothing to apologize for." He had no inkling that it was her love for him that had prompted her to remain silent about her mistrust and fear of Talbot so as not to interfere with the expedition. At last, Talbot had begun to show his true character. "I’m sorry too," Elizabeth said, and turned into Hayden’s arms. "And I’m afraid," she rasped.

"Of what?"

"Of Talbot. You saw it yourself just now. He’s not what he seems. He’s up to something and using us."

An hour ago Lord Hayden would have argued that theory, telling her she was letting her imagination run away with her, jumping to conclusions. But after what Talbot had just told them and the shoddy excuse he had used, her opinion did not sound so farfetched. "Is that what’s been bothering you?" Lord Hayden asked, shamefaced.

"I realize I should have told you before, but I wasn’t certain if what I felt was all in my mind. And I didn’t want to interrupt the expedition. We could be on the verge of a tremendous discovery.

Lord Hayden kissed her, a gentle kiss, though he ached to hold her tight and make her his own. He felt relieved that her aloofness these past weeks had been no more than what she had told him. "I have learned to trust your intuition," he said. "But I believe that what has been happening may be Agnes’ way of leading us, in an offbeat fashion, to a precious relic. We’ve come too far to go back. But from this point on, we will keep our eyes and ears vigilant, especially with regard to Talbot. For now, let’s get some rest." He drew her with him toward the blankets unrolled a few feet from the fire.

 

With dawn, muted sunlight spilled into the fissure like fired chiffon diaphanously veiled by the hovering mist. The Llamas stirred first waking Elizabeth. Lord Hayden, his wide-brimmed hat covering his face, lay beside her. Impishly, she slipped a fingertip under the brim and tipped it back slightly, revealing jaw and stubble. Nudging the hat further up, she encountered a pair of firm lips that tended to pout in slumber. Impatiently, she pushed the hat completely back. Dark eyelids fought not to blink, but Elizabeth noticed. "I know you’re awake," she teased, drawing her fingertip across his eyes. Lord Hayden grasped her hand, startling her. Dark eyes opening, he pulled her on top of him. Elizabeth burst into laughter against his lips, and then she was thrust aside as Hayden stared up, wide-eyed, his mouth parting with a gasp.

"What?" Elizabeth yelped. She followed Lord Hayden’s gaze and looked up, and screamed.

An Inca attired in full regalia and flanked by four conical helmeted warriors towered over them. "Talbot," Lord Hayden sneered.

"Talbot, to you. To my people, I am the Inca."

Hayden and Elizabeth climbed to their feet and were immediately greeted with the points of spears. The four Quechua Indians that had accompanied them up the mountain had vanished, but Elizabeth noticed their uncanny resemblance to the warriors. Talbot ordered the guards to lower their weapons. He addressed Elizabeth, "It has been a long time, but I knew we should meet again."

"When... where did I meet you before?" Elizabeth asked, despite the nagging suspicion—no, the knowledge—that sometime, somewhere in the past, she had indeed known Talbot.

"When it is time, you will remember."

Talbot next turned to Lord Hayden. "You were anxious to find the Lost City of the Incas..." He let the statement hang for a moment. "And you will do just that." Once more he motioned to the guards.

The Inca soldiers raised their spears and prodded the pair to follow Talbot as he disappeared into the dark recesses of the cave.