Miller and Arturo were up at the crack of dawn. The fog had settled in that night after the log poachers did their thing. The tents and all of the other camping equipment were sopping wet. It was quite cold. The temperature was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gary and Felipe were still sacked out. Arturo suggested that Miller use his famous “Miller Sunrise” approach to wake up the two unsuspecting graduate students. It took little prompting for Miller to go to the van, rev up the engine, and charge ahead with the headlights glaring and the horn blaring. This was enough to wake the dead. The two boys staggered out of their tent in a state of shock, mumbling curses in English and Spanish. After a hearty but quick breakfast, the geologists headed for Huayacocotla.
Along the road to Huayacocotla, they observed Tertiary deposits of volcanic tuff, pumice, and large blocks of shiny black obsidian; all of these rocks represented volcanic debris forcefully ejected from a volcano. As the van approached Huayacocotla, they encountered a large ornate wooden arch over the road with a sign that said, “Bienvenito a Huayacocotla,” or “Welcome to Huayacocotla.” This was relatively unusual in Mexico for such a small community, with only about three thousand five hundred inhabitants. Huayacocotla was an interesting place. It was actually a community that was settled by the Nahuatl Indians before the Spanish conquest. In the language of the Nahuatl Indians, Huayacocotla means “place of tall trees,” which indeed was the case.
Miller said, “I guess we need to look up Mendez’s friend, Dr. Guillermo Toa Vaca. He can help us round up the pack animals that we will need for our fieldwork in the canyon. Arturo, next time we see a knowledgeable-looking citizen along the way, I suggest that you ask him where the good doctor lives. We may have trouble finding him at home because we are already a day late. I’m sure he is a busy man, but it’s still early in the morning; it’s only eight o'clock.”
After stopping several times to ask directions, somebody finally pointed Arturo in the right direction and they found Dr. Toa Vaca’s house. Fortunately, the doctor was at home. His house was situated right on the edge of the escarpment that overlooked the Canyon of the Río Vinasco. The house appeared to be one of the nicest houses in town. It was a two-story stone house with a red Spanish tile roof. Behind the house there were numerous cages full of fighting cocks, which the good doctor was proud to show his visitors. Dr. Toa Vaca was a tall, slender, gray-haired man sporting a dandy handlebar mustache. He was apparently the only veterinarian in the broader municipality of Huayacocotla, which included the town and the surrounding region.
Dr. Toa Vaca said, “I hear from my friend Roberto Mendez in Tamazunchale that you geologists are planning to study the rocks of the Canyon of the Río Vinasco and need to round up some mules or burros to help carry camping equipment and the rocks that you collect in the canyon. He said you probably need four animals accompanied by their handlers. Keep in mind that it will take you about two hours to reach the bottom of the canyon and twice that amount of time to come back out. As I am sure you are aware, it’s very hot and tropical at the bottom of the canyon. I’m glad that I don’t live down there. At any rate, let me know how I can help.”
Arturo said, “The main thing we need is the four mules and their handlers. How long will it take you to round them up for us?”
Dr. Toa Vaca responded, “It will probably take the rest of the day to get the animals for you. Where do you plan to stay tonight?”
“I guess we’ll camp out in the woods around here. Could you suggest a good spot?”
“You are more than welcome to stay with me if you like. I have a big house. I am sure that my wife wouldn’t mind. It would be a pleasure for us to accommodate you. I would like to learn about your geological studies.”
Arturo said, “We hate to impose on you. However, we accept your offer. It would be good to take a shower after camping out last night. We look forward to talking with you and your wife.”
Guillermo Toa Vaca said, “I suggest that you park your van in my driveway. You can actually drive it behind the house near the cages for my fighting cocks. I will see what I can do to get the pack animals for you. When Roberto Mendez contacted me, I immediately made some inquiries about the availability of mules and burros for your excursion into the canyon. I don’t think I will have any problems getting the animals here by early in the morning.”
After being introduced to Guillermo’s wife, the geologists carried what they needed into the house to spend the night. Miller said, “I think we ought to sort out what we need for the trip down into the canyon. Even with the help of pack animals to carry our food and equipment, I think we ought to travel light. We will have to take enough canned goods for dinner. We will probably spend two nights in the canyon. Breakfast is another matter. Bananas may have to do. Maybe we can find some other fruit in the canyon. We will need to take a five-gallon container full of water, and several canteens full of water as well. Felipe, don’t forget to bring along the powdered Gatorade mix. It’s probably going to be pretty hot down there.”
After the geologists finished their preparation for the trip to the canyon, Guillermo said, “Why don’t you let me show you around Huayacocotla? I have to make a house call on one of my patients.” Much to everyone’s surprise, Guillermo’s patient happened to be a Brahma bull by the name of Bubba with prostatitis. The veterinarian had to put the large animal to sleep with a tranquilizer gun. Finally, Bubba collapsed to the ground. Guillermo, equipped with rubber gloves that extended to his shoulders, inserted one arm into the poor animal’s rectum and dutifully performed a prostate massage. After withdrawing his arm, Guillermo said, “You all better stand back and stay behind the fence. Señor bull will not be a very happy customer when he wakes up. I am sure, however, that he will be feeling better shortly.”
After an enjoyable dinner with Dr. Toa Vaca and his wife, the conversation turned to what the geologist were trying to do in the canyon. Miller and Arturo tried to explain the project in layman’s terms. Guillermo and his wife had little trouble understanding their explanation. Then Guillermo said, “I hear from Mr. Mendez that you guys found some sort of strange diagram in caves in the Sierra Cruillas and near Taman. He said the diagrams were indicators for Moctezuma’s Treasure.”
Arturo said, “The arrows on the diagram indicated that the treasure was located somewhere to the south of Taman. Have you ever heard of anything like this in the caves around here?”
“There is a strange tale among the Indians about the ghost of an Aztec war chieftain appearing at sunset at the entrance to a cave. The story goes that the ghost can be seen blowing a horn made out of a conch shell and that a mysterious green glow is emitted from the cave.”
Arturo said, “The green glow that you mention is quite interesting. We observed a green glow in the caves to the north. The green glow seems to be emitted from crystals that are embedded in the limestone. Although we have examined the crystals, none of us can identify them. We collected some samples and intend to get them analyzed with an electron microprobe when we get back to Dallas.”
Miller asked, “What time do you expect the pack animals to arrive tomorrow?”
“About sunrise, from what I have been told.”
“Well, I guess tomorrow is going to be a long day. Gary, I want you and Felipe to organize the camping and field equipment that we need to take with us. We’ll probably be spending two days or more in the canyon. I would suggest taking enough food for three days.”
Guillermo said, “Your van should be safe behind the house. Nobody will bother it there.”