Author's note: I've had the idea for this story and various drafts of it written for almost a year now. After revising and releasing some chapters, it also happens that Uncharted 4 just came out. It's amazing, of course, and I've already finished it. Quite by accident, a lot of the elements from my story (including elements related to the ending) have ended up being very similar to Uncharted 4. In an effort to not look like I'm just copying that game, I'll have to revise some parts and chapters may come more slowly.
Thank you to everyone who has read and continues to read this story. I hope you are enjoying my small take on the greatness that Naughty Dog has achieved from such small beginnings.
June 1999
Paris, France
"And that proves it, Sully!" Nathan Drake motioned toward a centuries-old journal being displayed through a plexiglass viewing case. "Ferdinand Magellan was in Chile much longer than he let on!"Although he was only twenty-three years old, Nate was wise beyond his years and already an expert treasure hunter.
The man to his right ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, looking intently at the dusty old book. "Are you sure, Nate? It could be a fake."
Nathan Drake smiled at Victor Sullivan—his long-time friend and mentor—and nodded confidently. "The Maritime Museum of Paris does not put forgeries on display. The date on that journal is dated December 1520, two weeks after Magellan was supposed to have left Punta Arenas. This is a huge find! I just love it when history is wrong."
"I only love it when it means we get paid."
Nate traced his fingers methodically along the outside of the viewing case, feeling it out for weaknesses. This would not be the first time he had lifted something from a national museum, but that did not mean that he could be any less careful.
Sully felt uneasy as well. "Be careful, Nate! Have you forgotten what happened in Kyoto?"
"We were out of that prison in only a few days; lighten up!" Nate paused as a smirk formed on his lips. "Ah ha! There it is."
Nate had gently unlocked the case and slid the plexiglass cover off of the exhibit, handing it to Sully. The diary was in his hands almost immediately, and he didn't even trigger the alarm. He slowly managed to place the journal into his shoulder bag. Sully nodded nonchalantly toward the security guard that happened to be walking by at that moment. Sully gently replaced the plexiglass and Nate spun around on his feet to block the guard's view of what was now an empty display.
"Boy, that Ferdinand Magellan sure did do some exploring, huh?" Nate wasn't always the best with words.
Sully rolled his eyes, but at least it had been enough to keep the guard from becoming wise to their exploits.
After the guard moved along on his patrol, Nate and Sully made a quick dash for the door. Once the authorities had realized what happened, and alarms went off inside the museum walls, they were already driving away, making for Charles de Gaulle Airport. It was a clean getaway; that's the way they liked it.
It was unnaturally hot for a Paris day in June, and sweat was beginning to bead on Nate's brow. He wiped it off as he and Sully boarded their plane. They had paid a small fortune for their tickets, but it was worth it to know that they could now fly non-stop from Paris to Santiago. As they got settled in their seats, Sully was ready to discuss their next steps. "So, we know that Magellan landed in southern Chile—in the area now known as Punta Arenas—during his journey around the world, but what's so significant about that?"
Nate had been thinking about that very thing for quite some time. "I don't think Magellan would have stayed that extra time in Punta Arenas if he didn't have a good reason. Think about it, Sully; he must have stayed longer, but not revealed this information to his patrons in Spain. There is absolutely nothing recorded from Magellan in the time between he claimed to have landed in Punta Arenas in November 1520, and when he arrived in Guam on March 3, 1521. Why wouldn't Magellan write anything about that part of the voyage? That's almost five months, Sully!"
"What's so important that he would need to keep secret from the King of Spain?"
"I have a thought," Nate began. "Do you know what happened in that area during the late nineteenth century?"
Sully was clearly beginning to piece things together. He didn't have nearly the knowledge of history that his protégé possessed, but there were some things that he studied quite significantly. "The Tierra del Fuego region had a gold rush. You think Magellan found gold there, hundreds of years earlier?"
"Yes, I do, and if he had taken it back to Portugal or Spain, it would have probably been found by now." Nate held up the journal and motioned with it towards Sully. "With this, we can figure out where (and maybe even why) he left these riches in Chile."
For the first time during the trip, Sully was fully on board with Nate's antics, "So what do we do once we get to Santiago?"
"I have a buddy in the Chilean Air Force," Nate answered, "He has agreed to fly us from Santiago to Punta Arenas, and we will be able to land on the Air Force strip, away from prying eyes. Just trust me, Sully."
"Kid, those are the scariest words in the English language."