Ch10
The next morning, the two set off for the 'land of the dead'. Following the crucifix's directions they headed west. Neither of them wanted to talk about the last couple of days. Sadie felt awkward at best about the whole thing and did not know what to make of her experiences. She began cutting her way through the underbrush. The trees were extremely rich in foliage. Vines, mosses, and flowers grew everywhere. Overhead parrots and cockatoos called out to the invaders on the jungle carpet below.
"So what do you hope to find Zul?" Sadie asked.
"The pirates raided American, English, and even Spanish vessels. So I am hoping for lots of gold." Zul replied.
"You really think there will be lots of treasure?"
"Would you make a map leading people through traps; just to get to your house?" Zul smiled.
"No, but that would be interesting though." Sadie laughed.
"I will keep that in mind the next time you visit me."
"Thanks, I'll pass. By the way, do you have a house in the States?"
"I do." Zul smiled.
"Don't you ever get home sick?" Sadie frowned.
"Not at all, I have always traveled."
"I would think it would be a tough way to grow up." Sadie said.
"Not necessarily. You meet the most interesting people. You have seen it yourself. I also graduated from school years earlier than anyone I have known, that was tied to one location."
"Well there is that. So was your family nomadic?" Sadie asked.
"No. …Sadie why are you asking me so many questions? If you want to talk, talk about yourself. This habit of yours, to want to know everything about everyone is quite bothersome sometimes. You share nothing of yourself."
That stung. Sadie thought.
She did not respond. They traveled on for a bit. The going was slow and troublesome. It was very humid and there seem no end in sight. After a several tiresome hours Sadie got bored of her companion's silence.
"Not many people have wanted to know anything about me. They usually assume they already know me by way of knowing my parents. So I just let them."
"…Wait, do you see that?" Zul pointed ahead.
"What?"
Sadie scanned the trees but did not see anything out of the ordinary.
"I don't see anything Zul. What are you seeing?"
"I am not sure, but it might be the burial site we are looking for."
Zul began to move faster. Sadie followed suit. The ground started sloping downward, and they came to a cluster of stone structures. The small buildings could just be seen through the tall grasses and trees. Here and there statues stood guard. Sadie could just make out some native markings on the walls.
"We found the tombs Zul!" Sadie said with a smile.
Sadie clapped Zul on the back.
"It appears we have." Zul responded with a smile.
They entered the burial site and began searching the area. But to Sadie's dismay most of the tombs were open. Anything inside had been removed by the elements and or scavengers.
"This is horrible! Why would they do this to this site, Zul?"
"The Tainos buried everything of value with their dead in hopes they could use it in the afterlife. My guess is the pirates knew that, and wanted their treasures for themselves. Hurricanes, floods, and animals took care of the rest. We knew this was going to be a possibility." Zul stated.
"It does not make it any easier to stomach." Sadie frowned.
Sadie began taking notes as they looked. Statues carved into heads and animals dotted the place. She was able to copy some carvings. While she was in the middle of making a stone rubbing Zul called to her.
"Hey Sadie come here."
"One moment; I need to finish this or it will be off." Sadie replied.
She heard the sound of stone grating against stone, and the ripping of foliage. She stopped what she was doing immediately, and ran to where Zul was on the far end of the burial site.
"I said I would just be a min-"
Zul was in the process of pulling a door to a tomb open. Sadie's eyes got wide.
"You found one undisturbed?!"
"Not quite."
He pointed to a small cross etched in the top of the door.
"Oh my!" Sadie exclaimed.
Sadie rushed over, and helped him pull open the door. Once they managed to get it opened, they looked inside. The tomb was empty save for a chain with a hook on the ground. The chain went through a hole in the stone floor. The walls were bare with the exception of one metal loop on the far wall. It was getting late and the room began to fill with shadow. They both stood in the warm setting sun glancing from the chain to the wall and back again.
"I can see that part of the floor can separate from the rest." Sadie said.
"Likely the chain is used to pull it up. The hook then used go through the metal ring mounted to the wall to hold it open."
Zul entered and cautiously tested the chain. The stone floor was quite heavy but with effort he could move it some. The chain protected from the elements seemed intact. He then tested the loop mounted in the wall. He could not pull it free.
"We should make camp and try this in the morning." Sadie said from behind Zul.
"Yeah, I agree."
They both stepped out of the tomb, and made camp. Sadie began to feel nervous, every time she looked over at Zul, he was staring at the tomb.
"Zul, it is not going anywhere… Besides we are both exhausted. We will find the treasure in the morning."
"Huh? Oh yea… I was just thinking about the part of the clue, 'Tarry and stay forever.'"
"It seems so obvious it is almost scary. That is why I figured we should get some rest before testing our theory." Sadie said."
Sadie awoke to the sound of stone grinding against stone. It was still dark out. She checked her watch. It was 5:40AM. The grinding stopped and she got dressed.
"Zul?" Sadie called out as she was dressing.
She got no response. She left her tent and went to his tent. Zul was not inside.
"He wouldn't… Would he?"
Sadie ran to the tomb; the floor was open. There was a lit torch there. She noted blood on the stone.
Zul must have hurt himself pulling that thing open. What is he thinking?
She was worried she knew what he was thinking. It became obvious last night when he could not take his eyes off the tomb.
He must be trying to get to the treasure without me. Of all the…
Sadie ran back to her tent to grab her bag. After checking she had what she might need. She went back to the tomb. There was still no sign of Zul.
"Zul, this was a lousy thing to do."
Sadie climbed into the hole below the open stone. It opened up into a tunnel. Zul was nowhere to be seen. Above her in the tomb she heard the popping of metal. Sadie looked up. Three other pops sounded. The stone trap door slammed shut. If that did not scare Sadie, what came next did. There was a sound of heavy stone falling. When the stone above her collapsed it sounded like an explosion, the ground shook and she fell to her knees. Coughing Sadie called out.
"Well that can't be good. Zul where are you?!"
Sadie fanned the dust from her face, still coughing. She had to relight the torch she was holding. Once the dust cleared she noticed another set of footprints that went down in the tunnel.
"I sure hope there is enough air down here. Zul, you are an ass for leaving me like this!"
She got up, grabbed her bag she dropped and followed the footsteps deeper into the tunnel. Outside Zul stared wide eyed in shock at the collapsed tomb.