Chapter 12: Pirates Lair
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One nice thing about the rain forest canopy is that there are very few places to land a helicopter, and none of them are natural.
Using the Whitehorse satellite, Oracle spotted the opening on the first pass. So I know where they are. Now the only problem is getting *us* there. Not a challenge if I had my Bat-pack, but for this trip I packed only minimum technology. After all, this is supposedly a vacation, not a League mission. I suppose I could still call for air support. Kal or Powergirl or one of the Lanterns. No. In addition to being hard to explain, they would take too long. I want my Dick back *now*.
Less then two thousand yards by satellite telemetry. Same approximate height from sea level. In other words - just the other side of that wall. Time to hope Dr. Jones is as good as his rep.
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I look at Jones. He appears healed, although all magic is untrustworthy. Even..that magic. No matter. Time to go.
Pirates below, cats above. The sacred cave tunnel is the only access if we want to rescue the crew. I'm not too worried about my own people. Dinah's a pro, and Dick.. he could handle twice this number on his own. If he was on his own. He would never leave hostages, and in this case that makes him vulnerable. So - free the Captain and his wife first, and our people will catch up in the chaos.
Carefully shielding the beam, I aim my flashlight down the ancient tunnel. It's a tight fit, but not impossible. I leave the khakis and go in my suit. Nothing on it to snag. I'll pull the belt behind me when it's clear. The vine ropes give me a sudden longing for my de-cell, but they will do.
I go first. About twenty feet of narrow passage, and then it opens into a larger chamber. I step in, giving Dr. Jones room to enter behind me. Some sort of storage chamber. I assume the Doctor would know. Empty but impressively intact. The floor is littered, but dry.
The walls are elaborately painted, with colors still bright in in the narrow light. Scenes of combat, of harvest, and of other subjects best unexplored. Carved stone trims the roof, dropping down to mark a door in each wall. Three exits, all larger and more ornate then the tunnel by which we came in. One leads to where we are going. I risk more light. Dr. Jones will need it to read the inscriptions.
"Warab'alya." I carefully sound out the first inscription. Nope, bad choice. I know the word for grave.
"Xibalba." Underworld or hell. Definitely not.
Must be this one. I move to the carved opening. Nice size for the locals, should be an easy passage unless it narrows. I'm about to enter when a flash catches my eye. Shifting movement below the leaf-strewn floor, caught by our lantern. A viper, large and now annoyed by the sudden light. Large enough to strike above my boots. I reach for the batarang which is not there when - snap. A flash of leather near enough that I feel the air from the strike.
The whip is back in it's coil before the remains of the snake can hit the far wall.
So that thing is *not* decorative.
I scan the floor before moving. A pause, then two more heads appear. This place is crawling - well, slithering - with vipers. Not near either of us yet. I have time. Careful not to move below the waist, I retrieve my belt. From now on I will wear it.
I pull out a combat knife. "Hold still, Jones." A clang on metal on stone as my thrown blade decapitates the serpent nearest his feet.
Another crack as his whip dispatches it's companion. This guy is better with that thing then Selena.
I pull down my full mask. There are likely more like those snakes within this complex, and I would hate to meet one face-first. "Let's go."
Jones shudders as he steps past the remains. "Snakes," he mutters. "Why does it *have* to be snakes?"
Mental note: He hate snakes. I take another look at the whip. I wonder if he likes cats? If I'm still pissed at Jones when this is over, maybe I'll introduce him to Selena.
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The exit is overgrown but passable. It's been used, but probably not so recently as to make our opponents aware of it. Good. I will need every advantage I can get. Whatever weird mojo Jones may have, he's still not Dick.
We come out low on the rock wall. On this side the terrain slides down, draping away from the narrow cliff we just passed through. The hillside is think with bits of carved rock and structures. All ruins. Only one courtyard appears to be in use. Chairs and fire pits. No significance, likely. Just a flat place to cook dinner.
Living quarters are on the lower terrace. Army surplus, from the look of it, but not shabby. There is money and planning behind this scene. Not a large encampment. Fifteen men , twenty five at most. The first attack must have been with most of their force, which means they are weakened now.
I scan the camp. An encampment is what it is. Canvas and rope rather then wood and stone. That helps. Once I learn where our people are, nothing should hinder their retrieval. How to learn?
There is a guard on the east side. He looks tired, and an outcropping of rocks conceals him from view each time he passes behind him. Heavy growth covers most of the approach. He's volunteered. The man looks local. That's the only problem. I'd rather go alone, but an Indian may not speak Spanish. Still, he's the best target going.
"Jones", I whisper. "Guard at four o'clock. I'm going to take him out. When you see him go behind the rock, give it thirty seconds then came after us."
The doctor must have some experience, because he doesn't argue the point.
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It's an easy wiggle to just below my targets path. Once in position, I wait for him to stroll into shadow. Now! One clean hit and he's falling. I catch his rifle before it can hit the ground and make noise.
Hitting the dirt wakes him, but by then I'm on his chest with one hand on his mouth and the other at his throat.
"? Habla usted el espanol?"
A blank stare. The tone he understands, but not the words. I hold him immobile until Jones joins us.
"Ask him if he knows where the captives are."
I wait until Jones has finished speaking, then slightly lessen the pressure on my prisoners throat. Only slightly.
"Kimi."
I don't know the language, but I know evasion. My hand tightens, and I watch as the guards face turns blue. Then I let him try again.
Now the syllables come in a tangled rush.
I watch then both carefully as Jones makes out the meaning.
"Does he know?" I whisper.
"Yes. He says they are in the third tent from the end. All except the woman. The boss did not believe she was involved, so he kept her separately. Because she was a 'pajaro muy bonito'."
One quick tap. The now useless guard will be out for a few hours. Long enough for us to get our people and vanish.
Jones continues. "He said he was hired by a foreign man - a pirate. Apparently the man had plans to steal the Jaguar Tongue, but when his agent broke into the museum it was already gone. He thinks you may have the dagger, and he wants it."
The bastard could have had it and kept it for all I cared - at least before he decided to mess with my people. Big mistake, and one I would see he paid for in full.
I strip off the unconscious mans shirt and pants. In the dark, these should be my ticket into the camp. "Wait for us back in the tunnel. You should be safe until I bring out the hostages."
"Alone?" Jones's skepticism colors his voice.
"I do better on my own." Without further conversation I start down the rock face, only to be halted by a cheerful voice.
"Hi guys." The sound is low, but not weak.
"Ni....Dick! What...." He looks good. No visible damage and he's moving well.
"Hunting for the Bird."
I take a deep breath as he continues.
"Whatever they hit us with was pretty strong. The Captain's still sleeping." Dick moves with us back into deeper shadow. "The chick doing the interrogation - I think she's the pilot - locked me up separate from the others. She gave me something to counteract the drug. Wanted to know what we were up to. She and the boss man didn't like my answers. They were about to get interactive, when there was a big commotion at the edge of the camp. Guard ran in yelling something about a walking ghost. So they put me out again. It was dark when I came around, and then...no beeper. I got out, found the Captain and his wife, but I can't find Dinah. I didn't want to risk moving them without her."
"She may be in the jefe's tent", Jones offers.
No real clue as to which one that is. The best, I would assume, but they all are about the same size and age. I message Oracle for a tighter location. If they removed Dick's tracer they may have done the same with Dinah's, but perhaps not. Her necklace is more easily overlooked than Dick's pager. If the signals are still separate we will have a lead.
"Any idea why you were taken?" From their questions, Dick will know.
"That Jaguar thing. I heard them talking." Likely talking to him, but if he's been through interrogation he won't tell Jones. "They all work for a man called Xander Drax. He's after the knife. At first they thought we had it. Now they think we are after it just like they are." He pauses. "Here's the bad news. They think that *we* took out the villages."
"What!" In my shock I almost forget to be silent.
"They think that we killed those people - trying to learn the path to the City of Gold."
"Christ." The waste of lives comes back to sicken me. " Why would I want the damn thing. Why would I want any nasty trophy of this green corner of hell?"
Both men answer together.
"So you can kill the Jaguar God and rule over the City of Gold."
END CHAPTER TWELVE
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One nice thing about the rain forest canopy is that there are very few places to land a helicopter, and none of them are natural.
Using the Whitehorse satellite, Oracle spotted the opening on the first pass. So I know where they are. Now the only problem is getting *us* there. Not a challenge if I had my Bat-pack, but for this trip I packed only minimum technology. After all, this is supposedly a vacation, not a League mission. I suppose I could still call for air support. Kal or Powergirl or one of the Lanterns. No. In addition to being hard to explain, they would take too long. I want my Dick back *now*.
Less then two thousand yards by satellite telemetry. Same approximate height from sea level. In other words - just the other side of that wall. Time to hope Dr. Jones is as good as his rep.
^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^)
I look at Jones. He appears healed, although all magic is untrustworthy. Even..that magic. No matter. Time to go.
Pirates below, cats above. The sacred cave tunnel is the only access if we want to rescue the crew. I'm not too worried about my own people. Dinah's a pro, and Dick.. he could handle twice this number on his own. If he was on his own. He would never leave hostages, and in this case that makes him vulnerable. So - free the Captain and his wife first, and our people will catch up in the chaos.
Carefully shielding the beam, I aim my flashlight down the ancient tunnel. It's a tight fit, but not impossible. I leave the khakis and go in my suit. Nothing on it to snag. I'll pull the belt behind me when it's clear. The vine ropes give me a sudden longing for my de-cell, but they will do.
I go first. About twenty feet of narrow passage, and then it opens into a larger chamber. I step in, giving Dr. Jones room to enter behind me. Some sort of storage chamber. I assume the Doctor would know. Empty but impressively intact. The floor is littered, but dry.
The walls are elaborately painted, with colors still bright in in the narrow light. Scenes of combat, of harvest, and of other subjects best unexplored. Carved stone trims the roof, dropping down to mark a door in each wall. Three exits, all larger and more ornate then the tunnel by which we came in. One leads to where we are going. I risk more light. Dr. Jones will need it to read the inscriptions.
"Warab'alya." I carefully sound out the first inscription. Nope, bad choice. I know the word for grave.
"Xibalba." Underworld or hell. Definitely not.
Must be this one. I move to the carved opening. Nice size for the locals, should be an easy passage unless it narrows. I'm about to enter when a flash catches my eye. Shifting movement below the leaf-strewn floor, caught by our lantern. A viper, large and now annoyed by the sudden light. Large enough to strike above my boots. I reach for the batarang which is not there when - snap. A flash of leather near enough that I feel the air from the strike.
The whip is back in it's coil before the remains of the snake can hit the far wall.
So that thing is *not* decorative.
I scan the floor before moving. A pause, then two more heads appear. This place is crawling - well, slithering - with vipers. Not near either of us yet. I have time. Careful not to move below the waist, I retrieve my belt. From now on I will wear it.
I pull out a combat knife. "Hold still, Jones." A clang on metal on stone as my thrown blade decapitates the serpent nearest his feet.
Another crack as his whip dispatches it's companion. This guy is better with that thing then Selena.
I pull down my full mask. There are likely more like those snakes within this complex, and I would hate to meet one face-first. "Let's go."
Jones shudders as he steps past the remains. "Snakes," he mutters. "Why does it *have* to be snakes?"
Mental note: He hate snakes. I take another look at the whip. I wonder if he likes cats? If I'm still pissed at Jones when this is over, maybe I'll introduce him to Selena.
^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^)
The exit is overgrown but passable. It's been used, but probably not so recently as to make our opponents aware of it. Good. I will need every advantage I can get. Whatever weird mojo Jones may have, he's still not Dick.
We come out low on the rock wall. On this side the terrain slides down, draping away from the narrow cliff we just passed through. The hillside is think with bits of carved rock and structures. All ruins. Only one courtyard appears to be in use. Chairs and fire pits. No significance, likely. Just a flat place to cook dinner.
Living quarters are on the lower terrace. Army surplus, from the look of it, but not shabby. There is money and planning behind this scene. Not a large encampment. Fifteen men , twenty five at most. The first attack must have been with most of their force, which means they are weakened now.
I scan the camp. An encampment is what it is. Canvas and rope rather then wood and stone. That helps. Once I learn where our people are, nothing should hinder their retrieval. How to learn?
There is a guard on the east side. He looks tired, and an outcropping of rocks conceals him from view each time he passes behind him. Heavy growth covers most of the approach. He's volunteered. The man looks local. That's the only problem. I'd rather go alone, but an Indian may not speak Spanish. Still, he's the best target going.
"Jones", I whisper. "Guard at four o'clock. I'm going to take him out. When you see him go behind the rock, give it thirty seconds then came after us."
The doctor must have some experience, because he doesn't argue the point.
^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^) ^^V^^ (^V^)
It's an easy wiggle to just below my targets path. Once in position, I wait for him to stroll into shadow. Now! One clean hit and he's falling. I catch his rifle before it can hit the ground and make noise.
Hitting the dirt wakes him, but by then I'm on his chest with one hand on his mouth and the other at his throat.
"? Habla usted el espanol?"
A blank stare. The tone he understands, but not the words. I hold him immobile until Jones joins us.
"Ask him if he knows where the captives are."
I wait until Jones has finished speaking, then slightly lessen the pressure on my prisoners throat. Only slightly.
"Kimi."
I don't know the language, but I know evasion. My hand tightens, and I watch as the guards face turns blue. Then I let him try again.
Now the syllables come in a tangled rush.
I watch then both carefully as Jones makes out the meaning.
"Does he know?" I whisper.
"Yes. He says they are in the third tent from the end. All except the woman. The boss did not believe she was involved, so he kept her separately. Because she was a 'pajaro muy bonito'."
One quick tap. The now useless guard will be out for a few hours. Long enough for us to get our people and vanish.
Jones continues. "He said he was hired by a foreign man - a pirate. Apparently the man had plans to steal the Jaguar Tongue, but when his agent broke into the museum it was already gone. He thinks you may have the dagger, and he wants it."
The bastard could have had it and kept it for all I cared - at least before he decided to mess with my people. Big mistake, and one I would see he paid for in full.
I strip off the unconscious mans shirt and pants. In the dark, these should be my ticket into the camp. "Wait for us back in the tunnel. You should be safe until I bring out the hostages."
"Alone?" Jones's skepticism colors his voice.
"I do better on my own." Without further conversation I start down the rock face, only to be halted by a cheerful voice.
"Hi guys." The sound is low, but not weak.
"Ni....Dick! What...." He looks good. No visible damage and he's moving well.
"Hunting for the Bird."
I take a deep breath as he continues.
"Whatever they hit us with was pretty strong. The Captain's still sleeping." Dick moves with us back into deeper shadow. "The chick doing the interrogation - I think she's the pilot - locked me up separate from the others. She gave me something to counteract the drug. Wanted to know what we were up to. She and the boss man didn't like my answers. They were about to get interactive, when there was a big commotion at the edge of the camp. Guard ran in yelling something about a walking ghost. So they put me out again. It was dark when I came around, and then...no beeper. I got out, found the Captain and his wife, but I can't find Dinah. I didn't want to risk moving them without her."
"She may be in the jefe's tent", Jones offers.
No real clue as to which one that is. The best, I would assume, but they all are about the same size and age. I message Oracle for a tighter location. If they removed Dick's tracer they may have done the same with Dinah's, but perhaps not. Her necklace is more easily overlooked than Dick's pager. If the signals are still separate we will have a lead.
"Any idea why you were taken?" From their questions, Dick will know.
"That Jaguar thing. I heard them talking." Likely talking to him, but if he's been through interrogation he won't tell Jones. "They all work for a man called Xander Drax. He's after the knife. At first they thought we had it. Now they think we are after it just like they are." He pauses. "Here's the bad news. They think that *we* took out the villages."
"What!" In my shock I almost forget to be silent.
"They think that we killed those people - trying to learn the path to the City of Gold."
"Christ." The waste of lives comes back to sicken me. " Why would I want the damn thing. Why would I want any nasty trophy of this green corner of hell?"
Both men answer together.
"So you can kill the Jaguar God and rule over the City of Gold."
END CHAPTER TWELVE