A/N: SUMMER IS HERE! On top of that great news, I am the happiest person on earth, because I got 6…let me say that again…SIX reviews for my fifth chapter! THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH! You guys are great!
DarkoBender: Yes, I am aware of my mistake. Truthfully, I first gave him a red bandana because it was the color bandana that Jack wore, and I wanted everyone to know that André is the Xerox copy of Jack, you know, to prove that he is Jack's son. But then I noticed that the red didn't match with his blue eyes, so, I changed it to blue and was too lazy to reload the chapter with the changed bandana color. Sorry, but thanks for your review and for noticing:)
Smithy: That is a good suggestion. It is true that worried parents always make a situation more stressful and real, in a way. Well, worried parents…an Elizabeth that is due really soon…a privateer Will…um… :) Maybe even an angry Jack! Since I already had this chapter half written I couldn't include them in here…but expect that soon!
Neenie: YAY! NEW REVIEWER! I am so glad that you are enjoying my story, that means a lot to me, the crazy writer :) Will and Elizabeth? Thank you to Smithy's suggestion you might see them soon enough…and Chris you ask? evil smile what could Urcon have done with him? Is he dead or alive? I am spilling no secrets there…continue reading to find out!
AquariusClarinetus: What André was going to say that Miriam didn't want him to is 'luv', you know, Jack says it all the time and André seems to have the same habit, but Miriam doesn't like it. Let's say that she just really values her freedom and doesn't enjoy being called something possessive :)
Mysterious-muse: Yeah, I know what it is like to have issues with your computer… makes me very mad! Anyways, thanks so much for reviewing, and I want to admit that when you showered me with compliments of loving chapter 4 and 5 I blushed… :) Thank you for your review!
Vampirehelsing: Awwww, you love my story! Thank you! You are a great reviewer! I was reading your profile and noticed that you play clarinet! I do too, well…I have been playing it for 3 years in band class, but I am not that great :) Your stories are really great! Keep writing and reviewing!
Now, I give you…(drum roll)….
Chapter VI: Inca trail
The jungle sped past the rapid canoes, as the slave convoy voyaged down into the South American continent. Parrots and toucans flew in the air, and the cautious eyes of the leopard followed them. Trees leaned into the wide Amazon River, their aging trunks covered in moss and vines. Beautiful orchids colored the humid air, their sweet fragrance invading the senses. The murky water of the river cooled the warm air as it swam by the long canoes. Fish were visible beneath the surface, and a large green dolphin was once spotted near the bank of the river. Animals leaned on the side to drink, quietly observing the passage of the boats.
André shoved a plate of food into Miriam's hands and leaned her gently on a bulk of bags behind her. His bright blue eyes were full of concern; she had fallen into a trance shortly after she was taken away from her brother. Miriam had not spoken since the parting; instead her glazed eyes wandered the murky waters and colorful forest canopy. André had not pressed her. He understood her pain and left her to her silent mourning. Over the last 10 days that they had sped down the river at amazing speed he had taken care of her. When the Inca guards gave them their food he would take it to her, and made her eat it in her spell.
Their captivity with the Incas varied greatly from their captivity on the vessel. Acahuana and Urcon argued endlessly on anything, ranging from birds to politics and the Spanish invaders, but the conditions of like were a lot better. The food included fish and fruit, a well balanced diet the slaves hadn't seen in their overall two weeks on the ship. Acahuana, as the slaves quickly discovered, was a lot more humane and considerate than his cruel brother. Under his command, the guards had freed the slaves from their chains as soon as the long canoes were reached. Urcon had protested, but Acahuana had been firm and established that he was in command. His leadership was wise and the captive men and women respected him, Urcon's views of slave rebellion were unlikely with such a kind master. Most of the young men and women were gathering their strength, and there had been no deaths since they had been bought.
Small ants scurried across a dead tree on the bank, carrying pieces of green leaves on their backs. Miriam's glazed eyes dimly registered as a blue and green humming bird landed on a purple orchid, its long beak extending into the flower. Her rich brown hair cascaded down her shoulders as she turned her face to gaze blankly down at the food in front of her.
"Eat," André said softly, pushing the plate towards her. Miriam looked up at his face vacantly and pushed the plate of food away. André froze at the expression in her eyes. He had seen it before. It was the expression of the dead and dying. Abruptly he shook her, his beaded hair clicking, "Five days is enough, Miriam. Chris is gone and you will never see him again. Live, it is the only way you can survive."
At the mention of Chris's name Miriam turned, her hazel eyes reborn. André smiled at the change, the fear on his face disappearing. Miriam looked around, taking in her surroundings. She saw the water run past the log canoe, she heard the howler monkeys in the canopy and smelled the red orchid flowers in the breeze. Finally her eyes came to rest on André.
He had only seconds to react. The fire in Miriam's hazel eyes his only warning. André stopped her fist centimeters before if reached his face, his fingers tight around her wrist.
"Live you say? Live? You have condemned me!" she cried out, lashing out with her other hand, André caught it easily.
"Miriam!" he started.
Miriam cried out in frustration at her failed attack, "Let me go! Without Christ I cannot live! You have taken me and left Chris behind. It is your fault. I hate you!" she struggled to release her hand from André's but failed. Giving up, she collapsed sobbing, her body shaking.
"I know it is hard Miriam. You have lost your closest friend, but you can live. Life will be hard with the Incas, but I will protect you."
"Protect me? What about your deal with the Incas? Is that considered protection?" she snapped, her eyes flashing.
André frowned, "I made no deal with the Incas."
A harsh laugh escaped Miriam's throat, "No deal? The Incas have given me to you as your companion! Is that not a deal? Do not defend yourself, you pirate, you agreed to their atrocious terms, which means you were aware of their intents."
André's hands collapsed, letting go of Miriam. The young woman took back her hands and hugged herself tightly, setting the plate of food on the floor. Her eyes lost their anger, replaced by fear.
"André? Please tell me you didn't agree. I have already lost Chris, and I don't want to lose you. Please, don't agree to their terms…I though…I though that…" her voice broke and tears ran down her cheeks once more, leaving glistening trails of moisture.
André didn't move. Miriam looked into his bright blue eyes but couldn't read the expression on his handsome face. There was a long silence, as Miriam curled herself up, leaning on the bags behind her, silent tears running down her cheeks. André was still, as if frozen in a wormhole in time. His eyes were vacant and his braided coal black hair, so like his fathers, didn't sway in the breeze. Miriam wiped her tears and leaned forward to gently rest her hand on André's, "André?"
"I never meant to harm you," he croaked, his blue eyes tortured.
"Then why?"
His eyes pierced her soul, "I wanted to protect you. Acahuana and Urcon where planning your life. They were going to give you to a man you didn't know and… didn't love. The man…he would hurt you. I don't want anyone to hurt you Miriam…never…and I won't let them."
Miriam looked at his soft blue eyes. "Thank you," she whispered.
They were slaves. Their future was uncertain and death could occur any day. In this complicated web of life, where the ocelot ate the capybara they were the prey of the mighty Incas, and the waiting death. The Amazon River flowed past the canoes quickly, and it seemed as though it washed away their past and future with its sweeping currents.
o o o
The Andes Mountains were tall and their grass covered slopes and falls were shrouded by an unnatural fog. The birds' calls and chirping had faded, and the air was dense with an ancient mist. Tendrils of the humid air enveloped the small party as it pushed through a hidden path. The mountains rose on either side of the path, their presence dominant over the life. It was dark under the clouds of fog that hung above them, but the sun punctured the sky in various places, transforming the landscape with its unearthly rays of light. Rock showed from under the moss grass, its grey face hinting to the mountains that lay beneath the moss and grass. Not even the sound of the chains around the slave's wrists was heard, the fog muting everything like a filter in the air. The slaves breathed in the humid white air, their lungs tingling with the scent of the ancient mountains.
Miriam could feel the Andes pressing on her. Never before had she felt like she did now. Their presence ran through the outlandish fog that enveloped the tips of the mountains in its embrace. A hum filled the air, but it came not from above, but from below. It coursed through the ground, moving beneath the earth, it was from the very soul of this world. The place seemed to speak with wisdom and age, causing Miriam to shiver involuntarily.
André turned around slowly, his braided black hair clicking under his blue bandana. His blue eyes were thoughtful and cautious. When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper, "Do you feel it? It is unearthly."
Miriam nodded in agreement, casting a glace at the mountains around her, as if they could hear, "I feel it. It is ancient, beyond all years. It is the womb of Earth."
André grinned, his teeth flashing as a ray of light broke through the fog to land on their heads, "The womb of the Earth? Maybe, but it sure stirs your mind and senses."
"The boat was much better than this," commented Miriam bitterly, as she watched a condor fly over head, its majestic winds spread gloriously in the sun.
André cocked his head in a smile, "You definitely are a girl of the sea."
Miriam looked at him challengingly, "That has nothing to do with it. I was referring to the fact that we were stuck eleven days in a tiny canoe, sleeping most of the time and now I regret not enjoying the ride. We have walked for three days and I am not that strong after the slave ship."
André diverted his glace towards the slopes and falls of the mountains, but Miriam saw the glitter in his crystal blue eyes at her excuse.
"If
you say so," André said, his voice laughing.
Miriam was
not given a chance to reply. André halted suddenly in front of
her, causing Miriam to collide with him.
"André! Don't do that! You're going to…" Miriam started, rubbing her nose.
André interrupted her, putting a hand to her mouth and motioning her to look at the Inca leaders. They had stopped. Urcon seemed enraged, and Acahuana simply tired.
"They are still capable of revealing the spot! Do you have no loyalty to your city?" Urcon hissed, his brown face contorted into a scowl.
Acahuana sighed, "Urcon, I will not tolerate this behavior. They are slaves, and will not escape their eminent death in the city. A life of servitude awaits them, it is hardly necessary to take the appropriate means. It is their right to know the passage to their city of death."
Urcon smashed his fist against his other hand in fury, "If we do not follow the orders we must always I will announce your disobedience to the council and let them decide your punishment."
Acahauna drew himself up to his full height, his straight black hair moving slightly in the breeze, "I am the eldest, and I only may speak to the council. Though I will value your opinion and follow your advice, you will be punished for having menaced your lord and elder. You will ask for forgiveness and are never to repeat this again."
Urcon bent his head, but Miriam could see the lifeless smile that crept on his lips as his brother beckoned a guard and gave him orders. She tensed, Urcon would kill Acahauna if he ever got the chance, and Miriam didn't like the idea of having Urcon as a master.
"Acahuana is not cautious enough. Urcon is full of hatred and in need of power, he will mutiny," André whispered in Miriam's ear, startling her.
Miriam smiled at the young man's use of words, "Mutiny?"
André looked at her, his eyes twinkling in silent laughter, "You think it's funny if I use sea words on land?"
Miriam didn't respond, but the smile was still plastered on her face.
"You know who Urcon kind of reminds me of?" commented André.
Miriam looked at him, "Who?"
"Barbossa," finished André, his eyes following the movement of the guards as they removed long pieces of cloth from the packs on the llamas.
"My mother and father told me about Barbossa and Captain Jack Sparrow. Mostly my father though. My mother would just tell us, me and…" suddenly Miriam's voice broke as she remembered her brother, dead or lost forever on this odd continent. André turned his eyes to hers, his blue eyes sad. His arm settled itself around her shoulders and for once, Miriam didn't argue.
"Don't cry, Miriam, but don't forget him. I saw him on your father's ship, and you can be sure that if he is alive, he is doing well," André soothed her. Miriam tensed as a guard approached them. Tugging her forward by the chains, the strong-looking Inca pulled her to him. Miriam tried to cry out, but was cut short as the guard forced her to her knees, kicking her legs out from under her. Miriam felt the tug in the chain as André tried to get to her, but saw how a guard did the same to him. Her guard removed a long piece of cloth from his pocket and tightly wrapped it around her head, covering her eyes. She heard the guard's footsteps walk away and felt a tug on the chain, pulling her from her position on the floor. She could not longer see as she stumbled, the chain guiding her steps. The purple colored cloth coloring her world purple. "André?" she asked. Miriam felt his hand find hers and held on.
"I'm here Miriam, but I am seeing a lot of blue," she heard him say, close to her.
"I was wondering what they had been arguing. It seems like Urcon is not that …inclined to show us the road to his Inca city. Fear is a thing which can be easily worked with," Miriam commented, her voice grave as she struggled forward, trying not to trip of fumble on any rocks.
She heard André chuckle, "You're clever Miriam. It does, in fact, seem like they are somewhat hesitant to show us the way. And why might that be?"
"You know the answer well enough; there is no need to ask me."
"Ah, but you know I love to hear the sound of your voice," André's tone was light and careless with a hint of a smile.
Miriam snorted, "Another reason not to talk at all…"
André's laugh sounded, "I don't think we've made any progress from the first day we meet. You are still the same person; cold, suspicious and harsh."
"Now you're flattering me," said Miriam sarcastically.
She heard the chains rattle as André slipped his arm around her shoulder.
"André, take off your arm. Hold my hand, so that if I stumble and fall I don't kill myself, but take your arm off me." Miriam could feel the grin on André's face as his arm slid off her shoulders and she felt his hand in hers once more.
o o o
The walk lasted for two days. Their world was dark and hostile behind their blindfolds, but Urcon would not let them remove them at all. Colored worlds took shape before their eyes through the nights and days. Yet, the blindfolds didn't hide the ancient beauty of the Andes Mountains. The slaves felt as the mountain fog enveloped them, as the condor flew over their heads, as the sun shone through holes in the fog.
Miriam heard the voices long before the guards came to take off the blindfolds. It had started innocently, their party had seemed to be crossing more people, more Incas. But the voices grew, and soon she could hear the rock being cut from the mountain face. André had heard it too. His body had tensed at the noise of the slaves carrying stones to build temples and houses. This was to be his world, his death and he knew it. The whispers had grown progressively, and Miriam could feel the majestic city, the many houses, the many children and adults.
Sun shone into her eyes and blinded her in the mountain's green splendor. The guard that had removed the colored cloth grunted as she shielded her eyes. It was the most beautiful and entrancing sight she had seen in her life. André gasped beside her, something she had never heard him do in all the days they had been together. Lord Acahuana smiled at his slaves kindly as their expressions revealed their amazement.
"Welcome to Machu Picchu."
A/N: Hope you liked that chapter! Kind of a cliffhanger, but not really. I'll try to post really soon, but it all depends on how lazy I feel at the moment :) Anyways, don't forget the 3 R's: REVIEW, REVIEW and REVIEW! You guys did a wonderful job on Chapter 5, continue! Don't feel intimidated to give me suggestions, as you can see…read I guess, Smithy gave me a great suggestion which I will incorporate in my next chapter! Review!
