The Team visits the 'Spider City' of El Dorado.
Aboard Jurgen's zeppelin, the Team gathered around a conference table as B1 explained their next task to them.
"Ancient legend tells of a city made of gold," she said, pointing to the map before her. "It was laid out in the form of a giant spider, with two legs pointing in each cardinal direction. The tips of the legs formed the gates of the city."
"Spiders always gave me the creeps," shuddered Spencer.
"In the middle of the city stood a massive temple," B1 continued, "said to be the very centre of the world. It's here that we'll find our next clue."
"What that is," said Jurgen, stepping forward and placing a finger on the map, "is a golden revolver. Jayne's often told me about it; with it, she would be invincible. That's what we're here to find."
"So we just fly over the temple and let someone down to retrieve it?" asked Martha.
"If only it were that simple," answered B1 sadly. "One could only enter or leave the city by the gates; doing otherwise earned the wrath of the gods."
"Of course," said Jake drily. "It's a video game."
"There's more," said B1. "This city also comes to life when threatened. If that happens, it's gonna be very difficult for us to get out."
"So, we just gotta make sure it stays asleep, zip in, zip out, easy peasy," said Grandpa Eddie with arms akimbo. "I think I could pull it off."
"Sorry, Grandpa Ed," replied B1, "but we all need to go down. The map says so."
Spencer listened grimly. "That means we need to enter the city, get to the temple, retrieve the revolver and get out again without triggering any traps," he concluded. "And I'm sure there'll be more than a few."
"Exactly," answered B1. "Everyone's gotta be at the top of their game. The most important thing to remember if you get lost is, keep the temple at your back. It's the one part of the city which never moves."
"Sounds like a plan," said Fridge at last. Looking out the zeppelin's window, a smile crept across his face. "Take a look, everyone – we're here!"
Walking down the streets of the Golden City, the Team was amazed at the wonders found therein. The houses and marketplaces were all made of gold, and there were life-sized golden statues of people and animals everywhere. The whole thing appeared to be a depiction of a bustling metropolis, frozen in a moment of time.
"Why were we never taught about this place in History class?" asked Spencer in breathless wonder.
"This kind of place only exists in video games," quipped Jake. "We'd better enjoy the field trip while it lasts."
"What wouldn't I give to have my phone with me right now?" said B1 ruefully. "Lucinda would be so jealous to see the pictures!"
"Focus, guys, focus," said Martha, ever the sensible one. "We've got a job to do here."
At Jake's suggestion, all the adults were carrying melée weapons made of iron. The wily medic/chemist had suspected that they'd prove useful against soft, pure gold.
"These statues are amazingly lifelike," remarked Fridge, stopping to examine one nearby. "Highly unusual for a South American civilisation."
"What about the friezes?" said Alex, pointing out the massive wall carvings depicting brutal scenes of sacrifice. "These people were not to be messed with."
"That is accurate," concurred Jurgen, nodding towards the ziggurat temple before them. "That temple over there is where the greatest slaughters took place."
"Something you have a lot of experience with, hah?" asked Grandpa Eddie snidely, still not fully trusting the larger man.
The group trudged on, and before long they'd climbed the tall steps leading up to the temple. Looking back, they could see the magnificent layout of the city below them, with canals and bridges everywhere.
Spencer stepped into the temple sanctum and was greeted by the sight of a dazzling gold idol. In its right hand was the golden revolver Jurgen had told them about; though it was clear the statue was originally meant to hold a spear.
In each corner of the room sat four large animal guardians, all made of gold too: a jaguar, a snake, an eagle and lizard. Spencer supposed that these creatures, native to South America, must have been especially sacred to the tribe which built the city.
Stepping forward, he gently pried the golden firearm out of the idol's hand. As soon as he had done so, green smoke suddenly began pouring out of the statue's eyes, ears, mouth and nostrils.
To everyone's horror, the smoke coalesced and solidified into a humanoid form, cackling with evil laughter. Spencer recoiled as he came face-to-face with his enemy for the first time.
"Hello, Dr Bravestone," said Manjeet the Macabre, grinning hideously from ear to ear. "It's so good to finally meet you."
With all of his might, Spencer swung the machete he held in his right hand. He was stupefied when the heavy blade simply passed through the mage's form as if through smoke.
"What's the matter, Doctor?" said Manjeet with mocking contempt. "You look as if you've seen a ghost!"
Turning to the statues around her, the sorceress lifted her hand and cast a spell. "Oh great spider!" she thundered menacingly. "Awake from thy slumber – and rouse thy inhabitants with thee!"
With those words, the room around them began to quake, and Spencer looked up to see the massive structures on the ceiling about to dislodge.
"Oh cr*p – " he had time to say, before a massive chunk of gold fell down and crushed him.
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