Arrival

Lara was getting very impatient as the plane continued soaring over the snow-capped Andes Mountains. The sun was just beginning to peek above the icy cliffs, turning the snow and the sluggishly rolling clouds into a bright golden orange as morning began to break apart the dark and unforgiving night. Lara starred out of the small airplane window and observed the beautiful landscape below her. Somewhere below the clouds and hidden in those mountains was the Tomb of Qualopec, and Lara would be one of the first people to see it in centuries. She found it hard to believe that almost ten hours ago, her flight had stopped in Madrid, Spain after a two-hour flight out of London. Since then, most of her flight had taken place over the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean. It would only be a matter of minutes before her flight would touch down in Lima, the capital of Peru and her adventure would officially begin. She could not wait to get out of her chair and stretch her tired limbs.

As much as she was excited, Lara was also deeply concerned about the dangers she would face in the mountains. She had already had countless bad experiences in the Himalayas during her hunting trip and also painful memories from the traumatic plane crash she managed to survive. That, along with the usual dangers of climbing a mountainside, made Lara nervous about the trek through the Andes. But the thoughts of the Atlantean Scion helped her overcome these harsh upbringings and made her even more anxious.

About half an hour later, the plane started making its way over the Peruvian desert and soon after, the city of Lima and the Pacific Ocean. Lara suddenly heard the familiar chime.

"Attention all passengers. We will now begin our descent into Lima. At this time, be sure that you are in your seat and your seat belt is securely fastened."

Lara did as she was told and felt as the plane started to tip downwards and make its way down to the runway outside the Lima Airport. After about two minutes, the airplane touched the runway and the airplane started to rumble just as it did upon take-off over ten hours ago. At last, the plane started to slow and work its way to the international terminal before coming to a complete stop.

Lara was able to claim her baggage from baggage claim before she turned around and saw Larson waiting for her in the arrivals section. He completely stood out against the other people walking in the busy airport.

"Oh, please." Lara said. "Don't tell me he's going to be my guide!"

Larson walked up to Lara and greeted her with a smile.

"Well, well, well. We meet again Lara." he said. "It seems like we were just talking to each other in Calcutta, remember?"

"How could I not remember?" Lara said. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Well, since I did introduce you to Natla's offer and you accepted it, I figured I would be the one to introduce you to the person who will take you up to the Andes Mountains."

"Is that so?" Lara said, rather surprised. "I never would've guessed."

"Lara, I would like you to meet Carlos."

Lara turned her attention towards a short Peruvian man with a greyish mustache and beard wearing a sombrero.

"Hello, Lara." he said. "I will be your guide into the great mountains."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Lara said.

"Same goes to you too." Carlos said. "Larson has told me so much about you and your discoveries. You must be quite the archeologist!"

"She certainly is." Larson said. "There's no doubt in my mind."

"Yes, I definitely have a great interest in the past." Lara said. "It's just so fascinating and strange that there are so many things that we have forgotten or have very little knowledge of."

"Absolutely." Carlos said. "Atlantis is one of those unsolved mysteries. However, I think we'll be able to answer a lot of questions with the new knowledge that we've just acquired, especially with you around to guide our investigation."

"So how was Natla Technologies able to pinpoint Qualopec's Tomb?" Lara asked. "Do you know?"

"I was never quite enlightened to these details." Carlos said. "However, I do think it has to do with the recovery of an old map from another dig site that mentioned a place called the City of Vilcabamba."

"The City of Vilcabamba." Lara said. "That was the city that was set up by Qualopec himself after the sudden collapse of Atlantis."

"So you have read the legend I take it." Carlos said. "Excellent. We must be on the right track then!"

"Just out of curiosity," Lara said, "this dig site where they found the map; is it still in operation today?"

"From what I've heard it is not." Carlos said. "They say that the people running the dig went missing over a decade ago. No one knows what happened to them, but it seems like they were on the same operation we are undertaking right now."

"That is strange." Lara said. "I wonder happened to them."

"For all we know, they could've reached the tomb, but died shortly thereafter for some unknown reason." Carlos replied. "At least, that's the best of my knowledge."

"Or maybe they decided that they had no business there and decided to leave and never return." Larson said. "They probably just gave up."

"Somehow I find that to be a rather unlikely reason why the archeologists would disappear." Lara said. She turned her attention back to Carlos. "Have there been reports of strange occurrences going on in those mountains?"

"There have been reports of strange lizard-like creatures roaming around in a secluded area of the mountains." Carlos said. "From what I've heard, there was a significant difference in temperature up there as well. Also, it just so happens that that same area is close to where Qualopec's Tomb is supposed to be."

"Well, I guess we have three mysteries to solve now!" Lara said. "This trip just keeps getting better and better!"

"Well, shall we leave the airport and get some breakfast?" Larson said. "I'm starving!"

"Tell me about it," Lara said, "I've been stuck on an airplane for the last twelve hours! I could use something to eat. But first I should probably try and find a phone so I can make an international call."

"There should be a telephone nearby." Carlos said. "I'll take you to it."

Since there no phone booths in the airport that made international calls, Carlos was able to guide Lara to a phone with the help of people in the checkout stands. Lara dialed the number to her mansion in England and waited for Winston to answer it. Finally, she was able to get a hold of him.

"Hello?" said.

"This is Lara calling from the airport in Lima, Peru." Lara said.

"Oh, thank heavens you made it safe!" Winston said. "How was your flight, Miss Croft?"

"It was very long and boring." Lara said. "But at least I made it over here safe."

"Well, that's good, Lara." Winston said. "I'm glad you made it. When do you start your mountain expedition?"

"I probably won't go up there until tomorrow." Lara said. "The weather up there is very bad right now, but it should be clearing up by tomorrow."

"Well, be careful Lara. I do wish you the best of luck in finding that tomb. That will be such an amazing discovery!"

"Yes, indeed." Lara replied. "While I'm here, would you like me to pick up a souvenir for you?"

"Oh, that would be splendid, Miss Croft!" Winston said. "I would love to have a souvenir from Peru."

"I'll be sure to find something for you then." Lara said. "I should probably go now; my guide is waiting for me."

"Alright, Miss Croft. If you can, please give me a call tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

"Will do, Winston." Lara said. "You take care."

"Goodbye, Lara." Winston said. "Good luck on your quest!"

"Thank you, Winston. I'll talk to you later."

Lara hung up the phone and turned her attention to Larson and Carlos.

"Well, boys. Let's get out of here and find someplace to fill our stomachs." Lara said.

"By the way Lara, I won't be on the expedition with you and Carlos." Larson said. "I have other duties I need to attend to."

"Such as?" Lara asked.

"Things that Natla wanted done a few days ago." Larson said. "That's all I can say."

"I see." Lara said.

"Shall we go?" Carlos asked.

"Yes, we shall." Lara replied. "Let's go."

The group made their way out the exit doors and into the bright morning sun and made their way to the Lima Airport Hotel.

Lara has finally made it to Peru and has met Carlos, her guide into the mountains. Lara doesn't seem to care about Larson not being able to join her on the expedition, however the last few comments that Larson said before they left the airport almost seemed rather disturbing. What did Natla want Larson to do a few days ago? I guess that makes four mysteries for Lara to solve now!

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