Beyond the encounter with the big snake, the followed hours passing slowly, without getting anything more tan scratching of branches and mosquito bites.
Worse, they were raking the area without results. The Grotto of Perdition did not appear even remotely.
- Nothing- Nathan snorted, coming out of the leaves- Another useless pit. I am beginning to despair.
- My question is because you don't- Victor asked to Edna- You're the first in despair with this shit.
- Mjm- She smiled charmingly.
- ¿Mjm what? ¿What you doing?
- I take advantage...- She looked at the sky began to lose light- And I hope…
- ¿What, girl, what hell?
Edna laugh, until she heard something. She got a little more serious and she looked at the sky again.
- Samy...- She asked- ¿What kind of sound I'm always very good listener?
- Treble… The high ones- He said- As the dog how you are, Terrier.
- ¿Like those?
The men paid attention, but they heard nothing. Nothing, until a bat flew shrilly over their heads.
- ¡Got damn!- Victor was scared- ¡Damn rats with wings!
- Victor…- She say- Those damn rats live in damn giants caves, as the Grotto of Perdition...
- ¿Are you going to follow them to the entrance?- Samuel smiled.
- Terrier mode, activated.
Shaareim started walking, particularly attentive to the almost imperceptible screams over their heads. With the advancement of minutes and steps, bats began to appear in greater numbers.
Behind a wall of thick tres and ferns as large as a house, they looked a creek, a small branch of the Juruá River, running winding to an entry in the land, where out a lot of bats.
They came closer, to see that it was a monumentally large hollow coming down slowly into the darkness.
- The Grotto of Perdition...- Nathan muttered, almost in disbelief.
- We found it- His brother slapped him.
- ¡God!- Sullivan shuddered to see the tide of flying animals- I get chills.
- They are a wonder of evolution- She extended her arms.
Bats flew so close to Shaareim that they moved her hair by the wind produced by his wings. The creatures around her before taking flight outwards.
- ¿Who you are? ¿Batman?- Victor looked at her.
- I care flying foxes- She laugh- They have a meter wingspan.
- God- He shuddered.
- Very good- Nathan started pulling things out of the backpack- Brace yourselves. Lanterns, matches, ropes, do not forget anything. Eyes wide open, always close, I do not want anyone to get hurt.
- Yes father- She took her equipment.
- Is seriously- He took her arm.
- Nate, It is not the first dangerous tour I do with you...- She patted his back- Just relax.
- But you're old.
- Fuck you.
They both laughed.
The cave even if it looked small in the beginning, began to show that, beneath the surface, It was monumental. The river from outside shyly slid between the rocks, creating an underground lake, dark, surrounded by stalactites and additional caverns.
The air was dense, wet, relatively cold, and smelt a mixture of decomposition and ground. The beams of their flashlights clashed with rock formations, featuring dark shadows and spectral figures.
- ¿Where?- Samuel asked, illuminating the ceiling- We don't have information at all down here.
- Let's use the information we have- Edna revised the walls.
- As the constellations- Said Victor- Orion.
- No…- Nathan looked the caves, turning his head at various angles and pointing- Ursa Maior… Match... Is turned completely, but is that...
- The head is then left- She thought- The last one.
Little by little they walked around the lake, treading mud and wet stones, approaching the last cave. At one edge, crudely carved on a stone, and vertically, there were three Chinese words.
- Look- Edna lit, remembering- Yuán, Ruk and Áihka...
- The other caves also have Chinese words- Noticed Sullivan- But different...
- It is intended- Samuel said- Only knowing the cave in China, you can know what is... We're doing well...
They continued, entering the cave, going by finely carved and decorated halls, and several forks, that changed direction, and wherein only the words Yuán, Ruk and Áihka established a pattern to follow.
At the end, they saw two more entries, both with Yuán, Ruk and Áihka carved on top.
- ¿And now?- Victor lit up again- ¿50 and 50?
- Try to look without enter...- Nate said, cautious.
Sullivan and Nathan approached one of the caves, while Samuel and Edna, the remaining.
- Oh my God…- Muttered Samuel, looking.
- ¿What's there?- Edna asked to see the other two approach.
- Nothing…- Said Victor- ¿Here?
- The treasure- Sam smiled.
The four looked inward, illuminating with their lamps. It was an enclosed space, with smooth walls, filled with gold designs in oriental style. And in the center, like a luxuries volcano, a mountain of gold coins, precious stones, plates, vases, goblets, chests, jewelry. All slightly corroded for centuries underground, but still, the golden color was indescribable.
They had found the treasure of Naule.