Under the Andes

by Rex Stout

  Chapter XIII.

  INTO THE WHIRLPOOL.

  I hardly know what happened after that. I was barely conscious thatthere was movement round me, and that my wrists and ankles were beingtightly bound. Harry told me afterward that he made one last desperatestand, and was halted by a cry from Desiree, imploring him to employthe club in the intended office of the dagger.

  He wheeled about and raised it to strike; then his arm dropped, unableto obey for the brutal horror of it. In another instant he andDesiree, too, had been overpowered and carried to the floor by thesavage rush.

  This he told me as we lay side by side in a dark cavern, whither we hadbeen carried by the victorious Incas. I had expected instant death;the fact that our lives had been spared could have but one meaning, Ithought: to the revenge of death was to be added the vindictiveness oftorture.

  We knew nothing of Desiree's fate. Harry had not seen her since he hadbeen crushed to the floor by that last assault. And instead of fearingfor her life, we were convinced that a still more horrible doom was tobe hers, and hoped only that she would find the means to avoid it bythe only possible course.

  I have said that we again found ourselves in darkness, but it was muchless profound than it had been before. We could distinctly see thefour walls of the cavern in which we lay; it was about twelve feet bytwenty, and the ceiling was very low. The ground was damp and cold,and we had neither ponchos nor jackets to protect us.

  A description of our state of mind as we lay exhausted, wounded, andbound so tightly that any movement was impossible, would seem to betraya weakness. Perhaps it was so; but we prayed for the end--Harry withcurses and oaths, myself in silence. There is a time when miserybecomes so acute that a man wants only deliverance and gives no thoughtto the means.

  That was reaction, and gradually it lessened. And when, after we hadlain unconscious for many hours (we can hardly be said to have slept)they came to bathe our wounds and bruises and bring us food and drink,the water was actually grateful to our hot, suffering flesh, and we atealmost with relish. But before they left they again bound our wristsfirmly behind us, and tightened the cords on our ankles.

  If they meditated punishment they certainly seemed to be in no hurryabout it. The hours passed endlessly by. We were cared for astenderly as though we had been wounded comrades instead of vanquishedfoes, and though we were allowed to remain on the damp, hard rock ofthe cavern, we gradually recovered from the effects of that gruesomestruggle in the doorway, and our suffering bodies began to feelcomparative comfort.

  "What the deuce are they waiting for?" Harry growled, after one oftheir visits with food and water. "Why don't they end it?"

  "Most likely because a well man can appreciate torture better than asick one," I answered, not having seen fit to speak of it before. "Youmay be sure we'll get all that's coming to us."

  "But what will they do?"

  "Heaven knows. They are capable of anything. We'll get the worst."

  There was a silence; then Harry said slowly, hesitating:

  "Paul--do you think--Desiree--"

  "I don't think--I dare not think about her," I interrupted. "And it isour fault; we failed her. I should have put her beyond their reach, asI promised. I have reproached myself bitterly, Hal; you need addnothing."

  "Do you think I would? Only--there is something else. About what shesaid to you. I knew that, you know."

  I was silent; he continued:

  "I knew it long ago. Do you think I am blind? And I want to say thiswhile I have a chance--it was uncommon good of you. To take it the wayyou did, I mean."

  His simplicity made me uncomfortable, and I made no answer. Indeed,the thing was beyond discussion; it was merely a bare fact which, whenonce stated, left nothing to be said. So I refused to humor Harry'sevident desire to thrash out the topic, and abruptly changed thesubject.

  We must have lain bound in that cavern little short of a week. Ourwounds and bruises were completely healed, save one gash on Harry'sside where he had been hurled against the sharp edge of one of thestone seats as he had been borne to the floor. But it was not painful,and was nearly closed. And we could feel the return of strength eventhrough the stiffness caused by the inactivity of our muscles.

  We had given up wondering at the delay by the time it came to an end.When they finally came and cut our bonds and led us from the cavern wefelt nothing keener than a mere curiosity as to what awaited us at theend of our journey. For myself, there was a distinct sensation ofthankfulness that uncertainty was to end.

  They took no chances with us, but paid us the compliment of a trulyroyal escort--at least, in number. There could not have been less thantwo hundred of them in front, behind, and on either side, as we leftthe cavern and proceeded along a narrow, winding passage to the left.

  Once, as we started, we stretched our arms high and stood on tiptoe torelieve the stiffness of our joints; and immediately found ourselvesclutched on every side by a score of hands.

  "Gad! We seem to have made an impression!" Harry grinned. On the waydown the passage we marched with the Prussian goose-step, and felt theblood quickening to life in our legs and arms.

  We had proceeded in this manner for some ten minutes when we rounded acorner which I recognized at once by the peculiar circular formation ofthe walls. We were on our way to the great cavern--the cavern where wehad first seen Desiree, and where later she had won the toss for ourlives and then preserved them.

  Another minute and we had reached the steps leading to the tunnel underthe lake. Here our guards seemed in doubt as to just what to do; thosein front halted and stood hesitant, and it seemed to me that as theygazed below down the stone stair their eyes held a certain shrinkingterror. Then one came up from behind and with a commanding gestureordered them to descend, and they obeyed.

  Harry and I still found ourselves surrounded by a full company; therewere fifty or sixty ahead of us and at least twice that number behind.The idea of a successful struggle was so patently impossible that Ibelieve it never entered our minds.

  There was further delay at the bottom of the stairs, for, as I havesaid before, the tunnel was extremely narrow and it was barely possibleto walk two abreast. None of them turned back, but Harry and I couldscarcely restrain a laugh at the sight of those immediately in front ofus treading on the toes of their fellows to keep out of our way. Withall their savage brutality I believe they possessed little real bravery.

  Five minutes more and we had reached the end of the tunnel and foundourselves at the foot of the spiral stairway. The passage was soblocked by those ahead that we were unable to approach it; theyflattened their squatty bodies against the wall and we were forced tosqueeze our way past them.

  There we stood, barely able to make out their black forms against theblacker wall, when the one who appeared to be the leader approached andmotioned to us to ascend. We hesitated, feeling instinctively thatthis was our last chance to make a stand, weighing our fate.

  That was a dark moment, but though I did not know it, Providence waswith us. For, happening to glance downward, beneath the spiralstair--for there was no ground immediately beneath it--I saw a faintglimmer and a movement as though of a dim light in the black, yawningspace at my feet. (You must understand that we were now inside thebase of the column in the center of the great cavern.)

  Moved either by curiosity or a command of Providence, I stooped andpeered intently downward, and saw that the movement was the almostimperceptible reflection of a stray ray of light from above on thesurface of water. At the time I merely wondered idly if the water camefrom the same source as that in the lake outside, not thinking itsufficiently important to mention to Harry.

  Then a question came from him:

  "No good, Paul. They are a hundred to one, and we are empty-handed.Do we go?"

  "There is nothing else to do," I answered, and I placed my foot on thefirst step of the spiral stair.

  Behind us came the guide, with a dozen others at h
is heels.

  The ascent seemed even longer and more arduous than before, for then wehad been propelled by keen curiosity. Twice I stumbled in thedarkness, and would have fallen if it had not been for Harry'ssupporting hand behind me. But finally we reached the top and steppedout into the glare of the great cavern. I saw the stone slab close tobehind us, noiselessly, and wondered if I should ever see it open again.

  We looked about us, and as our eyes sought the alcove in the wallopposite, we gave a simultaneous start of surprise, and from Harry'slips came a cry, half of gladness, half of wonder. For, seated on thegolden throne, exactly as before, was Desiree. By her side was seatedthe Inca king; round them, guards and attendants.

  We gazed at her in astonishment, but she did not look at us; even atthat distance we could see that her eyes were lowered to the ground.Harry called her name--there was no answer. Again he called, and Icaught him by the arm.

  "Don't, Hal! She can't possibly do us any good, and you may do herharm. If she doesn't answer, it is because she has a reason."

  He was silent, but not convinced, and would probably have argued thematter if our attention had not been arrested by a movement in thealcove.

  The king rose and extended an arm, and the Incas who filled the seatssurrounding the cavern fell flat on their faces.

  "We don't seem to have thinned them out any," I observed. "I believethere are actually more than before. Where do they all come from?"

  "The Lord knows!"

  "And, by the way, it is now apparent why they waited so long to attendto us. The king naturally wanted to be present at the entertainment,and he had to take time to recover from his little fasting operation.But now, what in the name of--my word, the thing is to be done in allpropriety! Look!"

  The king had dropped his arm, and the Incas were again sitting asNature had intended they should sit, instead of on their noses. Andfour attendants had approached the throne, bearing a frame of quipos.

  "So we are to have a fair trial," Harry observed.

  "With the king for judge."

  "And a hundred dead rats as evidence."

  "Right; they can't get even with us, anyway; there are only two of us.And as far as the other is concerned, I have an idea."

  The king had left his throne and approached the outer edge of thealcove, until he stood almost directly under the oval plate of goldrepresenting Pachacamac or the unknown god.

  To this he knelt and made a succession of weird, uncouth gestures thatsuggested a lunatic or a traveling hypnotist. Evidently the goodPachacamac approved whatever suggestions the royal priest communicated,for he rose to his feet with a solemn grin and strutted majestically tothe rear, facing the frame of quipos.

  It was evident that he no longer had faith in Desiree's interpretationof the divine will of the great Pachacamac. It is a royal privilege tobe able to judge your own enemies.

  The hand of the Child of the Sun passed slowly up and down the frame ofquipos, betraying a commendable reluctance. It touched the yellow cordand passed on; grasped the white and dropped it.

  "The old hypocrite!" exclaimed Harry in disgust. "Does he imagine heis playing with us?"

  Then there was an imperceptible movement, rather felt than seen,throughout the vast assemblage, and Desiree sank back on her throne ofgold with a shudder as the king severed with the knife the black cordof death and laid it on the ground at her feet.

  I looked at Harry; his face became slightly pale, but his eyes met minefirmly, speaking of a fortitude unconquerable. Then we again rivetedour gaze on the alcove opposite.

  An attendant approached from the rear and stood before the goldenthrone, while the king motioned to Desiree to take up the black cord.For a moment she did not understand him, then she drew back, shakingher head firmly.

  The king did not wait to argue the matter, but stooped himself andpicked up the cord and handed it to the attendant, who received it witha great show of respect and retired to the rear, where a commotion wascreated by its appearance.

  The judgment was passed, but what was to be the nature of theexecution? That uncertainty and the weirdness of the scene gave to thething an air of unreality that shut out the tragic and admitted onlythe grotesque.

  I have many times in my life felt nearer to death than when I stood onthe top of that lofty column, surrounded by the thousands of squattingdwarfs, whose black bodies reflected dully the mounting light from theflaming urns.

  I cannot say what we expected, for we knew not what to expect. Manyconjectures entered my mind, but none of them approached the fact.But, thinking that our guide might now return at any moment to lead usbelow, and not caring to be surprised by an attack from behind on thatnarrow precipice, I moved across to the rear, where I could keep myeyes on the alcove opposite, and at the same time watch the stone slabwhich closed the opening to the spiral stairway. A word to Harry andhe joined me.

  "Perhaps we can open it from above," he suggested.

  "Not likely," I answered, "and, anyway, what's the use?"

  He knelt down and tugged at it, but there was no edge on which toobtain a purchase. The thing was immovable.

  Five minutes passed, during which there was no movement, either in theaudience on the stone seats or in the alcove. But there was anindefinable air of expectancy on the faces of the king and thosesurrounding him, and I kept a sharp eye on the stone slab.

  Another five minutes and still nothing happened. Harry called acrossto Desiree, or rather began to call, for I stopped him with a jerk. Itwas impossible for her to aid us, and her situation was alreadysufficiently perilous.

  Then, becoming impatient, I decided to try to move the stone slabmyself. Kneeling down, I placed the palms of my hands firmly againstits surface and pressed with all my weight.

  And then I knew. Complete comprehension flashed through my brain onthe instant. I sprang to my feet, and my thought must have shown on myface, for Harry looked at me in surprise, demanding:

  "What is it? What is it, Paul?"

  And I answered calmly:

  "We're caught, Hal. Like rats in a trap. Oh, the black devils!Listen! We have no time to lose. Bend over and touch the palm of yourhand to the ground."

  He did so, plainly puzzled. Then he drew his hand hastily away,exclaiming: "It's hot!"

  "Yes." I spoke quickly. "Our boots kept us from feeling it before, andthe stone doesn't throw out enough heat to feel it in the air. They'vebuilt a fire under us in the column. The stone is thick and heatsslowly."

  "But what--that means--"

  "It means one of two things. In a few minutes this floor will bebaking hot. Then we either fry on their stone griddle or drown in thelake. You see the distance below--only a man crazed by suffering orone incredibly brave would take that leap. This is their littleentertainment--they expect us to dance for them."

  "But the lake! If we could take it clean--"

  I saw that the lake was our only chance, if there could be said to beany in so desperate a situation. To be sure, there seemed to be nopossibility of escaping, even if we took the water without injury. Onevery side its bank was lined with the watching Incas, and the bankitself was so steep that to ascend it would have required wings.

  The heat began to be felt even through the soles of our heavy boots;involuntarily I lifted one foot, then the other. I saw the Child ofthe Sun in the alcove lean forward with an appreciative grin. Anotherminute--

  I jerked my wits together--never did my brain answer with better speed.And then I remembered that flash of water I had seen under the spiralstairway at the base of the column. I had thought at the time that itmight be connected with the lake itself. If that were so--

  I turned to Harry and conveyed my idea to him in as few words aspossible as we walked up and down, side by side. It was impossiblelonger to stand still--the stone was so hot that the bare hand couldnot be held against it for an instant. I saw that he did notcomprehend what I said about the water in the column, but he didunderstand my
instructions, and that was all that was necessary.

  We ran to the edge of the column nearest the alcove.

  Removing our woolen knickerbockers--for better ease in the water--weplaced them on the hot stone, and on top of them our boots, which wehad also removed. Thus our feet were protected as we stood on theextreme edge of the column, taking a deep breath for strength and nerve.

  I saw the thousands of black savages--who had been cheated of theirdance--crane their necks forward eagerly.

  I saw the king gesture excitedly to an attendant, who turned and flewfrom the alcove.

  I saw Desiree spring up from the golden throne and run to the edge ofthe alcove, crying to us in a tone of despair. But I did not hear herwords, for I myself was calling:

  "Take it clean, Hal. Ready--go!"

  The next instant we were flying headlong through the air toward thesurface of the lake a hundred feet below.

  Men have told me since that I never made that dive, or that I greatlyoverestimated the distance, and I admit that as I look back at it nowit appears incredible. Well, they are welcome to their opinion, but Iwould not advise them to try to argue the matter with Harry.

  The impact with the water all but completely stunned me; as I struckthe surface it seemed that a thousand cannons had exploded in my ears.Down, down I went--lucky for us that the lake was apparently bottomless!

  I seemed to have gone as far below the water as I had been above itbefore I was able to twist myself about and meet it with my belly.Then, striking out with every ounce of strength in me, I made for thesurface as rapidly as possible. I had started with my lungs full ofair, but that headlong plunge had emptied them.

  I made the surface at last and looked round for Harry, calling hisname. For perhaps thirty seconds I called in vain, then there came anunanswering shout off to the left. The urns were far above us now, andthe light on the surface of the lake was very dim, but soon I made outHarry's head. He was swimming easily toward me, apparently unhurt.

  "All right, Hal?"

  "Right. And you?"

  "Sound as a whistle. Now make for the column."

  At the instant that we turned to swim toward the column I became awareof a strong current in the water carrying us off to the right. It wasinexplicable, but there was no time then for speculation, and we struckout with bold, sweeping strokes.

  The Incas had left the stone seats and advanced to the water's edge. Icould see their black, sinister faces, thousands of them, peeringintently at us through the dim light, but they made no sound.

  Once I cast a glance over my shoulder and saw Desiree standing at theedge of the alcove with her clenched fists pressed to her throat.Beside her stood the Child of the Sun. Harry, too, saw her and senther a shout of farewell, but there was no answer.

  We were now less than thirty feet from the column. Its jeweled sidessparkled and shone before us; looking up, our eyes were dazzled.Something struck the water near me. I glanced to the right and sawwhat moved me to hasten my stroke and call to Harry to do likewise.

  The black devils were increasing the fun by hurling stones at us fromthe bank--apparently with the kind approval of Pachacamac.

  As we neared the column the current which tended to carry us to theright became stronger, but still we seemed not to be approaching thebank. What could it mean? The struggle against it was fast taking ourstrength.

  Looking up, I saw that we had swung round to the other side of thecolumn--it was between us and the alcove. Then I understood. We werein a whirlpool, ever increasing in force, which was carrying us swiftlyin a circle from left to right and approaching the column.

  I called a swift warning to Harry, who was some ten feet to my left,and he answered that he understood. The stones from the bank werefalling thick about us now; one struck me on the shoulder, turning mehalf round.

  The current became swifter--so swift that we were almost helplessagainst it and were carried around and around the column, which was buta few feet away. And always complete silence.

  Nearer and nearer we were carried, till, thrusting out my arm, the tipsof my fingers brushed against the side of the column. The waterwhirled with the rapidity of a mill-stream; ten more seconds and ourbrains would have been dashed against the unyielding stone. It was nowbut half an arm's length away. I kept thrusting out my arm in a wildendeavor to avoid it.

  Suddenly my outstretched hand found a purchase in a break in the wall,but the force of the water tore it loose and swept me away. But when Ireached the same spot again I thrust out both hands, and, finding theedge, held on desperately. The next instant Harry's body was sweptagainst mine, doubling the strain on my fingers.

  "The column!" I gasped. "Inside--through the wall--opening--I amholding--"

  He understood, and the next moment he, too, had grasped the edge.Together we pulled ourselves, little by little, toward the opening; forour strength was nearly spent, and the force of the maelstrom was nighirresistible.

  It was as I had thought. The base of the column consisted merely oftwo massive pillars, some twelve feet in length and circular in shape.The water rushed in through each of the two openings thus left, andinside of the column was the center of the whirlpool, sucking the waterfrom both sides. The water I had seen; I had not counted on thewhirlpool.

  We had pulled ourselves round till our bodies rested against the edgeof the opening, clinging to either side. Inside all was blackness, butwe could judge of the fury of the maelstrom by the force of the currentoutside. Stones hurled by the Incas were striking against the sides ofthe column and in the water near us.

  We were being hunted from life like dogs, and a hot, unreasoning angersurged through my brain--anger at the grinning savages on the bank, atthe whirling black water, at Harry, at myself.

  Whichever way we looked was death, and none worth choosing.

  "I can't hold--much longer," Harry gasped. "What's the use--oldman--Paul--come--I'm going--"

  He disappeared into the black, furious whirlpool with that word. Thenext instant my own fingers were torn from their hold by a sudden jerkof the water, and I followed.