by K C West
Hushed whispering from below accompanied each crewmember as they climbed up one by one and peered into the gloom of the cave.
“Geez, Doc,” Sandy said, as he withdrew from the hole. “Could be, you know, it very well could be.” He made his way back to the base of the slide.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
James was the last to climb into position at the opening. His exclamation, “Jesus!” sounded like a distant echo. He withdrew and searched my eyes for an answer.
I shook my head. “We can all think what we want, but whatever our thoughts, they’re no more than guesses.”
“Educated guesses,” Josie said. She had been the first, after PJ and me, to see into the cave.
Minutes later, I was back at the opening, staring at the skeletons of two individuals. One was lying on its back, straight out as if laid carefully in place. The other was lying face down across the first one. Clutched in one bony hand was an ornate dagger, dulled by time, but a beautiful weapon nevertheless. The blade was imbedded deeply between the ribs of the one who held it. Bits of hair, cloth, and leather clung to the remains.
I backed out. Strange fluttering sensations gripped my stomach. I needed fresh air. For some reason, perhaps the after effects of the earthquake, I wanted to run, to get as far away from the cave and its occupants as I could. I wondered if Howard Carter had an urge to run when he first discovered Tutankhamen’s tomb. I didn’t think so. As I made my way down the slide with PJ right behind me, I tried to explain to myself the reason for my unease.
The crew bunched up around us.
“Could they be …?” Sandy asked, letting the sentence hang. We all knew what he meant.
“They appear to be old,” Mike said, “maybe old enough …”
“Now, people, let’s not get carried away. It’ll be some time before we learn enough about these people and what they were doing here. And for that matter … if this is an ancient crime scene …” My stomach was churning.
“The remains are small,” Sandy said, “very likely female—”
Laine interrupted. “Which means they could be Amazon.”
“Yeah, and then there’s the dagger,” James said. “It’s ancient like …”
PJ could barely contain her excitement. “We’ve done it, Kim … we’ve found them.”
“PJ, all of you, let’s not jump to conclusions. We won’t know anything until we’ve investigated further.” I was shouting now, afraid that PJ’s enthusiasm was getting the better of her, and the crew.
“Hey, gang, listen to what Doc is saying,” Sandy said, trying to help me by putting a lid on the runaway conjecture.
“I know all that,” PJ said, “but, from what I can see of the markings on the dagger…” She shook her head. “It isn’t anything even remotely native to this area.”
The group started again, shaking hands and hugging each other.
“And that’s all we know for sure,” I said, glancing uneasily back toward the cave. I half expected to see a fully muscled and fleshed Amazon warrior walk out of there.
I had to stop the runaway conjecture. Stepping onto a large boulder, the one I had loosened earlier and which had come to rest at the bottom of the slide, I addressed the crew. “Listen up, people. Don’t jump to conclusions. This may or may not be what we’re looking for. However, it is a significant discovery. I need time to think about how we’re going to proceed …” I looked at my watch. “… and since it’s already mid-afternoon …” A wave of nausea passed over me. I glanced around, still with an inexplicable dread gnawing at my stomach, and took some deep breaths.
PJ sensed my discomfort and picked up where I left off. “Everyone, it’s too late in the day to start moving rock. I think Doc wants you all to take the rest of the day off.” She looked to me for confirmation.
I nodded.
The buzz of enthusiasm turned to good-natured grumbling. The chatter stopped when a low frequency trembling rumbled beneath our feet. Strangely, it relaxed me.
“Let’s not forget,” PJ said, “that we’ve experienced a severe earthquake. You need to go home to check your apartments, rooms, whatever. Call your loved ones and let them know you’re okay. We’ll meet here in the morning.”
I touched PJ’s arm. “You too, you have to call your dad.”
“Like he cares, but yes, I will.”
I turned to face the crew. “I don’t have to remind you that mum’s the word. And because of that we cannot risk bringing strangers in to help access the cave. We’ll have to do the heavy work ourselves. That means stabilizing the slide, building easier access, and expanding the entrance. We have a lot to do before we meet these people face to face.” I paused; scanning the eager faces looking up at me. The prospect of several days of hard labor had not fazed anyone. I was blessed with a dedicated group of young scientists who were about to become laborers.
Mike stepped forward. “You referred to them, the remains as people … are you pretty sure we’ve found our Amazons and you feel bonded to them?”
“I’d like to think that they’re our Amazons, but I referred to them,” I inclined my head toward the cave, “as people rather than remains because that’s what they are … human beings who have moved on, transitioned to the beyond.”
“We’ll get started in the morning then,” Sandy said.
“Righto.” I turned to PJ. “Do you have anything to add?”
“Well, the real archaeology won’t begin until we get in there. Then we’ll need samples of everything including the soil.”
“What are you expecting from the dirt?” Josie asked.
“Good question.” PJ looked at me. “Would you care to …?”
“Go ahead.” I folded my arms across my chest and listened to my assistant who was in her element. I was proud of her and damn glad she was involved in my expedition.
“We don’t know for sure what the matrix will yield … traces of blood, bits of pollen, microscopic bone fragments, perhaps. That area could give us a wealth of information. We won’t know until we have it analyzed.”
I stepped forward, resting a hand on PJ’s shoulder. “What happened in there is a mystery waiting to be solved. It could be a murder or a murder-suicide. We have some detective work to do. Just remember that the only difference between this and a modern day mystery is that we do not have witnesses. We have only the dead to speak to us.”
“Well, for sure, they won’t be apt to lie.”
“No Laine, they’ll tell us the truth, but don’t expect them to share their secrets easily.”
I turned to PJ. “Anything else?”
“Just protect the context of the site. Don’t disturb it any more than necessary.” She shrugged, looking at all of us. “But, you already know that.”
Heads nodded agreement.
“Sandy,” I threw him my keys, “will you stop by the motor home?”
“Sure thing, Doc.”
“Just check things out, mainly the computer. I don’t know what you can do if it’s been damaged, but check it out anyway.”
“Gawd, I hope it’s okay.”
“Motor homes are relatively safe in earthquakes, but they rock like hell.”
“Don’t worry, Doc, I’ll take care of it.”
I surveyed the wide-eyed faces hanging on to my every word. “Okay, off you go. Remember, not a word … this is a sensitive location and we don’t need reporters or anyone else snooping around and disturbing the purity of the site.”
“What are you going to do?” Mike asked, wiping his glasses on the tail of his grubby tee shirt.
“Stick around. Pup took off. I don’t know where he went. I want to be here when he returns.”
Everyone was reluctant to leave, but did so with a little urging on my part. Mike and Josie left first, then Laine hurried to catch up to them. The rest straggled along behind them. Sandy waited until everyone had left. “You’re sure I can’t do anything here?”
“We’ll be fine, Sandy. Thanks. Y
our checking the motor home is enough.”
“If you need me, you can call, at least I think you can.” We checked our cell phones, which appeared to be working okay.
When Sandy left, PJ and I checked out our tent headquarters. We righted the corner that had collapsed and secured it. We were amazed that it had fared so well in the quake. Papers were scattered about on the floor and some books that had been stacked on the table had toppled. The laptops had survived, though everything was coated with dust.
PJ took the cell phone from her belt and blew the dust off the dial panel. “Guess I’ll call Father … get it over with.”
I moved outside to allow her some privacy. It took her several minutes to get through, but when she did I could tell by her tone of voice that he wasn’t around. I squatted on the ground and without really thinking about it, picked up a handful of dirt and strained it through my fingers. I could still hear PJ.
“Okay, thanks anyway, Barbara, I just wanted him to know I was alright. I’ll try again tomorrow.”
“Not likely,” she added quietly, exiting the tent.
“As usual, he’s not available,” she muttered in my direction. She dropped the phone in its case on her belt. “Why am I surprised that he’s in one of his high-powered meetings?” Then, she squared her shoulders and set about making tea.
I sighed and righted a low camp chair, which was lying on its side. I shook off most of the dust and sat down.
“You know,” I said, when PJ handed me a cup of tea, “I should be elated, but I feel strangely subdued … like I’ve seen a ghost.”
“In a way you have, ghosts from the past.”
“Yeah, but that’s not it.” I gazed toward the burial site and beyond. Dust still hung in the western sky. That’ll make for a lovely sunset. “It’s as though I’ve seen my own ghost.”
Oh, brilliant! Why did I say that to her? She’ll think I’m batty for sure.
PJ shot me one of her lop-sided grins. “Hey, Kim, don’t get all weird on me.”
We sipped our tea in silence though PJ kept shooting looks my way.
“What?”
“You haven’t called anyone.”
“There’s no one to call.”
She wrinkled her brow and continued to stare at me.
“That’s it. I have no one to call. End of conversation.”
“Okay.” She looked toward the cave then back at me.
“What now?”
“Nothing.”
“I can’t explain it… my odd behavior.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“I know, but …” You’re disappointed, aren’t you … over my reaction to the discovery?
PJ got to her feet. “C’mon, Doc, let’s go eyeball the situation again … secure the entrance for the night and figure out a way of attacking it tomorrow.”
“Secure it?”
“I’m going to hang a tarp over the entrance. We don’t want critters going in there and disturbing those bones.”
I shuddered. “Of course. I should have thought of it.”
“Kim, you’re just so elated about finding the Amazons that you’re not yourself.”
“We don’t know for sure …”
“I do, and you do, too, I think.”
PJ picked up the faded blue tarp that was lying beside the tent.
A few minutes later, she was scrambling up the rocks with the tarp dragging behind.
“Want some help?”
“No, I’ve got it.”
“Thanks.” I don’t want to go near the cave again today… tomorrow, but not today. PJ covered the entrance and neatly anchored the tarp with rocks.
Then, when she was finished, she joined me, sitting on the ground our backs against a rock. A spectacular sunset painted the sky, wrapping itself around us like a colorful Navajo blanket. I glanced up at the blue tarp and wished I could share the beauty of the evening with them, the two women, and I was sure they were women, sleeping with their secrets inside the cave.
PJ, sensing my emotional state, put her arm around my waist. “Kim, I’m here for you, you know that, don’t you? If there’s ever anything I can do …” She rested her head on my shoulder. I drew a modicum of comfort from her action and fought back the tears that threatened to spill onto my cheeks.
She cleared her throat. “May I ask you something?”
“You may ask, but I won’t guarantee an answer.”
“Does this business of seeing a ghost have anything to do with your dreams?”
“I’m going to stay here tonight.”
PJ sighed. “Okay, so you don’t want to talk about it. That’s all right. And I think you should stay. I will, too, if you don’t mind.” She grinned. “I promise I won’t ask any more questions.”
I raised my hand and brushed her bangs back from her forehead, resisting the urge to bury my face in her hair … lose myself in the soft beauty of it, dust and all.
“Don’t you want to check your room at the inn?”
“Nah, that won’t be necessary. I just have a few clothes there, nothing of importance. My laptop is here. And we have a shower, such as it is. No change of clothes though so I’ll just have to shake ‘em good.”
“Then, I’ll be happy to have you stay. I have a strange feeling about all this and I really don’t care to be alone.”
She gave my waist a tight squeeze. “You’re not alone, Kim.”
Chapter Twelve
I awoke in darkness, sitting up to untangle my legs from the sleeping bag. What the hell was that noise? It sounded like a wounded animal. My eardrums throbbed as I strained to listen. Had Kim heard it, too?
Jesus, it’s so dark.
I rubbed my arms, shivering. And cold.
Was it a coyote? I remembered how they scared the hell out of me when I first arrived in the Superstitions.
“Leeja…NO! NOOOOOO!”
Gawd! It’s Kim and she sounds like she’s in pain.
I squinted in the direction of where Kim had been sleeping, detecting the outline of her body, thrashing about in her bedroll.
Must be a nightmare. I should wake her, but she’ll freak out even worse if I startle her.
I crawled free of my covers and approached her with great care.
“Kim? … Kim, can you hear me?” She shuddered when I put my arm around her shoulders. The back of her shirt was damp with sweat. “Kim, you’re having a dream… a bad dream.”
Her eyes opened. She clutched at me. “What? Who?”
“It’s me … PJ. Take it easy, okay. We’re at the site … sleeping peacefully by the light of the moon and the stars. At least we were.”
“Oh, PJ, I’m so sorry.” Kim released her grip. “That dream again. It was so real…”
I sat back on my heels. “Let me get you a heavier shirt; you’re chilled to the bone. I can light the lantern. Do you want some tea?”
“No, really. Thank you, it’s not necessary.” She shuddered again. “I guess I could use my sweatshirt, though.”
I found my pocket flashlight and collected the shirt. I also dragged my sleeping bag closer to hers.
“Um … it’s still early. Can you go back to sleep?”
Instead of answering, she stared in the direction of the narrow cave. Moonlight reflected off the blue tarp and sketched a faint outline of the rocks along the canyon wall.
“Pup? Did he return?” Her voice was strained, confused.
I sighed, rubbing her shoulder. “Not yet. I’m sure we’ll find him once it’s daylight.”
She looked at me and nodded. “Daylight,” she repeated.
C’mon Kim, snap out of it. I don’t know how to talk to you when you’re like this.
I turned my head and stared at the shadows on the canyon wall, taking a slow, deep breath, collecting my thoughts, examining my options.
Maybe the light-hearted approach will work.
“Sure. You know how Pup loves your bacon. He’ll be hungry.” She nodded again, brushing her hand across her
eyes, perhaps clearing some mental cobwebs.
I pulled our bedding up around us and rubbed gentle circles against her lower back with my fingertips.
This is scaring the shit out of me. I feel so inadequate. What has happened to the Kim Blair I met two months ago? That woman was confident, feisty, and authoritative. Damn it, I want her back.
I can respect that she’s a private person and reluctant to share things, but I’m her friend. We’ve shared weeks of hard work together. Friends are allowed to ask questions and try to help. Jesus, I’ve been through enough therapy. I should be able to remember some of the touchy-feely stuff.
We hunkered down in our sleeping bags, facing the cave opening, waiting for the dawn. I cleared my throat. “Ya know, Kim, sometimes it helps to talk about things. These dreams … or whatever….”
Her silence lasted so long, I figured she hadn’t heard or was ignoring me.
“There’s two women … Amazons …”
Her voice faltered and her head dropped to my shoulder. My arm circled her waist in a gesture that seemed as natural to me as breathing.
Okay, that’s a start. She’s telling me something. Poor thing must feel like she’s trapped between two worlds. These dreams … these women … are as real to her as all of us working this site.
The dark sky paled to a grubby, grayish-white. Morning colors replaced our monochromatic shades. The shadows vanished and a familiar reality came with the clarity of a new day. Canyon walls, so sinister moments ago, materialized as the common buff and sandy borders that we recognized as the focus of our narrow work site … leaving behind mystery, but no further mayhem. A fresh, new workday was about to start. I knew Kim would welcome our early routine, but I might never get the chance to draw the demons from her mind again … so I prompted her for more information.
“Kim? You said there were two Amazon women …”
“Yes … part of a small group.” Her voice tightened. “Those two loved each other … so much.”
“Well hey … that’s good … isn’t it?”
Kim’s lip trembled. “One of the women was gravely wounded.”
“I see. And …was that Leeja?”
She lifted her head. “How did you know?”
“You … uh, cried that name in your sleep.”
