The 5th Amulet

by SJ Hailey

  ‘Jacob started it!’

  ‘I don’t care! Finish it, work together otherwise I will throw you both overboard!’

  Jacob and Christophe both knew that Teddy meant it and was capable of carrying out his threat. Jacob reluctantly extended his hand to Laurent ‘Truce, so we can solve this puzzle?’

  ‘Okay but only if you support and inform the team that I am in charge?’

  ‘Done. Christophe you are a good archaeologist, great instincts and a proven track record.’ Jacob knew how to get around Laurent, pander to his ego, it worked. ‘Now can we talk about your findings on the ship, I have someone who would love to see what you have’.

  The afternoon went more smoothly, Andy reviewed the images taken from the site and Kevin took photos and interviewed people for an ad-hoc article on the Arcadia. Jacob checked his email as advised, and pulled more information sent by Paul on the Ten Suns legend, preparing a presentation for later.

  After lunch they were invited by Teddy to be taken to camp in The Wasp, she had been moved by one of the substantial cranes, pontoons moored against the side of the ship, as a temporary launch platform. Laurent, Kevin, Andy and Jacob climbed into the passenger compartment running down the centre of the vessel like a wide corridor. There were only six seats, the rest had been removed to allow for cargo. Teddy had loaded up food and equipment for the camp. The sides were canvas flaps that pulled down over the two metre openings, the only solid doors were the gull wings by the cockpit. They strapped in the moulded car seats, four point harnesses securing them and the large diesel engine started up.

  The hovercraft rose up on its black skirt, turning as Teddy dropped half a metre off the pontoons onto the water, barely noticeable to the passengers. The craft drifted and rapidly accelerated to full speed approaching the river delta, manoeuvring across the silt deposits with consummate ease and into the marshlands beyond. La Tola passed rapidly in a haze of spray. Kevin had brought his camera to record the journey but a combination of Teddy’s driving and the spray meant that little was visible on his screen.

  The camp was just a few kilometres; the fast flowing water that was hindering the canoes was unnoticed by the hovercraft passing over all obstructions, leaving no wake. The few Caymans that were on the surface had a rush of air as the black and yellow beast passed directly over their heads, leaving them confused but unharmed. Teddy slowed as he approached the camp, leaving the river for an area that had been cleared of debris, a fifty-metre hole in the jungle, large enough for the generators, solar cells and one large striped hovercraft. He slid her along, the craft going sideways rather than turning directly, a floating ballerina. He set her down on the timber logs and shutdown the engine. ‘Everyone out, last stop!’ Laurent did not get the joke, but Jacob did ‘thank you driver!’

  The camp was quiet, middle of the day, heat and humidity slowing everyone down. Jacob crossed over the inclined ramp to the main area a few metres above the water. He was just getting his bearings when he heard his voice called out, it was Katherine. ‘Jacob! Jacob! So great for you to be here!’

  Jacob was quite taken aback and Andy Huang who was behind him was even more amazed at the young woman. He introduced Katherine to Andy, and explained about her being brought up like an adopted daughter, sort of, Andy appeared less confused by her greeting afterwards.

  Katherine then proceeded to hug Kevin with just as much enthusiasm, ‘Okay Kath, Okay, I missed you too, come on you are spoiling my image!’

  ‘What image, you are still my little brother!’

  Andy was even more surprised, ‘This is your sister, but she is h… nothing like you?’

  Katherine took them into the dining hall and announced them all, introducing all of them to anyone she could find, her ever-present positivity filling the room.

  After the room had cleared, Jacob asked some key personnel to stay including Evelyn, Michael, Katherine, Andy, Kevin and of course Laurent. ‘I have some updates on what you have found, and what we have discovered in Canada.’

  Jacob’s laptop had been connected to a projector and some rugs had been taped over the few windows in the room to block the afternoon sun. Jacob showed the group what they had found in Canada, the ship scans showing the similarity in the structure of the ship there and the one in Ecuador. The wooden boxes found in both Captain’s cabins, identical dimensions, but different symbols and contents.

  ‘Now this is where things differ between the digs. The crew in Canada died of starvation or exposure and left notes on bidding farewell to their families, but no indication we could find of their mission. We have passed their messages on to the Chinese authorities.’

  Jacob continued showing the pictures of finds in Ecuador and thanking Laurent for his contribution, which he of course accepted. ‘Now we have seen mention of two areas of interest, the first is the Bow of Yi, mentioned in the Legend of the Ten suns, the second is the five elements, which we are all familiar with.’

  Laurent interrupted, ‘this legend of the suns and Bow of Yi is linked how?’

  ‘The parchment in the Canada ship mentioned that they were carrying one of the keys to the Bow of Yi. The Legend of the Ten Suns is that the Goddess Xihe would lead her children, the ten suns to the Valley of Light in the East. There she would wash her children in the lake and put them in the branches of an enormous Mulberry tree called Fusang. From the tree, one sun would be allowed to move into the sky for a journey of one day to reach Mount Yen-Tzu in the Far West. But the ten suns grew tired of this routine and decided to all appear in the sky together, the combined heat made life on Earth unbearable. To prevent the destruction of the Earth, Emperor Yao asked Di Jun, the father of the ten suns, to persuade his children to appear one at a time. The children did not listen to him, so Di Jun sent the archer Yi, armed with a magic bow and ten arrows to frighten the disobedient children. However, Yi shot and killed nine of the suns leaving only the sun we see in the sky today. Di Jun was so angry for the death of his nine children he condemned Yi to live as an ordinary mortal on Earth.’

  Everyone was silent, not all seeing the connection between the artefacts and the legend, Jacob continued.

  ‘Look the legend may not be real, but the Chinese believed they had found the keys for the Bow of Yi, as you know many legends are based around fact, and the symbols for the elements are the key indicators.’

  ‘Jacob there is a lot of conjecture here, you have no proof on what the Chinese did or did not find here?’

  ‘No Christophe I do not, but there are five elements and we have found reference to only four of them, the element water is missing.’

  ‘And how is that significant?’

  ‘Water is associated with death in the Chinese elements.’

  ‘So you think there are five artefacts like the one we have found here.’

  ‘No there are four artefacts and we have found three of them.’ Jacob opened his bag and removed the iceberg ships artefact, wrapped in its silk sheath, the crystal catching the projectors light.

  ‘This has some unusual properties, we have done tests on the crystal, and had unique results.’

  ‘Like what?’

  ‘We had a small necklace, and the crystal in the centre stored enough light energy to wipe out my small lab.’

  ‘What it exploded?’

  ‘No, it absorbed the energy, and then when it became overloaded, discharged all the energy in a few seconds.’

  ‘So it is a weapon?’

  ‘Unknown, but I suspect the Chinese realised the properties of this crystal.’

  ‘And if this is the second amulet, where is the third?’

  ‘You found it in Peru, look here.’ The projector behind brought up the image of the black five-pronged artefact stolen from the museum.

  ‘It appears nothing like the others, are you sure the glyphs match?’

  ‘We need to find out what connects them, and where the Chinese were taking them too?’

  ‘That is easy Jacob they were taking them as prizes
for the Emperor!’

  ‘No Christophe, you have learnt nothing about the Chinese explorer’s way, you are thinking like a European. The Chinese treasure fleets were interested in trade, not invasion, they wanted allies to pay tribute to the Emperor, not conquer.’

  ‘So why take them?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I believe the answer is here.’

  ‘You think it is to do with this Bow of Yi?’

  Jacob paused, ‘Perhaps, we need to examine the parchment and whatever else is in the hull of that ship.’

  Jacob finished his brief, and had Christophe assign tasks, so as not to undermine his authority, then moved off to the latrines. He was just checking for any unwelcome spiders when a quiet voice surprised him. ‘Mr Mathias I need to talk with you.’

  Jacob turned to see a middle-aged man in camouflage standing six feet behind him, unarmed but suspicious.

  ‘There is no need to call out Jacob, I mean you no harm, but we must discuss the amulets.’

  Jacob was surprised ‘The amulets?’ do you mean the artefacts we have found here?’

  ‘Yes you have one in your bag and the one found here on the ship, we have been looking for them for many years.’

  ‘Who has been looking, you said we, we who?’

  ‘I am sorry my name is Osvaldo Rodrigo Moreno Borboa, I am the leader of La gente de la luz azul.’

  ‘The Blue light people?’

  ‘I see your Spanish is acceptable Mr Mathias, you need to come with me.’

  ‘That does not sound like a request?’

  ‘It is, but I suspect your curiosity will persuade you?’

  ‘I will be missed.’

  ‘This will only take a few minutes, but I need only you to hear. I need you to listen and trust me, your people’s lives may depend on it.’

  EIGHTEEN

  Punte de la Americas, Panama Canal

  Archer was rowed out to his night transport, not a conventional boarding, but then this was not a conventional flight. His gear had been sent ahead by Benito, everything he had asked for, and extras Benito thought he may require. His pilot met him at one of the piers near the Balboa yacht club, but Archer was sure he was not a member. Dressed in army fatigues, a black baseball cap over unkempt hair, his face had probably not met a razor for days. As Archer got closer he realised that personal hygiene was not the man’s first priority. He did not shake hands, indicating he had to carry both bags. The pilot did not seem to notice or care, just nodding his head, the half-burnt cigarette stuck to his bottom lip bobbing in acknowledgement. Archer had asked his name and the short response was ‘Juan, just Juan’. Archer and Juan-just-Juan got out to the plane across from the Punte de la Americas that stretched out over the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal Then Archer saw his not so sturdy lift.

  ‘We are flying in that?’

  The Grumman G64, affectionately dubbed the Albatross was a former coastguard patrol plane, twin engine. Its body curved up at the front to absorb the impact of the water during take-off and landing. It was reliable, but an old design with thirsty engines. ‘It is over fifty years old?’

  ‘Sí’

  ‘And you expect it to get us five hundred miles to Ecuador?’

  ‘Sí, no hay problema.’

  Archer’s faith not renewed in anyway by Juan-just-Juan’s information, got aboard and stowed all his gear.

  ‘How long ‘til I have to drop?’

  ‘Oh you do not need to drop, I will land on the sea it is a calm night, you can get out, and then I will take off for my main delivery.’

  ‘You speak really good English.’

  ‘Of course.’ Juan-just-Juan smiled.

  Archer was about to ask what delivery, but saw the plastic wrapped bundles behind his gear, stacked to the ceiling, and thought better of it.

  The Albatross, which to Archer looked more like a large duck, roared into life, its twin prop engines puttering above either side of the cockpit. He sat in the right hand fur covered seat, flicking the hula dancer doll glued to the instrument panel. Juan adjusted the controls and then reached for the throttles above, the plane raced across the water, blasted through the waves from the wake of a nearby container ship. Archer was happy he had strapped himself in, without restraints he would have been bashed unconscious. The plane lifted off the sea and the noise reduced, just the gentle purring of the throttled back engines, Juan climbed to just a few hundred feet, and appeared to radar as a tourist or local, flying down the coast.

  Archer settled down, the journey would take the aging seaplane a sedate three hours it would be after sunset when he arrived. He called his Dad’s satellite phone, Paul had given him the number. Archer was hesitant, not talking to his father for months, since his mother’s death. He had been in Afghanistan when it happened.

  Bagram airbase was his home for six months. It was dawn; overnight rain had quelled the dust, spattering the overlooking mountains in white. The snow reflected the sunlight, pink mountains over orange hills, a surreal sight. The Afghan sun heated up, warmed the damp roofs of the B-huts, steam rose as the water dissipated. The design of his quarters was remarkably similar to the huts shown on the Manhattan project in World War 2; however they had the luxury of small air conditioning units on stilts by the front. He walked out onto the porch, just three wooden pallets nailed together; a fold out chair next to the red cylinder fire extinguisher provided a good reading place. The porch was dusty, and someone had left a black brush there, a hint to anyone depositing dust as they entered. The ubiquitous grey gravel of the base lead down the row of huts, he could see twenty down each side of their ‘street’. Another Ranger approached him, ‘Archer Captain’s hut, ASAP.’

  Archer quickly dressed in his fatigues and double-timed to the hut.

  He knew something was wrong from the Captains face, and the officer got straight to the point, ‘Archer I am sorry to inform you that your mother had died. I am sorry for your loss.’

  There was the usual paperwork, taken care of immediately, and Archer was on the next available transport plane out of Bagram, heading for Germany, and then onto the United States. Within less than two days he was back in Wyoming, at the ranch, his first home.

  No dust here, and not much sun, the wind bringing in fresh rain from the mountains. It smelled so different, fresh, and green; if green had a smell. Whatever his senses told him, it felt familiar, welcoming, his mother had helped create those feelings over many happy years.

  He saw Katherine at the sheriff’s office; she had found his mother, dealt with all this days ago. She hugged him, told him what she found, and that Anita looked peaceful. The funeral was the following day, and his father would be there, ‘you mean Dad was not here when she died?’

  ‘No I called the institute, they said he was in the Arctic and could not be contacted, radio was out?’

  ‘So she was alone when she died?’

  ‘Yes, when I found her, there was no one here.’

  ‘I don’t believe he left her, I had to go, but he had a choice, he could have stayed!’

  ‘Your Dad wasn’t to know. Your mother would have made him go anyway. She always said he cluttered up the place.’

  Archer laughed, that was true; on the rare occasions his father was home, he messed up the whole routine. They all laughed about it, saying he should go back exploring and leave them to get on with it.

  Katherine interrupted Archers thought, ‘I think all that ribbing we did when we were kids, he actually listened to it.’

  ‘Maybe, but even so, he should have stayed.’

  ‘You cannot blame him for this, your mother survived cancer once, and she had five good years, just some battles cannot be won.’

  Archer was silent; he knew Katherine was right, that his mother’s death was inevitable, the cancer spreading to her liver. Inoperable she had told him, the doctors said two months, she had lasted six, but a ghost of her former self.

  It was not his father’s fault, but Archer wanted someone to blame for h
is pain, and Jacob was an easy target. The funeral was the last time they had spoken, and the words were unkind.

  Despite the bitterness he still felt towards Jacob, the threat Enzi posed was far greater, and he had to protect his father. The phone rang and the familiar tones responded, ‘Hello, Jacob here.’

  ‘Dad, its Archer. I need to warn you about….’

  The phone cut out, Archer removed it from his ear. The display showed good reception, but the destination was unavailable. He hung up and retried getting nothing. He called Paul to try. He got no response, ‘Sorry Archer, must be bad connection?’

  ‘No Paul, if I was going to attack, first job, cut off the communications. I’ll get back to you.’

  He went to check and prepare his gear. Benito had loaded up some nice kit, it was like being back in the army, and he wondered briefly where he obtained it. He had a semi inflatable boat, like a small zodiac, rigid sides; diving gear including flippers and a rebreather for extended stealth dives. M4 carbine with sound suppressor and a variety of optics for day and night use. This combined with his HK23 handgun would allow him to tackle most enemies, more than a match for Enzi and his men.

  Within one hour he had stripped, cleaned and tested all his kit, firing some rounds out of a side window. Juan was unhappy about it, but knew better than to argue with an armed passenger. Archer was suited up ready for his drop off when Juan called him forward. ‘There is a problem, I cannot land off the coast, there is a Navy patrol. I will have to drop you further out.’

  ‘How much further out?’

  ‘Well instead of two miles, it will be six miles. That gives me time to take off before the Navy can get to me.’

  ‘What are you going to tell them, engine trouble?’

  ‘Yes, but if I am two miles, they will hear me, and know my engines are fine, further out I can tell them I have made repairs.’

  ‘Okay looks like I have a longer paddle, drop me so I don’t drift into them with the wind, and thanks Juan.’