Within the Dead Space

by Hutchens, Gary

  Chaco enjoyed walking the streets of Lima during the next few days. Several times he thought he was being followed. He would turn around quickly and every so often catch someone staring at him. He didn’t know what to think.

  One morning Chaco noticed a small shop that dealt with the buying and selling of rare coins. He entered and wandered about the shop. Everything was under glass but he could see several gold coins.

  “Do you buy gold coins?” Chaco asked hesitantly.

  “I might. Let me see what you have.”

  Chaco pulled the coin from his pocket.

  The shop owner weighed and examined the coin closely. It weighed 1.5 ounces. “Where did you get this coin?”

  Chaco had already made up a story to use. “I found it in the mountains around Cuzco.”

  “How many do you have?”

  “Just this one.”

  “I’ll give you thirty nuevo sol.”

  “It is worth much more than that. Thank you, I’ll go somewhere else.” He reached down and picked up the coin.

  “Wait a minute,” the shop owner spoke up excitedly. “Let’s talk.”

  “I have to get a lot more for this coin and I want it in American dollars. I know that an ounce of gold is selling for 430 US.”

  “You sure seem to know a lot about gold prices. Tell you what I’ll do…..I’ll give you 200 US for the coin. Just because gold is selling for 430 an ounce doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll get for it.”

  Chaco thought for a minute. I could probably get more somewhere else, but I’m not sure of that. “I’ll take it.”

  The shopkeeper pulled out his cash box. “If you find any more of these, I’ll buy all you’ve got. Any chance you have a few more right now?”

  “I have no more,” said Chaco, even though he knew where there were thousands. He looked closely at the American money to be sure that it was real and then left the shop.

  The shop owner was examining the gold coin and mumbling under his breath, “I’ve never seen a coin like this before, it must be worth thousands,” when two brutish looking men entered. He quickly hid the coin.

  “What was that kid doing in here?” one of them asked in a threatening voice.

  “None of your business.”

  “I’m going to ask you one more time and I either get a good answer or else.”

  The shop owner stared at the two men. He fondled the gun under the counter. The two men weren’t standing together and it would get ugly very quickly if he pulled the gun out.

  “He brought in a coin to sell,” the shop owner responded.

  “Let’s see it.”

  With trepidation he opened his hand to reveal the coin and at the same time gripped the hidden gun more firmly in his other hand.

  The man who had been doing the talking looked closely at the coin in the man’s hand. “Is it gold?”

  “Yes,” he gripped the gun tighter.

  “What do you know about the coin? How old is it?”

  “I would say around fifteenth or sixteenth century.”

  “Is it rare?”

  “Very rare.”

  “Would that be during the time of the Inca?”

  “Yes it would.”

  The stranger pulled a camera from his pocket. “I’m sure you won’t mind if I take a picture.” He took a picture of the front and the back of the coin.

  “If he comes back, you call me at this number,” and he handed the shop owner a card with a number on it and forty nuevo sol. They turned and walked out of the shop. When Sanchez was out the door he called Dr. Ortiz.

  “You’re right, Ortiz, he’s got some gold and it appears to be Inca gold. What do you want us to do?”

  “Wait until dark, then pick him up and bring him to the warehouse. Don’t take him if he’s at the school. If you can’t get him tonight, we’ll get him tomorrow. Call me as soon as you know something.”

  Chapter 18

  Chaco was excited to have the American money. He felt rich as he hurried down the street. It was getting late in the afternoon and he wanted to be back at the school before dark. Professor Manuel warned Chaco to be off the streets of Lima before dark. The professor was going to be gone several days and wouldn’t see Chaco until the day before they were to go to the United States.

  Chaco hurried along unaware that two dangerous men were stalking him. He would stop every once in a while to look in a store window but otherwise was taking the professor’s advice and getting back to the school before dark.

  If only he hadn’t seen the movie theatre. He had never been to a movie before. He felt the money in his pocket, noticed the night slowly descending on the city and gave the theatre cashier a US dollar.

  “We can’t cash that. Do you have any nuevo sol?”

  “No.”

  “Sorry, we can’t take American.”

  Chaco really wanted to see the movie. “The dollar is worth three nuevo sol. If you let me in, you don’t have to give me any change. You’ll make two nuevo sol.”

  The cashier looked around to see if anybody was looking and put the dollar in her pocket and said, “Go ahead.”

  The movie had just started as Chaco walked down the aisle. He found an empty seat and was mesmerized for the next two hours. The bright lights…..sounds…..colors…..and real life movement across the screen captivated Chaco. He didn’t notice that two men had taken seats two rows behind him.

  With a couple of minutes left in the movie the two men slipped out of the theatre without Chaco noticing.

  Chaco watched the hero in the movie save the girl from drowning in the river and then the movie was over. He followed the small crowd of people from the theatre. The first thing he noticed was that it was night. The city was alive. The streets were full of cars. He felt exhilarated.

  Why didn’t the professor want me out at night? The city is so alive.

  Without a moment’s notice, the two men jumped Chaco as he walked past the alley entrance. He started to fight until something hit him on the head and everything went dark.

  Chapter 19

  They threw a bucket of water in Chaco’s face. He tried to roll away from the water but his hands were bound behind his back with another rope tying him to a pipe running down the interior wall of the warehouse. He couldn’t get his eyes open. His head felt like it was about to burst. A sharp kick to his legs, and then another and Chaco’s eyes slightly opened.

  Everything was spinning as he tried to regain consciousness. He felt sick to his stomach and then the pain to his head returned. His head slowly moved one way and then another as he mumbled, Ohhhhhh.

  “What did you guys do to him?” Dr. Ortiz looked closely at Chaco’s head. “You nearly killed him. Don’t you guys have any sense? How do we find the gold without him? Leave him alone for a few minutes and then throw some more water in his face. Don’t kick him again,” Ortiz stared at the two men.

  A few minutes later Chaco began coming around. “Jorge, get Ortiz,” Sanchez yelled to the other man in the warehouse.

  Chaco’s eyes cleared and he could see a large man standing over him next to a table and a couple of chairs. His head still hurt but it was bearable. He tried to struggle against the ropes. He remembered seeing this man several times on the streets of Lima. He had felt that he was being followed and it had turned out to be true. He looked across the warehouse floor and could see two more men approaching.

  Wait a minute Chaco thought, that’s Dr. Ortiz. “Doctor, what is going on?”

  “Sorry Chaco that these men were so rough with you. They weren’t supposed to hurt you. I just wanted to talk to you and they got carried away. They were to protect you and keep you safe. They will both be punished later. Are you feeling better?”

  “A little bit. If all of this was by mistake, then why am I tied up?”

  Ortiz hesitated for a minute and then responded. “I don’t know why you are either young man. Jorge, untie our friend here so we can talk. Sanchez, get Chaco a coke.” Ortiz followed San
chez for a short distance and whispered to him, “Get the coke and then stay behind Chaco at all times and be ready to grab him. I’ve seen kids like this and they have a knack for getting away.”

  Sanchez was back shortly with the coke and hastily assumed a position behind Chaco. Jorge finished untying him and then Dr. Ortiz and Chaco sat down at the table.

  “Chaco, my friend, I wanted to talk to you about the Inca. You have shown such a great understanding of their ways and you seem to possess a lot of unknown information about them. Do you suppose that you would share some of that information with me? As you know, I am the Cultural Minister of Peru and many of our fellow Peruvians are very interested in our forefathers. Can you help me Chaco?”

  What’s going on here, Chaco thought to himself before speaking. Ortiz’s gold tooth staring at him was all he could think about for the moment. A few seconds later he responded, “Whatever you need, Dr. Ortiz, I would love to help.”

  Dr. Ortiz asked Chaco several questions about Inca customs and road building and even about their diet. Chaco answered the questions.

  “Now my young friend, I need to get to even more in depth questions. You say that you don’t know where you learned all of this information, you just know it. Is that correct?”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Well, as you must know, many of the people of Peru live in poverty and anytime there is a chance to help them we must do whatever we can. Don’t you think that is true Chaco? Don’t you want to help your fellow Peruvians?”

  “Yes, many people need help.”

  “Good, good, Chaco, you are a wonderful person. Here is what I need to know. Sanchez told me that you sold a very old and unique gold coin today. Could you tell me where you found it?”

  This is not good, Chaco thought to himself. “I, uh, uh, I’m not sure that I should tell you.”

  “Chaco, you have to tell me. Many of our people need your help and gold coins will go a long way toward helping put food on their tables. Can’t you see that?”

  “I think so,” Chaco looked about him. He had been beaten and almost killed. He was in an empty warehouse with two thugs standing behind him and a smooth talking doctor who was looking for gold. It was becoming clear to Chaco what was going on.

  “I found the coin in the mountains above Cuzco.”

  “Did you only find one coin?”

  “Yes, only one.” Chaco reached into his pocket. The American money was gone. “Where’s my money?” Chaco stared at the two men behind him.

  “Where is his money, Sanchez?” Dr. Ortiz asked as he glared at him.

  Sanchez paused for a second and then reluctantly reached in his pocket and took the money out.

  “You took money from the kid and didn’t tell me?” Jorge got right in Sanchez’s face. He was ready to fight for it.

  “Stop you two,” Ortiz screamed at them. “Now give Chaco his money.”

  Sanchez didn’t want to but feared Ortiz enough to back down and laid the money on the table.

  Chaco grabbed it and put it in his pocket. He slid his chair away from the two men.

  “Chaco, let’s get back to what we were talking about. Do you think there are any more coins where you found the first one?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Could you find the spot where you found this one?”

  “I can’t remember,” Chaco was becoming exceedingly insolent.

  “Oh, come on my good friend, you can tell us.”

  “I want to go back to the school,” and he started to rise from the table.

  Ortiz looked at Sanchez who immediately jumped behind Chaco and grabbed him. Sanchez was a large man and once he threw his arms around Chaco, he was helpless. Sanchez held Chaco in a death grip until Ortiz signaled him to let go.

  Chaco stared at Ortiz. There was no doubt now. They wanted the gold and they would kill him for it.

  “I’m sorry Chaco that things have gotten off to such a bad start. Tomorrow, we are going to Cuzco and you are going with us. I am counting on you showing us where you found the gold coin,” Ortiz glared at Chaco with his hateful eyes. “You are going to help us find the spot. Aren’t you Chaco?”

  Chaco looked about him, realizing that he was trapped for now and had to play along. “I will help you but I don’t think there are any more. When I found this one I searched for others and couldn’t find any.”

  “Just as long as you show us where you found this one, then all will be fine. I don’t want to hurt you.” Ortiz signaled Sanchez to grab Chaco again while Jorge tied him to the pipe. “We will leave in the morning.”

  Chaco could see that it was getting dark outside. He must have been passed out for a long time. He tried to think what he was going to do tomorrow but the pain in his head returned with a vengeance.

  A memory that he had never had before flashed in his mind, I know where we hid the gold near Cuzco.

  Chapter 20

  The next morning they carried Chaco with his hands tied behind his back to the car and threw him in the trunk and slammed the lid and drove off. Instantly, nightmares of being trapped from Chaco’s past overwhelmed him.

  “Let me out! Let me out!” Chaco screamed at the top of his voice. “Dr. Ortiz, please let me out.” There was quiet for a brief moment and then the screaming began again.

  The driver slammed on the brakes and a few seconds later the trunk lid opened. “Shut up you little bastard or I’ll kill you right now,” screamed Sanchez.

  “Kill me then. Kill me, just don’t shut the lid.” Sanchez slammed the trunk lid.

  Ten seconds later Chaco screamed, “Help, I’m being kidnapped! Help me!”

  “Stop the car,” screamed Ortiz over Chaco’s screaming, “and put him in the back seat.”

  The trunk lid opened again and Sanchez and Jorge grabbed Chaco out of the trunk and threw him in the back seat. Jorge climbed in the backseat with him and pulled out his gun. “One more word out of you and I’ll kill you on the spot.”

  Chaco’s mind and heart continued to race but he was sure of one thing, he would rather be dead than left in that trunk. Chaco didn’t make a sound for the rest of the trip. He could see out the window and wondered where they were going.

  An hour later they pulled into the airport. Chaco saw lots of people around and thought for a moment he might get a chance to escape. The car continued through the drop off area and at the end of the terminal turned onto the tarmac and drove toward several small planes a short distance away. There was nobody around. The two men pulled Chaco from the car and pulled him onto the plane. As before, Jorge sat next to him with his gun buried in Chaco’s side.

  “Where are we going?” asked Chaco. The first words he had said in an hour.

  Dr. Ortiz turned around and looked at Chaco. “We are going to Cuzco where you are going to show us where you found the gold coin. Also, you might be thinking about the gold that was part of the quipus you analyzed the other day. It was obvious that you were lying. You had best tell us everything when we get to Cuzco or you won’t survive the rest of the day. I hope you understand me, Chaco. No more games. We want the gold.” He turned back around and the plane turned out onto the runway and began to pick up speed.

  Chaco was overjoyed with the thought of flying. He had already flown once with his wings and he loved it. He sat glued to the window and cruised as if he was part of the plane as it sailed over and around the Andes.

  Sanchez had to navigate through several difficult mountain passes and then snowcapped Mount Salkantay was staring Chaco in the eye. For several minutes Chaco had memories of Salkantay. He saw his ancestors running through the mountain passes carrying messages and goods to other parts of the empire. He longed for those times. His memory of the trails and landmarks were as good as when he was there five hundred years earlier.

  The pilot turning the plane to line up on the runway brought Chaco back to the present. They had been in the air about eighty minutes. The plane glided to the ground below. Sanchez landed the air
craft with great skill and taxied to a nearby hangar.

  How could such a rotten person be so skilled, thought Chaco? The aircraft came to a stop. Chaco felt the gun in his side as the door was opened. There wasn’t anybody in the hangar but the three of them. Sanchez hurried over and got the car.

  He pulled up next to them and they climbed out. “Throw him in the trunk,” screamed Sanchez. Jorge grabbed Chaco and started dragging him toward the trunk.

  A big smile came across Sanchez face. “Can’t you take a joke, Chaco? Where’s your sense of humor?” All three men started laughing. Chaco thought it was sick.

  They put Chaco in the back seat and drove off.

  Chapter 21

  “Okay Chaco, we are in Cuzco. Now tell me where you found the gold coin,” ordered Dr. Ortiz.

  “Follow the narrow road ahead up to the Inca ancestral grounds. Up there,” he pointed, “... it’s about two miles.” Chaco had never been in Cuzco before and yet he knew exactly where to go. He didn’t question his knowledge. Ever since his experience at the cave his understanding of the Inca was surprisingly accurate.

  They parked at the edge of a large field named Sacsayhuaman. They had climbed a thousand feet since arriving in Cuzco and were at 12,000 feet above sea level. They had been at sea level just a couple of hours earlier. Elevation sickness was a definite concern for most people at this elevation.

  Along one side of the field were several large blocks of stone placed together and they appeared to have been used as a defense mechanism against invaders. Some of the stones weighed 130 tons and they were expertly fitted together such that even a sheet of paper couldn’t fit between them. This was an amazing construction technique used by the Inca civilization.

  Sanchez pulled Chaco from the car and untied him while Jorge kept a gun pointed at him. It was a clear crisp morning and everyone put on a jacket.

  Quickly, they were ready to go. Chaco took the lead with Jorge second with his gun drawn.

  In the middle of the field Chaco stopped and faced in the direction of a small hill that he knew to be the Inca throne. He went down on one knee and bowed his head. He was in a temple that had been built in celebration to Inti, the Sun God, and the most important god of the Inca. Chaco with absolute clarification understood at that moment that he was the Sapa Inca, the unique Inca.