Within the Dead Space
Page 24
The crowd eventually calmed down and waited patiently for Chaco to speak.
Chaco was scared and wasn’t sure what to say. He climbed on a small platform that had been quickly assembled. He tried to smile but the situation had drained him of his energy. He looked tired as he took the microphone and began to talk.
“My fellow Peruvians,” he said in a weak voice. “It is time to remember those who came before us.” He had just finished the last word when suddenly a heavy unyielding voice boomed out over the microphone, “Life demands that at least once in your life you take a stand and demand what is right. Peru is Inca and Inca lives within us all. Inti has told us what to do and we shall follow his command. Atruca will be saved. The memories of Inca shall remain buried at this sacred site and all of Peru shall prosper. Mancos has spoken,” growled the voice.
Mancos, the First Inca, had taken over Chaco’s body and delivered a sermon that had overwhelmed the crowd. They fell to their knees and prayed to the great Sun God.
Chaco could hardly walk. He stumbled off the platform and mingled into the crowd.
Dr. Ortiz and his thugs reached the platform too late. Chaco had already disappeared into the crowd.
Chapter 78
Chaco awoke the next morning on the outskirts of Atruca. None of those around him had any idea who he was and treated him accordingly. From where he sat he could see across the Atruca landscape at the endless sea of protesters who still remained. The Inca heritage had been saved, at least for now.
He climbed to his feet and started walking. Two hours later he caught a bus to take him home. He was going back to the small town in the middle of nowhere. He got off the bus and eagerly walked the additional two hours to reach his small adobe shed.
It was getting dark as he crawled into his house and barricaded the doorway. He was home and glad to be there. He had no food and no friends but he had the memories of his time with his little brother, Marco, to give him comfort.
For a few days everything was fine until one chilly afternoon while Chaco was sitting on a hillside above his small abode he saw the impossible…..Dr. Ortiz and his two men walked up to his home and entered.
They had found him.
For several hours he watched Ortiz and his men survey the area before leaving late in the evening. Chaco had found a tall tree and climbed to the highest point and spent the night up there.
Early the next morning when Chaco awoke, Ortiz with his men had already returned. Chaco climbed down the tree and sneaked to the small town nearby to steal some food.
He was standing near Pasquez’s house when he saw something he couldn’t believe. Chaco inched even closer. It was Marco.
He was about to call out to his little brother when Pasquez walked into view and shoved Marco to the ground. Chaco didn’t move. When Pasquez struck Marco that was all it took. Chaco ran from his hiding place and grabbed his little brother to protect him.
“Stop!” Chaco raised his arm to Pasquez. “No more. Walk away and you will live the rest of the day.”
Marco couldn’t believe it. They had told him Chaco was dead. Everyone had lied to him. His small heart could hardly grasp what was going on.
Pasquez picked up a shovel and rushed forward. He had forgotten about their last encounter.
Chaco grabbed a large stick and deflected the first blow and then delivered a harsh blow to Pasquez’s gut bringing him to his knees. Chaco picked up the shovel and was about to swing it at Pasquez’s head when Marco grabbed his arm.
“Chaco, let’s go. We’re free.”
Chaco turned toward Marco and all the hate and vengeance disappeared as fast as it had come on. He dropped the shovel and they both ran off.
“I know what we will do,” said Chaco. “I know where there’s a beautiful little valley that we can live in and be safe.
They continued walking until they reached the cliff where Chaco had originally hidden his wing. They paralleled the cliff until evening approached. They found a small cave and tried to sleep. Early the next morning they were awakened by someone talking in the distance.
“Listen, do you hear that?” asked Marco.
“I hear it. Don’t worry little brother, I know what to do.”
Chaco tried to make it appear that they had started climbing down the face of the wall right there.
“Chaco, don’t get too close. You’ll fall.”
Chaco left quickly with his brother for his final destination where they were really going to climb down the cliff wall. It was almost like a forced march but they finally got there. Chaco was still concerned that the men might still be following. They rested for an hour and then he had Marco climb on his back at the edge of the cliff.
“I’m scared, Chaco.”
“I’ll take care of you. Just hold on tight.”
They slithered over the cliff wall and slowly began the long descent to the secret valley below. Chaco climbed toward a small overhang about thirty feet down.
He had just climbed underneath it when the men did arrive. They lined the cliff face looking down below.
“There’s no way they went that way,” said Pasquez.
The men continued to strain their eyes looking for anything out of the ordinary.
“I’m not so sure,” said Dr. Ortiz. “I’ve seen him climb before and he’s able to do the impossible.”
“Look over here,” shouted one of the men.
They all rushed over to him.
“It looks like one of them inched over the cliff here. We aren’t far behind. We should be able to see them.”
They all looked even harder below them but couldn’t see anything.
“I think Chaco is trying to trick us again, like he did earlier today. Either he went over this cliff or he tried to make us think that he did. He had the boy with him and there is no way that the kid could climb down that cliff. I would say he has doubled back and wants us to think he went over the cliff here. Quick, spread out along the trail and maybe we can still catch them,” said Ortiz.
Chaco couldn’t hear what they were saying but knew that he would have to move soon. His hands and arms were strained to the limit and they still had at least a mile of climbing ahead of them. When he couldn’t take it any longer he began down again. The climb was endless and brutal but many of those before him came to his aid and climbed in his place. Eventually, Chaco’s feet finally came to rest at his secret place far below the crest of the cliff. They both fell to the ground exhausted.
Chaco and Marco were home.
***
The search for Chaco and Marco continued for many days by Dr. Ortiz without success. However, Ortiz’s gold fever was endless and the search still continues today. The CIA’s search had only just begun.
By The Same Author
Judge, Jury & Chicken Kiev
Within the Dead Space
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