Jacques smiled over the name as he looked at this man, his grandson, who stood before him preparing to save the world. He remembered him as the child, the boy, the man. . . . He knew a new love in that moment, one of complete unconditional love.
“So which rock are you?” Jonathan looked around.
Jacques chuckled in response. . . . So like himself.
“Did you just laugh?” Jonathan asked, shaking water from his ear.
“Oui,” Jacques said.
“Yeah,” Jonathan nodded happily, “I can hear you now.”
“Follow me,” Jacques said as he led him along the bank further back inside the cave. The sides of the cave came together forming a narrow opening. The ceiling dropped down to it, and Jonathan had to duck in order to follow Jacques through it on the narrow ledge. On the other side, the cave opened into a huge cavern. Light from an opening in the roof shown down, turning the large pool a light aqua blue color.
In the center of the pool, directly beneath the hole, stood a large obsidian stone. The light shining on it made the rock itself glow with golden highlights, just like the knife had shimmered under the light. The whole cavern was made from obsidian infused with what appeared to be gold.
Jonathan stood where he was, looking at the splendor the gods had created. “So this is “El Dorado?”
“Oui.”
Jonathan opened the knapsack and took out the box. “Guess we shouldn’t open this until we’re over there. What with the glowing eye thing, who knows what the hell will happen.”
Jacques chuckled, agreeing with him.
The pool was shallow enough to walk through, coming up to Jonathan’s waist. He looked down at his feet where golden objects littered the bottom of the pool. It looked like offerings had been showered down on the stone in the middle for several millennia. “The road is indeed paved with gold.”
“It’s something more precious than gold,” Earl said.
Both Jacques and Jonathan turned to see Earl and his group of men standing on the other side of the pool.
The water had washed the blood from their bodies, and Jacques could now see them. Almost paralyzed with fear, he watched the woman he loved in that evil bastard’s clutches. Her eyes were pinned on his. “Do not harm her,” Jacques growled.
Earl was holding Jessie up against him, a knife to her throat. Her hands had been bound, tied in front of her.
“It’s the essence of the universe itself, the blood of the gods. A living rock with veins of gold,” Earl said, ignoring Jacques as he half dragged Jessie with him. “Throw me the dagger,” he demanded.
“Where is Patricia?” Jonathan asked.
“Ah, so you do care.” Earl signaled with his head. “I thought you might.”
Another man holding a knife to Patricia’s throat came forward. “You see,” Earl said. “I have my bases covered either way.” His laughter echoed throughout the cavern.
“You don’t want to do this,” Jonathan said. He glanced at Jacques whose eyes had changed color, his face becoming half beast-half man.
“Yes. . . . I do.” Earl chuckled. “Toss me the sack . . . . Now!” he yelled. Patricia whimpered in pain as the knife cut her skin. Jonathan cast a glance toward Jacques before he threw the pack over the water to Earl.
“I know who you really are,” Jonathan said. “You won’t get away with this. They will find you.”
“I know who you are too,” Earl sneered. “And I no longer need you.”
“You’ll never get away with this,” Jonathan said.
“I already have,” Earl said, looking up at the light. “The gods have deemed it.” He chuckled, “and you all played a key role to help them.” He laughed again as he signaled one of his men to open the knapsack.
Jacques moved slightly.
“Stay where you are or she’s dead,” Earl warned. He briefly looked down as the man pulled the box out. “Don’t open it yet.” Looking back up, Earl fixed his sights on Jacques. “Touch the stone.”
“No,” Jessie said.
“Shut-up,” Earl said as he jerked her. “What will it be, hero?” He started to cut her. Jacques reached out and touched the stone, partially becoming one with it.
“You know, I dug up Theodore’s treasure box almost twenty years ago,” Earl said. “It held half a treasure map and a note that took me ages to decode.” He chuckled. “It said the key was the secret to finding the other half.”
Jessie felt tears fill her eyes as she watched Jacques trapped within the stone.
“Even the enchantress couldn’t answer that one,” Earl said. “But she told me everything I needed to know to defeat you-the jaguar warrior.” He spit tobacco. “It was a pity she had to die.” He laughed. “The first sacrifice of many to come.”
“You’re insane,” Jonathan said.
Earl laughed. “I shall honor the gods as they deem and in return be made one of them. He motioned for the box to be lifted up, and when the man opened it, Earl reverently lifted out the dagger. “The sacred knife of Tezcatlipoca,” he breathed. “This holds the power of the universe.”
“You are one sick puppy,” Jonathan said.
Incensed, Earl took a deep breath and held the knife up. “Kneel,” he ordered Jonathan.
Jonathan was surprised to feel the pull of some unknown force dragging him down to his knees until only his head was above water.
“I can feel the power!” Earl said as he dragged Jessie out towards the stone. “You didn’t know did you?” He laughed again. “Whoever places the knife within the stone will reign forever as a god!”
The light in the chamber started the change as he spoke, and with it the gold within the stone itself started to shimmer and move. The waters started rippling. “It is happening,” Earl said as he raised the dagger until it was poised over the stone.”
The madman’s eyes grew wide as the swirling ripple became a large anaconda which wrapped itself around both Jessie and him, pulling them both down into the water.
Earl surfaced, the sacred blade keeping the serpent at bay. He stood up, the dagger still in his hand.
Jonathan swam beneath the water and grabbed him, dragging him down again as they grappled for the knife.
The man holding Patricia was thrown back by an invisible force, his eyes growing large as the jaguar warrior ripped his throat out.
Jacques quickly sent the other two men that were with Earl to their deaths. He looked back to see Jessie gasping for breath as she fought with the giant serpent. Jacques rushed over to her, becoming one with the snake as he had the chieftain, forcing it to unwind its tight coils, setting Jessie free.
Jonathan punched Earl in the face, dazing him. The light was directly overhead as he took the knife from Earl’s hand and ran to the stone.
Jacques looked back to see Jonathan, knowing what would happen to him if he succeeded as surely as it had happened to him. He would be trapped forever, a prisoner to the stone as he himself had been, only this time with the knife in place he’d be permanently locked inside. He couldn’t allow his grandson to sacrifice himself and flew to the stone, merging with it.
“No,” Earl cried out as he crawled toward the stone, reaching out for his dreams, his destiny. He touched it.
Jonathan plunged the knife into the top of the stone just as light from the center of the universe itself hit the dagger, sending shards of golden light out of the hilt and through the stone with such force that the men were all thrown into the water.
Patricia reached Jessie in the water and pulled her up onto the rocks. “Oh, my God, you were serious,” she said, holding Jessie as she coughed.
Jonathan surfaced from the water, breathing hard. His eyes glowed with the same golden intensity as the stone as he half-crawled, half-swam toward them. “Thank God you’re alright,” he said, touching Patricia before he collapsed. “Where is Jacques?
Jessie stared with tears in her eyes as the light withered within the stone. “Jacques,” she cried.
Believe in me. She remembered
him saying.
“I do,” she cried, closing her eyes imagining him beside her.
She opened her eyes to see another man emerge from the waters gasping for breath. Jessie could hardly believe her eyes when she stared not through, but at Jacques. He stood and then collapsed into the water. Jessie waded out to him. He was floating on his back looking at the ceiling at what looked like stars glowing and universe trapped in stone.
“I’m free,” he said as he stood on shaky legs looking at Jessie. He reached out to her, enfolding her in his arms.
“Jacques,” Jessie cried. “Am I dreaming? I can’t believe you’re real.”
“And I can’t believe you finally learned how to dream.” He laughed before his lips claimed hers in a kiss that made all the stars in all the universe burn brighter.
Chapter 18
“I thought we made it in time,” Jessie said, looking over at the stone. She could see the image of Earl trapped within it. “Does this mean he’s now the jaguar god?” she asked, looking back at Jacques who was smiling happily.
“Oui.”
“Why are you smiling?” Jessie asked. “I thought that was a bad thing.”
“It is for him,” Jacques said, looking back at his former tomb. The light still swirled and moved across it. “He is a god in his own very small universe,” Jacques said. “Something Earl didn’t know is that with the dagger in the stone, he is trapped, sealed forever.”
“You knew that would happen?”
“I thought it was to be my sacrifice.” Jacques turned serious eyes on her. “I don’t know why the stone chose to set me free.”
“And yet you still did it,” she said to him.
“Oui.” Jacques nodded. “Thanks to you and my grandson I have come to know a love greater than myself.”
“Maybe that is why,” Jessie said as the ground under their feet started to tremble.
“I think this time the gates of hell are going to be closed forever,” Jacques said as stones from the top of the cavern started to fall into the water. “Let’s get out of here.”
Jacques helped Jessie to the stone bank.
“You ready to go home, Gramps?” Jonathan clasped Jacques’s hand, pulling him the rest of the way out of the water.
“We need a new name, oui?” Jacques looked at him. After Jonathan released his hand, he shook it. “That is one powerful grip.”
“Guess I don’t know my own strength, old man.” Jonathan laughed heartily until a stone the size of a football fell on his head. The stone broke in half, leaving Jonathan unhurt. “That’s weird.” He picked up a stone and crumbled it in his hand.
“I guess now all you really do need is a hammer,” Jessie said as Patricia looked on in wonder at the rock and then at the man dressed as a pirate.
“Let’s play with your super powers later, oui?” Jacques said, leading Jessie toward the opening of the cavern. As they passed through it, Jacques looked back to the place he’d been imprisoned and saw the giant serpent wrapped around the base of the stone. Rock was still falling from the top of the cavern. A large boulder fell from the ceiling, closing off the entrance. He turned away, looking toward the opening of the cave to his new future. . . . He was free at last.
As they approached the sunlight streaming in through the front of the cave, Jonathan turned to him. “You’re not going to turn into dust when the sunlight hits you, are you?”
Jacques looked at him. There was real concern in his eyes.
“I mean, I don’t want to lose you now that I’ve found you,” Jonathan said, looking mildly uncomfortable over this new feeling for another man, especially one who looked his own age.
“Who is this man?” Patricia finally asked, still somewhat shocked over the whole save the world thing. “Where did he even come from?” She looked at Jacques, her feelings about the budding bro-mance apparent.
Jacques, Jessie, and Jonathan all began to laugh over her bewilderment.
Jacques wrapped his arm over the big guy’s shoulders, roughing him up a bit before letting him go.
“Be careful, Grandpa,” Jonathan said as they walked into the Sun together. “I think I could seriously crush you without meaning to.”
“Why do you keep calling this guy your grandpa?”
“I like her.” Jacques nodded.
Jessie smiled. Patricia was looking at Jonathan, as Ricky Riccardo looked at Lucy. . . . You’ve got some 'splaining to do!
The warrior guides who had remained waited nervously as the cave-in made them tremble.
“Let’s go home, Oui?” Jacques said as he took Jessie’s hand and walked with her out of Eden.
~*~
They were welcomed back into the village like returning warriors who had prevailed in the battle of good versus evil. . . . Which, Jessie thought, is exactly who we are!
“Where is my mother?” Jessie asked the old woman when she was not among those celebrating their return.
“She is here,” the old woman said.
“How is your son?” Jessie asked the woman.
“He is well thanks to you.” She nodded. “He is in my care now.”
“I have a new patient for you,” Jessie said. “Your shaman has lost a lot of blood, but I believe he will recover.”
Jessie looked back to see the gurney he was on being taken inside the large hut, remembering when they had returned to the boats and found him still alive. She had dressed his wounds and done the best she could for him.
“You have my gratitude,” the old woman said. She then looked at the rest of the weary travelers. Her gaze lingered on Jacques. She nodded in acknowledgement. “Will you join us in the celebration as our honored guest?”
“We need to head back home,” Jonathan inserted, like a man who had a plane to catch. “If we drive, we can make it to the plane by ten tonight.”
The old woman nodded again. “Safe journey to you,” she said, sweeping her arm toward the open hut in the center of the village. “The mother goddess is this way.” She led them to a large gazebo just beyond the big hut.
As they came closer, Jessie could see the children and women gathered around a golden figure that sat on a throne-like chair.
“Oh, you’re back,” Gloria called out, waving.
“Holy mother of. . . . Mom!” Jessie gasped. Her mother was painted yellow from head to foot. Jessie’s hand flew to her mouth. Her mother looked like a human banana. “What happened?”
“Someone dyed Mother Goose yellow,” Jonathan said. “That’s what happened.”
“Thanks,” Jessie looked at him like the observation was unnecessary, “I got that visual.”
“She looks like a Chiquita banana.” Jonathan chuckled as Gloria put the child who had been on her lap down and stood up. “Oh, my God!” He stopped in his tracks next to Jacques who stood frozen at the sight. They both immediately turned their backs.
“Very good, but it’s goddess,” her mom said. “I was wondering if you’d know who they were making me up as. They are preparing me for a special ceremony.”
They had painted a wide red stripe across her eyes that looked like a masque. Spots had been painted on her hands and feet, going up her arms and legs. . . . She was also wearing their traditional wardrobe, which was nothing except a tiny loin cloth thingy!
“You can have a make-over next.” Gloria smiled then leaned over to whisper, “I am the Earth mother goddess.”
Jessie noticed her mother swayed on her feet and was especially loopy. “Ah, Mom,” she said. “Where are your clothes?”
“I’m wearing,” her mom said looking down, “I was sure I was wearing something.” She looked somewhat baffled. “I’m dressed like the other women, aren’t I? And as they say, when in Rome, right?” She lifted her hand and announced. “After all, I am the liaison.”
Patricia procured a red wrap from the corner area and handed it to Jessie. “Mom, let’s get you covered.” She threw it over her mom’s head and guided her by the shoulders away from the women. Consi
dering she’d been left as a hostage, Jessie was afraid some type of sacrifice was in store. “I’m sorry, but we can’t stay for it.” Jessie led her mother off of the platform, passing the men, who fell into step behind them.
“Are you sure we can’t stay?” her mother asked.
“Yep.” Jessie nodded. She walked out to the Jeep and once she had her mother safely seat belted into the passenger side, she let the others know they were ready to leave.
“Let’s go, Chiquita,” Jonathan tapped the hood to indicate a done deal and dented it. “Oops.” He smiled apologetically at the guide who was sitting in the driver’s seat. “Insurance should cover that.” He turned away and nonchalantly opened the door to the other Jeep. The handle came off in his hand.”
Jacques took the back seat next to Jessie, and Patricia had to ride in the back of the other Jeep with all of her luggage. She tossed the makeup bag out, making more room for herself, and earning a hearty laugh from Jonathan.
~*~
Ding-Dong!
“Merry Christmas!” Jessie called out as she went to open the front door. The man on the veranda adjusted his sweater and straightened his bow-tie. “Dad!” Jessie threw open the door and hugged him.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, a little taken aback by Jessie’s exuberant welcome.
“Come in!” Jessie said.
“He remained where he was, looking a little uncomfortable. “I would like to but,” he cleared his throat, “I think I should speak with your mother first.”
“Dad, it’s Christmas,” Jessie said. “Please come in, at least off the front porch.”
Jessie stepped back to poke her head into the living room where her mother, Jacques, Jonathan, his mother, and Patricia, sat in front of the tree, eggnog in hand. “Mother, you are wanted at the door. . . . It’s Dad.” She pointed.
“I’ll be right there,” her mother said. She stood, straightening the spotted leopard print serape she was wearing, and patted her hair, which was still bright yellow. “Excuse me,” she whispered as she stepped around Duke. The dachshund was curled on the floor asleep on Jacques’s foot.
“I can’t get over how much he likes you,” Mavis said. “He never does that to strangers.”
Treasure of the Jaguar Warrior - Mystery of the Mayan Calendar Page 19
