“Um, I…I was just wondering how a girl like you got up here by yourself.” Lucky had trouble putting words together. He found his mind wandering like it always did when it had been awhile since he had been to town. “I…uh, are you going to be here for a day or two?”
She laughed and it sounded like music to Lucky. “I’d like a bunk for the night, and some provisions to get me on up the mountain. Do you have separate lodging for females?”
Now it was Lucky’s turn to laugh. “We haven’t had a female at Jaguar’s Call in years. But unless someone else shows up today, which isn’t likely, you’ll be the only person in the bunkhouse tonight.”
Lynne spent that one night, began her trek up the mountain the next day and returned a week later, empty-handed. No indigenous population, no evidence of a secret Mayan library, no nothing except an exhausting five thousand foot hike, six nights in a tiny tent and a ravenous appetite for something besides granola bars and water.
She told Lucky she was still convinced that the Maya had once inhabited the mountaintop because of the area’s similarity to other sites she had explored. It made sense that the Maya rulers would have picked this place to build a city. It was on a mountaintop that could have been the site for a temple complex even grander than the majestic ruined cities of Tikal or Chichen Itza. And the stories about an ancient library had been around for hundreds of years. This was the right mountain. Everything was right for it to be the one. Lynne was certain of it.
The night she returned from the top she and Lucky had the last of his beans and rice for dinner. He explained to her that he had to go back to town for provisions soon and didn’t look forward to the journey. The camp was unattended when he was away and it always bothered him that a jaguar or other creature would vandalize the place looking for food.
They sat by the fire pit, logs blazing before them and a canopy of stars in the dark sky overhead. Insects trilled loudly all around and occasionally a grunt or growl or caw reminded them there were plenty of other things besides bugs in the jungle just outside their field of vision.
“Tell you what, Lucky. I have a proposition for you. A quid pro quo if you will. You go to town – what does it take? A week or so all said and done? I’ll stay here and mind the camp. Then when you get back I’ll be your bartender and right hand man. I’ll do whatever you want me to and every few weeks I’ll go up on the mountain and look around. Someday I’m going to find my Mayan library up there. I feel it. So whatta you say, Lucky?”
That was two months ago and since then Lucky felt his life had indeed lived up to his nickname. He brought her back some t-shirts and shorts from Melchor and she appreciated the gesture. They talked every night. He found out she was forty-five years old although she could easily have been ten years younger. She had been married and divorced long ago, had no kids and now considered herself wed to her career. She was an adjunct professor of anthropology at UCLA, on leave for a year and armed with enough grant money to get her to the jungle and home again.
She cooked the meals every day – she could make even the most basic food taste wonderful. When she served the occasional guest Lucky figured the men liked the food mostly because of the scenery. She wore tight-fitting t-shirts that hid none of the curves of her gorgeous body, since a bra was something that wasnt part of Lynne’s wardrobe.
She went up the mountain again a month later and returned empty-handed like before. She said, “I guess at least I’m narrowing down my choices. I’ve reached two dead ends. Something has to work sometime.”
One night she and Lucky were washing dishes from dinner. He had killed a peccary. The meat of the hog-like mammal wasn’t unlike ham and they had feasted on it, along with potatoes grown in a garden Lucky had planted. They even had a bottle of wine – Lucky picked up two or three every time he went into town.
Standing next to each other at the washtub, she washing and he drying, he suddenly felt her move closer to him. “So,” she said in a sultry voice, “what does Lucky want?”
He turned to her. They had not shared so much as a goodnight kiss up to this point. He was intensely attracted to her but had kept his feelings in check. She’s so much younger that even in the jungle – even with nothing else available – she’s not going to be interested in me.
“What does Lucky want?” he repeated back to her. “We agreed to always be honest with each other. So honestly, what the hell do you mean by that?”
“I want to know what Lucky wants. From me. Right now.”
“OK, Lynne. You asked. More than anything else…I want to sleep with you.”
“Wow,” she replied, turning her body into his and lifting her face. Her lips were inches from his. “Wow. That’s what I was thinking you were going to say.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him deeply.
For Lucky Buncombe that night was unlike any other. The attraction was both completely mutual and absolutely instant. “First, we shower,” Lynne laughed. “We can do it together or separately.”
“If you’re looking for my vote, I say together.”
“Then it’s unanimous.” They walked outside to the crude shower Lucky had built. Clothes came off quickly. Completely naked, she deftly unzipped his jeans and pulled them off. In one swoop his boxers hit the ground within seconds.
The shower was lukewarm because the blister bag that held the water was warmed by sunlight during the day. She took biodegradable soap and washed herself all over, then him. “Looks like you’re ready for some fun,” she laughed as she soaped his body.
“Kind of hard not to be, with you right here!”
They dried and walked through the office to Ralph’s bedroom. She knelt in front of him as he stood by the bed, pale moonlight filtering through the window. Her body was absolutely incredible, he thought. And on her knees when she moved to take him a shudder of excitement shook his body.
Lynne was an experienced lover. She taught Lucky how correct his nickname was that night and sleep came for them both only as the first rays of sunlight were visible. After a short couple of hours of slumber she rolled over, smiled at him and said, “Hey, Lucky. Did you get what you wanted?”
He smiled and moved his body next to hers. “Oh, wow,” she said, grinning. “Feels like you didn’t quite finish getting what you wanted, after all!” And it all began again.
Lynne and Lucky had a talk not long after that night. She told him she was a flop with men in general and had had far more success with short stints than long-term relationships. “I realize we’re both out here in the jungle, but I want to be honest with you. I’m here to find the Maya civilization that I’m looking for. I want to find that Mayan library, Lucky. If someone shows up at your camp with information that can help me get it I’ll do anything, and I mean anything, to find out what he has. Until that man comes along,” she said, smiling and rubbing her hand on his thigh, “I’m all yours, baby.”
Lucky knew exactly where he stood although he hated to admit it. After only a short time he had found out what amazing things Lynne could offer a man and he knew she would use every trick in the book to get what she wanted.
She was insatiable, Lucky learned, willing to try absolutely anything that sounded interesting. She was loving and intimate beyond imagination. The nights in bed totally surrounded by her were passionate, incredible experiences. Her sexual knowledge and willingness to please him made him feel lucky indeed. Her body was flawless – from her small, perfect breasts to the wonderful rest of her, he had explored it all in every way imaginable and Lucky was totally hooked. She was like a drug – once you tried it, you could only hope for more and more forever. And when she inevitably pulled back someday he knew he would be like an addict without a fix. But he was willing to stay – to have her in the here and now – until some man showed up who could give her the one thing she really desired. A key to the Mayan civilization. A clue to the ancient library. The gold ring she reached for to seal her successful future.
Lucky could only hope it would be a long time before someone like
that came along.
Chapter Twelve
The terrain became more and more mountainous as the Land Rover continued on the highway. Beyond a narrow shoulder on each side of the road the jungle was dense and dark. Tomas consulted a map then spoke to the driver. Within five minutes they pulled off onto the shoulder and stopped the Land Rover.
“Ready for some exercise?” Tomas said, opening the car door. “All of you, unload the vehicle.”
“Where?” Sam asked. “There’s hardly room on the side of the road for all that gear.”
“Mr. Adams, you have no faith in my mapping skills.” He pointed to the tree line. “Take a look – there is the beginning of our adventure. Right there in front of you. We will unload our equipment there.”
They walked ten feet to where Tomas had pointed and saw an opening in the trees. The jungle growth let little light filter to the highway below and with reduced visibility none of them had noticed the cut until Tomas showed it to them. A small hand-painted wooden sign was stuck in the ground. It said, Jaguar’s Call. Food and lodging. 1000 meters straight up. And it had an arrow pointing right into the air. Exactly as Arthur Borland had described it.
The men unloaded equipment and carried it into the jungle a hundred feet to a clearing. Tomas issued instructions. “We will hike along this trail for an hour and then stop for the night. All of us are tired after last night with no sleep. We must be rested in the morning for the ascent.” He spoke quickly to the driver of the Land Rover, who soon drove away.
Two hours later they were eating dinner that Alfredo had prepared over a campfire. Using a satellite phone from his pack, Tomas checked in with someone regularly. Brian calculated the calls at approximately every four hours, although the times varied, indicating there was no exact schedule.
Three pup tents were erected. Tomas took one and said, “You can choose among yourselves who gets the other two. It makes me no difference. I want to tell you that I will not be guarding you. Should one or all of you choose to leave our campsite I only have to utter one word to put Nicole Farber into a very big problem. Or fail to make one phone call on time. You must be very careful, gentlemen. You must protect me as closely as you protect yourselves. I am Nicole’s lifeline. Her only lifeline. And her life is in your hands.”
They sat around the fire before turning in. “So who’s your employer?” Brian asked Tomas.
“There is no need for you to know that.”
“Sounds like he must be someone pretty important. And I guess he has money. Rich drug lord?”
He laughed. “That is of no concern to you. My employer knows your reputation for success in the field of ancient artifacts. He has faith that you can find the treasure that eluded Captain Jack Borland. That’s all you need to know.”
Alone in his tent, Brian lay awake for some time. Who was Tomas’ employer, a man who knew Brian at least by reputation? Why was Brian so critical to all this? Why couldn’t Tomas just go himself and look for Jack Borland’s treasure? Brian mulled other thoughts in his mind. He had to get a phone. The logical choice was to take Tomas’ but if they overpowered their captor, a simple task with three against one, his required calls to protect Nicole would end. If Tomas was telling the truth Nicole’s life could end as well. Brian struggled to stay awake and think of a solution but suddenly awoke with a start, rays of sunlight hitting the tent above him. It was morning and he could hear activity outside.
Tomas rummaged through a pack and brought out food, water and coffee. Sam took over the coffee detail while Tomas told Alfredo where plates and cups were. They drank coffee and ate powdered scrambled eggs. Tomas walked away and made a very short call. Brian noted the time on the pad of paper in his shirt pocket.
“Tell me Nicole’s all right,” Brian angrily said. “Tell me.”
“My calls are not progress reports, Brian. My calls are merely to ensure things are well on both her side and mine. If something were wrong I would be told about it. If the calls are short you may rest assured everything is going well. It may not be a five star hotel, but Nicole is relatively safe. If she behaves, that is. And if you behave.”
They cleaned their campsite, loaded up and began to walk on a trail that led upward on a slight incline. Brian knew this was only the start of the serious climb that lay ahead. Tomas took a handgun and holster from his pack and hooked it to his belt. In an odd way it comforted Brian. The jungle could be a forbidding place. A gun might be no match for a huge cat but it could help protect them.
They continued to walk as the incline got steeper. The trail was fairly easy to see but still they stopped occasionally to ensure they were heading in the right direction. Insects buzzed everywhere and it seemed to Brian as though the jungle was like a living thing – moving, undulating, swaying in light breezes. They saw hundreds of birds flying about and dozens of howler monkeys in the trees, each screaming in a screeching yell, trying to fend off these intruders who were moving through their jungle – a place which belonged to the animals, not the humans. In this forbidding place brains didn’t triumph over brawn. Logical thinking took a back seat to stealth, cunning and raw animal ingenuity. Eat or be eaten. Survive or die. The creatures of the forest were in charge, not these puny humans walking along a path.
Brian asked Tomas about the two workers Brian had lined up to help him, the same two who had accompanied Arthur Borland on his trip several months ago. Tomas replied that the two men were in fact still retained and they would be at Jaguar’s Call when Brian arrived. “That is one reason why this trail is fairly easy for us to navigate,” he explained. “Your guides were on this same pathway only a few days ago. They cleared it for us.”
They stopped for a brief lunch. Tomas made another call – Brian wondered if the phone’s signal would work all the way to the top of the mountain. If it didn’t he wondered if Tomas would have some alternative means of checking in.
The humidity increased dramatically as they began a much steeper climb. They passed another Jaguar’s Call sign so they knew they were still on the correct trail. It would have been hard to go anywhere else; the brush was incredibly thick all around them and occasionally Alfredo used a machete that Tomas had provided to clear the pathway ahead of them.
At five pm Tomas said, “We stop here for the night. Tomorrow we will reach the Jaguar’s Call by noon if things go well for us.”
They set up camp, cooked dinner and Tomas assigned a two-hour watch period for each of them. “We don’t want to let our fire die down and be eaten by a hungry jaguar,” he said, handing the pistol to Brian, whose watch was first. “If something comes near, what is your saying in America? Shoot first and ask questions later!” He laughed but no one else did.
The night was uneventful. There was considerable activity in the bushes around the campsite but each man in turn tended the roaring fire and nothing came close enough to generate interest.
Wednesday morning was the third day of their captivity. Tomas stepped away and made his call. This one took longer than usual and Alfredo put a finger to his lips as he listened to Tomas’ side of the conversation. “Something is wrong,” he whispered. “Tomas says his employer will not be happy.”
The call took nearly ten minutes. When it ended Tomas returned to the group and began to break down his tent. “What’s going on?” Brian said loudly. “What took so long? Is something wrong? Is Nicole OK?”
“Nicole is fine. She is a strong-willed woman, as I am certain you know. Apparently she managed to free herself and she killed one of my guards. However everything is under control now and she will be watched far more closely in the future. I fear she will regret the action she chose but we are many miles away so I have no direct control over her. Her decision was dangerous but I trust my men will not harm her. At least those are their orders!”
Brian noticed a significant change in Tomas’ demeanor from then on. No longer did he appear happy, smiling or cocky. His face was grim and he seemed deep in thought.
Something’s up, Bri
an thought. I guarantee Nicole has done something that really pissed this guy off. Maybe it’s because she killed a guard. Whatever’s going on, he’s definitely not telling me everything.
By midday they reached their destination. Brian had watched Tomas on the climb – he had been uncharacteristically uncommunicative during the ascent and seemed worried. Brian tried not to think what could happen if as her punishment the men were given free rein to use her as they wished.
They were hot and tired as they walked into a broad shaded area surrounded by the crude buildings that made up Lucky Buncombe’s ‘resort.’ A beautiful woman dressed in a tight t-shirt, shorts and a camouflage jungle hat walked toward them. “Welcome to Jaguar’s Call. I’m Lynne Parker.”
Tomas stepped in front of the group. “Good afternoon, Ms. Parker. My name is Tomas Rodriguez. Are there two men here awaiting the arrival of Brian Sadler?”
She pointed to a couple of Belizeans sitting in the shade by a building smoking cigarettes. They waved and Tomas walked over to them, speaking rapidly in Spanish.
A man came out of a building and introduced himself as Lucky Buncombe, the proprietor. “Lynne here is my right hand man,” he said proudly, putting his arm loosely around her shoulders.
Making sure we all know who belongs to whom, Brian thought to himself. He also considered how beautiful this young girl was and what a lucky man the proprietor was if she was indeed his girlfriend.
Tomas returned and shook hands with Lucky. “These five men are going up the mountain the day after tomorrow,” he said. “We will need accommodations for two nights.”
Lynne smiled. “Senor Rodriguez, just let me know what you need from us. Bunkhouse is over there – your two guides have already claimed a couple of beds and you guys are welcome to pick any one you want. In case you’re hungry I was just fixing some stew for lunch and there’s plenty for you guys too. Dinner’s at seven, drinks before, presuming you brought something to drink, that is.” She laughed. “We don’t have much of a stock of beverages here but we sure would join you in a drink if you happened to have anything with you.”
Brian Sadler Archaeological Mysteries BoxSet Page 39
