Tasha looked at Xavier “I guess so,” she said reluctant to get back on that plane again.
“We need to get this orb to a safe place, as quickly as possible” said her uncle.
“Where is this safe place?” she asked curiously.
“Vatican City” he said.
Tasha chuckled softly “why not,” she said.
“Have you not ever wondered why a 4,000-year-old Egyptian obelisk stands proudly in the middle of the Basilica?” he asked.
“Can’t say I have” she replied “but now you mention it, it does strike me as a bit odd.”
“What if I told you that the obelisk once had a gilt ball on top of it a solid metal globe, which was eventually removed?”
She raised her eyebrows, “what are you saying?”
“The existence of the orb has always been known, it has even been worshipped by some. Some mistakenly read some texts referring to the orb as referring to the sun, or sun worship.”
“This is a lot to take in. I know for years the Vatican has been accused of conspiracy theories and hiding alien evidence from the world, but I thought it was just that, conspiracy theories.”
“Oh, it's very true, they have a vested interest in the general public not finding out.”
“But why?”
“It’s quite simple my dear, it might challenge people’s blind belief in religion.”
She let that sink in. “But what about reports that the illuminati are the ones controlling the archives?”
“I’m sure they would love to” he said “and probably the truth of it is many have tried and some may have succeeded to getting access to the archives, but not to the secret vaults, only ‘The Brotherhood,’ a select few have access to these.”
“How do you get access?” she asked.
“You need this ring” he said pointing to a ring on his middle finger which had an insignia of an eagle holding a snake in its mouth on it. She had seen the ring before, her father always wore one. “And when you go, you need to ask to see the Egyptian Book of The Dead.”
“Do they have it? The scroll of The Book of The Dead... in the Vatican?”
“Yes. There is an extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts held by the Vatican, courtesy of Pope Gregory XVI. They excuse it by saying that the Pope's interest in Egypt was connected with the fundamental role attributed to this country by the sacred scripture in the history of Salvation.”
“What, Moses and the plagues on Egypt to release the people, was that the Orb?”
“So you see how powerful it can be in one person’s hands? The son of a Pharaoh gone rogue?” She shuddered involuntarily. “Now you understand the tablet, how they believed it could not be used by us without causing harm.” She nodded. “The Book Of The Dead is actually kept in the Vatican Museum. It references the orb and its restorative powers, and the Pharaoh's desire to join the aliens from the stars in eternal life. We need to ask the keeper of the archives if they have it, by this they will know that we have acquired the orb.”
They were interrupted by a commotion erupted amongst the natives.
“What’s going on?” Natasha asked turning to look at the and the Shaman both in heated discussion.
“I don’t know, but I aim to find out.” Her uncle stood up, ready to head over to the two men.
“Are you sure that is wise?” asked Xavier, “maybe it is none of our business?” Eugene ignored him and headed over to the two men. He stood listening as the two waved their arms wildly. After a few minutes he returned to them looking concerned.
“One of the native women was attacked. She went out to collect insect larvae and they found her beaten and raped.”
“Who would do such a thing?” Natasha cried in horror.
“That’s what they are arguing about. The Shaman believes it was the forest. They believe every creature, rock, tree and mountain has a spirit. Sometimes these are malevolent and attack the Yanomami. He believes it is because of the presence of outsiders.”
“What, he thinks its because of us?” Natasha was getting worried.
“Yes, we have upset natures balance. However, the other man, he thinks it is the miners.”
“Well that’s more likely” chipped in Xavier.
“Whatever it is, I suggest we get out of here, now” said Eugene, “I think I mentioned when you got here, they have no chief, so decisions are made by consensus, they are going to call the tribe together and they will have a debate, where everyone gets their say.”
“In my limited experience mob decision making isn't such a good thing” interjected Xavier.
“These people aren’t a mob” stated Eugene, “but all the same, let’s grab our things and get out of here.”
They made their way back through the dense jungle to the plane and the landing strip. Tasha still lost in deep thought looked up and shuddered, her heart caught in her mouth as she saw the what she had termed to herself as the flying coffin, the Cessna 411 waiting patiently for them, duct tape, bailing wire and all. Sitting by the plane were two beefy men playing cards and sipping on tepid cokes. One chewed on a cigar whilst the other, who she instantly recognised as David, sat casually eating cheese Doritos.
The man chewing on the cigar looked up at them, and she shuddered again, his look was dark and murderous, his eyes tightened to a squint. On seeing them David rose up, calling out to them and waving his arm. His look was cheery and welcoming and all of a sudden the other man's scowl turned to a half smile, as if forced but the look in his eyes did not change.
“Where did you find these guys?” asked Xavier starting to look a little nervous.
“My guides” replied Eugene.
“When we found their offices, it was just a one room rental with a cardboard sign stuck to the front door. Are you sure they are legit?” asked Xavier.
Her uncle looked at them. “No, of course they're not legit” he said casually “I think they are out here mining illegally.”
“Are you serious?” exclaimed Xavier.
“No one else is coming out this way and we needed a lift.”
“But these guys would as soon as kill you rather than get caught” Xavier said. “I suppose they are using the villagers for cheap labour.” Xavier was fuming, but tried to control his anger. “The natives would be happy with a few dollars a day, just to buy those couple of things they can’t get in the jungle. These guys are leeches, damaging the rainforest and exploiting the local people.”
“I’m not particularly happy about it” said her uncle “but given what was at stake, we had no other option.”
“This is not good” said Xavier “what’s to stop them from throwing us out of the plane in the middle of hundreds of miles of dense jungle?” He looked at her uncle in consternation “no one would ever find us.” Tasha shuddered again. She knew Xavier was right. She wasn’t an expert, but from what she had experienced of the jungle, at a guess, she estimated that barely inside of a week, between decomposition and animal predation any human remains would be scattered and nearly skeletalized, lost amongst the undergrowth.
Her uncle looked back at him, “have a little faith, they are not getting paid until they get us back to Ciudad Bolivar. All three of us, in one piece.”
“You are both clearly missing something here” interjected Tasha.
“What is that?”
“The high possibility that one of these guys attacked and raped a native.” She said the words unwillingly, but all the same it had to be said.
“I haven’t forgotten” stated Xavier grimly. “I just don’t think we have any other choice. There is no way out of here, except that is, with them.” He looked at them both, David and his associate. There was something about that second guy that bugged him, like an itch he couldn’t scratch, irritating away at him.
Tasha climbed the airstair door reluctantly, forcing her legs to lift one after the other. She noticed the second man eyeing her and unconsciously gathered her jacket a bit tighter around her. Xavier put his h
and on her shoulder to comfort her.
“You can do this” he said. She smiled and nodded, saying a silent prayer.
David climbed aboard with his usual optimism. “My business partner will be joining us for the flight, his name is Jose, he’s been working the concession with me.” Jose offered them a false smile, tipping the wide brim on his decorated Woma hat.
“Buckle up guys, weather is looking perfect at the moment, nothing but clear skies ahead.” David switched on the two 340 hp Continental flat-six turbocharged piston engines, first one and then the other. The engines turned over, sent out puffs of smoke, coughed and then caught on, spinning the three blade propellers. David checked the magnetos, studied the other instruments and then pushed the throttles forward.
The engines turned over, churning faster and faster, louder and louder. David held the plane from moving forward by standing on the brake pedals. The Cessna shook violently as he revved up the engines. He continued checking the RPM’s, oil pressure, hydraulics, flaps, ailerons, rudder and elevators.
“Sorry” yelled David over the drone of the engines, “I have to do this, we have a fairly short runway. The natives have filled most of the holes caused by the rain for us this morning, but it's still going to be a bit of a bumpy ride. I suggest you strap in.” He gunned the engines further, the propellers went faster… faster..louder and louder until she thought they were going to explode.
She looked out the window and saw a group of angry natives proceeding towards them.
“Xavier” she said the words barely leaving her mouth, hissing like a pot on the boil.
“I know,” he replied clenching his teeth. The natives started running towards the plane, sharpened sticks raised, but it was too late.
David suddenly dropped the brake and they were off. The Cessna vibrated, bumbling and stumbling over the uneven terrain. Bouncing, jolting and vibrating uncontrollably until the noise level rose to ear-splitting levels in the planes unfinished metal ‘fresh from the factory’ interior, as the plane rolled faster and faster.
It felt like despite the noise, the plane was lumbering, struggling to move faster. She closed her eyes and crossed both her fingers. A childish gesture she knew, but the only one she had.
And then suddenly the plane seemed to lift, breaking free of the uneven terrain and the noise lowered, the vibration caused by the runway easing off and the plane lifted clear of the tree canopies ahead, it's landing gear retracting literally millimetres above the treetops. She let out a sigh of relief, not realising she had been holding her breath all this time.
She looked up to notice the stranger, David's friend Jose staring at her and she turned her head away uncomfortable with his gaze. He remained staring unperturbed by her embarrassment as she felt her skin prickle from his cold stare directed at the back of her neck.
She hadn’t stopped to register it before, because she had been so nervous when she got on the plane, but she realised now that Jose had not sat in front with David. Instead he had joined them in the back of the plane.
The Cessna 411 had two seats up front, and another four, facing each other at the back. Jose was sitting behind David, and opposite her uncle. Xavier was sitting next to Jose and opposite to her.
She had only stopped now to think how odd it was, and she looked up at Xavier who was also looking uncomfortable with the situation. She looked down out the window at what should could only term as green hell below. Thousands of miles of green hell stretching out below them and Xavier's words echoing in her head. They would never be found. That was true.
“So” said Jose breaking the silence “How did you go with your study of the Yanomami people?” he said looking directly at her, placing an undue emphasis on the word study. She glanced at him, avoiding eye contact.
He was a beefy man, strong, with a thick neck and hairy muscular arms. His hands were huge and weathered, like someone not afraid of manual labour. He had a skullet, a mullet of dark curly hair with the top and middle cruelly taken off by nature, and a weathered face like a crinkled chip. When he smiled he had a golden ‘J’ inset into one of his teeth, and he had two small gold hoop earrings making him look a little like a sinister pirate.
“Oh, it went well, very well” said her uncle with undue cheerfulness.
“I heard she is a doctor” he said pointing to Tasha casually, without bothering to use her name. Oddly her mother's voice filled with consternation came to her mind - she's the cat's mother - she would always say, to correct Natasha’s impropriety of not using someone's name.
She looked at him this time plucking up the confidence to stare him directly in the eyes, his poker face was not giving anything away. “Yes I am.” Xavier looked at her, impressed with how comfortably she lied.
But she was not lying. She could stare him directly in the eye without flinching, because she was the holder of a doctorate who worked in academia and as such was addressed professionally as Dr. Natasha Burrows. Symantec's she knew, but still, not a lie.
His eyes narrowed, sensing she was telling the truth. He folded his arms like a hanging judge on the big day. The stuck-up bitch was hiding something, and he could smell it like a bloodhound on the chase.
“So, why are you.. Doing this research then? You are a long way from home.”
“We have an interest in the native peoples. I’m writing a research paper on the medical issues these people face. What common illnesses they suffer, both from the environment and genetically.” He studied her face and she wondered when he was going to get to the point. Something seemed really off about his guy.
He leaned forward menacingly “Cut the crap Doctor, who are you really working for?”
“No.. no one” she stuttered a little nervously wriggling in her seat a little.
“No-one? That’s a lie” he exclaimed blatantly “you have to be working for someone. Who? The Chavez government? Are they going to send the militia in to shut us down? Do you know what they do to illegal miners in this country?” he asked as he leaned behind him, picking up the shotgun David had sitting next to his seat, the same shotgun David had pointed to on their way in, claiming it was used for protection against deadly snakes. “They shoot us” he said with an evil gleam in his eye “execution style.”
“No.. no.. no” she cried flinching away from the Remington 870 shotgun. She saw Xavier out of the corner of her eye, boiling with anger at the shotgun being pointed directly at her.
“I saw this old fool coming and I thought, hey, what the hell, we can make a bit of money, maybe he has some relatives that will pay good money to have him back. That is after he has paid us for our services. And then you two turn up” … his eyes narrowed suspiciously again “Mr Captain America and his golden Wonder Woman, a doctor no less, and I get to wondering just what is it that you are really up too?”
“David?” asked her uncle politely. “What’s going on?”
David looked back at them, the usual stupid smile on his face. “Oh, this is Jose, he gets a bit paranoid.”
Xavier looked at Tasha with disbelief “Well can you tell him that we don’t work for the government?” said Xavier angrily.
David laughed “No, sorry, no can do.”
“What the hell is wrong with you people?” cried Tasha positively choleric. Xavier gave her a stern look, cautioning her with his eyes to keep quiet. She realised it could be a mistake to antagonise these people.
“We can pay you more money” stated her uncle. “This is what this is isn’t it? A shake down for more money?” He looked at Jose nervously, even he was worried now.
“Turns out you’re not such a fool as I thought, are you old man?” he said prodding the gun at his belly. Plus he didn’t mind taking that snarky little bitch down a notch with her hoity-toity manner and her holier than thou attitude. It was time to drop her a peg or two.
“Stop, please stop” she pleaded turning to Xavier “He can’t shoot that in here, can he?”
“It isn’t a pressurised cabin” said Xavi
er shaking his head like a demented bobble head.
“Listen to your boyfriend lovely, and don’t try anything stupid” said Jose snickering at her.
“Seeing you two, has now got me to wondering. I know you disappeared into the rainforest, all that crap about being a Doctor and you didn’t spend two minutes with the locals.” She realised that they had been watching them. Not hard to do she guessed. “And you” he said looking directly at Tasha, “Little Miss Pretty, you in particular have no business being in the jungle. So what did you and your bodyguard go off and do in the rainforest?” he asked. “Were you looking for something of value out there?” Tasha tensed almost imperceptibly, but it was enough.
Jose noticed, he had spent 20 years in the military and was used to interrogation techniques and peoples hidden, unwitting responses and body language.
“There it is” he crowed to David “They found something, the sneaky little devils. Hand over your bag” he demanded to her, his arm outstretched. She clutched her bag even tighter, closer to her body. “Aww, don’t be like that” he mocked her “Look at this David, little girl is shy to show me her goods.” He leaned forward pushing the shotgun between her knees, forcing the muzzle up against her vagina. “What? Cat got your tongue?”
David laughed “better do as he says, he’s a bit unpredictable. You know” he addressed Jose like he was castigating a child for eating a cookie before dinner, “if you just could have left that little native girl alone, you wouldn’t have burnt our bridges back there with that tribe.”
“Last day out, couldn’t resist.” Jose laughed mercilessly like a demon torturing sinners in the fires of hell. “I had to get something out of this trip, the mine didn’t prove as fruitful as we hoped.”
“Just give it to him” begged her uncle.
“You heard him” he said suggestively “give it to me bitch,” and he jammed the end up harder on her. He spoke with bilious misogyny, and his eyes gleamed with evil intent. She cried out, scared and shaking. “Here” she spat mustering the courage to stand up to him “take it.” She thrust the bag towards him, relinquishing her grip on it.
The Artifact: Natasha Burrows Series Book One Page 13
