Priestess of Paracas

by K Patrick Donoghue

  The painted scenes were faded in spots, flaked away in others, but enough remained to decipher the images. They depicted a step-by-step storyline of the goddess and evil spirit legend. Mereau and Cesar studied them with fascination. Pebbles turned to see Anlon examining the seashell mosaic. Tuka stood beside him.

  “Pablo,” Anlon said, “ask Tuka if he knows what this symbol is. What it’s supposed to represent.”

  After the two men conversed in Tuka’s tongue, Pablo said, “It is a torch. A beacon to light the way for the new ones.”

  “Of course,” Anlon said. “The new ones will come by water…light their way.”

  An image flashed through Pebbles’ mind…a beam of light carving a furrow into a hillside. “Citali’s last act before fleeing Paracas.”

  “Excuse me? What’s that you say, Pebbles?” Anlon asked.

  “The Candelabra. Citali showed me a snippet of her using the Flash Stone to carve it.”

  “That sure would explain the petrified sand, wouldn’t it?” Jennifer said.

  “I guess so. It’s sad, though,” Pebbles said.

  “I don’t get you. How so?”

  “Well, I think she knew she wasn’t coming back. I think she knew Muran was going to destroy her city. I’m sure she hoped her children would carry on the legacy, return and rebuild the city. If only she had known they wouldn’t survive.”

  “Wait a minute. You said one of them lived.”

  “Nah. Just another lie from Citali. They all died, but she wouldn’t have known they were going to die when she carved it.” Pebbles reached out to touch one of the seashells. “So, in the end, the Candelabra was a symbol that a new one coming by sea wouldn’t have understood, even if they had seen it. Only the Keeper knew the meaning. It was a reminder to light the way.” She turned to Cesar. “You said the symbol doesn’t appear in any other art from Paracas, right?”

  “That is correct. It appears nowhere else in all of Mesoamerican art.”

  Pebbles sighed and turned to Pablo. “I need you and Tuka to come with me.”

  “Where are you going?” Mereau asked. “The Maerlif. I was going to open it.”

  “You go ahead, I’ve got something else I need to do first.” Pebbles turned back to Pablo. “Could you ask Tuka to take me to where Citali and her children are buried? I’d like to pay my respects. Tell him, I’d like to pay my respects to Tuka’s people too.”

  “Tuka’s people?” Pablo asked.

  “Uh huh. The ones who’ve served as Keepers since Citali died. If you don’t want to come, that’s cool. I understand it’s spooky. Just ask him to show me the way and give me your torch.”

  Sanjay and Jennifer accompanied Pebbles and Tuka to visit the tomb of the Keepers, while Anlon remained behind with Mereau, Cesar and Pablo at the Maerlif. The speed and skill with which Mereau used the Sound Stone to push open the Maerlif’s entry was astounding.

  Out of deference to Mereau, Anlon waited in the tunnel chamber to allow the Munuorian to enter the crypt and visit the remains of his descendants. There would be time later to see what was inside. Cesar followed Anlon’s lead and joined him at the Candelabra mosaic.

  “It’s remarkable. Now I know what it is, the symbol makes sense to me,” Anlon said. He pointed to the man-like figure on the left of the design. “This looks like it is supposed to represent a new one. The middle prong is the torch. The far right strikes me as a torchlit path. Light the way, show the new ones to the hiding place.”

  “I see it in a similar way,” said Cesar, “though the design on the right might also be a depiction of the Three Sisters. Either way, the intent of the symbolism is the same. Right down to including a mountain, and line from the torch descending into a tunnel below.”

  From behind, Anlon heard Mereau’s voice emanating from the Maerlif entry. “Gentlemen, come see what was hidden. You will not be disappointed.”

  The tunnel leading to the catacomb of the Keepers terminated in a cavernous space, an open area punctuated with stalagmites protruding from the floor and stalactites extending down from the ceiling. In the center of the space, another mosaic of the Candelabra was inset into the floor. Around the circumference of the space were holes that had been chiseled into the walls. There were two tiers of the spaces. Inside each, the remains of past Keepers rested, wrapped in ceremonial garb.

  Pebbles counted a total of eighty-six occupied holes and one empty one. Fifty-six in the bottom tier, thirty on the top. From what Pebbles could judge, there was room for another five to six berths on the second tier and space to go up at least another three tiers, though each tier would have successively fewer berths given the chamber narrowed as it went higher.

  Tuka led Pebbles, Sanjay and Jennifer to the empty berth and touched his chest. It was the thirtieth berth of the second tier. He pointed to the first tier below and walked forward nine berths. There, Pebbles saw an elongated skull. The next three chambers held the remains of skeletons with smaller elongated skulls.

  Over her shoulder, she heard Jennifer doing the math out loud. “Eighteen hundred years, forty-four Keepers after Citali’s last child. That’s around forty years per Keeper that followed. So, if we go backward from Citali’s berth at thirty-nine, and we assume the average tenure was about the same, the first of the Keepers buried in here is about three thousand years old.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that, Jen,” said Pebbles. “I’ll bet when Cesar tests the bones, we’ll find the oldest are twice that. Depends on how long they imbibed enjyia before the art was lost.”

  “Good point.”

  “Look at the earlier skulls,” Sanjay said. “They are of normal shapes and sizes. It’s not until, what, the eleventh, that the shape starts to elongate. Then, of course, after Citali’s last child, the skulls return to normal dimensions.”

  “I wonder what caused the mutation?” Jennifer asked.

  “I have given that considerable thought,” Sanjay said. “I see one of two explanations. It is either the result of multiple generations of inbreeding…or the introduction of a foreigner into the genetic chain. It would be easy enough to answer through DNA testing, but it would not surprise me if Tuka and his people consider the remains sacred.”

  “A discussion for another day,” Pebbles said. She sat down in front of Citali’s tomb and closed her eyes.

  “I am here, Citali. I am with you. Your children are beside both of us. They rest in honor. So do you.”

  A mist arose in Pebbles’ mind. She waited for it to clear and for Citali to appear but neither happened. Yet, she could feel Citali’s presence. Pebbles heard a thin voice ask, “What was hidden? Are they safe?”

  “The Maerlif is safe. What was hidden is safe. The Keepers who followed after you honored the pledge. The evil spirit did not find the sacred gifts.”

  Citali’s voice grew stronger. “The people will rejoice. A new one has come.”

  “May the stars light your way, Citali. Rest in peace.”

  When Pebbles, Jennifer, Sanjay and Tuka returned to the Maerlif entrance, Mereau was standing outside, his eyes red and wet. Standing nearby was Pablo. Mereau spoke to him, “Tell Tuka he may enter and see what was hidden.”

  Pablo translated the message and Tuka backed away. Pablo relayed the message again and this time received an angry reply. Pablo turned to Mereau. “He says it is forbidden. He is the Keeper. He is not allowed to see what was hidden.”

  “Very well,” Mereau said. “Tell the Keeper the new ones will honor the pledge. The people will have their bowls filled, no evil spirit will haunt them and I, one of the new ones, will teach them anew. Tell him to go share the good news with the people.”

  After Mereau’s proclamation was delivered, Tuka bowed and left the cave, his own eyes red and wet.

  Just then, Anlon and Cesar emerged from inside the Maerlif. Anlon looked at Pebbles and said, “Wow.”

  “It’s that amazing?” Pebbles asked.

  Anlon stepped aside. “Go see.”

  Pebbles e
ntered the torchlit Maerlif behind Mereau, so she did not see anything inside the crypt until he moved to the side. When he cleared out of the way, Pebbles could not believe her eyes. The cavern was enormous. Its walls had been shaped into arches that created the impression of a cathedral. Though there were many objects set around the cavern, Pebbles’ eyes were drawn to the center of the room where a tree towered toward the ceiling, its roots snaking over the floor. Some of the tree’s bark was still white. There remained some pink on its leaves.

  “It’s not real, is it?” Pebbles asked.

  “It is very real…but made of stone. Carved by a master craftswoman.” Mereau pointed to a nook to his right. “You may notice some of her other works over there.”

  Pebbles turned and mumbled, “Oh, my God.”

  The nook was filled with other stone sculptures. Many of them Pebbles recognized from her sketch pads. Especially the array of flickers. It was further proof that Citali had entered the crypt. The sculptures surrounded a slab bearing the skeletal remains of a woman dressed in crimson and gold. On her chest rested a Sinethal.

  “There is more,” Mereau said.

  He guided her to another nook holding the remains of a man. He was surrounded by a vast array of gold jewelry and odd-looking devices. Pebbles felt a headache coming on as they neared the collection. Pebbles noticed he wore a necklace like Citali’s and he, too, had a Sinethal on his chest. An empty palm of bones rested at his side.

  Pebbles turned in a circle and saw a score of other nooks around the cavern. All were occupied by remains, each surrounded by relics. Pebbles recognized some of the relics as Tyls but other relics were foreign to her. Many of the slabs holding the remains were painted with emblems and Munuorian inscriptions. All had Sinethals.

  “What do the inscriptions say, Mereau?”

  “They tell of each person laid to rest here and list their ancestors back to the day of darkness.” Mereau swept his arm in an arc around the room. “These are all descendants of Munirvo survivors, and I shall get to know them all and learn their stories. They were artisans, craftspeople, farmers, builders. There are even a couple of mariners like me. They are my brothers and sisters. At last their journey is over.” Mereau wrapped his arm around Pebbles. “You and I, we meet them under the same sky.”

  EPILOGUE

  Sanjay’s residence

  Sedona, Arizona

  January 15

  Happy was the first to hear them coming. The dog cocked his head from side to side, sniffed the air and then bolted off the patio chair. Sanjay smiled as he watched him round the corner of the house at full speed.

  Rising from his own chair, Sanjay ambled from the patio toward the driveway, following the dust trail left behind in Happy’s wake. In the distance, he could see Anlon and Pebbles walking down the dirt road, hand in hand. Anlon appeared to be carrying a large shopping bag in his free hand.

  At the end of the driveway, Sanjay caught up to Happy, who now raced in circles as he barked at the approaching guests. Sanjay spoke to the dog in a soothing tone. “They will be here soon.”

  The assurance did little to calm the dog. Sanjay looked left and right down the road. Seeing it was all clear, he said, “Okay, go say hello. Watch the slobber.”

  Happy took off in a flash, his chubby butt bouncing with each stride. Sanjay waved to Anlon and Pebbles and shouted, “Brace yourselves!”

  The dog went for Pebbles first. An understandable choice. She had been a frequent visitor the last few weeks and the two had developed a strong bond. Sanjay wondered how Happy would react once he figured out she would not be visiting regularly anymore.

  Sanjay laughed when Happy shifted his affection to Anlon. He began his greeting with a brisk shake of the head, slinging a glob of saliva across his shirt. Anlon turned his body to protect the bag and ignored the liquid greeting.

  “Hello, hello!” Pebbles said as she approached Sanjay with open arms.

  “Namaste,” said the bowing Sanjay.

  “Forty-eight days,” she said. “Can you believe it?”

  “I am happy for you, Pebbles. Your hard work is rewarded.”

  It had been almost four months since she ascended Three Sisters Falls and brought to an end the nightmares of a restless spirit. But soon after they returned to the States, new dreams had surfaced. Dreams about the brutality she had suffered the year before. Tired of suppressing her emotions and thoughts, she reached out to Sanjay and together they had spent many hours over the past few months talking through her anger and pain. The payoff? It had been forty-eight days since her last nightmare.

  “I owe it all to you.” She kissed him on the cheek.

  “No, you owe it all to yourself.” Sanjay turned and shook Anlon’s hand. “Good to see you. All ready for your trip around the world?”

  “Yes, indeed. It’s been a long time coming.” Anlon wiped his shirt.

  “I understand,” Sanjay said. “Come, let us go inside and chat. I am anxious to hear the latest developments about Mereau and the dwellers, Cesar and the Paracas mystery, not to mention what has become of Jennifer and Griffin.”

  Over a plate of curried chicken sandwiches and a pitcher of iced tea, they talked for over two hours while Happy slept at Sanjay’s feet. During that time, Sanjay learned that Mereau had been true to his word to Tuka. Together, the two men had rid the jungle of drug trafficking within a hundred miles of Tuka’s village. This had been largely accomplished, Anlon told him, through Mereau’s steely negotiations with the drug lords and a few well-placed displays of his manhood.

  At first, many in Tuka’s community had taken exception to Mereau for disrupting the status quo — after all, the drug lords had been generous to Tuka’s tribe — but once Mereau showed them alternative ways of extracting valuable commodities from the jungle, the doubters fell in line.

  “It’s crazy,” Pebbles had said, “but Jennifer was the one who helped Mereau win them over. Well, Cesar helped too.”

  She explained that Jennifer had remembered an incident from an earlier adventure she had shared with Anlon and Pebbles and had passed her recollection to Mereau.

  “The woman who murdered Anlon’s uncle, a woman named Margaret Corchran, went on the run after the killing. We probably would never have found her except she ended up getting stabbed in the Amazon jungle in Brazil. An indigenous tribe there, a tribe called the Cinta-Larga, found her, triaged her wounds and brought her to a fishing lodge.”

  Anlon picked up the tale. “That’s right. What we had forgotten, what Jennifer remembered, was that when the Cinta-Larga brought Margaret to the fishing lodge, they performed a ceremony before turning her over to the lodge staff. They bathed her, covered her in a gold cloak and painted a gold emblem on her forehead, the Munuorian symbol for the Sound Stone.”

  “What?” Sanjay had said. “Why would they have done that?”

  “You know, that’s funny. That’s the same question Mereau asked Jennifer,” said Pebbles. “When the Cinta-Larga found Margaret, she apparently had a Sound Stone with her. In their little ceremony at the lodge, the Cinta-Larga cupped her hands around the stone after they dressed her in the golden cloak. Sound familiar?”

  “Familiar? It sounds like a near duplicate of the ritual at Three Sisters,” Sanjay said.

  “Exactly,” said Pebbles. “Apparently, the influence of Citali’s ancestors stretched pretty deep into the Amazon jungle. Anyway, Jennifer passed her suspicions on to Cesar, and he remembered an ancient legend about a supposedly fictional place in Cinta-Larga territory called the Waterfall of Jewels. The legend said a man wielding a strange device had turned a rocky riverbed into a place where the legend said ‘diamonds flowed like water.’”

  Anlon finished the story. “The device in the legend was described as a serpent’s tooth, a triangular object with a sharp point.”

  “The Flash Stone,” Sanjay said.

  “Right,” said Pebbles. “So, Jen and Cesar told all this to Mereau, and he decided to use the Flash Stone on a sec
tion of the Cutivireni upstream from the Three Sisters. He apparently spewed mud everywhere, but when the river started flowing again, Tuka’s people found a whole bunch of diamonds. Now they don’t have to rely on drug runners for money to buy stuff the tribe needs.”

  Sanjay sat back and shook his head. “Incredible.”

  After a few minutes of quiet reflection, Sanjay asked about Cesar and his work to prove a link between the necklace held by the New Caledonians, the Munuorian Maerlif at Three Sisters and the Paracas Candelabra.

  “It’s slow going,” Anlon said. “The fact that Cesar was able to produce a similar necklace from the Maerlif helps validate the origin of the necklace the New Caledonians have, but the archaeology community has been resistant to accept Cesar’s theory about the Candelabra.”

  Sanjay frowned. “But the Candelabra mosaic outside the Maerlif, the inset in the floor of the catacomb of the Keepers, the mummies inside the catacomb. How can anyone dispute the connection with the Paracas Candelabra or the Paracas mummies?”

  Anlon laughed. “You don’t know much about the stubbornness of archaeologists, do you? Right now, they view Cesar as a whack-job heretic. But he’s not worried. He’s been down this path before. In fact, he enjoys proving his pompous colleagues are wrong. Cesar’s a lot like my uncle Devlin in that way. As soon as the DNA tests are back on the mummies in the catacomb, he’ll have the last laugh.”

  The conversation then turned to Jennifer and Griffin. Sanjay said, “When last I heard, she was going on tour with the Ice Zombies.”

  “Yep, that’s the plan,” Pebbles said, “but she’s going to join us for parts of our trip. As much as she’s into Griffin, she’s not real keen on the roadie-groupie dynamic. Plus, she said she needs some space to figure out her next steps.”

  “How do you two feel about her joining you?” Sanjay asked. “I imagine you would like some time alone to figure out your next steps too.”

  Pebbles reached out and gripped Anlon’s hand. “That’s the thing about the three of us, Sanjay. We kinda like to figure things out together.”