SK took her hand. His was cold.
“SK,” she said, rubbing his hand between hers. “You’re freezing!”
His clothes had been soaked and the warmth generated from the climb was wearing off. They needed to get that tablet and get off the plateau.
“I’ll be all right,” he said, but the tone of his voice said the quicker the better.
“That’s got to be it,” she said. “At least it’s not hard to find.”
They held hands as they approached the ruins.
“Leon said it’d be in a burial chamber,” Livvy said.
“A burial chamber,” SK mused. “How does that make sense? It’s a pueblo, not a cemetery.”
As they came to a stop in front of the ruins, she realized he was right. Very few of the adobe walls were left intact but it was clearly a group of buildings, blocks of square rooms with gaps for doorways. In front of them, the walls were only three or four adobe bricks high. She and SK stepped over the first one. At the center of the ruins, a single structure remained. The walls attached to it were higher too and they had to pick a path for their approach. Each of the rooms that they passed through was empty. Nothing remained in them except for bricks that had slumped into small mounds. Nor was there anything to indicate a burial chamber. If the rest of the rooms spread around them were similar, then the only place that even resembled a chamber would be the structure in the middle.
Without a word, they both headed toward it.
It was nearly the shape of a cube, with walls and roof about the same size. Large wooden beams protruded from the front, below the roofline. Remnants of other walls, like ragged flying buttresses, climbed from the surrounding rooms up to the cube. It was as if everything in the ruins centered upon this one structure, everything led to it. There were no windows and only one door. It was pitch black inside.
SK took out his phone and aimed it into the doorway. After only having the moonlight to see by, it felt like a search beam. Livvy hadn’t known what to expect but this room was much larger than the ones they’d passed through. Although the compacted dirt floor was as bare as the rest of the ruins, two separate structures were tucked into the far corners. SK stepped over the threshold as Livvy ducked her head and followed him through.
He held the phone up higher as they neared the small, boxy chamber on their right. Several large, irregular stone slabs had been set into the ground, forming two low walls about three feet high. Almost afraid to look as he pointed the light down into it, Livvy stared as the darkness gave way. Only more stone slabs were revealed, tumbled into a heap, one of them broken.
“Was this a burial?” she asked.
SK shook his head. “No idea, but if this is the burial, we’re going to have a hell of a time moving those rock slabs.”
Livvy inspected the rock pile more closely. Each one was at least two inches thick and the largest might be three feet long.
“Those could weigh a hundred pounds each,” he said. “Easy.”
“Wow,” Livvy said.
With all the rock, a stone tablet might be hard to see.
“I can at least take a closer look,” she said, as she stepped next to the low wall and swung one leg over.
“Okay,” he said. “Here.” He held out the phone and she took it, then swung her other leg over.
“If this was a burial chamber,” SK said. “Whoever was buried here wasn’t laying stretched out on their back.”
Livvy considered the overall size. He was right. She couldn’t have laid down without bending her knees. She bent lower and swept the phone slowly over the large slabs and smaller rubble.
“I don’t see anything that looks like the tablet,” she said, still looking.
She aimed the phone into each corner and then placed it near the floor to look under a slab that had landed at an angle. As far as she could see, there wasn’t anything but rocks. No bones, no tablet, nothing.
She placed one hand under the edge of the top slab and lifted. It didn’t budge. Not even a fraction of an inch. She lifted and also pushed with her shin. Only a small puff of fine dirt came from the underside.
“Careful,” said SK. “If one of those lands on your foot…”
She stopped and exhaled. There was no way she could move it.
“Let’s look at the other one,” he suggested.
Livvy stepped back over the wall and crossed the room with SK. This chamber was completely different. It was larger for one thing and its walls were made of smaller pieces of rock that had been carefully mortared together. Wherever a smaller rock could be used to fill the gap, one had been wedged in and the mortar filled everything else. The top of the chamber was curved, like a quarter of a dome. Half of it rested on the mortared walls and the other half connected to the back walls of the larger structure they were in.
Also unlike the other chamber, it was intact. A rectangular wood framed opening in the middle of the quarter dome was the only way in or out.
“This seems more like it,” SK said.
“Yeah,” Livvy said, as she raised the phone over her head, but the angle was too shallow.
She couldn’t see down into the rectangular portal and the roof was chest high. She glanced around, to see if there might be something to use as a step or a ladder, although she already knew the room was empty.
“I think it’ll have to be me to get up there,” SK said. “With a little help of course.”
Livvy looked at him. He might be a dwarf but he was muscular and not super short. She could no more lift him than she could one of those stone slabs.
“You’ll have to set the phone down,” he said as he backed away.
What’s he doing? she thought, but set the phone down, face up, on the floor behind her.
He put his back against the wall.
“It’s not much of a run-up but it’ll have to do.” He cupped his hands in front of him, intertwining the fingers. “I’ll need you to do this about…” He lifted one foot about eighteen inches in the air. “About that high.”
Oh wow, thought Livvy. It was going to be like some sort of acrobatic move.
She intertwined her fingers, palms up, and lowered them down.
“As soon as I step down, you lift up.”
“Give you a boost,” she said.
“Right,” he nodded. “Ready?”
“Ready,” she said, squeezing her fingers tight.
He pushed off from the wall and ran. He was surprisingly fast and Livvy nearly missed the right moment. But at the last second, she felt his boot land and heaved upward.
Gods, he was heavy.
But he had jumped and his momentum, along with her help, landed him chest down on the domed roof, but jackknifed at the hips.
“A little help,” he groaned as he wiggled his feet.
Livvy put one hand under each and pushed.
Like a fish flopping onto shore, SK moved the rest of the distance onto the roof as small billows of dust swirled around. The light of the phone went off and Livvy carefully turned so as not to step on it. She felt around for it in the darkness. SK coughed. Her fingers touched it and she hit the power button. Less than half the battery was left. She pointed it at SK.
He was sitting up and dusting the front of his jacket off without much success. The dirt was clinging to the damp surface and turning into mud.
“Not bad,” he said, wiping his hands off. He smiled down at her. “We’re both still in one piece and the roof held,” he said patting it. He held out his hand for the phone. “Shall we take a look?”
Livvy stood on tiptoes and stretched out her arm from the edge. He scooted a little closer to take it and then lay down on his side and pointed the light down into the hole. The room had gone dark but she could see the light swinging back and forth in front of him. Then it stopped.
“Is it a burial?” she asked, almost afraid of the answer.
“I don’t see any signs of a body but … the tablet?”
She waited, holding her breath.<
br />
“Yes,” she said. “The tablet?”
“About eight inches by four inches, grey, and engraved?”
“That’s it!”
He sat up, grinning, and aimed the phone at her.
“We found it.”
She clapped her hands and the sound reverberated in the small room with them. With a start, Livvy realized it wasn’t all echo. She spun around. A bright white head of hair ducked into the room. As he stood up straight, the albino continued to clap. Livvy immediately backed into the domed chamber. Celestino came through next with a lantern. Outside it looked as though there were at least three other men.
They’d been so quiet!
“Good for you,” chuckled the albino, as he finished clapping.
“Where’s the tablet?” asked Celestino, ignoring him.
Neither Livvy nor SK said anything.
“Still in the burial chamber then,” said the white-haired man, smiling, his red eyes darting to and fro.
“Granary,” Celestino corrected.
“What?” said the albino, the smile mixing with a frown.
“It’s not a burial chamber,” said Celestino. “Not to Hopis. It’s a granary for storing corn. It’s Navajos who come along and use them for burying.”
The albino snorted. “Fine,” he said. “It’s still in the granary.” He looked at SK. “Go get it.”
SK didn’t move.
The albino reached into the pocket of his ski jacket and casually withdrew a revolver.
“Franklin, what are you doing?” asked Celestino, as he gaped at the gun.
“I’m taking care of business,” Franklin replied, smirking.
He raised the gun and pointed it at Livvy’s chest.
“Now,” Franklin demanded.
Livvy looked over her shoulder at SK. His face was grim but he gave her a quick nod. He slipped his phone into the pocket of his jacket and scooted back toward the hole. Celestino held the lantern higher and her shadow loomed onto the wall and swayed with the movement of the light.
SK dangled his feet into the hole. For Livvy it would have been a matter of simply hopping down. For SK, it was a little more than his entire height. He tested the wood frame by putting his weight on it. Satisfied, he reached across the hole and gripped the frame in both hands. Then he slowly moved his torso over the hole and began lowering himself, like an inverse pull-up. Then his head disappeared and she heard him land inside.
“Are you okay?” she asked, still looking at the gun.
“Yep,” he said.
She could hear him moving around. Celestino came closer. “Do you have it?” he asked, lifting the lantern as high as he could.
In answer, the tablet appeared above the opening, in SK’s hand.
Celestino grabbed for it but couldn’t reach it.
“Slide it down the roof,” he said. “Slide it this way.”
SK laid the tablet down at the edge and pushed it.
Livvy watched as it bumped its way down toward Celestino, who snatched it up when it came within reach. He quickly backed up and held the lantern close to it. Livvy didn’t recognize the carvings. This was not the tablet Tawa had given her.
How many tablets are there?
And where was the one with the lightning shaman on it?
“Let’s see,” said Franklin, stepping next to Celestino.
The two of them peered at it, mesmerized.
She couldn’t quite make out what was on it but she knew it wasn’t the one she’d seen. She remembered what Leon had said–the tablet had been with someone who had died. Then it could never have been the one with the lightning shaman on it. Her search had found her someone who knew where a tablet was–but not hers.
Where was hers?
“Masau made this,” whispered Celestino. “At the beginning of the Fourth World.” He ran his thumb lightly over the etchings. “We’ve waited a long time for this. A long time.”
“Then let’s not waste any,” said Franklin.
He pointed the gun at Livvy again and held his arm out stiffly.
“What are you doing?” said Celestino, swinging the lantern toward him.
“I’m making sure we don’t waste any more time.”
Livvy backed against the chamber. The room was small and there was nowhere to run.
“You can’t do that!” yelled Celestino.
“Of course I can,” said Franklin, aiming the gun.
Despite knowing it wouldn’t help, Livvy raised her hands in front of her.
Celestino stepped between them. “There wasn’t supposed to be any killing,” he said.
“Not this again,” said Franklin, sounding tired. “Just … stand aside.”
“I won’t,” said Celestino.
The men outside had crowded together and were staring through the doorway. All eyes were on the gun.
“You need me, Pahaana,” Celestino said, his voice shaking slightly. “I’m the one who journeys to the Underworld and puts the tablets together. Not you. If you shoot me, this will have all been for nothing.”
Livvy couldn’t see Franklin’s face but he didn’t say anything.
“I’m going to bring about the Fifth World before anyone can do anything about it,” Celestino continued, building steam. “Leave them here. It won’t make a difference. What can they possibly do?”
Again he was met with silence.
“We’re wasting time,” Celestino continued. “Put the gun down and let’s go.”
“Fine,” Franklin finally said. “Fine.”
“Fine,” Celestino said.
He warily moved to the side and Livvy could see the gun was still pointed at her.
“Join your little friend,” Franklin said, as he flicked the gun toward the domed roof.
“Leave her be,” said SK, his voice sounding hollow inside the chamber. “You have the tablet. Take it and go.”
“No, I don’t think so,” said Franklin. “I’ve heard what this one can do.”
If only that were true, Livvy thought. If she could have called down lightning right now, she’d have done it. Celestino turned to her.
“Do what he says,” he said.
Something in the tone of his voice was a warning. She turned to face the chamber but stood looking at it. How was she supposed to get up there?
“Hey,” yelled Franklin. “One of you goons out there! We need some help.”
“Give me your crystal,” Celestino said.
“What?” Livvy asked, surprised.
“Just give it to me,” Celestino demanded.
Livvy took out the crystal and pulled the chain up over her head. What did the crystal have to do with anything? Celestino put the tablet into an interior pocket of his ski jacket and reached out his hand. As she dropped the crystal into it, she realized how they’d been found–the Hopi Multiverse. There could be more than one shaman without having to network goggles. How many times did she have to be surprised by that? While she had been using the crystal and talking with Leon, Celestino had been watching, probably looking for the tablet himself. Now, he didn’t want the tables turned.
He stared at the crystal for a few moments and then someone came through the door behind him.
“Lift her up to the roof,” Franklin ordered.
The man didn’t hesitate. He wasn’t tall, but in moments he had bent down, grabbed her near the knees, and stood up, lifting her. He was strong for his size, as though he lifted weight like this all the time. She found herself dumped unceremoniously on the roof, kicking up dust that made her cough.
“Down,” said Franklin, motioning toward the opening with the gun.
She crawled on hands and knees the short distance to the opening and then sat at the edge and lowered her feet. SK put a hand on one foot, though he didn’t say anything. Neither did she. Instead, she inched lower and lower, while still partially sitting on the ledge. Then she brought her arms in close, scooted off, and lightly landed on the ground. Even though she was down, her head and
shoulders were still above the roof. She felt SK take her hand. She squeezed it.
“Cover it with those slabs,” said Franklin.
“What?” said Livvy, SK, and Celestino simultaneously.
“Celestino, maybe you should wait outside,” said Franklin, still holding the gun. “There won’t be enough room for all of us. Leave the lantern and send those other guys in.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Celestino insisted.
“I already can’t get out,” Livvy said.
“Would you rather I…” Franklin said, as he pointed the gun at Livvy.
She almost cringed but didn’t. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Celestino looked like he was going to say something but then put the lantern down, stalked to the door, and ducked through. Franklin smirked and pocketed the gun. Two more men filed in.
“Take those slabs there and cover that hole,” Franklin said.
“Please don’t,” Livvy blurted out and the men paused.
“You heard about that telephone pole?” Franklin asked them. “The one struck by lightning? Is that what you want?”
The men looked at each other but bent to the task. Three of them together lifted a slab. They swung it slightly as they got ready to toss it. Livvy barely ducked in time. As she descended into the dark chamber, the stone landed with a resounding thud. She bent low and huddled with SK as they moved away from the center. Maybe the roof would cave in. That might not be so bad, Livvy thought. They might survive a cave-in and get out. But the roof didn’t collapse and then came another thud that made Livvy jump. A second slab had landed. A few muffled words were spoken and then nothing.
In absolute darkness and silence, they were trapped.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
CELESTINO SAT ON his mat and watched as Franklin walked to and fro among the shamans, talking non-stop. The man was giddy while Celestino hadn’t said a word since they’d left the granary.
The other shamans were rolling out their mats, goggles ready and bottles of water standing by. These were to be his witnesses. One or two glanced at him. He looked away.
The Fifth World was supposed to be a return to traditions, the dawn of a new era of plenty, prosperity, and peace. He would guide his people and they would lead the way. He watched as Franklin patted someone on the back.
Olivia Lawson Techno-Shaman Books 1 -3 Page 77
