The Source - Michael Cordy [65]
37
The next morning
They heard it first: a rumble like distant thunder. Despite Falcon's warnings and Hackett's vigilance, the Mouth of Hell still took them by surprise. As the Discovery turned into a narrower, winding stretch of river the rough waters appeared calmer. Juarez leant over the prow and lowered the sounding pole, expecting the water to get shallower, a sign that rocks, rapids and a waterfall were imminent. But the water wasn't shallower. It was deeper.
Much deeper.
And the current was stronger. So strong that he had to grip the sounding pole to keep it in his grasp and trust in the harness he was wearing to avoid falling in. The current hauled the boat along and as Hackett struggled to slow it, the rumble became a roar. They turned a tight bend but even when they straightened and looked beyond the giant trees that lined the river they couldn't see anything. There was too much spray.
Then the waterfall was before them, and Ross heard Hackett mutter, 'Bollocks.'
It wasn't the drop into Hell they had expected but above them. The stretch of river ended abruptly. The Discovery was heading straight for a towering cliff from which water cascaded into the river. But that wasn't the only reason why Hackett was swearing. Between the boat and the waterfall there was a whirlpool as fierce as any Ross had ever seen. This was the Mouth of Hell and Ross understood now why Falcon had so christened it. At that moment, it appeared that anything caught in its vortex would be sucked into the underworld.
'What do we do?' Juarez shouted.
'Pull into the bank,' yelled Mendoza.
'Too many rocks,' replied Hackett, 'and I've got no control of the boat, anyway.'
'So what do we do? Jump off?' Zeb pointed to the two rowboats at the back. 'We could take those.'
Hackett laughed. 'If the Discovery's engines can't escape it—'
'Go faster,' ordered a voice behind them.
Sister Chantal was standing by the wheelhouse, frail and dishevelled. Her eyes were red-rimmed but clear.
'I've got it on full throttle. I can't go any faster.'
'Not backwards,' she said. 'Forwards. Go full speed towards it.'
'Sister, are you mad?' said Mendoza.
'If you want to live, do as I say. And do it now.'
'No way.'
'Do it,' said Ross. 'The direction tells us to rush into the Mouth of Hell.'
Hackett shook his head in disbelief. 'Have you seen that cliff? It's solid rock. If we manage to get past the whirlpool and avoid getting crushed by the waterfall we'll smash into the rock.'
'Go forward,' insisted Sister Chantal, 'as fast as you can. Head for El Velo de la Luz.'
Ross pointed at the cliff as the sunlight caught the waterfall, causing it to sparkle like a curtain of blindingly brilliant diamonds. 'El Velo de la Luz, the Veil of Light. Aim for the waterfall. Full speed ahead.' Hackett hesitated. 'Unless you've got a better idea?'
Hackett changed gear and steered the boat straight for the Mouth of Hell and the waterfall. 'Everyone, get under cover and hold on to something firm. This isn't going to be fun.'
The engines roared and the boat shot forward as though surfing a wave. Ross stood with the others in the galley as she sped towards the whirlpool's boiling waters. For one sickening moment, it appeared that the Mouth of Hell would swallow them whole but as the Discovery entered the whirlpool centrifugal forces pushed her to the outer lip, then threw her into the waterfall, where she was deluged. The jolt threw Ross to the floor, smashing his left hand. The pain was excruciating as he scrabbled to his feet. From their wide-eyed expressions he could tell that the others were as terrified as he was. To his surprise, Mendoza's eyes were closed and he was crossing himself. Even Sister Chantal looked frightened. Then everything darkened and he braced himself