The Source - Michael Cordy [76]
'The river's only a day and a half away,' said Hackett, replacing the ingot. 'We take some now and get suitable transport, then come back for the rest.'
Ross felt strangely detached from the find. It was thrilling, and he wasn't immune to the giddy prospect of limitless wealth, but this wasn't the treasure he was seeking. He thought of how the ancient inhabitants of this place had spilt blood and presented their gold to save what they regarded as far more precious: the fountain, their city and their lives. He, too, would gladly give up his share of gold to save what he loved.
'Ross, where are you going?'
'To get some fresh air and tell Zeb and Sister Chantal what we found.'
'But don't you want to stay and talk about what to do with it?'
'It's not going anywhere.'
Hackett frowned. 'This is an amazing discovery, Ross, yet you don't seem excited.'
'Of course I'm excited. I just think we can decide what to do with it outside.'
'I come with you,' said Juarez. 'I like gold but I don't like this place.'
'Me too,' said Mendoza.
'We may as well all go, then.' Hackett sounded sulky.
Ross walked back to the stairs. As he passed the coffins, he felt Juarez tense. At the same time, he sensed something to his right: a sudden shift in the air, and a feral smell that raised the hairs on the back of his neck. He swivelled round.
Juarez was frozen to the spot, staring into the dark recesses behind the coffins. 'El abuelo,' he rasped, as if his vocal cords no longer obeyed him.
In the beam of Ross's torch a black shape moved behind the coffins and two hungry, malevolent eyes stared at him.
Then it roared and sprang.
Ross dropped to his knees as the creature leapt at Mendoza. Then Juarez, the man who was seemingly scared of his own shadow, jumped in front of Mendoza and fired off a shot. It missed and the beast hit the Peruvian, knocking him to the ground and ripping at his throat. Juarez screamed and Ross felt something warm splash his face. As Hackett levelled his pistol and Mendoza raised his rifle, both trying to get a clear shot without hitting Juarez, Ross kicked at the beast with his Timberlands. His steel toecaps connected with hard muscle and the black creature growled in the torchlight, then shot past him.
Hackett rushed to Juarez, who was clutching his throat, eyes staring into the dark. The pyramid of gold was spattered with blood.
'I need a gun,' said Ross, grabbing Juarez's and racing after the animal.
'Where's it gone?' said Mendoza.
'Up the steps,' said Ross. 'To Zeb and Sister Chantal.'
45
Zeb had been grateful for the time alone with Sister Chantal. She had no desire to go down those dark stairs into the fetid bowels of the ziggurat and she wanted to quiz the nun on the forsaken city. 'What will they find down there?' she asked.
'Gold.'
'How do you know?'
'Because I do.'
'How? Have you been here before?' Zeb's frustration was growing. 'Why can't you ever just give a straight answer?'
'Because whatever I say won't change what you believe. What does it matter how I know anything? You now know that water from Father Orlando's garden once flowed here. You and Ross have seen the fountain, the carvings of the story and the plants from the Voynich. You have seen proof of the garden's existence, and once the others have found the gold we can leave them and go in search of it. That's all that matters.'
'How close is it from here?'
'A few days' walk.'
'You're sure it's still there?'
A look of fear crossed the nun's features. 'It must be.'
Zeb was studying the carved image of the dried-up fountain. 'But what if—'
She was silenced by a muffled scream and a gunshot that issued from the darkened stairs. She stood up and pulled Sister Chantal to her feet. Another scream. Sister Chantal walked to the stairs and Zeb followed her. As she looked down into the gloom, a black shape leapt, snarling, at the nun, slashing with its claws, throwing her to the floor. Then Ross appeared and fired a shot into the air. The huge cat darted for the doorway and disappeared outside.
As Zeb rushed to Sister Chantal, Ross