Terminal Reign

Image credit: Shutterstock

“This is friggin’ zonkers!” the girl screeched as she flipped the mask off her head, splattering water droplets everywhere.

“It’s gold! Oh my God! Gold! It’s got to be! Look, it’s shiny!”

Her high-pitched cries echoed explosively in the small chamber. The man beside her knew she’d never let go of it until she wound down. “Such a beautiful free spirit,” he whispered to the river proudly. So, he dragged the dive gear off to the side and crouched down to watch.

“Jesus, Mary, and Ringo” she panted as she clumsily hopped on one leg after another, ripping off her fins with one hand, white fingers tightly gripping the muddy disk.

“C’mon, let me see,” he urged.

She pulled off her hood, shook her tousled hair at him, and held the disk aloft while swaying seductively. “Come and get it,” she teased.

Treasure

There was enough reflected light in the chamber to expose the amber patina as they rinsed away the mud. “It’s an ancient plate of some sort. ¡Madre de Dios!” He shook his head and whistled. “This might really be gold. Where’d you find it?”

“At the mouth of that side tunnel a dozen meters back. Your fin wash uncovered it.”

Chino’s black curls dripped onto the plate as he studied the detail. Madeline leaned in, shoulders touching, noticing his musty scent.

“It’s ceremonial, Mads, it looks Mayan. This is a battle scene with warriors fighting with spears.” He pointed to the top. “And this must be a maiden or princess paddling a canoe. Swimming maidens all around. Oh, and this guy looks important…”

“A king!” Mads interrupted, excited. “He has a big crown and bunch of bumps on his chest.”

“Necklaces. I’m sure it’s Mayan — look at the long nose and large earflares. I studied Mesoamerican history in undergrad and those are distinctive Mayan traits. This little plate could be worth a fortune.”

She gave his cheek a quick peck and yanked the plate away, smirking and clutching it to her dive suit. “¡Somos ricos, me amor! We’re rich!”

Riverside

They rested on the polished rock near the river’s edge and snacked on gorp, taking turns with the canteen. Contemplating their newfound fortune was intoxicating.

The underground chamber was shaped like a lopsided potato with menacing stalactites pointing down at them like chocked arrows. Above, several openings overgrown with vegetation scattered the sunlight into hundreds of dancing rainbows on the dusty floor.

It was quiet, save for the melody of the river. This resting area was the final stop in their day-long adventure and when they strapped on their tanks and slipped beneath the surface for the final leg, the current would rush them through a system of underwater tunnels and eject them into the warm brackish waters of the Caribbean sea.

Mads watched Chino as he rested his back against a stalagmite, studying the cave map. She adored him. He was handsome, strong jaw, auburn skin, and bedroom eyes that would seduce a nun. It might be a simple case of travel-love, but right now it feels real.

They met in biology class in Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City. Madeline was on a research outreach program from Caltech and Chino was finishing his Master’s in Bioengineering. One day after class he invited her out for a snack and coffee where she nervously fumbled with her churro until it dropped to the dirt. He laughed at her, kissed the sugar from her lips, and shared what was left of his.

They were smitten, and practically inseparable ever since. Two nerds from opposite worlds with a common passion. And love? Maybe.

For their two-month anniversary gift, he booked a flight to Tulum and surprised her with a cave dive. They were both experienced divers, but she had never been through an underwater cave system before. Her parents would kill her if they knew what she was doing, but Chino is an expert and she figured they’d never find out anyway.

Chino glanced up, catching her affectionate gaze, and returned a knowing smile. “Hey, did you hear something a few seconds ago?”

“Just the river.” She said as her eyes lingered on his chest.

“There! Just now!” He whispered with urgency. “What’s that?”

“That… was that a scream?” Mads exclaimed.

“Shhh,” Chino cautioned. He rolled onto his knees and listened intently. He stood up, motioned with his palm for her to stay still, and gingerly walked in the direction of the sound.

Mads held her breath as he disappeared around a stone outcropping. She grabbed her knife and dive light and crouched down, ready to spring.

A few moments later he leaned around the wall. “I can’t hear anything, but I found an old stone staircase back here. The sound must have come from up above. Come on, let’s check it out.”

Discovery

“Damn it, I left my map behind,” he said as they climbed the narrow steps. “Doesn’t matter though, this staircase isn’t on the map — I would have noticed it. Your tunnel is, though. That one where you found the plate leads into Cenote Muertos. The name sounds terrifying, but it’s a short tunnel. Next time we do this let’s explore it.”

“Sure. Maybe we can find another one of these,” she said, waving the plate.

“What the… You brought it with us? Ha! You think someone will steal it in the middle of a dangerous underwater cave network?”

“Dangerous? You never told me it was dangerous.” She giggled and pinched his butt. “But you know, if we got in here someone else could too. Then they would be rich instead of us. And I want to be rich!”

“Good plan, but I also want to be rich with knowledge.” he quipped, “Let’s find out what that sound was. I hope nobody is hurt.”

The dive light came in handy as they navigated the dark staircase. Nearing the top, the natural light improved so she turned it off and snapped it to her belt beside the knife. She also zipped the plate into the front of her neoprene shorty to free her hands.

“Shh.” Chino warned. “Listen. I hear something again. It’s people!”

Madeline could hear them too. They were unintelligible, but human voices for sure. The two slinked up the last few steps and into a protected stone alcove. It was warm and humid. Dim light shone in from a pair of walkways going left and right. Chino shrugged, nodded to the right, and they carefully picked their way down a ramp to a long row of broad flat stones behind a pony wall. Like bleachers in an ancient coliseum.

The voices were stronger. Peering over the short wall they saw a cluster of people gathered at the far end of an enormous grotto. Words were hard to decipher as they echoed off the stone walls, but they sounded like a mixture of Spanish and some other strange dialect.

They strained to pick out a few words. “…sacrificio…” was one.

Judgment

Two dozen figures sat on wooden benches facing a large archway open to the daylight. Outside, vines and ferns clung desperately to a curved stone wall encircling a sinkhole — Cenote Muertos. A weathered wooden platform cantilevered precariously from the stone edge over the space beneath.

The congregants were all men, dressed in colorful loose clothing. Pictures of feathered serpents and pouncing jaguars adorned their outfits, reminiscent of a jungle-themed circus troupe. Three men stood before them in tall feathered headdresses — not unlike the images on the plate. They chanted together in a discordant rhythm while the audience watched silently.

“That’s no country club cocktail party,” Mads said as she peered over the short wall. “What’s going on?”

“Shh. Get down!” Chino commanded. “These people don’t look friendly. We need to get the hell out of here. Come on, let’s go!”

“Wait!” Mads said a bit too loudly again. Chino grimaced.

She pointed to an area off to the side. There was movement in the shadows, a young woman tethered to a stake, dressed in a gossamer gown.

“That girl. She’s in trouble. We need to help her!” Mads demanded.

“No, we can’t possibly… wait, they’re moving.”

The two watched the group rise in unison and walk single file past a small table, selecting a colored stone from one of three ceramic bowls. A few steps further it was dropped into a larger bowl resting on the upturned belly of a chiseled stone Chac-Mool.

“They’re voting.” Chino mouthed.

“For what?”

“I don’t know. It must have something to do with the three men. Or the girl.”

Frightened by the spectacle, the girl frantically tugged at her strap.

“I know what’s going on. These twisted freaks are going to sacrifice her!” Mads whispered. “We need to save her.”

“That’s absurd. Nobody does that anymore…”

“Wait here for a sec. I’ll check it out.” Mads zipped away as Chino lunged for her, missing by inches.

“No, wait! Aaargh.” He stifled his irritation and ducked back behind the wall. ‘Damn free spirit,’ he mouthed at her shadow.

After the final vote was cast, a stocky man stepped up and peered into the bowl, lightly stirring it, counting the stones. The robed figures returned to their places but remained standing, watching closely. Tension filled the air until the tallyman raised his head and exclaimed: “Kukul is king! The gods have chosen.” Cheers and jeers erupted from the crowd.

“It’s just a load of loony locos acting out some Mayan nonsense.” Chino thought, hoping it was true. “The girl is probably one of their daughters acting out a part. Where’s Mads? We gotta go.”

Kukul raised his fists in victory, bowed to the crowd, and ceremoniously removed his headdress and robes exposing a skinny frame in denim cutoffs and a t-shirt. The stocky tallyman turned, revealing a quiver of spears on his back, and draped an elaborate ornamental cloak over the new king’s bony shoulders.

“Where the hell is she?” Chino was getting nervous.

Next, he draped a necklace with a gold medallion over Kukul’s head. He followed that with another and another until ten gold medallions hung nobly on his breast. A tall comb-shaped crown completed his regalia. Chino could tell the outfit was heavy as the king shuffled around the table to address the crowd.

“Mads? Damn it!” He started moving to go find her.

“The gods have chosen me to be your king.” He announced to his disciples. “They demand payment. A sacrifice.” He pointed at the makeshift jail in the corner.

The girl was missing.

Escape

The king was dumbfounded. He swiftly scanned the chamber, urgently looking for the missing girl. A guard jumped up with spear cocked and bounced around in a circle like a Mexican jumping bean. The tallyman ran to the corner where the girl had been tied and held up the empty end of a leather strap. ‘She’s gone!”

The confusion was comical. Robes flapped as the men frantically scampered about checking in corners and under tables, throwing up their hands, colliding with each other, pointing every which way. In contrast, the king stood stern, feigning a majestic pose but clearly distressed. Without a sacrifice to the gods, he knew his reign could not be affirmed.

Chino knew exactly what Mads had done. Too frightened to be mad, he poked his head back around the wall and strained to look deeper into the shadows. Nothing. Mads and the girl should be rushing back to meet him. They’ll need to find a way to smuggle her out of the tunnels.

“Aaaaaah! Ungh!” It was Mads. She was hurt. Chino’s heart dropped to the floor.

Two guards dragged her out into the open. Mads’s face was bloody. The young girl was nowhere to be seen.

Chino frantically looked for a weapon. How could he save her? She was hurt, bleeding, he had to do something. There was nothing around him but stone walls and dirt. He needed a plan.

The angry crowd rushed to her, fighting with each other to get near. They kicked and punched her while guards circled the rioting crowd maniacally shaking their spears. Terrified, bleeding, and in pain, she screamed “Fuck all you bastards! Leave me alone! Chino! Help! Help me!” A bolt of terror shot up Chino’s spine.

“Stop!” the king commanded.

The rioting halted and the circle of followers turned to the king.

“The Gods demand payment. And they shall be paid! In full!” he glared at his bleeding hostage.

Rites

Mads stood motionless, trapped on the rickety wooden platform facing the agitated crowd. Two steps behind and twelve meters down, the rippling surface patiently awaited her arrival. There was no escape. Soon she would join legions of unfortunate souls sacrificed to a fictional pantheon in a futile quest for power.

The Gods would be pleased. Or not. It didn’t matter. She would die either way.

Facing the crowd, Kukul held them rapt. He bellowed out an interminably excruciating chant, and as his crowing rose to a crescendo, the two guards joined beside him with spears ceremoniously jabbing at the sacrificial gift-to-be.

Mads studied them closely, looking for a way to fight or flee. Without moving her head, she angled her eyes up to where Chino should be, and thankfully behind the wildly gesticulating king, she saw him standing confidently, holding up a single index finger — he had an idea.

With the art of a skilled thespian, Chino pantomimed his plan to her, then held out his palm telling her to wait for his signal.

Kukul ended his monotonous wag, turned, and stepped up onto the platform. As he approached her the crowd began slapping their feet on the stone floor and humming a menacing tone.

It was time.

Chino screamed as loud as he could and everyone spun around to look. He pitched a fusillade of sharp stones at the crowd while Mads quickly grabbed the king, pulling him off balance toward the edge of the platform. They twisted and stumbled like dancing drunks until Mads thrust herself over the edge, tightly gripping the king’s necklaces. He fell on his chest and grabbed at the platform, sliding toward the abyss.

His head and upper torso teetered off the edge while Mads twisted freely below. His face, just centimeters from hers, was contorted in surprise, fear, and rage.

“I hope you can swim, you crazy fuck!” Mads spit at his reddening face.

The two men nearby frantically jumped to action, one grabbing for his ankles and the other rushing to the edge, Mads scissor-kicked her feet up to the lip of the platform and leaned back, fighting to straighten her back, pulling with every ounce of strength she had.

As the two slid off the platform, a spear hit its mark — dead center in Madeline’s chest.

Chino was already halfway down the staircase as the two bodies splashed through the surface.

Abyss

The crushing impact shocked the spear loose from Madeline’s chest. Her neoprene suit buoyed her excruciating body back to the surface where she gulped in lungsful of air.

Spears splashed beside her, one missing by centimeters. Above her, a dozen men crowded the platform, cursing, chucking spears and rocks.

She quickly unzipped and ripped off her suit. The gold disk was badly damaged from the impact of the spear and she regretfully let the treasure slip from her fingers, fluttering into the darkness below. She prodded her chest and found nothing worse than a throbbing bruise and a broken rib or two.

With no time to spare, Madeline hoped she understood Chino’s plan. Two deep breaths and a few strong kicks and she was on her way to the bottom. Partway down, she flicked on her dive light which illuminated the terrified face of a nascent king in frantic throes, losing the fight against the weight of ten gold anchors around his neck.

The floor was covered in a thick blanket of long untouched dust, reluctantly awakened by her presence. Her lungs screamed for air as she frantically twirled, shining her light in a fruitless search for her savior. Kukul’s lifeless corpse settled nearby, disrupting the dust and exposing the angry growl of an ancient skull.

Where was he?

Blackness.

Savior

Mads abruptly awakened to the familiar metallic clap of a regulator. A bare hand mashed a regulator into her teeth with the power of a vice. Strong arms encircled her, intermittently crushing her bruised chest, sending jolts of agonizing pain through her body. She gasped and gulped the cold dry air, struggling to suppress the hacking.

Soon, the crushing pressure softened to a gentle hug and her savior turned her around. She was greeted through the glass of a dive mask by a set of adoring bedroom eyes. She relaxed at last and melted into his embrace.

He held her close as they swam through the tunnel that leads back to the potato-shaped cavern. She was tired, sore, and worried. Her life would never be the same and she dreaded a return to the real world with the stain of blood and death on her hands.

With a final kick, she broke the surface and wiped a river of tears from her eyes.

The girl in the gossamer gown crouched at the river edge, hands outstretched.