Legacy

It was the summer of 1954 as Juan Hernandez sat in a resort Bar and Grill in San Paulo, Brazil.  Juan now owned the Bar and Grill.  He’d named it The Mystery Passage, Bar and Grill.

That name of course sparked much curiosity from tourists. One such tourist was Doctor Samuel Arkins, an Archaeological Professor from Purdue University in Indiana.  He ask Juan about the strange name of the Bar and Grill.

Juan told Professor Arkins it was to commemorate his unforgettable experience as the Captain of his fair size river boat which had been rented to take a team of eight zoologist’s way into the upper reaches of the Orinoco River to search for yet to be discovered species.

Juan said that area of the Orinoco is infested with about everything one could think of and there were probably yet to be discovered creatures there.  Very hot, many flies, and not a pleasant place to spend ones time.  But the money for his boat and services had been to good to pass up.

Juan said they had been way up the Orinoco for several days and the river was becoming narrower, yet with clearer water.  As they rounded a bend they had taken note of a very high cliff and as they drew nearer to it they were able to see a fantastic sight.  It was a huge cave like depression in the face of the cliff.  Juan said, I do mean huge, it was about a quarter of a mile long, about two hundred feet high from floor to ceiling of the cave like depression, and it appeared to go back two or three hundred feet.

But what was most amazing is the fact there were structures in excellent condition built into it, almost like a small city and reminiscent of the Pueblo Cliff Dwellers of the American Southwest, only much more magnificent and sizable.  One could see an occasional palm tree sticking up here and there within it.  As we drew near we could see some docks with small boats moored to them.

The zoologists decided we should investigate.  That was alright by me said Juan as it was their money.  I tied my boat up to one of the docks and we went up a stone stairway and gained entrance to the village or whatever one would call it.  The architecture was strange as it somewhat resembled ancient Egyptian styles, but not quite; yet very well built.  The place was inhabited by about three hundred men women and children.  Their dress was similar to ancient Egyptian, but again, not quite.

The big surprise was their dialect, I didn’t understand a word of it, but one of the more learned zoologists by the name Levi Brenski said it was ancient Hebrew.  He understood it so he could translate to the rest of us.  It turns out it was a matriarchal society and the men were little more than slaves.  The women ruled and the head woman’s name was Cleo, The Fourth.  Her greeting to us was curt and not to friendly.  Apparently we were less than welcome.

Then Cleo smiled an evil grin and said to one of her attendants, they do look strong, maybe we could use the extra labor.  She clapped her hands and about six of her used to shoving men around cohorts grabbed onto us.  We of course got the picture real quick.  They found out we were men of a different stripe and we knocked them flat.

Then Levi said to a few of the men that had been  there to wait on the ladies, that the women were no longer to be in charge, that it was their role to serve men everywhere in the world.  Well that information coupled with what the male workers had just seen set off a revolution of sorts.  Who was in charge changed overnight.

The men now being in charge cheered us.  Sadly in the morning it was discovered all the women had left.  Most of the small boats were gone.  We assumed that the women fearing the men would treat them as badly as they had been treated, fled rather than face the possibility.  The men had mixed feelings ranging from sad to happy.

The zoologists decided it was a good time to move on, and I certainly agreed with that.  So we got back on my river boat and headed on upstream.  About a day later we came to a pristine and clear pool just big enough to enter and turn around in, above that a waterfall.  We had apparently reached the headwaters of the Orinoco River.

We could see a bit of a clearing on the shore so we anchored the river boat and then paddled over in a rubber raft.  We secured the raft and headed into the jungle.  Two of the zoologists were carrying good size video cameras to document any new species that might be found, the rest notebooks to record details.  I only carried my old 45 caliber automatic under my shirt.  I used discretion about having it, but knew it could make a big difference in case of large snakes and other predators.

Everything went well over the next two days, we had covered about ten miles and two new species had been noted.  Then we came out of the jungle and could see we were entering a huge valley that was like a big box canyon; one way in and one way out.

We hadn’t gone much farther when we saw what appeared to be a very large village, I don’t know if village was the right word as it was made of stone.  Some of the structures were rather palatial and appeared to be somewhat ancient Roman in style, but again, not quite.  We entered the lets call it a  little city and were surprised that the inhabitants were dressed like ancient Romans, but not quite.  We were really about to stand on our heads because after that Egyptian flavored bit, Roman was not at all expected, and the mutual glancing indicated clearly that things were most unusual indeed.  I mean how could this possibly be.

We hadn’t gone too far in before we were spotted as strangers dressed very peculiarly as far as they were concerned.  The next thing we knew is we were grabbed by what looked like Roman soldiers and tossed into a cell.  The cameras had been confiscated and were being looked at with great curiosity. One of them managed to accidentally turn one of the cameras on and the pictures on the little screen scared him to pieces, he threw it and shrieked.  We were immediately branded as some sort of demons.  We knew this because they spoke Latin, a language every zoologist knew.

The next day we were taken to an arena.  There was a large audience and some Cesar looking type person seated in a prominent position.  Then from the opposite side came about ten Gladiator looking types armed with spears and swords.  Apparently we were slated to be the targets in a target practice session.  That would thrill the audience and that Cesar looking guy.

Now I was probably the only one that didn’t understand Latin, but I got the idea pretty clear anyway.

Our captors had not noticed the 45. Cal automatic under my shirt, so I still had it.  I whipped it out and shot one of the Gladiator types in the leg, as I didn’t want to kill anyone.  He dropped like a rock howling in pain.  No one else would even advance in our direction. I then pointed at the one I’d shot while looking at the Cesar type and went thumbs up, meaning I’d decided to let him live and the Cesar type would have nothing to say about it.  I got no argument, just stunned silence.

I then pointed directly at the Cesar type and went thumbs down.  Whatever his name was he got the picture immediately and went down on his knees begging.  I didn’t realize I had become the new ruler and had given an order, until two guards grabbed him and hauled him away.  Not sure what his fate was.

As for my self and the eight zoologists we simply left and headed back towards our boat, not surprised that no one followed.  We boarded the river boat and headed back downstream.  As we approached that place of like Cliff Dwellers, we decided to stop back in a say a final goodbye and wish all the men good luck.  We arrived rather late and decided to stay the night.  We were cheerfully welcomed.

In the morning we went down to board the river boat and found it was gone; apparently the women had cut it adrift.  That caused a bit of panic as we appeared to be permanently stranded.  Not a good place to spend the rest of our lives.  We asked around as to were there any other way out besides the river.

The answer was maybe.  Well maybe was at least a glimmer of hope, so we inquired further.  We were shown the entrance to a cave or tunnel that went back into the Cliffside.  Legend had it that the tunnel led to a passage that would take us up above to a plateau and maybe a path we could follow to some sort of civilization.  A long shot indeed, but apparently our only chance.  So being the Captain I led the way.

Our flashlights had been left on the boat so all we had was torches.  We carried a few spares in case it would take more than one.  No one had any idea as to how long the passage way would be.  All those people had been told for years it was a bad place of no return, so they didn’t actually look or even know for sure.

It seemed like we had wound around but mostly going forward and slightly upward for several hours. It was obviously a long passage with no guarantee of an opening at the other end.

We came to a place where there were like old little railroad tracks and a mining cart.  We then assumed we had come into one end of an old mine.  Some places had rock that had fallen on the tracks, indicating the mine wasn’t stable.

We walked a little farther and some of the rock that had fallen revealed that this had been an Emerald Mine.  In fact new large hunks of Emeralds were now exposed.  Everyone got excited and started grabbing intending to fill their backpacks with riches.  Then there was a little earthquake or something that caused the mine to shudder and we could hear rock falling back where we had been.

I said hurry, we must get out of here before it all caves in on us, they said just give us three more minutes.  They were greedy to point of foolishness.  I myself valued my life and I ran for all I was worth, I barely got out when everything caved in behind me.  I knew the zoologists were probably killed.

Indeed I was on a bit of a plateau.  I looked ahead and in about a hundred feet there was a rundown old shack.  I went up to it and it had a sign about ready to fall off and so faded I could barely read it.  But it said “Aztec Mine Number Two.”  I then knew it had been an old mine.  That was a sign of civilization at some past point.  I went in and was heartened to see a two way radio.  It was covered with dust and cobwebs.

I feared it had a dead battery and would not run.  Then I noticed it was plugged into something and wasn’t battery operated after all.  There was a small generator that provided electricity.  It ran on gasoline but had not been run in untold years. Might not run.  I looked into the gas tank and it only had about a quart in it.  Pretty old gas, might not ignite.

Then I noticed a half empty bottle of Tequila.  Alcohol gets more burnable with age.  I poured it in with the gas to perk up the gas.  Then I pulled the starter cord and prayed real hard.  A miracle it started.  Now if the radio would work.  I turned it on and it powered up.  Another miracle,  I had to fool with the dial a bit but I finally got a response.  I then called for help but didn’t know where I was, other than a place that referred to Aztec Mine Number Two.  A couple of minutes of someone checking the charts on the other end got a reply I liked.  They said we know where you are and a helicopter will be there in about three hours.

I was so relieved.  I was saved and that’s why I’m here today being able to tell my story.  Professor Arkins just smiled and said, well Juan that’s an interesting tale, I bet you have told it many times.  Has any one ever believed it?

Juan said sadly, no, not one soul. Professor Arkins said didn’t anyone ever suggest you offer proof.  Juan said no, they didn’t.  Had they I could have offered them some.

Professor Arkins said like what?  And with that Juan pulled from his pocket the biggest Emerald imaginable, and said I brought back two, but I used the other one to buy the Bar and Grill.

Professor Arkins jaw dropped so low it almost fell off.

There was no more to be said.