Mayan Sunset 2012

CHAPTER ONE

Joel Pickett shoved aside the saber-like stalk of a saw palmetto bush with his pale arm, revealing a wall of circles. The gray stone had been bleached white by the Mexican sun. Joel used his straight brown hair to shade his eyes for a better look. What is this, Uncle Robert? They’re so regular. They look like … skulls. They’re rows of skulls!

His uncle, Robert, crouched in front of the weathered carvings and pushed back his bush hat. The hairs on his arms looked blonde against his darkly tanned skin. A little disconcerting, eh? Better get used to it. The Mayans decorated a lot of the buildings here in the Yucatan with them.

I knew that, Joel said, touching the nearest eerily grinning skull. It just caught me off guard is all. Below the skulls was a row of carvings, still legible after a thousand years. Joel made out carvings of jaguars, birds, Mayan warriors, and strange geometric shapes. I wonder what these say.

Why don’t you find out? These signs are called glyphs, and each one stands for a word or a number. It’s more like a code than a language, and I remember you being great at breaking codes. You can help us figure some of these out. Robert paused. "I’m glad your mom wanted you to come on this expedition.

Joel smiled. Yeah, after he had begged her for days. Anything to get away from school for a while.

Robert raised his voice so the girl on his other side could hear. You won’t need to know Mayan for the first job. As part of your study abroad programs, you and Lisa can help clean the artifacts Clarissa uncovers. Here are your whisk brooms and plastic specimen bags.

All right! Joel pictured Mayan swords and working with Lisa Larimore, the daughter of the photojournalist covering the Palenque expedition for Archaeology Today.

Lisa frowned, but set her computer down on a makeshift table and joined them, pulling off her volleyball cap and shaking her long, honey-brown ponytail loose. Her serious expression and extra inch of height made her look five years older than Joel, instead of five months.

She was totally out of his league, but here with no competition, no TV, and no internet rumors to deal with—he might have a chance. Then he remembered their disastrous first meeting.

* * *

Uncle Robert had been talking to Lisa’s mother, Renee, a striking blonde. Joel had hung back to give them a chance to talk, watching from behind a bush.

Cough, cough. If you’ve seen enough, maybe we can join them, now.

Joel had jerked around to see Lisa shaking her head and sighing.

I was… I didn’t know you were there. I mean… Joel had stumbled to an embarrassed halt.

Obviously. Perv, she had muttered.

What? No, I’m not a perv. They were talking, and I didn’t want to interrupt. I’m Joel, Robert’s nephew. He had actually stuck out his hand like some used car salesman.

Lisa had rolled her eyes and stepped around him. Great, I’m Lisa. Let’s join the party and get this meet and greet in the jungle over with.

* * *

They hadn’t talked the rest of the day, but now she’d have to be with him. If she got to know him, maybe she’d stop thinking he was a jerk. Maybe he could move up to geek status.

It wasn’t starting out well. Lisa looked at the work gloves and frowned at Robert. We have to brush dirt off bones?

It’s important work, Robert answered. And it’ll be mostly pottery.

We’ll probably dig up cockroaches the size of Hummers, in this God forsaken place. Lisa shivered in disgust, picking up a whiskbroom like it was contagious.

Lisa’s mother, Renee, laughed and took their pictures. Can you two move closer together and find something to brush off?

Joel tried not to look too happy.

Lisa had no such problem. I know what I’ll brush off, she whispered.

Renee didn’t hear. What are you scraping up, Robert—ancient dirt?

Almost—Clarissa wants something she can put a date on. She is hoping these are ashes from an ancient Mayan fire. If so, she can radiocarbon date it. Of course, if it’s only black dirt, then she’ll just throw it out, Robert said, brushing off his hands.

A few feet away, Clarissa was digging in a trench beside the base of the skull wall. She was probably Renee’s age, but a total opposite. She was had short jet-black hair and was dressed in matching dark T-shirt and jeans; she clicked her tongue stud against her teeth while she worked. Joel saw her lean deeper and deeper into the hole, until only her jeans stuck out.

Her voice echoed up. We’ve got to find some solid artifacts. Surely there must be something buried here; trash, broken weapons, something.

The sound of metal on stone rang up from the bottom of her hole. Eureka! It’s obsidian, probably a knife—make that a big knife. More dirt flew out of the hole. Make that an axe? Crud! This is too big to be an artifact. It must be a whole block of obsidian.

She pulled herself up onto one side of the hole, while everyone else joined her. Joel could see his reflection in the black glass below.

Look, the edge is irregular. It isn’t a cut block of stone at all! Robert exclaimed.

I don’t get it. Why is that exciting? asked Lisa, shielding her eyes from the sun.

Robert was now in the hole, clearing away dirt with a small shovel. Because that means it flowed here as lava and hardened into volcanic glass. The question now is, which came first –The Mayan village or the lava?

Clarissa jumped down beside him and helped sweep away dirt. Of course! This is our perfect dating specimen. I can date this obsidian to within a century or two. If any of the Mayan artifacts are underneath the lava, it will prove they’re older than the rock.

Suddenly she stopped, leaned back on her heels, and stared, as if she had seen the Holy Grail.

The shaft of a jagged flint knife protruded from the lava, like a miniature King Arthur’s sword.

I’ve got to have a picture of that! Renee exclaimed.

Take a bunch, answered Clarissa. We need to record this for posterity. She was now in her element and took control. Imix, (she used the Mayan pronunciation, ‘eemeesh’ for the assistant archaeologist’s name) get your men to clear away the dirt down to the lava level, all the way around this building foundation. Try to save the lighter pumice if you can."

Lisa pointed to a bracelet sticking out of the hardened lava. Does this mean the people were killed by the volcano?

Usually the lava flow is slow enough that the people can get away, Robert reassured her. The really dangerous volcanoes are the ones like Vesuvius, which wiped out Pompeii in Italy. It literally exploded, shooting out a wall of superheated air, smoke, and poison gas, at the speed of sound. It killed the people on contact and then buried them in ash. Maybe the people of this town escaped.

Not all of them. Joel aimed his shovel at a skeleton protruding from the lava.

Robert took his hat off. I guess not.

So that will set the date for this whole Mayan site? Joel asked, looking at the weathered pyramid in front of them.

Robert stopped brushing for a minute. Oh, we’re not done here yet. We don’t know how much older than the volcano these artifacts are. Clarissa might be able to push their age even further back. Robert gazed to the west. I hope it doesn’t take too long, though. I’m dying to get back and help open Ak’bal’s secret room in Palenque. I can’t wait to see that dug out.

Me either, Lisa added, straightening up. I want to do more than sweep and bag, and the mysterious Ak’bal made it sound like the find of the century.

Joel saw an opening. Yeah, even his name is great. I looked it up, and it means night in Mayan.

How cool. Ak’bal seems more sun-like to me, though, with that bronze skin and those perfect white teeth. She looked up as if picturing him. All that, and smart.

Joel mumbled, Don’t you want to talk about his muscles?

Lisa smiled innocently. I was saving that for last. Of course, he’s as old as my mom.

Hey! Watch it. Renee shoved Lisa’s shoulder. Ak’bal does add to the story, though—a warrior scientist.

I hope you two can stop drooling enough to work, Robert said, with his hands on his hips, but his smile showed a confidence Joel could only dream of.

Before Renee could reply, Lisa called out, Whoa, my leg must have fallen asleep. I feel a little wobbly.

Joel felt it too. Imix yelled, It’s an earthquake! Get away from the buildings.

An earthquake! Joel felt his heart pound, as if it were trying to pump water through an ice choked stream. He struggled to his feet and ran behind Imix to open ground. By the time he reached it, the shaking let up and Joel’s pulse slowed. This isn’t so bad, Joel said, sitting next to Lisa.

Well I still don’t like it. How long will this last? Lisa was on her knees with her hands pressed on the ground.

I think it’s almost over, answered Imix in his accented English. Even as he spoke, he was getting to his feet.

Suddenly, the whole earth lurched beneath them. Imix went flying, as if swatted by an invisible giant. As quickly as it had struck, it was over. Even the trembling stopped. What the heck was that? Clarissa asked, flat on her back.

I don’t know, answered Robert. Imix, do earthquakes do that?

Not that I have ever seen. But what else could it have been?

Joel sat up, wiping his hands. It sure kicked up this pumice dust.

It sure did, Robert said, looking down at his gray hands. He stopped and stared at the dust. Pumice, he repeated. Lava. Quick, everybody up. Get behind the pyramid. Now!

Joel didn’t understand, but he jumped to his feet. Lisa was still frozen on the ground. Come on. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along after Robert and Renee.

Clarissa joined them, but looked confused. Why are we running toward a building in an earthquake?

I don’t think it is an earthquake. I think it’s an eruption, Robert answered without slowing. That might have been just the first shock wave.

You mean a volcano? Joel asked, as they ducked behind the pyramid wall. Before Robert could answer, the sound arrived.

It started as a low rumble and then exploded into a howl of wind and gray ash. Even protected by the solid granite, they felt the gale rip at their clothes, while ashes and soot stung their eyes. It was like standing too close to a jet engine. Joel instinctively pressed Lisa against the stone and shielded her with his body.

Even in the terrifying storm, Joel was aware of the spicy sweet smell of perfume on her neck, and the warmth of her back pressed against his chest. Feeling her arms tremble, he locked his arms around hers. He felt her shivering ease, and her breathing synchronize with his. He forgot all about the storm.

Uh, Joel, I think it’s over, Lisa whispered.

Oh, yeah, sorry. He rose up with a jerk.

It’s all right. I didn’t mind your being a human shield.

Is it over? Clarissa asked, coughing.

Robert stood up and brushed leaves out of his hair. I think so. This building isn’t very tall, but maybe I can see more from the top of it.

Joel was eager to see, too. I’ll help you.

When they reached the top, Renee called up, See anything?

No. The old volcano still looks dormant, Robert answered.

Joel looked around for a higher vantage point, but all he saw was one small hill a few hundred yards in the wrong direction. He looked for smoke but saw only settling clouds of dust and ash.

I don’t see anything, Robert said, shaking his head. It must be miles away. Come on, Joel.

As he turned to follow, Joel caught a movement off to the east.

CHAPTER TWO

It could have been just a cloud, but it was thicker and blacker than the gray sky, and skimmed the treetops. In front of it, the trees came alive and seemed to bend toward him. Joel watched, mesmerized.

Robert turned back. Joel, do you see something?

Joel strained to make out what the black mass was. Just a minute. Can you hear that? It’s like distant screaming or shrieking. It’s a pack of monkeys! Joel laughed with relief. It’s just a pack of howler monkeys coming our way, Joel shouted to the others on the ground. Wait, it’s more like a stampede. I see deer, hogs, even turkeys. The scene reminded him of a childhood memory—some movie. Finally, his brain clicked. The wildfire scene from The Lion King!

This wasn’t some mindless stampede. The animals were running for their lives. Run! Head that way! Joel shouted, pointing to the west. It’s a fire! As he leaped down the steep steps, flames shot up into the trees to the east.

By the time Joel hit the ground, the others were already running, with Robert in the lead. We crossed a stream on the way here. It should be safe on the other side, Robert called over his shoulder.

After a minute, Joel took a quick look back. The flames were gaining. Why is it coming so fast? I don’t feel any wind.

I don’t know. It’s like the fire is flowing down the valley, Robert answered without slowing. His eyes grew wide with understanding. It’s a river of fire!

This is no time to get poetic, Renee said, panting.

No. I mean the forest fire is being caused by a river of lava coming toward us, just like the one that buried that village a couple of thousand years ago.

Joel glanced back again at the approaching flames. He and Lisa should just make the water. Then he saw a second fire coming at them from the south, threatening to cut them off from the river. Faster! Joel grabbed Lisa’s hand, trying to catch up with the others. Lisa was still clutching her computer.

Just as Joel saw the river ahead, he felt Lisa fall. The strap of her computer case had caught on a branch. Leave it! The fire is right behind us! Joel pleaded, fighting to break her loose. She finally dropped the computer and started running again. The flames were close enough to feel the heat. Joel looked ahead and saw Robert and Renee crossing the old wooden bridge, followed by Clarissa and Imix. Suddenly, the view was blocked by a wall of flames.

Lisa! Renee’s scream came through the blaze.

Lisa yelled back, but any answer was lost in the roar of burning brush. Run! Joel ordered. They ran parallel to the river, looking for another way to cross, but it was too late. They were completely cut off. We can’t make it, he shouted in frustration. Joel grew desperate. There was only one way they could run, and that was to the north—that hill he had seen. It was their only hope.

This way. Joel pulled Lisa along, hoping he was heading in the right direction, and that they could make it. They were running on an old animal trail bordered with brush, so thick you’d need a machete to break through. All they could do was follow the trail. Palmettos ripped their arms; vines and spider webs held them back. In the distance he could hear the unmistakable roar of a jaguar racing on ahead of the slower animals. Like them!

Surely the hill was close by now. Joel took another look back and felt the heat of the fire on his face. He looked back too long. As he turned forward again, he missed a turn in the trail and fell into the brush. He cursed himself for his clumsiness. Every second was precious. He fought his way upright, and realized he was facing a grassy clearing. The animal trail had turned to avoid the very open space he was seeking. He searched the field and prayed the hill was there.

There it is. See that hill?

The little one in the center of the clearing? Lisa asked, fighting down panic.

He looked around for other options. There were none. We’ve got no choice. Come on. Joel stumbled to his feet and grabbed Lisa’s hand again. They ran, but slower than before.

Lisa slowed to a jog. I can’t keep up, Joel. We won’t make it.

Joel slowed and looked back. Yes we will. The fire is spreading out in this open area, and we’re keeping ahead of it.

His lungs burned from effort and smoke, and his side ached, but finally he felt the ground rise beneath his feet. They were climbing. Looking ahead to the summit, his hopes soared. It looked like a real hill. When he looked behind him, however, his heart fell again. The lava was spreading over the entire meadow.

Don’t look back, Joel warned. Just climb.

All too soon they reached the peak. As they collapsed in exhaustion, Joel studied where he had led them. The hill was a plateau about fifty feet tall with a tabletop about twenty feet square. The good news was they would be well above the lava flow; the bad news was being within fifty feet of it was like standing in front of a furnace.

Are we safe here? Lisa asked, staring at the molten rock flowing toward them like a river.

I think we’re safe from the lava. It’s only a couple of feet deep, but I’m worried about the fire it’s causing. All this grassy stuff can burn. I’ve only got a hunting knife Robert gave me, but I think I can chop away the brush around us so we’ll be safe.

Lisa just nodded, her eyes never leaving the lava below.

It was grueling work chopping and tearing up the tough grass and thorned vines. Worst of all, however, was the heat on the side facing the fire. It was unbearable for more than a few minutes. Joel felt Lisa’s hand on his shoulder. We’ll take turns. Get away from the heat for a while.

Thanks, Joel said, handing over the knife. I don’t think I can do it alone.

Ten minutes later, Lisa collapsed beside Joel and dropped the knife on the ground. Are we going to make it?

Yes, Joel answered, rising to take her place. We have to.

Forty minutes later, the fire stalled out only six feet below the summit.

They dropped to the ground, exhausted, as far away from the heat as they could get, surrounded by piles of grass. I think we’re safe, Joel gasped, wrapping his blistered, bleeding hands in his shirt.

Lisa nodded, licking her cracked lips. Then