City of Gold Read online

  "Mummies are cool. You can't beat a mummy movie."

  Nick sighed.

  "What's the deal with the weaving?" he said to Elizabeth.

  "It contains a clue to the lost city of Paititi."

  "Okay, the lost city of Paititi. What's Paititi?" Nick said.

  "It's where the Incas are supposed to have stored an enormous treasure."

  "You're kidding," Selena said. "The City Of Gold?"

  "That's right. Livingston wants to mount an expedition into Peru to search for it. People have been looking for it ever since the Spanish conquest. When the Incas realized the Spanish couldn't be trusted and wanted to enslave them, they started moving all their gold to a secret city hidden in the jungle east of the Andes. The natives called it Paititi. The first written mention of it is in a report from a Jesuit missionary that dates back to 1600."

  Valentina had been quiet. Now she said, "Even in Russia we heard of this. The streets were paved with gold, no? That is nonsense. Why does Englishman think it exists?"

  "That Quipu hanging on the screen is a numeric record of some of the treasure taken to Paititi."

  "Why did Livingston contact you?" Nick asked.

  "He wants to hire us as security for his expedition. The area is a hotbed of MRTA activity. That's where the Lima bombing comes in."

  "Why does Livingston think he knows where the city is?" Ronnie asked.

  "That Quipu weaving wasn't the only thing hidden in the chest. There was also an account written by the Spanish captain and a map. It talks about a secret place where the Incas hid a vast horde of gold and jade."

  "Do we have a picture of the map?" Selena asked.

  "No. We don't get to see that unless we sign on. All I know is that it's somewhere up the Urubamba River, in the Peruvian Amazon."

  "If this Spanish captain had a map to the city, why didn't he get the gold for himself?" Nick asked.

  "There's no way to know that," Elizabeth said.

  "So now we're mercenaries?" Ronnie said.

  "Not at all. Livingston has the backing of the British and Peruvian governments. It's legitimate. It means we would have some diplomatic protection. Enough to keep the Peruvian authorities on our side."

  "Who told him about us?" Nick asked.

  "Sir Jeffrey is friends with Clarence. He told Livingston that he needed us, mostly because he knows we can be relied upon when things go bad. Also because of Selena's expertise in languages."

  "But I don't understand Quipu," Selena said.

  "That isn't necessary. You speak Spanish fluently. How about Machiguenga and Quechua? Do you know anything about those?"

  "As a matter of fact, I do. They're both languages in Peru, particularly around Cuzco and in the rain forest east of the Andes. Quechua was the Inca language. It's still widely spoken."

  "That's why you're perfect for this. The expedition leaves from Cuzco. Sir Jeffrey thinks your language skills are critical to success."

  "Let me see if I've got this right," Nick said. "This guy wants to head off in search of a lost city that probably doesn't exist, a place people have been trying to find for hundreds of years without any luck. Right so far?"

  "That's right."

  "Plus the area is probably infested by terrorists who murder anyone who doesn't agree with them."

  "That's why he wants us to protect him."

  "Proves he's not stupid, whatever else he is," Lamont said.

  "How did he get his knighthood?" Ronnie asked.

  "The usual way, these days. By making a lot of money and stimulating the economy."

  "What does he do?"

  "He makes cakes and pastries."

  "Cakes?"

  "Frozen desserts. He's sold millions of them. They're hugely popular in the UK."

  "That's why he's a knight?"

  "That's right."

  Ronnie shook his head.

  "I wonder what King Arthur would think of that," he said.

  Nick said, "What's it like where he wants us to go?"

  "He was vague, except to say it's unexplored and nobody goes there. There are hostile tribes in the area who don't like strangers."

  "This gets better by the minute," Ronnie said.

  "Why should we do this?" Nick said. "It's not like we're archaeologists or anything like that. There are plenty of military contractors he could hire."

  "There's more to this than finding the city," Elizabeth said. "Peru is the key to keeping South America stable. The new version of the MRTA is gaining strength. The Peruvian government, the Brits, even Washington are all worried about them. Sir Jeffrey isn't the only one who knows about the Spanish captain's chest."

  "You mean the information has leaked?"

  "It's possible. The governments are afraid the MRTA might get to the gold first. If they get their hands on wealth like that, all bets are off."

  "If they can find it, and if it exists. Those are big ifs."

  "Yes."

  "I hate the jungle," Ronnie said. "It's always wet, and it's full of bugs and snakes."

  "I should mention that Sir Jeffrey will pay quite well for our services."

  "See? Mercenaries," Ronnie said.

  Elizabeth looked annoyed.

  "No, Ronnie. The only difference between this and what we were doing before is that the government isn't paying our salaries. We would be acting as private citizens, but we'd be doing it with the blessing of three governments. It might even earn us points with Hopkins."

  "Now you're really making me nervous," Ronnie said.

  "Nothing's going to get us any points with that asshole," Nick said.

  "What do you think?" Elizabeth said. "Should we take it on?"

  One of the reasons the project was successful was because of Elizabeth's willingness to include the team in whatever decisions needed to be made. Some things left no option for discussion, but for a mission like this it was essential that everyone was on board.

  "If we do this, some things need to be clear," Nick said.

  "What things?" Elizabeth asked.

  "We have absolute final say in security arrangements once the expedition begins. No second guessing by Livingston or anyone else."

  "I don't think that's a problem. What else?"

  "Official permission to bring in the weapons and explosives we need. That means taking them from here to Peru and not having a problem once we get there."

  "Why explosives?"

  "Because we might need them. If the terrorists decide to create a problem, we need to be heavily armed, or Sir Jeffrey's little treasure hunt won't end well."

  "That can be arranged," Elizabeth said. "Anything else?"

  "I'll let you know if I think of something."

  "Assuming those conditions can be met, are all of you willing to take this on?"

  "How long will this expedition take?" Selena asked. "I don't want to leave the twins for too long."

  The twins, Jason and Katrina, had reached the terrible twos. Fortunately, they had a fierce protector in Anna Montalbano, a woman who had started out as a nanny and become a friend.

  "Sir Jeffrey thinks he knows where Paititi is located. If everything goes well, he estimates no more than a month. The plan is to leave from Cuzco. He's in Cuzco right now, obtaining supplies. By the time you get down there, he'll be ready to go."

  "I'm not going anywhere until after Christmas," Selena said.

  "That's not a problem. He won't be ready before then. So, what do I tell him?"

  "Assuming we get what we need, I don't have a problem with it," Nick said.

  "Guess I'd better break out the bug spray," Lamont said.

  Chapter 3

  They flew into Peru on Livingston's private jet during the first week of January. The view from the plane as they approached Cuzco was of a wide, fertile valley set between green mountains. A broad river flowed through it. Below them, the city was a sprawling sea of whitewashed walls and red tile roofs.

  The plane taxied to a private section of the airpor
t. It was summer on this side of the equator. The cabin door opened. This high up in the mountains, the temperature was pleasant and cool. The sky overhead was dark with clouds.

  Sir Jeffrey Livingston was waiting for them. He was about fifty years old, around six feet tall, the same height as Nick. His face was square, with a prominent chin. A deep tan set off ice blue eyes. He wore high brown leather boots with khaki pants, a khaki safari vest with half a dozen pockets, and a broad brimmed hat over dark hair worn a little too long. He looked like a wannabe Indiana Jones. All that was missing was a whip and a pistol on his belt.

  "Oh, oh," Ronnie said. "Is this guy for real?"

  "Sir Pies-a-Lot," Lamont said

  "Must be the height of archaeological fashion," Nick said.

  An unsmiling man in a dark suit and maroon tie stood at Livingston's side. He was not a tall man, but carried himself with a military bearing. His black shoes gleamed in the sunlight. He had a black mustache and calculating, dark eyes. The corners of his mouth were turned down.

  "Who's that with him?"

  "Probably somebody from the government."

  They walked down the stairs from the plane. Livingston stepped forward.

  "Welcome to Cuzco. Good flight, I trust?"

  His voice was deep and authoritative.

  "Yes, thanks. I'm Nick Carter."

  Nick introduced the others.

  "Pleased to meet you," Livingston said.

  He turned to the man standing next to him. "This is Colonel Alvarez from DIRCOTE."

  "DIRCOTE?"

  "The Dirección Contra El Terrorismo. His agency is responsible for counterterrorist activities. Colonel Alvarez is our liaison with the government. He's been extremely helpful in expediting things."

  Colonel Alvarez clicked his heels.

  "I am at your service, Señor Carter. Please do not hesitate to ask if there is something I can do to assist you."

  "Counterterrorism? I take it you're concerned about MRTA activity where we're going?"

  Alvarez shrugged. "There is always the possibility these animals will make trouble for you. I will not be accompanying you on the expedition. Señor Livingston assures me that you and your team are all the protection he needs. But please do not hesitate to call upon me while you are here if you need assistance."

  "Thank you, Colonel."

  Alvarez looked at his watch.

  "I'm afraid I must go. I simply wanted to welcome you to our beautiful country. I hope success follows your effort." He turned to Livingston. "Sir Jeffrey."

  "Colonel."

  They watched Alvarez walk away. Nick and Ronnie looked at each other. Ronnie raised his eyebrows. Livingston turned back to them. He smiled at Selena.

  "Doctor Connor, I'm looking forward to working with you. Your reputation as a linguist has preceded you. If a pure form of the spoken Inca language still exists, we will find it among the indigenous people where we are going."

  "That's intriguing, Sir Jeffrey."

  "Speaking of that, where are we going?" Nick asked.

  "First let's get you settled in. Then I'll be happy to go over everything with you."

  He gestured at three men waiting off to the side. They came forward to stand next to him. Livingston indicated each of them in turn.

  "This is Francisco, Alonso, and Javier. They will be going with us upriver. They'll unload your gear and bring it to the villa where we're staying."

  "We'll keep the hand luggage," Nick said. "Do we go through customs?"

  Each member of the team carried a small bag that contained personal items, papers, and a weapon.

  "Colonel Alvarez has already cleared you through. All I need is your passports. If you'll give them to me, I'll take care of it. If you're ready, I have transportation waiting in front of the terminal."

  They went into the terminal and waited while Livingston gave the passports to an official who stamped them and handed them back. Then they went through the glass doors of the terminal to the outside. Not far away, the majestic snowcapped mountains of the Andes stretched away under a sky filled with shifting dark clouds.

  "Looks like rain," Lamont said.

  "Better get used to it," Ronnie said. "It's going to rain every day."

  "Better rain than snow," Selena said.

  "Tell me that after you've spent a month in the rain forest," Ronnie said.

  "I am getting headache," Valentina said.

  Nick looked at her.

  "Probably the altitude. We're at about eleven thousand feet. It's going to take time to acclimate."

  "I wonder if we'll be going any higher?" Selena said.

  "We'll find out soon enough," Nick said.

  Chapter 4

  Livingston had a blue Mercedes transport van waiting for them. He told them he'd join them later at the villa where they would be staying. They drove out of the airport and into Cuzco.

  The route took them through the city, a sprawling, colonial era town of whitewashed walls and red tile roofs. They passed the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, one of Cuzco's major tourist attractions.

  "Looks old," Ronnie said.

  "It is," Selena said. "They began construction in 1560. It was built on the ruins of an Inca temple the Spaniards tore down. When they went inside the temple, they found a golden statue of Inti, the sun god. The walls were covered in gold."

  "How do you know this stuff?" Lamont said.

  "Easy." Selena held up a guide book. "I bought this before we left."

  "Isn't that Machu Picchu on the cover?" Nick said.

  "Yes. It's not far from here. Cuzco is the jumping off place for tours. But since the terrorists started making trouble, it's gotten dangerous to go there."

  "What is it about these communist groups?" Lamont said. "Every time they turn up, they start making anything interesting and fun a problem. It's like they can't stand to see people happy."

  "That's what having a rigid ideology will do for you," Nick said. "You're so busy being a true believer, there isn't any time to have fun. Naturally, you wouldn't want anyone else to have fun either."

  "Don't these people have a sense of humor?"

  "Nope. Nothing funny about changing the world," Nick said. "It's a lot of hard work, convincing people to do things they hate. That's why these groups always use violence and intimidation. You scare people enough, they'll do what you say."

  When they got to the edge of town, the views opened up. They took in the magnificent scenery. Brilliant green mountains rose on either side of the valley with the river flowing through it.

  "Big river," Lamont said.

  Selena consulted her guidebook.

  "That's the Urubamba. According to this, the Incas called this place the Sacred Valley." She pointed out the window. "Look, you can still see the terraces they built on the side of the mountains. They grew maize there. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire. Then the Spaniards showed up. Forty years later, the Empire was history."

  "It's an old story," Nick said.

  "What is?" Ronnie asked.

  "A people becomes powerful and creates an empire. It looks like it will last forever. They've got temples, houses, roads, crops. They've got armies and kings. And then someone comes along with better technology and better weapons, and it's over. Then it begins all over again."

  "That's cynical, Nick," Selena said.

  "No, that's history. Pizarro defeated an army of Mayans in a big battle with just a few men. He had swords and muskets, armor, and some horses. The Mayans lost two thousand men, while Pizarro had one man killed. Because he had better technology."

  "Smallpox helped conquer South America," Selena said. "It was endemic among the Spanish. The Incas didn't have any immunity to European diseases."

  "Like what happened to my people in the West," Ronnie said

  "There's always someone or something waiting to kill you," Lamont said.

  "I love your optimism," Ronnie said. "Gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside."

  "I usually get a
pizza for that," Lamont said.

  The villa was a rambling, whitewashed structure of wood, stone and tile, with a long sheltered porch. The view from the porch was spectacular, looking out over the valley and the river. A man dressed in a white jacket, white pants, and sandals, introduced himself as Diego. He showed them their rooms. All the bedrooms were on the second floor. He told them there would be drinks served on the porch.

  "Sounds good," Lamont said. "I wonder if they can rustle up a pizza?"

  "There are other food groups besides pizza," Ronnie said.

  "You mean like the beer group? Speaking of which, I wouldn't mind a cold one about now."

  "Meet on the porch after we settle in," Nick said.

  Nick and Selena went into their room. Their suitcases were on the floor next to the bed. Nick looked around.

  "Looks like we got the suite," he said.

  "This is really nice," Selena bounced on the bed. "Clean sheets. Private bath. A view of the valley. So far, so good."

  "Better enjoy it while we can. No bathrooms or beds where we're going. What did you think of that Colonel with Livingston?"

  "Government watchdog, I think. I wouldn't trust him out of my sight," Selena said. "Or maybe even in it."

  "My thoughts exactly. He looks like a real hard ass."

  "I suppose DIRCOTE must be something like our CIA and FBI combined."

  "Yeah, but without the kinds of restrictions we have."

  "We have restrictions?"

  Nick smiled. "Well, some. Down here it's a different story. I wouldn't want to get on Colonel Alvarez's bad side."

  "What do you think of Livingston?"

  "Jury's out on that. He's rich. He's used to getting his own way. That outfit he's wearing makes me wonder. We're not going to find out who he is until we're out there in the jungle."

  "I don't like the jungle," Selena said. "It reminds me of Mexico."

  Selena had been shot in Mexico. She'd almost died.

  "I don't like it much myself. I spent too much time in Colombia fighting off things that wanted to bite me."

  "I hope we don't run into any spiders."

  There were a lot of spiders in the rain forest, some of them big as footballs. They were hairy, fast, and they could jump eight or ten feet. Nick decided not to mention it.