Oracle--Fire Island by C.W. Trisef

Author:C.W. Trisef [Trisef, C.W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby

Chapter 9

The City in the Mountains

“Machu Picchu!” Lionel shouted.

“Gesundheit,” said Mr. Coy in response to Lionel’s epiphanic exclamation.

“It’s the Machu Picchu skyline,” Lionel continued giddily, undeterred by his associate’s sarcasm, “as seen from the south. Can you not see it?” He took a step closer and bent down to the ground.

Like a broadside portrait of a small automobile, the design was about half as tall as it was wide and sat in the giant figure’s lower abdomen, about where you’d expect to find his belly button. With half a dozen or so indiscriminate lines feeding into the system like a major freeway interchange, the outline was quickly filling up with water runoff from the balloon. The late morning sun shone brilliantly upon the water, which accentuated even more the whiteness of the lines against the dull dirt of the parched desert—like wax amid watercolor.

“This is the residential district, right by the main entrance,” said Lionel who, with his finger, pointed to the bottom-left portion of the outline. “And here’s the main plaza.” His hand moved rightward along a vacant stretch in the center. “This is Huayna Picchu, of course,” he said, identifying the large, conical mountain in the background.

“Oh, yes; of course,” Coy remarked quietly to Lionel, as if the features of the ancient city were common knowledge.

“Over there is the industrial zone,” Lionel’s gesticular tour resumed, “which rests across from these sacred sites. It doesn’t show everything, but it’s clearly Machu Picchu. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s one of the most famous skylines in the world, you know.”

“Yes, we know,” came Coy’s irked assertion. “Thank you very much, King Inca.”

“Do you think it could have something to do with the scar?” Ret asked, his mind clearly focused on one thing. “Or with the element?”

“It’s certainly a possibility,” said Lionel. “Not much is known about the pre-Columbian city or why it was abandoned, which is why I find it more and more fascinating each time I visit it. In fact,” he paused, surveying the horizon as if to orient himself, “it ought to be only a couple hundred miles to the east of us.”

“Let’s check it out!” Ret rejoiced, ready to go. “Come on!” He was about to make for the balloon but stopped when he caught Mr. Coy’s skeptical eye. Ret braced for some disparaging comment from him that would likely be at odds with Lionel’s judgment.

Amid silence, Mr. Coy glanced at Ishmael, who returned his boss’ glare with his usual look of pleasantly obedient servitude. Though there was no exchange of words or reciprocation of winks, some reassuring fact seemed to be communicated between the two of them.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Coy asked with an acquiescent smile. “All aboard!” Ret cheered inaudibly while Lionel shrugged, satisfied yet surprised by Mr. Coy’s approval. Ret led the way back to the balloon, several eager steps ahead of the rest of the group.

“Next stop: the city in the mountains,” Mr. Coy announced soon after disconnecting his airship from the earth.

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