Chapter 25
Black luxury vans waited for us in the parking lot of the marina in Puerto Maya. Silas and Kyle scanned our surroundings with watchful eyes as we climbed aboard and slid into the comfy leather seats. The air conditioning
blew cold.
Felix, the driver, greeted us with a smile. "Welcome, my friends," he said in broken English. "I have a special adventure for you today. You will love!"
I’d had enough special adventures for a lifetime, but I was hoping this would be casual and relaxed.
Declan and Vanessa sat in the two chairs behind the driver. I sat in the third row, by the window. Luciano, Sophia, Sebastian, and Hannah all took the second van with Antonio.
Silas closed the cargo door, then climbed into the passenger seat.
"Where are we going?” I whispered to Vanessa.
She shrugged. "I don't know."
“Tzun Kaan,” Declan said.
"I’ve never heard of it."
"I'm sure there are lots of places you've never heard of.”
I frowned at his condescending remark.
Then he added, "It's special. Not a tourist trap. It's only accessible on foot, and you need a guide. Deep in the jungle, it keeps the riffraff out. I have arranged for a private tour.”
"Nobody told me we were going hiking through the jungle."
"I'll have the driver pull over. You can get off and walk back to the marina. I can have someone from the Vesper pick you up in a tender.”
"No. It’s fine. I just didn't know. I would have brought bug spray.” Then I added, “Not to be difficult, but we did have a deep dive. We’re still probably off-gassing nitrogen. Strenuous exercise and elevation could be an issue.”
“Would you relax? It’s not an issue.”
I couldn’t help but add in a tentative voice, “There is a non-zero risk.”
Declan sighed. “Do you want to go back to the boat?”
I shrank. “No. I’m sure it will be fine.”
With the midday sun high in the sky, it was already a furnace, and we were heading inland. It would be a good 4 or 5° hotter. You could fry an egg on the asphalt or on the hood of the black van as it was.
“This is a rare opportunity," Declan said, suggesting I should be more appreciative.
I thought I'd play nice. "Thank you. I appreciate your hospitality."
The tension was still there between us. I was just going to have to make the best of it.
We traveled inland for about half an hour, then turned onto another narrow blacktop. The quality of the road grew considerably worse. It was cracked and buckled in spots, and weeds clawed at the tarmac, trying to reclaim it for the jungle. This was definitely off the beaten path.
Green vegetation blurred by. We passed remote villas along the way that consisted of a few small huts. Pure poverty. The contrast was stark.
We turned onto a gravel road, and the vans kicked up dust as we headed deeper into the jungle. After a few miles, we pulled off the road, if you could call it that, to a clearing.
Felix parked and cut the engine. He turned back to us and smiled. "We have arrived. I will lead you through the jungle to the ruins of Tzun Kaan and the temple of the serpent god. Beware of snakes along the trail, and don't wander off.”
"Snakes?" I said with concern.
Felix laughed. "Don't worry. I will clear the trail as we go. Please don't pick or eat any berries. Some of them are poisonous. Once we get to the temple, please don't climb onto the ruins. It could anger the serpent god. He might demand a sacrifice."
I think Felix was joking, but I wasn't sure.
Silas hopped out and opened the cargo door. I followed Vanessa and Declan into the blistering sun. I missed the air conditioning of the van already.
Felix smiled and rubbed his hands together. “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for adventure?”
“We were born ready!” Declan said.
Felix led us into the jungle. “It is just a short hike. No problem.”
We filed in behind Felix, Declan second in line. Kyle brought up the rear with Antonio, and Silas stayed close to Declan and Vanessa.
It was a little cooler in the shade. I’d take every little bit.
The path looked pretty well-worn. I’m sure Felix and other guides took tourists out here all the time. But it was quite the trek.
The jungle was thick, and shafts of sunlight poked through the canopy of leaves. Birds chirped, and monkeys swung from branches. Critters rustled in the underbrush. Insects buzzed about.
I’d seen this movie before. College kids go into the jungle to see obscure ruins. It didn’t work out well for them. But I kept my mouth shut and stayed positive.
It didn’t take long for a mist of sweat to slick my skin.
The hike wasn’t too bad until we came to a stream. The terrain had been relatively flat. The babbling brook rushed by, and Felix guided us across the slick stepping stones. He had to be 50, but Felix showed no signs of slowing down. His slight limp didn’t seem to hold him back.
We crossed the stream and climbed the slope. That’s when it got a little tougher. It wasn’t long before I felt it in my quads.
“It’s not much farther now,” Felix shouted back to the group.
It was probably 95 degrees, but it felt like 110.
Hot and sticky.
I looked back at the group. Luciano climbed with eager strides. This was not Sophia’s cup of tea. I think she’d rather be back on the deck, sipping a cocktail. I couldn’t blame her. I would too.
We continued hiking through the jungle. What was supposed to be a short hike turned into an hour and a half. I was beginning to think Felix was full of it. Maybe he was leading us to our doom. I know Tyson had a bad experience on one of these excursions down here.