In the morning, at seven, the members of the expedition were joined by Father Gomez at the head of a delegation from the town. As they started the long climb up the narrow path, Father Gomez said, “Dr. Caine, there are things you need to know and this is my first chance to tell you. You know this place is sacred to the local people. The ones buried up there are not strangers, they’re ancestors. They were the rulers of the city of Kixch’ent and the survivors of a great war against a city about thirty miles to the east in about 790 A.D. When it became apparent that they were terribly outnumbered and losing, they gathered a group of loyal warriors, along with the most valuable things they owned. They carried them here.”
“You mean this was to be their last stand?”
“Exactly. They built a fortified watchtower where the church is now. Then they brought their people up on the plateau and built a stronghold there. When the enemy came, the stronghold held. But people died and were buried up there, and precious objects were buried with them—weapons, ornaments, everything that was of great value to them.”
“So what’s up there is all from a war of the classic period?”
“Not all of it. Two hundred years later, in the 950s A.D., the
people of the city had to retreat to the stronghold again. Events played out roughly the same. The place was too steep, too high, and too well defended to fall. Eventually, the people returned to their city. Later, when Spanish soldiers came near, the people of Alta Verapaz fought them savagely and held them off. But, as a precaution, the people brought what was most precious to them and their culture up to the stronghold.”
David Caine said, “And nobody has ever dug here?”
“No,” said Father Gomez. “A few have tried. The people of the town killed them. Time passed. The people accepted Christianity. The watchtower was torn down and the stones used to build the church. The world forgot the little it ever knew about this place. But the people never forgot any of it.”
Caine said, “I can see they’re very protective.”
“Be aware that they’ve decided to trust you because they love Sam and Remi Fargo and would do anything that they asked. Don’t ever let the people think you aren’t living up to what you promised and respecting their ancient kings. You would not last a day.”
The group reached the top of the plateau, where they could see the fortifications along the rim and the burial mounds of the kings.
Caine’s attention was drawn to the mound that had been opened a hundred years ago and reopened by the Fargos. There were rows of large pots with lids that appeared to have been sealed. Caine knelt beside one, but Father Gomez touched his shoulder. “Wait.”
Caine stood up, looking at him inquisitively.
Father Gomez said, “I haven’t gotten to the end, what I had promised the people I would prepare you for. Each time the people of the city fled up here, they brought all of their greatest treasures with them. Obsidian weapons, jade and gold ornaments, precious pottery, it’s all here. But what was most valuable and important to them were their books.”
“Books?”
“Old Mayan books, like the one you and Sam and Remi had.”
Caine contained himself, although to Sam and Remi he looked as though he might faint. “Do you know if any might have survived?”
“I’ve only seen a few that were opened by the man executed in the tomb and they survived very well, probably because of the altitude. But the number is certainly in the hundreds. When the old Mayans brought their books here, they carried them sealed in these pots. There are a hundred forty-three pots in this tomb alone. Some of the other tombs might contain more books, all sealed in pots to protect them. So whatever Sarah Allersby took, it was nothing compared to what she was not permitted to take.”
Father Gomez moved past the dead man and the jars and led Caine into the burial chamber, where the bones of the king, adorned with gold and jade, lay on the slab of limestone. “There’s one more thing you should see,” he said. “Help me move this man and his stone.” When Caine hesitated, he said, “It won’t disturb the remains. We’ve done it before.”
Father Gomez, Caine, and Sam Fargo pushed aside the heavy stone where the king’s bones rested to reveal a chamber beneath. Caine shone his flashlight into the dark space. The light that reflected back was the familiar gleam of gold—molded statues of gods and men and animals, beaten gold breastplates and headpieces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, nose ornaments. It was a room full of gold. And with it were jade axes and plates, ear plugs, beads, ceremonial spearheads in a variety of colors from dark green to blue to white, all carved and polished expertly by artists long dead. Caine said, “This is astounding. Nothing like this has been found anywhere in the Mayan world.”
“It will be again,” said Father Gomez. “I’m told that each of the mounds was the tomb of a great king and each king felt he had to bring his city’s treasures here to preserve them from enemies. And each of the tombs has a secret room dug beneath it, guarded by the king’s body. You’ll see them all.”
“The people of the town have decided to let us excavate and study the whole complex?”
“Yes they have,” said Father Gomez. “Part of it is their gratitude to the Fargos for saving their lives and their home and part of it is the Fargos’ promise.”
“What promise?” Caine turned to look at Sam and Remi.
Remi said, “We said we’d help them build a museum in Santa Maria de los Montañas to display, preserve, and protect what’s found here.”
Sam said, “That way, the world will learn about this place, but the remains of the kings and their treasures won’t have to be permanently removed. Pieces can go out on long-term loans to museums and universities all over the world, but they will always belong here with the descendants of the people who carried them here.”