Downpour(II:7) Leaving the City

7. Leaving the City

     After visiting a healer, and a magician that was very good at restoring teeth, Nick almost felt like he had never been in the fighting pits. The only reminder was a long scar that now ran across his back. Despite their skill, the healers could do nothing about it, and Nick thought it a fitting reminder of how he had almost become dog chow.

     He had wanted to visit the vampire’s shop immediately, but was convinced by Lopsang that the smarter idea would be to rest. It was not until they stepped into the lobby of a fancy inn that he felt the true exhaustion pervading his limbs. Lopsang spoke a few words to the concierge and they were led through a crowded lobby, where a group of businessmen sat in plush chairs smoking cigars and drinking iced liquor.

     He made a motion to head towards their lively group, but Lopsang steered him up a plush stair case and into an ornate room. The luxury was about more than Nick could handle. For the first time since the plane crash, he had a hot shower, wiping the blood and grime from his aching body. The steam permeated every pore, and he felt himself wondering just how he had managed to survive. He laughed about it and then stepped back in the room to find a large tray of food waiting for him.

     On the tray was beans rice and various grilled meats. He ate it with a hunger that he did not know he had possessed, scraping the plates clean. With a full stomach, he lay back onto the bed and fell into an easy sleep, dreams for the first time unencumbered by images of giant snakes, or the many dangers of the jungle.

 

     The following morning, Nick and Lopsang set out early to find the vampire’s shop. Head buzzing with the caffeine of the excellent cup of coffee he had woken to; Nick felt that he could achieve just about anything.

     Lopsang’s spirits had lifted as well, and they chatted happily as they walked through the crowded streets.

     When they entered William’s shop, it was to find Paul Mansen already sitting down in one of the chairs. He looked at them both with an uncomfortable smile. “That was really something in the arena Nick,” said Mansen, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

     From the back of the shop came a crash and angry muttering, as William took out his frustration. “Good for nothing Werewolves,” he shouted, and there was another crash as a glass object flew from behind the shop’s curtain and smashed on a bookshelf.

     “Oh William?” called Nick sarcastically. He was going to enjoy every moment of his victory.

     The vampire came out from the back of the shop carrying two large bags. “Here is everything you will need to survive once you are back in the jungle outside the city.” The bags looked as though they were stuffed to the brim, and Nick felt some respect for the vampire as he had kept his end of the bargain.

     Nick took one of the bags and opened it to examine the contents. It was a veritable treasure trove of death. There w a collapsible hunting rifle right next to a package of genuine silver bullets, camping supplies, holy water, and much more. Nick could not help but feel excited by it all, and then he saw something was missing. “All this is nice,” he said, “but where is the book?”

     William looked flustered. “You don’t need the book, I’ll tell you how to get to the Land of the Dead and find your friend.”

     “Ah ah William,” Nick reprimanded him like a parent. “Unless you want to guide us there; I’m not willing to take your word. Call it an old superstition.” He grinned.

     William scowled at him and shuffled back behind the black curtain again. They heard more curses and then he reemerged, carrying the Book of the Dead. “Take it,” he said with a hiss that reminded Nick vaguely of a snake. “Take it and get out of this city. I never want to see either of you again.”

     “It’ll be our pleasure,” said Nick with the same phony grin. “It was really nice doing business with you. Now, Mansen, show us to the exit.”

     Mansen looked like a child who had been denied sweets. With a heavy sigh, he got out of the chair and led them out of the shop. “All right, I’ll take you there,” he mumbled half-heartedly as they exited.

Once they were out of the shop, Mansen spoke again. “You should have seen William when you pulled out your tooth. He was shouting at his friend not to be an idiot, but, you know how it goes when they take their full form,” Mansen trailed off, unable to continue the polite conversation.

     Nick took immense pleasure at his discomfort. Not wanting to gloat too much, and risk getting punched in the face again, he asked: “What do we know about leaving the city? Obviously, people have done it, but no one has been able to find their way back again to tell the tale.”

     Mansen seemed to perk up a little at the thought of Nick leaving, and being able to give another lesson. “There’s only one way out, and it’s the same way you came in, but I’ve only seen a few people walk out since I have been here. Generally, people who end up in the city opt to stay.”

     Nick might have considered the prospect had he not owed a debt to James. He looked at the city around them as they neared the market street he had first entered on. The gold glittered, inviting him to rest a while. There was a flash of light as the diamond shone bright onto another part of the city. “As much as a life of drinking in the city of gold sounds great; we’ve got unfinished business out there.”

     Lopsang nodded in agreement. “Take it from someone who has lived well beyond their natural years; it’s not worth it.”

     It was the first time Nick had ever heard Lopsang talk about his immortality. He had thought about the prospect of eternal lifeoften, fantasizing about financing expeditions for the fountain of youth, but never fully come to grips with the meaning behind it. Living forever was a lonely business, and one day, Lopsang would be left, without a friend alive in the world.

     “Maybe someday I will leave, but for now, the city holds too many stories just waiting to be uncovered,” said Mansen, regaining a little bit of the flair he had been known for on his program. He led them into the crowded market street, and Nick saw the entrance rising before them.

     He had never even thought to look back upon entering, but now he saw a large golden wall, extending as the barrier between the city and the outside world. What lay beyond it, he was not sure. The entrance itself was a small stone passage etched into the wall, surrounded by carvings that featured the jungle. There were panthers, great rivers, and of course, more snakes. The idea of heading back into the jungle had never been more unappealing, but Nick was sure it was the right thing to do.

     Mansen turned around to face them. “Well,” he said with a tone of finality, “it certainly has been interesting meeting both of you. Lopsang, truly a pleasure.” He reached his hand out, and Lopsang shook it in a half-hearted gesture.

     Nick smirked, knowing that Lopsang had lost most of his respect for Mansen over the past few days, and Nick had almost everything to do with it.

     “Nick,” started Mansen, but was interrupted.

     “Spare me Paul. You can continue hating me all you like, and I’ll continue to think poorly of you as well. Nothing has to change because we spent a day in the city together.” He reached out his hand to shake Paul’s and then withdrew it in a childish gesture.

     “Really?” asked Mansen, clearly glad to be rid of Nick.

     “You did set me up to get killed in the fighting pits.” He winked Paul and turned to Lopsang. “Shall we?” They set out towards the entrance, and Nick felt some apprehension as they set foot on the stone steps leading to it.

     “So,” asked Lopsang conversationally, “what are the odds we get vaporized the instant we step through the door?” He seemed calm for man contemplating a fiery death at the hand of Aztec gods.

     “About as high as finding the city of gold in the first place.” Staying his fear, he walked into the dark passageway, leaving the glowing light of the city behind.

     Lopsang stepped in behind him, and the world went dark.

     Nick reached out a hand for the side of the passageway and felt his way along as the ground sloped upward. The tunnel narrowed and their heavy bags full of gear grazed the sides. “Well, we’re not dead yet,” said Nick pleasantly, continuing forward.

     “Never say that again if you don’t mind.” Lopsang had been in plenty of situations where Nick had said they were fine, and shortly after had found themselves in peril.

     The tunnel ended abruptly, and they stepped out into a brightly lit jungle just like the one Nick had left. The river was nowhere to be seen, and even as Nick looked back to see if Lopsang had made it through, the entrance to El Dorado disappeared behind them. Instantly, Nick began to regret their choice.

     Lopsang looked around, staring at the various trees and bushes surrounding them on all sides. Both men began to feel confused on exactly what they were going to do next. The jungle was vast, and extended for hundreds of miles. The odds of them finding one temple in it were slim, but then again, they had always been.  

     As if searching for an answer, Nick dropped his bag and pulled out The Book of the Dead he had won from the vampire. He wasn’t sure what was contained inside, but hoped somewhere there would be information on finding the temple which served as the entrance to the realm.

     “Well we’ve already found one lost temple, how hard can it be to find another,” he said, hopefully turning through the pages. What he found were mostly images of large cities, filled with the undead, wandering about as if nothing had happened to them. On one page there was a detailed illustration of the Aztec god and goddess of the dead. They were depicted as tall skeletons with large teeth, grinning down on the city below them.

     Lopsang was reading over Nick’s shoulder. “Looks a lot like hell,” he murmured.

     “To some it might, but the Aztec’s had a different way about death. Every soul had its place, and a lot of that has carried over. For instance,” he pointed to the picture of the god and goddess, “I would imagine we’ll still run into old Mickey here when we go down there.”

     “Mickey?” asked Lopsang, confused.

     “Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the dead. Mickey for short.” Nick continued to flip through the pages, looking for anything about the entrance and where it could be located. There were more images of ritual cannibalism and sacrifices in the name of the dead, but nothing to helpful.

     Nick came upon a passage about the types of souls, and stopped at the talk about warriors. “Now this is interesting.” He read aloud to Lopsang. “When a warrior dies, he does not join the procession in heading toward the nine challenges. Instead, he walks east, to join the rising sun. It is there that he will find safe passage to the city of the dead, and rejoin all of those who were lost in battle.”

     Below the picture, an Aztec temple was depicted. It was another square pyramid, with a long set of stone steps leading up to an entrance at the top. On both sides, skeletons stood watch, clutching spears that were almost as tall as the temple itself. Even in the picture, the temple was depicted as overgrown, and buried deep in the jungle.

     “Think James counts as a warrior?” asked Nick. The kid’s death had been gruesome, and he had fought hard before passing.

     “In my culture, yes. James would have been considered a great warrior.” Lopsang said it with reverence, and Nick could tell that he missed James too.

     It had only been about a year or so since they lost him, but the wound still felt fresh. Mention of his name was enough to put Nick’s stomach into cold knots. “Alright then, it’s settled,” he said, snapping the book shut and putting it back in his bag.

     “It is?” Lopsang clearly thought he had missed some profound revelation about the temple’s whereabouts.

     “Yes, it’s quite simple actually.” Nick had regained his cheerful air. “We’re going east, to join the rising sun.”