WNWN XXXVI

A voice inside his head whispered to Paul. “Do not fear Chunka-Cal. He is all bluff. Most humans shrivel in fear because of his appearance but he cannot stand against a man with true power. Stand firm.” Of course Paul now knew this was El Indio and he now had trust in him and he had self confidence in a stronger degree than ever.
Paul stood tall with his legs spread apart, his arms outstretched, angle down at 45 degrees, palms out. His face displayed the fiercest expression Paul could muster and he stood his ground.
Chunka-Cal leaned forward and looked into Paul’s face. He was huge, wearing gear of an ancient warrior, with eyes a blazing red and foul, sulphurous breath.
Paul felt empowered and thrilled something near elation as he reveled in the power he felt.
“Stop Chunka-Cal! You cannot pass me. I command you to go back to your hellish hole and bother me no more!”
To Paul’s astonishment a change swept of every aspect of the giant apparition. He faded and shrank back like a cloud of smoke torn asunder by a stiff wind.
Paul turned to follow Conrad back to the surface.
He found Conrad bathed in sweat, sitting by the truck. He was drinking from the water jug.
“I am sorry Mr. Hewlett. I never let you down before.”
“Conrad, you have nothing to apologize for. You have behaved admirably and I have placed you in danger because of my stubbornness. It is I who should apologize to you, “ said Paul.
They returned to the ranch house and Conrad went to bed for much need sleep. Paul sat at the table reflecting and drinking a cup of coffee.
There was a knock at the door, it was El Indio.
“Come in. Coffee?” Paul asked. He was amazingly calm for someone who had been through such a thing he had just experienced!
“You have done very well,” said El Indio. “Few men alive could have done what you did.”
“I don’t know what to think about all this. None of this was in my education or previous experience,” said Paul. “It is a lot to digest.”
“I am sure that is so! I have something important to lay before you.”
“I am all ears,” said Paul.
“Now you know Xibalba is real. You know what I tell you is true. I have a proposition for you. I hope you will agree to it. You are the only person I have encountered in a very long time that has the strength and capacity to my proposal.”
“That depends,” said Paul. “What do you have in mind.
“This is not an easy thing to ask. I know you live in another world. You have a life you love now but I am going to ask you to make a major change. There a rewards in it.”
Paul took a long sip and leaned back. “Tell me what you are thinking about.”
“It is nearly time for me to pass to the next level. I have have been the guardian here at the portal to Xibalba for a very long time. I am ready to move on but I must first find a successor. I want you to be that successor.”
“Me!” Paul was astonished at such an idea.
“Yes. You are the first person I have found that could do the job. You would give up your life in the city, your business, all the things you do now,” Said El Indio. “Think on it. I will se you tomorrow and tell what you think,”
Paul nodded and saw him out. He would need some time to reflect.

WNWN XXXV

Early the next day they were up and after a quick bite of breakfast they were soon on their way.
By now familiar with the path through the caves and taking advantage of the lamps they had spaced along the way it wasn’t long before they came to the passageway.
“Let’s get it done,” said Paul.
Conrad said nothing and turned on his lamp and soon disappeared into the entry way. Paul followed.
The interior of the passage was wet and slimy to the touch. The same foul smell of the cavern wafted through here too.
There was a low, green bio-luminescence which lit the way. Fortunately the distance they had to crawl wasn’t that far. Soon they came to the exit and stood in a large, well defined room.
On the walls were incredible murals still vivid after hundreds of years. Large glyphs accompanied depictions of fierce gods and demons, mythological monsters and tormented souls. The overall impression foretold apprehension and danger.
They also discovered a huge, ornate gate of an ancient design.
“The gates of hell,” Paul mused out loud.
“I think you’re right,” said Conrad.
To their surprise the gates opened easily to the touch and they walked through.
There they found the heat more intense and fumes more noxious. Far below them coursed a stream of molten lava, this surely was hell. The lava cast off an eerie, glowing reddish light and in the shadows they seemed to see something moving, strange demonic creatures staring with glowing eyes.
Both men were filled with fear.
“What are we doing here,?” asked Conrad, his eyes wide with fear, his voice quaking.
“I think there is nothing we can accomplish here,” said Paul, exceedingly calmly under the circumstances. “Let’s go back.”
“Yes sir,” said Paul, and they turned and began re-tracing their steps.
Suddenly there rose from the lava pit a huge, hulking lava monster with bulging eyes and a mouth full of fire. He soon was in their face and he reached out his molten, misshapen hand and pointed to them.
“I am Chunka-cal,” his deep voice boomed. “You are not to leave this place. Once mortal men enter here there is no escape.”
The two stood and stared, transfixed.
Paul then heard El Indio, speaking to him inside his head.
“Do not run or show fear. You can overcome this demon because his will is weak. You have power. Power comes to those who seek it. Seek it now.”
Time seemed frozen in the moment until, suddenly, Conrad could take it no more. He turned to run but the path crumbled beneath his feet and he plunged down towards the sea of fire.
Paul stared in horror as Conrad’s body fell.
“You have the power, seek it,” the voice said.
Paul then jumped in after Conrad. He felt no fear, only power and confidence. He was in control. He swept down, like Superman and he caught Paul in his arms before he hit the worse part of the heat and just as swiftly they were back on the ledge, singed but ready to face Chunka-cal.
Paul told to Conrad to run, which he did and he turned to face the monster.

WNWN XXXIV

“Mr. Hewlett, it is getting to be a long trek down into the cave. We might need to think about more precautions and procedures to help make this a bit easier,” said Conrad.
“What do you have in mind?” asked Paul.
“We should lay in some food, such as MRE’s, along the way in case of emergency. Also we could have batteries, extra lights, rope, cell phones other things we might need.”
“Well, let’s think about it. Meanwhile let’s get some rest, I want to go back early tomorrow.”
“OK.”
Neither slept solidly and both appeared the worse for it as the sun came up the next morning.
After a quick breakfast they were soon down into the cave. With each descent they became more sure of themselves and more familiar with the terrain and this helped them move more efficiently through the underground caverns.




Paul decided they would move on past the incredible discovery of the pyramid and see where the passage went from there. Neither man spoke. Each was thinking thoughts of what surprises yet lay ahead. They also felt uneasy thought neither told the other that was the case.
“It’s time to start leaving reference marks on the cave wall just in case we get lost we can find our way back,” said Paul. With that Conrad pulled out a large grease marking pen and made a big yellow arrow pointing the way to where they had come.
“How’s that?”
“That’ll do fine,” said Paul.
They crept along for nearly an hour all the whiled sending at a slight decline and with no great difficulty on the well defined pathway. There was an increasing odor in the atmosphere of the cave, a slightly sulphurous smell. Both men knew that oil wells frequently drilled into deposits of hydrogen sulfide, H2S, a lethal gas that smelled like rotten eggs, which had felled many an unwary rig hand or driller.
“Did you bring a sniffer?”
“Yes,” said Conrad. He pulled out the small instrument used to detect dangerous gasses. He took a reading. “It shows positive for hydrogen sulfide but not a dangerous level.”
“OK, we’ll check it again soon,” said Paul. And they continued slowly on. “It doesn’t take much for that gas to kill. We’ll have to stay on our toes.
It was getting noticeably warmer and they began to detect a slight, occasional tremor, adding to their discomfort level.
They passed more statues and bas reliefs on the walls, all bearing a strong resemblance to the Mayan art of the Yucatan and other locations.
“I have never read of the Mayans or related tribes in this area, I am sure it is not on any historical record. But this is obviously proof they were here. How long ago?” mused Paul. “This is a valuable discovery!”
“But this is a discovery we will not be able to share with the world, isn’t that so?” asked Paul.
“Well, yes, you are correct. That would upset all of my plans. Perhaps one day we will be able to disclose this but not in any immediate future.”
Now they approached what appeared to be a crude arch cut in the stone and covered with a large, round flat stone set on edge and decorated with pictographs and symbols.
“This looks like a calendar,” said Paul. “I wonder what it says?”
Suddenly Paul heard the voice of El Indio, as if he were there with them!
“This is a warning! It says go no farther or you risk unleashing the true demons of Hell!”
“I hate it when you do that!” Paul yelled out.
“What?” asked Conrad. “Do what? I don’t know what you are talking about,” said a startled Conrad.
“Sorry,” said Paul. I think El Indio is inside my head again. I heard him speak. He said this was a warning and should go no farther”
“Maybe he’s right, at least for today,” said Conrad.
“I think you are right. Let’s backtrack back out.”
Paul checked his watch. It took much less time to exit the cave than it had taken them to reach their stopping point. Soon they were back at the ranch house and enjoying supper.

WNWN XXXIII

Paul decided they would move on pas the incredible discovery of the pyramid and see where the passage went from there. Neither man spoke. Each was thinking thoughts of what surprises yet lay ahead. They also felt uneasy though neither told the other that was the case.
“It’s time to start leaving reference marks on the cave wall just in case we get lost we can find our way back,” said Paul. With that Conrad pulled out a large grease marking pen and made a big yellow arrow pointing the way to where they had come.
“How’s that?”
“That’ll do fine,” said Paul.
They crept along for nearly an hour all the while descending at a slight decline and with no great difficulty on the well defined pathway. There was an increasing odor in the atmosphere of the cave, a slightly sulphurous smell. Both men knew that oil wells frequently drilled into deposits of hydrogen sulfide, H2S, a lethal gas that smelled like rotten eggs, which had felled many an unwary rig hand or driller.
“Did you bring a sniffer?”
“Yes,” said Conrad. He pulled out the small instrument used to detect dangerous gasses. He took a reading. “It shows positive for hydrogen sulfide but not a dangerous level.”
“OK, we’ll check it again soon,” said Paul. And they continued slowly on. “It doesn’t take much for that gas to kill. We’ll have to stay on our toes.
It was getting noticeably warmer and they began to detect a slight, occasional tremor, adding to their discomfort level.
They passed more statues and bas reliefs on the walls, all bearing a strong resemblance to the Mayan art of the Yucatan and other locations.
“I have never read of the Mayans or related tribes in this area, I am sure it is not on any historical record. But this is obviously proof they were here. How long ago?” mused Paul. “This is a valuable discovery!”
“But this is a discovery we will not be able to share with the world, isn’t that so?” asked Paul.
“Well, yes, you are correct. That would upset all of my plans. Perhaps one day we will be able to disclose this but not in any immediate future.”
Now they approached what appeared to be a crude arch cut in the stone and covered with a large, round flat stone set on edge and decorated with pictographs and symbols.
“This looks like a calendar,” said Paul. “I wonder what it says?”
Suddenly Paul heard the voice of El Indio, as if he were there with them!
“This is a warning! It says go no farther or you risk unleashing the true demons of Hell!”
“I hate it when you do that!” Paul yelled out.
“What?” asked Conrad. “Do what? I don’t know what you are talking about,” said a startled Conrad.
“Sorry,” said Paul. I think El Indio is inside my head again. I heard him speak. He said this was a warning and should go no farther”
“Maybe he’s right, at least for today,” said Conrad.
“I think you are right. Let’s backtrack back out.”
Paul checked his watch. It took much less time to exit the cave than it had taken them to reach their stopping point. Soon they were back at the ranch house and enjoying supper.

WNWN XXXII

The two stared in astonishment at the incredible sight.
“Who could have done this?” Conrad was astonished.
Paul, equally astonished, said “I don’t know but the similarity is obvious with the ancient ruins of far southern Mexico and the Yucatan.”
“Yes, you’re right. This looks much like the pyramid at Chichenitza,” said Conrad.
“Well, let’s push on today and we will explore this area later. I want to see where these caves go,” said Paul.
“I’m with you all the way,” said Conrad.
So they continued on, down a narrow, slowly descending path that wound along rocky outcroppings. Occasionally the path would lead into other large room like spaces and more wall paintings, engravings and carvings were seen along the way, each apparently depicting grotesque figures in what resembled Mayan ceremonial dress. The light from their flashlights and helmet lights only penetrated the darkness in their immediate vicinity and created fantastic shapes and shadows on the cave wall.
“Man this place is creepy!” Conrad said as he kept a wary eye on the trail.
Soon they were near the base of the long stairway which ran up the right side of the pyramid. Conrad, who was leading the way, came to a quick halt.
“Stop!” Conrad held out his arms to catch Paul. “Shine your light over here.”
Paul moved his light to the spot Conrad was lighting. He saw there a pit, maybe twenty feet deep.
“I nearly stepped off into it but when my step found no floor I pointed the light to my foot and saw this drop.”
They peered over the precipice and both men shined their lights into the darkness. There below was a huge pile of bones and very human skulls.
“My guess is that these are the remains of sacrificial victims,” said Paul.
“Who were these people? Where did they get all of these victims?” asked Conrad.
“I can’t imagine,” said Paul. “This raises more questions than I can answer. How did they build something like this underground? How did they get these blocks here, and from where?”

.

Waste Not Want Not, Chapter XXXI

The next morning found the two back in the first entry chamber of the cave. They had plenty of gear which they had been storing in the entrance.
Today they decided to explore a small opening they had not yet been into. The hole was about four feet high and around three feet across.
The men were wearing coveralls, tucked into their hiking boots. They each wore a miner’s hard hat with it’s lamp over the brim.
“I’ll go in first,” said Conrad.
Conrad crawled into the cave on all fours. He had a coil of line hooked onto his belt. Paul fed the line back through the opening and attached it firmly to a climbing piton driven into the cave wall.
In a few minutes Conrad spoke to Paul on the small two way radio just like the one Paul had.
“I am through into what looks like another large chamber.”
Paul replied “I hear you loud and clear. Hold on and I’ll send you a bigger light.”
Paul then took a powerful flashlight and looped the cord around it.
“OK, pull it through.”
“My God! There is something here. You’ve got to see this!” Conrad’s voice crackled with excitement.
“OK. I’ll join you as soon as I can get through here,” Paul answered.
Paul entered and slowly crawled towards the light he could see through the tunnel. Paul had always had a touch of claustrophobia, He did not like being in a place like this but he was able to once again muster his will and self control and put his nervousness aside.
Soon he emerged and joined Conrad.
“Look,” said Conrad as he shone his light into the inky darkness.
There, before them, was an incredible sight. It was a pyramid, very much like the great pyramid at Chichen Itza known as El Castillo, meaning castle, in Spanish. It was built on a much smaller scale but an amazing sight to see so far underground.
Paul had done some research on the Mayas and he knew that Chichen Itza could be translated as “At the mouth of the well of the Itza.” The Itza were living alongside the Mayans on the north. They were able to maintain an autonomous nation though they were well located into Mayan territory. However they dominated their area politically, culturally and spoke their own language.
The Mayans believed they had magical powers and did not violate their autonomy.
The Spanish called them Brujas del Aqua or “water sorcerers.”
There was also a large cave near Chichen Itza which was believed to be a sacred place.
Ever since Paul had first seen some of the structures in the ante chamber he had made a connection with the Mayas or a similar culture. He was sure of it now. He was also beginning to think El Indio may have been telling him the truth all along.

Waste Not, Want Not, Chapter XXX

The relationship between the two men far transcended their professional relationship. Even so Conrad was always reluctant to discuss Paul’s business. He usually kept that part strictly business and it wasn’t his business! So the question Paul asked as they sat and sipped their drinks was unusual.
“Mr. Hewitt?” Paul quizzed, he still referred to Paul as Mr. Hewitt.
“Just what is it you plan to do with this cave and this place?”
“Well Conrad, you might as well know. Myself and some of my associates want to use this place as a secret storage for nuclear fissionable materials and weapons banned in the SALT Treaty and other arms agreements with the former Soviets. Also we want to store some discontinued research projects we think have potential,” replied Paul.
Paul continued. “The possession of these weapons and materials are in direct violation of all of our arms agreement with the old USSR and the current agreements as well. So we decided to do this covertly and without the knowledge of the U.S. government. We already have a few small such sites sprinkled around in remote and mostly unknown places. We figured we might need these things again someday so we want to be prepared.”
Paul took a drink and went on. “We thought this place might be the best site we have found so far. It is unknown and isolated and the cavern here is big enough to hold a huge inventory.”
Paul described how he and his associates did not trust the Russians and he said they certainly did not trust the new Russian President.
“Vladimir Putin is old KGB. I would never trust him. I think he is still, at heart, a dedicated cold war warrior and I don’t think we should ever turn our back to him.”
“Are there other storage sites around the country?” asked Conrad.
“Oh yes, and in other countries too. We have managed to keep a lid on it pretty well. You didn’t even know,” said Paul.
“Well, I’m not going to give up on this project,” said Paul. “We’re going back down into the cave again and then, if it checks out as I hope it well, we will return to Washington and start moving forward.”
“You know I have always backed you up and have been willing to help on whatever you are doing but I am having a seriously bad feeling about this. I really think we should shut that hole up and get the hell out of here, “ said Conrad.
“We’re not going to do that. I have spent too much time and money and I want to get it done. If you have a problem with this, you can take a vacation for awhile, go anywhere you want and stay as long as like, all expenses paid.”
“No, I don’t want to do that. I am with you no matter what,” said Conrad.