The Chronicles of Shamballa

Chapter LIV: Under the mountain

Arthur sat brooding besides the fire, Ram roasted some nuts on the embers and Princess Meena closed her eyes. The wind howled outside the small cavern they were in. Clearly the three of them were exhausted and cold. They huddled as close to the embers as they possibly could but it was too dangerous to light a heavy fire inside leat they suffocate. Ram looked at Carey and gave him some roasted peanuts which he took and stuffed in his mouth. Meena fell sound asleep by the fire. An hour went but the howling only became more intense.

"This is way worse than my last adventure in the sss!", remarked Carey.

"What is this sss, Sahib?" Ram asked naively.

"Oh, it's just a place, halfway across the world... Forests everywhere, dangerous animals, mosquitoes..." Carey replied staring at the fire.

"Why did you go there Sahib?" Ram asked again.

"I was a fool..that's why..." Carey smirked sarcastically.

But Ram begged him to tell him about the adventures of the sss forest and finally Carey succumbed to his request-

"I was much younger then and was new to the field of Archaeology. I had a friend Alice and together we decided to find the lost temple of Tlaloc- which was rumoured to hold the greatest treasures in the world-" Carey explained.

It went something like this-

Arthur Carey had always been fascinated by history and ancient civilizations. From a young age, he had dreamed of becoming an archaeologist and unearthing lost treasures that would reveal the secrets of the past. When he graduated from university with a degree in archaeology, he knew that he wanted to explore the world and discover new treasures.

One day, he met Alice, a fellow archaeologist who shared his passion for uncovering the mysteries of the past. They quickly became friends and began to work together on various archaeological projects.

One day, Arthur and Alice heard about a mysterious temple of Tlaloc, a god of rain and fertility in the Aztec religion, that was said to hold great treasures. The temple was located deep in the jungles of Mexico, and few people had ever dared to venture there.

Despite the dangers, Arthur and Alice decided to embark on a journey to find the temple. They spent months preparing for the trip, gathering supplies, and studying maps of the region. Finally, they set off on their journey, accompanied by a team of skilled guides and porters.

The journey was long and arduous, and they faced many challenges along the way. They had to navigate treacherous terrain, battle fierce wildlife, and endure harsh weather conditions. Despite these challenges, they pressed on, driven by their passion for discovery.

Finally, they arrived at the temple of Tlaloc. The temple was a magnificent structure, towering over the surrounding jungle. It was made of massive stone blocks, intricately carved with images of the Aztec gods.

Arthur and Alice explored the temple, uncovering hidden passageways and secret chambers. They discovered treasures beyond their wildest dreams, including precious jewels, gold artifacts, and ancient manuscripts.

As they delved deeper into the temple, they encountered many obstacles and dangers. They had to solve complex puzzles and navigate deadly traps to reach the inner sanctum of the temple, where the greatest treasure of all was said to be hidden.

Finally, they reached the inner sanctum and found the treasure they had been seeking. It was a magnificent statue of Tlaloc, made of solid gold and encrusted with precious gems. As they gazed upon the statue, they realized that their journey had been worth all the hardships and dangers they had faced.

Arthur and Alice returned home with their treasure, but their journey had changed them forever. They had gained a deeper understanding of the ancient Aztec civilization and the mysteries of the past. They knew that they would continue to explore the world, seeking new treasures and uncovering the secrets of the past.

As Arthur and Alice made their way back home from their expedition to the temple of Tlaloc, they were exhausted but exhilarated. They couldn't wait to share their findings with the world and bask in the glory of their discovery. However, little did Arthur know, Alice had other plans.

When they reached civilization, Alice suggested they go their separate ways to prepare their findings for presentation. Arthur, trusting her implicitly, agreed without hesitation. However, as the days turned into weeks, Arthur became increasingly suspicious of Alice's silence.

Finally, he received a letter from her, which shattered his world. In the letter, Alice confessed that she had betrayed him and stolen all of the treasure they had found at the temple of Tlaloc. She claimed that she had always been envious of Arthur's fame and success and that she couldn't resist the opportunity to become rich and famous.

Arthur was devastated by Alice's betrayal. He couldn't believe that someone he had considered his friend and colleague would stoop so low as to steal from him. He felt foolish for not having seen the signs of her deceit earlier....

Princess Meena suddenly woke up from her slumber and saw the two of them talking.

"And then what happened Sahib?" asked Ram Babu curiously.

"Eh... Let's talk about it later..." he said and went quiet.

Meena wondered what the two men had been discussing... she was hungry and grabbed some peanuts from Ram... the night was long ... and the forboding darkness never seem to end....

The ice on the roof started melting from the heat of the fire as the night went on. Meena couldn't sleep at all. Somehow she felt like she was being watched. But there wasn't anyone besides them. She could swear that she heard footsteps right outside the cave door. She clenched to her sword and waited for someone or something to appear but nothing did. The two men huddled up besides the dying embers and slept soundly. Soon it went dark as the fire completely went out. Meena grabbed her rags and squeezed herself besides Carey. The dark and the cold and the ominous feeling that something else was present there kept her awake most of the night. She had never been so scared in her life....