The Deadly Curse Of Toco-Rey Part 1

The Deadly Curse of Toco-Rey.

The Cooper Kids Adventure Series.

Frank Peretti.

Lila and Jay Cooper have joined their dad on a mission to the jungles of Central America, where a group of American treasure hunters have already become the victims of the deadly curse of Toco-Rey. Before Dr. Cooper can solve the mystery, his children are kidnapped and his integrity is put to the test. What price will he pay to get his children back? Is the treasure in the burial tomb of Kachi-Tochetin really worth more than gold?.

Follow the Coopers as they explore unknown ruins, plunge through dangerous jungles, face hostile natives, and battle ancient evil forces. Will their courage and faith in G.o.d bring them through?.

Summary: While on a quest to save a piece of history, Jay, Lila, and their father encounter hostile natives and ancient evil forces in the jungles of Central America.

ONE.

Chico Valles, machete in hand, hacked his way along the narrow trail, oblivious to the constant chatter of cicadas and the raucous screams of tropical birds. Sweat trickled down his stubbled face. The thick, encroaching jungle pressed in on him from every direction. It reached with limbs, slapped with leaves, grabbed with vine tendrils. He forced it back with his machete and pressed on as he did every day, running errands for Basehart the American.

Finally he reached the clearing where the Corys had set up their camp. He stopped.

The camp looked deserted. The large tent sagged a bit as if a pole had broken. Cookware, clothing, and food were strewn about under the blue tarpaulin lean-to. The wooden camp chairs and portable table were overturned by the fire pit. A portable camp stove lay on its side, bent and broken, and orchids now lay scattered on the ground, spilled from a vase. Except for the noises of the jungle, Chico heard no sound. Except for the slow crawl of an iguana on a limb overhead, he saw no movement.

Chico tightened his grip on the machete.

"Kachakas," he muttered, his eyes darting about. Then he called, "h.e.l.lo! Seor Cory!"

No answer.

Steeling his nerves, Chico took a few cautious steps forward, emerging from the jungle with the machete outstretched. He watched every direction for hidden dangers, lurking enemies. He could detect no sign of another human being-at least none still alive.

Then he heard a low, garbled hissing from the tent. A snake? He instinctively drew the machete back, ready to strike. Then he inched forward, trying to get a view through the tent's open flap.

The inside of the tent appeared to have been raided by wild animals. Blankets, sleeping bags, books, charts, and tools were scattered everywhere. The tent fabric had been torn, and one of the support poles was indeed broken.

"Seor Cory!"

Again, no answer. Chico walked closer and stuck his head into the tent.

He found the source of that strange hissing sound. A handheld two-way radio lay on the floor, the case broken and splintered, its dial still glowing. Had someone tried to call for help? Where were they now?

Chico ducked into the shadowy interior, his feet shuffling through scattered clothing and trodden papers.

"Seor-"

His eyes caught a sparkling, golden glow in one corner, and he stared, spellbound. "El tesoro," he whispered. The treasure.

On a steel footlocker stood a tall, ornately engraved vase of gold, several golden cups, a gold jeweled necklace, and small, golden statues of ancient G.o.ds and warriors. They all glistened as if newly polished in the faint light that came through the doorway.

Chico took a furtive look outside, then reached down to grab the vase.

The glistening, golden surface felt slick and gooey.

And then it felt like fire. He yanked his hand away with a cry of pain and was horrified to find thin yellow slime on his palm and fingers. It began to penetrate his skin, bubbling and fizzing, burning like millions of red-hot needles.

He frantically wiped his hand on a blanket, then tried to find some water, anything to remove the slime. Searing pain flashed up his arm and he began to scream.

So great was his terror and agony that he didn't see the shadowy figure appear in the doorway, crouching like a lion. When it leaped upon him, the impact jarred him senseless.

The birds cried out, thundering from the treetops. The cicadas cut their song short. The iguana disappeared around the trunk of the big tree.

The tent came alive, lurching and bulging this way and that. Chico's screams mingled with the eerie, cougarlike snarls of his attacker.

At the Langley Memorial Art Museum in New York City, Dr. Jacob Cooper, hat in hand, strolled quietly through the Hall of Kings. Statues, busts, masks, and relief carvings of ancient kings glowered at him from their pedestals along both sides of the vast marble hall.

"Dr. Cooper?" A small man in a dark suit came close and looked up at him.

Jacob Cooper looked down with curiosity. "Mr. Stern?"

The little man smiled. "Mr. Wendell. I work for Mr. Stern. Please come with me."

Dr. Cooper followed him to the end of the hall and through an unmarked door into a large workroom and archive. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, all loaded down with books, doc.u.ments, and historical artifacts. In the center of the room stood a large worktable where artifacts were restored and prepared for display.

A gray-haired, well-dressed man sat at the table. He rose when Jacob Cooper entered the room. "Dr. Jacob Cooper?"

Dr. Cooper reached across the table and shook his hand. "Mr. Stern?"

"Thank you for coming." Mr. Stern looked at his a.s.sociate, who took his cue and left the room. Then Mr. Stern asked, "You are alone?"

"Yes, and no one knows of our meeting, just as you requested."

Mr. Stern smiled. "I apologize for the secrecy, but your fame goes before you. And I have reason to believe certain interests would not be happy to see you involved in our little project. Please, have a seat."

Dr. Cooper sat at the big table and Mr. Stern returned to his seat opposite. He rested his hand on an old leather carrying case. "Dr. Cooper, the matters we are about to discuss are of a delicate nature. Human lives are at stake ... and I'm afraid some have already perished. Have you heard of the lost city of Toco-Rey?"

Jacob Cooper probed his memory. "A legendary city full of treasure somewhere in Central America?"

Mr. Stern brightened, nodding his head. "Toco-Rey is believed to have been built by the Oltecas, who thrived during the decline of the Mayan empire and vanished into history almost 600 years before Columbus."

Dr. Cooper wrinkled his brow. "I've heard a little about it from a treasure hunter who seemed rather obsessed with the place."

"Ben Cory?"

Dr. Cooper smiled. "So you've met him?"

Stern's face grew solemn as he announced, "I'm afraid he is one who has died, Dr. Cooper."

Jacob Cooper was saddened by the news but not entirely surprised. "What happened?"

"He was working for us, searching out the lost city, and-" Mr. Stern's eyes grew wide with excitement, "we believe he found it! He and his crew brought artifacts out of the jungle: gold, jewelry, jade, sculpture. Cory was elated, and so were we. But soon after, he and his party were ambushed in their camp and killed. Every last artifact was stolen. We think the local natives, the Kachakas, are responsible. They claim to be descendants of the Oltecas, charged with guarding the city from outsiders."

"Foreign treasure hunters, in other words."

"Not in this case!" Mr. Stern countered. "Ben Cory was hired by the Langley Museum, and his quest was not just for treasure but also for knowledge, for history itself. Here. Let me show you." Mr. Stern flipped the leather case open and carefully drew out some old parchments and a worn, cracked leatherbound logbook. "The museum acquired these recently: the journal and maps of Jose de Carlon, an early Spanish explorer who went to Mexico shortly after Hernn Cortes had finished his conquests. Jose de Carlon wasn't much of a soldier or conqueror; he was too preoccupied with treasure hunting. Rumors of a lost city, the final stronghold of Kachi-Tochetin, king of the Oltecas, lured him south."

Mr. Stern carefully unrolled one of the brittle, aging maps as Dr. Cooper leaned over the table for a careful look.

"See here? The map shows his route through the jungles to the lost city, and he even marked out where the ruins are. According to his journal, he and his men found Toco-Rey in 1536, six centuries after the city was deserted. Ben Cory and his men used this map to find the treasure, but they were killed before we could find out how, or where."

Dr. Cooper could see where this was going. He fidgeted a little and sighed. "Mr. Stern ... I'm an archaeologist. Perhaps another treasure hunter ..."

Mr. Stern leaned forward, intense. "Dr. Cooper, treasure hunting is exactly what we are trying to prevent! For years, the ruins of the Mayas have been ravaged and looted by souvenir seekers, and now that Toco-Rey has been found, the same thing could happen there. We could lose a priceless store of Oltecan history and culture to looters-unless we find the treasure first and rescue the artifacts. I know you are a man who cares about such things. I know you would want to preserve history."

Jacob Cooper took a moment to consider. As founder of the Cooper Inst.i.tute for Biblical Archaeology, he had devoted his life to preserving the past. It had vital lessons it could teach about the present and the future. Saving another piece of history from treasure hunters, black marketeers, and greedy collectors would certainly be in keeping with his and the Inst.i.tute's goals. "So," he said at length, "you want me to pick up the trail where Ben Cory left off?"

Mr. Stern nodded. "You can follow the maps and notes of Jose de Carlon, just like Ben Cory did. With your skill and expertise, it should be no problem at all to retrace Cory's route to the treasure."

"No problem at all?" Dr. Cooper leaned back, his fingers lightly drumming his chin. "There's just one thing I'd like to understand... ."

"Yes?"

"If Jose de Carlon found this treasure, why is it still there? Why didn't he carry it off?"

Mr. Stern hesitated, as if unprepared for the question, then sighed. "You may as well know. In his journal, Jose de Carlon comes across as a very superst.i.tious man. He was afraid of b.o.o.by traps, magical curses, ancient evil forces. He and his men actually dug their own tunnel into the tomb of Kachi-Tochetin in the hope that they could sneak in secretly and evade any curses or traps." Then he added, "Apparently they didn't succeed."

Dr. Cooper had to prod him to continue. "Go on."

Mr. Stern gave an awkward chuckle and tried to shrug off his words even as he spoke. "He says his men found the treasure, but they all went mad, became like raving animals, and killed each other. He barely got away alive and left the treasure behind, convinced there was a curse on it." Mr. Stern chuckled and shrugged again. "So the treasure is still there, untouched for centuries."

"And guarded by a bizarre curse?"

Mr. Stern leaned over the table, lowering his voice. "Dr. Cooper, we both know this will be no picnic. Of course there are dangers: thick jungle, poisonous snakes, hostile natives. The area is remote, and we can expect little or no government a.s.sistance or protection. And ... well, who knows? Kachi-Tochetin was a fierce, marauding warrior. He conquered peoples and cities all over ancient Mexico and Central America, sacrificing and slaughtering thousands. His treasure is undoubtedly the loot he stole from those he conquered. So maybe the tomb is b.o.o.by trapped somehow. As for a curse ... well, I understand you are a man of prayer, so I a.s.sume you aren't bothered by such things."

Jacob Cooper smiled. "I've run into more than my share of curses and hexes and magic spells, and my G.o.d has been greater than all of them."

Mr. Stern drew a deep breath. "Dr. Cooper, you are our last hope. Can we count you in?"

"Welcome to Basehart City," said the handsome, white-haired man in the white shirt and broad straw hat. He could have been a wealthy plantation owner or an English gentleman, so refined was his manner. "This is without a doubt the finest vacation resort in the entire jungle-excluding all the others, that is. I'm the founder, Dr. Armond Basehart."

Dr. Cooper climbed out of the jeep and shook Basehart's hand. "Dr. Jacob Cooper, and this is my daughter, Lila. That's my son, Jay."

Lila Cooper, thirteen, got out of the jeep and stretched. Removing her straw hat, she wiped a slick mixture of sweat and mosquito repellent from her brow. Like her father and brother, she was wearing light clothing. She'd braided her long blond hair to keep it off her neck. Even so, the tropical jungle felt hot, sticky, and uncomfortable.

And Basehart City was nothing to admire. Within a small, tight clearing surrounded by a solid wall of jungle were three travel trailers parked in a U shape. A large blue tarpaulin stretched between them. Two native huts with stick walls and thatched roofs and two mud-spattered trucks completed the encampment. It had taken the Coopers a full day's journey to get here, riding over miles and miles of b.u.mpy, muddy road through jungle so thick they could only see a few feet into it. They were a day's journey from the nearest flushing toilet.

Lila smiled a tired smile. This is going to be better than I thought.

Jay Cooper, fourteen, was still working on being tall like his father, but he was already strong. And he had his father's sandy blond hair and piercing blue eyes. He took a moment to study the surroundings, feeling the curious stares of the native workers. One was butchering what looked like a pig, another was building a lean-to, and the third was burning trash in a small fire. Directly above, the treetops formed a tight, dark frame around a circular patch of blue sky. Brightly colored birds perched in the branches, screaming at one another in voices continually alarmed about something.

Adventure, he thought. I can just feel it!

Armond Basehart took them to the dismal-looking trailer that faced his own across the small, makeshift courtyard. "This is our special guest suite. You'll have running water from the trailer's supply tank-Juan and Carlos will keep it filled for you- and a limited supply of electricity from the trailer's batteries. Please try to conserve it. There's an outhouse behind this trailer, but check it for snakes before you use it. As you can see, we provide only the best accommodations for our guests."

Dr. Cooper looked around the inside of the trailer. It was a twenty footer, with a small kitchenette, dinette table and benches, a closet-sized shower, and beds for at least four. Everything looked old and well traveled. But in this rugged country, these were luxurious accommodations. He set down his duffel bag. "We'll take it."

They got settled, and then Dr. Basehart filled them in. "Ben Cory, his brother, John, and their a.s.sociate, Brad Frederick, had a camp set up about a half mile farther into the jungle, closer to the ruins. I chose to stay here in the main camp with the supplies, the workers, the vehicles, and my lab, of course. Besides serving as the team doctor, I am also doing a little private research, collecting and categorizing some of the local fungi."

Dr. Cooper spotted a narrow, new trail leading into the jungle. "Is that the trail to the Corys' camp?"

"It is. I can have Toms take you there now if you like."

Jacob Cooper reached into the trailer and pulled out his gunbelt. "Jay! Lila! Let's go!"

Dr. Basehart touched him on the shoulder. "Uh, Dr. Cooper ... you may not want your children to go. As you probably know, the Corys died violently."

Dr. Cooper considered that as he checked his .357 and slid it into the holster at his side. "Where are the bodies now?"

"We buried them not far from their camp."

Jay and Lila emerged from the trailer, ready to get started.

Dr. Cooper rea.s.sured his host, "My kids haven't seen everything, but they've seen enough in our travels. They'll be all right."

Dr. Basehart accepted that, then he called to one of the workers. "Toms!"

"S, seor." Toms came running.

Dr. Basehart introduced them. "Dr. Cooper, Jay, Lila, this is Toms Lopez, my a.s.sistant." Toms shook their hands, grinning a toothy grin, happy to be of service. "He'll take you to see the Corys' camp and answer any questions you have."

Toms's smile vanished, and he looked wide-eyed at his boss. "Seor Basehart ... is that such a good idea?"

Basehart became quite impatient. "Toms, I will not have this discussion again with you! There is nothing to be afraid of!"

"But-" Toms got a cold glare from his boss and cut short his protest. "Muy bien."

Dr. Basehart told the Coopers, "When you return, I'll show you the video tape the Corys made of their findings. It will give you an idea of what they were doing and possibly give you some clues to follow."

Dr. Cooper nodded. "I'll definitely want to see that."

Toms eyed the holster on Dr. Cooper's hip. "Ah, you have a gun. That is good. Come with me." Toms stopped by his hut to grab a rifle and a machete, then he led the Coopers down the trail into the jungle. The thick vegetation closed in around them, making them stoop and push branches aside. The thick canopy overhead choked out the daylight.