Rick tried to absorb it all. He’d need days to ask all the questions swirling around in his head. But then he considered how the same phenomenon that had given him an incredible, life-changing experience, had also killed three men tonight.
“Incredible, and yet also deadly,” Rick said, somberly.
“Si,” Javier replied in a serious tone.
In that moment, Rick resigned himself to the realization that he could not, in good conscience, reveal this discovery—to anyone. Despite how much he’d wanted it, how it would be the discovery of a lifetime, he would have to let that desire go.
“I can understand why you don’t want people poking around in here,” Rick said. “It can’t be allowed. It’s far too dangerous.”
“Si, it is,” Javier said, recalling others who’d lost their lives to this mystical place of transcendence, enlightenment, and reckoning. “And even if it wasn’t, some people might not be able to handle what they experience here. It might be too much to live with.”
Rick’s eyes went wide, realizing the implications—the myriad ways things could unfold. His mind raced with possibilities. “I can certainly see why.”
Something else was bothering Rick. “Why did you warn Oz to back off before it was too late? Why not just let him meet his own doom if you thought that’s how it would turn out?”
Javier looked over at him, surprised at the question. “Because it is my solemn duty to do so. Once a person has been warned, the consequences will fall on them if they do not respect and heed what they’ve been told.”
Rick let out a long breath as he considered the gravity of Javier’s words. He admired the young man in many ways.
Rick thought of something else as he watched the others remove the tablets and place them back into the metal boxes. “There are so many symbols...” his voice trailed off. “Do you actually know them all? I know you told Oz most were unknown. Was that true?”
“Most are known, not all, but...” he stopped.
“But what?” Rick pressed.
“But not by any one person.”
“How many people hold this knowledge?”
“I cannot say,” Javier replied, staring straight ahead.
Another thought occurred to Rick. “Do they all do something different? Have different effects on people?”
“Again, I cannot say.”
Rick looked around the stunning cavern. Then another thought occurred to him. He decided to push his luck with peppering Javier with questions. “Are there more metal tablets? Other artifacts here that your people use for... enlightenment?”
Javier turned to him and looked at him directly. “This is a sacred space to my people.”
Rick waited for him to continue, but Javier turned away to watch the others dismantle the metallic tablets.
Rick understood what Javier was telling him. He still had so many questions, but it seemed that he was reaching the end of the line with them for now. He shook his head. “And this has remained unknown all this time.”
“We have done our best to keep it that way,” Javier replied, “but, it hasn’t been easy.” He pointed to Rick. “You coming to our country, seeking this place, along with the men who were defeated here tonight, is proof that we have failed on many fronts.”
Rick fell silent. He knew Oz and Ares weren’t the only intruders in this space.
Javier started to leave to go help his friends finish their work.
Rick had to ask one more question, but he was scared to know the answer. “What I experienced... what I saw of my father... was it real? I mean, it felt so real. I feel like I have memories... real memories from it.”
Javier gave him a knowing look. “What do you think?”
Rick paused. “I want to believe it was.”
“Then do so.”
Javier walked away.
* * *
Before they left the Cathedral cavern, Diego pulled Rick aside. “I wanted to thank you again for everything you’ve done for mi familia.”
Rick shook his head. “I was only trying to help.”
“You saved my son’s life... again tonight. You helped save my life. I will be forever grateful to you.”
“I’m just glad we’re all walking out of here,” Rick replied, smiling shyly. He touched the man’s shoulder. “You should be very proud of them. They’re both brave, strong, really good people. And they love you a lot.”
“Gracias,” Diego replied. His heart swelled with pride. “I am blessed.”
Rick was about to walk away when Diego held him back.
“I can see that you have felt lost. For a long time, if I’m not mistaken.”
Rick was caught off-guard. He felt his throat constrict. “You could say that.”
“And you came here to find yourself,” Diego added.
Rick didn’t answer. Diego’s gaze was deep, searching. It felt like he could see right into his soul.
“You know, the rainforest holds many secrets, and many answers, as we have learned here this night,” Diego said. “I hope you have found what you were looking for.”
Rick looked at the older man’s kind face. He thought of his own father. “I believe I have, and much more.” He took a deep breath. “But it sure wasn’t how I expected it to be.”
“That was your first mistake,” Diego said with an amused grin, “thinking you could predict how it would all turn out.”
Rick laughed softly. “You'd think I would’ve learned that lesson before now.” He thought back to the Mato Grosso. If anything should’ve taught him that lesson, it was that experience. And now this place. “The jungle and the hidden worlds they contain sure have a way of humbling a man, don’t they?”
“Si. They do. And they should.”
They were silent for a moment.
Diego touched his arm. “I want you to know, Rick, that you may not be my son by birth, but I consider you my son through deed.”
Rick’s eyes widened. He could scarcely speak, hearing those words.
Diego hugged him.
Rick felt the newly forming bond between the two
