The City on the Lake

The soldiers brought Zia and Esteban back to their captain, who was still examining the Condor. "Here are those children, Captain Diaz."

"Well done, soldier," Diaz said, as he looked Esteban and Zia over. "What are you children doing in this place? " he asked them. "Where did you come from? Do you know something about this great golden bird?" The Captain asked gesturing to the Condor.

"Why should we answer your questions?" Esteban retorted angrily. "You have taken us as your prisoners when we have dome nothing wrong."

The Captain folded his arms and stared at the two children sternly. "You ran from my soldiers. If you were completely innocent you would not have had any reason to run. So I will ask you again, what are you doing here and what do you know?" Esteban and Zia remained silent, refusing to answer. The Captain sighed. "Very well, you will come with us. I must make my report to the Viceroy and I am sure he will extract an answer to these questions."

*****

The soldiers marched out into the valley, taking Esteban and Zia with them. Captain Diaz and his lieutenant each rode a horse and carried one of the children with them, while the other men in the company marched behind. Diaz had left a small number of his soldiers at the ruined city to guard the Golden Condor until the Viceroy decided what was to be done with the great golden bird. Diaz almost regretted having to inform his Excellency, the Viceroy of New Spain of the discovery. Between the shares that would be taken by the Marquis, the Viceroy, and the Emperor, there would be little treasure left for himself.

Hours passed and the sun began to sink toward the horizon. The Captain pushed on across the valley, rarely stopping to rest. Esteban's thoughts were of nothing but escape, but the soldiers were wary and presented the children with no opportunities. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains that rimmed the valley, the soldiers set up camp for the night.

Zia quietly moved closer to Esteban as Captain Diaz barked orders to his soldiers. "What can we do Esteban?" the Inca girl asked, her voice shaking. "Tao is trapped in the Temple of the Winged Serpent. I was afraid of what would happen if the soldier discovered the hidden chamber, but Tao is trapped..." her voice faded, afraid to continue.

Esteban shook his head in frustration. "I don't see any way we can escape. Diaz's soldiers are too watchful. We will just have to be patient," Esteban said, taking Zia's hand, "and hope."

*****

When the sun rose the following day, the troop of soldiers and their two prisoners continued their march. In the distance, the children could see something shinning in the light of the morning sun. As their horses drew closer to the glimmer, the children could see it was caused by sunlight dancing across the surface of a large lake.

"This must be the lake we saw from the Condor, Esteban," Zia whispered.

The boy nodded. "But where are they taking us?" he questioned.

Time continued to pass as the soldiers followed the edge of the lake. At last, Esteban could see an object on the water in the distance. Drawing closer, he could see a causeway spanning the water of the lake. A group of soldiers saluted the Captain Diaz as he rode past and continued out onto the bridge of earth. As they crossed over the azure water, Esteban noticed places where the bridge could be pulled up to create a gap in the expanse of the causeway. The boy wondered if this was designed to keep invaders out or the inhabitants of this place in.

"Esteban!" Zia gasped. "Look!"

Esteban looked up and caught his breath in surprise at the sight of the city that lay before them. Rising up from the water was a vast city of stone built on an island at the heart of the lake. Canoes darted through the canals created by green floating gardens as the children were taken into the city.

Traveling through the city, the children were astonished by the number of people around them. Spaniards, natives and soldiers went about their business in the streets of the island city.

"What is this place?" Esteban asked, unable to contain the question.

The Captain looked at Esteban strangely and answered, "This is Mexico City, the capital of New Spain."

At the center of the city, they entered a huge plaza that was bordered by a cathedral and a grand palace, which seemed to be the soldier's destination. More Spanish soldiers guarded the main entrance of the palace, one of whom, a lieutenant, stepped in front of Captain Diaz as they approached.

"I have important information for his Excellency and the Marquis. Let me pass!"

The lieutenant nodded and led Diaz and the children into the richly appointed palace. They were taken to a large set of doors, behind which could be heard two men arguing in raised voices. After a moment of hesitation, their guide knocked on the doors. The argument quickly faded and a voice called out, "Enter."

The soldier entered, saluted, and announced, "Captain Diaz is here to make his report."

"Show him in, Lieutenant, "the voice ordered.

Diaz quickly herded the two children into the richly appointed room which was occupied by two very different men. The man who had bidden them to enter was seated behind a large desk, his gaze keen though not unkind.

His companion stood in front of the desk, and was his complete opposite. This man's body was very lean and wiry, and suffering had marked his face. But it was this man's gaze that stopped Esteban and Zia in their tracks. The two children had never seen him before, yet this man immediately brought their memories of Francisco Pizarro to their thoughts. This man was a conquistador.

As the two children stared in stunned silence, Captain Diaz stepped forward and saluted the two men. "Viceroy Mendoza, Marquis Cortes, I have much to report."

As Zia and Esteban face the Viceroy of Mexico, Antonio de Mendoza, and the county's conqueror, Don Hernan Cortes, Tao struggles to escape from the Temple of the Winged Serpent. Next Time: Chapter Five - Alone in the Dark.