Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
Fraternitas sancta
Teresa and Marcelo returned to the camp, accompanied by the visitor. Emil had finished grooming after dealing with the effects of the storm. Teresa made the introductions.
“ This is Emil, the third member of our team or perhaps I should say the first. Emil, let me introduce you to Amalric.”
At the name of the young, Emil imperceptibly raised an eyebrow.
“ Nice to meet you, Amalric. Do you live around here?”
The boy repeated the explanation already given to Teresa.
“ What are you doing in these places so far apart?” Asked Marcelo. “Shouldn´t you be in school or something?”
“ I finished high school last year. I will rest this year and next year I will go to the University of Comahue, in San Martin de los Andes.”
“ And why in San Martin and not in Bariloche, which is closer?” Inquired Emil.
“ For the careers they have. I'm interested in something related to where I live, something like forestry technician or tour guide.”
The Swiss was satisfied on that subject but Marcelo repeated the question.
“And tell me, what are you doing here?”
“ Each year, when the winter season ends, I seek new paths to guide future tourists. I roam first on foot and then come back riding.”
“ I see.” Emil said succinctly.
“Have you struggled with the storm?” Amalric asked, showing concern for his partners.
Marcelo showed the damages, although most were already repaired.
“Are you fishermen?” Asked Amalric.“ I can surely show you some fishing spots.”
“ I'm an anthropologist and my specialty is the study of the tribes that inhabited this area as for instance the vuriloches.” quickly replied Emil” Dr. Cifuentes is an archaeologist, specialist in Mayan culture in Central America and Yucatan. We are here by recent versions of Maya presence off the coast of Chile.” Teresa winced as she heard the lie, but it was not noticed by Amalric. “ ... and Marcelo is her husband, and he is on vacation”.
“ Actually I gladly accept Amalric offer to show me these fishing places.” said the young man. “From time to time I have to entertain my company´s international clients; particularly the Americans are very fond of fishing.”
In the meantime, Teresa had prepared lunch and invited the boy to join them, invitation that was immediately reiterated by Emil. Despite the boy´s squeamishness, they would not accept no for an answer, so the four people spent chatting several long hours, talking of their works and the characteristics of the area, which Amalric knew well. Finally the young man said.
“ I do not want to delay you any longer, and I must return home, which is quite far; I'll surely arrive there in the dark.”
Amalric suggested them a path to continue riding, and proposed to have a new meeting with them in a couple of days along that way. Teresa and Marcelo were delighted with the hospitality of the boy and his knowledge, and effusively bade farewell. Emil gave him a firm handshake, accompanied by a smile.
As the boy had already walked some forty steps Emil called.
“Hey Amalric.!”
When the youth turned around Emil raised his right hand showing the palm and said something Teresa and Marcelo did not understand. Amalric blushed for a moment but immediately smiled, raised his hand in the same way and repeated the phrase.
“What a charming young man...” Said Teresa. “ …so well educated, he could follow all our conversations.”
“Well, it's not so big deal.” Marcelo responded showing some jealousy.
“ But tell me Emil.” Continued the woman. “Why you've worried so much to give explanations on the anthropological interests? And what is it that nonsense that I'm investigating the Mayas in Chile, although I admit that there have been rumors of remains found in the Juan Fernandez Island? Why so much explanation?”
“ Because I want to convey a credible version to the descendants of the Templars. We do not want to unnecessarily upset them.”
“The Templars?” Repeated surprised Teresa. “But where do you think they are?”
“ They had just been among us.” Responded succinctly the Swiss.
Teresa and Marcelo’s surprise was big.
“ A… malric…” Said he.“... You ... you really think ....?
“ I have no doubt. He is a scout sent by the very men and women we are seeking. I'm excited because it's the first live test we have of their existence in the present. In fact, he has not even tried to hide his identity. Amalric, his dog Amaury, all names of Templars and Crusaders leaders.”
“And what did you tell him in the Swiss dialect?” Asked intrigued Marcelo.
“ It wasn´t Swiss but old French.”
“Well, what did you say in old French?”
“Dieu le veut.”
“ God wants it.” Said Teresa. “ The old expression of the Crusaders.”
“ Amalric understood and answered it, although a little embarrassed.” Added Marcelo.
“ So much for your Maya ruins in Chile tale.” Expressed ironically the woman.
“At least we have a tied score. We know and he knows we know.” Answered Emil smiling.
“ Then, nothing of what he told us is true.” Concluded upset Teresa.
“ I think everything he said is true. The issue is what he did not say. In some ways it is the same case of what we told him. With the exception of the Maya in Chile, all true.”
“Why do you think he came today?” Inquired Marcelo.
“ He was here for two reasons. First to try to determine what our intentions are, what is the purpose of our presence in this place out of the tourist season. And second, to send us the message that they know we're here.”
“ Do you think we're in danger?” Inquired Teresa with a hint of concern.
“ No, not right away. If they wanted to attack us they would have done it rather than sending this boy. They will let us pass and will observe what we do.”
“Have you thought that we will tell if we ever meet them face to face?”
“Listen, Marcelo. We will not tell them lies. Let's just go groping to see what game they play. In short, we will be cautious. They have the position of power since they are presumably many people and know the place.”
“ What about those who killed the shaman.” Teresa asked. “ Don´t you believe that they may have done it?”
“I rule it out altogether. The machi had few specific data on them, and very confusing. Thinking that he had tortured him to extract information makes no sense. Moreover, we must assume that what these neo-Templars or whatever you call them want is to keep alive certain traditions and protect certain treasures. If what they wanted was to steal the treasure, they would have done it centuries ago and would not have lived submerged in the Andean-Patagonian forest. We must believe in principle that they are good men.”
“ I repeat my question.” Said the woman. “What about the murderers?”
“They are the real enemies of both the Templars and ours.”
“Finally, don´t you think that the path that Amalric told us about really intends to turn us away from them and our goal?”
“ This could be true. We told him in what direction we wanted to go and he just gave us an alternative. It is certainly not along that path where they may have their hidden secrets but we can go along it doing lateral recognition.”
The new route towards the south cut transversely mountain chains, streams and valleys. They were no longer trying to follow a watercourse, but dodging obstacles along the way. The maps did not provide them names for geographic features, and they had only the GPS to guide them. The advance in zigzag delayed their progress.