The Black Devil's Cave, page 25
“Welcome back,” Sonia said while rechecking the woman’s vital signs.
“What…. What are you doing here?” Lisa asked, her voice hoarse and weak.
“Saving your sorry ass,” Sonia said harshly. “Trust me, it wasn’t my idea.”
“We have to go,” Naneyu urged the women.
“Why? She’s too weak to walk,” Sonia protested.
“We have to go,” the boy repeated while giving Sonia more of the root they’ve been chewing on. This one was probably intended for Lisa.
“Are Krill’s men following us?” Lisa looked at him, terrified.
“We can’t stay here,” Naneyu insisted while avoiding Lisa’s question and turning to Sonia.
Lisa needed support, but she felt stronger after they gave her some food and the strange root to chew on. They were in the hills, although Naneyu found a relatively easy path, gently sloping downward.
“Are those men really after us?” Jenny quietly asked the boy when she was sure Lisa couldn’t hear her.
“It’s not them I’m worried about,” Naneyu explained. “My people are getting closer. If we don’t move, they’ll catch on to us. We can’t hide from them.”
“Why would we have to hide from your people?” Jenny gave the boy a puzzled look. “They were so welcoming. And there are still many questions I’d like to ask.”
Naneyu turned to Jenny. “Do you really think that they’d ever let you go?”
“What? You don’t mean that they’d keep us against our will!”
“They wouldn’t hurt you—I think you’d be sort of honored guests, but you’d never leave. You’d stay with us until the day you die. Like Gideon.”
Jenny was shocked. “You mean Gideon is a prisoner?”
“I believe by now he thinks of himself as one of us. There’s really nothing for him to go back to. But for years, he tried to escape.”
“Why would your people do it to him? Or to us?” Jenny’s eyes grew large.
“Self-preservation,” Naneyu explained. “My race has been here for millennia. Too many times, we’ve witnessed not only other species but even your own entire nations obliterated by others of your kind. Have you heard of the Tarim people? Gideon has told me you call them a Xiaohe culture.”
“Of course, I have. I’m a historian!”
“They were all murdered only because they had ties with us. There was nothing we could do to stop the genocide. After that, we only had contact with some Buddhist monks, but eventually, even that stopped. If we want to survive, we must remain hidden.”
“But you needed help to get to the United States! Somebody had to make arrangements for you. Don’t tell me you walked across the ocean.”
“No, of course not. We have people trained to speak like you and dress like you. We have…. things we can sell to get your money. This is how the trip was arranged.”
“But you did come to my country, and the idea was to establish contact with my people!”
“And we both know how it has ended,” the boy’s voice came down to a whisper.
“Hey, why did you stop?” they heard Sonia’s voice. The day turned into the night hours ago. However, a full moon and a cloudless sky with millions of glittering stars made following a wide path relatively easy.
“You have to try again,” Jenny said to the boy after a while. “We’re not all bad. There are many good people among us. Maybe even the majority of our people are good. We’ll welcome you as our older brothers and sisters. I’ll be the first one to embrace you.”
“Maybe, at first. But then, after your people see what we can do, they’ll try to harness those powers for themselves. Don’t forget that I’ve been around you for a while. I’ve seen your world. Those among you, who are in charge, will never leave us alone.”
“So, what’s next?” Jenny asked.
The boy did not respond, and for a long time, they walked in silence. Jenny was overwhelmed by a wave of sadness. She wanted to say something, she desperately needed to defend her own species, but at the same time, the boy’s words rang true. She didn’t want to lie to him and make promises she wouldn’t be able to keep.
“Our time comes to an end,” Naneyu finally said. “We have been around for eons—much longer than you. We no longer belong to this world. You’ve created an amazing civilization. Your ingenuity has no bounds; you have things and gadgets that to us seem like magic. You’ve established a fast pace of life, and it gets even faster with each new generation. We wouldn’t be able to keep up. We’re an archaism that has no place in your reality. My people so desperately want to survive, but they need to accept that it’s time for us to fade into memory. We have no choice but to become extinct, like that wooly mammoth you like to talk about.”
Jenny felt a pang in her heart, but Naneyu didn’t let her dwell on the sadness.
“Hurry up. They’re getting closer,” he urged again. “It isn’t far from here.”
“What isn’t far?”
The boy didn’t respond. Suddenly, the dark shadows of houses appeared out of nowhere, right in front of them. It had to be the wee hours of the night because all lights were off, but the dogs must have caught their smell and started barking. They heard a commotion coming from the nearest house. Somebody turned on the light, opened the front door, and yelled at the dog.
Sonia, who walked ahead supporting Lisa, increased her speed. So did Jenny, but after taking a few steps, she realized that the boy wasn’t with her anymore. She stopped and turned back—Naneyu was gone. She called his name, but there was no answer. She called again and again, but she already knew that she’d never see him again.
She reluctantly followed Sonia and Lisa, who was already talking to the man at the door. Jenny used all of her willpower to stop the tears, but it didn’t work.
Chapter 50
Lying to Ivanov would be easier if they didn’t have to also deal with Lisa. However, since it wasn’t an option, Jenny and Sonia kept lying to everyone about everything.
At first, they hoped that for a reasonable price, someone would smuggle them to Kazakhstan. Lisa supported the idea because she wouldn’t have to explain to the Russian authorities how she was involved with Krill and his men following their attack on Sergei. However, the women’s arrival in the village became an instant sensation. Most locals had never seen an American before, and all three of them became a sort of circus display. A significant language barrier didn’t make things easier.
When the locals finally brought a man from another village, who spoke some, although very rudimentary English, the genie was already out of the bottle—the authorities in Moscow knew about their arrival. Apparently, local authorities notified the metropolitan authorities, who reported to the Khakassian authorities in Abakan, who called authorities in Moscow.
Jenny and Sonia lied to Lisa because they decided not to reveal any information about the Denisovans and their settlement. Naneyu was just a Siberian kid who returned to his parents in some village. However, neither Jenny nor Sonia could remember the name or location. They only cared about the boy being safely home since it was the purpose of their trip to Russia.
“God, if this lying continues, I’ll consider the change of careers and become a con artist,” Jenny said to Sonia when they were alone.
“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Sonia responded. “It will spare you the embarrassment of being a historian.”
Lisa van Buren was deeply regretful for what she initially did to Nanyeu, but Jenny and Sonia weren’t ready to accept her apologies.
“Too little, too late,” Jenny said. “Maybe the kid’s forgiven you, but we’re not that easy.”
Lisa kept flooding them with questions about the boy. How was he rescued? By whom? Who were the people she saw walking away with Naneyu in the forest? How were Jenny and Sonia able to locate his village, and how did they find her? Why were they looking for her alone, with only the boy guiding them? Why would the boy’s parents allow it?
“Listen, if you don’t shut up, I’ll take you back to that forest myself, and dump you there, which is exactly what you deserve,” Sonia finally said.
That put an end to Lisa’s probing. However, Ivanov was not that easy.
After being brought to Moscow, they were all sitting in his spacious office, accompanied by Jimmy, a very young and thoroughly clueless employee of the American embassy.
“His dad was a major donor to the presidential campaign,” Jenny whispered to Sonia.
“Is this why this kid got this job even before he graduated from highs school?” Sonia whispered back.
“Ladies, please, help me understand.” Ivanov looked at Lisa, whom he didn’t meet before. “So, you came with Mr. Krill and his men, but you somehow lost them. However, you found the kid. Only later, you lost the kid again. Luckily, the two of you,” he turned to Jenny and Sonia, “found him. Then, you also found his parents. Unfortunately, Ms. Van Berg was lost in the forest at that time, but the three of you managed to find her. After she was found, you lost the kid again.”
“We didn’t lose the kid again. He’s safely home with his parents,” Jenny explained. “But other than that, yes, you’ve got it right. That’s basically what’s happened.”
“And how did you get involved with that kid? How did it all start?” Ivanov wanted to know.
“You have to ask her,” Sonia pointed to Lisa.
“Corporate secret,” Lisa responded.
“Yes, corporate secret,” Jimmy from the embassy repeated after her, looking confused.
“I see….,” Ivanov slowly nodded and turned to Jenny and Sonia again. “After Miss Van Berg lost the child, how were you able to find him? Last time I’ve checked, Siberia was rather big.”
“It was a shaman,” Sonia answered before Jenny opened her mouth. “We didn’t find the boy—his parents did. But a shaman told us where they were.”
“What shaman?” Ivanov raised his brows, looking puzzled.
“A good one,” Sonia explained. “You have excellent shamans here. Very efficient. He told us where to find the boy’s parents. And he later told us where to find Lisa.”
Jenny nodded vigorously.
“And the shaman also told the boy’s parents that their son was in the neighborhood? And that’s how they found him, right?” Ivanov’s face started turning red.
“Maybe. We didn’t ask,” Jenny said while trying to look innocent. “It’s possible that it was a different shaman.”
“Oh, I see. So, one shaman told the boy’s parents that their son was in the neighborhood and where to find him, while another shaman told you where to find the boy’s family after you lost him for the second time? Or third.”
“Maybe it was the same shaman, or maybe a different one. I wouldn’t know,” Jenny explained.
“And where did you find your shaman?” Ivanov asked.
“In a village,” Jenny explained.
“What village?”
“A small one. It was really tiny. Just a handful of huts.”
“Do you by any chance remember the name of that village?”
“No. It was there, but I’m not familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet. Sorry.”
“And where was that village located?”
“By the forest. The forest was big. The village was small.”
Ivanov got off his chair and walked around the room, sending a longing look in the direction of a cabinet that contained his private stash of vodka. He took a deep breath and approached Jenny.
“Can you describe the forest?” he asked gently.
“Yes. It was green.”
“And…?”
“And what?”
“Any identifying information?”
“Like what?” Jenny raised her eyes and bravely met his gaze.
“I think you are badgering the witness,” Sonia said sharply to Ivanov.
“How am I badgering the witness? This is not a damned courthouse!”
Jimmy from the embassy decided it was a perfect moment to make everyone aware of his presence. “Don’t use that kind of language around the ladies!” he said, trying to sound official.
Ivanov opened the cabinet, reached for a half-full bottle, and in a gesture indicating desperation poured himself a generous shot of vodka, not offering any to his guests. “How, on Earth, did they become the only remaining superpower?” he mumbled to himself while emptying the glass in one gulp. “So, this is how you’re going to play it, right?” he said lauder and looked at Jenny again.
She just nodded.
“For how long?” he asked.
“For as long as it takes. It was a shaman, and I’ll stick to it,” Jenny said firmly.
Ivanov just kept staring at her, thinking that in some cases, torturing witnesses, practiced by the KGB, should still be allowed.
“Siberia is beautiful,” Jenny added softly after a while. “She’s vast and desolate, and I think she’s also haunted. It’s hard to imagine how one region could endure so much suffering. Yet Siberia is not cursed—she is enchanted. It’s as if the spirits of her victims still linger there to provide that land with peace and consolation. Siberian people don’t have much, but they are the bravest and the most generous men and women I’ve ever met. They’ve been hardened by the oppressive climate and even more oppressive history. Yet, instead of getting bitter, they’ve developed enormous compassion. There’s little they own, yet they have a lot to give. Meeting some of them has been an honor.”
Ivanov looked at Jenny, taken aback by what she said.
“Can you ensure me that that boy is safe?” he finally asked.
“You have my word,” Jenny looked straight into the eyes. “Safe, and back home, surrounded by people who deeply care about him.”
“Krill and his men are dead,” Ivanov said.
Everyone in the room seemed shocked by the news.
“They were murdered,” Ivanov explained. “The circumstances of their deaths are still under investigation. When it’s complete, we’ll send you a report.” Ivanov looked at the young man from the embassy.
“I don’t think you’re in danger,” Ivanov added, turning to the women. “Although it might be a good idea to leave Russia as soon as possible. And if you don’t mind me expressing my sincere personal wish, please, don’t come back.” He looked at Jenny and Sonia. “Ever! We have enough problems without the two of you being here.”
***
Sergei came to the airport to say goodbye. He still walked with a cane, but his wounds were healing.
“I looked for the GAZ where you told me,” he said, “but it wasn’t there. It must’ve been stolen. I’m afraid you’ve lost your luggage.”
“That’s okay. We have our passports, and that’s all that matters,” Sonia reassured him.
Sergei hugged her maybe a little too long and whispered to her ear, “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get to know you better.”
“Yea, me too.” Sonia hugged him back and put a gentle kiss on his mouth.
“You know, we did what we came here to do, but I feel like something is missing,” Jenny said to Sonia when they got to the plane. “It’s like before, with Ximena and her people—you’re allowed to solve only part of a puzzle while everything else is still shrouded in mystery.”
“Maybe because some puzzles should remain unsolved?” Sonia suggested.
“You’re probably right,” Jenny agreed and closed her eyes. It was going to be a long flight.
Chapter 51
Jenny was home for over a week, but returning to the regular routine was rough. She felt emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. She took the boy home, yet there was no sense of accomplishment. Instead, her heart was heavy with anticipation. And there wasn’t much hope—what she felt was mostly fear of what the future might hold, not just for humanity as she’d defined it before, but for all humankinds.
At the university, her superiors were still accommodating, assuming that her absence was related to a dig in Samarkand. Jenny frowned. At some point, she’d be expected to report on the nonexistent data she had supposedly collected, and that’d sunk her even deeper in her tangle of lies.
Jenny’s Bengal cat, Nohla, was also back home, still not talking to her human. At least Nohla was predictive in sending a clear signal that leaving her with the neighbor for so long was outrageous.
“You’ll get over it,” Jenny said to her cat. “Poor Ms. Hanson deserves a break. And her own cats can finally get out of hiding. The Bengal terror is gone.”
Nohla turned her back, ostentatiously showing that she couldn’t care less.
Jenny picked up the copies of the Voynitch manuscript, still scattered over her desk, and threw them into a box. At least that mystery was solved, although she could never share information about the origins of that strange book.
Jenny took a deep breath. She couldn’t stop thinking about the extraordinary little boy and his village, older than history itself and hidden deep in the Siberian forest. What was going to happen to them? Was Naneyu right when he said that their time would soon end? They survived for so long that next to them, ancient Egypt, China, and Mesopotamia seemed recent. Would that incredible, timeless knowledge really vanish forever?
Jenny closed her eyes, tried to focus, and used her mind to call to the boy. Are you there, Naneyu? Can you hear my voice?
Nothing. There was no response, and no writing appeared on the wall. Jenny remembered the boy’s comment that they were Denisovans, not witches.
She exhaled and picked up the laundry basket. Most of the belongings she took with her to Russia disappeared with the Soviet GAZ they left by the caves, but the clothes she wore when they went to Moscow were yet to be washed. Jenny procrastinated with her chores, perhaps subconsciously not allowing the latest adventure to end and hoping for a different outcome.
