“Look at all the mist coming down from the mountains,” Jessie said, pointing at the soft, rolling clouds of blue mist that faded in and out between the trees. “I wonder if it will rain?”
“Looks like it,” said Grandfather. “It rains a lot in this area because of how the mountains are positioned near the ocean.”
The mist soon turned to rain, as Grandfather predicted. The drops splattered against the big train windows, though it stayed comfortable and dry inside. The sky got darker, then lighter, then darker again, and when the heavier clouds came in, the rain fell harder.
Just when the storm seemed like it might ruin their mood, the musician with the panpipes from the other passenger car came into their car and began to play. He had been joined by another musician, this one a singer who played an instrument that looked like a miniature guitar. They played and sang a peaceful, upbeat song in Spanish that made Violet want to dance, even though she didn’t understand the words. The passengers clapped along with the musicians and forgot all about the thunderstorm outside.
When the musicians were finished, the passengers applauded, and the singer and piper took a bow. Benny clapped and remembered what he had heard in Buenos Aires when the tango dancers had finished their dance. He called, “¡Bravo, bravo!” and got a big smile and an extra bow from the musicians before they headed to the next car to continue their performance.
“Is the train slowing down?” Henry asked, looking out the window. They had been distracted by the music, but they could see that the mountains and trees were not moving by as quickly as they had before. After a few minutes, the train finally stopped altogether.
“Are we there?” asked Benny. “That was fast!”
“I don’t think so,” said Henry. “I don’t see any village. I think we’re stopped on the tracks in the middle of the mountains.”
“Excuse me passengers. This is the conductor speaking…I’m afraid the rain has caused a mudslide on the tracks ahead. Once it’s cleared we’ll be able to resume our journey. Please enjoy our onboard entertainment and dining cars in the meantime, and see our attendants if you have any concerns.”
“A mudslide!” Jessie said. “Wow, that sounds serious.”
“Don’t worry. It’s actually quite common,” said one of the train attendants who was checking in with the passengers.
“How long might it take to clear?” asked Henry.
“Hmm…sometimes it’s not too long, only a couple of hours.”
Henry took out the map that Hector had given them and spread it on the table. “Could you show us on this map where we are?” he asked.
The attendant pointed to a spot that was very near Aguas Calientes, only one or two miles away. “We were actually quite close to arriving, so it’s a shame the storm couldn’t have waited another ten minutes,” she said. “But the good news is, once the track is cleared, we’ll arrive in no time! Here, please enjoy a complimentary dessert.”
The attendant gave them each a ticket for a free treat in the dining car and went to the next group of passengers.
At Aguas Calientes
Henry sighed and looked at the dessert tickets.
“A couple of hours! Normally I would be happy for a free dessert, but we need to get this orchid to Dr. Lukana. Ice cream and cake aren’t going to help us.”
“It looks like it’s only a couple miles,” Jessie said, looking at the map. “We’ve easily walked that far between landmarks in other places we’ve been.”
“If it’s that close, we could hike,” said Violet. “It’s getting warm in here without the fans blowing. I’m worried about the orchid. What if it gets too hot?”
“We haven’t watered it either,” Benny added. “I bet it’s thirsty.”
Henry tapped his chin, deep in thought. It was definitely getting stuffy in the train, and when he opened his backpack to check on the orchid, he thought it was looking a little wilted. The case was sealed shut, so it hadn’t gotten any water since they had left Hector’s the previous day. Each of the little monkey faces drooped. The orchid needed an expert to take care of it, and soon.
“It’s a couple miles if we were to take the train, but if we were to hike it, it would actually be much shorter. The train has to take a certain path that goes through the mountains. If we hiked, we could go straight up, and it would be less than a mile.”
“What do you think, Grandfather?” Jessie asked.
Grandfather leaned across the aisle to look at the map and then leaned the other way to look out the window, up the mountain forest. The rain was already clearing up, and the sun was peeking out from behind the clouds.
“Hmm…in my youth I would have done it lickety-split. But I think I probably wouldn’t have the best time. The four of you could certainly make it if you were careful and stayed together,” Grandfather said.
“Then we’ll do it,” Henry said, packing up the map. “Grandfather, we’re going to hike up to Aguas Calientes. We’ll take the shuttle to Machu Picchu and find Dr. Lukana. We’ll meet you back in Aguas Calientes after we return the orchid.”
“Then we will all go back to Machu Picchu the next day, so I can see it!” said Grandfather. “I didn’t come all the way out here to miss out on such an opportunity, you know!”
Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny all stood up and got their things together.
“All right, then we’ll go!” Henry declared.
“I’ll come with you to make sure the attendants don’t think you’re out of your minds,” Grandfather said, standing with them. “Most kids probably wouldn’t choose hiking a mountain over a free dessert!”
“If we didn’t have to return the orchid, I would probably take the free dessert,” admitted Benny.
At first the attendant told Grandfather that the Aldens couldn’t leave the train. But after Grandfather explained the situation and promised that they were all responsible and used to roughing it in the woods, she finally spoke to the conductor about it. The conductor took a look at the monkey orchid and nodded.
“All right, I understand,” he said. “But please be careful!”
“Be safe,” added Grandfather. “And take this. It’s old-fashioned, but there’s a reason sailors and other travelers kept them long before cell phones and GPS!”
Out of Grandfather’s pocket came a little brass compass. He put it in Henry’s hand. Henry turned it back and forth and watched the needle move so it was always pointing north.
“Thanks, Grandfather,” Henry said. “See you in Aguas Calientes.”
“Enjoy our free dessert!” added Benny.
Stepping out of the train into the mountain forest was cool and refreshing. The storm clouds had passed, and the sky was nearly sunny again, though raindrops still dripped from every leaf and branch. Henry held the compass in one hand and the map in the other, turning left and then right until he knew which way to go. Then he started up the mountain, and the others followed.
Climbing the mountain was more difficult than other hikes the four children had taken. When they had lived in the woods in their boxcar, they had explored often and learned how to grab hold of roots and branches when the trail got steep. But here in the Andes, everything was still slick from the rain, and at times the forest was almost vertical. Henry and Jessie helped Benny and Violet up over rocks and the remains of stone walls.
Luckily, there wasn’t any more rain, so by the time they came across a road, they were only winded but not soaked. They could hear car engines and people talking. So they followed the noises and soon found themselves in a small village that could only be Aguas Calientes. There was a center square surrounded by orange, red, and white buildings. Many of the restaurants had outdoor tables and chairs, though no one was sitting outside because the chairs were still wet from the rain.
“We made it!” Henry said. He was the most energetic and least out of breath, though he still flopped down to rest on the first bench he saw. “Whew! What a hike.”
“I’m just glad we made
it,” Violet said, sitting beside him.
Henry checked on the orchid in his backpack. It was still looking droopy, but the glass case was intact. If they could find Dr. Lukana soon, it would be fine.
“Why don’t you three wait here and rest, and I’ll go find out when the next shuttle to Machu Picchu leaves,” he said. “Don’t get too comfy. We’ve got to leave on the next shuttle so we can find Dr. Lukana.”
Henry walked down the main road toward a little station by the train tracks. There were signs advertising the shuttle buses that went to Machu Picchu, and when he got closer, he saw a station attendant reading a newspaper in the booth.
“Excuse me, when is the next shuttle?” Henry asked.
“Not until the roads are cleared. The rain downed a few trees, and it wouldn’t be safe to drive the shuttles.”
Henry sighed in disappointment and ran his hand through his hair.
“You don’t happen to know of a Dr. Lukana who is working near Machu Picchu, do you? She is a botanist. I’m looking to return something to her.”
“Oh yes, Dr. Lukana! She takes the shuttle down from her lodge when she comes to town. A very nice woman.”
The good news was a relief after hearing the shuttle wasn’t running, and Henry’s hope was renewed. “That’s great! A lodge, you said? You mean at Machu Picchu?”
“Yes. There’s a very nice lodge up there where she stays when she’s researching.” The attendant must have noticed Henry was in a hurry. He looked at Henry’s muddy hiking shoes and backpack and said, “Looks like you don’t have a problem going by foot, eh? It’s supposed to be good weather for the rest of the day, and it isn’t far if you’re up for it—about a kilometer and a half. Takes about an hour. The trail starts over there, and there are plenty of signs…Once you get there, you can’t miss the lodge.”
“Thank you so much!” said Henry, and he returned to his siblings with the good news.
“More hiking?” Jessie said, after Henry had explained. “Bring it on! A kilometer and a half…What is that, about a mile? That’s not too bad at all, especially if the weather is supposed to stay nice. Let’s go!”
The hiking trail to the Machu Picchu site was well marked with wooden signs. There were a couple other travelers making the trek by foot. At first, the path was fairly even, running along a river and across a bridge. Soon after, though, the four Aldens were climbing up a long row of steep stairs built into a wall of gray, stone bricks. The stairs were so steep, at some points they were climbing with their hands as if they were going up a ladder.
“I see why it takes an hour, even if it’s only a mile,” Violet said, wiping some sweat from her forehead. “We’re climbing straight up the mountain!”
The sun was warming the rain-soaked forest, and it was getting sticky. But there was still some mist hiding in the shade of the trees that was cool and refreshing.
Every once in a while, the rocky stairs leveled off along a road. Henry said it was probably the road the shuttle took when it was running. There were a few fallen trees and some rocks and mud littering the road, so it was clear why it was unsafe to drive on. From the road, they could look out over the side of the mountain. Aguas Calientes was hidden by the thick trees, even though they knew it was down there, somewhere.
“According to that sign, we’re halfway there!” Henry said, pointing.
“I’m going to sleep good tonight!” Benny said, huffing with effort.
They hiked for another half hour. Nearly right on the dot, their path widened and they could hear people’s voices coming from up ahead. They followed the sounds and soon arrived at a landing. A handful of tourists were looking out over the mountain cliff and taking pictures. The Aldens walked up to join them and took in the view.
“Wow,” whispered Jessie.
Spread out on a gentle slope were the remains of several dozen ancient buildings. None had roofs, but their stone foundations were well preserved. Even from the distance, the children could see window and door holes left in the building walls. Green grass grew flat and soft between the buildings, and a fresh-scented breeze wafted through the tree-covered mountains that surrounded them.
“It’s gorgeous!” Benny said. “Whoa, check out that thing!”
A tall, brown, fluffy animal was wandering through the building remains. It had a long neck and looked sort of like a camel, but without a hump.
“A llama!” Violet said. She put on the sunglasses Grandfather had bought her in Salinas Grandes. They helped her see better as the clouds continued to clear from the sky. She watched the llama walk peacefully through the old walls. It didn’t seem to mind all the human visitors who were exploring the ruins.
“After we return the orchid, I definitely want to explore,” Jessie said. “But let’s put our priorities in order. Let’s find that lodge where Dr. Lukana is staying.”
“The station attendant said we can’t miss it,” Henry said. From where they stood on the landing, they scanned the mountainside near the site. All of the buildings that were part of the site were so old their bricks had turned white from the sun. But one building that was off to the side was modern and new.
“That’s probably it,” Benny said with a goofy smile. “It’s the only building with a roof and glass in the windows.”
They found a path that led to the lodge. It was a short walk from the main landing where they had arrived. Up close to the building, they could see that the sign read Machu Picchu Luxury Lodge. On the front lawn, overlooking the site, were deck chairs shaded by big bushes with white, hanging flowers.
“This is probably the fanciest hotel we’ve seen yet,” Violet whispered to Benny as they walked up the front steps.
“The ones back in Aguas Calientes looked pretty fancy too,” Benny said.
The young man at the reception desk smiled and greeted them when they walked in. Henry cleared his throat and went up to the desk.
“Excuse me, we’re looking for Dr. Lukana. She’s a botanist who stays here,” he said. “Can you page her for us?”
“Oh, are you the Alden family?” asked the receptionist. “Dr. Lukana told us you would be coming. She left a message for you…here you go.” The receptionist handed Henry an envelope. Henry thanked him and went back to open the envelope with his siblings. Inside the envelope was a message and a plastic hotel key card.
Henry read the message aloud: “‘Dear Aldens: Forgive the inconvenience, but I have been delayed and will not be able to meet you until tomorrow morning. Please enjoy my accommodations at the lodge until I arrive. Signed, Dr. Lukana.’ This key card must be to her room.”
“Let’s go drop off our stuff and take a rest,” suggested Jessie. “I’d like to get this backpack off, and my legs are sore from all the hiking.”
The Other Silverton
They found the room that matched the number on the key card. It was well furnished with plush beds and pillows. Scattered all over the room were books and research notes. A big window on one side of the room looked out over Machu Picchu.
In front of the window were a few glass cases like the one that protected the monkey orchid. They all had other orchids inside, in a rainbow of colors. Henry took the monkey orchid out and gave it a look.
“How does it look?” Violet asked.
“Better than before, but I still hope Dr. Lukana is able to take care of it soon,” Henry said as he set it beside the other orchids. “At least it’s in good company now.”
“Did we do it?” Benny asked. “Did we return the last artifact?”
The four Aldens looked at the monkey orchid sitting on the windowsill with the other orchids. It fit right in.
“I think we just might have,” Henry said. “But let’s wait to make sure everything is explained to Dr. Lukana before we sign off just yet.”
“I saw a sign in the lobby that said the lodge has Wi-Fi,” Jessie said as she took out her laptop. “I want to send a message to Grandfather to let him know that we’re safe at a lodge up by Machu Picchu.
I’ll tell him we’ll meet him in Aguas Calientes tomorrow. He would worry if he got to the town and waited for us and we never showed up.”
Henry nodded. “Good idea. Maybe we should send an email to Trudy too.”
They all jumped at a knock at the door. Henry went to the door and looked through the peephole. He chuckled when he recognized who was on the other side.
“Jessie, don’t worry about that email,” he said. He opened the door. Standing in the hall was Grandfather, and with him was a woman with purple-dyed hair. She looked just like Trudy Silverton, except she didn’t have a cast or a broken leg.
“Hello, Henry,” she said with a smile. “Jessie, Violet. Hello, Benny! It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Trudy’s sister…”
“Tricia Silverton!” the Aldens exclaimed at the same time.
Tricia laughed and came into the lodge room with Grandfather. She noticed the monkey orchid on the windowsill and nodded approvingly. She sat in the wicker chair near the window and folded her hands across a knee.
“I’m sure you all have a lot of questions for me. I figured that since you had managed to bring the monkey orchid here, it was time that I finally meet you and thank you for your hard work…and explain what’s been going on.”
“I think we figured some of it out,” Jessie said. “You were giving us clues about how to return the artifacts so the Argents wouldn’t be able to stop us. Right?”
Tricia nodded. “Exactly. You see, a long time ago, the Reddimus Society used to return items matter-of-factly. But items started to go missing—stolen, before they could be returned. It’s been that way ever since Trudy and I started working for the Reddimus Society. I decided it was time to put an end to it.”
“And by keeping the information about the artifacts a secret, it was easier to figure out who the spy was,” Violet said. “That’s how we figured out it was Mr. Ganert.”
“But why didn’t you just tell us you thought there was a spy in person?” Henry asked. “It seemed like you had just spoken to Wenwen before we met her in China…”