“Do not worry,” Anakhtek said. He turned to his servants and spoke to them in a language I could not understand. One of them nodded, then signaled to the other two to take positions on either side of Felipe’s chair. Another signal and, old as they were, they lifted the chair up with Felipe in it.
Anakhtek and the third servant then led them out, up the mountain, and into the tunnel. I followed, noting that each time we came to a group of locals on the hillside, they put down their work and bowed until our procession had passed. I did not like this, especially since my own fever made me feel less alert than I normally would be. I did not trust them. I stopped at the boulder at the cave’s mouth, ordering them in an angry voice to be sure not to slack off while I was inside.
I turned and we
