the pivotal peru expedition

A short story about a thrilling jungle journey

WRITTEN BY HOLLY SHEEDY (ILLUSTRATED BY ARLIE BRAGG AND POLLY TURNBULL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAITLIN MUNGALL)

Theorchestraofbirdsluredmeinto their melody, as the sun gleamed downfromtheheavens,illuminating the vast lush greenery. The Amazon River glistened my reflection back to me, as the water greeted me like an old friend. Adjusting my pith helmet, hitching my khaki knickerbockers and pulling up my straps onto my blue striped shirt, I was fully prepared for the dangers thatlaybeyond.

“Okay Lottie, pass over the map so we can examine it,’’ Father proclaimed, switching into his archaeologist mode. I carefully reachedintomysatchelandplaced the ancient map onto the nearby tree stump. The frail paper was inscribed with the ancient Aztec pictographsfromlongago.“Tellme everything, Father,” I asked him, as butterflies of excitement fluttered insideme.

“The legend states that Anacaona, thedaughterofaTlatoani, abandoned her role in society and fled to the Amazon rainforest. She started a sanctuary for refugees and outsiders. Recently, I have unlocked some new information, that Anacaona stole the Feathered Serpent Mosaic Mask when she ran away. It was only amonthagothatIfoundthemapthat leads straight to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, where she is said to have built the temple protecting the artefact inside!” recalled my Father excitedly. I was enthralled by every wordhehadsaid,andtheanticipation grew like a sunflower. I was pondering this when I felt someone or something’spresence.

Two beady mustard eyes glared back at me. My heart skipped a beat as the majestic beast held my gaze, captivatingmyattentionuntilshetook a step forwards, razor teeth snarling. I heard my father take a sharp intake of breath, as I looked down towards the fifty-metre drop into a raging river. The jaguar was only a few metres behind. Every part of me argued about what I was going to say next.Ibellowed,“JUMP!”

I opened my tired eyes to find myself tied with rope against a palm tree. Confusion edged across myface,asIrecalledthelastthingI rememberedwhichwasjumpingoff the cliff into the Amazon river. “Father, where are you?” I fired at him. “Why are we here? What’s goingon?’’

I heard him sigh deeply as he explained. “I'm on the other side of the tree, Lottie. After we jumped off the cliff and went to shore, we were knocked out and got brought here,’’ he responded. “Now Lottie, I haven’t been completely honest with you,’’ revealedFather.“Iusedtoworkwith an old friend, William Carlton, and everything was working out perfectly,untilhedecidedtousethe artefact to receive money and fame. So, I decided that I would work alone. He hasn’t forgiven me since. This is his revenge, stealing themapandtakingthetreasurefor himself.”

“Don't worry, I made a copy of the map on the plane and it's in my pocket,” I reassured him, fully gratefulformyearlieractions.“Now grab my pocket knife in my left pocket and cut us free!’’And in no

“Lottie, I am so proud of you!”’ Father said,tearsinhiseyes.

“We need to find the Temple before he does, so let’s go!’’ I replied determinedly.

Finding the temple took only a few hours because of our sheer will to find the artefact before William Carlton. My breath was taken away as I looked at the magnificent crumbling stone pyramid before me. There was no time to play tourist. Just as we took our first step, the stairs transformed into a steep slide.

‘’Aahhh!’’ I yelled, as we slid down in pitch black until we spurted out into a flame lit corridor. Quickly, we turned the handle of an aged door to find a tall, lean man, eyes glued to the antiquated artefact that was within arm’sreach.

“NO!’’ I shrieked at who I presumed wastheinfamousWilliamCarlton.

“Ahh,ifitisn’tthetraitorswhowereso close to stopping my dream of being richandfamous,’’sneeredWilliam.

“William! No, don’t do it!’’ begged my Father, as William lunged forward grabbingthemosaicartefact.

“Yes, I did it!’’ roared William madly, when suddenly the floor beneath him gave way. He flung the artefact into the air as he sunk into the earth below, never to be seen again. I jumped into the air, catching the Aztec artefact before it suffered the same fate as William. Catching my breath, I looked at my Father, knowing that this wouldn’t be the last adventure that we would face together.