Ascension. Saksaywaman. Shard of eternity. Alexander Zubkov

sure it does, – the lord nodded approvingly. – It was a pleasure to meet you, gentlemen.

      After shaking the lord's hand, the friends left the room. After its mysterious surroundings, the light in the corridor blinded their eyes. When they went down to the lower floor, they said goodbye to the receptionist, taking the business cards of the hotel.

      – I am sure you have one of the quietest and most beautiful hotels in Europe, – said Matthew goodbye. – I will certainly recommend it on occasion.

      – Thank you, – she smiled and slightly bowed her head.

      Men went out of the lobby, got into the car and left the hotel.

      – So, – Andrew started the conversation, – what shall we start with?

      – I'm afraid, dear friend, you won't be able to help me in this case. I have all the information I need. When you get in touch with the Lord's confidant, tell him what accounts to transfer the money. You will keep ten per cent for yourself, which is thirty thousand. Now about the rest of the money. Consider half a million in our pocket. It shouldn't be too difficult to determine the real age of the stone. I'll take the professor and my friend Linda Chizhevskaya with me. You are not acquainted with her, but we will fix that before we leave. As for the construction technology, I'll tell you straight out, the chances are not too great. But believe me, I'll do my best. It's not every day that you get a chance to uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations, and with such generous financial support.

      – I do not doubt you, my friend, – did not take his eyes off the road, Andrew replied. – Do you think three months may not be enough time to work?

      – Anything is possible. There are so many mysteries in South America, you could stay there for years. I know three groups that have been there for more than a year, so three months is not a long time. By the way, I'm going to visit one of them, although they are doing very different things, they are already quite proficient in the local dialects, which is not unimportant. To collect legends I will have to communicate with the locals. Who better than them knows the traditions and lore of their lands? The most important thing is to get them to like you or interest them in something, but it is more valuable to understand what they are talking about. In Spanish, you know, I can speak it quite well, but there are many dialects: Mapudungun, Quechua and Aymara are the most common. And I don't think anyone knows how many of them there are. Although, most likely, they are very similar to each other, so I will not get bored during the voyage.

      – Will it be just the two of you, or do you need a bigger crew? – Andrew asked.

      – Linda is enough for me. The Lord has set very specific tasks. Who else would I need? I can take care of the equipment, and Linda has the necessary instruments for analysis. I need permission to transport them, by the way, and I'll need cash for that, since our expedition is unofficial.

      – Everything will be, – shortly answered Andrew, turning into the alley and approaching the house of Matthew. – Let's rest today, and as soon as I am contacted by the representative of the Lord… what's his name?

      – Mr. Lambert, – reminded Matthew.

      – Yes, exactly, – Andrew nodded. – When Mr. Lambert has contacted me and we've settled all the details, I'll let you know at once.

      – All right, – said Matthew, closing the car door. – Good night.

      – Good night to you, too, – said Andrew, turning on the light music and stepping on the gas pedal.

      2

      When he got home, Matthew took a shower and went to bed. But sleep did not hurry to envelop him. All his thoughts were preoccupied with the upcoming trip, promising thrills and good earnings.

      «I was overreacting about the fact that one man is enough for me, – Matthew thought, throwing his hands behind his head. – I wouldn't want regret it later. Who knows what secrets this unknown land holds? Besides, one would have to deal with people who were far away from civilization. But most importantly, Linda would have her own job, and I would have mine. She will be alone quite often, and I am not going to risk her life in any way. And if that's the case, we need another person. I am a loner, and an assistant can only hinder me, but Linda just needs an assistant who, besides, can ensure her safety».

      Having made this decision, Matthew calmed down a little, but he still could not sleep. His mental activity and his overblown fantasy unfolded and grew exponentially. He mentally transported himself to the place where the surviving remains of ancient structures were located. Among the virgin rainforest, untouched by man, were huge solid blocks of stone, overgrown with the shoots of climbing plants. Matthew wandered along the path that wound around the complex of structures and gradually led him deep into the jungle. The trill of the birds sounded so realistic that Matthew lost the line between fantasy and reality. His attention was now completely focused on the new sensations, and they were truly impressive. In addition to the singing of the birds, the surrounding space was saturated with the rustle of the leaves as they were touched by gusts of wind. At these moments, the cries of the monkeys and the distant roar of the wild beasts were hushed, as if they too were enjoying this enchanting jungle music. Meanwhile, the pleasant coolness of the forest beckoned farther and farther along the barely visible path. Without any sense of fear, Matthew went deeper into the thicket, enjoying the newly discovered scenery. Huge ancient trees on either side of the path stretched straight into the clouds that enveloped their tops with their impenetrable canopy. But this did not prevent the setting sun from breaking through the foliage, creating a staggered illusion of the surrounding space. It seemed that this entire splendor was one whole organism, and all the trees, animals, and insects were just its component parts.

      Gradually the path led him to a babbling brook, and the noise of the water merged with the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves, the chirping of insects and the barely audible roar of animals. It was mesmerizing. It was sweeter than the strongest sensations Matthew had experienced in real life. It was as if he was not walking, but rather floating above this majesty of the jungle. The sensation of the lightness of his body was comparable to the state of weightlessness that Matthew had experienced before on duty.

      Looking around a bit, he began to notice that the evergreens enveloped the majestic ancient buildings, and the succulent fruits of these plants hung almost above the ground. Their sunlit, ripe appearance beckoned one to taste these exotic fruits, but in this world they were of value only because of their sweet smell, which inspired and satiated the travelers of this mysterious path. As he inhaled their delicate fragrance, Matthew felt an unprecedented power awaken within him. He felt his power. If he wanted to, he could move the age-old blocks lurking under the thick green cover of tropical plants. And not just move them. He could tear them apart into tiny pieces. Boundaries did not exist here. Matthew could feel the energy of the stones. No doubt they were alive here and bowed to the lord walking among them. He lay down on the silken grass carpet and closed his eyes to try to communicate with this world that was new to him, but instead of fabulous sensations he found himself in his room, lying on the bed.

      – No! No! – he was horrified. – More!…

      Quickly closing his eyes, Matthew found himself there again, among the living, radiating energy of mysterious structures. The sensation of dual reality was beyond his comprehension. He could be here and there at the same time. Feeling like a demigod in his visions, he would open his eyes again and turn into a helpless, limited creature. Returning again and again to the dream world, he sought a more detailed view of the stone structures.

      The layout and shape of such grandiose structures were beyond doubt as to their man-made origin. The window openings, which were favored by countless hordes of monkeys, stood out clearly. No doubt, Matthew's imagination drew him a picture of a whole abandoned city, which, judging by its boundless size, was inhabited by a whole civilization that had long since fallen into the abyss of time…

      The alarm on his cell phone interrupted his visions of an illusory world, bringing Matthew back to the harsh reality. Compared to the sensations he had experienced, he felt so exhausted that he could not even come close to the coveted oblivion for a moment.

      «Well then, – he thought to himself after