Angel of the Winds

by John W. Steele

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
parts: 1, 2, 3, 4

conclusion

I was about to jump down to the lower ledge, when an image on the other side of the crater caught my attention. At first the figure looked like a large, swirling dust devil, but it grew rapidly in intensity and stature. The column of wind transformed into a flashing giant made of blue-violet lightning. She stood at least a hundred feet tall. Her white robe appeared to be spun of fine silk and streamed about her in flowing breezes. I had never seen anything so beautiful or so terrifying in my life.

As soon as Ambrosio saw her, he started running towards me. I could hear him screaming in my mind, Throw the Angel to me. But I was awestruck by the goddess in the crater, and I ignored him. For a moment, the glorious entity watched him race towards me. Then in an instant she morphed into an enormous purple tornado and raged across the floor of the desert in pursuit of him.

Like an arrow, Ambrosio sped to the rim of the crater. He bounded up the rock face like he was flying and screamed, “Throw her to me now!”

Ambrosio leaped into the air and landed on the ledge below me. “Give her to me, Brian,” He yelled. “You must give her to me, I cannot take her.”

I lowered the Angel from my chest, and was about to toss the icon to him when the powerful tornado descended from above, and snatched him from the cliff. Ambrosio screamed and the whirlwind hurled him into the sky. For a moment I stood petrified. Then ran back to through the crevice to the safety of the chamber.

The tornado churned with impossible magnitude outside the tomb. It swirled in a thick cloud of violet colored plasma and sounded like a sustained explosion. I felt great fear, but I held on to the Angel with all my might. A large blue opalescent eye like that of an elephant appeared in the tornado, and when the goddess spoke, her voice reverberated like the chorus of a thousand angels.

You have a choice, warrior, she said. Give me my crown, and I may spare your life. Make me take it, and you will join Ambrosio.

I didn’t want to give up the treasure I’d fought so hard to obtain, and I tried to buy some time. “Where is Ambrosio?” I asked.

Her mystifying eye turned blood red. Ambrosio was warned of the consequences of desecrating my tomb. Like many men that taste power, he has grand ideas but little wisdom. He resides with us now in another place. He has much to learn. Now I command you once again, give me back my crown. This is my last request.

I knew I was powerless against her. I relaxed my grip on the mask. An appendage made of wind entered the chamber and drew it from my arms. I watched the crown of the Wind Angel disappear into her bosom. Now that she had what she wanted, I thought she would kill me. I was cornered and awaited my fate.

Her magnificent eye returned to its glorious blue color and she said, Tell me warrior, what is the purpose of your life. Why should I let you live?

I’d asked myself the same question many times. I hadn’t known what the purpose of my life was, until now. I said, “Because I am the chosen one.”

Lightning flashed in the depths of her eye, and for a moment it seemed I became one with her, as if the eye contained us both. In her eye I could see the ends of eternity and the invisible connection between the worlds.

You are free to go. But I warn you: if you ever return here, I must destroy you. Do you understand?

I didn’t answer. I knew my words made little difference. The tornado began to fade. I watched her retreat across the floor of the desert, and ascend into the sky.

Eventually, I crawled out of the crevice and stood on the ledge of the cliff. I looked out into the valley. The crater was filled with swirling sand and dust. I sat down on the edge of the cliff and pondered my fate. Big deal, the bitch didn’t kill me. She’s gonna let the desert do it, I thought.

My body felt like it was made of lead now, and the power of the ‘little eyes’ was gone. All the exotic and magnificent colors of the desert returned to drab browns and yellows, and the dust in the air burned in my mouth and nose. My old loyal friend paranoia waited for me with open arms at the threshold of reality.

In time, the dust began to settle and some strange lines formed in the depression in front of me. My Jeep appeared through the hazy cloud. I was amazed to see that it had remained intact.

I stood up, looked below, and recoiled with a start. I was at least a hundred yards off the ground. I inched my way back down the rock face, and felt relieved when I touched the floor of the desert.

I made it back to the Jeep, braced myself for the inevitable, and opened the lockers. To my surprise and delight, the treasures remained intact. I felt extreme joy, and I realized the treasure belonged to me — and to Hess, of course. I jumped into my jeep, and she fired up at my command. In a short time I ascended from the crater of Ehecatl and headed east toward highway 4.

Three enormous dust devils surrounded me as I journeyed through the blazing desert. The largest of them swirled on point about a hundred yards in front of me; like a guide escorting me out of the wasteland. The other two devils followed behind. I glanced at them every now and then in my rear view mirror. I didn’t fear the whirlwinds. I knew they were guardians.

After a long journey, we made it to highway 4, and the dust devils disappeared. I watched them fade back into the desert. In two more days I’d be back in Santa Fe. I was a wealthy man now, and as I drove northward I thought nothing could change my world. Man, was I wrong.