You would be safe to call me a cynical man and please understand I have never been accused as to even allude to love. I've always found it shoves in the face of common sense oftentimes at one's own expense and henceforth would shoo it away if it ever attempted to stay. But, I can tell you a tale of a man to whom I once called my good friend. He defended such a fool-hearty task as to attempt to outlast death to his very last breath for one second of love from a certain little dove he put above all else.

Nevertheless, you may ask why would a sane man willingly die to pry but a moments peek into the heart he did seek? I cannot speak for him when such grim circumstances ensued but will elude you to the day his heart was taken away.

In 1943 myself being a professor of biology and my friend Henry Cahill, had just signed on as our archeologist lead of an impending dig. Bringing immeasurable wit with him we all knew that to sit as the Yale department lead at only twenty-nine years old he was lucky to hold such a position. We were on a mission to retrieve an ancient artifact that dated back over three thousand years. It had endeared known only as the Pulchra Stone. To own such a treasure it was said without measure that ownership of time would be the divine result. Though to catapult one's belief to be a thief of time that was more suited to ones of more a religious incline.

Our team set out to South America devout to route the university's meager funds to ensure we were the ones to find it. Not traveling blind with an ancient scrap of a map as our guide to find this stone that Henry had shown seemed to be in an abandoned mine. Our align with the local tribe after bribing them with cases of rum quickly had us coming down a secluded jungle path directly into quite a conspicuous spathe. The victim of the previous miners' wrath it was obviously stripped mined long ago showing us to behold any remaining stone unturned was likely adjourned long ago. But Henry did insist we must enter the mine to reach the temple shrine.

The inscriptions on the ancient map being that of an Incan derive so old even before Christ's arrive didn't sly out our lead. His conceive was that we must go at least 5 kilometers below to find where the Pulchra Stone was stowed. The downward road showed us no mercy the curvy cave was inlaid with dangers every way. As we walked I felt as if we were being stalked from behind. Henry said it was my mind running away but I distinctly heard footsteps we didn't make. My take was one of the villagers had stowed away neath our jeep. As we did sweep further below we finally came to an enormous hole. The whole mission now was at risk of being scrubbed but Henry dubbed that we two slew a rope to interlope with the stone. My moaning fell on deaf ears as he proceeded to climb down not caring about my frown. Once we were down about one-hundred feet we were greeted by my ghost posted at the top apparently intent to stop us he cut the line thus realigning our fate with a date for death. With my last breath you could hear me contest "NO!" but gravities tow quickly sucked us both below.

We fell for what seemed an undreamed time but finally, we did find the bottom. The outcome was an unbelievable twist of fate as we fell into a massive underground lake. It's make though, we were in the dark seemed to be miles across. We were at a loss for words when Henry lit a flare and there staring us in the face was a quite out-of-place shrine. It shined seemingly on its own glowing a bright white it might have been our only saving grace from drowning in this lake. Making our way onto shore I implored Henry to stow the map, break our contract, and concentrate on just getting back. But he wasn't having it. Sitting on the Temple stairs he dared to read the hieroglyphs inscribed on the outward design as an attempt to get us inside.

Applying his knowledge of Quipu an ancient form of storing data for long periods of time he began to realign several lengths of knotted rope attached over the slope of the locked front door. Once more he began to twist them into one like he has done this before then, with a stout tug and a smug look on Henry's face the door opened up displaying quite an ancient place. We entered slowly braced on our guard and were immediately bombarded with what looked like a mausoleum of open graves. Skeletal remains buried in the walls of an enormous hall is what we saw as made our way through the gateway. Further, into the fray, we walked I prayed that none of the bodies came to life. They seemed to stare at how we dare tread in their eternal beds but we plebs were in dire need of shelter. Both helter-skelter we were treading on new ground bound to find a way out of this questionable route our lives had taken.

Misshapen demons carved from slate stood beside a gate. Henry quickly cried "Don't make any sudden moves!" "See those grooves!" "It would behoove you to stand back!" "Let me take a crack!" Grabbing a walking stick from his pack he pryed at the floor tiles I had almost attempted to tred. Then, instead it unlocked a trap with a giant "((THWAK!!))" The swords the statues held were wielded towards the floor. It would have tore me in two if Henry hadn't shooed me away. My need to proceed after almost being incised in half didn't last. But I know turning back wasn't the feedback Henry would entertain. I abstained from my complain and feigned courage to not discourage our aim.

The floor then became more of a downward slope evoking more fear as I peered down the upcoming hallway. Its display seemed to be our doomsday. There was an array of spikes secured tight against the aplite walls. We might have called it off to figure a cutoff on the map but a trap boulder dropped from the ceiling reeling towards us to crush our bones obviously zoned to protect the Pulchra Stone.

Henry yelled "RUN!" but I refused to see my undone on the spikes. Despite my fright, I grabbed from my pack a large bushwhackers blade. My machete aide didn't let me down as I jammed it into a crack in its surface. Its purpose to crush our bones would now be postponed as it came to an immediate stop locking up against the floor. Henry still in shock commented on my block "Good save!" "I never would have thought to use a blade as an aide." "Way to go chap!" and promptly slapped me on my back to show appreciation for stopping the boulders attack.

As Henry shined his light down the shaft that was meant to cast us to our undone he said "Well, looks like this isn't going to be fun." One by one we could see sharpened spires pointing ever higher into the gap. Both not ready to call it a wrap we strapped on a repelling rope and doted our recent life choices. The slope soon turned straight down leaving us to hang bound to gravities pull. Down below a roomful of dark that was beyond impart. Our flashlights seemed to depart from use. The light diffused into a murky black that absorbed any incandesce transgressed into its darkness. I insisted we slowed down but Henry refused to come down slow so me being below him on the rope I was doped into his excessive elope.

We scoped our surround as we tamped down on the bottom. Flotsam from what seemed to be an ancient ship slipped into our view with white sand the type only found in Egypt which gripped us quite surprised to realize this ancient tribe must have been worldwide. As we strode through the sand my foot landed on something stranded neath the surface. Quite nervous I picked up my foot and there neath the soot was an enormous King Cobra. It then did quickly string its tail around a pillar. Its killer stand now daring us to land within its strike waiting to take our life.

With knife in hand, Henry tred ahead not a shred of fear in his eyes looking toward the skies but then I spied what he saw and my mouth dropped in awe. Voila! it was the Pulchra Stone standing all alone at the top of the column. The unlucky fate we had befallen suddenly changed. But, our aim to climb to the top was now being stopped by the vicious viper. It took every fiber in my being to step closer myself never being a fan of snakes. Make no mistake I would do what it takes just to escape this crazied maze but in my days as a youth, I was ruthlessly pursued by a brood of adders which later scarred me for life against their kind. My mind was now racing away of how to stay out of its play. Henry, not being swayed by its display attempted to circumvent it from preventing our further proceed by grabbing its nape but its head magically reshaped as if made from sand and quickly landed its fangs into his hand. Us being stranded far from help I knew well time was not on his side dealing with the venom coursing deep inside. But after Henry's initial cries of pain the snake faded away. No more to stay blocking our path just nothingness to show except the two small marks it bestowed onto his hand. Henry manned up and said he was fine and immediately entwined his grip around the stone shaft to make a mad dash towards its peak.

Gently, he unseated the stone which seemed to be honed from crystal. Then, a bright white glare a trance-like distal stare seemed to ensnare his attention losing all mention of his grip he immediately fell back down into the sanded surround. He pounded hard falling at least twenty yards. Not seeing obvious marrs I immediately went to his side to see if he survived the fall. In all my years of having Henry as a peer, I have never known him to loose his grip. This slip didn't sit well with me and I asked him "What did he see?"

Henry: "I saw, beauty that has no define." "Aligned into the form of an angel." "She touched my hand and made me understand I would meet her again."

I saw the resplend from the stone but we were still all alone. No angel made itself known to me and I thought "Could this be a head injury?" But, such witchery would have to wait my questions satiated at a much later date we had to immediately make our way back out of this quite elaborate trap.

Our attack on our return spurned immediate results as Henry somehow felt out a hidden path that quickly cast us back to the surface. Our purpose was now fulfilled everyone was thrilled to see us come out alive. Contrived poorly perhaps but we still came back out with our lives intact. Henry just sat there slack staring at the stone the entire plane ride home. The drone of the engine lulled me into a deep sleep keeping me dreaming of a scene not filled with elaborate traps waiting to call my life a wrap.

It was early spring when we returned back to Yale. With mail piled high greeting us at the door but more pressing matters were in store. Before we could even settle in, the school's Dean wanted us to be seen in his office immediately. His expectancy to see the rock apparently got the best of him akin to a child wanting to see the presents early from neath the tree. As Henry and me entered his office I could tell he was being quite cautious about the stone his ownership of its find would be denied by the school's derive. The Dean dived right in and stated "I'm elated you survived despite my prior advise about this contrived quest." "I'm guessing you came back with this stone intact?" Packed in his pocket Henry pulls out an inoxuious rock he must have picked up from the garden of spartan stock roughly honed to look like the Pulchera Stone. I disowned his play and gave him a stern look about this path He took. Henry looked at me back quite ready to attack my honor if I didn't sponsor his ruse. Choosing to stay quiet my compliance wasn't without defiance as I stated "The slated stone almost looks like as if it was from home." "Ha, ha, ha."

Henry, quite known for his wit committed to his guise by pointing out the amount of bauxite mineral deposits upon its surface. Well, his lip service sold the naif Dean Warner who was quite keen to get his name in the paper even after we were the ones who endangered our lives to provide it for the school's pride. Henry's lies still didn't sit well with me so I proceeded to take my leave since that eve's sun was already below the horizon. "Well, this was fun but I have my students' papers to grade, and midterms aren't far away."

Dean Warner: "I won't delay you from your duties." "Henry can fill me in on these compounds the Pulchra Stone holds." "Go take care of your classes their passes are crucial to our communal progress and the school's success."

Now, blessed to leave I quickly proceeded out the door. Pouring all my energy into widening my stride I decided to take a shortcut down the backside of the school. Once a shining jewel these old halls were now old and forgotten. Sentenced to rotten long ago though its mold was something to behold in its day long before decay took its hold. As I rounded a tight threshold I took sight out of the corner of my eye a man knelt on the floor. I immediately felt as if I knew him though his face was interlaced betwixt his knees my curiosity needed to be appeased. I cautiously heaved out the words. "Sir, I don't want to disturb you but, are you ok?" Nay, not a single word was heard. Fear now stirred from within my soul. Who was this I did behold? I strolled closer though my composure was apprehensive to oblige I dived in and touched his shoulder. Then, I became the beholder of a ghost the most unexpected thing to see was... HENRY!

When he turned his head and our eyes met I was beset with confusion, what was this illusion? I immediately loosened my grip on his shoulder whilst images of demons began to smolder in my mind. Being quite disinclined to stay I began to step away not willing to be prey for this entity's play. My sway was immediately stopped by him interlocking my arm. No harm was delt but I felt his firm grip slip me in much closer. Over and over he yelled "Time!" "I need more time!"

My eyes aligned on his hand as I pulled away and spied the snake bite bright red as if the venom had spread in his veins. It looked as if he was in pain a slain look of defeat was firmly seated upon his sweaty face. Braced across his chest the Pulchura Stone was set aglow as if bestowed an inner light. My fight to get away finally splay us apart. I immediately darted in the other direction into the older section of the school but, in lieu of running and shunning this demonic creation, there was too much temptation to look back. When my gaze finally sat on the spot he was squatted I spotted nothing, Henry was gone.

Not easily drawn to conclusions but my confusion about what I had just seen started to glean in my mind. Myself, never easily inclined to assign unscientific define of supernatural events was presented with a quandry a laundry list of hypotheses flooded my psyche but no matter how unlikely I was visited by a ghost I refused to host such nonsense the concept was below me and I insisted to see for myself what the fates had dealt to my lot. While still being very much in shock I immediately ran back to the Dean's office block.

Knocking into students as I ran they didn't understand what was at hand so their demands to know where I was going in such a hurry were going to be left blurry as I scurried past without casting any apologies. The strict no running policies didn't apply at least as far as I was concerned since recent turn of events spurned common sense.

Arriving at his door my energy stores greatly depleted from recently becoming a track star. It was already ajar so I let myself in and there in the skin was Henry. No friendly greeting cast I just stood there to amass what I was seeing. My well-being was immediately put into question though as the Dean mentioned.

Dean Warner: "Are you ok?" "I thought you were weighed down with work?"

Not wanting to be perceived as a shirk I immediately jerked at his desk drawer and made an implore for the spare keys.

"If you please I seem to have lost my keys to my office."

Dean Warner: "The raucous out in the hall." "The students call for someone to slow down." "Did you see this culprit around?"

Though I was drowned in sweat I Iet out a firm "No!" Hoping he would let it go.

Henry: "Whoa!" "You look as if you've seen a ghost old chap." "Wrap up your work and have an early nap."

I replied: "Perhaps you are right I'll turn in early for the night."

My fright still evident on my face and wanting to erase this day from recent memory it was elementary that rest might be the perfect remedy.

I respectfully took the keys and my leave to perceive of what had just happened to me. I proceeded down the hall again only much more slowly this time. My thoughts now aligned to the works of the divine because scientific definition of what I saw kept drawing to the same conclusions. This illusion must be a message of something that went terribly wrong.

Months later, after the danger of Henry's ghost had been coaxed out of my mind you could find me hard at work doing research perched on my window seat. The winter's retreat is now well underway and the scent of spring's new blooms fill the room. A tune of Bach can be heard being whirred from my phonograph. The past now cast away we are all looking forward to a new day.

Suddenly, Henry burst his way in past my locked door the privacy I adored was now made to be no more. He immediately started to roar something about a girl he had met in Connecticut.

Henry: "Get set for some good news you old prude!" "By the way sorry for the intrude."

"My solicitude towards your news won't prevent me from kicking you out no matter how devout I am to your account."

Henry: "Ha!" "Ha!" "Ha!" "No rout!" "I have no doubt you would kick me out." "Anyway, I'd like to announce I'm getting married before you bury your face back into your book."

"What?" "I mistook?" "This must be a mistake." "Did you relate you are getting married?"

Henry: "Yes," "I realize I'm sharing this rather late but I would like to make you my best man." "We plan to wed in July down by the shore."

"Of course, I would more than happy to step in you must have been busy." "Can I be privy of her name?"

Henry: "Sadie Baldwin."

"The Governor's daughter!"...."I hear she is much lautered for her beauty." "Hmm..." "Isn't she is more suited to men of her own class?" "I'm sure there must be a mass of them waiting to upend your intentions."

Henry: "Yes, Sadie can afford to be choosy but she said she doesn't want to loose me." "So we agreed to be wed and homestead on her family estate."

"I won't berate you anymore for intruding through my door." "I assume you're going to introduce me to your Sadie so I may be able to meet this woman you couldn't resist?"


Henry: "Of course!" "I'll see her tomorrow at noon at a tea room called The Gold Doubloon." "Why don't you come too?"

"I have my student's reviews so I may be a few minutes late is that alright?"

Henry: "Quite." "I might be late as well to surprise my mademoiselle with some flowers."Well, the hours are ticking away I won't daunt my stay any longer."

"Before you saunter away I pray you would find maintenance to realign my broken door."

Henry: "My implores." "I'll ensure it's restored."

As the doors weathered boards creaked and cracked as they were forcibly seated back into place I tried to efface my thoughts and glanced across the room to something new sitting quite askew on my desk. A grotesque piece of paper but I was not its curator. An indicator maybe Henry left but my uninvited guest immediately pressed to the other side of the room so whom did it belong to? A strong odor of decay emanated from its stay as I made my way to view this sheet but I was greeted with a familiar sight and I immediately recognized the write. A mighty old version of Aramaic it was the map we used to sack the Pulchura Stone. But, why was it away from its home? It belonged in the school's catacombs locked away to stay. To whom may I attribute uprooting this from the vault just to drop it off on my desk? Lest I yet again upend common sense preventing commence of rational thought I really ought to find from whence this came and make it my primary aim just to prove I am not well.. insane.

My eyes strained to focus amidst all this hocus pocus on the script sitting on the page it's advanced age waged war of clearly seeing nor even reading the words. Then it occurred to me it's was writing upside down but I was astounded by what I saw. Called an ambigram by some it strung out the words upside down so something else could be spelled. I held it closer but me, not being its composer I struggled to ascertain through the ancient script to what seemed to be an encrypted warning.

~The viper's kiss resists the stone's ability to return home." Disown its use or be diffused into time eternal.~

Now my yearn to learn what it said was met with yet more questions instead. A dread filled my soul. Henry was bestowed the bite but to use the stone could invite an eternal time suspension? Not to mention the tension felt from being delt this map without so much as even a scrap of evidence who nabbed it from the safe but....wait? It occurred to me could it still be in place?
© Peter Gunn