Part I

Day 366

They all left and what's more they said, fully convinced, that I had lost my mind. At least some of them were brave enough to say it to my face. The rest tried to explain themselves with the talk about families etc. Why did they even start one if it could become an obstacle on the road to great discoveries?! I am ready to sacrifice everything… I know I am close!

Day 523

I have to admit, I was not close at all. But another continent means another chance and I know that the greatest discovery will be connected with my name forever! Rain forest must be it.

Day 537

The local population keeps telling me that I shouldn’t even try to get to the bottom of the mystery I heard about the very first day I came there. The cave hidden between trees was barely seen, the entrance was covered with creepers, so a lot of people were skeptical of its existence. So to prove their opinion they were looking for it and a lot of them never came back. The most interesting part was that the disappearings happened quite periodically, every four years. I'm here just about the time. The rest who just proudly were back announcing they were actually right. My first thought was that maybe that time the cave wasn't supposed to be found.

Day 540

The last few days I have spent on gathering information, using all my charm to make people talk to me. The cave was a strong taboo for them. My wide knowledge wasn't enough to contain the archaeology and history of this geographic region. I was already quite deep in the forest, so I didn't want to go back for extra research on this. It could take me a lot of time and the next chance to take a closer look was about to happen in four years.

However there were some people who would share secrets with me, after signing the agreement, I wouldn’t intend of course. Like I would really share the fame and money I get from the discovery, also whatever it could be, it belongs to the world’s knowledge resources.

They were talking about some anomalies happening around the cave, like the air heavily rippling, which reminded them of a kind of illusion. Voices calling, strange magnetism around that time. Being in a group was the only thing that let them not to submit to that strange temptation. Whoever decided to go there alone could say goodbye to life already. At least they were smart enough to know that I might be interested in something else, so for extra money the meeting could be arranged for tomorrow. I agreed.

Day 541

It was worth the rest of my money. My fortune might be gone, but I believe it will pay off with great interest. I was taken to the old man living in the skirts of the village. Young men with whom I had signed an agreement told me that he has no name and one day he just showed up instead of the one living there before. The same had happened with the previous one too, according to their ancestors. He seemed like another madman, so the villagers just took basic care of him, bringing him food and other essentials.

They also admitted that the old man was just telling some crazy stories about the old city, but I shouldn't believe them, however in their opinion it could be interesting for me. The more details I got the more I was feeling that way. Especially when I saw a mud hud and the man sitting cross-legged in front of it holding a long stick with some weird signs engraved on it. His wrinkled skin covered slim, bronzed body, a white hair and long beard in the same colour. Eyes closed so for a moment I thought the old man died, but his chest was moving lightly and steadily. With the first impression he didn't seem like a crazy person when he was gazing at me, a few seconds later with spark and intelligence. However his behavior indicated that his mind is not stable.

What hit me the most was his voice, in my estimation, full of longing for something he lost and probably would never get back. And the story he told me went like this. A long time ago… He started using these words which got me angry from the beginning. I hated this kind of expression because it was so general. I needed specifics, are we talking about decades, centuries or millenniums?! Feeling how time is flying is also subjective.

Anyway it all started with a valley, where the great city was built, with a temple reaching the heaven, so the One could descend to his people and feast with them. My experience told me that this description was too hyperbolic, however my intuition was arguing that it might be true, but still quite unbelievable. Also I couldn’t remind myself of any information about a ‘civilization’ living in this region. My heart was beating crazily with excitement, so hard to hide. Founding a lost civilization was good enough for my genius to achieve. The old man’s story was full of details, he mentioned how people were happy and the sound of their language resonated between the trees. It reminded me of Arkadia, and it could really be the flight of imagination, but not with those eyes, which definitely didn’t belong to the lunatic. Quite the opposite he knew that he got me hooked up and ceased the story the moment when they were at the peak of their development. I am supposed to go there tomorrow.

Day 542

I decided to go back alone, and that’s probably what the old man expected from me, as his mouth shaped into a smirk, as soon as he noticed me. I saw myself in the small mirror I had and it was really visible that I stayed up all night thinking about everything I heard. My conclusion was that it has to be connected somehow. And when a short sleep finally came, I was dreaming about the city full of treasures I am showing to the world and claiming all the most important prizes. I knew it was more like a prediction of the future rather than a silly dream.

My first question concerned the reason why this civilization stopped existing, if they were doing so well. The answer was simple: thieves and frauds, who pretended to be friends just to lay a hand on everything that was precious to the people of the city. The technology, resources, goods and residents, not with simple kidnapping but through manipulation and faking love. The storyteller got angry while sharing this part, like he would stand up any moment and protect the city. However moments later he would again behave like the madman, fully absorbed in his imagination's creations. I still believe these ideas didn't come from nowhere.

The not really kind coexistence couldn't last long, but it took a while until the danger showed up its true face. The city was overrun, a lot of inhabitants killed, the buildings destroyed and survivors left with guilt, sadness, fear and regret for sticking to the peace instead of learning how to fight back in case. They begged the One to protect them and what's left from their home. So he did.

After the building tension and playing with my excitement and impatience the old man just finished the story the worst way possible. “And?!” I remember I screamed in disbelief. That made him laugh with sympathy, like he couldn't believe how anyone could get so immersed into the madman’s story. I left immediately, but not ready yet to give up.

Day 543

After another sleepless night I came back again. The old man laughed again seeing me, but I still felt like I was being observed and analyzed. Yesterday I found the recording device, the battery was barely holding up, but it was enough for me to record the short conversation between us to write it down precisely.

“How did the One protect the city and people?” I asked frankly.

“I think you already had an answer you came to confirm,” he laughed.

“He hid them.”

“If you say so”

“Is that mysterious cave an entrance to this place?” A spark in his eyes was visible for a moment and the hysterical laugh resonated in the air moments later.

“And they think I am the crazy one.”

Enraged, I packed myself and tried to find someone who could take me to the cave, but no one was eager to do so. Even money couldn’t convince them. The villagers just pointed out that they warned me and that’s where their role ends, especially in the time of the cycle. If I am willing to probably die, be our guest, but do it on your own. I reminded myself that I was the one being genius there and the great discovery is my destiny, so nothing could stop me.

Day 553

I have written that nothing could stop me, but I guess the rain forest actually held that power, additionally it was pretty willing to also take my precious life and deprived the world of one of the greatest humanistic minds. For ten days I was looking for the right place, fighting to preserve my sanity, but I haven’t doubted even once in my goal. The worst feeling during that time I would describe like someone was playing with me or even more - testing me. One thing I knew, whatever it would be, I was worthy.

The voices were coming from every direction, both tempting and mocking. I was twisting or going round in circles, maybe both. One moment I was sure I had seen the same tree, a bit later not so much. Even when I marked them, it seemed for me like it was a trace of my mark. There were moments I almost doubted and gave up, ‘almost’ I emphasize. I experienced Fata Morgana a few times and it reminded me of it. Happy to think that I see the cave already, just to realize, a blink later, it was never there to begin with. Everything like they were telling me. These ten days went like a bad dream with feeling off all the time.

Until today, when it suddenly materialized in the corner of my eye. However I am looking at it for a few minutes, and with every sentence noted it’s still there. I got a little suspicious and didn’t rush there like an idiot, suspecting a trap. I need my mind rested both for not to fall if there is one waiting for me and to remember as much as possible when the discovery will finally happen.

Day 554

I should expect nightmares, but I have never had vivid ones like those, which hunted me at night. Hands grabbing me and pulling towards the cave. But I haven't moved an inch since I fell asleep. Uncomfortable, but not enough to stop, because the cave also didn't change its place. The time has come, the date will be remembered. I lost track of the calendar a while ago, but it won't be a problem when I get back and just count the days.

The excitement cannot leave my body, I am still shaking. It's amazing! Weirdly the camera I had with me suddenly stopped working, even though it should be fine, I prepared it well. Nevermind, I will bring the specialist later, to document it all. For now I am only writing my first impressions. My destiny was waiting for me, it's truly a great discovery, who else could be worthy enough to make one! I will write more tomorrow, as I calm down a bit.