What Eats the Sun and Moon
It was months of work through the caves just to stand here. Beyond that, it had been fifteen years since Sven set about trying to discover the lost treasure of the Oa’Koto’kiti people. Three times various teams he’d hired had given up and quit the job. Well, those students weren’t going to get a reference from him. The current team was comprised of students who hadn’t heard about the previous expeditions and locals, the descendants of the people whose work he was trying to discover.
Things were finally looking up. It had taken quite a lot of digging, but he had discovered the caves which the natives carved on. That had caused a sensation. Sven was on the cover of magazines worldwide. There was even talk about him becoming Time’s Person of the Year. Of course, there were natives who wanted to take over the site to “protect” their heritage. But Sven had gotten the government to give him the rights to any discovery for a full year. He had to drive past protesters every day, but that didn’t matter. Besides, the intricate carvings which covered the cave walls was nothing compared to the treasure which legend spoke of. They could have the cave, once he had the gold.
That was the real treasure, the reason he was still bothering with the dig. You don’t spend fifteen years getting mocked and then just turn over your discovery. No, for eleven months Sven had been digging through the caves, searching for the location of the Crypt of Kings. Let them have the caves, but they would never get the treasure. That was going to be his. His team was out at the bars today. They thought he was being a good boss, but in reality he was going to take the gold and run. The students would get letter of recommendation and their pay. What else could they want.
He stood before the great circular seal. Legend said it was the prison for a dark god. Sven knew a misdirect when he saw it. The curved Knife of the Gods in his hand, he pricked his finger and smeared the blood against the stone, all the while proclaiming that he would never serve What Eats the Sun and Moon.
At once the stone rolled away. Sven gave a whoop which echoed into a growing darkness. He was right, he had always been right.
Flashlight in hand, he stepped into the hidden vault. The light bounced of gold, more gold than he could have ever imagined. It went on forever. Sven picked his way through more gold than he could ever move himself. Maybe if he brought it out in pieces.
The path he was on suddenly cleared. In the darkness there was an altar, catching the light and turning it red. A ruby. Sven couldn’t resist. He ran there and ran his hand over the altar. His hand stung from the cut.
“Blood on the sacrificial table. I will eat him.” The voice filled the room.
“Who’s there,” Sven shouted into the darkness.
“What Eats the Sun and Moon. You are in my prison and have given your blood to me. I will eat once more.” Sven screamed as mouths descended from the darkness.
Michael Frutig 