Caral - 2. Chapter 2

Breakfasts were wolfed down and before long they were back at their site. Chatting back and forth as they sifted dirt, “I’d like to uncover an artifact that I could take back to the University to study. I know that the other students will be jealous they didn’t come along.”

“I think they will be jealous if you just showed them a picture of what we have uncovered so far.”

The two boys worked all morning and nothing new was uncovered. They weren’t dismayed at not finding anything, their expectations were still running high. When they returned to the tent for a late lunch, Carlos noted that Dr. Viego was looking at the site plan.

“According to ancient literature, these early settlements involved caves. Many of the people of that time, supposedly lived in caves till they were able to build cities. Some of the oldest caves in Peru are located in this area. Before we leave John, we should check the area for caves.”

The two boys continued to work on their mounds. “I was thinking, look at that piece of stone we uncovered, it has a slight curve to it. Let’s measure that curvature and see if we could draw a circle”

“Do you suppose it could be part of an enclosure?”

“It could be, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The boys measured the width of the stone, then they marked off a short distance and placed a peg an equidistance from the stone at a spot which would be the center of the stone. Now they measured using a string from the peg to the center and then did the same thing to the ends of the stone. With these measurements, they showed that the stone had a very slight curvature. “If this is part of a circle, we should be able to draw the circle. Let’s tell your dad and Dr. Viego.”

Needless to say this discovery shone a new light on the dig. “John, the boys might have found something significant. We could draw a circle with these calculations.”

Toby and Carlos basked in the comments of Dr. Viego.

That evening after drinking a little too much congratulatory wine, two slightly tipsy boys ended up on the tent floor in each other’s arms. What Toby and Carlos had been thinking about, without common sense prevailing, were soon kissing. As one would expect in a such a situation, the kissing led to exploration of a different source. It didn’t take long for fingers to drift downward. There they found a different pole, one that was warm and hard. Testing the pole they move their fingers to the top and found it wet. Instinctively, they put their wet fingers in their mouth. Now they had to see, rolling so that they were side, finding the pole, Toby turned 180 degrees to take a closer look. Holding the poles, they licked the top and soon they had the poles in their mouth, savoring the moisture that was being produced. For Toby, this was a new experience, however Carlos knew what would happen if this continued and soon it happened. Both boys were beyond just being excited and soon they experienced the ultimate sensation of coming into a hot mouth. Pulling aside, they both had a smile, Toby turned and planted a kiss on Carlos, soon they were swapping, not only saliva, but also the remnants of the sperm they both had enjoyed a few minutes before.

With a smile the boys fell asleep. In the morning they woke with a smile and a young man’s problem. But this morning, they remembered what happened last night, Toby looking into Carlos’s eyes, moved his hand to that hard piece of flesh. Then nature took over, for the second time the boys were treated to a warm, thick liquid.

They laid there in each other’s arms for only a few minutes, mother nature called and they had bladders that were telling them that they better get a move on or they will have an accident.

Toby was happy, he liked Carlos and he knew that Carlos liked him. His dad noticed the way they looked at each other, he knew Toby was gay and was comfortable with that. He didn’t know about Carlos and hoped that when the dig was finished Toby wouldn’t be hurt.

Two of the other boys who were working on a shallow spot uncovered a stone base, Dr. Viego with a student uncovered another stone much like the one Carlos and Toby uncovered. Between the sites uncovered. it became apparent that we were working on a wall of some sort.

Over the next two weeks, They calculated were the center of the circle would most likely be. They drew a circle and marked it so they could begin to excavate what appeared to be the base of the stone circle. They then began, independently, to confirm the circle and the wall.

As I started to dig, I noticed that I didn’t have to dig far before hitting some stone. As I moved toward my left I noticed I had to dig deeper before I hit stone. ‘Toby, what’s wrong?”

“When I dug there, I only had to go down about 6 inches to hit stone. Here I had to go down about 12 inches before I hit stone. That stone we uncovered must have been the top stone, I wonder how deep these stones are?”

“Or how high was the wall.”

At dinner that night, Toby, Carlos and the other boys discussed the wall. Each boy told what they experienced at their dig. “I think we have uncovered a walled development. It's believed that the early peoples built either high on the mountains or behind walls. There were probably some dangerous animals then, maybe the ancestors of the jaguar. We have found pictographs of animals that looked the jaguars. I suppose there were others as well.”

“I would think that they could jump over the walls, building in the mountains would be better.”

“You may be right, but this civilization is believed to be one of the oldest and that could be the cause of them vanishing.”

“It seems I read something of people living in caves. We need to think about that as well.”

Everyone went to bed with a lot on their mind. Toby and Carlos had other things on their mind.

Over the next two weeks the uncovering of stone continued. As more stone was uncovered, it was obvious a wall but the question that now needed to be determine, how far down in the ground was the base. It was known that there were many occasions where over time the wind deposited soil upon a base. Considering the back of the circle was a mountain, it is conceivable that the wind could have deposited any dust it carried in, in front of the mountain on to the perceived circle.

Toby was excited until his dad told him they would be leaving next week. The summer break seemed to go fast. Toby realized that school would be starting a week after they arrived home. He was confused, was it the dig or Carlos he’d miss the most. At the end of the week, as he started to pack he realized he’d miss Carlos more than the dig. He knew there would be more digs but not more Carlos’s.

Leaving was hard for Toby, but also for Carlos. The night before Toby would be leaving, Carlos made his feelings known to Toby. Toby had tears in his eyes as he thought about what Carlos had said, he felt the same way. What followed that evening was a lot of tears and hugs.

In the morning as Toby and his dad put their luggage in the van, Carlos and Toby said a sad goodbye. Toby’s dad knew that his son and Carlos had formed a bond. He was glad that Toby had found a companion, Carlos was a nice young man and according to Dr. Viego was smart as well, a perfect companion for Toby.

On the plane ride home, Toby was quiet, a drastic change from the trip to Peru. “I thought the dig went well. You and Carlos surprised us with your discovery and the way you determined the possibility of a circle. I’m anxious to get back to see what else we can uncover about this civilization. Maybe we can go over Christmas break.”

Toby’s smile began to grow as he thought about seeing Carlos over the Christmas break. He was beginning to feel better.

School started, Toby was studying archeology, his goal was to follow in his dad’s footsteps. His time in Peru presented a lot of fodder for his required papers. Those students in his class were a little envious of his summer experiences. The grad students that accompanied him didn’t help the situation. Every chance they had, they would meet with Toby, “When are you and your dad going back? Have you heard anything from Dr. Viego?” The other students were listening which only added to their frustration and enmity. There was nothing Toby could do, this was his dad’s project.

That evening Toby told his dad about the build up of animosity among his class mates. His father hadn’t counted on the negative reaction. Giving the problem a lot of thought, he decided he would make a contest The next day, Dr. Bently met with Toby’s professor.

“John, it seems I have created problem. Toby tells me a few of his classmates are a little jealous of him going to Peru with me. As you know I took four boys besides Toby. I’m planning on spending Christmas break back at the dig. With your concurrency, I would be willing to take your four top students with Toby and I. What do you think?”

‘If I got the University to sponsor the trip, could you take more, like my whole class?”

“How many are we taking about?”

“In Toby’s class there would be eight students who would qualify. I have a total of twelve, but three are auditing the class.”

“Let me get back to you. I need to clear this with Dr. Viego who is leading this expedition. On the surface, I don’t see any problem, we have uncovered some significant information concerning the structure of the old city. There's still quite more we need to uncover. Maybe you’d liked to go and get your hands dirty.”

“I’d like to go but unlike you, I’m married and if I went,I think I’d end up a divorced man.”

I guess in a way I’m lucky that I only have to worry about Toby, I miss my wife. She shared my enthusiasm for archeology and was great help. Toby comes by his interest in archeology from having two parents who were archeologists. I guess for that reason alone I’m glad he and Carlos have hit it off.