Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

Andean Peru - 1978

The excavation was done. Now it was up to a more delicate touch to extract whatever treasures the earth held.

There had been two opportunities to go abroad on Council-related matters, one to South America and another to the countryside of France. Julianna's Spanish was better than her French, so she'd chosen Peru. And she'd really just been grateful to get out of England for a few months. Burying herself in work was a way to forget and to escape. That it was also rewarding made it even more worthwhile.

The day was mild, the slightest crisp breeze wafting over the campground. Julianna was watching the diggers congregating near the lip of the largest excavated pit. She didn't know what they'd find down there. Weapons, religious artifacts, scrolls. Even something as simple as a history of recorded births could be very enlightening. She knew others didn't find primitive cultures as fascinating as she did, but she had a particular field of interest.

The Watcher stepped out from beneath the sunshade when the chatter of the workmen picked up in volume. Had something already been found?

Comments

Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

Gerald looked up at the chattering group, the noise a little annoying, but the thrill of his discovery great enough to override any display of disdain. The flimsy shadecloth that had been hastily erected over the table he'd been working at was lazily flapping in the breeze, the support poles wavering, but holding position. The sieve he'd used was sitting in front of him on the table, the brushes and small hook lying in a bundle next to it. Dirt lay discarded, large lumps still in the sieve, the smaller particles having fallen away. The item that was causing the commotion lay revealed at last.

He tugged the silk kerchief from his pocket and carefully picked up the item. At first glance it looked like a smoothed pebble, colour similar to that of the dirt that had been carefully and painstakingly removed. But on closer inspection it was clear this was no ordinary pebble. The faces were smooth, how was still to be determined, but the etching into it, the face of a hooded, fanged creature, was what was making Gerald's eye twinkle with delight. "Found you!" he muttered to himself, his fingers closing around the stone for a brief moment as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the thrill of discovery.

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

"Gerald? Gerald, what did you find?"

She couldn't really see the other Watcher because he was concealed by the flapping cloth. All that was visible were the legs of his trousers. The lip of the pit crumbled a bit when she stepped towards the edge. One of the diggers reached out to grasp her arm. She barely noticed it.

There was a ladder leading down, and Julianna minded her footing as she descended. She'd worked with Hargreaves numerous times in the past, and if he didn't quite share her passion for the subject, he was a qualified professional in his own right and she respected him. The female half of the pair stopped short of invading his personal space.

"What have you uncovered?"

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

"Proof, Julianna, proof!" he told her, voice lowered so as not to be heard by the rest of the crew, or the diggers standing above them. He held his hand up in front of his chest, releasing his fingers and carefully drawing the corners of the kerchief back to reveal the smooth surface and distinguishable lines etched into the face millennium earlier. "Look at it, there's no mistaking now," he added, a small air of victory in his voice. He held the item out to her, keeping it under the cover from the eyes above.

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

Julianna immediately stepped closer to Gerald, holding her cupped palms out to the other Watcher so he could place the object in her hands. The surface of it was so smooth that it looked hand-polished. Her mouth opened into a small 'O' of surprise.

"My God. It's real."

Her voice was a reverent murmur. The thing was so ugly it was beautiful. She didn't even know what the people at headquarters wanted it for. But, as the other Watcher had said, this was undeniable proof.

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

"Real indeed, and the theories, nay, the hypothesis that they existed here that long ago is not longer able to be ignored!" he said, the excitement in his voice undeniable in its vehemence. He lowered the item into her hand, moving to prevent others from seeing the item, blocking their view with his body.

"All this time they've been trying to deny they existed here, saying it was only in Mesopotamia, and everything was just heresay and wishful thinking!" Gerald pointed at the carved stone surface. "They were here, and they were recorded!" he almost hissed with intensity.

All the years he had been studying the relics, the artifacts from all over the world, Gerald had formulated a hypothesis on the origins of the creatures they had, as an organisation, fought. His burning need to know 'why' had always driven him to question things, even as a boy, to the point of driving his father to distraction. "Because I said so!" had always been a red flag to a bull with Gerald, and he had never been satisfied with accepting not knowing. Because finding out was gaining knowledge, and knowledge was power.

"They were here, and I was right!"

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

Julianna knew that Gerald saw this as vindication, but it was a different kind of satisfaction for her. It meant she'd have something to show for her work when she returned to London, and after what she perceived as her failure she felt as if she had to prove herself all over again. To live up to Mother's good name and reputation.

"Evidence of intelligent humans living here means they could have left anything behind," she told the other Watcher, keeping her voice low to cut down on the possibility of being overheard. The diggers were technically employed by the Council, but they were also laymen and as such wouldn't understand the importance of what had been found. "It might not be anything as grand as examples of writing, but proof that people actually lived here is a fine start."

If she'd been less formal, she'd have given the man a congratulatory hug. She liked and respected Gerald, and this was an amazing discovery, but she didn't stray from her usual demeanor in the field. Julianna held out her hands again to give the carving back to him. "We've done very well today."

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

Gerald's eyes darted up to Julianna's face and he nodded. "Very well, indeed," he agreed. The item in his hands was telling them so much more, the very face itself, the hooded, fanged creature one he had seen carved into the walls of pyramids, into the lintels of burial chambers, and now, on the other side of the world, in Norte Chico, Peru, a civilization believed to be one of the first, independently developed civilizations of the world, was evidence that the 'creatures' may not have been quite so unique after all. His hypotheses had been viewed with critical eyes, those who knew him well, knew he was not given to flights of fancy, but had found it difficult to accept some of what he had presented: that the demon they knew as 'vampire' was in fact originally created by Man as a servant, through a combination of witchery and demonic collusion, to develop a race of slaves who would carry out the impossible works expected of the human workers. That the plan went awry when the creatures realised they could in fact defeat their masters, and that Slayers were created to combat the scourge that then crept across the face of the planet.

What he now held was proof that they existed in a corner of the world that had been considered unvisited by anyone or anything from other civilizations, had grown autonomously, and developed without any input from outside sources.

He couldn't help but look back down at the smooth carved surface, nestled in the kerchief in his hands. "It is very important we ensure this is presented at the Council meeting, and be seen by no others," he murmured. His head turned slightly as his eyes darted upwards, ensuring that none on the edge could see what he held. "This must be preserved," he added in a low insistent tone, "and protected."

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

"I'll trust you to keep it safe. I'm translating some more of the records we received in London, that might lead us to a different site. Since this excursion was largely based on the theoretical existence of human life, much of the writing is centered around hyperbole. But at least now we know we aren't dealing with empty theories."

Julianna was vaguely aware of Gerald's ideas about vampires and their origins. Watchers talked amongst themselves to share information and gain new insight. Professional courtesy kept her from telling the man she wasn't sure he was on solid ground about his theory. Far be it for her to question someone else's hypothesis. Especially when she was in a bit of a professional crisis.

"Documenting this is of extreme importance," she told the other Watcher, gesturing beyond the pit to where the campground's tents were situated. "I'm maintaining a log of daily activities as the dig progresses. You're the archaeologist, so do you think we should continue in this spot or explore other options?"

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

"This area has shown the most promise, and has given us results. From what I can see of the stratus, and the condition of this piece, I believe this area holds the most immediate promise," he replied, glancing across at the other side of the excavation where there was another shade cloth strung between poles and a young man had his back to them, so engrossed in his work he didn't even hear the cries that had gone up. "I will tell Giles to continue there, and have Maaseen return to this corner," he decided. "Let me know how you go with the translations. Now we have this evidence it puts a completely different light on the findings you make. There is still no evidence of any type of ceramic, or any form of artwork, so those records are crucial."

He gave her a smile. "I know you will find the information if it is there to be found, Julianna."

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

The compliment pleased her, and it showed. She wasn't sure if Gerald knew about the recent events in her life, or how much he knew if he knew at all, but being told that she was still competent at her job was valuable to her. It helped shore her up in this time of self-doubt.

"I'm sure you'll get proper credit when we return to London," she told him with a smile that was a bit warmer. "This is your discovery too, and you were the one who was convinced that there was something to be found. You should be very proud."

The sun had shifted while the Watchers were talking, and Julianna asked, "Will you be coming topside for dinner? I know you'd probably prefer to work while the light is still strong, but December means the days are very short. Should I prepare a plate for you in the mess tent?"

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

"Thank you, Julianna, but I'll wait until later. My appetite for more discovery is far outweighing that for food," he told her, glancing back at the work table he'd been at all morning. "As you say, the light is only good for another few hours, and I prefer to work with it, than the lanterns. Mistakes can be made, and there is no room for any of those in this place."

He was indeed excited, and pleased, but he also wanted to find more, as the indication he'd had from that one piece was already giving him reason to try and uncover as much as possible before they had to hand the dig over to the Peruvian government. The permission they'd managed to coerce out of the officials was only carte blanche for a very limited time, and the others were already starting to make noises about being allowed to commence their work.

"I will join you for supper," he added, "and perhaps with some good fortune, with some more good news."

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

"Of course. I know we're on a schedule. The government has been hovering over us since we started digging. I'm surprised they haven't insisted we cease operations already."

Julianna peered briefly over Gerald's shoulder at his workspace, then at the sun's new position in the sky. She could read by lamplight, which meant she could translate more of the records after night had fallen. But his work was limited to the daylight hours, and the orange-ish ball of the sun was edging ever closer to the horizon. That meant she should let him get back to his duties.

"I'll leave you to it, then," she told the other Watcher. "I might not sleep tonight because of the excitement of this discovery, so don't be surprised if I get a fair portion of deciphering done overnight."

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[ghargreaves]

Gerald gave her an appreciative smile, hoping she would indeed find something of value in the translations. When they had received the historical documents he had tried to make sense of them, but they were way out of his league, and he was pleased she had agreed to come out to study them. If anyone could decipher the old texts, that appeared to be almost a set of history scrolls, and find any reference to the cultures that had inhabited this desolate place, then Julianna would.

And it was a good distraction for her.

"I will see you at supper," he replied, turning back to his workbench, and placing his prized piece gently on the surface.

Re: Diggin' In The Dirt

[st_clare]

The ladder leading up creaked beneath Julianna's weight as she ascended, and one of the diggers took her arm to assist her when she reached the top. There were only a few more hours of daylight left, and food was being prepared in the mess tent. She believed the featured dish for tonight was some sort of stew.

She would eat, then speak with Gerald once he was topside. If there was something else to be found, he'd discover it. This was turning out to be a worthy trip.