Lost Gold of Montezuma

by Gavin Chappell

CONQUISTADORS AT THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH! 'So what did happen to this treasure?' 'The Indians say that they first came to the city of Mexico from a place far to the north, in the desert,' the friar said. 'Chicomoztoc it's called, the Place of the Seven Caves. They climbed up from a land beneath the ground and migrated by stages to the Valley of Mexico. The priest who Doña Isabella's father spoke to said that, before the final destruction of Tenochtitlan, seven temple priests took the treasure into the deserts of the north and concealed it deep within Chicomoztoc, in Tollan, the chief of their ancestors' subterranean cities.' 'My father searched the desert for the entrance to the caves,' Doña Isabella added, 'but he never found them. It was his fruitless searching that bankrupted our family. He returned to Spain an impoverished man and soon our fortunes foundered. Now that we are destitute, my brother has taken up this foolish quest in his turn. We will wander the sands of the desert fruitlessly, until our bones bleach white in the sun!'

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gavin Chappell spins a full-blooded action and adventure novel about one obsessed man, Don Gonzalo who seeks the fabled lost treasure of Montezuma (Motecezuma). I the beginning of of the novel, the author's main character is Don Gonzalo Hernandez De Silva, a penniless noble with a map that leads to the supposed lost treasure city of the Aztecs. He commandeers a ship and sails with the Spanish Crown's permission. The man is obsessed and he effectively cajoles, blackmails, tricks, and convinces a varied group of people to follow him. Among these are Fray Lorenzo, the Captain General, Dona Isabella Hernandez De Silva, Jack Dawson, Sir Roger Norris, Pedro Deguello, Gomez Delgado, and Esteban Gordo. This unlikely collection of people along with the ship's crew follow Don Gonzalo onto the mainland of north of New Spain (the western shores of the Gulf of Mexico). In the quest for the treasure, they fight sea battles with the Spanish Navy, indigenous Indians, hungry caimans, and each other.

Jack Dawson is the main character whose independence and youth spur him onto challenge leadership and the norm. He is rebellious and young so that also makes him stand out as an anti-hero. His youth betrays him as his heart falls for two women, one being Dona Isabella and the other, an Aztec princess with designs on the young Jack. Jack's flaws coupled with his dignity make him a complex character who is integral in the development of the tale. he must raise his voice and claim what he wants and not what benefits the plans of others.

Their real adventure begins once they follow the map's directions into a large cave in the northern desert of New Spain (modern us-Mexico border) within which they discover a subterranean sea and islands in a mangrove swamp. The group encounters flying lizards, more caimans, over-sized sea life, a giant mushroom forest, volcanoes, and a race of giant cannibals - the Tzucollixeco. It is Jack who while separated from the main group stumbles across the Tzucollixeco and captive normal-sized humans (the Chicomoztec Indians - Aztec refugees from Aztlan). One is a young woman named Princess Zihuatl befriends him and informs him of the generations-old battle between her people and the giants. She and Jack become lovers much to her joy and Jack's chagrin for he desires another -Dona isabella.

It is at this point that the author adds historical and mythical aspects to his novel. Zihuatl is from the city of Tollan, one of the Seven cities of Gold ruled by King Achcautli, descendant of the Mexica who left Aztlan, mythical birthplace of the future Aztecs. His nephew, Prince Yaotl serves as his envoy who accompanies Sir Roger into the land of the Tzucollixeco. The Chicomoztec welcome the Spaniard explorers as envoys of their gods to the point that they consider Sir Roger as a revered god. The lost city of Tollan itself adds to the fantasy tale. From its location on the island of Caxtillan Tlapalpopozon, it dominates the subterranean world and is the center of Aztec culture. The city has temples to the Aztec's deities, chiefly, Teotlipoca, the sun god and Quetzocoatl, the feathered serpent god; practices worship rituals and the ballcourt game dedicated to their gods, Adding to the cultural and mythical depth to the novel, there is even a mythical creature, Tlaminani, the Feathered Serpent of Aztec lore. Finally, the small band of adventurers finds itslef embroiled in a major battle between the Tzucollixeco and the Chicomoztec.

On the human interpersonal level, the author adds several twists. First, there is a growing tension between Sir Roger and Jack. An unexpected love triangle is also part of this novel. Finally, there is Don Gonzalo's voracious greed for the gold and silver which is seen everywhere in the city. The religion of Christianity becomes central to the tale and is used as a weapon by Don Gonzalo in his quest for riches. The specter of an all-out war looms and all are in peril. But, fate has a different plan with only two surviving. Their exit from the subterranean world far to the north of where they entered it secures that the lost world will stay as such.

Although the book is a mere 280 pages, it is an immersive, harrowing, and unpredictable tale that spirits one to a long lost time. This fantasy and adventure tale has an intense premise with a good hook, flawless execution, and full-blooded characters. I had never read any books by Mr. Chappell but will do so after reading this exciting and original adventure novel.