Adventure in the Ruins

Andy leaped over a mud puddle and pressed on rocks at the base of the ancient ruins. He was hoping to activate a secret passageway to find lost treasure. Eva stood by, twirling a pen between her fingers and studying the small group of people leaving the gift shop. She motioned for Andy to follow her inside.

The kids were waiting to tour the ruins of Machu Picchu, an ancient city in the mountains of Peru. On the flight to South America days earlier, the two had reread all three books in the Secret Digger Society series.

Now, Andy was hunting for hidden treasure, while Eva inspected the people they encountered. Together, they were planning to expose an evil plot to hide stolen artifacts somewhere on this very mountain.

Dad sat on a bench in the giftshop looking green. After riding the bus up a steep, curvy, mountain road and being delayed for over an hour by a small rockslide, the altitude got to him. He’d already barfed. Twice.

The only other people in the gift shop were Mom, the ticket agent, and Mr. Jones, an elderly man who walked with a cane.

Mr. Jones, Eva jotted in her notepad. Harmless.

“There just aren’t any more tour group slots left today,” the ticket agent told Mom. He held up a hand. “Hold on. Let me try one last thing.” He picked up a walkie talkie.

Ticket agent, Eva wrote. Friend?

Andy peered over Eva’s shoulder. “Whatta we got?”

“Still gathering intelligence,” Eva replied.

Just then, a woman wearing a green tour-guide shirt and holding a walkie talkie huffed into the gift shop. She marched to the ticket agent, and they began whispering furiously.

“Andy.” Eva nodded toward the suspicious conversation.

“On it!” Andy pulled up his hoodie and went into stealth mode, pretending to look at ponchos as he sneaked closer and closer. After a moment, he sped back to Eva.

“The ticket guy found a tour we can join!”

“Really?” Eva whipped her notepad back out. Ticket agent = Friend.

“But the tour-guide lady is not happy about it,” Andy said. “She said her tour is already behind because of the rain, and she’s not paid to babysit!” Andy clutched his heart. “Do you think she’s part of the evil plot?”

Eva made another note. Tour Guide = Bad guy?

The woman in the green tour-guide shirt gathered the Wanders and Mr. Jones. “My name is Dr. Alessandra, and I usually give tours to archeologists only, but today, I will also have—you.”

She looked at Mr. Jones’s cane and Dad’s green face. “Everyone will have to keep up. No exceptions.” She glared at Eva and Andy. “There will be no running or shouting—”

“Ma’am?” Andy raised his hand.

“—or straying off the path.”

Andy tapped his pocket. “Is it okay if I bring—”

“This way!” Dr. Alessandra charged through the gift shop door, leading the Wanders and Mr. Jones to the small tour group awaiting her. She then led them into the ruins of Machu Picchu at breakneck speed.

She then led them into the ruins of Machu Picchu at breakneck speed.

Eva leaned toward her brother. “What were you trying to ask her about?”

Andy tapped his pocket again. “I have a cool photo prop from book two.”

Eva paused. What could Andy possibly have from book two? Before she could ask, she noticed that Dad and Mr. Jones were struggling to keep up.

“This archeological site has over 3,000 stone steps.” Dr. Alessandra pointed to a stone staircase.

“Dr. Alessandra?” Eva waved.

“Let’s climb!” Dr. Alessandra called over her shoulder.

Andy scowled. “She didn’t listen to you, either. She’s definitely one of the bad guys.”

Mom was so busy taking photos, she didn’t notice when Eva and Andy paused at the base of the stairs so Dad and Mr. Jones could catch up.

“You kids are missing the tour,” Mr. Jones said.

“Dr. Alessandra’s going too fast,” Eva said.

Dad chuckled weakly. “She’s a speedy one, isn’t she?”

“Careful.” Andy pointed to patches of mud. “These steps are still wet from the rain.”

As they kept time with Mr. Jones’ pace, Mom came back. “There you all are. Dr. Alessandra’s waiting with the rest of the group—oh, never mind. Here she comes.”

Art by David Leonard

Dr. Alessandra was stomping down the stairs toward them in rage. “Tours must stay together! I can’t believe I had to come all the way back down and—augh!” She shrieked as her foot hit a slick patch of mud.

Mom hurried to Dr. Alessandra, who sat clutching her ankle.

Mr. Jones thumped up the steps. “May I?” he asked, pointing to Dr. Alessandra’s foot with his cane. “I may not have a doctorate in archaeology, but I am a medical doctor.”

Dr. Alessandra moaned, then nodded.

Mr. Jones inspected the injury. “It’s a mild sprain.” He looked at Dr. Alessandra sympathetically. “You should wrap it and ice it.”

“Here.” Andy reached into the pocket of his hoodie and tugged out a white pillowcase. On the front, he had painted a black shovel and pickax forming an X over a mountain. “Can you use this?”

Eva blinked. “Is that—”

“Yep! It’s a flag with the crest of the Secret Digger Society. I made it from an old pillowcase! It would’ve looked so cool in our pictures.”

Dad handed Andy his Swiss army knife, and Andy cut the pillowcase into strips for Mr. Jones to wrap Dr. Alessandra’s ankle.

Eva leaned toward Mom. “Dr. Alessandra was so rude. She doesn’t deserve their kindness.”

Mom smiled. “But Jesus told us to love our neighbors, even the rude ones. All people are made in God’s image and are precious to him.”

Eva grabbed her notebook and wrote, All People = Made in God’s image.

The men helped Dr. Alessandra to her feet, and Mr. Jones handed her his cane. “I guess now everyone will have to take it slow.” He winked at her. “No exceptions.”

Machu Picchu is located in southern Peru.

What’s the Point?

Old or young, sick or healthy, rich or poor, fast or slow, educated or not, every life is precious because we are all uniquely made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). As his image bearers, we need to treat all humans with dignity and respect, even those who are different from us.