Part One: The Call of the Desert

Elbie Gimble was a boy who loved the desert. He saw the big, dry empty spaces as beautiful and special. It was a very different place from busy cities or green forests. He had spent many days exploring the red rocks of Sedona and the huge Mojave Desert with his grandfather, Lazlo. Elbie felt like every grain of sand, rock, and desert shrub he’d come across held an old story, a secret just waiting to be found.

 

This feeling followed Elbie and his grandfather to a port city in Peru called Callao. The city was full of loud noises and the smell of the sea, which was very different from the quiet farms and woodlands they knew back home. They got off their ship—an old tramp steamer—bursting with anticipation of fun and adventure.

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But they weren’t there for a vacation. Three weeks before, a special message had come from an old friend of Lazlo’s, Dr. Toribio Mejía Xesspe. Dr. Xesspe (pronounced SESS-pey), was an archaeologist, a scientist who studied ancient people and their civilizations. He was working deep in the Nazca Desert and had run into a problem. He needed Lazlo’s help right away. Lazlo told Elbie that whatever Dr. Xesspe had found was sure to be very interesting.

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The journey from the crazy seaport to the heart of the Nazca Desert was a steady change. The bright ocean coast slowly gave way to drier, dustier plains. They drove through small towns where houses were made of mud bricks. People were busy everywhere. Women in colorful clothes bought and sold food and other goods. Men in big hats carried out their daily chores. Children laughed and ran and played in the dirt. The warm air smelled like roasting corn and sweet cookies.

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As they got closer to their destination, the air became hotter, dryer, and there were fewer plants. Finally, they had reached the desert. It was a giant, flat emptiness with sand and rocks as far as they could see. As boring as the desert might have looked to some, Elbie and his grandfather were excited to be there. They had come to a place where old secrets were hidden, just waiting to be discovered.

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The old truck they’d picked up in town kicked up a long trail of dust. In the distance, they saw tents and a tall radio tower that grew closer with every passing second. They had arrived at the archaeological site.

 

Dr. Xesspe was waiting for them when Lazlo pulled the truck to a stop. He had a kind smile on his face and waved to them. “Bienvenidos mis amigos to one of the driest places on Earth!” he said in a rough, excited voice. “My team has been here for months, trying to figure out these strange lines in the ground. I first found them while I was out here hiking.” He pointed to a line of rocks about three feet wide that shrank into the far distance. “They are everywhere!” he said. He explained that people who used to live there built amazing spiral water tunnels, but these lines were a mystery. “Are they old roads? Or fences for animals? No sé, but we want to find out!”

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Then, Dr. Xesspe’s voice became quiet and worried. “Lately, our work has been difficult. There have been strange things happening.” He took off his straw hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a bandana. “The workers are scared. They talk about lights that appear at night, floating above the desert. They look like stars, but they move. They start in the hills, then drift overhead and disappear over the ocean. They have scared almost everyone away. Besides me and my niece, only two other workers have dared to stay.”

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That night, as the sun went down, the desert grew cold. Everyone sat around a roaring campfire. One of the workers played a Peruvian flute, and its soft, haunting notes filled the air. Elbie watched the fire, feeling a strange kind of excitement. For the most part, no one spoke. After enjoying a quiet meal of stewed potatoes, vegetables and fish, Lazlo and Dr. Xesspe spoke quietly, talking over old times. Sofia, Dr. Xesspe’s twenty-year-old niece, and Elbie challenged one another with riddles. Because Sofia was so very pretty, though, Elbie found it difficult to think and wasn't doing so well in their game.

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It was late into the night when everyone decided there would be no mysterious lights that night and that it was time for bed. As Elbie finally laid his head down to sleep, he didn't think about the strange lights. Instead, as sleep took him, he dreamed of the lines in the sand. In his dream, they weren’t just lines. They were bright waylines, pulsing with energy, and they seemed to sing a song he couldn’t hear. He saw shapes he couldn’t quite see clearly, like animals, that were a part of a huge, living picture. He woke up suddenly. A new idea was in his head: What if the lines themselves weren’t the riddle, but rather how to see them was? What if they were looking at the lines all wrong? He had a feeling he was on to something, he just didn’t know what.

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Part Two: A Different Perspective

The next day, Dr. Xesspe led Elbie and Lazlo across the hot desert. “These are just a few of the smaller lines,” Dr. Xesspe said, pointing to a shallow ditch full of stones running along the ground. “They are mostly straight and very long, and we don’t know why they are here.” He also showed them an old underground water tunnel, or puquios, that the people long ago had built. “The Nazca people were very smart,” he said. “But the lines are a real mystery.”

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Lazlo was quiet, which was not like him. He looked out at the far-away hills, not at the lines on the ground. Elbie, however, was already busy. He took out his field notebook and pencil to draw a tough little cactus and a black scorpion taking advantage of the small shade it provided.

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Suddenly, they heard a loud engine. A bright red biplane soared overhead, making two lazy passes before it landed nearby, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. “That’s Captain Esteban with our supplies!” Dr. Xesspe shouted, waving.

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As Captain Esteban climbed out of the cockpit and began unloading crates, Elbie looked from the long lines on the ground to the plane and back again. His thoughts from last night suddenly popped into his head. He ran back to the group. “Dr. Xesspe! What if we looked at these lines from up in the air? From an airplane, we might see something different!”

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Lazlo, who had been strangely quiet, suddenly stiffened. “Nonsense, Elbie,” he interrupted, a bit too quickly. “The ground is where true archaeological discovery happens. The air offers nothing but a fleeting glimpse.”

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But Dr. Xesspe's eyes grew wide. “That’s a brilliant idea!” he said. “I’ve never thought of that! But … I’m afraid of heights,” he added with an embarrassed smile.

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Captain Esteban, overhearing the conversation, chimed in, “Happy to take you up, Dr. Flores, or anyone else, for a reasonable fare. Just ferrying supplies today, but always enjoy a scenic flight.”

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Since Dr. Xesspe wouldn’t go, Lazlo sighed and agreed. He put Elbie on his lap in the co-pilot’s seat. Lazlo put on goggles, and Elbie wore an oversized leather helmet that made him look like a toad. The engine roared to life, and soon after, the plane lifted into the sky, leaving Dr. Xesspe and the camp shrinking into the distance below.

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From the air, the desert looked like a giant, blank sand-colored canvas. At least it did at first. Lazlo stared straight ahead, but Elbie leaned forward, his eyes glued to the ground. As the plane flew higher, Elbie gasped. “Opa! Look! That looks like a hummingbird! And over there, a spider! The lines are actually giant pictures!”

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Captain Esteban just saw more desert, but Elbie was full of excitement. When they landed, he practically tumbled out of the plane. “Dr. Xesspe, you won’t believe it! They’re not just lines, they’re pictures! Many of them look like animals. From the sky, they are so clear!”

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Dr. Xesspe was amazed. “Pictures? Animals? This is an incredible discovery!”

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As they talked, Lazlo kept trying to change the subject. He suggested maybe the lines were old roads or marks for water, trying to make everyone forget about the pictures from the sky. But no one noticed his strange behavior. They were all too excited about Elbie’s discovery.

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As the sun went down, Captain Esteban flew back to Nazca town, promising to return in a week. Dinner was made, the aroma of roasting meat and simmering spices filling the air, and as the last light faded, everyone settled in, waiting for night to fall, and for the mysterious lights to return.​

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Part Three: The Lights in the Sky

Night came to the desert camp. The air cooled down, and the sky turned dark blue. Everyone was quiet at dinner. The excitement from the day was gone, replaced by the slow passing of time. Dr. Xesspe kept looking at the sky. Lazlo Gimble was also quiet, staring into the fire with a tight look on his face that Elbie didn’t notice.

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“Did you really see animals, Elbie?” Sofia asked.

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Elbie nodded, full of excitement. “Yes! A huge monkey, a dog, and a bird! They’re drawn into the ground, and you can only see them from a plane.” He looked at his grandfather for support.

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Lazlo cleared his throat. “They’re just shapes, dear boy,” he said. “Your mind just sees animals in them. It’s called pareidolia—when one sees familiar things in random patterns.” He gave a weak smile, but he didn’t look at Elbie.

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Dr. Xesspe didn’t agree. “The fact that these pictographs can only be seen from the air is a huge discovery, Lazlo. It means the people who made them knew things we didn’t know they did, like geometry and surveying. But why would they do it?”

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No one had an answer. The mystery of the lines felt even bigger now. The team got ready for the night, setting up a camera to try and get a picture of the mysterious lights if they appeared.

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Elbie sat with Lazlo, drawing the shapes he had seen in his field notebook. Lazlo watched him quietly, with a strange look on his face.

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The air became still and cold as the moon rose in the sky, casting its pale light on the desert sands. The only sounds were the whisper of the wind and the distant shriek of a screech-owl. Elbie stifled a huge yawn, determined to stay awake. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling the muscles in his shoulders relax, and froze. A small, glowing orange light appeared far away. Elbie could see it wasn’t a star, or a distant campfire. It moved slowly from the hills. It was a perfect, round ball of light, and it made no sound. Soon, four more appeared, moving together like dancers. The others around the fire saw them as well.

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Dr. Xesspe dropped his binoculars in shock. “Madre mía,” he whispered. Sofia, sitting in her chair wrapped in blankets, gasped. Even Lazlo stared, his mouth open in surprise. Elbie was mesmerized. The lights were exactly as Dr. Xesspe had said, and they were beautiful, strange, and completely alien. Or were they? Elbie bit his lip and furrowed his brow.

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“Opa?” Elbie asked, staring at the distant pinpricks of light.

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“What is it?” Lazlo asked dreamily.

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“Do those … ” Elbie raised a lazy finger toward the lights. “ … look familiar to you?”

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After a long silence, Lazlo finally replied, “Actually, my boy, they do.”

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The winds picked up, and the lights sped across the sky, shrinking into the distance until they disappeared over the far-off Pacific Ocean. A heavy silence fell over the camp.

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Dr. Xesspe was the first to speak. “El Guardián de las Estrellas,” he said in a whisper.

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“What?” Elbie asked.

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Sofia, her voice shaking, translated. “The Guardian of the Stars. That’s what the workers call it.”

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Elbie looked at Lazlo. His grandfather’s face was pale, and he was staring at the hills where the lights had come from.

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“We need to go to that spot,” Elbie said, his voice firm. “Right now! Before the sun comes up!”

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Lazlo finally looked at him. “Absolutely not, dear boy,” he said, his voice steady again. “It’s far too dangerous. We will wait until morning. In the darkness of the desert, rash actions are ill-advised.”

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But for the first time, Elbie didn’t want to listen to his grandfather. He felt a strong pull toward the hills, a feeling that the lines in the sand and the lights in the sky were something much more important than just drawings.

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Part Four: The Hills Really DO Have Eyes

The sun rose, painting the hills with colors of pink and gold. Even though Lazlo was against the idea, Elbie was still set on finding out where the mysterious lights had come from. Dr. Xesspe, who was still shaken from the night before, agreed with Elbie.

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“The boy is right, Lazlo,” Dr. Xesspe said. “We have to look into this. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

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Lazlo sighed, giving in. “Alright, but we must be very careful.” As he said it, Elbie didn’t notice the strange look in his grandfather’s eyes.

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They drove their truck toward the hills and where they had seen the lights appear the night before. It was a slow, bumpy ride. After a while, they saw a small trail of smoke rising from a hidden spot in the hills. An old trail led them into a narrow canyon and a new piece to the puzzle.

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Deeper in the canyon, they came across a small shelter made of old wood planks, rusted metal sheeting and ratty canvas tarps. The smoke they’d seen earlier was coming from a smoldering campfire near the shelter. Sitting next to the fire was an old man with a long white beard and a face full of wrinkles. He wore simple clothes that looked like the desert itself.

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“El Guardián de las Estrellas,” Dr. Xesspe whispered, full of respect.

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The old man slowly opened his eyes. They were a pale blue color. He smiled a gentle, knowing smile. “You have come,” he said in a calm, clear voice. “I knew you would. Especially the young one.” His eyes rested on Elbie, as if he knew him.

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Elbie was so surprised that he didn’t hear the old man’s words and just blurted out, “The lights! Last night! What were they?”

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The old man laughed softly. “They are signals, young one. Signals to my people. I have been waiting for them to come back for me for a very long time.” He paused, thinking, his shoulders slumping. “You … You are not my people, then. What a shame.”

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Elbie was confused. “Your people? Where are you from? And what are the lines in the desert?”

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Lazlo quickly spoke up. “Let him take his time, Elbie.” Then he asked the old man, “You’ve been here a long time, haven’t you, sir?”

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The old man looked at Lazlo for a silent moment before answering. “Too long. But my people are coming.” His gaze then shifted to Elbie. “You’ve seen the lines, young one! Why, they’re a map!”

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“A map?” Elbie repeated.

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“Yes,” the old man went on. “Left by my people a thousand seasons ago. It is very old and is hardly accurate anymore—that’s why it’s in such a bad state of repair. But it was my ancestors’ record of the journey back home.” The old man paused for many silent seconds. “A journey I am eager to make after all this time.”

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“How long have you been here?” Elbie asked in an ongoing wave of amazement.

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The old man smiled. “Too long,” he said quietly. “But my people are coming. They must have seen my signals. I send them as often as I can.”

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“You mean the sky lanterns?” Elbie asked.

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Dr. Xesspe was confused. “The what?”

 

“My grandfather and I saw them on our trip through Peking,” Elbie explained. “They’re paper lamps with a candle inside that makes them float up like a miniature hot air balloon.”

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Dr. Xesspe was shocked. “You’re telling me we were all scared of paper lanterns?”

 

“Yes,” the old man said simply. “Though I did not mean to scare you. I just want to go home.”

 

“And where is home?” Sofia asked.

 

“A faraway planet around a faraway star,” he said, sounding like it was a normal thing to say. “I’ve been away so long, I don’t remember the name.”

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Elbie looked at his grandfather, expecting to see confusion, but instead saw understanding. He decided the old man must have lost his mind. “I keep sending the signals, waiting for someone to see them. And you have!” the old man said, looking at Dr. Xesspe. “But you are not who the lights were meant for. But they will come.” He looked towards the western horizon with a sad look on his face.

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Lazlo cleared his throat. “I might know someone who could help you,” he said. “If you require it.”

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Elbie looked at his grandfather in surprise while his mind suddenly produced thoughts of helping the old man. What he could do to help. He was so preoccupied, he didn’t hear his grandfather say quietly, “His name is … Jones … and he can help get you where you need to go.”

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Elbie’s thoughts snapped back to the present and he joined the conversation, blurting out, “We can help!” he said. Everyone turned toward him. “We can launch even more lanterns tonight! Surely his people will see them then!”

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“Elbie,” Lazlo began, shaking his head.

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“YESSIREE!” the old man shouted, cutting off Lazlo’s argument. “Now, that sounds like a plan!” He shrugged at Lazlo. “Thanks for offering the help of your acquaintance, good sir, but I don’t think that will be necessary. But I will accept help to launch as many signal lights as we can!”

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Lazlo’s offer was politely refused while Elbie’s was excitedly accepted. Elbie was thrilled. He and the others made a plan to go back to the camp, radio Captain Esteban for supplies, and make as many lanterns as they could before nightfall. It was a great plan!​

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Part Five: It's Full of Stars!

The trip back to the camp was very different from the way there. Gone was any fear of the unknown, replaced by a clear purpose. Elbie was excited about his plan to help the old man. Dr. Xesspe was curious, and even Sofia showed interest in building the lanterns. But Lazlo Gimble was quiet, driving the truck with a serious look on his face.

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When they got back to the camp, Sofia shook her head, laughing a little as she explained things to the remaining workers. “Paper lanterns from a faraway planet? How crazy is that? ¡Muy loco!” The others agreed, feeling relieved that the “lights” weren’t anything scary, but also confused by the old man’s strange story.

—

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Two hours later, Captain Esteban’s plane landed, bringing the supplies. “I’ve brought the paper and candles you asked for!” he said with a smile. “Though I must admit, it was a strange request.”

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Dr. Xesspe explained the plan for a big lantern launch to help the old man. Captain Esteban chuckled. “An alien wanting a ride home with paper balloons? I’ve heard it all! But if it helps an old man,” he then lowered his voice and nodded towards Elbie. “ … or gives a boy a fun, new adventure, I’m happy to help.” He and the site workers began unloading crates full of paper, wooden sticks, candles, and glue.

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After Captain Esteban left, they all drove back to the old man’s camp in the foothills. The rest of the afternoon was busy. After instructions from the old man, Elbie took charge, and the camp became a factory for making lanterns. Lazlo helped, but he was quiet and distant. He carefully cut the wood for the frames. Dr. Xesspe studied the burn time of the candles and how long the lanterns would fly, making small adjustments to the design. Sofia and the others folded and glued the paper quickly. Elbie was everywhere, helping and feeling very excited. He imagined each lantern as a tiny message of hope sent into space. But no matter how quickly they all worked, no one could keep up with the old man, who was an expert at making sky lanterns.

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As the sun went down, hundreds of lanterns were ready. The air grew cold, and stars began to appear. The team was tired but full of hope.

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When it was almost completely dark, Elbie looked at the old man. The old man smiled and nodded. “Alright, everyone,” Elbie announced, his voice shaking a little. “Let’s get cracking!”

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One by one, they lit the lanterns and let them go. The little flames flickered inside the paper shells. They rose silently into the night sky, floating up like golden bubbles. More and more followed, becoming a stream of tiny, artificial stars.

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Elbie watched, his heart full of joy. The sight was amazing, like a new galaxy being born. Dr. Xesspe looked on with awe. Lazlo stood a little apart from everyone else, his face unreadable. Elbie noticed his grandfather’s hand clenching and unclenching, as if he were worried about something. The desert, once a quiet place, was now filled with hundreds of tiny dreams. It was one of the most beautiful sights Elbie had ever seen.

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The old man, “El Guardián,” sat by the fire, his pale blue eyes fixed on the sky. He watched each lantern with a deep, desperate hope, his lips moving in a silent prayer.

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They waited. And waited.

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The last lantern joined the cloud of lights high above them. For a moment, they hung there like a beautiful, glowing picture against the sky. Then, the wind began to push them slowly west, toward the Pacific Ocean. Time passed quickly, and their golden light grew dim. One by one, they faded into the vast darkness.

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A heavy silence fell over the camp. The only sound was a faraway cry of a desert fox. The thousands of stars Elbie had imagined were gone.

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Elbie’s shoulders drooped. The light in his eyes, which had been so bright, was now gone, replaced by disappointment. He looked at Dr. Xesspe, who shook his head sadly. The old man, still by the fire, watched the empty sky. His shoulders also slumped, and a deep, silent sadness came over him.

Lazlo, who had not said a word all night, continued to stare into the fire. His face gave away nothing. The night was now quiet and filled with disappointment. No one had come. Elbie felt sad for their new friend, knowing he was probably just a confused old man with no one coming to save him. Elbie and the others got ready for bed. The old man stayed by the fire, silent, watching the empty sky, a lonely figure in the vast desert night.

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Part Six: The Vanishing

The next morning, the desert was quiet. A cool breeze carried the smell of burnt candles and paper from the night before. Elbie woke up feeling a little sad. He sat up, smacking his dry lips, and watched a lizard scuttle by in the rocks on the edge of camp. He looked over at the old man’s shelter and saw it was empty. The fire pit was cold. He quickly got to his feet. “Dr. Xesspe! Opa!” he called out.

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Dr. Xesspe emerged from his tent, rubbing his eyes. Sofia stretched sleepily nearby. Lazlo rolled over in his sleeping bag and sat up. “What is it, Elbie?” Dr. Xesspe asked. He then followed the boy’s gaze to the empty structure. “He’s … gone!”

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A note written on a small piece of dried-out cloth was lying on the ground near where the old man had been sitting through the night. Elbie picked it up. It said:

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My people FINALLY got the message! Maybe it was all those extra lanterns! Thank you, young one! I am forever in your debt! Until we meet again! Your friend, Bozregaar

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Elbie read the note out loud. He felt a mix of wonder and doubt. He looked at Lazlo Gimble, who seemed calm. “Opa, he can’t be serious, can he? No one came. It was just lanterns.” Elbie began to feel sadness creeping into his head. He wanted to believe the old man’s story, but he knew the truth couldn’t have been so fantastic.

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Lazlo cleared his throat. “The old man was strange,” he said. “Maybe all those lanterns made him decide to keep wandering. Perhaps he’s gone south, deeper into the Atacama or maybe even crossed into Bolivia. Many wander these lands, you know. I believe our mysterious friend has simply moved on.”

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Dr. Xesspe picked up a piece of the lantern paper. “It’s a good story about believing in something,” he said quietly. “At least the lights are gone, and my workers can come back.” Sofia just shrugged and agreed with Lazlo.

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Elbie stood there, staring at the empty spot. He wished the old man well, but deep down, he knew the old man’s journey wouldn’t end with a trip to the stars. The “Guardian of the Stars” had disappeared just as strangely as he had shown up, leaving behind a note and a big question.

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Back at the Nazca dig site, everyone felt better. The fear was gone. Dr. Xesspe told his workers that the scary lights were just an old, lonely man launching paper lanterns. A few of them laughed and looked relieved. Dr. Xesspe said they could now continue their work safely.

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With the problem solved, it was time for Elbie and Lazlo to leave. Dr. Xesspe spoke to Elbie with a kind smile. “Elbie, my young friend,” he said, “your great idea to look at the lines from the air changed everything for us. I will now call them the Nazca Lines. Makes sense, no? And your grandfather, Lazlo, was a big help, too. I shall put both your names on the discovery.” He shook Lazlo’s hand. “Thank you both so much.”

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Lazlo just nodded, a small smile on his face. “The pleasure was ours, Toribio. It was a very … interesting experience.”

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The long drive back to the port was quiet. Elbie looked out the window as the desert turned into a city. He thought about the giant drawings on the ground, the strange old man, and the beautiful lanterns. He knew the old man’s story was probably not real, but a part of him would always wonder.

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Finally, they reached the port of Callao. They said goodbye to Dr. Xesspe and got on their ship. As the ship sailed away, Elbie stood on the deck, watching the land get smaller. Lazlo joined him, looking out at the ocean. They didn’t say anything, but they understood each other. Their adventure in the Nazca Desert was over, but they would always remember the mystery of the vanishing guardian and their shared discovery among the timeless desert sands.

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- THE END -​