Chapter 1
In 1925, Paul Lestignac, an energetic tourist from Gascony, and his servant Gaspard arrived at the Escorial train station in Spain, planning to explore a mysterious and allegedly lethal chasm in the Sierra de Guadarrama. On the platform, Lestignac attempted to strike up a conversation with three Anglo-Saxons carrying climbing gear: Abraham Trust (a wealthy diamond syndicate representative known as "The King of Diamonds"), Ned Ferret (a British detective), and Joë Sharpen (a reporter for the New-York Journal). The three foreigners rebuffed his friendliness and aggressively commandeered the carriage Lestignac had reserved. Undeterred, Lestignac and Gaspard took a second carriage. During the ride, Gaspard shared his deep suspicions, noting that the Americans seemed less like tourists and more like conspirators who were unnerved by Lestignac's unexpected presence.
Upon arriving at the Posada de Tra los Montes, Lestignac reunited with his Castilian friend, Alfonso Candujar y Lereda, and Alfonso's servant, Pablo. The innkeeper, Vinaroz, begged the young men to abandon their dangerous expedition, explaining that a sudden mountain explosion two years prior had created the fiery, torrent-fed chasm. Vinaroz claimed that hundreds of silent, somber men—referred to locally as "the damned"—had since marched into the pit under the guidance of a masked, black-clad figure, never to return. While the locals attributed this to the devil, Lestignac rationalized that the chasm simply possessed a hidden exit used by a secret society or smugglers.
When Trust and his companions arrived at night, they bypassed the inn and headed straight for a dilapidated wooden hut. Sensing foul play, Gaspard followed them, accompanied by Lestignac, Alfonso, and Pablo. Peering through the hut's walls, the four men witnessed Trust interrogating an operative named Trivet (also known as Trépied or Dreyfusz). Trivet confessed that he had been secretly distributing massive, priceless diamonds across Europe on behalf of an enigmatic figure known as "The King of the Unknown." Out of bitter resentment for being kept in a subordinate position while others shared in the secrets, Trivet agreed to betray his master. In exchange for a 200,000-dollar check, he revealed how to access the chasm by pulling a hidden iron handle beneath a southern rock protrusion to raise a 120-rung steel ladder.
However, just as Trivet was about to explain a vital, life-saving precaution regarding the ladder, he abruptly collapsed in agonizing pain, screaming that he was burning and begging his unseen master for mercy. Trivet died instantly on the floor from an inexplicable force. Unfazed by the bizarre death and satisfied that he had obtained the necessary entry instructions while saving his money, Trust led his companions out of the hut to proceed toward the chasm.
Chapter 3
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Chapter 4
Following a confrontation with a dying man in a secluded hut, Paul Lestignac, Alfonso Candujar, and their servants, Gaspard and Jose, return to their inn to avoid being compromised. There, Gaspard eavesdrops on a heated argument between the diamond tycoon Abraham Trust and an unnamed, fanatical French scientist. The scientist is obsessed with destroying a mysterious entity he believes threatens the laws of science, while Trust is single-mindedly focused on securing a legendary, lucrative source of diamonds. Dismissing the supernatural rumors surrounding the local chasm as the cover story for a modern bandit ring, Lestignac decides that his party must join forces with Trust’s expedition, which includes a reporter and a detective, to ensure safety in numbers during the exploration.
Discovering that Trust’s group plans an early departure guided by the inn's courageous servant, Pedrillo, the French-Spanish allies prepare their weapons and follow them into the night. Before leaving, Gaspard revisits the tragic hut, only to discover that someone has severed the corpse’s wrists to steal a mysterious club the dead man had held in an unbreakable grip. As the two factions ascend the Sierra in the dark, Lestignac intentionally reveals his party's presence. Despite Trust's initial hostility and anger, Lestignac successfully leverages the discovery of the nearby corpse and promises of non-interference to force an alliance, assuming a subordinate role for the general direction of the trek.
Driven by Gaspard’s rational arguments and monetary incentives, Pedrillo conquers his superstitious dread and guides the nine men safely to the edge of the roaring chasm. Using instructions extracted from the deceased informant, Trust locates and pulls a hidden iron handle. A heavy, tube-shielded steel ladder rises automatically from the abyss, completely debunking the local supernatural myth and securing Pedrillo's full commitment to the venture.
The explorers descend one hundred and twenty rungs in the darkness to a narrow, rectangular rock platform hanging precariously over a deafening, vertical torrent. Using specialized lanterns against the fierce drafts, they locate a small tunnel carved into the cliff face. However, just as Trust leads the group into the passage, a sudden, metallic crash echoes ahead, and they find their path forward blocked by a thick steel door. Sensing immediate danger, the men rush back to the platform only to witness the automated ladder descending into the void below. Realizing they failed to take a crucial, unknown safety precaution mentioned by the dying informant before his expiration, the nine explorers find themselves trapped on the precipice without provisions, transforming them into the literal "damned" of the chasm.
