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 Trustâs expedition, which includes a reporter and a detective, to ensure safety in numbers during the exploration.
Discovering that Trustâs 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 corpseâs 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 Gaspardâs 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.