Cave of Discovery

CHAPTER 15 - TRAPPED

  As the door closed behind them, Daniel said, "Well that didn't end too well."

  "We were doing fine until Balboa came up."

  Daniel's face got red. "You were the one who mentioned the previous owner."

  "Yeah, but I didn't call him by name."

  "You didn't have to. It sounded like you'd met the guy."

  "Well we did meet him," Jason retorted. "But you didn't have to say he smelled."

  "Oh, you mean like when you said he had bad breath and smelled of rum?"

  There was silence as they walked up the street, each alone in his own thoughts. Jason was feeling pretty stupid about the whole thing.

  "I guess we both said too much," Daniel said.

  "It just came out before I knew what was happening," Jason said. "It's almost like Standing Bear is a part of the cave and all the stuff that's going on there."

  "Yeah, and what was that comment about McPherson? Was he telling us to look for McPherson or for McPherson's treasure?"

  "Maybe both," Jason said. They came to the end of the street where the woods began.

  "Dad's tour should be ending. If our theory is right it will be a good time to check out the cave without any - untimely visitors."

  Jason groaned. "Let's go."

  Under the trees the hot air was transformed into a refreshing breeze. It cooled down their bodies and their tempers. They arrived as the bus was pulling away. With flashlights in hand they entered the cave and headed down the passageway.

  Jason pulled open the gate and led the way up the steps. He turned his flashlight on the wall and stopped in amazement.

  "Look at this, Daniel. I don't know how we could have missed this before. The pictures go way up the wall."

  "They either had ladders or were super tall. There must be hundreds of them."

  "Here's a deer - and a man - looks like he's wearing a helmet. What's that one holding?"

  "Looks like a spear."

  Jason leaned forward and focused his light on an animal that looked like a buffalo. He reached out to touch it when he heard footsteps. He jerked his hand back and looked at Daniel. The footsteps stopped and they heard the rasping of metal against metal. Soundlessly, Daniel mouthed the word, "Balboa."

  Jason pushed him toward a pillar. Switching off their flashlights, they crouched down behind it and peered through a crack where the pillar didn't quite meet the wall. It was pitch black for a moment, then Jason saw a dim glow. Was it a lantern, or were his eyes playing tricks? A loud clang was followed by a metallic clatter. Then the light faded, and the footsteps retreated leaving them in blackness.

  "I think he's gone," Jason said softly.

  Daniel whispered back, "Let's get out of here."

  Jason flipped on his light and covered the end with his fingers letting just enough seep through so they could see where to walk. When they got to the gate, he removed his hand and stared in stunned disbelief. Daniel bumped into him and leaned around to see why he had stopped.

  "What is it?"

  The light shone on a modern glittering chain. It was wrapped around the bars on the gate and was secured with a large steel padlock. Forgetting all caution, Jason grabbed the bars and shook them. "Come back!" he yelled.

  "Let us out!" Daniel shouted as he added his strength to shaking the gate. The noise of their shouting mixed with the rattling of the chain against the bars. The sounds echoed and reverberated throughout the chamber. Jason sat down in a heap with one last angry shout.

  Daniel leaned against the gate and slid down to the ground. After a few moments of silence he flipped off his light. The room instantly became gloomy and shadows filled the corners.

  "We better conserve the batteries and just use one light," he said.

  "What about your cell phone? Can't we call for help?" Jason said.

  "Probably won't work in the cave. Doesn't even work in the woods outside."

  While Jason leaned over his shoulder Daniel dialed the number. The screen flashed the message, No Service. Jason slumped back and wrapped his arms around his knees.

  "And no one's going to be home to miss us until late tonight. They're all at the university."

  "That's just great," Daniel said. "Just my luck to have a smart sister. There's another tour tomorrow, but it's going to be a long night."

  Jason climbed up the steps and pointed his light down the passageway. It was no longer a place of exciting adventure. He didn't like the idea of spending the night there. The petroglyphs had faded into the shadows, and he felt his mood slipping into melancholy as he listed to the water dripping into the pool.

  "As long as we're trapped here, let's see what's at the end of the tunnel," Jason said. Anything was better than just waiting for the batteries to run out he thought.

  "There isn't any light if that's what you're looking for."

  "Well we can't just sit here all night waiting for someone to come let us out." Then he added, "I hope no one dangerous appears on our side of the gate."

  "That's a pleasant thought," Daniel said as got up and scrambled up the steps. "Okay, you convinced me. Let's explore."

  They moved down to the pool, and Jason scanned the wall with his light. As it flowed over the surface he spotted a petroglyph high up on the wall.

  "Look at that. It's a bird."

  "That's an eagle," Daniel said.

  "An eagle," Jason repeated. "Like in the poem.

  The golden age is over

  And the eagle from her height,

  Soars above the hidden nest

  Suspended in her flight,

  A guardian of the golden quest

  Concealed by endless night."

  "You memorized that?" Daniel said. "I'm impressed."

  "Well, yeah. I thought it would come in handy. And see," he said and pointed. "There's the eagle. We have to find a way across the pool. Nita said it's just a few inches deep."

  "You taking the first step?" Daniel asked.

  Jason looked down into the depths of the pool and pictured the water closing over his head as he tumbled through its depths. He thought about diving through the caverns. Swimming around the maze of formations looking for a way through to the other side as his lungs strained for air.

  He inhaled deeply and realized he had been holding his breath. He pulled a coin out of his pocket.

  "Let's see how far it falls," he said. It landed with a plop sending out ripples. When he reached in and picked up the coin, only his fingers got wet. The illusion was broken.

  He looked across the pool to the back wall. It didn't seem very far. The tops of several rocks were just beneath the surface.

  "Here. Hold this," Jason said handing Daniel the flashlight. Balancing and waving his arms, he stepped from rock to rock.

  "Okay smartie. What do you do when you get to the wall?" Daniel asked.

  "I do not do this because it is hard. I do this because it is easy." He swayed and teetered in an effort to keep his balance.

  "You certainly make it look easy."

  Jason reached the wall with a quick hop onto a thin ledge. He rested his hands on the wet, oily wall while balancing on one foot.

  "Hey. The wall with the eagle is not the end of the path. There's a passage back here." His hands began to slip. With a cry of alarm he jumped to one side and managed to land on a dry flat rock.

  "Gracefully done," Daniel said, clapping his hands. "Is there really a tunnel back there?"

  "It looks like it. Maybe it's a way out. Toss me the light and I'll check it out."

  "No way. We're sticking together, remember? I'm coming over. Make room."

  "Wait?"

  But Daniel was already stepping across the rocks. Jason squeezed behind the wet wall, and Daniel jumped up to the spot he had just vacated. Together they started down the tunnel that stretched off into the darkness.

  Once past the opening, it was wide enough for them to walk side by side. To their left was solid rock. The wall on their rig
ht was unpredictable. It rolled along like a wave, towering over their heads and then suddenly dropping down to below their knees. They tried looking over it, but the light couldn't penetrate the depths.

  The path narrowed and began going uphill. Jason took the lead. It was unnerving when drops of water from the ceiling hit his arm or face. Occasionally there was an arch of solid rock over the path, and they had to duck to get through. He slowed his pace. It wouldn't do to hit his head and knock himself out. Then suddenly a barrier of stone rose up in front of them, and the path stopped abruptly.

  "Dead end," he said. His shoulders slumped, and he leaned against the wall to let Daniel look past him.

  "Can you see over it?" Daniel said.

  The slab was rough, and Jason found a toehold to step up and look over. "The path goes on. We just have to climb over this wall."

  "I'm not sure we should keep going farther into the cave. If someone does come to let us out, we don't want to miss them."

  "We can't stop now," Jason said. "The eagle shows we're on the right track. It can't be too far. Let's go a little farther."

  As he stepped down, his foot landed on something soft and it moved. His foot slipped and with a startled yelp he fell. The flashlight flew out of his hand, and clattered over the side down a deep crevice. There was a series of bangs as it bounced off the rocks. Each bang was like a physical blow. A faint tinkling of glass left them once again in blackness. A darkness so complete it was like a presence.

  "You dropped the light!"

  "There's something alive in here. I stepped on some animal." He heard Daniel rustling through his pack. "Hurry up. It's still here. I can smell it." He squinted his eyes shut as Daniel pointed the flashlight at him.

  "On the path. Put it on the path. Whatever it is, it was big."

  "Okay, okay." He panned the light around and stopped. "There's your animal."

  The light revealed a large bundle pressed up against the wall. It was dirty and lumpy. Jason poked it with his foot. He gave a yelp as it shifted. It tipped, and with a soft clink slipped to one side.

  Daniel chuckled. "I think it's a saddlebag. It doesn't smell too nice, but it won't bite."

  "Easy for you to say. Let me hold the light and you open it."

  "No way. You dropped your light. I'm keeping this one. You go ahead and check it out."

  Jason pulled on the bundle. It was heavy and felt gritty. He tugged harder. It moved a few inches and there was a clinking sound. He struggled to unfasten the buckles.

  "Bring the light closer," he said as he lifted the flap. Inside were lots of smaller bags, each tied with a string. He pulled one out and placed it on his lap. The smell of dusty old leather and decaying burlap assaulted his nose.

  "What's in it?" Daniel asked.

  Jason rubbed his nose. He shook the bag and heard the clinking sound again. He looked up at Daniel and his eyes were bright. Then he broke into a grin, and set the bag down.

  "Sounds like coins!" His fingers felt fat and clumsy as he fumbled with the string.

  "It could be something else you know," Daniel said. "We could be wrong." He leaned forward and pointed the light at the bag.

  "No way. This is my future. This is the answer to everything. If I can just get the stupid string?." He gave it a vicious yank. The bag burst open sending up a cloud of dust that made him sneeze. Coins tumbled out, spilled over him, and rolled across the ground. Daniel caught one and shone a light on it.

  "Well?" Jason said as he rubbed his sleeve across his face. He scooped up coins and let them dribble through his fingers. "What is it?"

  "It's heavy, yellow, and says United States of America. It has an eagle on it. I think we're onto something." He flipped the coin over. "Dated 1857."

  "Eagle cave. Eagle coins. McPherson's treasure," Jason whispered. "There really is a gold treasure. We found it."

  "How many bags are in there?"

  "Lots. He picked up the coins and started stuffing them back in the bag."

  "You know we'll never be able to carry that out of here," Daniel said.

  "I have to," Jason said. "We can go slow. I can drag it."

  "We're down to one light, and we don't know where this tunnel leads. We may have to backtrack and wait at the gate for rescue."

  Jason set his jaw and clenched the bag. "I can't just leave it here."

  "It's been in this spot for 150 years. It's not going anywhere. The gate is locked. No one knows it's here except you and me. I don't think anyone even knows this tunnel exists."

  Jason let his grip loosen a bit. He knew Daniel was right. He could barely move the saddlebags, let alone carry them for any distance. He was amazed that McPherson had managed to get it this far.

  "I'm taking this bag at least."

  "Fine," Daniel said. "We'll both take one, and whatever happens we'll have that much." He held out his hand.

  "Okay," Jason agreed reluctantly. As he handed over a bag, a paper drifted down to the floor. While Daniel was checking out his bag of coins, Jason tried to read the paper in the dim light.

  "This looks like a receipt of some kind, but I can't read it."

  "Here," Daniel said. "I'll put it in with my coins and we'll read it later."

  Jason shoved the saddlebags up against the wall and stood up. "McPherson came this way. He either backtracked or this tunnel leads somewhere."

  Let's get going while we still have light," Daniel said. This time I get to lead."

  Jason looked longingly at the corner where he knew the saddlebags lay hidden in the darkness. He forced himself to turn away. With reluctance, he scrambled over the wall after Daniel, and they made their way along a winding passage.

  "Hey, I think there's light up ahead," Daniel said.

  "Turn off your light for a minute and?"

  "Whoa!" Daniel interrupted. Flinging his arms about, he tried to catch his balance. The light bounced around revealing glimpses of the walls. Jason realized they were on a precipice. The crumbling edge dissolved beneath Daniel's weight. A stream of gravel cascaded down into the depths below as his foot slipped over the edge. Jason grabbed frantically, and his fingers fastened on the backpack. Something flew past his head and brushed his cheek. With a cry he ducked his head as a bat flew up the passage. Tightening his grip, he jerked hard. As Daniel tried to catch himself, the flashlight flew from his hand and went spinning across the path.

  He twisted sideways and scrambled for a foothold. His fingers latched onto Jason's arm, but his weight inched them closer to the edge. Jason's foot slammed up against a rock. Pain shot up his leg, but their forward slide stopped. He braced himself and pulled. Daniel's foot finally caught on firm ground, and they tumbled away from the edge breathing hard.

  "It's a drop off," Daniel said. "I almost stepped off into the abyss." His hand was shaking as he reached for the light. Somehow, it still worked.

  "You okay?" Jason said as he took the light.

  "I think so." His voice quivered. "Be careful. It's a long drop."

  Jason crawled over to the edge and looked down. He turned off the flashlight. Above him a hole in the roof let in daylight that illuminated the chamber down below. He stared at it in disbelief.

  "It's the main chamber," he said over his shoulder.

  Daniel crept up beside him and looked down. "That's where Dad does the tours," he said. "Look. There's the rock he stands on to tell McPherson's story and there's the torch on the wall behind it."

  "We must be on the ledge where McPherson spent the night."

  "You know what this means?" Daniel said. "McPherson didn't climb up here in the middle of the night. He took the tunnel. He made that part up to keep the treasure hid."

  Jason nodded. "He wasn't able to lift the treasure over that wall, so he left it back there in the passageway. That means there has to be a path up to the hole in the roof."

  He looked around and saw that the next few feet of the path were narrow and led along the edge of the precarious drop o
ff. Suddenly he felt clammy and light headed as he pictured falling down that rocky wall into the dim depths of the cavern below. He took a shaky breath and pointed.

  "If we can make it over that short space, I'll bet this path leads outside. Do we want to try it?"

  Daniel's face was grim, but he nodded.

  They picked their way up the trail, testing each step as they went. Small pebbles were dislodged and rattled over the edge, but soon they were within the safety of a sheltering wall. From there it was amazingly simple to follow the path as it wound steadily upward to the opening in the roof.

  Before reaching the outside world there was a wide shelf that formed a natural platform overlooking the cave. The afternoon sun poured through the opening, creating a spotlight effect below. The chamber was the stage, and they had box seats to the show.

  With a sharp intake of breath, Jason grabbed Daniel's arm and pointed. Below, a figure dressed in armor stood in the shadows. "Balboa," he whispered.

  "He couldn't have locked us in," Daniel said softly. "The lock is modern."

  Balboa turned and faced the opening that led to the gate.

  "What's he looking at?" Jason said.

  The faint sound of plodding footsteps reached their perch. All three sets of eyes now watched the opening. A figure emerged into the light carrying a heavy load across his shoulders. Jason's grip tightened on Daniel's arm as he recognized the saddlebags.

  Daniel clapped a hand over his mouth and hissed in his ear, "Quiet."

  Jason's shoulders slumped in dismay. Daniel dropped his hand. The figure below was Victor Smith.

  Despair flooded over Jason as he saw his treasure being carried away out of his reach. All he had were the two bags they had carried out. For 150 years that treasure had waited to be discovered. He had held it in his hands, and now it was gone.

  Smith stopped. His breathing was heavy and labored. The ringing sound of a sword being drawn reminded them of Balboa's presence. He stepped out of the shadows and stood before Smith with the light gleaming on the metal blade.

  "What have we here?" Balboa said with a grin. Jason remembered his missing teeth and could almost smell his bad breath.

  Smith looked him up and down. "You're a very bad actor, and we're a long way from the theater. Step out of my way. I don't have time for games." He made a move to go around him.

  Balboa took a quick sidestep to block his path. "Not so fast. Leave your burden and you can pass by unhindered." He leveled his sword, and the two stood facing each other.

  Jason saw his treasure slipping further and further out of his reach. Smith had to surrender the saddlebags. What choice was there? Balboa would carry it into the past where it would be lost forever. He barely heard the noise of the zipper as Daniel opened his pack.

  Smith shifted the saddlebags, and the onyx ring flashed in the dim light. Balboa let out a cry. "My ring! How is it that you have stolen my ring?" He waved the sword at Smith's hand. "I'll have the burden you are carrying and my ring into the bargain." His voice dropped to a menacing growl. "Hand them over."

  Smith straightened up and sneered at him. "This ring is a valuable artifact. I found it years ago when I first started searching for this accursed treasure. I'm not giving any of it up to some cheap actor hired for a road show. I say again, step aside."

  "Then you choose to die," Balboa said. He raised the sword and swung it. Smith's eyes got large with fright as he saw the sword flashing toward him. He managed to duck, and the flat of the sword crashed against the saddlebag with a jarring thud. He fell to his knees. As he struggled to stand, Balboa stuck again. The blow hit the saddlebag and slid down, gashing his thigh. Smith cried out in pain and fell, grabbing his leg. In stunned disbelief, he stared at his hand covering the torn cloth. Blood oozed between his fingers and around the ring.

  He looked up to see Balboa towering over him. Beyond the conquistador's massive bulk, he saw the two boys looking down. Balboa's eyes gleamed. As he raised the sword he said, "That which you hold is now mine."

  Jason screamed. Balboa looked up. Jason saw movement beside him as Daniel stepped up to the edge and threw something. Time seemed to stop for Jason as he watched the bag of coins fall through the air. He flinched and shuddered as the bag crashed into Balboa's helmet, exploding in a shower of yellow pellets that scattered around the room. A piece of paper fluttered to the side and drifted to the ground. Balboa reeled from the blow. His sword clattered to the ground and spun into the shadows.

  As he struggled to keep his balance, the familiar ripple distorted his image. He staggered toward Smith with a howl of rage. Smith threw up his arm in a weak defense. The ripples became denser and Balboa disappeared. It was suddenly quiet in the cave.

  Smith lowered his shaking arm and looked around confused. With difficulty, he pulled out his handkerchief and tied it around the wound. He struggled to his feet and dragged the saddlebags over his shoulder. Looking up he waved.

  "Thanks for the help. And thanks for the treasure."

  Jason clenched his hands into fists. "That's my treasure!" he shouted. "You wouldn't even be alive if Daniel hadn't helped you."

  "What claim do you have to this treasure?" Smith said. "It's cost me twenty years of my life." He glanced around the room. "But you can keep the change for your trouble."

  He watched with a feeling of helplessness as Smith staggered out of the cave. Jason turned and scrambled through the opening in the cave roof and emerged into the fresh air. Daniel stood beside him on the top of the hill. Far below the road wound off into the distance. They were in time to see a gray Miata speeding away.

  Jason moaned. "There goes Smith with my treasure."