Cave of Discovery

by Steven & Margaret Larson

CHAPTER 14 - LOSE THE DAGGER

  It was late when the boys came down to breakfast. Jason was limping slightly. His shin was bruised where he had banged it against the bed frame.

  Matt looked up from the table and raised his eyebrows. "Rough night?"

  Daniel flashed a weak smile. With a grimace, Jason eased himself into a chair. The smell of yeast and cinnamon made him sit up and look around as Rosalita set a plate of steaming rolls on the table. Icing ran down the sides of the rolls and pooled on the plate.

  "Good thing you don't have bunk beds in that room," Matt said. "It would be hard to explain that to your mom. You don't walk in your sleep do you?"

  Jason shook his head as he reached for a gooey roll. He licked the frosting off his fingers as he ate the nuts off around the outside. Daniel handed him a napkin.

  As they ate breakfast, Matt said. "You got plans for today?"

  "I think we'll hang out. Maybe do some exploring in the woods," Daniel said.

  "Sounds good. After the cave tour today, your mom and I are visiting the University with Katie."

  "She hasn't even graduated yet," Daniel said.

  "We're talking to the drama teacher about her scholarship. You remember? She's up for a scholarship. Because of her grades."

  "Yeah Dad. I remember," Daniel said.

  "We won't be home till late. Can you boys stay out of trouble and fend for yourselves for dinner?"

  "Sure Dad. Won't be any problem. Right Jason?"

  "You bet. Don't worry about us," Jason said. He picked up a second cinnamon roll. Daniel handed him another napkin, and they headed upstairs.

  It hadn't taken long for the boys' room to get muggy once the air conditioning was off. Jason flopped on the bed.

  "Hey, I just finished making that," Daniel said. "And watch your sticky fingers." He smoothed the wrinkles out of the cover while Jason washed his hands.

  "I got to thinking last night before going back to sleep. After you so rudely woke me up."

  "About what?"

  "The cave. Nita told you about petroglyphs. I think we should check them out. But we should go prepared this time."

  "You mean in case Balboa comes back?"

  "Him or someone else."

  "Okay," Jason said, warming to the idea. "What did you have in mind?"

  "If there are time travelers, there must be some kind of portal."

  "Like in a science fiction movie?"

  "Yeah, but I don't think they are coming through on purpose. Something opens or closes the portal, and they don't seem to realize they're in a different time."

  "So what makes the portal open and close?"

  "Maybe it only works when there's not a crowd around."

  "Except Silas. Remember I saw him when he was a boy and the whole tour group was there," Jason said."So?maybe the crowd theory's not foolproof, but at least the one that got through wasn't very big." Daniel grinned. "We can't explore during the tour, but maybe some of the protective effect will linger for awhile. It's all we've got to go on. I say we start as soon as the bus leaves."

  "Agreed. But we stick together. No splitting up."

  Daniel dug out a couple backpacks. Jason held up the dagger.

  "How about we get rid of this thing. We can start at the Turtle Island Shop and leave it with Standing Bear."

  "Fine with me," Daniel said. He rubbed his thumb. "Hope that thing isn't infectious. Balboa didn't impress me as the cleanly type."

  Jason wrapped the dagger in a hand towel and stuffed it in his pack. As they passed the front desk, they heard the roar of the tour bus pulling away. They jogged down the front steps and headed for Treasure Avenue.

  When they entered the Turtle Island shop, Standing Bear looked up from his computer and waved them over. He opened a shallow drawer from the counter and took out the cross. With tender care, he laid it on the marble top.

  "Before you tell us what you think about the cross, we have something else to give you," Jason said.

  Standing Bear looked surprised and motioned to the countertop. "Please do," he said.

  Jason slipped the bundle out of his pack. He placed it on the counter and unwound the towel leaving the dagger lying on the terrycloth. Standing Bear's eyes widened. "A conquistador dagger," he said. He picked it up and rotated it. Flashes of reflected light bounced around the room. He fixed his eyes on Jason and said, "From the cave?"

  Before he could answer, the door to the shop opened. Jason glanced behind him and saw Victor Smith striding through the door. When he turned back, Standing Bear was closing the small drawer. The towel was still on the counter, but the dagger was nowhere to be seen.

  "Good morning, Victor," Standing Bear said. "What brings you to my humble shop this beautiful day?"

  Victor stepped up to the counter and eyed the cross. "Actually, the cross on your counter is the reason for my visit. Bradley suggested these boys bring the artifact to you for appraisal. As curator, I felt I should follow up."

  "It's an excellent specimen, isn't it Victor?"

  Victor's hand twitched as he smoothed back his hair.

  Standing Bear picked up the cross. "The stones are authentic, and the craftsmanship is definitely late fifteenth century."

  Victor's eyes glinted. "Then shouldn't it be protected?"

  "Yes, but not as an artifact. It was made recently."

  Victor frowned. "What do you mean?"

  "It's the most authentic reproduction I've ever seen. If there were any signs of aging on it, I would declare it an original. But it simply can't be more than a couple years old."

  "If someone is making forgeries, the museum is the best place to protect it as evidence."

  "That's true - if it were a forgery. But no attempt has been made to simulate aging on the piece. It was never meant to pass as an ancient artifact. If you had the opportunity to examine it closely, I know you'd come to the same conclusion. No one of your experience would be fooled."

  Victor's eyes flashed. He started to speak, but Standing Bear continued. "Still, the stones are authentic and the craftsmanship is excellent making it a valuable piece. I have agreed to hold it for safekeeping," he paused. "Until the police determine if an owner can be located." He met Victor's eyes and Jason felt the tug of wills between the two men as they faced each other. Finally Smith shrugged.

  "Of course. If it's not an artifact then the museum should not be bothered with a trinket." He strode out of the shop.

  Jason realized he had been holding his breath and let it out in rush. When he turned back to Standing Bear, he was startled to see the dagger once again nestled on the soft towel.

  "This dagger also seems to be ageless," Standing Bear said. "I'd like to research it and see if the craftsmanship is as authentic to the time period as the first piece."

  "You can keep it," Jason said. "It's too much like its previous owner."

  Daniel rubbed his thumb, "I agree with that. Balboa was an ugly man and that's a nasty weapon."

  Standing Bear looked from one to the other. "You know the story of Balboa?"

  "We've been reading Treasure Town Treasures," Jason said.

  "I know that book. It was written by a colleague of mine at the University. He did a lot of research in this area for it." He picked up the dagger and examined the handle. "It's big for a dagger. Probably designed for a big man with large hands."

  "He was big all right," Daniel said. "Smelled like tobacco and?and?"

  "Rum," Jason said. "And he had bad breath and missing teeth. Probably lost them in a fight."

  "A real braggart," Daniel added.

  "Greedy and a bully?" Jason stopped. There was an awkward silence.

  Standing Bear had the hint of a smile as he said, "I'll have to reread that chapter. I don't recall my friend creating such a vivid image."

  Jason wanted to get out of the shop before there were any questions he didn't want to answer. "Take your time researching the dagger. I don't think we want it back - do we Daniel?"


  Daniel shook his head.

  "Well, thanks for your help. We don't want to take up any more of your time." He started edging his way to the door.

  "I was glad to help. Keep an eye out for McPherson - McPherson's treasure that is. There may be more than what Silas discovered."

  As they hurried out the door they passed a table with an array of books. In the center sat the ceramic conquistador like a foreign general studying a new world that he wanted to conquer.