“It’s our work,” Finn added.
“I know you don’t believe us, but look at our clothes,” Molly said. “This is what regular, modern-day clothes look like.”
For a moment, everyone was quiet. Then the man started laughing. Around him, the others laughed, too.
“You kids,” the man said between chuckles. “You really believe you stepped into the past, don’t you?”
“Well, we…,” Finn started. He lowered his eyes and whispered to Molly, “You know, this guy is wearing regular, modern-day clothes, like we are.”
“That’s right, I am,” the man said. “I’m a director, and these people are all actors. Our play opens next week, and you just interrupted our morning dress rehearsal.”
“Sorry,” Molly said. “We made a mistake.”
“I’ll say,” the man said.
“Give the kids a break, Hank,” Davy Crockett said—or rather, the actor playing Davy Crockett said. He stuck out a hand. “My name’s Andy.”
“I’m Molly,” Molly said.
“And I’m Finn,” Finn said.
“We’re really embarrassed,” Molly said, and Finn nodded. Their cheeks were pink.
“Ah, don’t be embarrassed,” Andy said. “I think it’s mighty brave that y’all were willing to help. Fortunately, Texas already won its independence from Mexico and became part of the United States. That’s what our play is all about.”
“Let’s wrap rehearsal for today,” Hank said. “Meet back here tomorrow morning, okay?”
“Sure thing,” Andy said. He pulled off his fur cap. “Gosh, it feels good to get this off my head. It’s too hot for a coonskin cap.”
“Coonskin…as in raccoon?” Finn asked.
“Well, not a real one. This thing is just acting the part, same as me.”
“That’s good,” Molly said. “I wouldn’t want a raccoon to get hurt for a hat. Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” Andy said.
“I love new words, and you used a word that I’d never heard: ‘fandango.’ What does that mean?”
“It’s a kind of party they used to have here at the Alamo, where they’d dance the night away,” Andy explained.
“Cool. Thank you.”
“Oh, I have a question, too,” Finn said. “As long as we’re here in modern times, do you know how to get to Minute Maid Park?”
“Minute Maid Park?” Andy asked. “You mean in Houston where the Astros play?”
“Yep.”
“Well, that’s a good two hundred miles from here in San Antonio. Tell your parents they’ve gotta drive down Interstate 45 to Interstate 10, and then—”
“Never mind,” Finn said.
Molly put a hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Texas is the second biggest state in the United States,” she said. “I guess next time you pick the destination, you need to be more specific about it.”
“Oh man,” Finn said. He shook his head. “And we didn’t even get to save Davy Crockett.”
“It was probably pretty silly to think we could have,” Molly admitted. “We don’t know anything about fighting a battle.”
“That’s true,” Finn said. He looked up at Davy Crockett…err, Andy. “Thanks for your help,” he said. “But now we gotta go. We have work to do!”
“I knew we couldn’t be in olden times,” Finn said. “Look at all the office buildings and shops around here.”
“Oh, you knew, did you?” Molly said. “Is that why you offered to save Davy Crockett with me?”
Finn’s cheeks grew red. “Yeah, well…,” he said. “So…do you think our work is in the Alamo?”
Molly looked up at the old church. “There’s only one way to find out,” she said, and she pulled open the heavy front door.
The front room was lit by big chandeliers, and the walls were lined with state flags. “Look,” Finn said, pointing to a flag with a blue triangle and red and white stripes. “That’s the Ohio state flag!”
“That’s right,” a woman in a red polo shirt said. “Hi, I’m Maria, and welcome to the Alamo! Are you two in the play?”
“We were sort of accidentally in it,” Molly said.
“Well, that counts, as far as I’m concerned,” Maria said. “I have free passes for you to see the museum. And here’s a map so you don’t miss anything.”
“This building doesn’t seem big enough to need a map,” Finn said.
“There’s a lot more to see than just what’s in here,” Maria said. “For example, there’s the Cavalry Courtyard, the Fortress Alamo exhibit, and even more.”
“Cool,” Molly said. She unfolded the map and turned to her brother. “Hmm…could our work be by the wall of history, or the garden, or the temporary sacristy—whatever that is…”
“A sacristy is a place where priests prepare for a service,” Maria explained.
“Another new word,” Molly said. “Thanks!”
“Some people refer to that room as the monk’s burial chamber instead,” Maria said. “Even though it doesn’t have anything to do with monks or burial. Funny thing, don’t you think?”
“Yep,” Molly said. She turned to Finn. “I think we should start there because it’s closest.”
Finn gulped and followed his sister to a small dark room without any windows. “Well, there doesn’t seem to be much work to do here,” he said. “Let’s keep moving.”
“Are you scared?” Molly asked.
“No,” Finn said.
“Really? You sound scared.”
“Well, okay, I am. I don’t want to see ghosts again.”
“We didn’t see ghosts before,” Molly said. “They were just actors. And we won’t see ghosts now. First of all, Maria said no one is buried in here—”
“Then why do some people call it a burial chamber?” Finn asked.
“I don’t know,” Molly said. “But second of all, there’s no such thing as ghosts.”
“I hope you’re right,” Finn said, and shivered. “But just in case, I’m going to wait over here in the doorway.” He backed up and ran right into someone. Was it the ghost of one of the buried monks?
“AHH!” he gasped.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” a kid said. He didn’t look like a ghost, or like a monk. He was just an ordinary boy, about the same age as the twins. “I was just…I was…”
“Are you lost?” Molly asked.
“Oh, yeah,” the boy said, nodding quickly. “That’s right. I’m lost.”
“I figured,” Molly said. “Since you’re holding a map.”
“How’d you know it was a map?” the boy asked.
“We got one, too,” Molly said.
“The lady in the front was handing them out,” Finn added.
“Oh, right.”
“Where are you trying to go?” Molly said. “We can show you, if you want.”
“Ah, it’s too much work, don’t worry,” the boy said. He stuffed his map into his back pocket.
Molly and Finn looked at each other. The boy had said the magic word: “work.”
“There’s no such thing as too much work,” Molly said. “Right, Finn?”
“That’s right,” he said. “Work is our specialty. Especially if it means we can get out of this room. I’m Finn, by the way. And this is my twin sister, Molly.”
“I’m Carlos,” the boy said. He brushed his dark bangs from his eyes.
“We’re visiting from Ohio,” Finn said. “What about you?”
“I’m from right here,” Carlos said. “San Antonio, Texas.”
“You live here and you’ve never been to the Alamo?” Molly asked.
“Uh…yeah,” Carlos said. “Anyway, I’m in a rush to get home.”
“I know how to get us out of here,” Finn said, happy to have an excuse to leave. �
�Right this way.”
Finn and Molly led Carlos to the entrance. Carlos thanked them quickly and started to run off.
“Hang on, I have something for you,” Molly said. She fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. “After I meet a new person and help them, I like to give them a friendship bracelet,” she explained. “But I did the knot too tight.”
“It’s okay,” Carlos said. “I gotta go.” He headed off before Molly could undo the bracelet.
“That was our easiest work so far!” Finn said.
“Maybe we’re just getting better at it,” Molly said. “Oh, now the knot is loose enough. I guess I’ll give this bracelet to the next person we help.”
“Since we have extra time, maybe we can ask PET to swing by Minute Maid Park,” Finn said. “You can give your bracelet to one of the players.”
Molly sighed. “Okay, sure.”
She and Finn waited out front, expecting to hear PET’s honk to signal that it was time to head home. But all they heard were the sounds of people chatting, cars driving down nearby streets, and birds in the trees above.
“Huh,” Finn said. “Do you think it’s possible that PET got stuck in traffic?”
“PET doesn’t take regular roads,” Molly said. She glanced around. “Oh, hey, there’s Carlos.”
Finn looked where Molly was pointing. Carlos checked over his shoulder and walked into the Alamo’s side entrance.
“I thought he wanted to go home,” Finn said.
“I guess our work wasn’t so easy, after all,” said Molly. “Follow that kid!”
“Back so soon?” Maria asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Finn said. “You can never get enough history, that’s my motto. Gotta go. Lots to see.”
The twins moved quickly through the main hall, looking for Carlos. “This way,” Molly said, heading back into the burial chamber.
But it was empty.
“It’s like he just disappeared,” Finn said.
“That’s not possible,” Molly said. “He’s a kid, not a magician.”
“He could be a kid who’s also a magician,” Finn said. “Or a—”
“Don’t say it, Finn.”
“You don’t know what I was going to say.”
“Yes, I do. You were going to say ‘ghost.’ But they don’t exist.”
A dark-haired boy hurried past the room.
“You see,” Molly said. “There he is. Carlos, wait!”
But Carlos didn’t stop.
“Either he didn’t hear me, or he’s ignoring us,” Molly said.
“Or he’s a ghost,” Finn said.
“He’s not a ghost!”
Molly and Finn jogged to catch up. “Hey, Carlos!” they called.
“Oh. Hi, Finn. Hi, Molly,” Carlos said. He stuffed his map into his back pocket again.
“Is everything okay?” Molly asked.
“Uh-huh,” Carlos said. “Why do you ask?”
“Because you said you had to rush home, but now here you are again,” Molly said. “And you’re hiding your map.”
“What map?” Carlos asked.
“The one that just fell out of your pocket and onto the floor,” Finn said.
Carlos spun around and grabbed it.
“Don’t worry,” Finn said. “We have our own map. We don’t need yours.”
“That’s right,” Molly said. “We want to help you. That’s why we’re here—at least, I think it is.”
“You think you came to the Alamo to help me?” Carlos asked.
The twins nodded.
“Well, it’s nice that you came all this way,” Carlos said, “but you didn’t have to. I’m not looking for anyone’s help. I’ve gotta be brave and do what I’m doing all by myself.”
Finn turned to Molly. “Maybe we’re supposed to help someone else.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But, Carlos, you don’t always have to do things by yourself. Sometimes the bravest thing is to ask for help.”
“Oh my goodness,” Carlos said. “You knew my grandpa!”
“Huh?” Molly asked.
“Berto Martin,” Carlos said. “He told you that—about asking for help?”
“No, my teacher Ms. Gitty did,” Molly said.
“Oh,” Carlos said. He hung his head. “My grandpa used to say that, too. I thought maybe he sent you here, like magic.”
“Since you mentioned magic…,” Finn said.
Molly’s eyes flashed toward her brother. “Shh,” she said. She didn’t think they should say anything about the camper. “You know what I think,” she told Carlos. “I think that even if your grandpa didn’t send us, we can still help you.”
“Well…,” Carlos said. “What I’m doing is a secret, but okay. You can help me. Come over here.”
The twins followed Carlos to a low stone bench in the corner. He carefully laid out his map on the gray marble.
“Whoa, Molly,” Finn said. “That doesn’t look like the map you got. It looks much older.”
The uneven edges of Carlos’s map were yellowed. The lines were faded and had worn off completely in some spots. There was a faint red X in the center of the paper.
“This was my grandpa’s map,” Carlos said softly. “He was searching for buried treasure here in the Alamo for his whole life, but he never found it.”
“Buried treasure?” Finn asked. He liked the sound of that!
“Yeah,” Carlos said. “And it could be worth millions.”
“Where did your grandpa get the map?” Molly asked.
“My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather died in the Texas Revolution. I reckon he must have buried the treasure so my family could find it. I’m not sure exactly what it is—but it’s probably gold or jewels.”
Finn’s eyes grew wide—millions of dollars in gold and jewels. “Holy guacamole,” he said.
“My grandpa died last month,” Carlos said. His eyes got shiny, and he blinked a bunch. “He never found the treasure.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Molly said.
“Me too,” Finn said.
“He left this map in an envelope with my name on it,” Carlos said. “I guess that means it’s up to me to find it. I need to find it—for my grandpa—because it’d make him so proud of me. And my grandma Rosa has been so sad. She wants me to sit with her and talk about Grandpa Berto. Talking about him doesn’t help anything. But finding gold and jewels…well, that would help a lot.”
Molly and Finn nodded.
Carlos pointed to the red X on the map. “This has to be where the treasure is buried. X marks the spot, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Finn said. He turned to his sister. “Just like one of the clues in the New York City scavenger hunt. But I wish this X wasn’t in a room that some people call a burial chamber. You know, because of the…”
“What?” Carlos asked.
“The ghosts,” Finn said.
Molly rolled her eyes.
“I’ve been over it and over it,” Carlos said. “And there isn’t any treasure there. At least not that I can find.”
“Hmm…,” Molly said.
“Are you thinking the ghosts stole the treasure?” Finn asked.
“No, ghosts don’t exist,” she said. “I’m thinking that X usually marks the spot. Unless…”
“Unless what?” Carlos asked.
“Unless X means something else.”
“What else could X possibly mean?” Carlos asked.
“Oh, lots of things,” Molly said.
“Are you saying there isn’t any buried treasure?” Finn asked.
“Of course there is!” Carlos said. “Grandpa always said there’s hidden treasure in every problem, and it’s your job to find it.”
Molly scrunched up her face, which she often did when she w
as concentrating. “X might not really mark the spot where it’s buried. It could be the first letter of someone’s name, or it could stand for a number.”
“Oh, I get it,” Finn said. “Like if A is one and B is two, then X would be…”
Carlos quickly recited the alphabet and counted on his fingers. “X is the twenty-fourth letter of the alphabet!” he said.
“So we’re looking for the number twenty-four in here somewhere?” Finn asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Molly said. “I think X means ten.”
“But J is the tenth letter of the alphabet,” Carlos said.
“We’re looking for a J now?” Finn asked. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m talking about Roman numerals,” Molly said. “I read about them in the fourth-grade math textbook.”
“Hang on,” Carlos said. “You guys are in fourth grade? No offense, but you look way too short for that.”
“No, we just finished second grade,” Finn said. He turned to his sister. “What were you doing reading a fourth-grade textbook?”
Molly shrugged. “I was bored one day, so I read it,” she said. “And I learned that Roman numerals are a math system that was made up in ancient Rome. You make numbers out of combinations of letters. For example, if you want to write the number one, you write a capital I. And if you want to write two, it’s II.”
“And let me guess,” Finn said, “three would be III.”
“Yep!”
“So wouldn’t ten be IIIIIIIIII?” Carlos asked.
“No, some numbers have their own letters,” Molly explained. “Like five is V, and ten is X.”
Finn shook his head. “Leave it to you to give us a lesson on ancient Roman numbers while we’re visiting Texas.”
“It’s cool to know some fourth-grade math,” Carlos said. “But I don’t understand how that helps with the map.”
“I think we need to go back into that room and count things in tens,” Molly said. “Maybe the treasure is out the tenth window.”
“But it’s super dark and creepy in there, and it doesn’t have any windows,” Finn reminded her. “So I guess we don’t have to go.”
Texas Treasure Page 2