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The Treasures of Death Valley

Page 17

by Tom Hunter


  A massive room yawned, beckoning the adventurers to enter. Standing at the threshold of the immense chamber, Thomas Knight and his team pierced the darkness with their flashlights. Their beams picked out objects almost forgotten by time, including a massive light gray, almost white stone table set to the side.

  As they entered, drawing closer to it, Thomas noted what he assumed could have been a stone bench placed in front of the table. The depression in the stone didn’t suggest sitting or kneeling, and he wondered if it had served a darker purpose.

  Across the room, at the far end, Thomas saw an open archway that seemed to lead to other areas. Thomas’ mind raced. How big was the network of spaces? What unimaginable treasures might they contain? How had their long fall caused them to end up here? Was it somehow meant to be?

  “Oh my God, Thomas. Would you look at that!” Abby wasn’t often in awe of something or someone. But, today was different. She would not deny Thomas one more moment of doing what he loved and called them to her. “Pediah, Thomas, Robbie, she breathed, go explore. See what you can see. Alexia and I will stay here and keep an eye on the comms equipment.”

  No one said a word, as they entered the chamber. The room in which they now stood could only have been a temple, Thomas deduced. It was vast, a cavernous retreat buried deep within the earth. Sun-baked bricks of reddish-rust and shades of brown, etched with engravings on their facings, stepped in an inverted temple design, covered the walls. Depicted in the engravings were statues of small humans standing in front of large reptilian-apelike creatures, echoing the paintings on the cave walls.

  The entire inside area is reminiscent of the Mesopotamian period and the Mexican Ziggurats of the time, Thomas thought.

  In the center of the room, a large pedestal displayed a sphere. Ancient writing encircled the sphere, providing the only clue to its purpose. Upon the pedestal, in front of the sphere, lay an ancient animal skin drum.

  On the chamber walls, cave paintings told stories of a mysterious culture. These humans, large and small, had raised these reptilian creatures; each step of life depicted in the paintings. From eggs they’d reared them, nursed them in a shaft of sunlight piercing the depths – was the opening still there? The sun’s warmth hatched the eggs. Once hatched, the creatures that had sprung forth were brought down into the depths to dig; their purpose to dig so houses could be built. The walls told their tale.

  Ancient scrolls lay long forgotten, at the base of the walls, and also near the drum. Pediah and Robbie each picked one up and unrolled it. “It’s written in pictograph!” exclaimed Robbie.

  “Mine, too!” echoed Pediah.

  “What does yours -?” Robbie began, as he moved to stand next to Pediah, to compare their finds. “It’s the same as mine…” his voice trailed off.

  “What do you have there?” asked Thomas.

  “Scrolls, depicting humanoid figures, standing before massive lizard like creatures,” explained Pediah.

  “And yours?” Thomas nodded at Robbie.

  “Mine’s the same, except…”

  “Except what?” Thomas and Pediah asked in unison.

  “Well, there’s something written on mine…in English.” Robbie read it aloud, ‘Beware the Kisgar’. What the hell is a Kisgar?”

  “I’ve no idea,” answered Pediah, but mine reads the same. “Kisgar, I’m assuming are either the humanoid creatures or the beasts. But which one and why?” Pediah wondered out loud.

  “Good question,” chimed in Thomas.

  Robbie pointed to the cave paintings. “Could it be the name of the human like creatures? Sorry, the humanoid figures. Those men that live down here?”

  Pediah and Thomas shrugged, “Who knows?” Thomas offered, peering down the long passage way that lay before them.

  “I know that look, Thomas Knight. It’s calling to you. But, no. We should wait for help to find us.”

  Thomas sighed, “I know. But…what if there’s something fascinating to be found? What would we find if we went just a little bit farther?” Robbie nodded animatedly as Thomas spoke.

  One look at Pediah’s expression, and Thomas’ tone changed. “But, Pediah’s right. It’s not worth leaving the team behind to explore. We go in together, we come out together. All we can do now is wait and see.”

  Robbie pursed his lips, to try to hide his disappointment, and nodded his agreement.

  “We’ll save it for another time,” muttered Thomas, as he turned on his heel and walked back to where they’d left Abby and Alexia.

  Pediah sighed. I hate playing the devil’s advocate and pointing out the practicalities. Robbie already speaking with Abby, to tell her what they’d found, Pediah guessed.

  Thomas, Pediah, and Robbie filled the women in on the discoveries. Alexia, skipping the scrolls, wondered, “What do you suppose the drum is used for? And why the warning to beware of something? Then, what do you think the writing on the sphere says?” Thomas almost laughed, as her questions tumbled one over the other.

  “Seems you’re a natural archeologist, Alexia. Always questioning. Always curious,” Thomas laughed.

  “Maybe,” Alexia smiled, “but right now, I’m an exhausted explorer and engineer.”

  “Why don’t you get some sleep, Alexia,” suggested Abby. “I’ll man the radio for you, in case Comms One calls in.”

  Her eyes drooping heavily, Alexia nodded went to a corner, and laid down with her pack for a pillow. She no longer cared that it was still damp, and promptly fell asleep.

  Abby smiled, and turned to the others, “Anybody hungry? Let’s ‘rustle up some grub’. Robbie and Pediah arched their eyebrows, as Thomas laughed.

  “I’ve always wanted to say that!” laughed Abby.

  The sound of food being prepared, albeit only Army-style MREs, roused Alexia. Joining the others, she ate a little, then suggested to Abby, “I’ll take care of the cleanup. Why don’t you get some sleep?” Abby nodded, her eyes heavy. “Thanks. Think I will.”

  Alexia listened as Thomas and Pediah talked, forks in mid-air. Robbie opposite her, leaned forward, in eagerness and excitement.

  Stretching his arms above his head, Pediah exclaimed, “I’m beat. I should also get some shut eye. But, I’m still wired.”

  “Pediah –, “began Thomas.

  “Yeah, that was a wild ride!” interrupted Robbie. He looked to Thomas. “So…what is this place?” he asked.

  Thomas shrugged. “No idea,” he deadpanned.

  Thomas smiled at the younger three. “So, kids, what do you make of it? What do you think of what we’ve discovered so far?”And one of the biggest mysteries of all. Why a warning written in English? Who had written it? And why?

  “I’d like to know what the heck a Kisgar is,” broached Robbie.

  “Yeah, me, too,” said Pediah, followed by Alexia’s, “Me, three.”

  “Sorry kids, can’t help ya. I’ve no idea myself,” Thomas replied, as the adrenaline suddenly wore off. He yawned. “I’m dog-tired. Too much excitement for one day for these old bones.”

  The group soon fell silent as weariness sunk in. They each took a turn to rest and recharge. Whoever was awake would prepare and cleanup at mealtimes. Excited chatter became muted, as hours became days.

  Time slowed to a snail’s pace as days passed. Food portions became smaller, and water was rationed. The radio was strangely silent.

  “I have a question,” ventured Robbie, to anyone who would answer. “I’m not usually the practical one, but if we run out of water, would it be safe to drink from that pool?”

  Thomas and Pediah looked to the pool and shrugged. “If it comes down to it,” began Pediah, “we’ll have to take the chance that it’s safe.”

  Alexia was caught in mid sigh when her radio buzzed. She jumped to and turned the volume up as she’d recognized the voices. “Guys! Listen!” she exclaimed, cheering. “They found the hole! Pediah, they’re sending your team down for us. I can hear the strain and sigh of ropes as they rappel down. Yes!” Al
exia stamped her feet and pumped her fists in the air. The team breathed a collective sigh of relief.

  “Great!” Abby cooed. “So, what was the hold up?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care. Just happy they made it and we’re getting out of here.” She held up a hand. “Don’t misunderstand me Abby, I don’t want to leave per se. I just want to get a shower, get changed, gather a few more supplies, and come back down to explore with Thomas and the boys,” Alexia chirped.

  “As to how Comms One found the hole? Well, we were almost to the exit, weren’t we?” Alexia asked.

  “Not exactly,” answered Abby. “We were near AN exit, not necessarily the main one. Turns out, this cave network is a bit labyrinthine, and I think we got turned around. Being chased by wild beasts and explosions’ll do that. For all I know, if we’d made it, we might have ended up in Noah’s campsite.”

  “That would have sucked,” Alexia mumbled. “The rescue team is here now. So, it’s a moot point. I’m just happy we’re being rescued.”

  Abby smiled, “Fair enough.” Abby looked around, her brow furrowing. “Now, any idea where the others are?”

  “They wandered off somewhere. I think they went in there again,” she pointed, just beyond the chamber door. “I can see their flashlight beams. “Probably getting a last look before we get out of here.” She shook her head and smiled. “Crazies.”

  “Thomas! Pediah! Robbie!” Abby called out, her voice echoing in the chamber. “Get back here!”

  “Let’s explore a little further,” suggested Robbie, as he moved toward the entrance at the end of the hall. At first, he thought he heard Abby calling them back.

  “Does anyone else hear that?” Robbie asked tremulously. A loud thumping noise, like that of hands beating a rhythm on a wooden desk, reverberated through the air. The pulsing beat grew louder, closer, and soon the ground beneath their feet began to shake.

  Robbie tensed and turned slowly to see what had been making the noise. He was frozen in place. His heart stopped and his jaw dropped; the knot in his stomach tightened as the creature came toward him.

  The creature looked like a great ape, only a little larger than a gorilla with massive claws. The – animal? – was covered in a reptilian scale-like skin, its mouth pulled back in a snarl, revealing large powerful fangs. Oh god, I’m gonna die down here.

  Thomas and Pediah turned, to see what had made the sound, just in time to see Robbie stand toe-to-toe with a giant. Strangely, it was making no attempt to attack Robbie, who was rooted to the ground by fear. Though the creature was larger than life, Thomas and Pediah realized, it was not as big as some of the others they’d seen in the caves. “It’s a youngling,” Pediah breathed softly.

  “Youngling or no,” countered Thomas, “it’s still big enough to rip him limb from limb.”

  “He needs to stay very calm and not surprise it. That includes fainting,” Thomas explained. Then to Robbie, “Don’t pass out now!”

  “Shut up!” volleyed Robbie in fear, his voice a high-pitched sing-song.

  “Thom,” began Pediah, “that does not look like the man you described…” His voice trailed off, as he watched the giant creature lumber toward them. He heard Thom’s sharp intake of breath.

  The guttural growl from deep within its belly emanated from the creature, growing louder with each step, as it moved towards Thomas and Pediah. Time was up.

  Fifty

  Alexia and Abby watched in horror as the large reptilian creature lumbered into the chamber. Each step it took shook the ground slightly. Without a word, the women raced to either side of the drum as if to guard it.

  Alexia groaned inwardly. It’s a symbolic gesture at best. I just had to see the drum. We learn of one rescue only to be caught in a deadly snare. Her knees trembled and she clenched her fists to keep steady. She sensed, rather than saw, Abby do the same. The creature didn’t look like it could handle sudden movements well.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Thomas saw Abby and Alexia standing sentry on either side of the drum. A plan began to form. He caught Pediah’s eye again, and signaled with his hands, low and close to his body, the need to get all the others out of imminent danger. He pantomimed the creature’s steps, and Pediah understood. They would move as each step came down, the sound covering their steps.

  Pediah nodded in understanding, pointed to Robbie, and held up his index finger. Yes, Robbie’s rescue was first. Taking cautious steps as they signaled their plan, Pediah, who’d been closer, slowly reached out and touched Robbie’s arm. Robbie looked down at the touch, then at Pediah, and shook his head. “Can’t move. Terrified.” Robbie shook his head again. Not terrified. Petrified. Thomas leaned in and whispered, “Time to go, kid.” Robbie shook his head, as Pediah and Thomas nodded. “Can’t do it” met “Yes you can.”

  Robbie, Thomas, and Pediah watched as the creature lifted one giant foot and set it down with a crash. Their plan could work, but only if they could get behind it somehow. Robbie wished he could make himself invisible. No one moved. They held their breath as the creature drew closer, then turned suddenly as if it had heard a noise. With its back turned, Thomas motioned the plan to Robbie quickly: that with the creature distracted, he would grab the scrolls and drum with Alexia, and that Robbie, Pediah, and Abby were to move quickly and quietly back to the other side of the massive doors.

  Alexia and Abby had watched the plan hatch and understood their part in it. But, Alexia raised one finger to Thomas, pointing to herself and then the drum. She was closest. She would grab the drum. Thomas nodded, and wondered how he’d both get the scrolls and help get Robbie moved to safety. He couldn’t do both, so he caught Abby’s eye and mouthed scrolls. She looked down. They were by the drum. She and Alexia would grab the artifacts.

  Choreographed to perfection, the group retreated back to the main chamber as Thomas threw more stone chips to distract the mighty beast. Alexia handed the drum to Thomas who handed it to Robbie. “Here! Take this!” Robbie took hold of it, still dazed from his rescue and from the giant apelike creature. His on screen personality gone, Robbie was quiet and simply nodded his understanding.

  Thomas shouted to Abby, “Tell those guys to get a move on. Time to go!” He drew his Walther PPK, which he’d brought just in case. He leveled the gun at the creature, hesitant to fire. He didn’t want to piss it off any more than it already was.

  The creature lumbered towards the doors and lunged, swiping at Thomas with its great claws. That was all the invitation Thomas needed.

  Some new voices echoed through the cave. More flashlights being swung around wildly and reflecting off the water drew the attention of both the Kisgar and Thomas.

  Without thinking, Thomas fired a shot over the Kisgar’s head. It roared in frustration. Thomas locked eyes with it and moved to try to get behind it. He was on dangerous ground, he knew, but the others had to get to safety. The Kisgar, unused to bright lights, looked around to get a lock on their source. Pediah’s spelunking team had arrived.

  Thomas felt, rather than saw, their nerves turned to mush at the sight of the Kisgar. Then he laughed, a madman’s laugh, as he heard Abby shout at the newly arrived team. “Keep your heads on, guys!” Then, to Alexia, “Tell them to hurry and pull everyone up to safety!”

  “I’m on it, Abby!” hollered Alexia.

  “Good! Grab onto the ropes! Now!” she commanded.

  “Workin’ on it, Abs. I’m a little busy!” Thomas volleyed in answer. He ducked and jumped back as the Kisgar swung again. It aimed too high. Thomas’ movements were swift. His gun still in his hand, Thomas raised it once more as another swing grazed the top of his head.

  Crap, it’s learned to judge distance, Thomas thought, feeling strangely detached. Innate survival instincts coursed through him, and man became machine as he dodged and ducked. With each swing its arm drew closer to its target. Thomas had to crouch lower and lower.

  Thomas saw his last chance, as the creature towered over him with its claws raised for a fatal
swipe. Gun still raised, Thomas bent his hand back at an upward angle, aimed, and fired. Yes! Dead in the eye!

  The Kisgar stumbled backward, stunned. It rubbed its eye, as if the bullet were nothing more than a bee sting. It was the distraction Thomas needed. He bolted as fast as his feet would carry him around the pool, toward safety. With one look back at the now mewling Kisgar, Thomas gripped the only remaining rope. His knuckles white with effort as he held on. There had been no time to grab a vest, or grab one of the clamps provided, to help distribute his weight. He’d have to do this old school: hand over fist.

  Thomas’ fingers and palms burned with the effort; his knuckles were white, his fingers red, his palms sweaty. As he dangled above the chamber, he felt a hand begin to slip. His sweaty palm unable to grip. Could he hold on with one hand and wipe one sweaty palm on his pants to dry off? He gritted his teeth, tossing out the idea as soon as he thought of it. The rope bit into his grip. Soon, a slow burn of pain he could compartmentalize for another time became a fire he couldn’t ignore. At last, Thomas cried out in pain.

  “Thomas!” Alexia called. “Thomas, climb up to me. You saved us. Hang on, Thomas!”

  With a strength he didn’t know he had, Thomas began to climb.

  The Kisgar’s howl echoed up through the shaft. Evidently, it had followed Thomas around the pool. As he climbed for all he was worth, the Kisgar grabbed for his foot.

  The team above pulled on the rope. The vicious claws missed Thomas by just a few inches.

  Thomas pulled himself up hand over fist, as the rescue team kept pulling the rope, until at last he was on solid ground. Amid cheers and clapping, not caring what anyone thought, Thomas pulled Alexia close into a tight embrace.

  The others quieted down. Then Abby, Robbie, and Pediah joined them in a large group hug. Pediah turned to his spelunking team and hugged them and shook their hands. Much back slapping ensued. Alexia and Thomas turned to the comms team that had coordinated the rescue efforts, thanked them, and shook their hands. Abby hugged everyone she met.

 

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