“Looking for something?” the boy asked, his large brown eyes widening as he took in Paul’s leather loafers.
“Not quite the right footwear for around here huh?” Paul shook his right foot, snatching the boy’s gaze back up to his face.
The boy shook his head with a sheepish smile, sandy brown curls bouncing as they fell over his eyes.
“I just moved here with my daughter Hannah, and our moving truck hasn’t made it yet,” Paul explained, gesturing around the store. “Thought I’d grab a pair of steel toed boots while I’m here, think you can point me in the right direction?” he asked, baiting the boy with friendly conversation before he asked his real question.
“Oh sure!” the boy smiled wide, holding up his own right foot. “I just got these for Christmas. Sam ordered them especially for me. I’m sure he could order you a pair too, but if you don’t wanna wait, I think he has some over on aisle twenty,” the boy pointed somewhere over his shoulder and to his left.
“Thank You,” Paul nodded, pretending to start that way before stopping suddenly. “Actually you know…” he paused, pulling out his wallet. “Maybe you could help me with something else. How old are you?” he asked, hoping the boy was of age.
“I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks,” the boy answered automatically, a proud smile on his face.
“Well I’m Paul, and I’m the new mine inspector for Golden Wonder. Now I don’t know how your parents would feel about you doing any actual mining, but I’ve got plenty of jobs that need doing around the mine, and my men are already shorthanded. I was wondering if you’d…”
“I’d love a job! Name’s Caleb,” he stuck out his hand, shaking Paul’s enthusiastically. “My father used to work the mine before it closed, but now he’s over in the city at a desk job he hates. He says the mine’s just gonna close again anyways, but…”
“It’s not closing,” Paul assured Caleb, stopping his rambling before he could get started good. “Tell you what, after I find this guy Jennings, why don’t you come on over and I’ll get you all the paperwork to fill out. You’ll need your parents to sign since you’re under eighteen, but I’ll be sure to put in there that you won’t be in the tunnels, if that makes a difference,” Paul offered, immediately noticing the boy’s change of expression.
“You say Jennings,” Caleb’s tone was hushed, his brown eyes widening as he looked over his shoulder down the empty aisle.
“Yeah, I need to find him and…”
“No one’s goes up to Eagles Point,” Caleb shook his head, his brow knitted in confusion. “Why do you need to see him anyway?”
“Do you know him then?” Paul ignored the question, pulling his wallet from his back pocket.
“Well…not exactly. I mean I’ve lived here all my life, so I’ve heard the rumors. He used to work with my dad before…” Caleb trailed off, guilt flooding his features as Sam walked past with another crate of oranges.
“Look,” Paul pulled twenty dollars free from the bills stuffed in his wallet and held it up for Caleb to take. “I just need directions; don’t want to go getting you in trouble or anything,” he shrugged, trying for a smile.
It didn’t ease the boy completely, but he snatched the money and shoved it in his pocket with another glance over his shoulder.
“Drive east, and just follow the eagles,” Caleb, pointed up at the store’s ceiling. “Once you see them from the road, look for a turn on your left. It’s so overgrown now you might miss it, but there’s a tree that got struck by lightning a while back, plum tore the bark off that sucker. If you pass that, then you’ve gone too far,” Caleb shook his head as Paul gave his shoulder an easy punch.
“Thanks and I’ll see you in a few hours then,” he nodded at Caleb, tucking his wallet back into his pocket.
“Wait,” Caleb grabbed his shoulder, releasing immediately when Sam walked past again, this time, his arms empty. “I wouldn’t go there if I were you,” he whispered, his cheeks flushing red as his eyes lowered. “It’s not like I believe it or anything, but rumor has it that there’s a crazy old mountain man up there that eats people. He lives in the trees and can you see you coming from at least a mile away. Some say that it’s Jennings up there. He went crazy or something,” Caleb shrugged, his eyes locking with Sam as he stopped at the top of the aisle to stare at the two of them now.
“I’ll see you later,” Paul winked, ignoring the disapproving looking from Sam as he passed, heading towards the door.
He could feel eyes on his back as he crossed the graveled parking lot and climbed into ‘Big Red’, starting the old Jeep like a pro this time. He hoped he hadn’t gotten the boy into trouble, but he was grasping at straws here, and he hadn’t even put in a full day’s work yet. If Jennings knew something about the tunnel collapses, then Paul was going to find out.
**********
East was a very general direction to drive in, but half way between Hinsdale and Lake City, just as Caleb said, Paul spotted a lone bald eagle high above the trees, its wing span larger than any he’d ever seen on those type birds. It soared gracefully, its head turned downward ever so slightly when Paul slowed the noisy Jeep to an almost crawl.
Every tree looked the same on either side of the road, but it wasn’t too long before he spotted one in particular that definitely stood out among the rest. Broken limbs, lay where they had fallen in the ditch, pale white flesh visible where tough thick bark should have been. Strange that the entire thing hadn’t caught on fire considering the long jagged scorch marks marring it’s center. Even with such a nasty scar, it survived, fresh sprouts curling their way outward from the lower limbs. He’d gone too far.
Paul looked in front of him and behind before turning the Jeep around in the road, heading back the way he’d come. He immediately saw why he’d missed the side road before, its entrance nearly completely blocked by brush that grew up from the bank. The Jeep groaned in protest as he maneuvered it into what was about to be an incredibly steep climb, downshifting to give him traction on all four wheels.
Through the windshield, he could see that another eagle had joined the one he’d seen earlier, both of them seeming to follow over the treetops as the Jeep rocked him back and forth. How this had ever been considered a road he would never know. Jagged rock jutted out from every which way, his tires narrowly avoiding being punctured several times as he swerved to avoid them. The higher he went, the thicker the forest became, until suddenly the road ended all together, a massive trunk fallen across what looked to be a stone blockade.
Paul cursed under his breath as he pulled the emergency brake and shut the Jeep off, his gaze peering through the trees to see if the birds were still overhead. They were, glimpses of them anyway and there were five now that he could see, their calls sharp and piercing as he climbed from the truck and slammed the door. Never had he seen this many eagles in one place, and it was almost as if they were guarding something, their dips bringing them lower and lower under he heard the rustle of leaves from the utmost branches above him.
“Guess I’m footing it from here,” Paul kicked at a rock with his loafers, immediately shaking his head at the shooting pain in his toe.
He should have followed Caleb’s advice and just bought a pair of the boots the one stop shop already had in stock. His loafers were not cut out for this terrain, and they proved as much as he slipped and slid his way over moss, shrubs and vines, falling more than once to his hands and knees before he finally found himself at the top of the hill, his khakis and shirt ruined with dirt and a few rips.
“Oh my…” Paul’s mouth fell open as his gaze lifted to the tops of the trees circling the clearing on the hill.
They were everywhere! Small ones, large ones, babies, and a few really big ones, all perched and staring him down as if he’d just intruded. The first screaming call alerted him that an alarm had been sounded, the several that followed set him on a dead run, across the tiny clearing to the only shelter that he could see, and it was in a tree!
He’d never make it, Paul realized, throwing his hands up over his head as he dove for the ground away from the talons of the first swooping bird. They were everywhere, circling him, blackening out the bright blue sky with their dark fully spread wings. Their screams overpowered his own, his arms and legs kicking as they swooped down towards him over and over again. He thought of Hannah, at the cabin all alone, and prayed that this wouldn’t be his fate: to be killed by a flock of birds!
Paul grabbed for the only thing that he could reach –his left loafer- pulling it from his foot and hurling it as hard as he could. The birds immediately scattered, a high shriek piercing the air just as Paul righted himself.
“STOP!” a gruff voice bellowed from behind him, and Paul swung on his heels, his fist thrown up ready to meet his challenger.
“Who are you?” the man demanded, thick hairy arms folding over his bare chest as he looked Paul over from head to toe. “You’re trespassing,” he added before Paul could answer, his tone menacing as he took another step forward.
Paul didn’t know whether to be more shocked at the man’s state of undress, or the fact that the rumors seemed to be true. Black beady eyes, sunken cheeks, and a thin pointed nose was all that he could see through the mass of wild hair covering the man’s face and head. Besides that he didn’t have on a stitch of clothing, his feet bare and crusted over from years of wear.
“I…I’m…well I was looking for Eagle’s Point,” Paul stammered, his heart hammering in his chest as his gaze darted nervously to the birds that had all returned to their perch. “Uh…I was told that I could find Jennings up here,” he added when the man said nothing, pointing to the strange tilted structure built high up in the trees behind him.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” the man shook his head, stalking past Paul without a second glance. “Leave!” he bellowed, his hand thrown up in a dismissive wave.
“Wait!” Paul called out, starting after him at a safe distance. “I’m the new mine inspector, Paul Adler. I just had a few questions about…”
“The mine isn’t safe!” the man snapped, spinning around so fast that Paul stopped immediately in his tracks. “Now leave.”
“But I was told that you could tell me exactly why the mine isn’t safe. That’s what I’m trying to get to the bottom of,” Paul explained weakly, shrinking back when the man rose to his full height.
“All you city folk coming around here just asking for trouble. I learned my lesson the hard way, and before you have to learn yours I suggest you go. It isn’t worth losing the town over!”
“That’s the second person that said that today. Rone…uh…Rone Bear, he’s one of my men,” Paul started, but snapped his mouth shut at the piercing gaze that locked with his.
“Well if Rone said that, then you don’t need to hear it again from me...”
“So you are Jennings then…?” Paul pressed, aggravated that this was turning out to be yet another dead end.
“Eagle Jennings,” the man confirmed with an uncertain nod, his thick brows knitting together at the look Paul threw back at him.
“Your first name is Eagle, and you live at Eagle’s Point, up here with all these…well…uh…eagles,” Paul stated the obvious, immediately wishing he hadn’t. “Just a little ironic,” he explained with a slight shake of his head, taking a step back when Jennings mouth drew into a hard line.
“You should go,” Jennings murmured, his gaze falling on something over Paul’s left shoulder.
Paul turned to look with him, but saw nothing but the trees and the birds filling them, watching them both.
“Look I just wanted to know…”
“The mine stole my son away from me alright!” Jennings snapped. “He was never found, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to stop it from happening over and over again. You want some answers, well there it is. Close the mine! Now get off my property!” he roared, his stale breath washing over Paul’s face as their noses almost touched this time.
Paul stumbled back in confusion, watching as the man turned and stormed away, into the trees on the other side of the clearing. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled when he realized that he was once again alone with over a hundred birds watching, their calls starting up again the second Jennings disappeared. Paul didn’t need a warning this time, he ran at a full sprint, scooping up his discarded loafer just before dashing into the safety of the woods.
He could hear them overhead, screeching and calling to each other as he began his descent back down to where he’d parked ‘Big Red’. This was turning out to be the day from hell. No wonder his salary had been doubled, and his living expenses taken care of. This town had more secrets than he cared to imagine, and it all had something to do with the mine, but no one was talking. He had to get to the bottom of this fast. Mike was expecting his first report by the end of the week.
**********
Rone watched from the edge of the woods as the new mine inspector scrambled to get to safety. The thrown loafer had made him chuckle, but seeing his new boss run with one shoe on, one shoe off, a look of pure terror on his face had been priceless. It had almost doused the irritated mood he’d been in since storming off from the mine, but not quite.
It had been too long since he’d come to see his old friend, and he hated to admit that it was because he was spying on him, but he didn’t have to tell Jennings that. Rone approached the clearing at an easy walk, his head lifting to the sky for the approach he knew would come. Massive wings blocked the sun’s light for a moment as the bird circled, talons bared as he glided and then landed with a skidding slide, unearthing chunks of rich green moss and dirt in his wake.
Why now? Jennings pushed the thought forward, putting blocks up around the pain that he didn’t want his friend to see.
I can’t check on you? Rone asked innocently enough, but knew that the small talk wouldn’t get him far.
You send him up here? Jennings’s tone was accusing in Rone’s head, his beady eyes narrowing as he met his friends honest stare.
No! Rone shook his head once, a dull roar deep in his chest to warn Jennings that he knew better than to ask something like that.
I’m not coming back, if that’s why you’re here…
It’s not… Rone interrupted the thought. I just wanted to make sure that you didn’t…tell him anything…
Of course not! You wouldn’t think that I…
Your boy… Rone stopped the defensive tone in Jennings’s voice, immediately crushed by the weight of his friend’s pain that slipped through the chink in his barrier. We’ve all made sacrifices… I just don’t want you to think that by helping that inspector, you’d be helping your son…He’s gone, and I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know, but remember the covenant…
How could I ever forget?! Jennings snapped, a single tear slipping down onto his beak.
Rone heard the words, but saw the wheels turning in his friend’s head. The small hope that blasting deeper into the mine would allow him to find his son. He saw the wishful thought of them being reunited, and then nothing just as another block was thrown up.
We’d never be able to stop them… Rone reminded his friend. Not all of us can fly away from our problems... he added, hating the stinging words despite the fact that it hit its mark true enough to bring clarity into Jennings’s head.
He’s bear. Did you know that? And he has a daughter, Jennings spat, enjoying the glimmer of hope that popped into Rone’s head and then quickly dissipated when a cold dash of reality swept in.
That was another time, Rone shook his head. Their spirits can’t remember what the body won’t allow.
You don’t know that!
Well I’m not about to try! Have you lost your mind! This is the way it’s been for centuries…
Have you asked Jake what he wants? Jennings challenged, his gaze falling to the ground for a moment. Maybe if I’d given my son a choice… Maybe he would have chosen the human life… Maybe he would have moved away from here and neve
r gone down into that god forsaken…
You can’t think like that!
But you can! Especially when you have a son coming into his eighteenth year. Don’t make the same mistake that I did Rone. How many humans have you met over the last century with bear blood? If he’s bear then his daughter is at least half bear. If you planned it…
Enough! I’m not going to listen to this nonsense, Rone snapped, his outward roar startling a few of the watching eagles from their perches.
Fine, Jennings conceded, bowing gracefully to his leader as the bear did the same. Have it your way.
Chapter 6:
Hannah hurried to get the table set just as she heard ‘Big Red’ rumble to a stop in front of the cabin. After her run, she’d spent two full hours, dusting, mopping and scrubbing the kitchen and living room until everything in it glistened against the rays of afternoon sunshine pouring in through the now shiny window panes. She had yet to get to either of the bedrooms, but was pleased with the homey touches she’d added to the drab living space, fresh picked flowers from the edge of the woods, now decorating the counter and two window sills available. Her dad had been right about the garden. Upon closer inspection Hannah had discovered fresh spinach, radishes and a few sprigs of parsley growing along with the other vegetables waiting to be gathered. The house smelled liked she’d cooked a feast, when really all she’d done was throw everything in a pot, mixing together a vegetable soup that was mouthwatering. A few slices of whole wheat bread in the oven, and dinner would be ready within a few minutes of her father walking in the door.
Paul Adler tucked in his ruined shirt, smoothing his clothing as best he could before turning his key in the lock. He didn’t want to worry Hannah, and he’d been gone for much longer than he’d promised he would. His trip back to the mine had at least brought him a few more workers, Caleb now part of the Golden Wonder team along with two drifters that had heard there was work available. The smirks on the miner’s faces when he’d returned in his bedraggled state had almost made him wonder if they’d known that Jennings would never talk to him from the get go. They’d offered no assistance when he’d taken the mile long descent into the fourth level of newly blasted tunnels, Finn his only guide in searching the two latest collapses for clues. It had been a long day, and it was only when he walked in the door and smelled the delicious aroma filling the tiny cabin that he remembered that he’d forgotten to go grocery shopping like he’d planned.
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