Knights of the Golden Circle

by Eugene Lloyd MacRae

  The ping off the roof of the vehicle made Rory duck. He crouched and looked back along the side of the vehicle. Two riders! They were about one hundred yards apart and kicking up clouds of dust as they galloped towards the far end of the dam.

  Crack! Crack!

  Rory ducked again but realized those were shots from a handgun and not rifle shots. And they had come from behind him. He whirled around, fearfully expecting to see more riders.

  Donna-Lou had her Glock19 in both hands, aiming across the river at the riders. She pulled the trigger again and again.

  Crack! Crack!

  Rory turned back and looked in the direction of the riders. They had turned their horses quickly and were heading back to the top of the ridge.

  Behind him, Chet yelled, his voice still faint over the roar of the river, "Rory, get in and drive."

  Rory spun back on his heels.

  Corry and Chet were kneeling on the old dam boards and working to extend a long wooden board across the gap towards the Range Rover. There was another loose board lying beside them. He realized what they were doing. They were estimating the width of the Range Rover and setting the board in place opposite the three boards that were left. They were creating a ramp for the tires that he could drive across. Getting the first board in place across the gap, Corry and Chet began pushing the second board across the gap, next to the first.

  Rory took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Maybe he could drive across. But there was only one way to find out. He climbed back into the Range Rover and backed up slowly, the old dam creaking in agony. Back far enough now, Rory cranked the wheel, the boards under the tires protesting, and he drove ten feet to the left and then straightened the big vehicle out.

  As Corry used hand signals to help him position the tires, Chet worked to slide the two boards a little closer to the other three. A moment later, Corry began waving him forward.

  Rory did his best to stay calm. It was all up to them–

  Chet jumped up into his view and put up his hand to stop.

  Rory applied the brakes and rocked forward from the force.

  Corry and Chet disappeared for a brief moment to reposition the boards. Then they popped up again, waving him forward.

  Rory held his breath as he applied the gas slowly. He felt the front tires bump slightly as they climbed on top of the boards. Inching forward, he felt the back wheels bump up. He was now on the boards. Which meant he was on the gap and over the water below.

  He was waved forward again.

  Rory applied the gas slowly, watching Corry and Chet intently for the slightest sign he was not straight enough. He could hear the rushing waters of the river below. The slightest mistake would put him at the bottom.

  The shuddering of the platform started again. The boards under the tires began to bend under the weight of the Range Rover, threatening to crack in the middle and send vehicle and driver into the river.

  Clenching his jaw, Rory maintained his focus, shutting out the sounds of the old wood groaning and the rushing water calling from below. He couldn't afford any distractions.

  Crack! Ping.

  Rory swore. The riders back on the ridge held the range, accuracy and power advantage with their rifles. Rory had no choice. He gunned the engine and pushed the vehicle across the gap. The front tires bumped down and then the back wheels. He slowed just enough to let Corry and Chet jump in.

  Chet yelled even before the pulled the door shut, "Hurry, hurry, we gotta go."

  Rory gunned the engine, rolling fast across the clattering boards.

  "You two are crazy," Rory yelled with a big smile on his face.

  "I almost peed myself," Corry said from the back seat.

  Chet bounced in the passenger seat and looked back, "Almost? I did."

  Corry let out a big belly laugh.

  Rory kept his speed up, the engine growling as they shot across the shuddering platform.

  Crack!

  Crack! Ping.

  Chet swore and ducked down.

  "Hurry, hurry, hurry," Corry yelled from the floor behind Chet's seat.

  Planks and supporting beams fell away behind them, plunging into the river below.

  The vehicle came off the old boards of the dam and hit the bank on the other side of the river with a thud.

  Rory swish-tailed to a stop in the dirt.

  Donna-Lou and Emma jumped in the back doors and were thrown against the seats as Rory accelerated away from the river and the armed riders on the other side.

  "You better not do that again, young man," Donna-Lou yelled.

  "But we had to do something, mom," Corry protested.

  "You're my hero," Emma said to Corry.

  Corry rolled his eyes.

  "What about me?" Chet asked as he looked back over the car seat.

  Donna-Lou shook her head, "Okay, you're my hero."

  A big grin lit up Chet's face.

  Then the grin was gone as the sound of a deafening rumble roared in pursuit the vehicle.

  Chapter 38

  RORY KEPT THE GAS PEDAL to the floor. The growl of the Range Rover's 510 horsepower, supercharged engine could barely be heard above the immense roar that felt like it was engulfing them from behind. The big vehicle fishtailed but Rory brought it back under control and the Range Rover bounced hard twice before it began climbing the steep hill and away from the river bank. At the top of the rise, Rory hit the brakes and slid to a sideways stop.

  Everyone in the Range Rover turned to look back down at the river. Hundreds of broken boards and heavy timbers tumbled over the rapids.

  Chet stretched to take a look, "The upper part of the dam is gone on this side. That's what that noise was."

  The two riders appeared on the top of the ridge again on the far side of the river. The horses pawed the ground anxiously as the two riders surveyed the damage to the dam below.

  "The loss of the dam will slow them down," Rory said, "but I have a feeling it won't be long before more of them are chasing us on this side."

  "Maybe they'll have their horses swim across," Emma said.

  Corry shook his head, "No, I think that's too far for them."

  "Let's not wait around to find out," Rory reasoned. He took his foot off the brake and applied the gas as he steered to the right. The 7,000-pound vehicle moved over the ridge, out of sight of the riders, and then smoothly across a grass field as they headed south.

  Donna-Lou sat back against the seat, pushing the hair back from her face, looking relieved, "What are we going to do now?"

  Rory didn't answer right away. "That's a good question," he said after a few moments of thinking. "I'm open to suggestions. I'm not sure we can go back to Golden right now. I guess we could go to Atlanta and regroup. Come back at another time."

  Corry leaned forward, "But what about the nuclear weapon they want to buy?"

  That sober thought made everyone go quiet. They all knew the consequences if the Knights of the Golden Circle found the treasure first. But what else could they do right now? Rather than steer into the heavy forest ahead, Rory steered to the right and stayed in the open, hoping to put as much distance between them and the pursuing riders. The terrain became more rugged as Rory steered to the Southwest but the Range Rover handled it easily. It smoothly climbed a hill, skirting the forest as it bounced over rocks and fallen branches.

  Corry suddenly began yelling, "Stop, stop, stop."

  Rory slammed on the brakes and they shuddered to a stop.

  Donna-Lou shot forward from her seat, putting her hands on her son in alarm, "What's wrong, Corry? What's wrong?"

  But Corry didn't tell her. Instead, he turned in his seat, his hand windmilling frantically as he yelled, "Back up, back up, back up."

  Rory looked to the back, put the big vehicle in reverse and began to back up. He glanced at Chet, wondering what had Corry so animated.

  Chet shrugged and looked back, "What's wrong, Corry? What is it?"

  Corry didn't say anything. His han
d just continued to windmill, urging Rory to continue backing up. Then he put his hand up, "Stop, stop, stop!"

  Rory slammed the brakes on and the big Range Rover slid to a stop on the grass.

  The vehicle had barely come to a stop before Corry was out the back door and running towards the trees on the left.

  Emma jumped out behind him, running hard through the half-foot of grass.

  "Corry! Emma!" Donna-Lou exclaimed. She climbed across the seat, jumped out the open door and ran after the kids.

  Rory put the car in park and jumped out, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watched the kids run across the grass, chased frantically by Donna-Lou.

  Jumping out, Chet ran to the end of the vehicle and stood there, "What in the world is wrong with him?"

  "I have no idea. But he sure is in a hurry."

  As soon as Chet took off at a run, Rory did the same.

  Corry didn't stop running until he reached a large, southern red oak tree. He ran his hand over the old, rough bark.

  Emma and Donna-Lou stopped a couple of feet away from the tree, looking at Corry. Chet and Rory stopped just behind them and they all exchanged glances, still unsure what this was all about.

  A moment later, Chet stepped forward and looked at the section of bark that Corry was concentrating on, "What did you find?"

  Pumping his fist, Corry said, "Yeah. It's a treasure sign."

  Carved into the bark was the image of an upside down cross.

  Chet placed his hand almost reverentially on the carving, "He's right. I've heard of this one...but I've never seen one before."

  Emma ran up and looked at Corry, her eyes shining with excitement, "What does this sign mean, Corry? Huh? What does it mean?"

  Corry ran his hands over the carving, "It's a direction sign. It means, if we go ahead in the direction the top of the cross points to, that means back towards the river, we'll find another sign." Corry stepped back and took a look along the tree line to the south and then turned in a circle, "We'll probably find other signs around here somewhere, too."

  Donna-Lou crossed her arms at the mention of more signs, looking uncomfortable.

  Rory looked at Chet, "Is he right about that?"

  Chet nodded as he backed up a step, hitched up his pants and looked along the tree line himself, "He's right. Two or more signs usually converge on a point." Chet took a few more steps and then turned, put his hands in his pocket and looked like he was doing some serious thinking. A moment later, he shook his head softly, "Although, I have to say, Corry...I've never heard anybody ever talk about treasure signs on this side of the river."

  Corry looked at Chet and shrugged, "Maybe nobody ever looked."

  "Maybe," Chet conceded. "I know I never came on this side of the river."

  "Me neither," Corry said. "But we are now."

  Rory stepped between them, looking from Chet to Corry, "Are you two positive enough that these are treasure signs? Are you sure enough, that we take the time to look for the other signs–?"

  Donna-Lou threw her hands in the air, "Oh come on, people. We have men chasing us, trying to kill us and we're going to stop and look for treasure signs?"

  Corry held his hands out to her, "But we have to mom–"

  Shooting him a stern look, Donna-Lou said, "No. We can get to safety and then Rory and Chet can come back."

  "But mom–"

  "I don't want you hurt. And I don't want Emma hurt," Donna-Lou added emphatically.

  "And I don't want anybody hurt if they blow up a bomb," stated Corry with firmness.

  Donna-Lou crossed her arms as she looked at her son. Then she looked at Chet for help.

  Chet put his hands in his pockets and he shrugged, "Sometimes doing the right thing isn't always the easy thing."

  Donna-Lou bit her lip and closed her eyes in frustration.

  "Please, mom."

  Donna-Lou blew a strand of hair away from her face and finally nodded.

  Corry pumped his fist, "All right." He looked at Chet, "Let's go and see if we can figure out where this spot is on the topographical map. We can get the exact longitude and latitude for each sign from the GPS in the Range Rover. Right?"

  Chet nodded and then looked at Donna-Lou as her son ran for the Range Rover.

  Donna-Lou just gave a sharp gesture with her head and her voice was quiet, "Get going. You boys have work to do."

  Chet looked like he wanted to say or do something but he just stood there awkwardly for a moment. Then he turned and followed Corry to the vehicle.

  "Still gotta work on your man," Emma said.

  Donna-Lou nodded, "Both the big one and the little one."

  Rory shook his head, "This is getting too complicated for me."

  Emma giggled.

  Chapter 39

  USING THE GPS SYSTEM and the topographical map, it didn't take long before Chet and Corry were able to mark the exact location of the cross carved into the bark of the tree. They also marked a line with the direction it was pointing in. Then everyone piled in, Rory put the Range Rover into gear and they began searching for additional signs. Rory drove slowly between the trees and everyone kept an eye out on the front, back and sides. The windows were down and the scent of pine mixed with the smell of the rich earth. Dry leaves crunched under the tires, songbirds serenaded their passage and chipmunks chattered, telling them they were trespassing on their domain. It took twenty minutes of slow, methodical driving in patterns back and forth before the treasure hunters found something.

  It was Emma who yelled, "There's one."

  Rory quickly pulled to a stop and everyone piled out.

  "It's an arrow," Corry yelled back over his shoulder as he ran hard for an old, Red-Maple tree. His hand caressed the carving in the bark.

  Chet stood back, looked at the sign and stuck his arm out, "It's pointing in that direction. And it looks like it's going to cross with the direction line of the other one we found."

  Corry nodded eagerly, "You're right. Let's mark this one on the map and see if it does. Or where else it goes."

  Chet agreed. Back at the Range Rover, he worked with Corry to mark the exact location of this new treasure sign on the topographical map. Chet drew a line across the map.

  Emma jumped up and down in excitement, "It does cross the other one. It's almost like an X on a treasure map."

  Rory looked at Chet and Corry, "Emma is right. Should we head for that spot where they intersect?"

  Corry didn't hesitate and he shook his head no, "Nope. I think we should go look for another sign."

  "I agree," Chet said. "Even though we're getting the exact longitude and latitude for each sign, the lines we're marking are still fairly approximate. The more signs we can find that converge on a spot, the more accurate an area we have to search."

  "Okay, then lets all climb aboard and start looking again," Rory said.

  IF WAS THIRTY MINUTES before another sign popped up.

  And again it was Emma who yelled, "I see one. I got another. We just passed it."

  Corry quickly looked to where she was pointing. "Yeah, I see it. And I think it means we have to go back," Corry said to Rory.

  Rory stopped, reversed and drove backward.

  "Stop," Emma yelled. She jumped out with Corry as soon as Rory applied the brakes. Together, they ran eagerly back to another Red-Maple tree.

  Chet and Donna-Lou jumped out to join the kids with Rory not far behind.

  Everyone spent a few minutes feeling the carving in the bark.

  "That one looks like a backwards three," Donna-Lou murmured as her fingers followed the indentations.

  "It is," Chet confirmed. "And Corry is right. It means we have to go back, we missed something back there."

  Rory looked surprised, "I thought you just meant you wanted me to back up to the sign. You mean we really have to backtrack?"

  "Yep," Corry said. "We missed a sign or signs back there somewhere."

  "Okay," Rory said, "we can do that. Do you want to mark th
is one down first?"

  Chet nodded his head, "We should. We can always start back here if we don't find something."

  Corry and Chet marked the spot for the sign on the map then everyone climbed back into the Range Rover.

  "Head back that way," Chet instructed as he jerked his thumb over his shoulder.

  Rory nodded and he turned the vehicle in a circle around the Red-Maple and headed back through the trees. He went slower this time, threading his way through and around the trees. Everyone was quiet as they all intently focused on every possible mark in the bark on every tree they passed.

  "I see one," Donna-Lou yelled after 10 minutes. She was looking out the window and towards the back of the vehicle.

  Rory stopped and everyone turned, looking at where she was pointing.

  "Where mom?" Corry asked as his head swiveled back and forth.

  "I see it," Chet said and he was instantly out of the vehicle.

  "Oh yeah, I see it too," Corry said finally. "Good eye, mom," he said as he sprang from the vehicle and ran for the tree.

  Everyone else piled out of the vehicle and joined Chet and Corry as they examined the image carved into the bark of a large, old tree.

  "That one is pointing back away from the river," Donna-Lou said. "We have to go back again?"

  Corry looked at his mother, shaking his head with a big grin on his face.

  "Why not?" Donna-Lou asked. "The arrow is pointing back that way–"

  "That's what they want you to think," Corry said.

  Chet looked at Donna-Lou and nodded his head, a smile on his face as well, "Remember the other arrow didn't have the tail like this one?

  Donna-Lou looked at the sign for a moment and then nodded to Chet, "Okay...?"

  "That means this one is a reverse sign. When you first go looking for treasure, the other kids who know how they work, they usually have a great time watching you going in the wrong direction."

  "Mom. There are other ones, like the turtle one that's also a reverse sign," Corry said. "You just have to know these things."

  "Even I know that one," Emma announced.