Donna-Lou looked at Rory, raising her eyebrows, "Did you know that?"
Rory shook his head, "Nope. Not a clue. Not...a...clue."
"So, I'm not the only one," Donna-Lou said and she stuck her tongue out at Emma.
Emma giggled.
Chet hitched up his pants, "Let's get this one marked on the map and see what we have." He and Corry determined the coordinates for the sign, placed it on the map and then they drew another line.
Donna-Lou was watching them work and she said, "All three signs cross and make a small triangle on the map."
Corry gave her a confident nod, "And that is the area we need to search for another sign."
Looking over at Rory, Donna-Lou gave him a playful smirk, "Another one I figured out."
Rory just held his hands out and shrugged, "I'm just the driver so I don't have to have a clue. Right, Emma?"
Emma put her hands to her mouth and giggled.
Chapter 40
CHET AND CORRY guided Rory as he drove through the forest and back towards the river. Everyone had their weapon out now and the tension was high as they kept a continual watch for the slightest sign of a rifle-carrying horseman or any other armed threat. It took several hours of weaving back and forth to cover the area of the forest contained within the triangle of the three converging lines, formed by the three treasure signs. There were a number of false sightings before something significant appeared.
"I see something dead ahead," Rory said as he pointed over the steering wheel. Everyone leaned forward, eager to see what he had spotted. Rory pulled to a stop twenty feet away from a huge maple tree.
"Wow," Corry said. He was out of the vehicle in a flash and ran for the tree, stopping dead in front of it.
Emma was out running hard right behind him and came to a stop on his left.
Chet ran but slower, struggling to keep his pants up so he wouldn't trip over his droopy pant legs. He stopped on Corry's right.
Rory and Donna-Lou met at the front of the vehicle and gave each other a shake of their head at the enthusiasm of their fellow treasure hunters.
"I know that one," Donna-Lou said as she walked up to stand behind her son. He was now tracing the sign in the heavy, rough bark with his fingers. She put her hands on her hips, "Okay. That's a turtle sign. Which means it's a reverse sign. We go in the opposite direction of the head."
"You got it, mom," Corry said proudly.
Chet put a hand on Corry's shoulder, "Notice something else about it, Corry?"
Corry nodded as he touched the head carved in the bark, "Yep." He looked up at Chet, "And that's why they can't find the treasure."
Chet gave him a return nod of affirmation.
Donna-Lou moved to the side of the others to get a better view, crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head this way and that as she looked at the carving.
Rory moved up behind her, trying to get a better view as well and a better understanding of how the signs worked.
Glancing back at him, Donna-Lou gave a slight shrug and then looked at her son, "Okay. For us rookie treasure hunters, what do you mean that's why they can't find the treasure?"
Emma looked from Donna-Lou to Corry, giggling and tugging at his sleeve, "Go ahead, tell them."
Corry looked at his mother, pointing to the sign, "Do you notice how the head is broken in the center?"
Reaching out, Donna-Lou traced the carving's head, "It's not a complete circle, you mean?"
"Right. That means the treasure was moved by someone to a new location."
Donna-Lou considered that stunning revelation for a moment. Then she gestured in the direction of the river, "You mean someone actually moved the treasure over there...to another location?"
Corry nodded, "Yep."
She narrowed her eyes, thinking for a moment. Then she shook her head, "But I don't get it. Why would the Knights of the Golden Circle be guarding this entire area, running people off if it wasn't here anymore? Wouldn't they know that?"
Corry looked at Chet, unsure.
Chet only blinked his eyes. Then he said, "Maybe...maybe they're just guarding the signs?" He looked less than convinced, though.
Silence ensued as everyone gave that some thought. Finally, Rory shifted on his feet, scratched the stubble on his face and spoke, "Chet?"
Looking over his shoulder, Chet said, "Yeah?"
Chewing on his lower lip for another moment, Rory then said, "Remember the conversation you had with that guy with the rifle? When you were hiking up to the ridge?"
Chet nodded, "Yeah. Buster Connor." He glanced at Donna-Lou, "I told you about that when we was goin' down to Mississippi. Remember?"
Donna-Lou nodded, "Yeah, you said he was going to kill you."
Looking back at Rory, Chet nodded, "Yeah, what about it...?"
"What did he say about your family? About the killing? And the treasure?"
Looking down for a moment, Chet thought back, "He said...your family said there was too much killing. And...they were in charge of caring for the treasure and–" He looked up, "He said they were going to turn it over to the government. But...."
Rory nodded, "But they obviously didn't. Because the Knights of the Golden Circle are still looking for it. I could be wrong...but...." He glanced at the sign. "That sign says the treasure was moved. He looked at Corry and Emma, "And these two overheard the conversation about a feud, about someone wanting to move the treasure. About traitors who were killed...?"
Chet's face slowly showed the realization of what Rory was saying. He nodded his head slowly, "I bet you're right. And it was my family that was involved. That's why momma didn't want me looking for the treasure. My daddy and my granddaddy were not killed in an accident...or because they were looking for the treasure. They were the ones who moved it." He blinked his eyes for a moment and then looked at Donna-Lou, "Your granddaddy...and all the stuff you had in the attic...the slicker...."
Donna-Lou's hand went to her mouth, "Oh, my. My grandfather died just after yours. He...he must have been working with your family...."
Chet nodded solemnly.
Corry's eyes were big, "Really? He was one of them? The Knights of the Golden Circle? That's why we had that stuff in the trunk?"
Donna-Lou nodded her head softly, still having a hard time taking it all in, "It looks like it."
"Cool beans," Emma said. Then she turned serious, "But...if they moved the treasure, where did it go?"
"That is a good question," Rory said.
"Well, there is another clue," Chet said, his attention going back to the tree, "Do you see the sign under the turtle?"
"You mean the thick circle?" Donna-Lou asked. She stepped forward and traced the circle in the bark with her fingers, "What does this one tell us?"
Chet looked at her son, "Corry?"
Corry looked at the circle, running his fingers into the carving in the bark as well. After a moment he shrugged, "I should know this one...but...."
"What would it be if it was a circle with an X in it?" Chet prompted.
Corry answered instantly, "A mine."
"Okay. So what's this one, then?"
Looking at the sign again, Corry shook his head, "I'm...I'm not sure."
"This one is the sign for...a cave," revealed Chet.
Corry snapped his fingers, "Right, I forgot that one." He pointed at the turtle, "That one means they moved the treasure...and the circle tells us they moved it to a cave."
"Okay, then," Rory said. "If we follow in the direction opposite to where the head is pointing, we find the treasure?"
Chet and Corry looked at each other for a brief moment. Then both of them shook their heads no.
"Why not?
"Because it's pointing away from the other signs across the river," Corry answered. He looked at Chet, "Right?"
Chet nodded.
Rory and Donna-Lou looked at each, confused.
Chet hitched his pants up, "Okay. Keep in mind all the signs in an area work together. Rem
ember how all the signs worked together over on the other side of the river, to show us which sign was the keystone?"
Rory nodded, "That's the one that lined up with the star on the flag, right?
Chet nodded in confirmation, "That's right. And the reason we came on this trip was to figure out exactly where the tree was that had the last sign on it."
"Right," Donna-Lou said, "we needed to find it to figure out where the guide was."
"Exactly. But these signs on the tree aren't pointing to the set of signs over there, so they don't fit in with them," Chet reasoned.
Corry looked around at the trees and then looked at Chet, "The turtle that's over the circle...telling us where the treasure is hidden...that's a reverse sign. That means there must be a complete set of signs on this side of the river that goes with it."
Chet nodded in agreement, "Someone moved the treasure and then created a whole new set of signs on this side. All we have to do is find them and–"
Donna-Lou interrupted him with an angry, concerned tone, "But we don't have the time to look for a whole new set of signs over here. Those riders and anyone else working with them will eventually come over here to find us and...." She didn't want to say it and then it erupted, "Make no mistake. It will be just like what happened to our grandparents, Chet. Those men will hunt us down. Those men will kill us."
"She's right, I'm afraid," admitted Rory.
Chet cursed. "Okay, you're right. But we probably just led them right to the signs that will help them find the treasure."
"And buy the bomb," Emma said in a quiet voice.
No one contradicted her.
"So," Chet said slowly, "what do we do?"
There was a long silence.
It was Corry who spoke up, "Maybe we should just set fire to the forest here and burn up all the signs. That will stop them, right?"
Rory, Donna-Lou, and Chet all looked at him with a resigned look on their faces. It was the only thing that made sense.
Chapter 41
RORY MASSAGED THE BACK OF HIS NECK, contemplating the possibility of setting fire to the Carolina woodland around them. Looking out through the trees, he wondered how far a fire would go, once they started it. Who would be in danger? The cheery songbirds, flitting through the trees, caught his attention and he looked up, wondering what it would be like for them if they had babies in the nests up there. He shook his head. It seemed unfair. Saving lives from an atomic bomb against–
"Hey. Look at this. Hey." The voice was faint, calling to them from farther away.
Everyone looked around. It was Emma. She had called to them, hands at her mouth, from nearly one hundred yards away.
Donna-Lou put a hand to her forehead, concern etched on her face, "How did she get over there?"
Seeing she had caught their attention, Emma turned and ran several feet to a tree and stood there examining it closely, running her hands along the bark.
Donna-Lou called out to her, "Emma. You shouldn't be so far away from us. Come back here."
But the little girl was too mesmerized by whatever she was looking at.
"I'll get her," Donna-Lou said and she took off at a jog. Moving over the grass, she called out to her again, "Emma. Remember the men on the horses, sweetie."
Corry looked at Chet and Rory and then was off at a run, followed by the two of them.
Emma never turned as Donna-Lou reached her. It was evident the little girl hadn't even heard the warnings from Donna-Lou; she was so preoccupied with what she had found.
Donna-Lou put a hand gently on her shoulder, "Emma, you have to be careful–"
Emma glanced at her and pointed at the tree, "I just followed the tail of the turkey back there and look–"
"Turtle," corrected Corry as he arrived beside her.
Emma made a face, "Okay, turtle. Anyway, I found this." She grinned at Corry.
Corry's eyebrows shot up as he put his hands on the carving in the bark.
Chet arrived a moment later, looking at the sign, leaning his head in closer.
Rory caught up and stopped just behind Chet, looking over his shoulder, "What is it–?"
Throwing his right fist in the air, Chet yelled, "Wahoo!"
Donna-Lou looked puzzled as she glanced at Rory, who only shrugged. She looked back at Chet and then at the sign, "Wahoo? Wahoo what, Chet Calhoun? What does that even mean?"
Chet hitched up his pants as he looked at her, his eyes filled with excitement "Don't you get it?" He pointed at the sign, "Look at it, Donna-Lou. Look at it."
Donna-Lou made a face, "Chet Calhoun, if I got it, I wouldn't be asking about it now would I?"
Corry turned to her, just as excited as Chet, his hands out and pleading with her to understand the thrill they were feeling, "Mom, that turtle, and the cave sign back there pointed here. Right here to this spot. And the rider on the horse on this sign is looking back across the river to the other signs. Don't you get it?"
Donna-Lou gave it a moment of serious thought. Then she looked at her son, "So...that means...this sign...and that turtle and the cave sign over there...are part of the signs over there? On the other side of the river, I mean?"
Corry gave her a big smile."You got it, mom. You got it." He held up his hand for a high-five.
Donna-Lou smiled and slapped her hand against his.
"And I found it," Emma said proudly, holding her hand up.
Donna-Lou slapped her hand in a high-five as well, laughing.
Emma turned and held her hand up to Corry.
Corry slapped her hand...and then gave her a big hug.
As he let her go, an excited Emma jumped and pumped her fist in the air, "Wahoo!"
Donna-Lou smiled and laughed. Then she turned deadly serious and put her hands on her hips, "Hold on. Are you telling me we have to go back on the other side of the river?" She waved her arms and said emphatically, "No, no, no. That's not going to happen. I am not taking my son back over there with those madmen looking to kill us."
Chet put his hands up to her, "Hold on, hold on–"
She folded her arms across her chest, "Chet Calhoun. Don't make me hurt you."
A sheepish grin crossed his face, "Just hear me out. Okay? Just hear me out."
Donna-Lou's jaw worked away as she stared at him but she didn't say anything.
Chet pointed to the sign on the tree, "Take a look at the sign that Emma just found. Take a good look at it."
Grudgingly, Donna-Lou looked at it. She shrugged, "Okay. I'm looking. It's like in our yard. A horse and a rider. Both looking ahead."
Nodding, Chet said, "Right. But...we also have a star. Just like the star across the river...?" His eyes were sparkling as he looked from person to person, wondering if they would get it.
Chapter 42
THE BIRDS AND SQUIRRELS sang and chattered as the group stood around, trying to figure out what Chet was talking about. There was a lot of head scratching until it finally hit Rory and he snapped his fingers, "I've got it. We just found the guide."
Chet grinned and hitched up his pants, "Yes, sir. Looks like we did." He looked at Donna-Lou, "And if this works out like I think it will, we may not have to go over there."
Donna-Lou shook her head softly, still not understanding what they were talking about. And then it dawned on and her eyes lit up, "The sign back there indicates all the signs on this side of the river work with all the ones on the other side." She looked at Emma and gave her a smile, "And the sign that Emma followed over here, led us right to the guide."
Emma beamed at her own involvement.
Chet nodded, smiling broadly himself.
Let's test out the theory," Rory said. "I'll go get the Range Rover and bring it here."
A few moments later, Rory drove up beside the tree.
Chet opened the door and reached in for the map before Rory had even stopped. Everyone crowded around as Corry and Chet placed the topographical map on the hood of the Range Rover and added this latest sign from. Then they carefully pla
ced the oilskin over top and added the photocopies of the other signs. Donna-Lou and Rory helped align the Confederate flag over the first star.
"Look," Corry said, "if we move the flag this way...this line of stars on the flag points right to where we just found the rider with the star. And this star fits over the top of the one here on the tree...."
"That's it!" Chet said.
Donna-Lou looked over what they had, "So...if we follow the seam...that's the direction there. It angles northwest and over Cherokee ridge on the other side of the river."
Corry nodded eagerly, "You got it, mom. So, according to the distance sign, that's the bird with the six feathers on it ...we have to go six...somethings...."
"Six somethings?" Donna-Lou asked. "What does that even mean?"
"Well," Chet said slowly, "it could be six miles. Or maybe some other old measurement, like chains, rods or sections that they used to use."
Rory pointed to the bottom of the topographical map, "Okay, the legend here on the bottom of this map gives us a scale for 5 miles." He looked at Emma, "Can you grab the pencil and the magic marker in the Range Rover?"
Emma scooted off and quickly returned.
Rory took the pencil and laid it on the scale. Then he used the magic marker to put a line on the pencil, "This gives us the length of five miles." Laying it on the slicker, he said, "So...six miles would put us about...here. Anyone know what's there?"
Donna-Lou shook her head no.
Chet rubbed his chin, "I've been up there a few times. There are a lot of trees up there but it's basically flat country. Hardly a place for a cave."
"Maybe it's buried?" Rory suggested.
Chet shook his head, "No, that would be a different sign." He looked at Corry, "Right?"
Corry nodded, "Right. Different sign."
"Maybe it's in the side of a hill, then?" Donna-Lou asked.
Chet ran his finger over the area and shook his head, "No. The elevations on the topographical map don't really show much in the way of any hills up there."
Emma poked her head between Chet and Donna-Lou, "What about the hat? Or the gun?"
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