The Time Hunters and the Lost City (The Final Chapter in the Time Hunters Saga Book 5)

by carl ashmore

  Joe hesitated. ‘If Dad is alive –’

  ‘Which he is,’ Becky interrupted in a firm voice.

  ‘Then you do know he’ll have changed a lot, don’t you?’

  ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘Well, God knows what conditions he’s been living in … or what they’ve done to him over the last seven years. He won’t be his old self …. How could he be? He might not even recognise us and we might not recognise him.’

  ‘Of course we will.’ Becky reached out and slid her hand into Joe’s. ‘And he’ll be okay. It’ll take some time, but I know everything will be fine. Better than fine. Things will be great … just like they used to be.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’

  ‘I am,’ Becky replied softly.

  With a grave sigh, Joe turned away, his gaze locking on a tall cactus to his right. ‘Funny things cactus … ain’t they?’ he said. ‘I mean, look at that one. It’s the spitting image of Ed Sheeran.’

  Becky stared at the cactus which did indeed appear to be shaped like a giant head. ‘It really is,’ she replied. ‘That is so freaky.’

  Joe surveyed the area, before pointing at another cactus, its thick trunk adorned with a single arm which pointed toward the sky. ‘And that one over there looks like it’s giving us the finger … Maybe we should dig it up and send it to Drake?’

  Becky laughed. ‘Good idea. I bet there’s a spade in the campervan.’ But as her words faded, her expression changed. She glanced back at Weaver’s Needle and then out over the landscape. Immediately, something caught her eye. She leapt to her feet. ‘Joe … you might be a genius.’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Come with me.’

  Becky didn’t wait for him to answer. She shot off at a breakneck speed. Sprinting for about two hundred metres, she ascended a rock-strewn incline until she came to a towering cactus, by far the biggest and most imposing in the ravine, its two thick arms aiming upward. Quickly, she looked down at the map and then glanced left and right. Her eyes locked on something else in the distance and a broad smile appeared on her face. She pulled out the transceiver and raised it to her mouth.

  ‘Uncle Percy … Bruce … Kenneth. I think I’ve solved the map. I’m not far from the campervan. Come back now.’

  A few seconds later, Joe caught up with her. ‘Becky ….’ He panted. ‘You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?’

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘Tell me then.’

  ‘Just wait for the others.’

  It took less than five minutes before Uncle Percy, Kenneth and Bruce stood before them.

  ‘Don’t keep us in suspense, Becky,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘It’s the cacti,’ Becky said confidently, raising the map so everyone could see. ‘The numbers and symbols are a trail of massive Cacti.’ She pointed up at the cactus to her left. ‘It has two arms.’ Then she nodded at Waltz’s map. ‘The first number is two.’ Then she pointed to the distance where another gigantic cactus dominated the horizon, its four arms framed against the clear blue sky. ‘The next number is four …. And there’s a four armed cactus. Plus, the arms actually look like enormous fingers … The Fingers of God. And if we follow them in order … Little by little one goes far… all the way to the mine.’

  A wide smile breached Uncle Percy’s face. ‘I’ve said it before, but you’re an absolute genius, young lady.’

  Within moments, Uncle Percy, Bruce and Becky were dashing toward the next cactus, except for Kenneth who was flying beside them, holding on to a whooping Joe, whose legs pedalled the air as if riding an invisible bicycle.

  Soon they had reached their destination and were staring east at a cactus with the distinctive outline of a cross a half mile away.

  Everything was exactly as Becky predicted.

  They set off again. Fifteen minutes later, they had passed the cross-shaped cactus and were heading north to a flat ridge of grey rock, atop of which was a cactus, the tallest thus far, in the unmistakable form of a bull’s head.

  Although Becky’s legs ached, there was nothing that could slow her down. Adrenalin surging through her, she broke into a sprint, and was the first to reach the final cactus, shortly followed by Uncle Percy and Bruce, who promptly collapsed in an outburst of groans and wheezes.

  ‘I gotta cut down on the Philly cheesesteaks,’ Bruce panted.

  ‘And I on the Cornish cream teas,’ Uncle Percy spluttered.

  Getting her breath back, Becky quickly scanned the area to see they were surrounded by endless miles of desert, nondescript and hostile, Weaver’s Needle now being merely a dot in the distance. ‘We’ve certainly gone far,’ she said.

  ‘We have indeed,’ Uncle Percy coughed.

  At that moment, Kenneth flew overhead, lowering Joe safely to the ground, before landing himself.

  ‘That was ace, Kenny boy,’ Joe said. ‘Becks, you gotta get Ken to take you for a spin … it’s much safer than that flippin’ horse of yours. Now where’s this gold mine?’

  Becky scoured the dusty ground. A second later, a jet-black stone no bigger than an apple caught her eye; set upon a carpet of sand, it was different enough from other stones in the area, but small and featureless enough to merge seamlessly into the landscape. This was it! She knew it. Slowly, she approached the stone. Reaching down, she scooped it up and threw it to the side. Then she brushed away a thick layer of sand to reveal a timber plank. ‘Over here!’ she shouted.

  Uncle Percy, Joe and Bruce raced to her side. Soon, they were shovelling the sand away at a tremendous rate, revealing a succession of wooden boards about four feet square.

  ‘We’ve found it,’ Bruce gasped. ‘The actual Lost Dutchman’s Mine!’ Without hesitation, he tore up the planks and threw them aside. A small hole barely wide enough for a man to fit through was revealed below. ‘If only my pappy were alive to see this.’

  Her mouth dry, Becky stared down into the blackness. Was the Gold Mine really as rich as the legend suggested?

  Kenneth gave a little hop and looked at Uncle Percy. ‘Gosh, sir, your adventures really are exciting, aren’t they? I’m so excited my kelvix vapiators could blow at any moment.’

  Uncle Percy smiled, before reaching into his pocket and withdrawing a small circular ball. He passed the illumino bead over to Becky and said, ‘We’re here because of you … care to be the first one to see what’s down there?’ He dropped the bead and it shattered on the ground below in an explosion of glittering light.

  Nervously, Becky glanced at Joe, who smiled back at her, his eyes urging her on, before leaning forward into the hole.

  What she saw took her breath away.

  ‘What can you see, Becks?’ Joe asked. ‘Is there any gold?’

  Becky was barely able to respond. She pulled herself up and stared at Joe, ashen faced and dazed. ‘It’s like the walls are made of the stuff …’

  Chapter 23

  Danger in the Dark

  Joe’s eyes enlarged to the size of beach balls. ‘We’ve struck gold. We’re actually rich.’

  ‘Gold isn’t part of the plan, Joe,’ Uncle Percy said.

  ‘The plan’s changed.’

  ‘It really hasn’t. We’re here for the strongbox … nothing else.’

  ‘Suit yourself. Your plan hasn’t changed, but mine has. In fact, me being Wayne Rooney rich is now my top priority.’ He made to leap into the hole when Uncle Percy pulled him back.

  ‘And I think Becky has earned the right to be the first one in there,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘Becky, how far down is the ground?’

  ‘Not far … maybe five feet.’

  ‘Then you can go first. Kenneth, would you collect Bertha for me, and then wait here and keep watch.’

  ‘Certainly, sir.’

  ‘After you then, Becky,’ Uncle Percy said.

  Becky dropped her legs through the gap and lowered herself down. As her feet found the floor, she stared at the walls which were layered floor to ceiling and in both direc
tions with glittering gold nuggets encased in quartz.

  She had never seen anything like it in her life.

  Hunched over slightly, she advanced down a descending slope, passing a pickaxe, a pile of cloth sacks and some empty whiskey bottles, as the tunnel swelled in size around her.

  As the others followed her in, she heard Joe and Bruce swear loudly, both of them being reproached by Uncle Percy.

  ‘Sorry, Perce,’ Bruce replied. ‘But there’s more gold here than ‘neath my Aunt Fanny’s floorboards.’

  ‘That’s as may be, but just mind the language. Need I remind you both there is a lady present.’

  ‘A lady?’ Joe scoffed. ‘Becky’s as much a lady as –’ He promptly stopped when Becky shot him a look that would freeze lava. ‘Soz,’ he muttered. ‘Only jokin’.’’

  The group moved further on. Every now and again Uncle Percy would shatter another illumino bead to light the way ahead, often revealing new tunnels which branched off from the main pathway like veins on a leaf.

  ‘There are loads of tunnels,’ Joe said. ‘We’ll get lost if we start exploring every one of them.’

  ‘And that’s why we’re merely keeping to the main one for now.’

  The further they advanced, however, the more a sense of futility descended upon them. A few minutes later the path forked right. Uncle Percy threw an illumino bead into the blackness ahead. As it exploded a scene was revealed that sent a stomach-turning chill through each and every one of them.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Joe gasped.

  Bones, stripped of flesh, both human and animal, surrounded a makeshift bed of straw and moss which was set in the centre of a large cavern, its high walls dazzling with gold like a nightmarish grotto.

  ‘This is just like the Kraken’s lair,’ Joe said, extending his Joe-Bow and loading an arrow.

  And then it struck Becky: Jacob Waltz knew something lived here, and he knew they would never survive to take his gold – that’s why he changed his mind and gave them the map.

  As she scanned the cavern she saw a mass of disparate objects piled high in the corner - broadswords, morion helmets, tomahawk heads, boxes of jewellery, armoured breastplates, and muskets. ‘Look over there!’ she pointed, racing over to the pile.

  Uncle Percy joined her, his eyes ballooning as he crouched down. ‘Some of these items are literally hundreds of years old.’

  ‘Who cares?’ Joe said. ‘See if that strongbox is in there and let’s get outta here.’

  Uncle Percy began to rifle through the objects. ‘This would be fascinating if we weren’t on the verge of being eaten again,’ he said. ‘There are things here from a wide spectrum of time periods and cultures - Native American, Spanish, Flemish, Dutch and British. It’s a treasure trove of antiquity.’

  But Becky wasn’t listening. She had her mind on one thing: finding the strongbox and getting as far away as she could. It was then an object caught her eye - an iron box covered with leather and decorated with painted lotus flowers. It was fitted with a heavy lock adorned with Chinese symbols. She picked it up. ‘Is this it?’

  Uncle Percy studied it closely. ‘It’s old … early 15th Century, Ming Dynasty, and the wordlock contains symbols in Old Chinese. That’s it.’

  ‘And do you know Old Chinese?’

  ‘I don’t. But I know a robot that does.’

  Before his words faded, a thunderous howl rent the air. Although some distance away, it may as well have been in the same room for the fear it instilled in everyone.

  ‘Crikey!’ Uncle Percy said, clasping the box beneath his arm and picking up a sword. ‘Err, RUN!’

  As one, they sprinted out of the cavern and raced back up the tunnel.

  Becky’s legs couldn’t carry her fast enough. Just then, she heard the boom of heavy footsteps hammering the ground, echoing against the walls. With so many passageways adjoining the main tunnel it was impossible to tell the direction from which they came.

  But they were definitely getting louder.

  Joe, who was charging ahead of the others, came to a standstill. ‘Everyone … stop!’ he said defiantly. ‘We’ll have to make a stand and fight. We need a coordinated defence or whatever it is could just strike and pick us off one by one.’

  ‘So you claim to be ignorant of words like gastronomic,’ Uncle Percy said, panting. ‘But you turn out to be an exceptional military strategist …. Typical.’

  ‘Everyone’s good at summat.’

  ‘It’s ‘something’,’ Uncle Percy muttered.

  As if responding somehow to Joe’s strategy, the footsteps stopped.

  Then, from somewhere close, a low menacing growl cut the silence. The footsteps started again, but this time they were slow, measured, rhythmical, before gradually gathering pace.

  ‘Get ready everyone!’ Joe said, lifting his bow and aiming at the darkness ahead.

  With a blood curdling scream, a gigantic creature hurtled from the gloom, its blood red-eyes locked on them. Over eight feet tall, its powerful torso was swathed in long reddish brown hair, but its outstretched hands were hairless, setting off its yellowing claws.

  Becky couldn’t tell if it was ape, bear, human or something in between.

  Bruce fired but missed.

  Joe sent out an arrow. It thumped into the creature’s breastbone, but nothing could halt its momentum.

  Becky knew her telekinesis was the only thing that could save them now. Terror flooding her, she fixed her eyes on the beast, hoping she had enough time. But she couldn’t focus. Feeling helpless, a scream formed within her, when –

  An unexpected shout met her ears.

  ‘I’mm comingggggggggggg!’

  As the creature leapt for the kill, a flash of silver appeared behind it.

  Kenneth was flying toward them, tearing the air, hurtling faster than a bullet. He grasped the creature by the waist then, in an astonishing display of strength, flung it sideways like it a ragdoll.

  The creature smashed hard into the wall, fragments of gold ore raining down upon it. Shocked but unhurt, it glowered at Kenneth, clambered to its feet and roared.

  ‘Do pipe down,’ Kenneth said, pointing a finger at the creature’s chest. A burst of light erupted from his fingertip, striking the creature, which looked momentarily dumbfounded before vanishing in a blaze of light.

  Silence again.

  Everyone’s eyes fell on Kenneth, who said, ‘I heard the howl and thought you might need my help.’

  Joe threw his arms around Kenneth. ‘Kenny-boy … one word: Iron Man.’

  ‘I’m pretty sure that’s two words, Joe,’ Becky said. ‘But I take your point. Thanks, Kenneth.’

  ‘My pleasure,’ Kenneth beamed.

  ‘Ken,’ Bruce said. ‘When I get back to Tucson, I’m making you the finest bouquet of sorbet roses by way of thanks. You gawddamn rock, buddy!’

  Kenneth looked humbled. ‘Thank you very much, Mister Westbrook. Sorbet roses are my favourite.’

  ‘Kenneth, you’ve saved our lives,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘And we shall be forever in your debt.’

  ‘Not at all, sir.’

  Joe glanced at the space where the creature had been. ‘What exactly was that thing? Bigfoot?’

  Kenneth’s eyes flashed blue as he accessed something from his archives. ‘I believe it’s a species crypto-zoologists have named the Mogollon Monster.’

  ‘You’re kiddin’,’ Bruce said, surprised.

  ‘You’ve heard of it, Bruce?’ Uncle Percy asked.

  ‘Sure,’ Bruce replied. ‘But I just thought it was a local campfire tale designed to scare the kiddies. Never figured on it bein’ real.’

  ‘It seems so,’ Uncle Percy replied.

  ‘So what’s a Mogollon Monster?’ Joe asked. ‘Other than an ugly killing machine that smells really bad.’

  ‘According to my databanks,’ Kenneth replied, ‘it’s a bipedal humanoid glimpsed around Arizona’s Mogollon Rim since the early nineteenth century. And furthermore, its presence here would hel
p explain a great deal. Do you recall Barbie mentioning De Coronado’s men were turning up mutilated and headless?’

  ‘Yes,’ Uncle Percy said. ‘I certainly think we’ve solved that little mystery.’

  ‘And Waltz knew about the monster,’ Becky said. ‘And that’s why he had a change of heart about us finding the mine.’

  Joe didn’t look convinced. ‘But if he knew about it why would he keep excavating the mine? That thing would tear him to shreds.’

  ‘Not necessarily,’ Kenneth said. ‘If my data is correct Jacob Waltz only excavated the mine in the winter months.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Bruce said.

  ‘Then it’s possible the Mogollon Monster is a hibernator and sleeps through the winter.’

  ‘I thought only little cute animals hibernated for winter,’ Joe said. ‘Like hedgehogs.’

  ‘Not true, Joe,’ Uncle Percy replied. ‘The American Black Bear is considered a hibernator. It’s not hibernation in the true sense of the word, but they certainly can sleep soundly from November through to April, bypassing the winter months entirely. Isn’t the animal kingdom truly remarkable?’

  ‘Maybe to you,’ Becky said. ‘But I’m not so fussed when the animal in question rips people’s heads off. Now can we get out of here, please?’

  ‘That’s probably best, Becky.’ Uncle Percy agreed.

  ‘What about the strongbox?’ Joe said. ‘Shouldn’t we open it to check it’s the right one?’

  ‘Let’s do that back at Bowen Hall, shall we?’ Uncle Percy replied.

  ‘Why?’ Joe looked disappointed. ‘And what are we doing about the gold?’

  ‘We’re doing nothing about the gold. And as for ‘why’ – well it’s just occurred to me if there have been Mogollon Monsters down here for centuries, then there must be more than one of them… for breeding purposes, you understand. Subsequently, I’d rather not wait around to see if our monster has a lady love hidden away in one of these tunnels…’

  Joe considered this for a second and then spoke with machine gun speed. ‘Who wants to be rich, anyway?’ Then he sprinted off toward the exit.