by David Wood
THE DANE MADDOCK ADVENTURES- VOLUME 1
by David Wood
Icefall
The bones of the Magi have been stolen from their resting place in a German cathedral. When a dying priest whispers a cryptic clue, Maddock and Bones find themselves in the midst of a deadly race to solve a centuries-old conspiracy. Danger lurks at every turn and no one knows where the clues will lead... or what they will uncover. From ancient cathedrals, to hidden temples, to icy mountain peaks, Maddock and Bones must outrun and outwit their enemies in the thrilling adventure- Icefall!
Buccaneer
For more than two centuries the Oak Island Money Pit has baffled researchers and foiled treasure hunters, and when Dane Maddock and Bones Bonebrake take up the search, they get much more than they bargained for. Danger lies at every turn as they search for a treasure out of legend that dates back to the time of Christ.
Ancient wonders, hidden temples, mythical creatures, secret societies, and foes new and old await as Maddock and Bones unravel a pirate’s deadly secret in Buccaneer.
Atlantis
What is the true story behind the fabled lost continent of Atlantis, and what power did the Atlanteans wield? When archaeologist Sofia Perez unearths the remains of an Atlantean city, she unwittingly gives the Dominion the power to remake the world after its own design. From the depths of the Caribbean to the streets of Paris, to Japanese islands and beyond, Join former Navy SEALs turned treasure hunters Dane Maddock and "Bones" Bonebrake on a race to stop the Dominion from unleashing its greatest threat yet in the thrilling adventure, Atlantis!
Primitive
Bones teams up with a television crew to investigate a creature out of legend, but what if the legend is true?
Praise for David Wood’s Dane Maddock Adventures
“If you’re after a fast-paced read, David Wood’s wise-cracking heroes Maddock and Bones will take you on a winter romp through snow-covered cathedrals, ice caves, pagan temples and Christian myth in search of the skulls of the Magi. Icefall packs in the fist fights, cipher cracking, and ancient secrets that all action adventure lovers will enjoy.” Joanna Penn, author of Pentecost and Prophecy
“David Wood has done it again. Quest takes you on an expedition that leads down a trail of adventure and thrills. David Wood has honed his craft and Quest is proof of his efforts!” David L. Golemon, Author of Legacy and The Supernaturals
“Ancient cave paintings? Cities of gold? Secret scrolls? Sign me up! A twisty tale of adventure and intrigue that never lets up and never lets go!” – Robert Masello, author of The Medusa Amulet
“A non-stop thrill ride triple threat- smart, funny and mysterious!” Jeremy Robinson, author of Instinct and Threshold
“Let there be no confusion: David Wood is the next Clive Cussler. Wood’s latest book, Quest, is a tremendous classic adventure. Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop until the last mystery plays out in the final line.” Edward G. Talbot, author of 2010: The Fifth World
“Packed solid with action and witty dialog, this rousing adventure takes a fresh look at one of the most enduring mysteries of the 20th century, David Wood delivers again with Quest.” Sean Ellis, author of Into the Black and Dark Trinity-Ascendant
“An all-out blitzkrieg of a globe-trotting mystery-adventure that breaks from the action just long enough for a couple of laughs.” Rick Chesler, author of kiDNApped and Wired Kingdom
The Dane Maddock Adventures- Volume 2
Copyright 2015 by David Wood
Published 2105 by Gryphonwood Press
www.gryphonwoodpress.com
Icefall- A Dane Maddock Adventure
Copyright 2011, 2015 by David Wood
Buccaneer- A Dane Maddock Adventure
Copyright 2012, 2015 by David Wood
Atlantis- A Dane Maddock Adventure
Copyright 2013 by David Wood
Primitive- A Bones Bonebrake Story
Copyright 2015 by David Wood
These books are works of fiction. All characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
ICEFALL: A Dane Maddock Adventure
By David Wood
Prologue
“They are coming for me.” Johannes had repeated the words so many times that they no longer held any meaning. It was now a mantra; sounds to ward off the shadows that lurked in the night. He no longer remembered what, exactly, he feared lurked in the darkness just beyond the edge of his vision. Bitter cold and utter exhaustion had driven that from his mind. Now, it was only the memory of fear that drove him on.
Snow crunched under his feet with each frozen footfall, a counterpoint to the steady whisper of the ice-choked Rhine. Each exhalation sent up a cloud of vapor that wreathed his face like an ethereal fog as he stumbled through the frozen night. Up ahead, a faint twinkle of lights beckoned to him. He was almost there!
Hope kindled a tiny flame somewhere deep inside him and he quickened his pace. He tightened his grip on the sack slung over his shoulder. What was inside it? He couldn’t quite remember.
By the time he staggered up the cathedral steps, he scarcely had the strength to stand. He fell against the door and managed with only the greatest of efforts, to knock twice. He waited, soft flakes of snow brushing his cheeks like angel’s wings. Finally, he heard a voice from inside.
“Who is there?’
“Johannes.” He poured all his strength into the word, but it came out barely a murmur. The man inside must have heard him, because he continued as expected.
“And what brings you here at this hour?”
Johannes drew a shivering breath and spoke the one word that would gain him entrance.
“Dreihasenbild.”
The door creaked open and he managed to take three wobbling steps inside before he fell to his knees. The cathedral was hardly warm inside, but after days trekking through the snow, it felt to Johannes like summertime. The gloved fingers of his left hand sought the clasp at the neckline of his cloak, but they were too numb to manage the task. His right hand still clutched the sack, and he would not relinquish that until he saw the priest.
“Here, brother, let us get you somewhere you can rest.” Strong hands grabbed him under the arms and helped him to his feet.
“Must see the Father,” he gasped. “Dreihasenbild,” he added for emphasis. That should forestall any argument from the robed and hooded monk who supported his weight as he hobbled down the aisle, stopping before the altar. “Bring the Father.”
“I am here.” A tall man with a shaved head and amber-colored eyes seemed to materialize out of thin air. He moved to the altar and stood before Johannes. Their eyes locked, and the father’s brow crinkled slightly, as if he waited for Johannes to answer a question yet unasked. “I am pleased to see you have returned safely.”
Johannes found himself unable to meet the priest’s gaze. His eyes drifted to the golden casket behind the altar. As his eyes locked on its shining surface, memories came flooding back. His knees gave way and he slumped to the floor.
“Johannes!” The priest dropped to one knee in front of him and clasped his shoulders. “Forgive me. I was so pleased to see you alive that I did not consider the condition you are in.” He glanced up at the monk w
ho had opened the door for Johannes. “Fetch a blanket, food, and a cup of hot water for our brother.”
The monk hurried away. When the sound of his footsteps faded into silence, the priest’s demeanor changed. His expression grew grave and his stare hard.
“Did you find it?” There was no need to say what ‘it’ was.
“I could not get close,” Johannes said.
“But it exists?” The priest gave him a small shake as he spoke.
“I believe so, but there is no way to say for certain.” Uncertainty crept into his voice. He doubted the priest would believe what he had seen. But then he remembered what was in the bag and why he had brought it. “If it is where I believe it is, death awaits anyone who ventures there.”
The priest stood and folded his arms across his chest. “You will have to go back. I will send men with you to keep you safe.”
“There aren’t enough men to fight the devil himself!” Johannes was surprised at the strength in his own words. “His minions guard it.”
The priest cocked his head. “Minions of the devil?”
“Monsters,” Johannes croaked. “And I brought proof.” With trembling hands, he opened the sack and upended it, spilling its contents onto the floor.
The priest sucked in his breath through gritted teeth and took a step back. “What are these foul things and why have you brought them into the house of God?”
“I needed to prove the truth of my words. It is just like the temple…”
“Are you mad?” the priest hissed. “You are in the cathedral. Remember yourself.”
Johannes did remember, and he began to tremble as he recalled the past several days—the fight for his life and his desperate trek back to the cathedral, all the while fearing what might be following behind him. “The devil…” His mouth was suddenly dry. “The devil gathers all the light to himself. They will come for…” He raised an unsteady hand and pointed at the golden casket.
The priest seemed to understand immediately. He once again knelt alongside Johannes and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I will do what needs to be done. You may rest now.”
Johannes closed his eyes and let his shoulders sag. Rest would be a welcome thing.
His eyes snapped open as a fiery lance of pain tore through his chest. He tried to cry out, but his breath was gone. He looked down to see a knife hilt protruding from his chest.
“No, don’t look at that. Look at me,” the priest cooed.
Johannes looked into the amber eyes and saw nothing there. No compassion, no love, only emptiness.
“You have done well,” the priest said. “The secrets must be kept. You understand.”
“I… don’t…” Johannes gasped.
The priest gave a sad smile, yanked the dagger free, and wiped it on Johannes’ cloak. Gently, like a mother putting her babe to bed, he eased Johannes down onto the hard floor. The cold stone seemed to leach the remaining warmth from Johannes’ body even as his life’s blood flowed from the wound in his chest.
“You know much, yet you understand nothing.”
The light seemed to dim around Johannes, and a circle of blackness slowly closed in on him. He watched as the priest gathered the contents of the sack, stepped over the altar, and moved to the golden casket. As death gathered him in its arms, Johannes whispered one final word.
“Dreihasenbild.”
Chapter 1
This place was cold– a biting, stinging, run home and put your feet up by the fire kind of cold that soaked through every layer of your clothing. Key West this was not.
“What are you thinking, Maddock?” Jade’s sleek black hair was sprinkled with the powdery snow that floated down on the vagrant breeze. Her eyes sparkled with the reflected light of the lamp-lined street and her smile outshone the mantle of white that lay heavy on the world. “Don’t tell me. You are so glad I talked you into this!”
Maddock grinned. He was glad he hadn’t answered the question. He’d actually been wondering how Jade had extracted him from his well-worn holiday tradition of beer and barbecue somewhere, anywhere the only white thing blanketing the world was sand. Not wanting to spoil her good mood, he pulled her close and kept his thoughts to himself. They’d spent too much time apart of late. Jade had been working in the Far East while Maddock had been... too many places to count. She wanted this trip and this time together and he was happy to oblige her.
“Christmas in Germany!” she breathed. “I’ve dreamed about it ever since I was a little girl. The cathedrals! And...” she drew the word out like a game show host about to announce the grand prize “...the snow!” She swept out her arm, her gesture taking in the city’s frosted skyline. “And then we’re going to the Alps!” She squeezed him tight and bounced up and down like an excited child.
“Tell me again why we came here so early?” He enveloped her in his arms and they looked out across the Rhine River, the light of the street lamps flickering across its choppy surface.
“Because the celebration of the Christmas season started the evening of December sixth. I wanted to be here for more than just Christmas day! I’ve got tonight all planned out. We’ll have our tour of the cathedral and then I’ve got a restaurant picked out where they serve some of the traditional holiday treats. “
“I hate fruitcake.” He knew better, but it was worth it to see the scandalized look in her eyes, though it passed almost immediately.
“I am not letting you mess with me tonight. I’m too happy.” She turned back toward the water. “And for your information, you are going to try Christbaumgeback even if it kills you.” She glanced at her watch. “We should probably get going.” Her face fell into a frown and she looked up and down the street.
Maddock’s eyes followed hers, but he saw nothing amiss. “You never told me how you managed to schedule a solo, nighttime tour of the Cologne Cathedral.”
“I know somebody,” she kissed him on the left cheek, “who knows somebody,” a kiss on the right cheek, “who knows somebody.” The next kiss was full on the lips.
“Get a room you two!”
No way. It couldn’t be who he thought it was. Jade was going to have a cow. Maddock turned to see a six-and-a-half foot tall Native American strolling along the river walk. His height and breadth of shoulder drew the attention of everyone he passed.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Jade turned her angry eyes upon Maddock. “What is Bones doing here?”
Uriah Bonebrake, known to his friends as “Bones,” was Maddocks business partner and best friend since their days as Navy SEALs. He also was not Jade’s favorite person, nor was she his.
“I don’t...” Maddock was dumbfounded. He’d only told Bones that he and Jade were going away for the holidays. How had Bones known where they were going, much less where they would be standing at this exact moment? “Bones, what the hell?”
“It’s Christmas, dude!” Bones grinned. He wore his black leather biker jacket unzipped, revealing a t-shirt featuring a character from the South Park cartoon garbed in a Santa outfit with Merry Bleeping Christmas printed above the character’s head. The fact that the shirt read “bleeping” instead of the actual expletive was unusually restrained for Bones. It wouldn’t help with Jade’s mood, though.
“I can’t believe you invited Bones on our romantic Christmas getaway.” If he’d thought the breeze coming across the river was frigid, Jade’s words took it down a few degrees. “Is he sleeping in our bed too?”
“I...” Words failed him.
“You got punked!” Jade’s icy expression melted into a warm smile. “I got you so bad, Maddock! I wish I had it on video.”
“I got it.” A female voice rang out and a young woman stepped out from the shadows a few paces away. “Maddock, you so got owned. Dude, your girlfriend rocks.”
Angelica Bonebrake only vaguely resembled her brother. They both had long black hair and mischievous twinkles in their eyes, but that was where the similarities ended.
Where Bon
es’ face was hard and chiseled, Angelica’s features were soft and finely formed and, though she was tall for a woman, she was a far cry from her towering brother. She pocketed her camera and hurried forward to catch Maddock in a crushing embrace. She was beautiful, no doubt, but underneath her thick winter clothes she was one hundred forty pounds of solid muscle. When she wasn’t working security at her uncle Crazy Charlie’s casino, she was a bantamweight fighter in the WFFC. Many a drunken man had gotten too friendly with Angelica and had his shoulder dislocated or jaw broken for his trouble.
“I can’t believe this.” Maddock was almost dizzy with surprise. He turned to Jade, who beamed up at him. “You engineered this?”
“Did you really think I’d try to keep you away from your best friend at Christmas? It’s a holiday for family and I know you guys always spend it together.” The joy on her face made her even more beautiful.
He arched an eyebrow. “You’re sure you want to spend Christmas with Bones?”
“Definitely.” Jade turned to Angelica. “You must be Angelica. I’m Jade Ihara.”
“You can just call me Angel.”
Maddock cocked his head to the side. “When did this happen? I thought people called you Demonica.”
“That was before she became a supermodel.” Bones gave his sister a playful punch to the shoulder.
“I am not a model,” she said through gritted teeth as she hit him back.
Bones rubbed his shoulder in mock hurt and Angel made an obscene gesture. “Hey chick, it’s Christmas. Anyway,” he turned to Maddock and Jade, “you are looking at the new female face of the WFFC!”
“It’s no big deal.” Angel looked embarrassed.
“She’s on all their ads and she’s got tons of endorsements.” Bones clapped her on the back. “Of course, that might just be because all the other chicks are butt dog ugly.”