“Not in Top Peake,” Tressa stuck her finger back up again. “We’ve never used their power and never will.”
Once again Ant gently folded her finger back into place with the others. “That is a nasty little secret that Top Peake has. Ask Grandpa about it when you meet him.”
“Tell me what you mean Ant,” She begged. “Please.”
“Nope. That’s all I’m going to say about it. Ask Grandpa.” Ant stood up and started for the stairway. “Good night, Tressa. Tomorrow will be a busy day, I believe.”
“Good Night Ant,” She replied. How did my life get so crazy? One minute it seems I’m in Top Peake in math class and cleaning the lake and stuff. The next minute I’m looking for pieces to a machine built long ago that could change our world. And what is going on in Top Peake that I don’t know about? Tressa decided to go to bed before she put her head down on the table and slept right there.
Chapter 21
Early the next morning the group gathered in the lobby after getting a quick bite to eat at the corner café. Ant had arranged the rental of an electric wagon, similar to the one Mason and Tressa had travelled in from Top Peake to Flatlands Station. Being the oldest, Clyde was allowed to sign for the rental, but quick glances between Mason and Tressa confirmed that he would not be the one driving.
Ant had experience driving from other Seeker missions and he enjoyed the freedom of piloting down the roadway. The sun was just over the horizon and made them squint as they got out into the rougher terrain of the castle ruins. Around them rose sheer cliff walls on one side and deep canyons on the other. The roadway had been built a long time before, and, while it was wide enough, the maintenance over the past few generations had been sporadic.
Tressa felt more at home here than just about anywhere else they had travelled so far. The mountains reminded her of home and the sun on her face made her think back to many happy hours enjoying the peace and quiet after a hard climb up a difficult peak. She realized she was looking forward to this challenge more than she realized. Maybe I want to impress Ant? She thought. I want him to realize that he didn’t make a mistake asking me to help. I want to meet this new family I’ve found, and I want them to be as proud of me as they were of my Dad.
Dodging around potholes, and staying well back from suspect parts of the road’s edge, the travelers found themselves coming to a wide bend in the road. As they picked their way around old rock slides they were able to come around the bend and see their intended goal.
Across the valley from them was a cliff that seemed to rise out of the narrow river valley below and shot straight up more than 800 feet. There looked to be little or no vegetation on the rock wall and only a few spots where birds could nest. It looked to be as close to a perfect wall as Tressa had ever seen before. They could see the flattened top above them and some manmade walls and doorways that appeared to have crumbled a very long time before.
The road wound down toward the river and they found a safe, flat area to park the wagon. A small, white truck was parked a little further upstream from them near an easy natural ramp toward the water. Gathering their gear, Ant said, “I’ve read the fishing in this river is quite good during the summer. I guess some of the locals are enjoying the day trying to catch a big one for dinner. If we weren’t in a hurry I would love to join them.
“Here’s how I see this working. It’s too far to safely get Clyde up there. Sorry, Big Guy, but your size is working against you on this one. Maybe go try a little fishing. Mason, Tressa and I will set anchors as we need them to safely get up there. If we need to stay longer than what we’re planning for we’ll signal you with some reflections off a mirror.”
Clyde scratched his head, “Wait…you three climb all the way up there and take all the risks. I stay here and nap and play in the river? How do I join the Seekers fulltime?”
Clyde was kind enough to carry the climbing party one at a time across the river. He laughed and told them his shoes and pants would dry before they even got to the top. The thick vegetation surrounding the bottom of the cliff was dotted with rocks and boulders that had fallen from the heights above.
“Well, we’ve got to start somewhere,” said Mason. “I hate to admit it but, Tressa, you’re a better climber than me. You should probably go first.”
Ant chimed in, “I have seen you climb and you are much more gifted than I am as well. You may have the honor of leading if you wish.”
Craning her neck to look up the steep rock face above her, Tressa smiled and said, “I would love to lead. This is incredible. We don’t have anything like this in Top Peake.”
Hanging chalk bags from their belts and setting up their ropes and anchors the trio walked to the base. Tressa took a deep breath and concentrated. Reaching out, her nimble fingers took over and sought out a starting place. Finding first a hold for one hand, then the other, she lifted her foot and put it where she had noticed a natural place to start. Soon she was above the boys’ heads. After another minute she was four body lengths up the rock. Setting an anchor in a crevice she ran the climbing rope through it and continued. Ant came next and followed along her same route of climb. He too ascended rapidly and soon Mason joined them on the face of the cliff.
Hand by hand and foot by foot the little group made their way up. Stopping to set anchors in the rocks fissures and cracks helped them keep a measure of safety in the event someone should come loose. The anchors would help to displace the weight of a fallen climber onto the other climbers until the person who fell could regain their composure.
Softly breathing and concentrating Tressa was surprised to find they had ascended over halfway up the cliff. She looked down at Ant’s helmet and asked if he was doing ok.
“Yes, I am fine. You are doing well and picking a good route. It is easy to follow.”
Mason was further down and yelled up that he was hungry. Smiling Tressa shouted, “You should have stayed with Clyde and caught some fish.” To Ant she said, “This is an easy route. I’m seeing signs of other climbers who found this path, too. I guess this is a regular highway for local climbers.”
Tressa found the climb easy enough that she could concentrate on other things. She looked down between her body and the stone wall in front of her at Ant’s helmet. “Ant, how do the Seekers know where all the pieces should be?” she asked.
Ant considered the easiest way to explain then said, “Some we have had in our possession from our own forebears. Others, like the one we seek, are most likely wherever they were stored for safety during the solar flare Incident. We have had to piece together as best we can the location of the others. We knew one was in a city in China, so an entire family of Seekers moved to China and searched for fifteen years before finding it. Someone was using it as a doorstop, if you can believe it. The hope is that my generation of Seekers will put all the pieces together and turn the machine on. That would be a tremendous honor.
They continued on and Tressa was able to look into some nests off to the side and saw eggs waiting for the mother bird to return and keep them warm. Momma’s off looking for some mice or rabbits, Tressa thought.
The sun broke over the top of the cliff as they approached the summit and Tressa could see where other climbers had put their own anchors before. She followed along and within minutes they were at the top.
As they rested from their climb they enjoyed the view. The climbing party could see Clyde as small as an ant waving to them from below. The sun was shining brightly between big puffy white clouds and from their vantage point they could see the patterns of sun and shade across the hills and valleys below them. They could see the narrow roadway they had driven meandering along the ravine across from them. It looked like a small scar tracing its way from right to left, and eventually dropped down out of sight to where Clyde would probably decide to take a nap.
“Are we ready?” asked Ant. “We may have more work ahead of us than we know. The piece we’re looking for is only about half the size of a loaf of bread. It should
be a metal box with two small holes in one end and one larger hole on the other end.”
“Ready,” said Mason.
“Me too,” added Tressa.
As they picked their way into the ruins through a long-abandoned gateway they could feel the quiet descend like a fog. Stepping lightly over broken walls and up cracked steps they went further into the castle grounds. Every step and every breath felt like it was amplified in the stillness. “Whoa, creepy,” said Mason. “What’s with this place?”
Ant said, “I’m not sure. But it seems unusual.”
“There aren’t even any birds in here. I would think there’d be tons of places for nests around,” Tressa noticed.
They approached the main castle doorway and looked up at the stone archway that was one of the few remaining sections of wall still standing. The stone wall on one side was completely gone. It had fallen inwards so long ago trees had started growing from inside the castle. Their branches twisted and turned as they sought out sunlight through the tumbled opening. The wooden doors had rotted away long ago leaving only rusty metal hinges to indicate they had once been there. The large, dim opening emitted a chilly breeze from the cool interior.
Ant led them inside and didn’t realize he was whispering when he said, “Most valuables would be stored somewhere safe, keeping them from fire or theft. If the piece had been kept in a tower we’re out of luck. It would take months to try and sift through it all.
“We should look for some stairs that lead down. The basement areas may be intact and are our best hope for finding the piece this trip. If we don’t locate it the Seekers will have to send a whole team of people to search up here. That would be very noticeable – which we try to avoid.”
The trio spread out and started looking for places that might contain the entry to a stairwell. The stone flooring of the castle had patches of weed and moss growing on it in places where the collapsed roof sections above were missing. Who would’ve thought walking through a castle would be so much work, thought Tressa as she untangled herself from yet another clinging branch that snagged her clothing. This place is massive. If the piece we’re looking for is as small as Ant says it is, it could be anywhere. I might be 75 years old by the time we find it.
Tressa was pulled from her thoughts by Mason calling out. “Over here. I think this is the top of the stairs.”
Tressa met Ant coming around a giant stone column that was now only supporting a bright blue sky and they followed the sound of Mason’s voice until they found him looking down a dark hole with steps in it. The steps disappeared into the gloom below and vanished into total blackness.
Ant fished around in his pack and brought out three small flashlights. He gave one to each of them and turned his on. “Follow me,” he said flashing a ‘thumbs up’. “And keep your fingers crossed we can find it.”
Descending the stairs they noticed the temperature drop a few more degrees and Tressa felt goose bumps form on her bare arms. She watched as Ant then Mason slipped into the darkness below. Only a silhouette from their flashlights remained of them. A sudden shiver made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Feeling foolish, she hurried to catch up and slipping on some damp moss at the bottom of the stairs, she started to fall. Throwing out her hands she caught herself, but not before she dropped her light and it went out.
Chapter 22
Feeling around with her hands she found the flashlight, but it wouldn’t come back on. Smacking it against her palm she tried again. The bulb must have been broken. Sighing in frustration she went forward and caught up to Mason. Touching him lightly on the shoulder, he jumped and whirled around. “Don’t do that!” he hissed.
“Sorry,” she said, smiling in the dark as it was nice to know she wasn’t the only one with jittery nerves. “My light broke so I’m going to have to come with you.”
“Ok, stay close. Hold onto my belt so I know where you are.” He whispered.
Ahead Ant was waiting for them at a junction to a cross corridor. Tressa explained to him about her light and he shrugged. “Alright, you two stay together. Go down that passage and look in any rooms for something that might be a laboratory or private study. That’s our best bet. I’ll go this way and do the same thing. Call out if you find something.”
Mason held the light and led the pair off into the gloom. Tressa could feel spider webs catch in her hair and fought the impulse to scream out and run for the stairs. Her mind calculated how far it was and how fast she could be back up in the daylight.
The passageway they were in led downwards. Holding onto Mason’s belt Tressa could feel the chilly air wafting past them. They came to a fork in the black passageway and paused to consider which one to go into.
“I feel air coming up from that one. It must mean there’s an opening on the other end,” hissed Mason. “Ant wants to find an office or some kind of room. That would more likely be up here rather than farther down. Let’s try the one with no air coming from it.”
“I think that’s right, too,” whispered Tressa.
“Why are we whispering?” ask Mason.
Tressa giggled nervously. “I don’t know. It just seems like the thing to do.”
The pair pressed on into the darkness. Mason’s light stabbed a small cone of illumination that they followed. The passageway was lined with rough-hewn stone walls and had a mostly flat flagstone floor. There were ancient fixtures hanging from the ceiling that once provided plenty of light, but were now just part of the skeletal remains of the castle.
Moving slowly forward they came to the end of the tunnel. There was a large wooden door in front of them set into the stone. The iron ring on one edge told them where to pull and once they both braced themselves for the effort they managed to get it to squeak open a few inches.
“Let me try to get my arm behind the opening a little for leverage,” Mason huffed.
He wedged himself into the opening and could get his whole body’s strength to work in the small opening. Tressa grabbed the ring again and together they pulled as hard as they could.
“It’s working,” Tressa exclaimed. The door slowly gave up and came open an inch at a time. “I think we can make it now.”
Mason paused and caught his breath. “Ok, let me see if there’s room.” While Tressa held the light so he could see, Mason turned sideways and then moved around the door into the dark room beyond. “Ok, now you come, too.”
“Hold the light for me, please,” she said and handed the flashlight around the edge of the door to Mason. She then followed his example and her smaller frame slipped easily through the opening.
The flashlight revealed a dusty room full of tables covered with all sorts of old equipment. This was evidently the ancient scientist’s private laboratory. File cabinets covered part of one wall and shelves packed with books of all sizes covered the remainder. Computers and printers were scattered here and there on work tables. Wires and conduit were bundled together and running all around the room like a giant spider’s web. Several desks had piles of notebooks and file folders on them, a heavy layer of dust covered it all like a blanket.
“Where should we start to look,” asked Mason.
“Let’s see if there’s a separate office or something,” responded Tressa. As they walked the perimeter of the room they found no doorways leading off the long narrow chamber. Going back to the desks they started to carefully sift through the piles of paperwork slowly. They gently removed each piece to keep from stirring up dust. Even as careful as they were Tressa found it hard to breathe without choking on the dry dust collecting in the back of her throat.
Every paper they touched crumbled as they moved it. “There’s nothing here. I don’t want to believe this is a dead end. Maybe Ant found something,” said Mason.
“Wait a minute,” Tressa warned. “Before we just leave let’s slow down so we don’t miss something. It could be in here someplace. I don’t want to miss it and have to come back and start all over again.”
The two
started over again and slowly went through the room one section at a time. When they came to the filing cabinets Mason tried to open the drawers. They had long ago rusted shut, and the few they were able to wrench open contained only more paper records of the original scientist owner.
“There’s got to be something here. It just makes sense. This was his lab and all his records are here. Where would you hide something valuable in here?” Tressa asked the room.
“It may be in one of the file drawers we couldn’t budge. Let’s try to find some tools to pry them open,” Mason suggested.
“Think about it for a minute. Would you hide something super valuable in a file cabinet? Of course not, because anybody could come along and open the drawer and walk off with it. Ant said the scientists in the group each took a piece of the machine home with them. They must have considered it priceless.” Tressa stood back for a minute and tried to let her mind wander over the possibilities.
“Look at the cabinets again, Mason,” she commanded. “There are three all the same on this end and three more just like them together on the other end of the row. Only these two in the middle are different.”
“So what, they had some and needed more and got some more. Then they added even more later on. Or, they had all the similar ones but had to buy just the two different ones. Maybe the store they went to ran out of the kind they wanted.” Mason said.
“I don’t think that’s right. First, if you had all the same kind why would you move some to put the different ones in the center of the row? Second, suppose they needed some more and went to buy them. The store doesn’t have the same kind so they buy two different ones. Ok, I get that. But then they go back a second time to buy more and now the store has the original ones? That, I don’t get. There’s something going on with the two in the center.”
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