Cave of Discovery

CAVE OF DISCOVERY

  Copyright 2007 by Steven & Margaret Larson

  Cover Art Copyright 2007 by Betty Rieffer

  Dedicated to John Michael - May you discovery the true treasures in life.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold. Thank you for respecting the work of the authors.

  Other books available by these authors

  FANTASY BOOKS

  Murky Manor

  Worlds Within

  The World Beyond the Door

  A COLLECTION OF WRITINGS

  Thoughts on the Wind

  Available at: www.lulu.com/larsonworlds

  Visit us at our web site www.home.earthlink.net/~larsonworlds

  CONTENTS

  Finders Keepers

  The Hummer

  A Dark and Stormy Night

  Books, Bats, and Maps

  A Meeting with Maneater

  The Picture and the Poem

  The Girl in the Cave

  The Great Wagon Robbery

  What's It Worth?

  Another Strike It Rich Sundae

  The Conquistador

  A Monk's Journal

  Lose the Dagger

  Trapped

  Keep the Change

  Conspiracy Theories

  Full Circle

  CHAPTER 1 - FINDERS KEEPERS

  Treasure," Jason said.

  "Oh come on - treasure? You've been watching too many pirate movies," Daniel said.

  "Then why is it called Treasure Town?"

  "The only treasure in this town is the money the tourists spend. Forget looking for treasure. I'll race you to the boulder!"

  "Are you crazy? It must be 100 degrees out here!" But Daniel had already sprinted out of sight. Jason stumbled through the underbrush into a clearing. After the dimness of the woods, the sunlight was blinding. He fumbled for his sunglasses. The relentless sun beat on his head, making the glasses slide down his sweating face.

  A huge boulder loomed up in front of him. He heard Daniel call his name, but his voice seemed far away. The shade at the base of the boulder looked inviting, and he collapsed in a heap, feeling a small relief from the sun.

  His hand landed on something cold and he jerked it back. Looking down, he picked up what looked like a huge quarter.

  Gravel and dust cascaded down the rock, and several pebbles slid down his shirt. He looked up and saw Daniel's grinning face hovering over the edge.

  "Knock it off," he said. He tried to wipe his neck, but it turned the dirt to mud. "Come down here. I've found something." He shrugged the loose debris out of his shirt as Daniel clambered down the rock to join him in the shade.

  "What'd you find?" Daniel said. Jason wondered how Daniel always managed to stay so clean. He looked the same as when they left the hotel that morning and wasn't even sweating.

  "It's the largest quarter I've ever seen," Jason said.

  Daniel took the coin. "It's a Spanish Milled Dollar. We sell these in the gift shop."

  "It's a stupid souvenir? How can you tell?"

  "Easy. It says copy on it. Dad also puts his initials on the ones we make."

  "Uncle Matt makes these things?"

  "Yep. It was Mom's idea. You know how she's into genealogies. That's why she has me taking Spanish this summer. Her ancestors made the real Spanish Milled Dollars, and now we make the replicas. She calls it inflation. Dad says it pays for the classes."

  Jason's eyes widened. "I read about people who make counterfeit coins," he said. "I think they're called coiners."

  Daniel gave him a disgusted look. "They aren't counterfeit. That's why we mark them copy. They're souvenirs." He flipped the coin over and frowned.

  Jason leaned toward him and said, "Where does it say copy?"

  "That's funny. This one isn't marked."

  "You mean it is counterfeit?"

  "I mean it might be the real thing. Where did you find it?"

  "Right where you're sitting." Jason's mind started racing. What would his parents say if he found a real treasure? If it was big enough, Dad could turn down the job transfer and they wouldn't have to move.

  "Is it worth a lot?" he asked.

  "Could be worth a hundred dollars. Let's show it to Bradley. He'll know if it's real and how much it's worth."

  A hundred Jason thought, and the slim hope faded away. That wouldn't begin to replace his dad's job.

  "Why was it lying out here?" Jason asked.

  "Arrgh, I know not, matey." He leaned forward. "Perchance it's part of a buried treasure. How say you? Shall we seek to find the skeleton what's been set to guard the chest?"

  "Okay, okay. If I stay out here much longer the sun will turn me into a skeleton."

  Daniel grinned. "Come on. Let's go to the museum and talk to Bradley. It's air conditioned," he added.

  "I'm in. Who's Bradley?"

  "The Assistant Curator at the museum, and," he winked, "Katie's latest boyfriend."

  "When does your sister have time to date? I thought all she did was study," Jason said as he struggled to his feet.

  It was mid July and Jason hoped that August wasn't going to be even hotter. It had been different last year when Daniel made the trip north to spend the summer with him. They went swimming in the lake and hiking in the woods. In the cool evenings there were cookouts in the big backyard.

  But that was all far away, and no one was there now. His parents were trying out the new job, and the house was closed up for the summer. If the job worked out, he'd be starting school in the fall in a big city far away from everything he knew. He was glad to be spending the summer with his cousins, even if it was hot.

  They parked their bicycles in the rack at the museum. As they entered the building, he soaked up the welcome air conditioning. Daniel led the way down a hall passing a sign that read Employees Only.

  "Are we going the right way?" Jason asked. He stopped and pointed to the sign, but Daniel wasn't paying attention. Jason had to run to catch up, and together they entered a long narrow room.

  At the far end, an older man sat at a desk holding a piece of pottery as he thumbed through a book. He reminded Jason of his grade school principal.

  They went up to the counter where a slim man peered through a magnifying glass at an ancient gold earring.

  Daniel laid his head on the counter. Looking through the other side of the glass he said, "My what big eyes you have."

  "What's on your mind, Danny?" he said without looking up.

  He lifted his head and placed the coin on the counter. "Look what we found, Bradley."

  Bradley took a deep breath and stretched. Pushing his glasses up, he rubbed his eyes. He picked up the coin. "You brought me a souvenir?"

  "It's not marked copy and it's not one of Dad's."

  "Is it real?" Jason asked.

  Bradley grunted and flipped the coin over. Daniel shifted positions and said, "Well?"

  "Is it real?" Jason asked again.

  Bradley looked up with the hint of a smile. "You must be Jason," he said. His ruffled brown hair brushed the top of his wire rim glasses and spoiled what would have been a scholarly look. "Katie said you were here for the summer."

  "What about the coin?" Daniel said.

  "Oh, it's a real coin alright."

  Daniel gave him a disgusted look.

  Bradley grinned. "It's a real Spanish Milled Dollar. And a beauty too. They were very common currency around here until after the Civil War. Where'd you find it?"

  Jason watched the older man get up and walk over to their side of the room. He stood in front of a wall that had built in wooden shelves with a few cabinet doors and rows and rows of drawers. Each one had an identification number. Jason wondered w
hat secrets were concealed in each drawer. The man checked his notepad and scanned the labels.

  When Jason turned back, he saw Bradley slip the earring off the glass and close his fingers around it, concealing it in his palm. Then he put a piece of pottery in its place.

  He started to ask about the earring when he heard the soft sound of the drawers opening and closing behind him. He was sure they contained pieces of the past. Items stored away for study. Each one a slice of time captured and sealed in a drawer.

  "We were out hiking by Prospect Point," Daniel said, interrupting his thoughts. "It was right by that big boulder that looks like a turtle. How much do you think the coin's worth?"

  "It was made in Mexico City about 250 years ago," Bradley said. "It might be worth a couple hundred dollars if you found a buyer. Not bad for one coin. Course it wouldn't be a real treasure unless there was a whole kettle full of them."

  Jason focused on the coin. "A kettle full?" he said. "Is that possible?"

  "Not likely, but you never know. These coins were in circulation up till about 1870. May have been lost by some unfortunate prospector or trapper going through the area."

  "Or part of the McPherson treasure," Daniel said.

  "McPherson?" Jason said. Then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. The man was running his hand down the bank of drawers. A gold onyx ring covered his finger and looked too heavy for his hand.

  Bradley leaned forward and said in a loud whisper, "Maybe it's part of some other?.undiscovered treasure."

  Jason's eyes narrowed. "Is there such a thing?"

  "Sure," Bradley said. "There's a book in the library that documents all kinds of treasure stories about this area. You guys should spend some time in the library. The book's called Treasure Town Treasures." He flipped the coin to Daniel. "Be careful when you're looking around. If you find any artifacts out there let me know. If they're to have any archeological significance - "

  Daniel finished the sentence with him in a singsong voice, "It's important that I get to see them exactly as you find them." Daniel smiled. "I know. We'll call you."

  As they were peddling home Jason said, "Who was the old man?"

  "That's Victor Smith, the Curator. He's Bradley's boss."

  Jason felt the coin in his pocket pressing against his leg. If there was any hidden treasure left in this town, he was going to look for it. But first he had to find out about McPherson.