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RORY KEPT THE GAS PEDAL to the floor. The growl of the Range Rover's 510 horsepower, supercharged engine could barely be heard above the immense roar that felt like it was engulfing them from behind. The big vehicle fishtailed but Rory brought it back under control and the Range Rover bounced hard twice before it began climbing the steep hill and away from the river bank. At the top of the rise, Rory hit the brakes and slid to a sideways stop.
Everyone in the Range Rover turned to look back down at the river. Hundreds of broken boards and heavy timbers tumbled over the rapids.
Chet stretched to take a look, "The upper part of the dam is gone on this side. That's what that noise was."
The two riders appeared on the top of the ridge again on the far side of the river. The horses pawed the ground anxiously as the two riders surveyed the damage to the dam below.
"The loss of the dam will slow them down," Rory said, "but I have a feeling it won't be long before more of them are chasing us on this side."
"Maybe they'll have their horses swim across," Emma said.
Corry shook his head, "No, I think that's too far for them."
"Let's not wait around to find out," Rory reasoned. He took his foot off the brake and applied the gas as he steered to the right. The 7,000-pound vehicle moved over the ridge, out of sight of the riders, and then smoothly across a grass field as they headed south.
Donna-Lou sat back against the seat, pushing the hair back from her face, looking relieved, "What are we going to do now?"
Rory didn't answer right away. "That's a good question," he said after a few moments of thinking. "I'm open to suggestions. I'm not sure we can go back to Golden right now. I guess we could go to Atlanta and regroup. Come back at another time."
Corry leaned forward, "But what about the nuclear weapon they want to buy?"
That sober thought made everyone go quiet. They all knew the consequences if the Knights of the Golden Circle found the treasure first. But what else could they do right now? Rather than steer into the heavy forest ahead, Rory steered to the right and stayed in the open, hoping to put as much distance between them and the pursuing riders. The terrain became more rugged as Rory steered to the Southwest but the Range Rover handled it easily. It smoothly climbed a hill, skirting the forest as it bounced over rocks and fallen branches.
Corry suddenly began yelling, "Stop, stop, stop."
Rory slammed on the brakes and they shuddered to a stop.
Donna-Lou shot forward from her seat, putting her hands on her son in alarm, "What's wrong, Corry? What's wrong?"
But Corry didn't tell her. Instead, he turned in his seat, his hand windmilling frantically as he yelled, "Back up, back up, back up."
Rory looked to the back, put the big vehicle in reverse and began to back up. He glanced at Chet, wondering what had Corry so animated.
Chet shrugged and looked back, "What's wrong, Corry? What is it?"
Corry didn't say anything. His hand just continued to windmill, urging Rory to continue backing up. Then he put his hand up, "Stop, stop, stop!"
Rory slammed the brakes on and the big Range Rover slid to a stop on the grass.
The vehicle had barely come to a stop before Corry was out the back door and running towards the trees on the left.
Emma jumped out behind him, running hard through the half-foot of grass.
"Corry! Emma!" Donna-Lou exclaimed. She climbed across the seat, jumped out the open door and ran after the kids.
Rory put the car in park and jumped out, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watched the kids run across the grass, chased frantically by Donna-Lou.
Jumping out, Chet ran to the end of the vehicle and stood there, "What in the world is wrong with him?"
"I have no idea. But he sure is in a hurry."
As soon as Chet took off at a run, Rory did the same.
Corry didn't stop running until he reached a large, southern red oak tree. He ran his hand over the old, rough bark.
Emma and Donna-Lou stopped a couple of feet away from the tree, looking at Corry. Chet and Rory stopped just behind them and they all exchanged glances, still unsure what this was all about.
A moment later, Chet stepped forward and looked at the section of bark that Corry was concentrating on, "What did you find?"
Pumping his fist, Corry said, "Yeah. It's a treasure sign."
Carved into the bark was the image of an upside down cross.
Chet placed his hand almost reverentially on the carving, "He's right. I've heard of this one...but I've never seen one before."
Emma ran up and looked at Corry, her eyes shining with excitement, "What does this sign mean, Corry? Huh? What does it mean?"
Corry ran his hands over the carving, "It's a direction sign. It means, if we go ahead in the direction the top of the cross points to, that means back towards the river, we'll find another sign." Corry stepped back and took a look along the tree line to the south and then turned in a circle, "We'll probably find other signs around here somewhere, too."
Donna-Lou crossed her arms at the mention of more signs, looking uncomfortable.
Rory looked at Chet, "Is he right about that?"
Chet nodded as he backed up a step, hitched up his pants and looked along the tree line himself, "He's right. Two or more signs usually converge on a point." Chet took a few more steps and then turned, put his hands in his pocket and looked like he was doing some serious thinking. A moment later, he shook his head softly, "Although, I have to say, Corry...I've never heard anybody ever talk about treasure signs on this side of the river."
Corry looked at Chet and shrugged, "Maybe nobody ever looked."
"Maybe," Chet conceded. "I know I never came on this side of the river."
"Me neither," Corry said. "But we are now."
Rory stepped between them, looking from Chet to Corry, "Are you two positive enough that these are treasure signs? Are you sure enough, that we take the time to look for the other signs–?"
Donna-Lou threw her hands in the air, "Oh come on, people. We have men chasing us, trying to kill us and we're going to stop and look for treasure signs?"
Corry held his hands out to her, "But we have to mom–"
Shooting him a stern look, Donna-Lou said, "No. We can get to safety and then Rory and Chet can come back."
"But mom–"
"I don't want you hurt. And I don't want Emma hurt," Donna-Lou added emphatically.
"And I don't want anybody hurt if they blow up a bomb," stated Corry with firmness.
Donna-Lou crossed her arms as she looked at her son. Then she looked at Chet for help.
Chet put his hands in his pockets and he shrugged, "Sometimes doing the right thing isn't always the easy thing."
Donna-Lou bit her lip and closed her eyes in frustration.
"Please, mom."
Donna-Lou blew a strand of hair away from her face and finally nodded.
Corry pumped his fist, "All right." He looked at Chet, "Let's go and see if we can figure out where this spot is on the topographical map. We can get the exact longitude and latitude for each sign from the GPS in the Range Rover. Right?"
Chet nodded and then looked at Donna-Lou as her son ran for the Range Rover.
Donna-Lou just gave a sharp gesture with her head and her voice was quiet, "Get going. You boys have work to do."
Chet looked like he wanted to say or do something but he just stood there awkwardly for a moment. Then he turned and followed Corry to the vehicle.
"Still gotta work on your man," Emma said.
Donna-Lou nodded, "Both the big one and the little one."
Rory shook his head, "This is getting too complicated for me."
Emma giggled.