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THE RANGE ROVER MOVED SLOWLY through the oak-chestnut forest, crisscrossing back and forth so they could get a good look at the trees and rocks from all sides. Nothing stood out for at least an hour of searching as they moved deeper and farther away from the parkway The sun splashed through openings in the canopy of trees and then lit up the larger clearings as everyone watched silently.
As Rory was taking a wide turn in a large open, area to start the next pass in his make-shift search pattern, it was Donna-Lou who started yelling.
"Stop. Stop Go back. We have to go back. I saw something."
Chet stirred in his seat and looked over the seat, "What was it? What did you see?"
Donna-Lou just wind-milled her arm as she looked through the back window, "Just back up. Back up, Rory."
Rory stopped the vehicle immediately, put his arm over the seat and backed up slowly.
Chet knelt on his seat, watching over the back of his seat as Emma and Corry scrambled around to do the same, focused intently on the terrain behind the Range Rover.
The grass hissed softly under the wheels of the Range Rover.
"Stop," Donna-Lou yelled. She jumped out of the vehicle before Rory could even come to a sliding stop on the grass.
The others didn't hesitate either, jumping out and leaving the doors open as they ran after Donna-Lou.
Rory put the vehicle in park and got out. He left his door open as well but he didn't take off after the others. Instead, he took a quick look around first, listening carefully. The only sound was the light wind pushing high through the treetops. Rory reached back into the vehicle, grabbed his handgun and stuck it in the waistband of his jeans. He took slow steps to the back of the vehicle, turning in a circle as he did, watching and half-expecting a horseman to come riding out of the woods. It didn't happen but he still felt uneasy. It felt like someone was out there. Finally, he took off at a jog after the others. They were on the far side of the clearing now, standing in front of a large tree, silent. Once he reached them, he saw it.
Carved in the bark was another turtle:
Donna-Lou was running her fingers over the shape in the bark, "So this means we have to go to the left where the tail is pointing. Right?"
Corry shook his head, "No, this one is a bit different, mom."
"Different? How?"
Chet stepped up beside Donna-Lou and pointed to a part of the carving, "Take a look at the tail. What's different about it? What's different from the other one?"
Donna-Lou tilted her head and then ran her fingers over the back end of the carving, "It's bent...the other one was straight...."
Rory nodded his head as he saw it, "So that means we follow in the direction of the bent tail. It's not saying go straight back, but on that specific angle away from the tree."
Chet nodded, "That's right. You got it." He put a hand on Corry's shoulder, "Let's put this one on the map, just in case we have to come back later."
"I'll bring the Range Rover up," Rory said and he jogged back. He took a quick look around again as he closed all the doors. He couldn't see or hear anything but he still felt that unease. Getting back in, Rory backed the Range Rover across the clearing to the others.
Corry quickly dated into the vehicle and brought out the map out, working with Chet to add the sign in the proper spot. Once they were finished, Chet lined himself up with the tail, stretched his arm out and pointed, "Okay, now we go in that direction."
Rory took a look in the direction where Chet was pointing. He picked out a couple trees in a line he could use as a guide to start and then said, "Okay, got it. Everybody back aboard." But as everyone piled back into the Range Rover, Rory held his door open and stayed outside for a moment. He checked their surroundings again. The feeling of unease was still there. Finally, he got in, placing the weapon of the dash in front of him. Then he backed up in a half circle, stopped, and then drove in the direction indicated by the bent tail. Everyone went quiet and back to watching for the next sign. The sun poked through the trees here and there as they drove, splashing highlights on the trees and rocks as they passed.
It was Chet who spoke up after twenty minutes, "I think I see something." He pointed ahead and a bit to the right of the vehicle.
Everyone in back immediately was leaning over the seats, looking through the front windshield.
Rory slowed the Range Rover and leaned forward over the steering wheel, "Where?"
Chet pointed again, "Head for that large rock just up ahead there."
"I think I see it,' Corry said in excitement.
Rory drove through the trees and pulled up to a rock nearly a dozen feet high and eight feet across. This side had a large flat surface and it appeared someone had chiseled something into the face. Everyone was out of the Range Rover immediately to see it up close:
Corry and Emma were the first ones out and over to the rock. They ran their fingers over the rough surface.
Chet reached over Corry's shoulder to feel the chiseled sign, "They've carved it right into the rock. It's weathered but it's definitely a treasure sign."
"So what does this one mean?" Emma asked as she ran her fingers over the contours.
"My question exactly," Donna-Lou said as she leaned over the young girl's shoulder and traced the outline of the chiseled sign herself.
Rory only glanced at the sign. He had his weapon in hand and was watching their surroundings again. The others seemed oblivious to any potential threats, not even noticing the gun in his hand, and he felt the need to stay on guard as they did their thing.
Chet put a hand on Corry's shoulder, "What do you think it means?"
Corry ran his fingers across the chiseled sign, "I think...this one refers to a mine or a cave. And I think it's supposed to be below us." He backed up and looked down at his feet. Then he looked at Chet, "Does that mean it's in a cave below our feet?"
Chet shook his head, "No. This is actually one my grand-daddy drew for me when I was a little boy. Me and Bobby Fin never ever came across it when we looked for the treasure. But now...I think I know why he drew it for me...."
Donna-Lou looked at Chet, realizing what he meant, "He was probably getting ready to teach you about the treasure. Bringing the next generation into the secret and all that...."
Chet nodded, "Yeah I think so. And then...."
"So what is does it mean?" Corry asked.
Chet hitched up his pants, "It means the cave we're looking for will be found in a low spot somewhere around here." He looked up, "Maybe it's even up ahead of us."
Emma's little brow furrowed, "The cave is in a low spot?"
Chet nodded as he looked at her, "Uh, huh. That means it could be in a valley...or maybe just a gully–"
Corry and Emma were off at a run past the rock.
Donna-Lou immediately showed concern and jogged after them, "Careful, you two. Don't go too far without us."
Rory stepped up to Chet, "Do you think we're close?"
Chet shrugged, "I'm not really sure to tell you the truth. But I would imagine–"
Corry yelled back at them, "Hey, guys? Look."
Rory and Chet looked over to see Corry, Emma, and Donna-Lou standing about one hundred yards away. They were side by side, looking at something.
Chet started to run but Rory grabbed his sleeve, "No, no, no. We should take the Range Rover and stay close to the weapons, Chet." He held his handgun up as a reminder, "If we are getting close, the Knights of the Golden Circle might not be far behind."
Chet looked at Rory for a moment before a sheepish look crept over his face, "You're right. I guess I'm getting caught up in the treasure hunting stuff and all that. Sorry about that."
"No problem," Rory said. "Let's just keep our wits about us so don't we get caught off guard. Especially us adults. Always keep in mind the horsemen that chased us."
Chet nodded, "You're right. Okay."
The two of them climbed back into the Range Rover and drove over to park where the kids were standing with Donna-Lou. When they got out this time, Chet had a Glock stuffed under his belt. He still had to hitch up his pants as he stepped around to the others.
Donna-Lou glanced at Chet, pointing ahead and downward, "This must be the low spot you were talking about."
Rory and Chet were surprised to find themselves standing on the edge of a rocky drop-off. Seventy-five feet below them was a grassy field, dotted with trees and boulders, the flat plain stretching out half a mile to a rocky cliff that rose more than two hundred feet high.
"That cliff over there looks like a good place to find a cave," Donna-Lou said.
Rory nodded his head slowly, "I agree. But it can't be easy to find, though. Otherwise, someone would have stumbled across it by now."
"True," conceded Donna-Lou.
Corry pointed ahead, "But there should be signs down there, mom. More signs that will lead us to the treasure."
"Yeah, there'll be signs, Mrs. Haney," Emma said, "and we'll find them. Right, Corry?"
"Yeah, let's get going," Corry said and he ran for the Range Rover.
Everyone followed behind and within ten minutes, Rory found a way down to the lower area. They decided to head straight for the cliff and were soon driving across the open, grassy field. Finally reaching the foot of the rocky cliff, Rory made a decision to turn right and slowly wound his way through boulders and bushes, everyone looking for signs or evidence of a cave.