John was watching the red ball of light down below him from atop an giant boulder that jutted out from the hillside that was dotted with many boulders deposited by a glacier thousands of years before in this Tuscarawus County of Ohio. The blue ball of light that was Duncan hung low and whispered softly to him, “John my son, be brave and see the result of evil living.”

“Yes sir, I will.” John answered meekly.

 The reddish glow gave ample light for John to see O’Connor pulling away large stones from the bottom of a huge block of sandstone that was just at the bottom of the ravine that the creek ran through. “There it is! I’ve found it!” O’Connor excitedly shouted to his ghostly friend. He shone his mag light into a hole just large enough to let a large man crawl through and said excitedly. “I see it, a door, it’s huge!”

“Good, good.” Old John spoke softly, greedily. “Now cut the lead off of that old key and go unlock the door and enter into your future O’Connor.”

O’Connor quickly, deftly obeyed and in his excitement cut his left index finger deeply and blood flowed to the cold earth and it thirstily drank it up. “Goddamn it!” O’Connor cursed loudly as he reached for his hanky to wrap it up.

“Never mind that fool!” The red ghost said angrily. “You’ve time enough to do that. Get the damn door open!”

“Fuck you!” O’Connor said in defiance. “I got to wrap this so I can finish cutting off the goddamn lead first.”

“Well be quick about it, the sun is about to rise and I want to finish this in darkness!” John’s ghost said furiously.

 Soon O’Connor had his finger dressed and he finished cutting off the lead enough that he thought it would now open the door to what he had no idea. He crawled through the hole and it lead him back about 30 feet and opened into a chamber large enough that he could now stand. The red ball of light followed him and he put the key into the lock of the door and turned it. An audible click was heard and he pushed hard against the door and after much force it slowly creakily opened.

Up on the rock as John was watching with Duncan’s ghost, he saw the red light follow O’Connor into the hole. “Should we go on down and see what’s going on now?” He asked Duncan as he jumped up anxious now to see what was going on not waiting for an answer. He ran down the entrance to Duncan’s cave and peered in. He could see O’Connor excitedly dancing and the yellowish red glow of gold and ghost surrounding him.

After a few minutes, shouts were loudly echoing through the hollow and two gunshots were heard as a bullet whistled past John’s ear as the flashes shot from the hole and a very loud thump rumbled across the floor of the hollow. Dust exploded out of the hole in a large ghostly red cloud and John was pushed back covered in dust and small gravel. The huge door was slammed shut and John heard the sound of it being locked. Then nothing but the muffled sound of hysterical laughter was heard. The dawn has just begun on this Halloween day.

John jumped up and ran back to Duncan and excitedly asked, “My god what the hell happened in there?”

“Now John, it is finished. We go. You can relate to the others what took place after I finish my passion my boy; until then keep silent on what you now know. Let Tom find his way to this spot. Now hurry back to the hole for Olivia is waiting for you there.” Duncan told him. “At least now the evil O’Connor is no more. I will deal with my son John Thompson myself.” The two went back to the mansion and the blue ball of light went inside as John walked to the front and saw Olivia waiting for him.

“Good mornin’ John. Ya did good my boy. Now walk with me to my house and you can have some breakfast and coffee with the others.” She said to him cheerily as she wrapped her large arms around his shoulders and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I know every thing that went down, no need to tell me and you have no more worries son. All is fine, you’ll see.”

“Yes Olivia, somehow I know you’re right. I feel like everything I ever done wrong is now right and all fears I ever had are gone.” He said to her. “I trust you and Duncan somehow. I really do. I feel somehow older too.”

“It’s the power of the mojo son, learn to use it.” Olivia told him softly. “Tom never did, because it was intended for you.”

Inside the house the Cornetts were gathered in the kitchen and Tammy was cooking flapjacks, eggs and bacon. She turned and poured a mug of coffee for John. “And just where have you been?” She asked as John took the mug and sat down with Tom and Duncan.

“That’s what we’d like to know too!” Duncan said anxiously. Tom was looking expectantly for his answer scratching his bearded chin. He farted and only sipped his coffee.

“I just heard a funny noise just before sunup and went out to see what it was. Didn’t you guys hear anything?” John answered them.

“No.” they all said in unison. “What did it sound like and what did you discover?” Tammy asked.

“I don’t know how to explain it really, more of a feeling I suppose.” John said scratching his head to try and cover his lie. “I did find some strange tracks in and around that hole after the sun came up.”

“Do tell?” Tom said as he jumped up from his seat. “Show me now then.”

“Tom you sit right back down and eat. There’s plenty of time to investigate that. I didn’t slave over this breakfast for nothing you know?” Tammy chided him.

“Yes boys, eat first and enjoy some fresh coffee first. I think it’s going to be a long day for ya darlin’s.” Olivia added. “You’re going to need the energy it will give ya.”

 Tom obeyed and sat down as Tammy and Olivia set the plates around the table and poured fresh coffee for all. Then Tammy set a platter of flapjacks down and Olivia brought the butter,  eggs and syrup. Tammy got the bacon and set it on the table and sat down with the men. “Olivia, aren’t you eating?” She asked.

“Oh darlin’, I had a few those breakfast bars and some milk earlier. I don’t need to add flapjacks and bacon with Maple syrup to my bottom.” She said laughingly as she patted her ass.  You go right ahead and enjoy the time and food with yer men now. I’ll go tidy up the bedrooms a bit and rejoin you for some tea.” With that said she disappeared into the hall leading to the bedrooms. Tammy just gave Tom a knowing look that told him I told you so, with her eyebrows raised. Tom just shrugged his shoulders and scratched his balls and started eating.

As soon as Tom was done eating, which seemed like only a minute to Tammy he gulped down his coffee and grabbed his ball cap and ran for the door. “Thanks Tam, that was great.”

Duncan and John looked at one another and shrugged it off and finished their breakfast along with Tammy. They both stood up and thanked her and walked out to help Tom as she started redding up the table. Olivia came in and helped her and they started doing the dishes together.

Outside at the hole Tom was down in it with his hand reaching inside investigating its interior. He pulled out a few scraps of rotted paper and two old gold coins that had Espana embossed on them. “Well I think I know what these are. I wonder if that damn O’Connor wasn’t here last night? Someone with large feet in boots was here, that’s for sure and they left their shovel too. I think they took my clue too. How in the hell did he find out?” Tom spoke mostly to himself under his breath. “Hey guys, go get that tractor and bring it here. We’ll use it to pull this thing up out of here. Can you run that backhoe John?”

“Sure I can!” John answered. “Be right back.” He ran for the barn and left Tom with his son.

“Dad it looks like that thing has caved in along with O’Connor cutting it open with something.” Duncan said.

“Yeah, that’s why your van dropped into the hole. The weight was too much and it just imploded. Evidently way back when, ol’ Duncan decided this was the easiest digging since he had to dig up that huge Sycamore stump. He knew he had to hide his treasure quickly, whatever it was and just buried it here. That explains why it has been a problem spot for all these years.” Tom explained. “Well, we’ll dig it out to good hard ground and fill it in with solid fill and compact it properly, that should take care of that problem, after we get this chest out and solve the next clue.”

“What is the next clue dad?” Duncan asked.

“All I have is 40 rods southeast of this spot, that’s 660 feet. But something is missing.” He said as he crawled up out of the hole. He handed the gold coins to his son to examine.

“If my calculations are correct there is something just 40 rods or 660 feet southeast of this hole. But first, I need to find out what I need from this chest, if O’Connor didn’t steal it in the night.” Tom told him.

“Dad, these were minted in 1849!” Duncan said excitedly. “There is 8 Escudos written on them too with a picture of the Rock of Gibraltar I think and a cross.”

John drove the tractor up to the hole and parked it close to be able to reach the chest with the backhoe. “Do you want me to just pull it out with the bucket or dig around it so we can put a chain on it?” He asked Tom.

“Just pull it out John, it’s already beat up so you ain’t gonna hurt in none.” Tom said. John slowly dropped the bucket into the hole and deftly slipped it under the chest and brought it up out of its grave and set it onto the driveway.

“I am impressed John.” Duncan told him. “I had no idea you had this talent.” He said as John only winked at him and smiled. Tom agreed and John turned off the big tractor and climbed down to inspect the chest with Tom and his friend. Tom used the shovel to pry open the lead lining more and dropped it. Then he knelt down to look for any more items that may be hidden inside. He pulled out sixteen more gold coins, an old journal that was useless now and some old pictures that were all faded in their silver frames. Then Duncan reached in and pulled out a jewel encrusted cross about the size of a matchbook, it had a gold chain attached also.

“Wow! That’s a good question son. I guess my hand was too busy finding coins and junk. That cross is awesome.” He admitted.

Just then Tammy and Olivia appeared. Tom showed them their finds and said, “I don’t think what I needed to find was here. O’Connor beat us to it during the night.” Tammy was busy examining the gold cross and coins.

“Maybe this is what you are looking for Tom.” Olivia told him as she handed him a large antique key.

“Where did you get this Olivia and what’s it for?” Tom asked excitedly/

“Oh it’s been in my bedroom for years and years. I wondered what it was for, and I just think it has something to do with all this mystery.” She lied expertly as she handed it to Tom with a sly smile.

Tom quickly gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and said, “Olivia, what would we ever do without you?” He then gestured to the mansion and told them all, “I’ll be right back there’s something I need inside.” He quickly turned and ran into the house and into the library and picked up the brass compass. He then ran back outside and told them all to follow him. “But Olivia, you can stay right here.”

At that moment a red Mustang pulled into the drive. It was Mikayla and John’s girlfriend Charlene. “Sorry dad, Later.” Duncan said and John added, “Yeah man, this can’t wait.”

Now I didn't put no sissy pictures on here, if ya want them, get them out of yer own heads. If you see any typos or such mistakes kindly let me know and I'll fix 'em. Don't forget the green button or the fat lady will be on you like flies on honey. Enjoy.

©2009 CC Riter