Finding Those Not Lost

Silver Fever

Virginia City was bustling with activity. We had already booked rooms in the finest hotel in town, the International. It had a popular watering hole in its lobby, and was nearly filled from its bar to its numerous tables. The town and it's bustle all came from the famous Comstock Lode silver strike. Virginia City was now a boom town. Beside the International Hotel with its three floors and elevator. There were also the Maguire Opera House, four churches, three theaters, and three daily newspapers. In 1876 one observer reported that in Virginia City, "every activity has to do with the mining, transportation, or reduction of silver ore, or the melting and assaying of silver bullion." I could see that walking through the lobby and the bar area of the hotel. It was loaded with Bankers from San Francisco, local business owners, and the first few lucky men to make their fortune on the silver mines.
We were to meet Preston's friend and professor later in the bar, for a late lunch. We quickly got our baggage in order as we looked over our rooms. Me and Preston had separate rooms a luxury in the busy city. Preston was also meeting with some of the different leaders of the mining guilds, and owners to demonstrate some of his latest innovations in his family's line of mining equipment. One item she thought would earn a lot of attention. Was a pneumatic chisel that Preston had improved upon a design of a man named Joseph Fowle. It was powered by compressed air. Which ran from a compact steam engine that was kept outside of the mine. This helped keep the heat down within the often hot tunnels as well as lower the risk of explosion's from pockets of methane gas. Preston's was a heavy duty design but more compact then previous models. He thought their would be a market for his steam chisel, though he believed he may have already missed the boom of the mining market. He also brought along a steam powered x-o suit. He thought it had less mining applications but was still an amazing invention. It was basically a metal framed suit which you wore as you worked. It allowed you to lift large objects as well carry large amounts of weight. It also used steam power as well as compressed air. He thought it was to bulky for use in the mines. It also was better used in open air because of the heat from the steam. He had also brought a prototype to demonstrate. Preston thought there could be interest from some of the local industry.
We enjoyed a few moments for absolution, and rest. I sat by my window looking over the busy town. The miners walking wearily into town. Their shifts over, the grime evidence of their toils. In contrast the money men walked tall and jaunty, in groups laughing seemingly at their good fortune. I was relieved of my revelry by Preston's knock upon my rooms door.
"Mary, are you ready for some lunch, and the meeting with Professor Martz?"
I didn't answer him with words. I opened the door and gave him my best smile.
"You are so beautiful. I feel honored that you are my friend."
"Preston, that is so sweet. I am rather fond of you also." I said.
We walked down the hall and stairs together. And entered the busy bar area. The tables were filled with the privileged eating lunch and talking. Waitresses moved between the tables bringing fresh drinks and hot plates of food. But though the place was new and clean and the food fresh and hot, the smell of the silver smelting permeated even here.
Preston spotted his friend quickly. Professor Martz was a stocky man in his fifties. He had a white hair, as well as a neatly trimmed white beard. He was not alone. Beside him was what i would call a seasoned man. What do i mean by seasoned. The man had the look of experience. He was tanned and the look of rough exertions. I could sense a man of action. I watched him closely as we joined Preston's friend. The men stood as we were introduced. The seasoned mans name was, Richard Hawkins.
We sat enjoying some polite conversation. As we ordered our lunch. Professor Martz did most of the talking once the waitress left us alone.
"The reason we are all here is my correspondence with Richard. I had hired Richard as a laison in the region. He was my man on the scene so to speak. As Preston already knows I have long researched the early people's of the southwest. I am aware of much of the history of the tribes, from the Hopi, Apache, Zuni, Navajo, Anasazi, and the Shoshone. One sacred site I have studied is called Toquima cave. The Shoshone have allowed me to study this sacred cave and its many pictographs." Said Professor Martz.
"I have seen the photographs that Preston has shown me. I don't know what is what. They look like white dots, eyes and scribbles to me. What understanding you have gained from them fascinates me." I said.
"Well the white dots are said to be the butterfly spirits leaving the underworld were they feed the monster god. Obviously this is an understatement but the gist of the sum of the pictures. The butterfly spirts are said to speak to the leaders of the tribes when they speak to them at their sacred sites. Now these secret sites of the leaders are various caves and lonely mountain ledges. They go alone. They build a fire and wait for these butterfly spirits to speak and share with them their knowledge. One chief it is said to have spoken with them often. Making the journey to their sacred spots often, always asking and seeking knowledge. Now this chiefs name is roughly, Eyes that see at Night. I will call him, Night Eyes for our discussion and to have some brevity. Now Night Eyes, and his tribe are now missing.
"Missing?" Asked Preston.
"Yes, it is as if Night Eyes and his tribe have left the world of men."
"I don't understand. Were they slaughtered or come upon dire times?"
"No, that is what is so interesting about this Chief. Or should I say what is said about this Chief. Richard will you speak of your part of this amazing tale."
The seasoned man, named Richard Hawkins looked around before speaking. He then leaned in closer to Preston and I as well as the Professor.
"First I want you to know a little about myself before I speak about Night Eyes. I have traveled these lands and have become associated with many of the Chiefs of the Indian Tribes. I was first out here as a surveyor for the railroads. I have helped map and guide the West for the big railroad barons and their captains since I was young. I owe my life many times over to the generosity and mercy of many of the different Chiefs. They may seem savage to most of us, but I tell you they have a great honor. They will always treat you fairly if you treat them with the respect they deserve."
"As you can see, he is well respected by the Indians." Said Professor Martz.
"I had met Night Eyes once about a five years ago. When our paths crossed again about a year ago now, he had asked me to help him find his daughter."
"His daughter?"
"Yes, she was called Night Whisper. She was believed to have been taken by white men while she had been alone. I was known to the Chiefs. They only asked that I would make inquiries. Keep my ears open so to speak. They were right to suspect white men as they would say. I made inquiries for several weeks. I went to several of the frontier towns before I found any information."
"What did your inquiries find?" I asked eager to help this lost Indian princess.
"It was three brothers. They had found her in their mining claim. They said they found her within a cave. They said that they tried to scare her away. But she spoke queerly to them. Her words seemed to buzz like the sound of a bee." Said Richard.
"Her words sounded odd, buzzing? That sounds preposterous." Said Preston.
"I thought the same." Said Richard. He paused again. He took a long drink of the beer before him. He again looked about the room looking for signs of others eavesdropping. "These brothers unable to scare away Night Whisper did what cruel lonely men will do when confronted with something they do not understand. They used force. They tied the princess up. And they continued to hold her. Soon lust found its way into there thoughts. For Night Eyes daughter was beautiful. They began to have their way with their captive. I heard talk of the brothers strange discovery and knew it was who I had been looking for." Said Richard Hawkins.
"What did you do then?" I asked. I was literally on the edge of my seat as he told the tale of the captured Princess.
"I was going to tell the Chiefs, let them punish these brothers for their transgression. But."
     "But? You thought her in immediate danger." I said. Richard looked at me then. A look of appraising in his eyes.
     "That is right. As I said it had been several weeks she had been missing. I frankly thought her life maybe forfeit lost before I would even arrive. The brothers claim was far from the nearest town. I wasn't sure what plan I had to save this girl or what state she would be in, but I made my way to her and her captives."
Richard again stopped his story and looked around the crowded room. "What I found was most queer and you may not believe me, but it is the truth. I tied my horse and supplies as I neared the cave that was the center of the brothers claim. I climbed a low hill and looked over there small cabin and camp, but did not see any signs of life. No fire, or lamps. My only thought was they must be working within their claim. I steeled myself for action. I checked my Colt. And carried a loaded shotgun as I got ready to enter the cave. Now I entered always expecting to see torches or lamps lighting the descent but found none. I retraced my steps. Went back to my horse grabbing a small lantern. I again made my way down. I had my lantern lit before me. I only open one slat of the lantern so not to give away my presence. I have to tell you that this cave was far deeper than I had expected. And it quickly became very warm as I descended. I moved as quietly as I could through the dimly lit cave. As I rounded a corner I came upon my first surprise. It was the body of the oldest brother. His head had been torn from his body. There was blood everywhere the lantern shined. Now I am not meek but I fell backward in shock at the site. It was only after a moment that I was able to regain my composure."
"That is ghastly. How did he meet his fate?" I asked.
"I do not know the answer to that, but his death becomes even odder. For I then made the discovery of his lost head. A look of shock was on his face matching my own at the discovery. I wretched then as I sat startled at the shocking discovery on the cave floor."
"Did this Indian princess escape her captors and went seeking revenge?" I asked. My attention was locked on Mr. Hawkins story.
"I did not know what to think at that moment. I regained my wits and steeled myself to continue. I went even deeper into the dark cave. Before I found the bodies of the other two brothers. They were also in a terrible state, though they both had their heads remaining on their bodies. They were dead with their backs against one another. They were in a large open area within the cave. There were shell casings on the floor surrounding them. Though what their target had been I did not know. I shined my light around looking for their attackers, but there was no trace. I still had not seen the Indian princess I sought so I continued deeper into the cave.
Now this is where my story becomes even more queer than it sounds. Even to my own ears.
As I descended I began to hear strange noise's ahead. They were strange to say the least. What I heard were two different types of sounds. One of the sounds, the most frequent sounded like the clicking sound we would make with our tongue. But far faster and more frequent.
The next was far odder. It sounded like human words spoken with the buzzing sound of a bee or wasp."
"What do you mean? Asked Preston.
"I don't know a better way to describe it to you both. The Professor has all ready heard this story. The sound was as if you were speaking through the blades of a fan. Yet more of a buzzing sound to the diction." Mr. Hawkins answered.
"Go on Mr. Hawkins. I am sorry to have interrupted you." Said Preston.
"Even though I had intentions
of saving the chiefs daughter, for a moment I froze the bodies and the gore and now this strange sounds. I was unnerved. I am not sure how long I stood there frozen in the dark of that cave. I am not sure why I went forward. The noises and strange voices stopped and I said a prayer and kept descending."
      "It was not much further that I came upon Night Whisper."
     "Was she dead killed by the  miners?" I asked anxious for her fate.
     "I think she was fine.  Alone in the dark" said Preston.
     " You are right Mr. Haile.  She sat calmly as if unaware of the horror.  She didn't seem surprised as I entered the cave where the brothers had caged her." 
     "I am not here to hurt you.
Your father had asked me to try to make inquires.  I will return you safely to your father and kin."  She was alone and calmly waiting for me in the dark, I could tell she had met with ill use.  She had several bruises.  Her clothes were torn and ripped.  I removed my shirt.  Handing it to her as I removed her bonds.  She was very beautiful with black hair, tall, and graceful."
    " The rest of the story is rather mundane. We did not rest that night.  We made our way towards her people's lands.  We slept under a rock out cropping, and rested and fed my horse.  It took about a week of travel.  She was very knowledgeable about survival in this land.
     When we finally reached her Father and her tribe.  There was much joy on her Father's face when we arrived.  There isn't much more to the story.  Except he gave me this."  Richard Hawkins again looked around the crowded hotel before taking a red handkerchief  from his pocket clearly covering something.  With another glance he slowly uncovered its contents.
     Me and Preston both leaned it to look at what was inside. I gasped because I recognized what the item represented immediately.
     Before us was an exquisite piece of jewelry.  It looked to be made mostly of mother of pearl.  It had diamonds for eyes. Several thin slivers of onyx for arms.  The stones were wrapped in silver as was the backing of the piece.  The wings were incredibly detailed works of gold.
      The piece was the perfect interpretation of the butterfly spirits.  The question was who made such an amazing piece of jewelry.