Buffalo Mesa Mummy

Chapter 3

Peter and Charlie were still studying the camera when Maria got up and moved over beside them.

“That thing only has so many buttons, how long could it take to figure it out?” She asked. Maria was by far the best photographer of the three and was familiar with a lot of different cameras.

“You are right Maria, we need to get started. We have a lot of ground to cover.” Peter answered and got to his feet, brushing his pants off as he stood. He moved over to the front of the old hotel where a rickety three legged table sat. Brushing a thick layer of sand from the top he pulled a map from one of his cargo pockets and unfolding it, spread it on the table.

The map was an oversize printout of a Google satellite image of The Town. On the map each building had a number label. At the bottom of the paper an index listed the building with the assigned letter (1=Bank, 2=Saloon, etc.). 

An enlargement of each building was printed on the back of the paper, with different parts of the building labeled with letters. It was their job to take photos that coincided with each number and letter of the buildings.

 It had been Charlie’s idea to try and find an aerial view of The Town and he and Peter had spent hours the day before working on a website for The Town.

Maria looked over the boys shoulder and asked, “Just what exactly are we doing here?  I mean, I know we are taking pictures and stuff, but what is the whole plan.”

“Dad left town this morning to fly up to University of Colorado. He is heading up a symposium on Macro Archaeology tomorrow night and wanted to use Charlie’s idea of satellite imaging as one of the topics.” Peter said.

“So how does us having the map and taking a bunch of photos help?” She asked.

Peter turned to Charlie and said, “It was your idea so explain your brainchild to Maria.”

“Well, it is like this. You know Peter and I have been working on a website for The Town, right?” Charlie asked.

“Yea, till like two o’clock this morning.” Maria answered.

“We took this map and created an interactive website for all the information that has been gathered so far. We have the history of The Town, and all the other historical facts we could gather. Now the map on the website is identical to this one, with the numbers and everything. Tonight, when we get back Peter and I will upload the photos we took today and link them to the number they go with.” Charlie said with growing excitement. He loved a computer challenge and had created websites for several of the local businesses.

“So if someone goes to the website and clicks, say on the Mercantile they will see pictures of that building?” Maria asked growing interested herself.

“Well, when you click on the Mercantile an enlarged photo will pop up like the bigger ones here on the back of this map. When someone clicks on one of the letters of that building then that photo comes up, showing the area surrounding the number.” Charlie said, more than a hint of pride in his voice.

“And”, Peter added, “See how there is a symbol in the middle of the building that looks like an arrow chasing its tail.”

Maria was fully on board now and she thought she understood what the boys intended to do. “That is a symbol for a 360° view, right?”

“You got it. One of us stands in the middle of the area and slowly videos a complete circle. That lets everyone see just like they were standing there.” Peter answered.

“Then anyone interested in the site can log on with a password and see just how everything is progressing.” Charlie put it.

“And with a satellite connection we could even set up a webcam so things can be monitored real time.” Peter added.