Buffalo Mesa Mummy

Chapter 13

As he finished his story Peter pulled the three wind-up flashlights he had bought at Mr. Kershaw’s out of his pack. After using the attached belt clip to fasten one to himself he handed one to each of his friends.

“The great thing about these is you never have to worry about batteries running low and there are three led lights so even if one did burn out the others will still work.” Peter said.

Maria took her light and then said, “I bet you were glad to get off that mountain and back to your home.”

“Yea” Pete said with a smile, “but Dad said we could go back after I graduate from college. He has this theory that there is an underground passageway that goes from the top of the mountain all the way down to the valley. He thinks that is how they got the supplies that they needed. The whole story is right there on that wall in the cave. Anyway, we are going back and check it out. I will have plenty of flashlights stored up by then.” Then after a moment’s thought he added, “Of course, you and Charlie can come too, if you want to.”

“Really?” She asked.

“Really.” Peter answered and watched as Maria ran over to Charlie and told him about the invitation.

Since Peter had discovered the secret passageways it was assumed he would be the first down the ladder. When he shined his light down in the hole he could see the bottom around eight feet below. Testing the ladder rungs first, Peter soon was on the dirt floor below the main room of the hotel. He was joined by the other two almost immediately.

Shining their lights around they could see that the room was about half the size of the area above them. The only furniture was a small table and two chairs in one corner of the room. A couple of empty crates sat in the corner near where they had come down into the room. Shelves lined two of the walls and Charlie went over to see if anything was on them. The first thing he found was an oil lamp sitting on one of the shelves. He picked it up and shook it.

“Hey, there is oil still in here. I wonder if this thing will light.”

Peter pulled a lighter from his fanny pack and flicked it into life.

“Lift the glass and let’s see. The oil should be fine. One time dad found an ancient Chinese lantern that lit even though the oil was hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years old.” Peter said as he brought the flame up against the wick. There was a sputter and then a small flame ignited.

Charlie trimmed the wick and closed the glass covering.

“There is a hook over here on this post.” Maria observed from the center of the room.

There were rough hewn posts every six feet or so holding the floor above them in place. A heavy nail had been driven into a couple of them and then bent to hold a lantern in place.

Charlie brought the light over and hung it on the nail while Peter lit another one he found on the other end of the shelf.

After they hung the two lights they were able to turn off their flashlights. The rest of the items on the shelves were what you would expect. There were stacks of whiskey bottles, some of them still sealed, and rows and rows of beans.

“It doesn’t look like they had a very well balanced diet.” Maria observed, as she scanned the shelves.

Peter went to the end wall and patted the brick foundation of the fireplace they had used the night before.

“Look at this.” Peter said, and the twins came over to where he stood. He pointed to the metal pipe that protruded from the brick and disappeared into the north corner of the room. There was obviously an opening that had been covered with a three foot square wooden covering, and the pipe went through the middle.