It was early when the boys arrived at the cave to set up for the morning tour.
Daniel led the way into the cave and set down the bag of replica coins. "I'll turn the lights up so we can see what we're doing." He opened the access panel and flipped the switch. There was a flash of light and then darkness. He groaned. "Must have blown a fuse again. Katie will have to fix it when she gets here."
"So now what do we do?"
"Lantern." He reached behind a stalagmite and pulled out a lantern and matches.
"Matches? Isn't that kind of primitive?"
"We keep them here for the special torchlight tours Dad does on full moon nights." He hummed the tune to the Adams Family as he struck the match. In a bad Transylvanian accent he said, "Come Igor. Bring the coins."
Jason followed dragging one leg. "Coming Master." He stumbled as he slung the bag of coins over his shoulder and let out an "oof," as they landed hard against his back.
"Careful Igor," Daniel said. "Do not spill the treasure." He hung the lantern on a hook, and the light cascaded down the pillar to reveal the hole. "We will hide the treasure here. Surely no one will think to look behind this column."
Jason let the bag of souvenir coins drop into the hole with a jingle and a clink. Daniel was reaching for the lantern when they heard the sound of metal sliding over metal. They both turned and stood with their mouths open.
Before them stood a tall man dressed in armor. The light reflected off the sword he was holding, and his helmet cast a shadow over his face.
"What have we here?" he boomed.
"He's wearing the armor from the library," Daniel said under his breath. All traces of the fake accent were gone.
Jason followed the moving sword with his eyes. It looked dangerous.
The man leaned forward and peered at them. "Why?.you're nothing but boys. Pickpockets and beggars no doubt." In one smooth motion, he sheathed his sword and advanced toward them.
As he stepped into the light, Jason gasped. "Victor Smith," he whispered. The sound snaked around the room. The reflection from the library had come to life and now confronted them.
"You may indeed call me victor, but do not call me smith." His lip curled in a sneer. "My family line has a long succession of conquerors. We leave menial smithing to lesser men."
He strode toward them. They didn't see where it had been hidden, but a dagger now gleamed in his hand. He thrust it forward. They yelped and plastered themselves against the wall. He threw back his head and laughed. "Let's see your treasure Igor," he said. With a clean sweep he speared the bag on the glittering blade and hefted it into the air.
"Not much here," he said as the bag swung from the sharp point. With a twist of his hand the bag split open. The coins tumbled into his open hand, some slipping through his fingers and spilling onto the floor. He wasn't Smith, Jason realized. But who was he?
"Silver coins, eh?" He jingled them in his hand. "Did you boys pinch this off one pompous gentleman, or is this your meager take for the whole month?" He poured the coins from his hand into a pouch hanging from his belt.
Jason took a step forward. "Hey, you can't?," he began. He stopped short when the man thrust his dagger toward him with a wicked grin. Jason felt a wave of frigid air.
"Easy there Igor. Cross me and you'll taste my steel. But if you're smart, you'll stick with me and I'll teach you the tricks of the trade. Of course most of the winnings will go to me at first. Call it a training fee." His grin spread wider revealing a few missing teeth. "Interested?"
Daniel said, "Who are you?"
"Ah, you learn fast. I will allow you to call me Balboa." He opened his arms wide and bowed slightly. "Enough of pinching pockets. I have plans for much larger fortunes." He lowered his voice. "Treasure beyond your dreams."
"Treasure?" Jason asked.
Balboa leaned forward. Another wave of cold brushed against Jason's face making his teeth hurt. Balboa whispered, "Gold. Enough gold to buy a fleet of ships." His rancid breath smelled of rum and tobacco. "Yesss gold," he hissed. "Treasure to let us all live like kings."
Jason recoiled but resisted the urge to cover his nose.
Balboa sheathed the dagger in his boot and strode around the room gesturing as if to a crowd. "When I return to Spain the countryside will all turn out to greet me. Merchants will vie to place their finest wares before me. I will build a palace. It will be filled with servants and protected by my own loyal guardsmen. The most beautiful women in all the land will strive to win my heart."
He spun around, and his eyes fastened on Jason. "And you, Igor? What is the desire of your heart?"
Jason's face flushed. "I want to keep my home."
He laughed, and the sound echoed in the chamber. "You are but a foolish boy grubbing for money to pay your taxes." His face sobered. "You will soon learn to appreciate the wonders that gold can bring you."
From the cave entrance came the faint smell of diesel and the rumble of the bus engine. The door squeaked as it opened, and the sound of voices grew as people poured off the bus.
"What bewitchment is this?" Balboa thundered as he whipped out his dagger. As he stepped toward them he shimmered like the image in a pool when ripples stir the surface.
"You tricked me, but you'll not betray my secret." His hand stretched and wavered as he rotated the dagger and threw it at Jason. Time seemed to stop as the dagger tumbled over and over in a lazy motion and then hung suspended in the air. The ripple effect grew stronger. With a distorted cry that quivered and echoed, Balboa blurred and disappeared. The dagger clattered to the ground, and Jason stood staring at it.
"Come on," Daniel said pulling on his arm. "Help me with these coins."
Jason stirred and reached for the dagger. It was cold. He wrapped the blade in the empty burlap bag. Then, as he had done so many times when playing pirate, he slipped it through his belt in the back and dropped his shirttail over it. Stooping down he helped Daniel push the coins into the hole.
Katie dashed into the cavern. She paused as she saw them. "Hurry up guys. You should be done by now. You'll ruin my lighting effects."
Daniel blew out the lantern, and they were plunged into darkness. Uncle Matt was explaining the geologic formation of the cave as the group came up the boardwalk. The boys fumbled their way through the dark to a corner.
As the group entered the room, Katie turned up torches on the walls. Instantly the chamber was transformed into an ancient cave. A place where early explorers were guided by flickering lights that cast ominous shadows and where danger lurked in dark corners.
When Matt began to tell the story of McPherson, Daniel nudged Jason and jabbed his thumb toward the cave entrance. They tiptoed out.
Emerging into the sunlight, Jason blinked and rubbed his eyes. "Where do you think he went?"
"I don't know but that dagger was wicked."
Jason put his hand on his shirt where the dagger was concealed. "It was sure creepy how much he looked like?"
There were footsteps behind them, and they both turned. Victor Smith stood in front of them.
"Not staying for the tour?" Smith asked. His eyes looked out at them from under the wide brim of his hat.
For a moment Jason pictured him in Balboa's armor. How long had he been there? How much had he heard? Jason dropped his hand down to his side in what he hoped was a casual manner.
"No, we were just setting up for the tour."
"Rather dark in there isn't it?" Smith asked and glanced at the entrance. "I saw that Katie had to reset the fuse. Tricky thing electricity. Sometimes goes out at the most inconvenient times, doesn't it?"
"We used the lantern," Daniel said.
Smith nodded. "I've had occasion to explore by lantern light. Gives a different feel to the experience. You see things in - shall we say - a whole different light?" His soft laugh sent a shiver up Jason's spine.
"Haunted Cave is a strange place. It changes with the seaso
ns and time of day," Smith continued. He dropped his voice. The hat shaded his face so that his eyes glittered from the shadow. "It's especially interesting at night when the full moon shines down through the opening in the roof. For those with imagination, it can be a fascinating or perhaps terrifying place. Many people are afraid to explore it in the dark. But you boys don't seem to be bothered by ghosts."
The tour inside was breaking up, and Matt was handing out the coins.
"We better be going," Daniel said. "They'll need our help at the gift shop."
Smith tipped his hat. As they walked to their bikes, Jason could feel those eyes boring into his back where the dagger was hidden. As they rode away he glanced back. Smith was still standing there by the entrance to the cave watching them.