The Black Stone by Dana Hollister

Author:Dana Hollister
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: flying, backpacking, indians, archeology, grand gulch, indian ruins, anazasi, blanding utah, bullet canyon, cave 7, cedar mesa, cliff dwelling, comb ridge, hiking utah, the black stone
Publisher: Dana Hollister

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As the three of them studied the sandy floor, looking for the box and its contents, they followed several depressions around the alcove, but they found nothing. After searching, they sat down together in the alcove going over every possible scenario they could think of. The Traveler started troubleshooting right away. This was a serious situation.

“Hawk, does anyone know of this place other than Atewa and Sheetah, to your knowledge?”

“No,” Hawk said.

“Atewa, does anyone know of this place other than Hawk and Sheetah?” the Traveler asked.

“No,” Atewa answered.

“Have either of you, or Sheetah, ever been here without me?” the Traveler questioned further.

“No,” they both answered in unison.

The Traveler felt a little silly asking such questions, but felt he had to ask. He trusted Hawk and Atewa more than anyone he knew. But he had wondered if they had come to the alcove, either alone or together, and maybe had been followed by someone. But this was apparently not the case.

The Traveler quickly apologized. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to question you out of lack of trust. I was wondering if maybe someone had followed you if you had been here.”

“That’s alright, Traveler. We understand,” Hawk said.

They looked around more carefully to see if they could find evidence of anyone having been there recently. Atewa found no tracks other than the faint depressions that were most likely made by an animal. There were sticks and pieces of brush that had been drug in. Atewa guessed by a pack rat, but other than that, he found nothing. It didn't surprise him when he found no signs outside either. A good rain could wash away any tracks. But inside it was protected from the elements. There were no human tracks or signs anywhere, inside or out.

“Someone has removed the Black Stone,” the Traveler said with a sigh.

“Doesn’t make sense,” Atewa said as he continued to inspect the small cave.

Hawk agreed and kept walking in circles looking for some kind of a clue.

The three of them went outside and sat down on a trunk of a fallen cottonwood tree.

“What do we do now?” Atewa said.

“That chamber holds some of the most precious things known to man. I just do not know what to do. Let me think on it,” the Traveler responded in a quiet voice. He was obviously worried and seemed disappointed, too.

“Maybe we could find another way to open the chamber,” Hawk added.

“Maybe, but that door is huge. To say it’s heavy is an understatement. I would really rather no one else know about it. It would take many men and possibly many years to get inside.” The Traveler was staring off into space as he spoke.

“Well, we will think of something. Let’s get back so the Tokalas can go hunting,” Atewa said. “There is nothing we can do here at the moment.”

They walked back to the plane and when Atewa took off, he flew around the area to see if anything might catch their attention, scanning the landscape for another place where a plane had landed or an abandoned campsite.

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