This is a follow up to Serpent's Embrace.
Disclaimer: The characters of Sydney Fox, Nigel Bailey and Karen are borrowed from Relic Hunter. No copyright infringement intended. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Sydney and Nigel are still exploring their relationship when they join an expedition into Arizona's desert, searching for the mysterious mine that has baffled searchers for more than a century!
This story is based on a real old-west legend. For more information on the real Legend of the Lost Dutchman, check out the books at the Superstition Mountain Museum http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org/books-lost- dutchmans-mine.htm
Arizona Territory 1870's
Jacob Waltz stood in awe of his discovery. Even in the dim light from his lantern, the tunnel glimmered, casting flickers of gold in all directions. He could not believe his luck. Years ago, he came to the United States from Germany, and quickly headed west in search of gold. That quest has lead him here to Arizona's Superstition Mountains, and to a place were no miner worth his salt believed gold would ever be found. But he proved them all wrong. He found the mother of all mother lodes. Little did Waltz know that his discovery would become legendary, known forever as The Lost Dutchman's Mine.
Arizona State University Geological Science Department present day.
Professor Joseph Anderson sat alone in his office. What started out as a field study of the geologic formations of the Superstition Wilderness area had now become a mystery. While exploring a natural crevasse, one of his students had found a old strong box which contained a map. No, more precisely a treasure map, that presumably showed clues to the location of the Lost Dutchman's Mine.
He told himself it was just another fake, one of the many that had appeared through out the decades. But something about this map made him think differently.
After studying it for hours, he had called an old friend of his - Professor Sydney Fox. Although she taught Ancient Studies, she was also a renowned Relic Hunter. People had been searching for the mine for years, but its whereabouts had never been found. The Lost Dutchman's Mine had become a fable, a legend; and Sydney Fox had a reputation for finding what others could not. He faxed her a copy of the map, then safely hid the original. And even though it was not a relic, she was intrigued, and was now on her way to Arizona, bringing along her assistant, Nigel Bailey.
Realizing it was getting late, Anderson rolled up the map of the Lost Dutchman's National Park and prepared to go home. Unbeknownst to him, he was not alone in his office. Without warning, he felt a sharp pain at the base of his skull, and everything faded to black.
****
The heat was oppressive. Nigel was thankful for the air conditioning in the car. He had gathered all the information he could regarding Waltz and the lost mine, telling Sydney more than once that this was nothing more that a wild goose chase. There was a small part of him, however.. his inner child... that was looking forward to a treasure hunt. Even though he knew they would not find anything.
After reaching ASU, they headed for Professor Anderson's office and were shocked to find police tape across his door. Sydney found a colleague of Professor Anderson's and was filled in about the previous nights events. They headed for the local hospital after finding out that Anderson had survived the attack.
Nigel was suddenly uneasy with their quest, becoming concerned for Sydney's safety. Since the events in New Orleans involving the late Professor Richarde, he and Syd had become a couple. Others had exploited their relationship when they had just been known as coworkers: but now that they were together romantically and fully aware of the consequences, they decided to keep the true nature of their relationship to themselves. What started out as a simple quest to help out a friend of Syd's had now become something far more dangerous.
"Maybe this treasure hunt is not such a good idea after all," he said, unable to hide the concern in his voice. "Your friend's in the hospital, and, well... people have disappeared, even died, trying to find this mine."
"I understand your concern, but I'm not going to back away from this now." She smiled at him and reached over, placing her hand in his.
"I know, It's one of things I love about you." He squeezed her hand, knowing it was all part of the package of being involved with someone like Sydney Fox.
Once at the hospital, they quickly headed to Anderson's room. Professor Anderson looked up when he heard the soft rap at the door. As it opened, he was relieved to see his old friend.
"Sydney, it's good to see you," he said as he motioned for them to come into the room.
"Are you okay? We went by the University first. Professor Moreno told us there was a break-in and that you were in the hospital." Sydney sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"The doctors say I have a severe concussion. They're keeping me for observation for a while."
Nigel remained quiet, standing near Sydney. She looked over at him and realized that she had not introduced him yet.
"Joe, I'd like you to meet my associate, Nigel Bailey."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Bailey," Anderson said, extending his hand to Nigel.
Nigel shook his hand. "Likewise, and you can call me Nigel."
"All right Nigel, I will - if you call me Joe."
"That's a deal."
"What happened last night?" Sydney asked.
"Well, I was in my office studying some maps of the area. As I was getting ready to leave, someone hit me over the back of the head." He spoke with a trace of bitterness. "The only ones who know about this, besides us, are a few of my students."
"Do the police have any clues as to who the perpetrator was?" Nigel asked.
"No. Whoever did this left no fingerprints, and everyone who knows about the map has an alibi."
Sydney reached over and placed a hand on Anderson's arm. "You said that you hid the original map. Do you know if it's missing?"
"Yes it is. When I came to, it was the first thing I checked." He lowered his voice. "You have the copy I faxed you, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Here are some notes I made about the area. I will understand if you don't want to go through with this search after what happened. It could be dangerous."
"That's never stopped me before," Sydney replied as a nurse came in to let them know their time was up. Before leaving, she gave him her cell number, in case he could think of anything else that might help them.
After leaving the hospital, Nigel called Karen, their new secretary, and confirmed their hotel reservations in Apache Junction. Karen assured him they were booked for rooms at the Superstition Grand Hotel.
Disclaimer: The characters of Sydney Fox, Nigel Bailey and Karen are borrowed from Relic Hunter. No copyright infringement intended. Any resemblance to actual events or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Sydney and Nigel are still exploring their relationship when they join an expedition into Arizona's desert, searching for the mysterious mine that has baffled searchers for more than a century!
This story is based on a real old-west legend. For more information on the real Legend of the Lost Dutchman, check out the books at the Superstition Mountain Museum http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org/books-lost- dutchmans-mine.htm
Arizona Territory 1870's
Jacob Waltz stood in awe of his discovery. Even in the dim light from his lantern, the tunnel glimmered, casting flickers of gold in all directions. He could not believe his luck. Years ago, he came to the United States from Germany, and quickly headed west in search of gold. That quest has lead him here to Arizona's Superstition Mountains, and to a place were no miner worth his salt believed gold would ever be found. But he proved them all wrong. He found the mother of all mother lodes. Little did Waltz know that his discovery would become legendary, known forever as The Lost Dutchman's Mine.
Arizona State University Geological Science Department present day.
Professor Joseph Anderson sat alone in his office. What started out as a field study of the geologic formations of the Superstition Wilderness area had now become a mystery. While exploring a natural crevasse, one of his students had found a old strong box which contained a map. No, more precisely a treasure map, that presumably showed clues to the location of the Lost Dutchman's Mine.
He told himself it was just another fake, one of the many that had appeared through out the decades. But something about this map made him think differently.
After studying it for hours, he had called an old friend of his - Professor Sydney Fox. Although she taught Ancient Studies, she was also a renowned Relic Hunter. People had been searching for the mine for years, but its whereabouts had never been found. The Lost Dutchman's Mine had become a fable, a legend; and Sydney Fox had a reputation for finding what others could not. He faxed her a copy of the map, then safely hid the original. And even though it was not a relic, she was intrigued, and was now on her way to Arizona, bringing along her assistant, Nigel Bailey.
Realizing it was getting late, Anderson rolled up the map of the Lost Dutchman's National Park and prepared to go home. Unbeknownst to him, he was not alone in his office. Without warning, he felt a sharp pain at the base of his skull, and everything faded to black.
****
The heat was oppressive. Nigel was thankful for the air conditioning in the car. He had gathered all the information he could regarding Waltz and the lost mine, telling Sydney more than once that this was nothing more that a wild goose chase. There was a small part of him, however.. his inner child... that was looking forward to a treasure hunt. Even though he knew they would not find anything.
After reaching ASU, they headed for Professor Anderson's office and were shocked to find police tape across his door. Sydney found a colleague of Professor Anderson's and was filled in about the previous nights events. They headed for the local hospital after finding out that Anderson had survived the attack.
Nigel was suddenly uneasy with their quest, becoming concerned for Sydney's safety. Since the events in New Orleans involving the late Professor Richarde, he and Syd had become a couple. Others had exploited their relationship when they had just been known as coworkers: but now that they were together romantically and fully aware of the consequences, they decided to keep the true nature of their relationship to themselves. What started out as a simple quest to help out a friend of Syd's had now become something far more dangerous.
"Maybe this treasure hunt is not such a good idea after all," he said, unable to hide the concern in his voice. "Your friend's in the hospital, and, well... people have disappeared, even died, trying to find this mine."
"I understand your concern, but I'm not going to back away from this now." She smiled at him and reached over, placing her hand in his.
"I know, It's one of things I love about you." He squeezed her hand, knowing it was all part of the package of being involved with someone like Sydney Fox.
Once at the hospital, they quickly headed to Anderson's room. Professor Anderson looked up when he heard the soft rap at the door. As it opened, he was relieved to see his old friend.
"Sydney, it's good to see you," he said as he motioned for them to come into the room.
"Are you okay? We went by the University first. Professor Moreno told us there was a break-in and that you were in the hospital." Sydney sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"The doctors say I have a severe concussion. They're keeping me for observation for a while."
Nigel remained quiet, standing near Sydney. She looked over at him and realized that she had not introduced him yet.
"Joe, I'd like you to meet my associate, Nigel Bailey."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Bailey," Anderson said, extending his hand to Nigel.
Nigel shook his hand. "Likewise, and you can call me Nigel."
"All right Nigel, I will - if you call me Joe."
"That's a deal."
"What happened last night?" Sydney asked.
"Well, I was in my office studying some maps of the area. As I was getting ready to leave, someone hit me over the back of the head." He spoke with a trace of bitterness. "The only ones who know about this, besides us, are a few of my students."
"Do the police have any clues as to who the perpetrator was?" Nigel asked.
"No. Whoever did this left no fingerprints, and everyone who knows about the map has an alibi."
Sydney reached over and placed a hand on Anderson's arm. "You said that you hid the original map. Do you know if it's missing?"
"Yes it is. When I came to, it was the first thing I checked." He lowered his voice. "You have the copy I faxed you, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. Here are some notes I made about the area. I will understand if you don't want to go through with this search after what happened. It could be dangerous."
"That's never stopped me before," Sydney replied as a nurse came in to let them know their time was up. Before leaving, she gave him her cell number, in case he could think of anything else that might help them.
After leaving the hospital, Nigel called Karen, their new secretary, and confirmed their hotel reservations in Apache Junction. Karen assured him they were booked for rooms at the Superstition Grand Hotel.