Let us do something, while we have the chance, partner.

Still don't own Chuck.

"That is all her."

-Chuck episode 3.17

Chapter 25—the Caves

Ranch East of Visalia
January 11, 1871

Shaw was sitting on Chuck ready to plunge his knife into Chuck's throat. At that same instant a shot rang out. Shaw's shoulder was slammed forward into Chuck. The blood was dripping down Shaw's shirt and on to Chuck. Chuck grabbed Shaw's hands. Chuck could see in Shaw's eyes that Shaw was beyond any rational thought. He was focused only on killing Chuck. Shaw pulled back and threw his weight into driving the knife at his target. It came quickly and Chuck was able to deflect the attempt but the knife still dug into his shoulder above the vest. Chuck pulled hard and scissored his legs once more to gain a position on top. Shaw tried to push the knife up to Chuck. When that happened, Chuck was able to push the knife back at and into Shaw. It was Shaw's last move.

With Casey's sharpshooters picking off any movement and the soldiers handling any forward motion, the rest of Shaw's men surrendered. Chuck got up and walked over to the Lieutenant, "Where is your medic?"

"I am sorry sir, he was shot trying to get to the girls," the Lieutenant reported.

When he heard the report Chuck waivered. Lisa came up to him. She helped him steady himself. Chuck looked at the Lieutenant, "Okay then, make sure these men are disarmed and start taking them back to town. Send out some buckboards so we can get the wounded back. And have one of your men get the buckboards from the ranch. I'll see to the wounded."

Chuck turn to Lisa, "Help me over to Sarah and Carina." He had Lisa help. She took off their blouses and removed their vests. Through their undergarments Chuck could see the vests did not stop the bullets. Carina had been shot twice and Sarah once in the side. Chuck looked back at Lisa, "Help me clean off real quick and I'll see what I can do."

Lisa used her canteen water to clean off Chuck's face. Between the two of them they got his nose to stop bleeding. Then he took off his shirt and vest. "Sorry about this, but I need you to do something with the cut shoulder. Every time I move my arm the pain is terrible. Please get my saddlebags. There is a kit in there."

Sergeant Mills was now with them and went to get the saddlebags. When he brought them over, Chuck explained what he thought needed to be done. Lisa nodded and cleaned the area around the shoulder wound and then poured a little alcohol over the wound area and wiped it away. She used the needles from Chuck's kit and sewed up the wound. Then after putting some iodine over the area, she put a bandage on.

Chuck smiled at her, "See, anytime you want, you can join Ellie at the hospital. Okay, now let's see what we can do for Sarah, Carina and the others." When he got to them again, both were still unconscious. Carina was still bleeding heavily. The bandage applied to Sarah seemed to be holding her flow. Chuck motioned to the Sergeant, "While I work on them see if you can get a little more light and a shelter around us. After that bring the men with the most serious wounds up here."

Chuck rolled out his kit next to Carina. He got the syringe out and loaded it with Morphine. He hesitated a second. He had seen his sister do it many times but still did not like it. Chuck injected the morphine. He opened her undergarment. She had taken two bullets straight on. He cursed himself for the vests not working like they should. He had a probe in the kit and checked the depth of the wounds. He was happy that they did not seem too deep. One was resting next to her ribs and the other was just between two ribs. They were both bleeding a steady pace and he knew they could not wait for the two or three hours into town for the doctor. Lisa stayed with him and helped clean off the blood so that he had a clear view. Chuck completed the extraction of the bullets and cleaned the wounds. As carefully as he could he stitched the wounds. After bandaging her again, the wounds stopped bleeding. Finally, he got one of his extra undershirts from the saddlebags and put it on her. They turned her over to Sergeant Mills next. He covered her with two blankets as nightfall had begun and it was getting cold.

Chuck saw the two wounded soldiers next. One was shot in the arm. The bullet made a clear exit without hitting anything else. Chuck had Lisa bandage the wound and went to the next soldier. His wound was lesser, just a crease along the shoulder. Chuck bandaged it.

Chuck went to Sarah next. She had started to come around. He got next to her and said, "Sorry, the vest did not work completely. You are not bleeding much." He saw her nod. "I took care of Carina and got the bullets out. The bleeding has stopped. She looks pretty stable." She nodded again. "I am going to work on your wound now. First, you're going to get a morphine shot like Carina. Then I'll get the bullet out. Sorry, you'll feel this while I am getting it out."

Chuck tried to work as fast as he could. He spent a little more time than he wanted cleaning the wound. He could see fibers from what she was wearing in the wound and cleaned them out. After stitching the area, he put a bandage on and gave her a shirt to wear.

Chuck bent over and gave her a kiss. "I need to check on Carina. Those buckboards should be here soon."

Sarah smiled, "Okay."

Chuck went back to Carina. He started by checking her temperature. She was coming around and looked at Chuck, "Did you get him?"

"Yes, we did." Chuck saw Casey coming into the camp and waved him over. "I think Casey and I did the job."

Casey walked up to the screen, "How is she?"

"I am fine." Carina only saw the two of them and began to worry, "Where's Sarah and Lisa? Are they okay?"

"Lisa is fine. Sarah was shot in the side but is doing well," Chuck replied.

Casey smiled at the report. He pulled Chuck aside, "So, how is she?"

"She took two direct shots to the chest. I got the slugs out and stitched the wounds. There was a lot of blood loss but I think she'll be okay. And it was Shaw, the man who killed her fiancée," Chuck reported.

Casey grunted, "Good, that should make things better for her."

Chuck saw the buckboards coming into the camp. "They're here. Let's load the girls in that larger one."

Casey drove the buckboard. Chuck and Lisa were in the back with Sarah and Carina.

Visalia
January 12, 1871

The hotel helped them switch the rooms around. Sarah and Carina were in a room together. The doctor had seen them the night before and said that Chuck did a marvelous job. The stitches held during the ride to town. They were up in the room for breakfast.

Sarah was sitting in bed with her breakfast tray, "I am feeling better this morning. I did not have any problems bathing."

Chuck smiled. He knew that she wanted to go with them. Casey, Lisa and some of the soldiers were going back out to the ranch this morning. The Lieutenant left a small squad at the hideout. They were going to meet up with them this morning and search the camp. Chuck replied, "That's good. You'll be able to help Carina. I agree with the doctor. You both need a few days so those stitches take. We'll go slow this morning out to the ranch and then to the camp. You both have to promise to stay in the carriage.

Carina spoke up, "I feel pretty good. I will be fine."

Casey smiled at her, "I can imagine with as much morphine as they put in you. You need to take it easy." He paused, "If you start having any problems breathing, don't forget to tell us."

After breakfast Chuck went to Sarah and gave her a kiss, "I love you."

"I'll be careful," Sarah smiled.

The sky was clear. They rode back to the ranch and then went out to the camp. Chuck started going through the items at the camp. Casey looked at the back of the camp and found a large stock of weapons including Gatling Guns.

Casey came up to Chuck, "I know we're looking for anything that has a Fulcrum symbol on it and anything that might lead us to Roark. But is there anything else?"

"Yes, if you find any papers, letters, or maps, let Sarah and Carina take a look at them. We can set them up over at the table there. I am sure they would be more comfortable. And if you see anything that looks like this," he drew a circle with a line through the middle, "let me know right away."

They spent the next hour going through the camp and had a good size stack of papers and books beside Sarah and Carina. About that time the Lieutenant came with a buckboard. Chuck showed him what they had found and they loaded everything into the buckboard.

Chuck got on his horse and said, "You can take the guns back to the Sheriff. I don't think we'll need your men out here either. You can have them stay at the ranch. I'm going to the other entrance and follow the wall trail. Those rocks over there that make the north wall of this basin block another area, which is far bigger than this. I am going to do a little scouting over there." He looked at his watch, "I should be back in time for lunch."

The others continued to go through the papers and Chuck went to the back where the trail went through the outcropping. He got to the top of the rock wall and looked at the trail. He studied it for a little and swung down off his horse. It appeared to be wide enough for horse and rider but there was little to no room to turn around. He tied of his horse to the rock and got his rifle. He started walking the trail.

Chuck could see off to the west the orange groves. The trees looked like they were bearing fruit. When he looked to the east, he could see the tall trees. The trail continued as smoothed rock. The weather had beaten down the path. Chuck could see no marks or sign that it had been used in years.

Chuck wondered, 'The markings on the map had proven correct. There was a fortress. And there certainly was danger. But that was new. Fulcrum certainly was not around when the symbol was drawn on the map. So there was still danger out there, but more importantly, an elder needed assistance.'

Chuck found the path began to descend. He looked to the valley between the outcropping and the Mesa. There was a pond on the other side of the rockslide. Chuck imagined that it was the feeder for the pond at the camp and possibly the falling rock pond. It was double the size of the other two. The area by the pond did not have trees. It was a grassy area. He went to the edge of the pond and took a sip of the water. It seemed fresh and clean. He studied the grassy and muddy rim around the pond. He could see tracks from several animals. The most interesting were hoof prints of unshod horses. Based on the depth of the print, it appeared to be as many as six horses. As he looked to the back of the valley he could see the rock wall joined with the mesa. There were trees back there. Some were the tall trees he had been marveling at. He knew that further to the east were the giant Sequoias, but he was not sure how spread they were. He made his way down the trail to the floor of the valley. It seemed peaceful enough. He went along the wall to see if there were more symbols. After going a couple hundred yards and seeing no symbols, Chuck turn into the middle of the valley.

In the middle, what he thought was likely the exact middle, there was a path. It was not used but the foliage on it was at a minimum. Chuck went along the path to the north and realized that this could be a part of the overall symbol. If that was right, the right was the line that bisected the circle and the dot for assistance would be back by the camp or road to it. He hurried back to his horse and then went back to the camp.

Chuck came into camp as they were finishing the papers. "Well, there is a big canyon over on the other side of the pile of rocks. Looks like a good valley. There are some wild horses back there. My guess was there are about six. The north wall has some tall trees. Could be Sequoias, but I did not get close enough to make sure. I did not find any separate symbols, but I think the whole valley makes a symbol, with the path down the middle as the line in the circle. How are you doing? Feeling okay?"

Sarah smiled, "Yes, we are doing okay. It feels better here than it would have staying in the carriage."

"We're all done. We have separated the papers showing Fulcrum's intentions," Carina pointed at the stack.

"Did you find everything?" Lisa asked as she watched Chuck look around.

"Well no, I am still looking for a hole, circle or maybe a cave. Should be along the trail out of the camp," Chuck replied.

They packed up and headed back. Moving along the trail out of the camp he searched along the trail. Finally he spotted it. There was the path going off the trail to the south. While the trail bent back to the west to join the road to Visalia, the path stayed to the south and started to get closer to the mesa.

Chuck thought the mesa had to have it. "I think that path over there might be something to check on."

Sarah smiled, "Hey, I'll go with you. I still need to stretch a little after sitting all morning." Carina shook her head.

Casey got down from his horse, "I'll stay with Carina. We'll wait for you."

Lisa was a little concerned about Carina and stayed behind too.

Chuck got off his horse and hitched it to a tree. He helped Sarah down from the carriage and walked straight back to the mesa wall. About one hundred yards into that trek, he found the group of bushes blocking a dark patch in the wall. He cut away the bushes and found the opening to a cave. Sarah waited for him to move the bushes.

Standing at the opening of the cave, Chuck and Sarah could not see the back wall. Chuck knew better than to go into a cave without a light and a clear path to get out. He went back to his horse. Chuck said as he came up to the carriage, "We found a cave. I think it is a part of the symbol. Sarah and I will take a quick look and be back."

Chuck got his rope, a box of candles, a hammer and drill. They went back to the cave. He knew the caves in the area could be rather large. He had heard reports of one cave with miles of passages. Chuck said, "We will take this real nice and slow. If you have any problems, we'll head back and try this another day."

Sarah took his hand, "I'm fine. It does not hurt that much. But I'll let you know."

Chuck could see another opening that was small compared to the first chamber. They ducked their heads going through the opening. It was still dark in the cave and Chuck lit one of the candles. Chuck went to the walls of the cave and looked to see if there were any symbols.

Sarah was a little surprised that the walls glistened, "Wow, just look at the walls." It was obvious that that were several minerals in the formations along the walls. They went to the back of the chamber and could see that it when on. Chuck left a candle at the back of the chamber and they went through the opening. After a narrow passageway there was another chamber. The chamber had several stalactites and was damp.

"Hold still, listen," Chuck asked. "Hear it?" They could hear water rushing in the background. Leaving another candle, they found a stream in the next chamber.

The next chamber contained not only a stream but also a symbol from an elder. It was barely recognizable, as the drippings had covered it. Chuck scraped a little away to make sure there was an original symbol. He was rewarded with a clear symbol directing him to the next room. Chuck left a candle and they went to the next room. They saw symbols at the beginning. Chuck started to explain, "Those are from an Ancient elder explaining travels to this area. It tells the story of traveling through the Rocky Mountains and then going around a desert area." Chuck thought it sounded like he was the guide. "The elder must have led some small troop headed to California. He broke off going north to find another force that was to link up with the group he led. But he found an opposing army training in this hidden valley and saw the evil ones with this army." Chuck thought about that, "It must be the Ring. The elder sent out various signs as a warning." Chuck smiled at Sarah, "That must have been how the symbols got on the map." She understood. "Finally, with help from some men in the area, they were able to throw down rock on the army. That's the rockslide separating the camp from the valley.

"There were a few battles in the Mexican-American War that were around Los Angeles and San Diego. The U.S. Army and Marines were not fighting a Mexican Army. There was a local force. It was a militia of Californians, or Californios. They were loyal to Mexico. It is possible that the group here could have been from ranches just south of Sacramento. From the symbols I guess about forty or fifty men. According to the story, the rockslide got them. When we get more time, I'll check the top and see how the slide was started," Chuck explained to Sarah.

Chuck decided that something must have happened to the elder. "The elder stayed in the area for several years. It talks about the other caves in the area, water supplies, and abundance of elk." Chuck realized at that point the tale must be over twenty or thirty years old. The elk population once covering most of central and southern California was now concentrated just south of the cave near his mine. Chuck followed the symbols. The last indicated there was one more chamber and made by trusted friends older than the elder. "Looks like on more chamber to look at."

Chuck found the passage. The next chamber had to be older. Chuck helped Sarah into the room. It had symbols and paintings that were from a different people. He smiled. This story had been told as a part of his training with the Ancients. He turned to point out the markings when they hear an explosion and rocks falling.

A/N Okay Partners, little history.

Syringes were used in developed in 1853. See Wikipedia.

Gatling guns were available at this point. The US Army had accepted it in 1866. See Wikipedia.

Little imagining going on with the Caves and symbols. There were paintings dated back over a thousand years in the Chumash caves at Santa Barbara. The Potwisha or Monachee made petroglyphs in the rocks around the Sequoia National Park, most notable is the Hospital Rock. Also, the Park has some of California's largest caves. Sequoia National Park has several long caves. One has more than 17 miles of passageways. See Wikipedia.

Had to check orange season in California, appears they start in mid-November but are better in February to April. See Google

Okay another imagining. The Wikipedia description of the Mexican-American War and the action in California shows a small force under General Kearny traveling from New Mexico to California and then fighting in San Diego and Los Angeles. Commodore Stockton reinforced them. Stockton's men came by ship earlier to the area. See Wikipedia.

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