THE TIME BEFORE THE FUTURE – PART 17 Monty, Rommel & Useless were busy taking Hector for a walk around the loch, when Monty's surprised yap made Hector jump. "What is it boy?" the old man asked, slightly breathless. By now both terriers were scrabbling in a patch of earth not far in front of their beloved master with Useless the Spaniel living up to his name & watching from the side. Curious now, Hector used his walking stick to help him take a closer look. It took him a couple of moments for him to realise what his pets had come across. What he saw both surprised & shocked him. Leaving Monty with strict instructions to "Stay & Guard" but taking Rommel & Useless with him Hector hurried off to find his son and his trusted Ghillie. Meanwhile Archie & Duncan had now finally reached Molly's studio with the trunk & threw themselves grateful into the armchair & window-seat respectively puffing & panting. Molly's heart went out to them: "Thank you. But oh you poor things; you must be shattered! Let me go and get you some water!" with that she hurried off. Recovered a little now, Duncan sat up straighter & looked at his boss: "Archie?" "Hmm?" Archie looked up and saw the seriousness in Duncan's face as the Head Ranger spoke: "You do know I'll kill you if you ever hurt Lexie, right?" Archie nodded soberly: "Yes Duncan I know that, but I can tell you nothing more than that I love Lexie heart and soul & I'd never intentionally do anything to hurt her." "Good, right, that's all I needed to hear." Before anything else could be said Molly came bursting in no water anywhere in sight: "Archie! Archie! Come quickly! Your father says he's found something of Jamie's down by the Loch!" Archie was on his feet instantly, all tiredness swept away on a surge of adrenaline: "Mother, find Golly & start the Land Rover; Duncan ring Lord Kilwillie, get him over here ASAP(depending on what father's found we might need an independent witness), then find Lexie & get her down there. I'll go get some spades and fetch the good malt; I've got a feeling we're all going to need it!" With that everyone scattered. TO BE CONTINUED...