The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Outlaws
By: Sapphire
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Chapter Four: Davy's Invitation
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MagNolie: Hey Matt, guess who I danced with…
MattPeru: I dunno. Who?
MagNolie: Frank James. He's going to say hi to Jesse for you.
MattPeru: What!?
Flyboy: Good one, Maggie.
MagNolie: No joke. I really did.
MattPeru: There's gotta be a catch…he's been dead for a century.
MagNolie: Okay, so there is.
He was the actor hired to play Frank for the enactment.
Flyboy: That was still good, Maggie. You had him going there…
MattPeru: Now that you've had your fun, I'm going to bed. Long day.
MagNolie: Goodnight.
Iris: MattPeru has logged off.
Flyboy: Did you find anything in the cave today?
MagNolie: No, and we didn't expect to.
Hotshot: She found a boyfriend, though.
MagNolie: Jonny! Have you been eavesdropping this whole time?
Flyboy: Boyfriend?
Hotshot: Yeah, she saved his little brother's life.
Now he's forever in Maggie's debt…
MagNolie: Not funny, Jonny.
Flyboy: Oh, really…?
Hotshot: They danced for hours.
MagNolie: He's not my boyfriend.
Hotshot: Well, maybe not yet, but there were sparks flying…
Flyboy: Jonny? Maggie? Where did you go?
MagNolie: It's Jessie. Maggie went to strangle Jonny.
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By eight o'clock the next morning, two teams were down in the cave. After becoming familiar with Buffalo Cave to some extent, they had come up with a satisfactory search method. They would begin with the north branch and it's winding passages, tunnels, and caverns, keeping in mind the one-hour arc Dr. Malloy had penciled in on his maps the previous day. If they weren't successful, they would move to the west branch. If that turned up nothing, they would go back to the drawing board and start again.
The book Jessie and Maggie had turned up the day before had dried out overnight; they had been disappointed to find it was an old Spelunking manual printed in 1927. The find did them no good in the search for the outlaws' loot. The morning's search was started in hopes of finding something much more promising. Jonny was heading up communications while Hadji and Jessie explored the fore chambers of the north branch, and Race and Maggie explored deeper.
"Dr. Malloy," Jonny called abruptly. "Race found something interesting." Both Dr. Malloy and Dr. Quest looked up in interest. The teams had only been down just over fifteen minutes, and already they had found something.
"What is it?" Dr. Malloy asked excitedly.
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"I wonder how we missed it before," Race said as pointed his headlamp at the ceiling above him. He and Maggie were standing in a low cavern visited before. On the map, it was the fourth room beyond the entrance cavern. This was the room where the cavern system in the north branched into three sections.
"It's an arrow," Maggie said into the comm headset. "Race guesses it was made with a candle flame's black residue on the rock of the ceiling. There's wax drippings right under it, too."
"Where does it point?" Jonny asked.
"Looks like it points to the middle tunnel," Race said.
"Follow it and look for more arrows. Dr. Malloy says there's no way to tell how old the candle mark is without the proper testing equipment, but it might have been left by the James Younger Gang if it's old enough," Jonny instructed.
"Will do," Race replied. He played his light along the ceiling of the cave as he and Maggie started in the direction the arrow pointed.
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"This is strange," Jessie said as she and Hadji examined every nook and cranny of the fore chambers in the north branch. Along the wall on the floor of the second cavern was a pile of rubble. Looking up, it appeared part of the ceiling had fallen, taking a chunk of the wall with it. Certainly there was nothing unusual about a cave in, but at the back of the pile, the wall depressed as if the cavern extended in that direction.
"Perhaps we should move some of the rock," Hadji suggested. "Perhaps we will find nothing, and perhaps we will find something." Jessie nodded, and climbed up the pile of rubble partway until she could reach the top. Then she started lifting boulders, handing them down to Hadji who piled them out of the way. They worked steadily for some time before they could get a better idea of what, if anything, lay behind the rubble.
"Hadji, I think it's an opening to another cavern," Jessie said excitedly. Hadji climbed up beside Jessie to take a look. As the wall depressed behind the lowered pile of rubble, they could see it turn sharply into a wall.
"Let us keep digging," Hadji said. "If you are correct, this could be an important find."
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"Jonny," Race called over the comm link. "We're at a dead end." He and Maggie waited patiently for Jonny to answer.
"You were right," Maggie said to Race. "It is a bottomless pit." She leaned over carefully and looked down into the black depths of the hole. Shuddering, she backed away.
"There was only that one arrow, and it led us to the hole," Race reported. There was a moment of static.
"Dead end," Jonny said with a sigh. "No point in crossing the pit. The Jameses and Youngers wouldn't have. You'll have to go back and start searching another passage."
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Jessie and Hadji exchanged an excited look. There was an opening beyond the pile of fallen rock. Working together they had managed to pull away enough debris for them to crawl through to the chamber beyond. Once through, they played their lights all around the room. They split up and started poking around the cavern's perimeter, noting a passage leading off it on the far end. After a few passes, Hadji stopped, his light trained on the wall.
"Did you find something?" Jessie asked. Hadji nodded, waving her over. Jessie crossed the cave to take a look.
"Jonny," Jessie said into the headset, exchanging a wary glance with Hadji, "I think we found something."
"You don't sound excited," Jonny answered.
"This is serious," Jessie replied.
"It appears we have found traces of blood," Hadji said.
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"What did he say?" Dr. Quest exclaimed, looking up at Jonny.
"Blood," Jonny replied. Dr. Malloy was busy studying the 3D map on the screen in the back of the van.
"They're off the main caverns. According to my map, they're embedded in solid rock," Dr. Malloy said, shaking his head. "Explain that to me."
"Hadji," Jonny relayed. "Where the heck are you and Jess? You're kinda off the map."
"We found a hidden opening in the second cavern. "We are currently standing in the newly discovered cave."
"That explains that," Jonny said.
"It doesn't," Dr. Malloy countered. "I've been over that room countless times…"
"Jonny," Dr. Quest said, bemused by his old friend's consternation. "See if they can get a sample of the blood. We might be able to date it." Jonny nodded.
"Hadj," he said into the comm headset. "Can you get a sample of the blood?"
"I can give it a try, my friend," Hadji replied.
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"Can we even get a good sample," Jessie asked dubiously, looking down at the dark stain.
"We will not know until we try," Hadji replied. He stood on his knees beside the cavern wall, a sterile plastic baggie in one hand, sterile tweezers in the other. Jessie watched as he carefully scraped the wall, tiny flakes of rock and dried blood fluttering into the baggie. When he was done, he sealed the baggie and tucked it into a pocket of his gear vest.
"It could be from one of the Jameses or Youngers," Jessie speculated. "One of them may have been shot in the robbery." She got down on the ground a few feet from the blood stain and leaned against the wall. "It's about shoulder height from this position. The injured man could have stopped here to rest."
"Yes, but why here? Why on the floor?" Hadji questioned. "If I had been trying to hide a strongbox filled with gold, I would not have done so. I would have remained on my feet, and simply leaned against the wall, like so." Hadji demonstrated by letting his body rest against the curved rock of the cavern wall. "The blood stain would have been much higher."
"Unless you were shot in the leg," Jessie pointed out. "Look where the stain is…almost level with your knee. All you had to do is have a wound right here," she tapped his leg just above his knee.
"Very interesting," Hadji said. "We will have to keep an eye out for more stains. If the injured man stopped to rest often enough, the trail may lead us to the loot, providing it was, in fact, one of the Jameses or Youngers."
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Neither team felt much like staying down in the cave longer when there were far more exciting things happening above ground. After packing up and closing the site, they headed back to the farm for showers and lunch. The hungry explorers devoured the home made soup and sandwiches before attending to the showers. Just over an hour later they were all ready to go to town, costumes on and excitement high. This was the day of the train robbery.
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The Malloy farm wagon rolled into Holder Spring just after two in the afternoon. Fireball and June were hitched to the back of the wagon, undoubtedly to advertise Malloy Farms again. There were people everywhere, most of them slowly making their way to the far end of town where the train tracks ran past the Village Common. As they passed by the old depot, they could see an authentic steam engine, boxcar, and two passenger cars waiting at the platform.
"This town really does go all out," Jessie commented.
"You said it," Jonny replied.
"Hey Maggie!" Young Davy Hadley came tearing up the old boardwalk toward their traffic stopped wagon. "Guess what?! I get to ride on the train!"
"You do? How exciting!" Maggie replied, leaning down from the wagon. Jared wasn't far behind his little brother. "I didn't know people could ride it."
"Yep, you can, during the train robbery and everything," Davy assured her.
"There's a drawing held to get a seat on the train. You have to sign up in two's. Problem is, Davy put his name in with mine," Jared explained. "I'm playing with the sheriff's posse."
"Can you come on the train?" Davy asked excitedly.
"I don't know," Maggie told Davy. "Maybe you should ask your mom or dad."
"They don't want to," Davy said. "They said I could ask you."
"I'd love to, then," Maggie agreed. Davy grinned from ear to ear as Jared lifted Maggie down from the wagon.
"You have to get to the platform now. They start in a half hour," he said, leading her and his brother toward the depot. Maggie waved excitedly to her friends as she an the Hadley brothers melted into the crowd.
"She's coming on the train. She's coming on the train," Davy bounced along chanting excitedly. Maggie and Jared laughed.
"Here, I'll get both of you settled on the train," Jared said, leading them up onto the platform.
"Jared, I see you found someone to take your seat," a distinguished gentleman dressed as a conductor said.
"Foley," Jared greeted. "I sure did. This is Maggie Hardy. She stopped Davy's runaway horse yesterday."
"Did she now?" Foley asked, looking at Maggie appreciatively. "It's a pleasure to have you aboard, Ma'am." He tipped his hat to her as Jared dug the train tickets from his vest pocket.
"Climb on board," Foley said, taking the tickets. "Jared, in old west style, you're welcome to see them to their seats." Jared nodded, then helped Maggie up the steps into the passenger car, Davy trotting along behind. There were people moving about the car finding seats for the exciting ride. Davy and Jared knew many of them by name.
"Let's sit here," Davy decided, climbing onto a seat in the middle of the car. He went to the window and tried to open it. "It's stuck," he said. Jared leaned over from the aisle and pushed it up, latching it so it wouldn't fall when the train started. Then he moved aside and allowed Maggie to take a seat.
"There you go," Jared said. "I'll see you when the train gets back." He tipped his hat to Maggie before leaving.
"I'll wave to you," Davy called after him. Jared gave a last wave before ducking through the door and stepping back down onto the platform and melting back into the crowd.
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By the time the Quests and Malloys finally made their way to the section of tracks where the train robbery would take place, there were people crowded all along it. Ropes were set up on either side of the tracks to give the actors ample room to perform, and so the spectators would not be injured during the show. It seemed the enactment would be more like a stage production than a reenactment.
The crowds were so thick, there wasn't any place left to stand and watch. The Malloys and Quests decided to drive the wagon up along the tracks a ways where they would have a good view of the getaway.
"Sorry about that," Mary apologized. "This event has just gotten so big these last few years. It used to be easy to get a spot to watch."
"It's no problem, Mary," Dr. Quest assured their hostess. "This will be just as exciting."
"Yes, don't forget," Dr. Malloy reminded his sister, "The sheriff catches them right about here."
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"Here we go!" Davy shouted as the train lurched, starting forward from the platform. Maggie leaned forward to look out the window as the train lurched again. This time the whistle blew as the engine chugged, slowly pulling out of the depot. In a minute, the train was underway, traveling at an ambling pace as it approached the lines of spectators waiting at the Common.
"Everybody freeze!" Maggie and Davy turned to look as a masked man came through the door at the back of their compartment, holding a gun that looked quite authentic. He shot into the air and a hush fell over the passengers. Maggie expected he was shooting blanks, but by the terrified looks on some people's faces, she didn't think so. "Just stay put and nobody gets hurt." He started forward along the center aisle.
Maggie looked out the window again. The train was picking up speed as it came to the crowds along the tracks. She knew instantly that something was wrong. The train should be stopping, not going faster.
"Look!" Davy whispered urgently, pointing to the back of the car. Maggie turned and saw Frank James, bandana over his face, coming along the aisle.
"Jesse," he said to the first outlaw, "They know something's going on." Frank motioned his gun toward a window. Jesse looked out.
"Come on. We have to hurry. Cole's waiting in the engine." Frank hurried up the aisle after his brother. Suddenly he stopped.
"Well, what do we have here." Maggie looked up nervously at Frank James. "Look, Jesse, it's our lucky day. Miss Hardy's on the train." Jesse stopped and turned.
"Bring her," Jesse said. "And the kid." His eyes narrowed at Davy in a glare before he turned and hurried from the passenger car to the box car ahead of them. Frank motioned to Maggie and Davy with his gun.
"Woo-hoo!" Davy cheered, not noticing the look Jesse James had given him. "We're getting held up, Maggie."
"Do what Frank James tells you, Davy," Maggie said urgently, rising from her seat. "This isn't pretend anymore. This is very real." Davy looked up at her and sobered immediately. He grabbed her hand and hurried ahead of her as Frank directed them to the next car of the train. Maggie grabbed him the second they stepped inside. She held him to her, hiding his face, so he wouldn't have to see the bloody horror that had greeted her eyes.
"Is he dead?" she asked, looking at the victim, a man costumed as a US Marshall was lying motionless in a pool of blood. Jesse James was standing next to him, opening the prop strongbox the James Younger Gang was supposed to steal.
"Not yet," Jesse said coolly.
"Why? It's just a prop. There is no money…" To her shock, when he lifted the lid, stacks of neat modern bills were piled inside.
"The paper," Maggie breathed suddenly. "The armored car robbery from the paper." She looked between Frank and Jesse. "That was you, wasn't it." She looked back at the strongbox. "That isn't all of it," she said. "The paper reported more than a hundred thousand being stolen. That can't be more than twenty or thirty thousand dollars."
"Shut up," Jesse snarled. "Shut up and get in that corner." Frank pulled on her arm, pushing her into the corner of the boxcar on her right. She sat on the floor against the two walls, holding Davy protectively, still shielding him from the sight of the US Marshall.
"You stay quiet," Frank advised. "Keep the kid out of our hair." Maggie nodded, not wanting to do anything to jeopardize either herself or Davy. "Why the kid?" Frank asked, turning to Jesse.
"He's an insurance policy," Jesse said, "to make sure she cooperates."
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To be continued…
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