Track of the Beast: A Brock Stone Adventure

A scrap of paper was tucked into the fur. Stone carefully removed it. It was dry and brittle, but the cursive writing on it was legible.

Tom, you were right about everything, Madoc, the Orichalcum, the ape men, and the Illuminati. I intend on keeping this secret for as long I live, but if you or our enemies should ever find it, I want it known that I was first.

— ML

Meriwether Lewis. The explorer had successfully completed his mission and had apparently carried the secret to his grave.

Now, the question was, what was Stone going to do about it? He was convinced that the pyramid and the orichalcum were important, and something that needed to be kept away from the Illuminati, and from the government, at least until he had a better understanding of the forces that were at play here.

Madoc wore a fat signet ring made of orichalcum. Stone worked it free and slipped it into his pocket. Once they returned home, he would study it and then decide how much information to share with whom. Until then, he would rely on the Bigfoot to keep the secret. Assuming they would let him leave.

Any fears he had that the beasts might try and hold him captive proved to be unfounded. When he emerged from the cave, only the old male paid him any mind.

The giant beast escorted Stone down the cliff and through the slot canyon back to the trail leading up to Moss family cabin.

“Thank you for trusting me with your secret,” Stone said. He thought he understood why the beast had chosen to reveal the cave to him. It was a gift given in gratitude or perhaps repayment for returning their kidnapped child. Maybe the Bigfoot were more human than he had given them credit for.

Trinity was waiting for him at the trailhead. When Stone reached the top, she wrapped her arms around him and held on like a python suffocating its prey.

“What took so long?” she asked. “I was afraid something had happened to you.”

“Everything is fine,” he said.

Trinity quirked an eyebrow. “You are hiding something.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I know you better than anyone in the world. And I will get the story out of you sooner or later. I have my ways.” She smiled coyly and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Stone laughed and held her close, enjoying the feel of her. He nuzzled her soft hair, inhaled her scent. This woman was going to be the death of him. Oddly, he felt just fine about that.

“I look forward to it.”

The End

Brock Stone will return in…

About the Author

David Wood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Dane Maddock Adventures and several other books and series. He also writes fantasy under the pen name David Debord. He’s a member of International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association, and also reviews for New York Journal of Books.

Learn more about him and his work at http://www.davidwoodweb.comor drop by and say hello on Facebook at www.facebook.com/davidwoodbooks.