Track of the Beast: A Brock Stone Adventure

“Like he was pummeled to death with, I don’t know, clubs, or rocks or something.”

“What was done with his body?” She had to suppress the urge to take out a pad and start writing.

“We tried to tell Davis, but he wouldn’t listen. He actually covered his ears. Said if anyone told him anything about it, they’d be fired on the spot. Anyhow, when we went back to bury him, his body was gone.”

“Any idea what happened to him?”

“No. And I don’t know anything else. We’ve had people go missing, the women in town have disappeared. If anybody in this camp knows what happened to them, they aren’t talking.” He looked around. “I really have to go.”

“I understand. Is there anything else that might help me?”

Willy’s dull expression suddenly turned sharp.

“Finish up this job of yours and get away from these parts as quick as you can.”

4- The Chamber

“Alex!” Stone jumped down into the crypt and knelt by the opening through which his friend had plunged. To his relief, Alex had fallen only a few feet. Now he sat gingerly rubbing his backside.

“Don’t mind me,” Alex said. “I’ll just rest here for a while.”

“Looks like you uncovered a trapdoor. Nice detective work.” Stone climbed nimbly down into the vault and hauled Alex to his feet.

“I also found a hidden passageway.” Alex pointed to a low tunnel that plunged down into the darkness.

“Excellent. Did you bring the flashlight?”

Alex shook his head in mock disapproval. “You would be utterly helpless without me.” He dug into his pack and took out a silver cylinder. A crank was fitted into one end, and he turned it several times until the bulb on the other end flickered to life. He handed the flashlight to Stone. “After you, just in case the floor caves in again.”

Stone barely managed to squeeze his broad shoulders through the narrow opening. He crawled along a low tunnel until the ceiling was high enough for him to stand. He cranked up the flashlight again and shone it ahead. The passageway sloped downward, heading in the direction of the pyramid, if he didn’t miss his guess.

The air was cool and damp, and moisture trickled down the stone walls. Chill bumps rose on Stone’s arms. Beside him, Alex shivered.

“I should have brought a jacket,” Alex joked.

After a short walk, the two men found themselves standing before a heavy door. A brass knocker in the shape of the All-Seeing Eye hung there.

“If we knock do you think anyone will answer?” Alex asked.

“One way to find out.” Feeling foolish, Stone grabbed the brass circle and rapped three times. The sound echoed through the stone passageway.

“Nobody home.” Alex tried the big doorknob and confirmed that it was locked. “Not to worry.” He once again dipped into his pack, took out a skeleton key, and began to work at the old-fashioned lock. “I was more adept when I had two hands. Not that it’s anyone’s fault.” He cast a meaningful look at Stone.

“If I could buy you a new hand, I would,” Stone said.

“Don’t worry about it. For some reason, the ladies now find me fascinating. I haven’t paid for my own drinks since our trip to the island.”

“You’ve become such an optimist,” Stone said. “A regular Pollyanna.”

“I never read those books, but I saw the film.” Alex grinned. “Mary Pickford?” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Are you going to pick that lock or shall I break the door down?” Stone said.

“Almost there.” A few seconds later, Alex turned the knob and the door swung open.

Beyond the door lay an empty cave. Stone shone his light around. The beam climbed the walls up the to the apex of the high ceiling and back down to the bare floor.

“There’s nothing here.” Alex ran a hand through his hair. “Why the trapdoor and the hidden tunnel? Do you think this was a secret meeting place for the Illuminati?”

“Perhaps.” Stone moved out into the chamber. He had spotted something unusual. Around the edges, the cave floor was smooth. In the middle, however, a square section about twelve feet across was rough, as if it had been broken up with hammer and chisel. He and Alex knelt for a closer look.

“It looks like something has been removed,” Alex said, “but what?” And then his eyes brightened. “What if the pyramid up there…” He pointed at the ceiling. “Was originally down here?”

Stone shrugged. “I don’t know. This chamber feels old… older than the pyramid in the field.” He stood, looked around again. He felt as if they were missing something. And then his sharp eyes fell on a rough patch on the wall. Moving closer, he saw more chisel marks. “Look at this,” he said to Alex.

Alex took the flashlight from Stone and inspected the spot carefully. He frowned, scratched his chin with the tip of his hook. “This looks like a coverup to me. Something was carved here. You can still see bits and pieces of the writing.” He pointed at a patch the vandals had missed. There was a set of sharp, straight lines, smooth with age, that looked like writing. One complete figure looked familiar to Stone.