It was 2 in the afternoon when I finally got home. I carried groceries in with me from the car as dad went to put the food away. I finally know why Princess Luna seem so familiar. Apparently she’s a character from a TV show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, I found that out while at the book store for some notebooks. Dad thought I was crazy to buy the four seasons of shows and three movies on DVD and every book they had related to the series. At least until I showed him the last entry in my journal. Later in the car on the way home, I admitted that I might be a little crazy to have bought so much because I can’t afford parts for a robot now.
After getting the groceries put away and my things in my room, Dad made a quick lunch. “Dad, do know where we put the climbing gear?”
“I think Steve has it. Something about using it to train some people how to climb.”
“Well it seems like I’ll be paying a visit to the Hoffman’s. I said just before taking a bite of my sandwich. One of my new notebooks sat next to me on the table, I’ve already begun writing a check list of supplies. “Oh well, I have to barrow their ATV anyways.”
“So you’re going down that mineshaft?”
“Yes, but I need a buddy to help set up a base camp at the entrance.”
“I’ll help set up, Peter.”
“Thanks Dad.” I reply, my list so far consist of a sleeping bag and mat, a backpack, a ATV, 500 meters of rope (yes I use the metric system), and some food.
“Looks like you’re missing glow sticks, flares, flash lights, lanterns, and a few days worth of water.” Dad said, looking over my shoulder.
“I was getting there.”
“Alright already.”
Writing down what he said I need quickly enough. I got the next three day off so I could do this expedition. Creating a list of supplies took until 3:15 to complete. Now I have to track down the goods and get them down the mine.
“Let’s see here,” I mutter to myself. “Need a lantern with at least 3 cans of fuel.” I went to a door tucked away under the stairs in the kitchen. This door leads to the basement which acts much like a pantry an warehouse flipping on the recently replace light revealed neatly organized and labeled shelves of boxed and canned food closest to the stairs followed by toiletries. “I’ll be back for these later.” I thought as I made my way towards the back where there is some more stairs with a door that leads outside. It was near this entrance we keep equipment that gets little use during the year including holiday decorations, meaning this part of the basement is always a little messy. “Ah here we go,” I said as I found the lantern and four cans of fuel right next to a box of flares and another box of glow sticks. “Well that takes care of lighting.” I mutter while bringing all the flares, glow sticks and fuel with lantern upstairs to the kitchen table. Looking at the check list, I went back downstairs and grab three days worth of camp rations and a travel first aid kit I forgot about.
Next on the list is the climbing gear, which consists of a helmet, a harness, 500 meters of both static and elastic rope each, and a lot of carabineers. All of that is next door according to dad who decided to take a nap now that I think about it. Well I need to barrow their ATV anyways I thought as I walked out the door and down the driveway. Once at the end of the drive, I turn left towards the old saw mill down the road a little that’s next to my Aunt’s and Uncle’s house. My aunt and uncle bought the property not knowing the mill was there; and I don’t blame them for the mill was abandon for nearly a hundred years and was heavily over grown. Walking past the dilapidated building brought me their house with some parked vehicles outside it. Oh good, they’re home.
I waved in the front window as I approach their slightly dented front door before knocking. “Just a minute,” I heard from inside, giving me a chance to collect my thoughts. A loud bang like something large hitting the floor caught my attention before the sound of food steps, the lock clicking and the door. “Oh Peter. How nice to see you. Please come in.” said aunt Marry, stepping aside to let me in. As I step inside I saw the place was a mess with parts of a piece of furniture you buy online but have to put together at home.
“Hello and what have you got here?” I asked.
“Oh just a TV stand I bought online. So what brings you here?”
“A couple of things I heard that Steve barrowed my climbing gear and I need it for something.”
“Oh, I’ll get Steve in a minute. Is there anything else I could do for you?”
“Yes, I would like to barrow an ATV as well.”
Just then Steve walks in from out back. He’s a tall guy with buzz cut short black hair and a voice that always sounds happy. “Oh Peter, what brings you here?” he asked.
“Hi Steve, and I believe you have my climbing gear.”
His face showed confusion before coming to a smile “Oh yes. I do, I do. Just a sec.” he said as he went collect the gear.
“Also, I need to barrow an ATV too.” I called after him.
Steve came back with a heavy pack loaded with climbing gear and a pair of keys in his hand. “Just taking supplies to that site you found?” he asked keys still in his hand after he handed over the bag. It’s no secret about what I found with family, and Steve may sound carefree but he cares a lot. Also I have to be careful with the ATV because it belongs to the department of Natural Resources.
“Yes and I’ll bring it back Wednesday.” I answered his question. “Would you tell Jake to meet me at my place at 6:30 today?”
“Okay, yes I will and here’s the key” he said, handing the keys over.
“Thanks,” I said as I grabbed the bag and checked to make sure everything of my climbing gear is in it. Then I followed Steve outside to a shed where the ATVs are stored. “Which one is it?” I asked.
He pointed to the one on the right. “That one. She’s fueled up and ready to go.”
“Thanks again, bye.” I said as I tied my bag to the mounting rack, backed out, and drove off. Less than 5 minutes later I’m pulling up to my workshop where I saw dad at the door. He must’ve gotten up while I was next door at the Hoffman’s.
“I thought you would be reading a book, watching those movies you bought, or taking a nap right about now. Not prepping for a little adventure.” Dad stated, I have a habit of saying I’ll do something and not doing it.
“I know that’s what I usually do, dad.” I said in an annoyed tone before lightening up. “But I feel compel to go down and see what’s down there for some reason.”
“Well that’s a first. You’re not down there alone, are you?” he asked with concern.
“No, I’m not going down there alone. That would be stupidly dangerous. I got Jake coming.” I answered, “Now what’s left on the list?”
“Food?”
“Check”
“First Aid?”
“Check”
“Lights?”
“A lantern, 4 cans of fuel, 6 flares, 12 glow sticks, and 9 water proof flash lights of various sizes with extra batteries. Check”
“Wow, that many?”
“Yeah,” I said “What’s next?”
“Climbing gear. That’s a check. Let see, bed roll?”
“Check”
“Gas sensor and O2 mask?”
“Uh… I knew I was forgetting something/ Thanks,” I said as I walk into the workshop store room look for items. Old mines are known to have bad air at times. I quickly found the gas sensor and O2 mask and brought that with the bag of climbing gear inside to the kitchen table where the rest of my supplies are. “Gas sensor and O2 mask check.” I marked on the check list. The last 3 things on the list were a notebook and pencil, a waterproof bag for everything, and a good knife. Well I got the notebook and pencil in my hands and the waterproof bag has my climbing gear in it, so I could check those off. That just leaves the knife which is currently hidden in my room.
Walk to the stairs, I called to dad, “Dad why don’t you start dinner now.” I heard an affirmative reply from him as I climb the stairs. The knife is hidden in a secret compartment in the bookcase next to my bed. I got the knife from a friend who was like the older brother I never had. He made the Knife blade as a school metal working project that he gave to me. I remember the day Gabe handed me the blade with a smile on his Mexican American face.
“Here, Have this.” He said, the day after his graduation. “Sorry I couldn’t finish the handle for it got confiscated before I finished. I just got it back yesterday, but I want you to have it.”
Taking the blade I said, “Wow it’s beautiful. Thank you Gabe.” The blade looked like it was made by a professional smith for it was a piece of art. Fourteen inches of metal meant for cutting with a dragon’s head breathing fire etch on to both sides of the blade. “Are you sure you want to give this to me?”
“Like I said, I want you to have it in case I’m not around to protect you.”
“I’ll treasure it always.” I said to him, grabbing his right hand with my own like we were going to arm wrestle and wrapping my other are around him in a hug as he did the same to me. We parted ways with plans to meet up in a couple of weeks. A week later, the police arrived baring news that Gabe went missing while hiking some of the local mountain trails. The police were asking the local families to join a search party to help find him. I joined the search right then in my pajamas, not even bothering to change first for it was like I was searching for a lost family member. Unfortunately we never did find Gabe or any trace of him for that matter, not even the radio transponder that all hikers are require to have. Which didn’t even make any sense; it was like he ceased to exist.
Well I was pulled out of my memories when dad put his hand on my shoulder causing me to whip around and pull the knife from its leather sheath that I made for it nearly cutting dad in the process. I relaxed when I saw who it was, “Don’t sneak up on me like that dad.” I said as I sheathed the knife.
“Sorry but I was trying to get your attention for the last two minutes. Dinner is ready.”
“Oh, ok” I said as I followed him downstairs. My stuff was shoved to one end of the table to make room for two place settings and a pot of Mac-n-cheese and hot dogs. I can’t believe that I zone out long enough for dad to cook this, that’s like 20 minutes. Well I don’t have time to ponder the universe, so I grab a huge helping of food and wolfed it down like I’ll go for a long time without food. Hey its 5:30 right now and Jake will be here in an hour. Needless to say that I need to hurry before Jake shows up. I was just finishing packing when Jake drove up on his own ATV. He was deck out in combat fatigues with pockets all over to carry a large amount of small things.
I was similarly dress with cargo pants that have nothing in the pockets and a vest that had a few things for taking samples in its pockets. Hopping on to the ATVs we drove to the mineshaft that I found about a half mile from the house but is about two miles down a twisting trail with me leading. We stop in the clearing just outside the mine entrance after an uneventful ride. The place is just as I left it, a tunnel leading into the rock face with tracks coming out for about 50 feet, the shack built into the mountain side right next to the entrance like a guard shack you see in restricted areas, and a couple of abandon mine carts here and there. All of which is in remarkably good condition.
“Jake, let’s use the shack as a base camp. Then we’ll check out the tunnels.” I said, knowing that we got about two hours before we need to make camp.
“Alright,” Jake said as he opened the door to drop some things off.
I only put on my climbing helmet and headlamp and grab my heavy pack off the ATV I was driving. Jake follow suit shortly after me and we stepped into the tunnel. There wasn’t much but a few abandon tools and mine carts for the first 100 meters before we came to a fork. Against my better judgment I went left down a less stable tunnel. At about the time we had to turn back, I accidently knocked a timber lose causing a cave in.