Chapter 9

Bracken knelt beside the cool water of Lake Tibtem and took a refreshing drink.  The drops of water falling from his cupped hands disturbed its glass-like surface.  As the lake grew calm again, he could see his tan reflection wobbling on the face of the blue-green water.

His four-day journey from Tizra had been uncomfortable, but exhilarating.  The warm sun left his skin a shade darker than when he had left.  His trans-rig was still in Tizra.  He preferred walking across the open fields and fording the streams on foot rather than taking his machine.

The long hike had left his feet tired but his spirit felt free and awakened.  He looked out across the surface of Lake Tibtem.  Its wetness looked inviting.  Shedding his clothes, he dived into the lake and swam several yards.  The water was crisp.  His skin tingled as icy fingers jabbed his senses awake.  Climbing out, he stood and stared up at Mt. Shidow.  Its massive sides of dull purple colored rock rose toward a snow covered peak.  He breathed deeply of the mountain air.  The scent seemed to clear his mind the way the water had cleansed the dust from his sweaty body.  His head grew light.  The high altitude seemed to weave a spell around him.

Somewhere in that mountain is the sci-tec's mine, he told himself.  I’ll find it if I have to look for a week.  A snow-cold wind echoed down the high cliffs and blew over him.  Chilled to the bone but refreshed, he dressed and began to set up his base camp.  After a day of rest he would begin his search.  On the far side of the mountain, someone else had been searching as well, only his search had just ended.

Ley Os quickly tightened the ignition wires to the poles on top of his charge generator.  He raised its arm, his own knotted muscles flexing, and forcefully thrust it down again.  Beyond him, in the side of the mountain, an explosion discharged tons of rock from the face of a mine.   Os' ruddy, bearded face broke into a smile.  The sci-tec crew had made very sure no one would ever get into this place again-or so they thought.

With the dust still settling, he ran to the mouth of the excavation.  He entered it, ducking his head slightly.  He slowly moved deeper into the opening.  Using a small-lighted search lamp, he examined the stability of the support beams.  Assured that all the rubble had settled and the supports remained firm, he walked cautiously ahead.

Later, he reached the spot Cib Mingus had told him about.  A metallic wall with a hatch in its center crossed the tunnel, sealing it tightly.  The burnished anti-rust surface reflected the beam from his search lamp.  On the wall to his left, hung the protective clothing and a helmet necessary for entering the chamber which contained the Mingus Gems.  The coverings looked stiff and worn, but Cib had assured him that they would give him sufficient protection against the rays of the Mingus effect.  Os set his lamp on a rock and began to change.  Somewhere in the distance he could hear the drip of water as it seeped through the porous rock and splashed into a subterranean pool.

He'd been a miner for years.   Digging around for treasure had had its disappointments... too many played-out claims and false hopes had left him desperate for a strike.  Now, finally, he was about to make his greatest discovery, one which would make him a very wealthy man.

Making sure the clothing was snugly sealed around him, he punched out the code on the lock console.  A combination of lights fluttered momentarily on the readout panel and then held brightly, forming four parallel lines.  The hatch opened, and Os stepped into the chamber.

The sci-tec crew had done a good job sealing off this area.  It hadn't taken them long to realize that no one could work in this area without protection from the Mingus rays.  On the floor of the passageway and in the walls, stones of various sizes emitted a soft glow.  Ley stooped to collect the ones on the floor.  He could always come back later and dig the others from the rich vein that the previous miners had opened.  Os examined each gem closely through his helmet's visor before placing the glowing stones in the individual silver colored boxes he had brought with him in his pack. He knew that if they were not properly contained, he would be unnecessarily exposed to their effect.  Having collected enough to fill his knapsack, he left the mine. Standing back from the entrance, he sealed it again with a small explosive charge.  Assured that it was well hidden once again, he plunged into the surrounding forest, using the secret map to guide him.

When Os broke through the brush and appeared at the lake side Bracken was not completely surprised.  He had heard the distant explosions and half expected whoever had caused them to eventually make himself known.  But what did surprise Bracken was the strange nature of his visitor.   Os seemed to have a far away twinkle in his eyes as he approached and extended his hand to Bracken.  "Name's Ley Os."  The man's tone of voice was almost ethereal.  "Been mining in this Place for years."

"Good to meet you.   I'm Bracken.  My home's in Tizra."

"Fine town.   Usually stop by there on my way to Accad.  Not a bad place for a rest in the shade on a hot day."  Os ran his fingers through his beard and looked back up the mountain.  "Beautiful sight, isn't it?  Always seemed strange to me that more people don't travel down this way.  Guess they still believe those old rumors about the stone of fire that fell back in the third age."  The miner knelt down beside the lake's edge and splashed some water on his sweaty face.   "Fine with me.  I kinda enjoyed being here by myself.  Haven't seen much of anybody since the sci-tec boys left."

"You were up here when the sci-tec team came through?"

"Yeah, they ran me off the mountain.  Didn't want me to know what they were after.  One of those official expeditions you know.  All hush-hush and everything."

"Then you must have heard the rumors about what they were after."

"Sure did . . ." Ley grew suddenly still.  Slowly he took his pack off and lowered it gently to the ground.  He gave Bracken a funny, almost suspicious look for a moment, and then as if catching himself in a pose, he smiled again.  "And what would you be doing down here?" he said, sitting down and loosening the laces of his dusty boots.

Bracken looked back at Os hesitantly for a moment.  Os was probably ten years his senior.  His face was still youthful, even with its beard.  There seemed to be a charm about him.   Bracken felt at ease.  "Well, to be honest, I was hoping to locate the sci mine.  I wanted to see if those magic stones I've heard rumors about really exist."

Os pulled off one of his boots and looked up at Bracken, squinting through one eye.  "Sit down friend.   It kind of hurts the neck staring up at you like this."  The miner loosened the other boot and pulled it off as Bracken sat down across from him.   "So you think they really exist, do you?"

"Well, from what I hear they're being circulated by the hundreds up in Accad.  A lot of people claim someone's bringing them in.  Besides, I don't think the sci-tec crew would bother coming down here on an egg hunt.  You saw them. You ought to know."

"Sure did.  Made the biggest stink you've ever seen.  Acted like a bunch of puffed up birds.   Made me promise not to come back here for at least six seasons."

"Well, do you think they found anything?"

"They sure did.   Got the facts right from one of their head men.  A guy called Cib Mingus.   Guess they named the stones after him."  Os shoved his tired feet into the cold water and sighed.  "He's dead now.  The whole thing's rather mysterious.  No one really knows why."

"So you talked to him.   Did he tell you anything about his discoveries?"

Os grew quiet again.   Who was this guy Bracken?  He could be working for the High Council.  But he doubted it.  The kid looked too innocent.  Ley wondered whether he should share his secret.  He looked up the mountain for a few moments and then back to Bracken.  He might as well.  Bracken was just the kind of person who'd be open to the whole thing.  He seemed a lot like the hundreds of others he had met in Accad.   All of them had been searching for answers and he'd always been willing to share with them what he'd discovered.  Os picked up his pack and opened the top.  He removed one of the silver cases and then snapped the case shut again.

Bracken stared at Os and then at the metallic container in his hand.  He felt a strange sense of wonder and excitement.  Somehow without Os telling him, he knew what was in the pack.  He asked anyway, blurting out his question. "What's in there?" he said, pointing at the object in Os' hand.

"That Bracken, is what you've been looking for.  The Mingus Gem."

"That explains the explosions I heard earlier today.  You know where the mine is.  Cib Mingus must have told you."  Bracken felt an awesome sense of delight.  He almost reached out and grabbed the container from Os.  The miner could sense Bracken's eagerness.  But instead of opening his treasure, he only smiled and put it back in his pack.

"Why'd you do that?" asked Bracken disappointedly.

"There'll be plenty of time for the stones later," said Os warily, as he glanced around him.   "Something feels strange about this place all of a sudden."  Os slipped his shoes on again and stood up abruptly.  "It's time I be movin' on my way.  You're welcome to come with me to Accad.  If you're still interested then, I’ll make sure you experience the power of the stone before the day's through."

Bracken looked around feeling a little bewildered as he tried to decide.  "Okay, just give me a few minutes to Pick things up."

"Fine," said Os, lifting his pack onto his back again.

Bracken collected his things and followed Os up the rise that lead back toward the road north.  At the crest of the hill Os stopped.  He stood and gazed suspiciously up the surface of a huge cinder cone to their right.  Satisfied that he could see nothing unusual, he relaxed and turned walking on.  If he had bothered to look back a brief moment later, his reaction would have been entirely different.

From high up the face of the crater could be seen the flash of metal in the sun.  The reflection came from a magniscope held in the pudgy hand of one of three men crouched behind a high outcropping of boulders.  The three watched quietly until Os and Bracken had slipped from view.   Then without a sound they climbed down from their perch and hiked back to their waiting trans-rig.