It’s time for the next mystery challenge. We’ll head back out to Cashes Dade and join Josiah, Casey, and the ghost strikers for the story about the fort at Ghost Peak which is now under siege. Josiah is looking for his dad’s final message to him. There is a secret power in this mountain that can be used to defend the fort against the aliens, making it too strong for them to destroy. The clues will be there. The four lines that Josiah’s dad told him about the mountain are the main clues. Is it a stone? Is it a jewel? Is it a mineral? What do you think? This is what he told him:
“You will find my final message at Ghost Peak
There is a mysterious power the aliens seek
Look closely and wait to see the pieces appear by light
Then you can solve the puzzle to hold the fort at night”
If you haven’t read chapter one, go back and check it out. Leave a comment below if you think you know the answer. Can you solve the mystery?
Josiah’s bright eyes shot back and forth between the two crowds of dark ghosts pressing in on both sides.
“I have a shooter and some powder,” he said, turning to Cade, Blake, and Drew. “I’ll blast an opening, we can fly through.” Blake gazed at the piles of large dusty rocks lining each wall. Dark gold lights flickered in a slow rhythm, barely cutting into the tunnel’s center.
“I have a better idea,” he said. “Blast them, then we cut through the rocks.” The ghosts waited on both sides.
Cade nodded. “We’ll lose them.” Josiah pulled out his small cylinder shooter. “Me and Blake left, you and Drew right.” He struck a match. He pointed it ahead, then spun around, shooting out a narrow blue fire into the ghosts. The kids split off. Dark gold lights raced by. Several ghosts reached for Josiah.
He blazed past. A ghost cut right in front of Drew. He slid to a stop. He looked around frantically.
Ghosts fell into the narrow space ahead of Cade and Blake. Blake jumped from rock to rock, flying past the reaching ghosts. As he jumped over another one, it just caught his left shoe. He tripped.
Cade jumped over a rock. He slid between two others. Several ghosts rushed in on him. He started up. They reached for him. A cool rush struck them as he dove down. Then Cade sped past the rocks, into the wider tunnel ahead. Three more ghosts suddenly popped up directly ahead.
Drew stared at them with fiery intensity. He backed up. Then he stumbled back, slid down, wildly grabbing at the rocks. The ghosts rushed in on him. With a crazed yell that shook the hall, he exploded out, throwing several smooth, oval shaped stones directly at them.
The ghosts fell back as Drew sped past.
Blake put his hands out. He landed on the next rock on all fours. The ghosts moved in. Then with a kick he knocked one back, launching over another, before scrambling ahead.
Blake and Drew hurried ahead, catching up to Josiah before disappearing into another tunnel just ahead of Cade.
Cade gazed up the left gloomy wall, then the right wall dimly lit by a few wide-spaced dark gold candle clusters. Then he stared directly at the ghosts, and slowly broke a wry smile. He started straight ahead, faked left, faked right, then went hard and fast diagonally to the left.
The three ghosts moved toward him. He got down low, prepared to dive. The ghosts closed in. Then Cade shot off to the right while they slid left. With a bright smile, he raced ahead down the curving tunnel before disappearing into a dark opening.
Loud booms started rocking the narrow, dark tunnel, in a constant series, one after another after another. Josiah gazed up anxiously, shielding his eyes from the falling dust.
“They’re really going after us,” Drew said in a low voice. Blake and Cade just nodded. The kids hurried down the tunnel winding back and forth, sloping down. Dead whistles echoed out behind them.
“Go, go,” Cade urged. Dim, dark gold light slowly spilled into the widening tunnel. As the heavy barrage continued, the kids jogged ahead into a cavern, with candle clusters lining the curved walls to the left and right. Blake stopped and gazed back down the tunnel.
A slow chilling rush came through, entering the cavern. “They’re after us, they’re after us.”
“They’re in the right tunnel,” said Josiah, jogging toward the dim, blue flashing tunnel entrance on the right wall ahead. He whistled three short, fast notes into the tunnel. Cade gazed into the center entrance leading into a wide tunnel. Dark shadows curving sharply to the left and down flickered to the rhythm of the overpowering booms.
Blake pushed past flickering dark mist entering the cavern running over to the far left entrance leading to a narrow, slick dark tunnel with steps leading up high. Clanging sounds echoed in the right tunnel. The blue lights quickly receded.
“We have to go in one of these,” Josiah said, talking fast, pointing to the two tunnels further left. Cade gazed deeply into the center tunnel, the dark flickering wall curving sharply to the right and up. “They both lead out.”
“They’ll be in here any second,” said Blake, as cool winds pushed past him from the right. “Let’s just take the left one.”
“Either way they’ll chase us out there,” said Cade. “We need to get them lost.” He took another long gaze into the center tunnel, then spinning back he said, “This one. They’ll get turned around in this one.”
The other kids gathered next to him, looking in.
“Looks good to me,” said Blake. “Let’s go.”
“Not yet,” answered Cade.
“Not yet?” asked Drew. Blake held his arms out wide.
“Let them catch up.”
“It’s not a game,” said Josiah.
“It’s cool,” said Drew, “he does this all the time.”
“He has a good reason, right Cade?” He stared up at the shifting shadows up high with every strike. “CADE?”
“Oh yeah, there’s a reason.” Dark spirits entered the cavern.
“Now would be a good time…”
“We lead them in here, lose them, follow me,” said Cade, before shooting off into the dark tunnel heading right. The other three followed close. Strong booms rained down over them. Blake glanced back. Dark ghosts chased after them.
“How we losing them?” asked Blake.
“Just keep going right,” said Cade. “We’ll disappear soon.”
“How?”
“In the shifting mists.” Dim blue light appeared ahead. Cool winds rushed past them. Dark, flickering mists fell over them moving left like massive curtains falling down. Blake glanced back. All he saw was empty dark space. Small intense flashing lights appeared in a narrow high opening far ahead in the distance.
The kids jogged up the long rocky slope. Drew flinched with every striking boom. The others just stared ahead with grim expressions. After awhile, they began to hear faint singing cutting through the relentless rocking. Callie’s sweet, steady voice rang clear.
She sang a slow rhythmic song with a slow rising melody, her strong, peaceful notes reaching out, reaching higher, reaching through the alien storm. Drew stopped flinching. The kids listened to Callie’s song as the booming grew distant.
Brilliant lights flashed at various points in the narrow dark opening. The kids stopped at the exit. They got down low behind a large rock. Blazing blue alien ships flew fast across the sky in wild loops. Some dropped fire balls. Others shot down blazing blue fires.
Several ships dropped down like vultures. Josiah gazed up at the square blackstone fort top, a short distance slightly up slope to their left. David remained standing still, leaning over the front edge of the balcony. The DadeStar flag lit by fast flashing dark orange lanterns remained completely still.
Three lines of intense flashing blue fires rained down across the upper left slopes. David gently waved a red light in his left hand. Soldiers appeared from under the neon blue glowing Sunday Evergreens. They fired out dark orange cannon fires up at the lower ships. Explosions in the sky pushed them back. Several more dropped down low over the slope above.
A small series of cannonfire shot out at them. Casey Cardade flew straight across the slope in the opposite direction of the firings. The alien ships drew back. One drifted to the left. Casey dove down behind several rocks. More dark orange cannon fire shot out driving the ship back. Slim, dark shadows fell away fast down the slope.
An alien ship flashing in brilliant white and gold lights dropped down suddenly from the sky to the rocks. It dropped a fire bomb. The rocks exploded in a bright flash. Josiah watched with a grave expression.
“What if they got him?” he asked.
“No way,” said Blake. Cade gazed around at the lower slope. A slim shadow blazed down slope, disappearing into a cluster of large stones. Cade just smiled and shook his head. He turned his gaze back up to the fort top. David stood still, now with both hands on the balcony edge, staring out across the lower mountain.
In a sonic rush, all the ships shot off in various directions, leaving the night sky empty. A chilling silence fell over them as they emerged from the tunnel to check out the damage.
Later that night, Cade, Blake, Drew, Josiah, and Casey met with David and Callie in a secret meeting room near the top of Ghost Peak. After having snacks at a round table, dimly lit by a bright gold candle cluster at the table center, and dark orange lanterns hanging from the blackstone wall of the room.
The room was embedded into the mountainside with a large, rectangular dark blue glass window looking out over the lower mountains in a blurry, misty dark blue haze under the black night sky.
David, with a mildly athletic build, sat at the left corner facing the window. Blurry moonlight lit up his short brown hair and strong, chiseled face. Callie’s bright face lit up in pure shine, with the light glittering through her dark, curly hair as she sat next to him. Casey and Josiah sat to their right looking directly out the window, while Cade, Blake, and Drew sat with their backs to the window.
“How did we hold up?” asked Josiah.
“They knocked out two of our five key stores,” said David. “Three soldiers were seriously hurt. We have a lot to rebuild tomorrow. We’re running out of time. If we can’t get the tunnel back to Cashes Dade completed where we can send in more food and supplies before we run out, we’ll lose the fort. By the way, you guys did a good job keeping the ghosts from finding the mines.”
Josiah stared at David questioningly for a long moment, then said, “That’s not all is it?” David turned his strong gaze out the window for a moment, looking at the dark ripples flowing across the night sky over the dreamy waves of mountain peaks below.
“We’re losing support,” he said quietly. He met Callie’s concerned gaze for a moment before turning back to Josiah. “The people are losing hope that we can hold this fort, and some don’t believe it’s worth holding at all.”
“You think they’ll attack again soon?” asked Josiah.
“I believe so,” answered David. “They’ve been trying to find our weak points, trying to figure out how our fort is laid out through the mountain. I think tomorrow night they’ll come back, and hammer us.”
“That’s why we’re here,” said Cade. He downed his third cup of red juice before adding, “There’s a secret power.”
“I don’t know about that,” David answered, “the aliens seem to believe we’re holding this fort to protect some kind of gold minerals that can form intense weapons, possibly strong enough to overcome the power holding the new Cashes Dade at the mountain top.”
“My dad knew the mountains better than anyone,” Josiah answered quietly. “If he believes there’s something powerful here, there is.”
“What’s this gold mineral?” asked Blake, leaning far back in his chair.
“It glitters like stars in the distance,” David answered, “then when you get closer they move away. It’s difficult to find their exact location.”
“Tomorrow we’ll explore the mountain,” said Cade. “We’ll find whatever it is.”
“What do you know about this mountain?” asked Blake, grabbing the table suddenly as his chair almost fell back.
“From bottom to top there are five key locations,” said Callie. “There are the deep pools that reveal a lot in reflections. Then the narrow tunnels with the glass walls cut through above that. Higher are the deep water channels that rise and fall, changing the shapes of the stones and minerals. After that are the high shelves and then toward the top the high steps.”
“Sounds like we have a lot of ground to cover,” said Drew.
“Take it one step at a time,” said David, “and take your time. Look at each stone, jewel, or mineral really close.”
“Doesn’t sound like we’ll have much time,” said Cade, tapping his shoes rapidly on the dusty ground.
“Don’t rush it,” said David, “or you’ll never find it. If I were you, I would spend time with the miners. They know this mountain better than anyone.” Josiah’s eyes lit up. Blake’s chair came crashing down, almost launching him onto the table. Cade just shook his head with a sideways smile.
Later the next morning, Cade, Blake, Drew, and Josiah crept into the massive caverns inside the base of the mountain. Creamy blue lights streamed through various tall, narrow openings in the outer walls cutting down into the murky darkness.
A long row of large, rectangular pools appeared up and down the cavern. Small blue and white speckled dusty rocks crunched under their feet. Drew picked up one and tossed it into a dark blue pool. The small ripples died out fast.
Blake gazed up the empty high blackstone wall. Josiah suddenly jogged up between two pools. He started singing a low, moderately paced song.
“Do you think there are any stones or jewels in these pools?” asked Drew.
“Only one way to find out,” said Cade. Josiah spun around sharply after hearing a loud splash.
“Are you crazy?” asked Blake.
“Aaaaaoooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrr.” Cade gasped for air, struggling back to the pool’s edge.
“What’s his problem?” asked Drew.
“It’s March. It’s freezing in there,” said Blake. Cade struggled out of the pool, and sat on the rough ground shivering uncontrollably. Blake just shook his head. Josiah hurried over with a pile of slim, dark arrow shaped stones. He lit a match, then placed it gently on the pile.
“You think those will start on fire?” asked Blake.
“Not on fire,” said Josiah, “but they’ll smoke.” Blue lights flickered around them. Strong winds rushed down through the openings. A sharp chill crossed over their feet.
“Dark spirits,” Drew whispered.
“They’re in here somewhere,” said Blake. The kids looked around the empty, whistling cavern. Dark shadows flickered in several upper tunnel entrances. “We better go after them.”
“I’ll stay here with Cade,” said Josiah as the smoke started up. “You guys check it out and we’ll catch up.” Drew picked up one of the slim, dark arrow shaped stones and tossed it far into the next pool. Small ripples slowly expanded, more and more until forming small waves. In the center the water turned blood red.
“Woah, look at that,” said Drew pointing. The kids stared with intense curiosity at the red lit water. “Maybe these stones have the power.”
“We already use them,” said Josiah, “but we can study them more later.”
“What were you thinking?” asked Blake, looking down at Cade huddled by the smoke.
“I was…just thinking…I might…swim down…and find…the hidden jewel.”
“Do you even really know how to swim?”
“What do you think?”
Pale, empty ghostly faces reflected across the dark glass wall in the narrow tunnel. Blake and Drew crept along the narrow tunnel. Three bright, sparkling torch lights quickly passed by a crossing just ahead.
“It’s on now,” Blake whispered with eyes lit. The kids jogged ahead. Flat, octagon shaped gray stones crunched under their shoes. They got down low at the corner. They peered down the long narrow tunnel. Dark figures reflected in the shimmering blue wall.
Drew turned to Blake flashing a wild eyed expression that startled him. Whispers shot back and forth ahead. The kids crept up the tunnel. A few black rough, gravelly stones poked out among the dusty ground. Empty ghost faces appeared momentarily in the wall.
The kids stopped when they saw the dark spirits huddled. They listened intently to the whispers.
“Will this work?”
“They’ll be convinced.”
“All of them?”
“Enough of them will believe what they’re seeing, and the leader of the fort will be forced to give it up.”
