Samantha James 3/?travelistaaSeptember 30 2011, 17:10:21 UTC
Eventually, as the two were hoping, a discovery was made. One day, while the sun was shining high and burning down on their hatted heads, the humidity was causing sweat to roll off their faces and trickle down their backs, and they were bent and hunched as they carefully and gently brushed dirt away from rock when Samantha’s fingers brushed against something. With an excited noise she had called Clayton over, motioning excitedly to the small opening that had lain buried beneath dirt and stone for thousands of years. The team was called over, and with the help of the locals and the two archaeologists, the small crack in the ground eventually gave way to a man sized hole that opened to a cool blackness that contrasted with the heat of the day. Determining that someone would have to go in, Samantha and Clayton proceeded to argue heatedly over just who that might be, ultimately deciding that both would go.
Then they argued about who would be lowered first.
Samantha eventually won out, and she was slowly lowered into the gaping hole armed with a lantern, her pack, and her trusty handgun (not like she’d need it, right? But one can never be too careful when slipping into an unknown hole). Once her booted feet hit the ground, she didn’t bother waiting for Clayton. She had crept forward, intending on exploring with or without him. Once she managed to get the lantern to work, the sight before her took her breath away. There were golds and riches that one couldn’t even possibly fathom, and the temple opened into an expansive cavern filled with ancient relics. Samantha hadn’t even heard Clayton come up behind her, she had been so enthralled. Deciding that this discovery was best kept a secret until they could figure out how to safely excavate without the threat of looting, the two stuck a deal right there in the caverns. They’d each take a relic and stow it away in their belongings in order to prove to the Archaeological Society that there was, in fact, something worth sending an entire team out to excavate. Both wanted credit for the find, so Samantha knew it would be a race to the Society’s office once they were back up, but there was something far more important than that right now, and that was protecting the find. If the locals found out that this treasure lie right beneath their feet, word would spread, and before Samantha and Clayton would be able to do anything about it, the place would be looted dry. So, Samantha selecting a small idol and Clayton picking an ornamental dagger, they stuffed the small relics into their packs, and headed back to the pulley system they had set up to get down there in the first place. Giving a tug and a holler, they were hoisted back up. Keeping it quiet, they two told the discouraged team that instead of gold and treasure, there was nothing but dirt, bugs, and dangerous caverns in the broken down temple. Work would have to cease for the moment, until the WAS could come and inspect, and the hole was resealed.
Then they argued about who would be lowered first.
Samantha eventually won out, and she was slowly lowered into the gaping hole armed with a lantern, her pack, and her trusty handgun (not like she’d need it, right? But one can never be too careful when slipping into an unknown hole). Once her booted feet hit the ground, she didn’t bother waiting for Clayton. She had crept forward, intending on exploring with or without him. Once she managed to get the lantern to work, the sight before her took her breath away. There were golds and riches that one couldn’t even possibly fathom, and the temple opened into an expansive cavern filled with ancient relics. Samantha hadn’t even heard Clayton come up behind her, she had been so enthralled. Deciding that this discovery was best kept a secret until they could figure out how to safely excavate without the threat of looting, the two stuck a deal right there in the caverns. They’d each take a relic and stow it away in their belongings in order to prove to the Archaeological Society that there was, in fact, something worth sending an entire team out to excavate. Both wanted credit for the find, so Samantha knew it would be a race to the Society’s office once they were back up, but there was something far more important than that right now, and that was protecting the find. If the locals found out that this treasure lie right beneath their feet, word would spread, and before Samantha and Clayton would be able to do anything about it, the place would be looted dry. So, Samantha selecting a small idol and Clayton picking an ornamental dagger, they stuffed the small relics into their packs, and headed back to the pulley system they had set up to get down there in the first place. Giving a tug and a holler, they were hoisted back up. Keeping it quiet, they two told the discouraged team that instead of gold and treasure, there was nothing but dirt, bugs, and dangerous caverns in the broken down temple. Work would have to cease for the moment, until the WAS could come and inspect, and the hole was resealed.
Reply
Leave a comment