Adventure Diaries

  The sun was shining overhead. It was almost two o clock in the afternoon. Time seemed to move so slowly for us. We were keenly watching the changing landscape from the windows. The train was moving at some slow speed that it seemed it would take ages to reach our destination. "Care for another game of cards?", Tommy asked me. Bored to the core, I agreed. Tommy gave the cards to Luke who started dealing it to us. We were returning home for holidays from our high school but it appeared that our holidays will be over before we reach home. Reluctantly, I picked up the cards dealt in front of me and started playing. Suddenly the train stopped. I grew excited hoping that the train would have been hijacked by terrorists and we are going to have an awesome adventure fighting them. But just then, there was an announcement that there was an engine fault in the train and it would take around an hour to rectify it. "No adventures for you then", chuckled Luke. I stared at him for a minute and got up. "Where are you going?" , Tommy asked. "I'm going to explore this vicinity a bit", I replied. "Wait, I'll come with you", said Tommy. "I think it's the best if we stay here", insisted Luke. "You stay here Luke, we will return after getting some fresh air and surveying this area", I told Luke. I and Tommy climbed down the train and looked around. We were surrounded by greenery with a dense forest nearby and hills seemingly at the end of the forest. The birds were chirping loudly and there was a herd of deer consuming grass. I hopped back into the train and got my camera and my bag as I went to get some clicks of the deer. Then we were distracted by a giant elephant standing tall near the entrance of the forest. I drew closer to it hoping get a clear angle amongst the bushes. We stopped moving any closer as we were afraid that the elephant might charge at us. Then there was a gunshot heard inside the forest and the birds started flying everywhere. The elephant too ran back into the forest. "It might be the poachers", Tommy guessed. "We shall know soon", I replied and made for the forest. Tommy kept mumbling as he find it hard to keep up with me. "You better keep your mouth shut now, Tommy. The trees have ears here", I warned him. Silenced we both made our way into the forest. As we made further into the forest, it became dark as sunlight failed to reach us as the forest was too dense. "Do we really have to do this?" Tommy asked me. "Yes, we are doing this" I whispered. I opened my bag and took a flashlight. I switched the flashlight on and a beam of light shone and our eyes took a little time adjusting to the brightness. We struggled on the uneven terrain till we saw some fire lit some few metres away from the place we were standing. "I think the gunfire came from here, Let's get closer and observe", I told Tommy. I switched off the flashlight and we both got closer and settled in a bush so that we could watch the poachers without being seen. A small tent was put up just enough for two people. There wasn't anyone near the fire which meant both were inside the tent. After few minutes, a strong bearded man came out the tent, after him came a wizened old man. He wore a red round hat, a round spectacles, a grey jacket and pants with a mountain bag on his back. His dressing suggested that he might be an archaeologist. The two started packing up. Then they started moving further into the forest. With a rifle pointed at the old man, they were moving into the forest at a steady pace. When we saw the rifle we guessed that the gunfire we heard must have been from this gun and the old man is being held prisoner by this guy. "But why?", asked Tommy. "There's only one way to find out, we rescue the old man", I replied virtually making a plan in my mind. "He seems so strong, How do we overpower him?" Tommy asked me. " I've got a plan, come with me", I instructed him. I took a handful of sand and a big stone in my hands and closed on them. "Tommy, there's a rope in my bag, be ready with it", I commanded him. He took the rope from my bag and followed me. When I was well close to them, I threw the stone near them. Hearing the stone's sound, he turned back only to get hit by a wind of sand that I threw upon his face. Blinded now, he dropped his rifle and was struggling to get the sand out of his eyes. Swiftly, I took a big stick lying aside and hit him hard on his head knocking him unconscious. Then Tommy tied him up with the rope. "Who are you?",asked the old man. "We saw you being held captive and decided to help you", Tommy replied. "I am Professor James, an archaeologist.  

I was on trip here to recover a lost treasure that has been rumoured to hid within the mountains at the end of this forest. Knowing this, this goon Will followed me and caught me off guard and I was forced to lead him to the treasure as he threatened to kill my daughter who was abducted by him", the Professor elaborated. "I still don't know about my daughter's whereabouts", the Professor cried. "We're going to find your daughter Professor, I promise", Tommy assured him. I and Tommy took a big log and tied him onto it and carried him like a chicken in a grill. "The treasure is in one of the caves in the mountains. I have interpreted the map to the treasure and when we find the treasure, we will split it among ourselves", the Professor offered. "We don't want any treasure Professor, you found it, it's yours" I said. "I still haven't find the treasure and I certainly wouldn't without your help, so accept my offer", the Professor requested. So we accepted his request and moved on further into the forest. After an hour of walking, they were able to see light coming from a distance. "We have reached the mountains", the Professor said. We reached the end of woods to find a wonderful sight awaiting us. The mountains were so tall and there were so much flowers surrounding it. The sun was just setting and it looked so marvellous. Quickly, I took out my camera and clicked few snaps of the wonderful setting. Just then, the goon started regaining consciousness. Placing him on a stone nearby, I started enquiring about the Professor's daughter. I tried for some time but he wouldn't just say the truth. Determined to make him say the truth, I took a bottle of red hot chili pepper sauce from my bag and poured some into his mouth. Unable to bear the hotness of the chili, he confessed. "I was only ordered to take the treasure from you and give it to my boss. He said he would receive half of it and would reward me suitably if I do. I don't know who's at the other end of the deal and I swear that I am telling the truth, now please can I get some water?", the goon cried in pain. I offered some sugar from bag and some water. "Is that a bag or something else?" Tommy asked me. I simply laughed. "If my interpretation  of the map is correct, then the treasure is in that cave" said the Professor pointing towards a cave farthest from the place we were currently standing whose mouth was shaped like an egg. Tying the goon in a tree, we started climbing the mountains slowly with caution. At last we made the top. The Professor examined the cave's opening and he said "This is the cave the map points to", the Professor said. I took the flashlight from my bag and switched it on. We started moving inside. The cave was too dark. "The treasure is at the North end of the cave", the Professor whispered. We strided carefully into cave with my flashlight showing the way. We went into the cane till the paths spilt up into two. "Which way now?", I asked the Professor. The Professor stared at the map for a while and said "Towards right". We walked in that path till we met up with a dead end. "Are you sure the treasure here, Professor?" Tommy asked. "Look here - a lamp, that means someone was here before. Search for an X mark and start digging there. "Here is the X mark", I exclaimed with joy. The Professor took two spades from his bag and gave it to us and we began digging. "Why do all treasure burier's mark their burial places with an X mark? They could have marked the places with something more innovative like a circle inside a box", Tommy argued. "Maybe they were just being traditional", I joked. After few minutes, Tommy's spade struck something hard. "Keep digging", the Professor instructed. We kept digging and at last took a box which really did look like a treasure chest shown in movies. "It's locked with a big lock, take a strong stick somewhere and break it" the Professor ordered. "There will no such need", I replied. I took a bottle and gloves from my bag and poured some of the liquid on it as the lock melted down. "Yikes! Why the hell on Earth do you carry a bottle of acid with you?", Tommy asked me trembling. "It's for emergencies like this. An adventurer must be ready for everything", I replied. " What else do you have in that freaky bag of yours?" Tommy  asked me looking terribly scared. Without replying, I opened the chest. I stared at the contents of the chest, there were hundreds of gold coins and bars inside. "We must take this out, I have my Jeep parked outside the forest, it might take three hours to reach there so we need to get there quickly", the Professor explained his plan. We slowly climbed down and made for the forest. To our shock, the goon we tied was missing. Suddenly four armed men surrounded us with their guns aiming at us. Another shadow emerged from the forest. "Lock these people inside the patrol van and let's get out of here", the man commanded. We were locked inside a van blindfolded,handcuffed and taken to God knows where. We then reached someplace and we were now locked inside some room. The blindfolds and handcuffs were removed and we were able to see each other. "Is everyone all right?", I enquired. "Yeah", asserted Tommy. "Lina! you are here!",the Professor exclaimed as she saw a little girl sitting at a corner. The girl came running to her father's arms and both hugged. "Right we are stuck here now, what's next?" Tommy shouted in frustration. "We're walking out that door anytime now", I assured them. "How's that possible?", Tommy questioned me. "I used my watch to remotely control a GPS device attached in my bag to broadcast an SOS signal with our location Luke, he will be with police soon", I explained. Soon there were siren sounds being heard outside. They arrested all the people and rescued us. "Sorry for me being rude at your bag, it does comes handy sometimes", Tommy said laughing. "Apology accepted", I said too laughing. "Maybe now we could have a peaceful and a happy holiday", Luke interrupted. "Guess so", I said smiling at him. We three then made our way home into the disappearing horizon.he sun was shining overhead. It was almost two o clock in the afternoon. Time seemed to move so slowly for us. We were keenly watching the changing landscape from the windows. The train was moving at some slow speed that it seemed it would take ages to reach our destination. "Care for another game of cards?", Tommy asked me. Bored to the core, I agreed. Tommy gave the cards to Luke who started dealing it to us. We were returning home for holidays from our high school but it appeared that our holidays will be over before we reach home. Reluctantly, I picked up the cards dealt in front of me and started playing. Suddenly the train stopped. I grew excited hoping that the train would have been hijacked by terrorists and we are going to have an awesome adventure fighting them. But just then, there was an announcement that there was an engine fault in the train and it would take around an hour to rectify it. "No adventures for you then", chuckled Luke. I stared at him for a minute and got up. "Where are you going?" , Tommy asked. "I'm going to explore this vicinity a bit", I replied. "Wait, I'll come with you", said Tommy. "I think it's the best if we stay here", insisted Luke. "You stay here Luke, we will return after getting some fresh air and surveying this area", I told Luke. I and Tommy climbed down the train and looked around. We were surrounded by greenery with a dense forest nearby and hills seemingly at the end of the forest. The birds were chirping loudly and there was a herd of deer consuming grass. I hopped back into the train and got my camera and my bag as I went to get some clicks of the deer. Then we were distracted by a giant elephant standing tall near the entrance of the forest. I drew closer to it hoping get a clear angle amongst the bushes. We stopped moving any closer as we were afraid that the elephant might charge at us. Then there was a gunshot heard inside the forest and the birds started flying everywhere. The elephant too ran back into the forest. "It might be the poachers", Tommy guessed. "We shall know soon", I replied and made for the forest. Tommy kept mumbling as he find it hard to keep up with me. "You better keep your mouth shut now, Tommy. The trees have ears here", I warned him. Silenced we both made our way into the forest. As we made further into the forest, it became dark as sunlight failed to reach us as the forest was too dense. "Do we really have to do this?" Tommy asked me. "Yes, we are doing this" I whispered. I opened my bag and took a flashlight. I switched the flashlight on and a beam of light shone and our eyes took a little time adjusting to the brightness. We struggled on the uneven terrain till we saw some fire lit some few metres away from the place we were standing. "I think the gunfire came from here, Let's get closer and observe", I told Tommy. I switched off the flashlight and we both got closer and settled in a bush so that we could watch the poachers without being seen. A small tent was put up just enough for two people. There wasn't anyone near the fire which meant both were inside the tent. After few minutes, a strong bearded man came out the tent, after him came a wizened old man. He wore a red round hat, a round spectacles, a grey jacket and pants with a mountain bag on his back. His dressing suggested that he might be an archaeologist. The two started packing up. Then they started moving further into the forest. With a rifle pointed at the old man, they were moving into the forest at a steady pace. When we saw the rifle we guessed that the gunfire we heard must have been from this gun and the old man is being held prisoner by this guy. "But why?", asked Tommy. "There's only one way to find out, we rescue the old man", I replied virtually making a plan in my mind. "He seems so strong, How do we overpower him?" Tommy asked me. " I've got a plan, come with me", I instructed him. I took a handful of sand and a big stone in my hands and closed on them. "Tommy, there's a rope in my bag, be ready with it", I commanded him. He took the rope from my bag and followed me. When I was well close to them, I threw the stone near them. Hearing the stone's sound, he turned back only to get hit by a wind of sand that I threw upon his face. Blinded now, he dropped his rifle and was struggling to get the sand out of his eyes. Swiftly, I took a big stick lying aside and hit him hard on his head knocking him unconscious. Then Tommy tied him up with the rope. "Who are you?",asked the old man. "We saw you being held captive and decided to help you", Tommy replied. "I am Professor James, an archaeologist. I was on trip here to recover a lost treasure that has been rumoured to hid within the mountains at the end of this forest. Knowing this, this goon Will followed me and caught me off guard and I was forced to lead him to the treasure as he threatened to kill my daughter who was abducted by him", the Professor elaborated. "I still don't know about my daughter's whereabouts", the Professor cried. "We're going to find your daughter Professor, I promise", Tommy assured him. I and Tommy took a big log and tied him onto it and carried him like a chicken in a grill. "The treasure is in one of the caves in the mountains. I have interpreted the map to the treasure and when we find the treasure, we will split it among ourselves", the Professor offered. "We don't want any treasure Professor, you found it, it's yours" I said. "I still haven't find the treasure and I certainly wouldn't without your help, so accept my offer", the Professor requested. So we accepted his request and moved on further into the forest. After an hour of walking, they were able to see light coming from a distance. "We have reached the mountains", the Professor said. We reached the end of woods to find a wonderful sight awaiting us. The mountains were so tall and there were so much flowers surrounding it. The sun was just setting and it looked so marvellous. Quickly, I took out my camera and clicked few snaps of the wonderful setting. Just then, the goon started regaining consciousness. Placing him on a stone nearby, I started enquiring about the Professor's daughter. I tried for some time but he wouldn't just say the truth. Determined to make him say the truth, I took a bottle of red hot chili pepper sauce from my bag and poured some into his mouth. Unable to bear the hotness of the chili, he confessed. "I was only ordered to take the treasure from you and give it to my boss. He said he would receive half of it and would reward me suitably if I do. I don't know who's at the other end of the deal and I swear that I am telling the truth, now please can I get some water?", the goon cried in pain. I offered some sugar from bag and some water. "Is that a bag or something else?" Tommy asked me. I simply laughed. "If my interpretation  of the map is correct, then the treasure is in that cave" said the Professor pointing towards a cave farthest from the place we were currently standing whose mouth was shaped like an egg. Tying the goon in a tree, we started climbing the mountains slowly with caution. At last we made the top. The Professor examined the cave's opening and he said "This is the cave the map points to", the Professor said. I took the flashlight from my bag and switched it on. We started moving inside. The cave was too dark. "The treasure is at the North end of the cave", the Professor whispered. We strided carefully into cave with my flashlight showing the way. We went into the cane till the paths spilt up into two. "Which way now?", I asked the Professor. The Professor stared at the map for a while and said "Towards right". We walked in that path till we met up with a dead end. "Are you sure the treasure here, Professor?" Tommy asked. "Look here - a lamp, that means someone was here before. Search for an X mark and start digging there. "Here is the X mark", I exclaimed with joy. The Professor took two spades from his bag and gave it to us and we began digging. "Why do all treasure burier's mark their burial places with an X mark? They could have marked the places with something more innovative like a circle inside a box", Tommy argued. "Maybe they were just being traditional", I joked. After few minutes, Tommy's spade struck something hard. "Keep digging", the Professor instructed. We kept digging and at last took a box which really did look like a treasure chest shown in movies. "It's locked with a big lock, take a strong stick somewhere and break it" the Professor ordered. "There will no such need", I replied. I took a bottle and gloves from my bag and poured some of the liquid on it as the lock melted down. "Yikes! Why the hell on Earth do you carry a bottle of acid with you?", Tommy asked me trembling. "It's for emergencies like this. An adventurer must be ready for everything", I replied. " What else do you have in that freaky bag of yours?" Tommy  asked me looking terribly scared. Without replying, I opened the chest. I stared at the contents of the chest, there were hundreds of gold coins and bars inside. "We must take this out, I have my Jeep parked outside the forest, it might take three hours to reach there so we need to get there quickly", the Professor explained his plan. We slowly climbed down and made for the forest. To our shock, the goon we tied was missing. Suddenly four armed men surrounded us with their guns aiming at us. Another shadow emerged from the forest. "Lock these people inside the patrol van and let's get out of here", the man commanded. We were locked inside a van blindfolded,handcuffed and taken to God knows where. We then reached someplace and we were now locked inside some room. The blindfolds and handcuffs were removed and we were able to see each other. "Is everyone all right?", I enquired. "Yeah", asserted Tommy. "Lina! you are here!",the Professor exclaimed as she saw a little girl sitting at a corner. The girl came running to her father's arms and both hugged. "Right we are stuck here now, what's next?" Tommy shouted in frustration. "We're walking out that door anytime now", I assured them. "How's that possible?", Tommy questioned me. "I used my watch to remotely control a GPS device attached in my bag to broadcast an SOS signal with our location Luke, he will be with police soon", I explained. Soon there were siren sounds being heard outside. They arrested all the people and rescued us. "Sorry for me being rude at your bag, it does comes handy sometimes", Tommy said laughing. "Apology accepted", I said too laughing. "Maybe now we could have a peaceful and a happy holiday", Luke interrupted. "Guess so", I said smiling at him. We splitted treasure among ourselves and thanked the Professor bidding him farewell. We three, now rich men then made our way home into the disappearing horizon.