The geocacher and his company slept no more that night; but they
saw and heard no other strange thing, save one: the strange-looking
stone beside them suddenly awoke. There was a sound of a gong; and
when it had passed, the stone was silent again, as it had ever
done.
At dawn they made ready to go on. The light came grey and pale,
and they did not see the rising of the sun. The air above was heavy
with fog, and a reek lay on the land about them. They went slowly,
travelling now upon the highway. It was broad and hard, and
well-tended. Dimly through the mists they could descry the long arm
of the mountains rising on their left. They had passed into the
Wizard's Vale. Once it had been fair and green, and through it a
river flowed, already deep and strong before it found the plains;
for it was fed by many springs and lesser streams among the
rain-washed hills; and all about it there had lain a pleasant,
fertile land.
It was not so now. Beneath the walls of the Stone City there
still were acres tilled by geomuggles; but most of the valley had
become a wilderness of weeds and thorns. Dandelions trailed upon
the ground, or clambering over bush and bank, made shaggy caves
where small insects housed. Few trees grew there; but among the
rank grasses could still be seen the moss-grown and notched stubs
of ancient stone slabs. It was a sad country, silent now but for
the pounding noise of travellers’ feet on the stones. Smokes and
steams drifted in sullen clouds and lurked in the hollows.
Geocachers did not speak. Many doubted in their hearts, wondering
to what dismal end their journey led.
After they had walked for some time, the highway became a wide
street, paved with great flat stones, squared and laid with skill.
Deep gutters ran down on either side. Suddenly a tall pillar loomed
up before them. It was white; and set opposite it was a great
stone, carved and polished in the likeness of the two White Hands.
Those fingers pointed to the sky. Not far now they knew that the
geocache must stand, and their hearts were heavy; but their eyes
could not pierce the mists ahead.
There are seven "Seeing Stones" and a "Wizard's Heart" in the
cache; and the cache is hidden right beneath the walls of the
"Stronghold".