Chapter 6 -- The
Unknown Grave
It was said that
anyone that dare stand on the grave would be grabbed by the
ankles and pulled into the ground. It was common
knowledge that anyone that dared disturb the grave would
perish in a fireball so intense not even their bones would be
left. For that reason, Scruffy never looked for
it. Nobody Scruffy knew found it. But there were
hapless creatures that stumbled upon the grave and met an
untimely end. Other creatures saw the grave from a
distance but dared not venture too
close.
When Scruffy
told the lumberjack all this the man laughed and
laughed. "It worked," the man said to himself before
reverting his attention back to the skunk. The
lumberjack began to tell his
story...
 "My family lived
here long ago. They built a great house in the mountains
and lived happily for many years. They raised children
and lived off the land. They mined jewels in the nearby
caves and grew crops. The jewels were plenty and the
crops were healthy. Then came a dry summer followed by a
harsh winter. Since they were the first to arrive in
these parts there was nobody to help them when their crops
failed. Their riches couldn't help for there was nobody
around in which to trade jewels for food. So,
reluctantly they left the home that they loved vowing to
return one day. They took some of the jewels with them
but left most of their riches here and marked it with a
grave. They told everyone they met on their way back
East about the evil place. You see, little Skunk, there
is no curse. The grave is as empty as a swine's
brain. My family left here a treasure vast. And to
thwart off potential thieves they started these
rumours."
"Are you the
first of your family to return? What happened to the
others?" Scruffy asked. The lumberjack's face became as
hard as stone. "I knew very little of my grandfather,"
the lumberjack replied. He wanted to return to this
land the very next Spring but he was taken with the
influenza. After his passing, grandmother refused to
make the trip alone. Their children eventually grew up
and made friends in their home far east. One of the
children was my father and that is where I was born. I
do not know why my father never talked of this place.
Perhaps he was happy back east or maybe he felt cheated when
he learned he would never return. I heard the story
from my Grandmother. She forced me to take a vow of
secrecy"
Little Scruffy
was astonished. "So you are looking for
treasure?"
"Yes, little
skunk," the lumberjack replied. "There are jewels to be
found. Tell nobody. If we cannot find them today
I would not want everyone digging up the countryside."
At that moment they arrived at the grave and in no time at
all, the lumberjack stood in the middle of the stone
oval. Scruffy became very excited. He felt he was
part of history. It was a legend that kept Scruffy away
from the grave and and a legend that brought the lumberjack
to it. The mystery would be solved if there were really
jewels nearby.
The lumberjack
took a compass out of his pocket and looked in the general
direction of the treasure. "Hmmmm, this is definitely
the place. My grandmother told me about. She
described a stone retaining wall that channelled the creek
from the mines. The forest has grown thick so I think
we will have to walk along the creek. If you do not
wish to get a wet tail, hop on my
shoulder."
Scruffy jumped
up and without hesitation as the lumberjack headed 26.7
meters, stopped in the middle of the creek and began to look
for a clue. Scruffy couldn't hold back his excitement,
he scampered down into the waterline, scurried across the
rocks, and peered into every crevice and cranny he could
find. He looked under trees and peered in stumps.
If there was treasure to be found it was well
hidden.
Before long the
lumberjack's voice echoed through the woods with a great
Whoa! And when the little skunk met up he saw the
lumberjack holding jewels of red and gold and blue -- each
gem in the shape of a beautiful flower. "Oh, what a
treasure you found, Mr. Lumberjack. Now you are
rich." The lumberjack said nothing for a long time and
Scruffy did not understand why. The man stared at the
jewels and then to the horizon. "I have found a
treasure much more important than these jewels, little
skunk. I have found my history. I feel part of
the land already. Take a jewel with you and keep it
close. For you never know when you'll need it. My
quest may have ended but yours has just begun. After
you find what you seek I hope you will visit
me."
Scruffy accepted
the open invitation with glee. But the lumberjack was
right. It was time to part. "II will go now, Mr.
Lumberjack, but if you please, pass by my house. It is
not far. Let my family know that I am safe and
well. I have not checked in for some time and I fear
they might worry." The lumberjack smiled.
"Consider it done and good luck little skunk. I look
forward to our next meeting." And with that sentiment
the skunk scampered into the
forest.
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