The torrential rain on this last day of June has finally slowed to a drizzle as I ease my way along the dirt road leading back towards civilization. The darkness is interrupted by lightning flashes which give illumination to the palo verdes and saguaros on the nearby hillside. Water is now flowing down the middle of the road and I recall the arroyo I had crossed on my way in.
The mission was complete. Getting home is now my only concern. A diminutive cottontail keeps pace alongside my car for a couple of seconds before veering off into the night. I know that shortly the road will make a tight turn before starting a short, but steep descent to the valley floor. I switch on the high beams.
As the road loses elevation, the sound of rushing water enters the open window. I step out to check the depth. Only nine inches in the middle, should be no problem. Getting back into the vehicle, oncoming headlights become visible. The rumble of a motor draws near as an old blue truck splashes across the water and pauses beside me. Who else would be out in this kind of weather, in the middle of nowhere at such a late hour?
I now see it as an old Chevy truck with one occupant. The driver’s side window slowly rolls down. Then, I hear the noise. While lightning flashes in the distance, I look at the thin, gaunt man inside of the old blue Chevy. Although his face is obscured by the shadows of his wide-brimmed hat, his upper body can be seen rocking slowly back and forth, as if keeping tempo with a gentle breeze.
The NOISE. This time with more intensity. Then again, it rings out. The stranger abruptly lifts his head, and for the first time we make brief eye contact. He mutters something to me in a raspy whisper. I don’t catch what he says. His eyes now lock on mine as he mumbles what sounds like, “Chow’s Spacefruit.” Before I have a chance to ask him to repeat the phrase, the truck ambles forward into darkness. The smell of diesel fills the night air.
To find the cache you’ll need to locate the green and white “Spacefruit” within 2 miles of the posted coords. In order to prevent anybody from wasting gas, I’ll say that you need to know where this is before heading out. Once at “Spacefruit,” head 1.15 miles away at a bearing of the numeric value of the vegetable commonly associated with “Chow” using A=1, B= 2 etc. For example: spinach would equal a bearing of 70 degrees true north.
Congrats to Cactus Monkey for FTF!