X Marks the Spot
The sun beats down on an island, leaving only
the shade beneath the palm trees untouched by its tropical heat.
Iridescent birds fill the sky with a melodious cacophony as
serpentine sea monsters lurk in the watery depths. The noise of the
birds and the crashing surf is barely punctuated by the soft sound
of a shovel blade piercing the sand of the beach. The owner of the
shovel cuts an iconic figure: a peg leg, an eye patch, a parrot on
his shoulder and the Jolly Roger on his flag. He has come here for
one reason: a map. This map guided him through tumultuous seas and
past numerous obstacles, led him to this desolate isle, and marks
with an X the location where he is now digging. He has come here
for buried treasure. At least, this is how pirates are usually
depicted. Modern day pirates are more likely to be found raiding
ships off the Somali coast or illegally downloading music. Even in
the past, real pirates were little more than thieves with boats.
But for those who yearn for the romance of hunting buried treasure,
there is a modern equivalent of “X marks the spot.”
You can
read the full piece here.
The posted coordinates take you to the first
stage. To "Find X" project a waypoint 82.3 degrees and ABC Smoots
(plus or minus one ear).