The Lost and Found Collection

by Dan Arnold

  “Yes, I surmised that was the purpose of the heavy ball above the ring. It appears to have bent the tip when it hit the sandstone under the surface soil.”

  “Unless I miss my guess, this is a cavalry picket pin.” He turned and looked at Becky. “I guess this answers the question of what horses were doing in the canyon.”

  “Horses, you’ve seen horses in the canyons?”

  “No, Professor. Becky and the other ladies found some horse skulls in the brush out beyond the vehicles. We think they were washed out of the canyons at some point, a long time ago.”

  “How odd…Unless…”

  The professor was remembering the few things he’d learned about the area in his preliminary research.

  “There’s a story about a missing cavalry patrol that vanished somewhere in the Tanami Desert. The story goes back more than a hundred years and has never been verified.

  They all considered the information and what it might mean. Could this be the place where the soldiers disappeared? What could’ve happened to them? The professor didn’t like it, especially in light of what they’d learned in the process of documenting the rock art here in the canyon junction.

  As if she were reading his mind, Becky asked, “Did you complete your work with the petroglyphs?”

  “We just finished. On more careful examination and analysis we think we’ve deciphered what ‘s depicted here.”

  “That’s interesting.” Jake said. “I’ve been thinking about the difference between Aboriginal petroglyphs and those often found in the Southwestern United States. In our desert regions ancient rock art is frequently seen. There can be hundreds of images found on the rocks all over a really huge area. We aren’t sure even now what some of the images depict. If I’m not mistaken, that many images in a single location would be uncommon for Aboriginal art. Is that correct?

  “I believe so, at least generally speaking. I believe what we see here is an excellent example of their work. There are places where generations of people would add to earlier work, but even then the images are most often in the dozens, not hundreds.”

  “Petroglyphs back home seem to be like Polaroid snapshots of the things the native people held sacred. Is that what you see here?”

  “Well, Dr. Walker, yes and no. Look over there at those images on that wall. What do you see?”

  Jake studied the paintings for a moment.

  “I see animals. There’s a kangaroo, some sort of rodent or possum, maybe an emu and some other animals.”

  “Quite right. Now look at that wall. Tell me what you see.”

  It’s a single image of something that generally resembles…I don’t know, maybe a dragon. Is that the famous rainbow serpent?”

  “We thought so, at first, but we’ll come back to that. What it took me a little while to see isn’t what’s on the walls; it’s what isn’t depicted here.”

  Jake studied the images some more.

  “I’m sorry, Professor, I don’t follow. What’s missing?”

  “What animals have we seen since we arrived here?”

  “Just that giant goanna and the occasional small lizard.”

  “Correct. In Aboriginal art there are usually images of all the local fauna. You’ll see goannas, birds, crocodiles, frogs, turtles and fish, whatever is common in the area. Do you see any goannas, snakes or other reptiles on these walls?”

  Jake slowly shook his head, trying to work out the meaning.

  “Using the images themselves and a little deductive reasoning, we think we know why there are no reptiles painted on the walls.”

  “Why is that?”

  “It’s because all of the animals in these petroglyphs are depicted as being dead.”

  “Then why aren’t there any reptiles? We’ve seen living examples of those here.”

  “Exactly. The art here doesn’t show us what lives here, only what dies here.”

  Jake scowled.

  “That’s a stretch, Professor. What about those images of people?”

  “We believe by the way they’re depicted, black paint, odd postures and so on, they are dead as well.”

  “And the rainbow serpent, or whatever it is?”

  “It’s the only thing in the paintings that looks like it might be alive.”

  “I wonder if it symbolizes evil. Wally told me he wouldn’t go into the canyons because of a long standing taboo. The petroglyphs may be signposts to other members of his people to stay clear of here.”

  The professor nodded.

  “That would be more in your line than mine. I believe you’ve had more experience with cultural symbolism among primitive people. Personally, I don’t believe in evil spirits or whatever. Still, there must‘ve once been a reason the locals avoid the location. As you say, Wally wouldn’t have anything to do with the place. It kind of sent a cold shiver up my spine when we first realized what we were seeing.”

  “That’s sad. It’s so beautiful here, strange, but beautiful. I wonder why they think there is evil here,” Becky said.

  Jake said, “There is evil in the world, and there is some precedent for associating it with a particular location. That being said, I think we’ll find there’s a more common place explanation.”

  The professor shrugged.

  “Whatever the reason for the taboo, we’ve had no problems so far.” He crossed his fingers. “Here’s hoping our luck holds.”

  “I don’t believe in luck,” Jake said.

  Becky raised her eyebrows.

  “Well then, what do you believe in, science?”

  “I believe everything we observe in the natural world was created by God. For me, science is all about studying and interpreting the signposts of that creation.”

  “That’s an odd perspective for a man of science,” Professor Madison said.

  “Not historically it isn’t. Most of the greatest scientists of previous centuries were believers. Many still are.”

  “Well, I am not one of them. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep your religious opinions to yourself.”

  Fifteen

  As the afternoon passed, the shade slowly stretched across the floor of the canyon until the entire campsite was out of the direct sunlight. Around five o’clock, someone mentioned they were less miserable, others were sleeping.

  Jake walked over to one of the canyon walls which were in full sun only a couple hours before. He was pleased to feel it only warm, not hot, to his touch.

  “As hot as the surface becomes, it cools rather quickly once it’s out of the direct sunlight. We can work at night and in the early hours of the day. This is good news.”

  “Do you think we could haul lights and a generator up to the top of the mountain?” Becky asked.

  “We’ll figure it out. Where there’s a will there’s a way. First, we have to get up there ourselves. Then we’ll have a better idea of what we need and how to get it up there. I think we should eat an early supper and start the ascent while it’s still daylight, maybe seven o’clock or so. That will give us about an hour and a half to get up there, do a quick survey and come back down before it gets too dark. Coming down should be pretty easy.”

  “How long do you think it will take us to make the climb?” Professor Madison asked.

  “Maybe half an hour. I’m basing my estimate on climbing ten feet per minute, which I’m sure I can manage easily enough. I should make better time than that. It’s steep, but not dangerously so. I believe it’s doable for most of us. I have considerable experience climbing, so if it’s agreeable to you, I’ll go first. I’ll carry some climbing gear, but I doubt we’ll need any.”

  “I don’t think all of us should go up tonight. I think a small party to do a preliminary approach and get some photos would be best. Do you agree?”

  “Yes, three or four of us, equipped to climb. That sandstone is rough; it’ll scrape the hide off you. Sturdy shoes, gloves and long pants are a minimum requirement.”

  “I’ll be ready. Who else would you choose to g
o?”

  “I was thinking you, me, Becky, Bob Overlander and maybe Tina Nguyen. Todd came close to heat stroke earlier today. He still needs to rest. I imagine Sarah will want to stay with him. She wasn’t doing all that well earlier, and Tim isn’t part of the expedition.”

  “Alright, that sounds good. I’ll announce it at supper time.”

  “Man, I never knew these military type rations could be this good.” Todd observed.

  “Yeah, MREs are not bad for short periods of time. Not having to cook them, but still having a hot meal, is a Godsend, anywhere you happen to be. Still, for all that, after a few days you’ll be ready for some old fashioned home cooking,” Jake said.

  “Sounds like you’ve had some experience with them before, Jake,” Becky said.

  “Meals ready to eat? Yep. I did four years in the army. I saw three tours in Afghanistan. I was fascinated with ancient locations in country. That’s partly what sparked my interest in archaeology and palaeontology. I went to college on the GI Bill.”

  “Oh, what’s that?”

  “It’s a program for veterans. Uncle Sam pays for four years of college.”

  “What did you do in the army, mate?”

  “I was an army Ranger.”

  “Isn’t that some kind of special forces unit?”

  “Yes, ma’am, Rangers lead the way.”

  “Could I have everyone’s attention, please?” Professor Madison called out. “Tomorrow morning will be our first full day on the dig site. This evening some of us will go up the mountain and have a preliminary look at the location. Those who stay behind should take advantage of the opportunity to rest. We will all be busy in the morning. I’d like to have Dr. Walker, Miss Davenport, Miss Enguyen and Mr. Overlander join me on this evening’s endeavours. What say you?”

  Everyone nodded, except Tim Quinn and Tina Nguyen, who frowned.

  “May I stay in camp, Professor? I promise I’ll be first in line tomorrow morning.”

  “…As you wish, Miss Enguyen.”

  “We’ve talked about this, Professor. It’s Tina, or if you insist on using my last name, it’s Nguyen. It sounds just like win, and rhymes with tin, bin and sin. I’m Tina Nguyen, not- en goo yen. OK?”

  The professor’s scowl showed momentary annoyance, but he nodded.

  “Yes, of course. You win, Miss Nguyen.”

  Tina smiled and winked.

  The professor returned to his announcement.

  “Now, those of you who are coming with me will need to wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, gloves and hiking boots or sturdy shoes. The sandstone is extremely abrasive, so be prepared. Are there any questions?”

  There were none.

  “Very well, we’ll leave here at six thirty.”

  By seven o’clock the sun was low in the sky, cloaking the approach to the mountain through the canyons in shadow, with a promise of early evening gloom.

  For Jake the climb was barely challenging. The rock was warm but not hot enough to burn his knees. The only thing slowing him down was the professor. He struggled and had difficulty keeping his footing. Behind him, Becky proved to be an able scrambler and any time the professor began to slip she would block his slide with a hand or her whole body. Her feet seldom slipped. The last in line, Bob Overlander, was capable, if a bit out of shape.

  When Jake reached the half way point, he discovered barely discernible indentations, so evenly spaced, they had to be manmade. At some time in the far distant past they might‘ve been stair steps.

  His excitement let him forget those behind him and he quickened his pace. The last hundred feet he was upright and nearly jogging up the mountainside.

  At the summit he set down the climbing gear and took a moment to survey his surroundings. The view was spectacular. To the west the sun cast long shadows from distant mountains, now a hazy purple against the horizon. Here in the sunlight these mountain tops were all a cherry red, glowing as though they were still blazing hot. Cool dark meanders between the mountains showed no measure of the canyons depths.

  The top of this mountain proved to be much broader than he would’ve imagined. He immediately spied the remnants of stone walls. He estimated the nearest and longest line to be nearly a hundred feet, or roughly thirty meters. While he was observing this, the others joined him.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful up here.” Becky said.

  “Isn’t this remarkable? The structure is larger than I imagined. Sadly, barely one stone remains on another.” The professor said. “It appears these walls were never completed. It’s as if they hauled the rocks all the way up here, started the construction on a building of some size, but never finished a single wall. Over time the dry stacked walls collapsed”

  “Still, this is incredible. It would’ve been a pretty large building. Let’s get some pictures and measurements.” Jake said.

  Closer examination showed how the location was flat and nearly level. The bottom stones had been carefully chosen for size and were interlocking.

  “This wasn’t some haphazard experiment” The professor said. “It shows some knowledge of masonry technique. Whoever started this construction had done it somewhere before.”

  “There is sandstone crumbled among the ruins, but the building stones didn’t come from here.” Jake observed.

  “Where do you suppose they came from?” Becky asked.

  “They look more like the stone we saw over on that escarpment.”

  “That has to be fifteen or sixteen kilometres from here, mate.” Bob Overlander said.

  Jake was nodding thoughtfully.

  “Why would they build up here? There’s no water.” Becky observed.

  “We’ve done about all we can do today.” The professor said, glancing at the distant sunset. “Let’s get back to camp before it gets too dark.”

  Becky was looking out over the surrounding mountains.

  “Look down there. Are those two people over on that lower hilltop?”

  The distant figures were side lit by the sinking sun, casting long twisting shadows across the hill top now bathed in crimson light.

  “It sure is.” Bob said. “I think its Tina and that trucker. Crikey, will you look at that. I don’t think they’re wrestling!”

  Sixteen

  Dawn found Tina and Tim standing by one of the three utes.

  “So, Tim, I guess I won’t see you again until we leave here. Will you come back for the water truck?

  “Yes, whenever you leave I’ll come out here to retrieve the truck. Of course if the rains come first, that won’t happen.”

  “If we need anything we don’t have or if we need to get word to the uni; we’ll send someone back to the station. I could arrange to make the drive.”

  “I’d like that. Listen, Tina, about last night…”

  “No worries mate. It was as much my idea as yours—maybe more.”

  “No, not that, I mean the way things went when we got back to the camp.”

  “That was embarrassing. We should’ve realized they were somewhere above us.”

  “I don’t like that pompous ass. What we do in our free time is none of his business. He had no right to dress you down in front of your friends.”

  Tina chuckled.

  “Well, it wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t seen us already dressed down.”

  Tim grinned and shrugged.

  “Still...”

  “I know, right? He’s having an affair with his assistant and we’re all supposed to pretend we don’t know, but he tried to shame us in front of everybody there.”

  “Well, I’m not ashamed. I really like you, Tina.”

  “Me too, you, mate.”

  Tim thought about all of that as he drove back toward the station. At the top of the escarpment he stopped and walked out to look across at the sandstone mountains in the early morning light. They really were beautiful in a strange sort of way.

  He didn’t see the snake until it struck, biting him on the calf just behind his left kn
ee. What was it Wally called it? He used some Aboriginal word for a Brown snake. Crikey. Well, it didn’t really hurt. Maybe he’d be right. What were the odds? Very few people died of snakebite, right? He’d have it checked out when he got to the station. He’d be there in a couple of hours.

  As he walked back to the ute he became aware of a growing headache. The headache was the first symptom. What followed was all too swift and far more destructive.

  Jake didn’t wait for the others to get organized. He and Becky were already working as the other members of the group arrived on the mountain top in the early morning light, one by one.

  Tina kept her promise to be first in line to make the climb up to the dig site. She hadn’t heeded the clothing suggestions and regretted her choice before she was half way up the side of the mountain. Scraped knees and raw fingers were her reward for climbing the mountain without regard for the precautions. She feared the sandstone, now so cool to her touch, would be blistering hot by the time she would make her decent. By the time they ceased work for the morning she’d nearly ruined her sneakers, actually wearing a hole in one toe.

  The professor oversaw the laying of grid lines as Jake and Becky began an expanded exploration of the mountain top.

  They identified half a dozen gullies leading down to canyons as yet unexplored. They decided to check out one gully that offered an unusual appearance from the mountaintop. About forty feet down they found a broad bowl in the sandstone about twenty feet across and eight feet deep. It was dry now, but they were both certain it would hold a great volume of water.

  “This basin would have water in it most of the year. Much of any rainfall running off into this gully would be captured here. It’s probably only been dry for a few weeks. The rains are late this year. This natural reservoir may be why the wall builders chose this mountain.” Jake said. “From a tactical point of view, building on a mountaintop with a reliable water supply makes sense.”

  “I suppose so, but with the exception of the petroglyphs down in the canyon junction, nothing about this site seems remotely typical of what we know about Aboriginal dwellings. Tactical fortifications are unknown on this continent.” Becky said.