“No emeralds?” One of the armed men says. His gaze lingers on me, and I feel grubbier than I am—and I am grimy with sweat and dirt. I want a shower so badly.
“I need to sketch out what I’ve found and analyze what I’ve seen.”
He sneers. “My father could smell them.”
I doubt that very much. More likely he was looking at the rocks and making his best guess. Near the surface it’s easier to find emeralds. After that, there’s a whole lot of digging that needs to be done. Most of these small mines have been tapped out, and digging deeper into the mountain means adding structural supports and pumping in fresh air for the workers, and in some cases pumping out the water. Something that is beyond most small operations.
I already know where they need to dig next. Or at least I have my best guess. If I’m wrong though…
I put down the water and clutch the clipboard I was given as I head back into the mine. At least it’s dry in here. The rain is enough to be annoying without being cool. My clothes are clinging to me and I’m sure even my socks are wet.
I add to my sketches—they are legitimate in case the man in charge of the site wants to look. But I have also been trying to leave messages that won’t get me in trouble.
I used the pen to carve a diamond made of two ‘A’s, one upright and one upside down, into the tree when I needed to pee. Maybe I’m being foolish leaving clues, but I need to do something. If it wasn’t so wet, I’d start a fire and hope the smoke was seen.
I can’t do anything too close to the mouth of the mine because of the guards. But too far in will be pointless. Too obvious and the miners will find it and probably hand it in. I don’t trust anyone except Reed.
This morning, he assured me he was fine and that he’d wait for me to return before finalizing the plan. He’s so calm, and sure, and I want a piece of that.
My father would like him. It’s easy to imagine us all out on dad’s opal mine. I keep paying the license for it, even though it’s been two years since I last went out there.
Four since he knew who I am.
Eight since he could go out there.
He won’t miss me, and he’s not the man he was, but dying on the other side of the world when I promised I’d be back for Christmas to see him isn’t right.
I tear off a strip of paper but write nothing on it. Then I push in into a crack. If the miners find it, there’s nothing on it. If Reed’s friends find it, then hopefully they will take some meaning from it. I should’ve asked him what the best thing to do was, but I didn’t know if I’d be given paper and a pen when I asked yesterday. That I’d been handed them today had been a shock.
I try to take comfort that people will be looking for us. They just have to know where to start. With a sigh, I keep working, knowing that I need to give the boss something. I have no doubt that as soon as I tell him where to search, he will send someone up to blast.
If I’m unlucky, I’ll be up here at the same time.
No…Reed said we’re getting out tonight.
And before then, since I’m already wet and hungry, I’m ready to be wetter and hungrier.
CHAPTER10
Reed
I knewI wouldn’t be left alone for another day, but I didn’t expect them to be quite so ruthless. My tongue traces the split in my lip and there are several more painful areas on my body.
They kept calling me American and telling me how much they hated them. That I kept saying I’m Australian, didn’t endear me to them. I don’t know why. Perhaps they don’t like Aussies either.
It took a while, but they cut off my clothes and hosed me with cold water—which is good because I needed the bath as the dried blood was itchy. Look at me finding the positive.
Colt, I am going to fucking tell you all about my newfound positivity.
I might even thank them when they fucking ride in and rescue us.
That the men holding us removed the bandages was not so good.
Nor was the way the wound was bleeding again after they’d given it a few punches.
And being strung up by my hands in the middle of the camp naked, hadn’t done much for my wellbeing. But aside from a few bruises and losing all my clothes, and boots, and the knife, it could’ve been worse.
Much worse.
