Happy Veteran’s day!
Day 11
Ames shook hands with the councilor. “This is a lovely area,” Ames said. “I have to admit I’ve never been this far out in the province before.”
“Oh aren’t your dig sites in rural areas?” Trovan asked.
“Usually, but for the past few years I have been working in Gorstan Province.”
“Ah, yes,” Trovan replied nodding. “The Trade Routes of the Freno and the Castwa.”
“Yes,” Ames said blinking. “That article came out a few years ago after several digs along the river routes.” He was surprised the councilor read the article.
“I looked you up one we were told you would be leading the dig here,” Trovan confessed. “I enjoyed the article very much.”
“Thank you,” Ames replied.
“I have to say I enjoyed the more recent article involving superstitions and beliefs moving along the trade routes with everything else,” Trovan continued.
“Did you?” Ames replied.
“But that was because of the Couran,” the councilor said. “Do you know a lot about them?”
“They have been part of my studies,” Ames replied cautiously.
“But you don’t put all you know in your articles?” he asked.
There was something sharp in his eyes that Ames couldn’t quite identify. “I don’t think anyone puts all they know into a single article,” Ames said carefully, not entirely certain where the councilor was going with his questions.
The Councilor stared at Ames for a moment and then smiled, his strange look folding back so quickly Ames almost wondered if he imagined it. “I don’t suppose they do,” Trovan replied.
“Around here superstitions are still a way of life.”
“I would love the opportunity to talk to you and some of the locals if they are willing,” Ames said.
“Of course,” Trovan said. “But first we must get you to the site. Your trucks will not be able to make the passage. The route is well not really a road at all. Before the construction it was just a track, barely visible and suitable only for foot travel should one be so inclined. It has been widened now of course, although still not suitable for trucks. We have small all-terrain vehicles so you need not go on foot with your gear. We will send a line of them with you and leave you a vehicle for emergencies.”
“That is very kind of you,” Ames said. “No one wants to have an emergency in the wild but it is always better to be prepared.”
“This is true,” Trovan replied nodding. His round cheeks seemed to bounce with the movement. “The villagers will drop you off and they will return to ferry your finds back to this building as storage.”
They both turned to the large industrial building. It was a solid rectangular structure build of cement blocks and stucco-ed over. There were stout locks and chains on the building.
“It looks secure,” Ames said.
“It is,” Trovan replied. “While the locals will take you out to the site, they will not stay after dark in the area.”
Ames looked at him. “I take it this is not because of rockslides?”
“No, although rockslides are a danger in the areas closest to the slopes. It is an ill-omened area.” Again the council man looked uncomfortable.
“Old stories?” Ames guessed.
“That and still, those who have cause to frequent the area return home more fatigued than one would expect from such a trip. And their dreams…are strange for a time.”
Ames waited to see if the man would say more, but Trovan shook himself. “Still, it is not I who will take you and I believe I hear our intrepid brigade approaching.”
Ames too could hear the rev of motors and see the first of the four wheeled ATVs come into site. They had large tires with treads designed for open country. Each had a rack for gear.
“Are there reasons for visiting the area?” Ames asked. Even though he knew the councilor heard the question, he ignored it.
“It is best we get everything loaded so you can be on your way,” Trovan said. Whatever confidences he planned to share were over.
“Of course,” Ames replied. He walked back to the truck and opened the door. “Time to start unloading,” he told his driver. Ames then passed the same message on to the other trucks. Soon the formerly abandoned parking lot was a hive of activity. The backs of the trucks were open and gear was transferred to the back of the ATV.s and strapped tightly into place.
“The road is bumpy,” one of the men with the ATV’s told him. He pulled the strap down tight. “We don’t want to lose anything along the way.
Ames helped to transfer the items working along side the students. Even the drivers helped. Ames thought it was more to complete the task quickly as they had a long drive back to the city ahead of them. The trucks were useful now but needed elsewhere until the end of the season when they would return for the team, their gear and whatever finds they were bringing back. Ames would return to town periodically to check on the finds, and possibly take a little time to gather stories in the area.
It took a while but eventually all of the gear was strapped down. There was a long line of the four wheeled vehicles. Few of them looked new and Ames guessed they were used more often than cars would be in the area. While there was the main road leading out of town, town had only one paved street and a lot of smaller paths. He didn’t see any cars parked on the street and wondered if anyone in town actually had a regular vehicle or if they all simply made do with these sorts.
‘Probably more useful.’
With the gear loaded, the drivers got back into the tricks and Ames and the others mounted the ATVs behind their drivers. The string of ATVs left town and headed off into the wilds while the trucks slowly left the parking lot and headed back to the city. Ames had the strangest feeling of abandonment come over him. He looked back to see the councilor lifting the chain back across the drive and locking it into place. He felt a nervous flutter in his belly that he tried to ignore.
