Chapter 10: The Discovery
Ivan walked through the beginning of the narrow tunnel, torch in hand. Jack followed closely behind him, gun in hand. The tunnel eventually reached the point where it was only wide enough to fit one person from wall to wall, and it didn’t seem like somebody had taken the time to assure otherwise.
“Let’s keep moving,” Ivan said. “I think I see some light coming from over there.
“Where do you think this tunnel will lead?” Jack asked. “I mean it would be interesting if we found a pirate hideout around here or…” Jack trailed off into silence. “I just noticed something.” He said, an uneasy look on his face.
“Oh, and what’s that?” Ivan asked.
“Well, you know how the navy likes to keep a compact security at this place?”
“Yeah, where are you getting?”
“Well, I think we may be walking directly into the…” Jack stopped when he climbed up a small ledge at the end of the tunnel, revealing that the once distant light was now in their general area. “Stronghold.”
“You’re kidding me.” Ivan said. “There’s no way our suspect could’ve escaped into this place.” He said, looking all around him.
To their left was what appeared to be a building used primarily for storage, made of solid stone instead of flimsy wood. To their right were many different people, navy and civilian. The navy guards were doing what they normally did, (Stand around and do nothing) meanwhile the civilians, shovels in hand, were mindlessly digging, for what only they and a select few actually knew. Directly ahead of them the entrance (or exit) to the cave area, it appeared to be manned by the occasional guard, if anything. And finally, behind them stood the hole they had just came out of. It looked a lot smaller once they were fully outside of it. To the casual observer, it looked just like any other ordinary hole that the diggers made.
“Hey you!” A naval soldier called from afar, rushing to the scene. “Did you two just climb out of that hole?” He asked.
Ivan looked towards Jack with uncertainty, but what came next had no effect on relieving him.
“Why yes Sergeant, I just caught this hooligan skipping on his work… again.” Jack said with a smile. “You may address me as Captain Henson, Sergeant. It’s unbelievable somebody would rather sit around all day than… well you get the point.”
“So what do you want me to do sir? Ten lashes?” The Sergeant said.
“Oh no, that’s fine. In fact I’m feeling awfully generous today. Instead, I’ll just let him off with a warning.” Jack said, disappointing the Sergeant.
“Very well sir, I’ll be on my way then.” The Sergeant said as he walked off. “If you need me, I’ll probably be somewhere dealing punishment to anyone whom I see fit.” He said, walking deeper into the intricate cave system.
Ivan turned towards Jack. “WHAT WAS THAT!?!?!” He asked furiously.
“That was me giving you a direct opportunity to get information.” Jack said with a smile. “I’m sure now those guards won’t bother you, that is unless you decide to… I don’t know, slack off or something.”
“But, did you really need to do that?”
“Probably not, but hey, it works.” Jack said, turning towards the small building a dozen meters away. “Get all the info you can while talking with your new “workmates” while I check out the local documents.” He said, heading off with a content look. “Good luck!”
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Padres Del Fuego: Docks
Commodore Bishop stood atop the ship, overlooking the many naval soldiers that had gathered below. “Now I’m sure you’re all familiar with what you’re about to undertake. Team 1 will head to fort Dundee to receive further orders from our own Captain McHenry. Team 2 will begin an immediate scouting expedition through the wilds. And Team 3’s job is to make sure they stay out of any pirate’s reach while still receiving any new documents under pirate control, is that understood?”
“Aye aye sir.” Was the response.
“Good, let me see to it that everyone not assigned to a team be taken alongside for individual debriefing.”
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Ivan trudged up the steep slopes towards what he hoped was somehow going to be his next lead. He dutifully picked up the closest shovel and began digging in a completely random spot.
“Aye, what on earth do you think you’re doing lad?” One of the diggers asked.
“What me? Why I’m just minding my own business, is there anything wrong with that?” Ivan replied.
“Well, next time, don’t reveal anything to these navy blokes ok?” The man said, worried.
“Reveal anything? What are you talking about?”
“You know the…” The man stopped. “The…”
“The what? Spit it out.” Ivan said impatiently.
“One question, if I may ask. Have you… ever really been here before?” The man asked, still digging.
Ivan rolled his eyes and began to think of some sort of way to get out of this. Certainly he wouldn’t want to blow his cover, not when he may be so close. But at the same time he needed answers, and so far, seeking them only led to more questions. “No, I was just sent here by one of those stupid navy officers that thinks they know everything.”
“Oh I know about that, but… did you really just climb out of that hole?” The man asked. Now they were getting somewhere.
“Yes I did, but is there really anything wrong with that?”
“Well not really, I just…” The man’s words were interrupted by those of a man with dirtied clothes and a rough tri-corn hat rushing towards him.
“Hey Chester, Roald just decided to take the alternate entrance, he said that the main one was much too dangerous.” The man said, catching his breath. “He’ll be here soon, and with those… hey, whose your new friend?” He asked noticing Ivan. At first he sounded very welcoming, but it only took a few seconds for him to notice whom he was speaking to. “Wait a second, you’re the…” He wasn’t able to finish, much thanks to Ivan throwing down his shovel and nearly tackling him. Fortunately for him he was able to evade the desperate attempt.
“GAHHH! Chester get out of here!” He yelled, pushing shovels in the way of Ivan’s path. The man turned to face a smaller and less used part of the cave system, and once his bearings were set, he dashed off into the direction, Ivan following directly behind. He was fast, very fast. Unless There was some way to indefinitely slow him down, Ivan would have to settle for chasing him down directly.
The man in pursuit jumped over a large pile of rocks, following Ivan, doing the same. (A lot less gracefully.) After that, the escapee instead focused on running up the wooden scaffolding sitting next to a deep gorge. After he reached the top, it was clear that there was only one method of escape. He leaped up onto an overhead rope, hoping to reach the other side of the gorge. Once he got a solid grip on the rope, he began inching his way across the gorge.
Ivan started running up the steps to the top of scaffolding. There was almost no way he could reach him now, not at the rate he was going. Instead, Ivan had an idea. He took out his knife, and brought it up to the rope, which the escapee had not gotten nearly halfway across. And without even thinking, cut through will all his might. The rope, which was not nearly as strong as he’d expected it to be, cut with ease. Ivan was pleased only for a second as he saw the man swing from the one sided rope with ease, as he rolled onto it’s sandy cave floor.
’You’re kidding me…’ Ivan thought.
Now that directly chasing him was out of the question, Ivan figured there was only one way of reaching his suspect. He quickly leaped down from the scaffolding, and grabbed a musket close by. There was only one solution, he’d just have to go for the legs. He got the musket into a comfortable position and pulled the flint back to its full position. One deep breath, and the muzzle was aimed straight at the fleeing man.
*Click*
’Figures…’
Now that he knew the gun most certainly won’t shoot unless it was firstly loaded, he turned his attention back to his suspect. On the other side, he’d almost reached the point where you couldn’t see him from the other side. He was headed to… the entrance.
“That’s it!” Ivan exclaimed. Without pause, he rushed to the point in which he presumed was towards the entrance (That is, the place where most of the equipment was coming from). He pulled the flint back and headed towards a large sack which contained all that was needed to properly fire.
As Ivan unveiled the many different types of ammo, he took whatever he remembered back in his training.
’Now let’s see, open pan…’ He thought as he opened the pan and took out his paper cartridge.
’Draw ramrod.’ He took out the ramrod and shoved it down the barrel in order to make sure the ammo was all the way down. After that daunting task was accomplished, he began making his way further into the cave. All that was left was to put the flint in full position in preparation for firing.
Sprinting his way through the cave, he could tell it was getting more crowded. That was good, for the most part. The strange looks he was getting was only bested by the suspicions coming from afar.
Finally, he could see the entrance, now if only he didn’t get beaten by…
A rough tri-corned figure made its way through what was undoubtedly a harder path to maneuver.
’Perfect’ Ivan thought. He figured he had about ten seconds before his escapee was gone possibly forever.
’Make ready’ He brought up the musket.
’Present!’ He brought the musket up to aiming position, but instead of going for the risky shot that possibly wouldn’t make it, and he figured the area was now getting much less people oriented and much more focused on supplies and such. He instead brought the barrel of his musket towards another barrel, one a little more… explosive. He readied his aim, took a deep breath, and most importantly, knew what had to be done.
’Fire…
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Well, there’s another cliffhange… I mean chapter. The story’s getting into what I like to call: ACT 2. So be ready for even more nonsense as this goes along.
So, comments? Can you please tell me what you think of it? It’s called FEEDback for a reason.
Hope you liked it Stealthy!