The Arrow That Would Not Miss

By Matt Musson

While rock climbing in the Smokies, Jeep Muldoon, "the boy who finds things", unearths an ancient relic of the Cherokee people. A friendly Medicine Man identifies the priceless ruby-tipped artifact as "The Arrow That Would Not Miss".

As a reward for their discovery, Jeep and his Pals are each visited by Animal Spirit Guides. And, things get even spookier when two ShapeShifting Thunderbirds come to town!

Can Jeep and his must friends outwit their arch Science Fair rival, defeat the biggest bully in the county and discover the ShapeShifter's special agenda?

The gang will is going to need a whole lot science and a big dose of Luck, in their latest paranormal adventure: The Arrow That Would Not Miss.

"Like the Mad Scientists Club for a new generation!" -- American HomeSchooler

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matt Musson
• Release date: Apr 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458048219

Matt Musson

Matt Musson is the creator of the Jeep Muldoon series about a boy with the unusual ability to 'Find Things.' Jeep and his pals solve mysteries and have adventures, usually with a scientific orientation. But, ultimately, Jeep's stories are about friendship and fun!Matt has also written the acclaimed sports novel: The '51 Rocks - Batboy on the Worst Team Ever! The '51 Rocks is a fictional account of the true story of the 1951 Granite Falls Graniteers. The Graniteers were the losinest team in Baseball History. But, with 6 games left in the 1951 season - the Graniteers signed 5 Negro League players and became the first team to integrate Baseball in the Old South!Publishers Weekly called the book ‘beguiling.' “There are some very pleasant moments (and perhaps even a Denzel Washington movie) in this novel ... based on the incredible true story of the worst team in Baseball History that became the first Southern team to break the color barrier."Matt was born in Austin, TX and grew up in San Antonio. He earned two degrees at the University of Texas and moved east to work for Ross Perot as a Systems Analyst. He has developed systems for Planters Peanuts, LifeSavers Candies, Sara Lee, and Bank of America.Matt is currently in North Carolina developing banking software and working part-time for the Charlotte Bobcats. He has four incredible children: Skye, McClain, Granath, and Chandler. Matt collects vintage rodeo belt buckles and Indian jewelry when he is not prospecting for Carolina gold and emeralds.He is a contributing author to the non-fiction anthology Sports in the Carolinas: From Death Valley to Tobacco Road.

Book preview

The Arrow That Would Not Miss

by

Matt Musson

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Matt Musson on Smashwords

The Arrow That Would Not Miss

A Jeep Muldoon Adventure

Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Matt Musson

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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Chapter One - Just Hanging Around

Dangling from an impossibly thin climbing rope, sixty feet up the sheer rock face of Mingo Falls, I pleaded with God.

Dear Lord, please don’t let me splatter across the forest floor like an overripe melon!

Suspended twenty yards above certain death, I bargained with the Creator. If by some miracle I got over the ledge safely, I promised not to strangle Charlie Sinclair, our club president, for organizing this insane rock climbing expedition to the Qualla Boundary of the Cherokee Nation.

Now, I am not afraid of heights. I am terrified of them!

So, all I could hear was the thump, thump, thump of blood coursing through my ears. And, my single minded focus was on making it up the rock face alive. So, at first, I did not recognize the persistent tone of treasure buzzing through my subconscious like a gnat flying circles around my head.

I know at some level I must have heard it calling. Take it from me, there's nothing that compares to the sound of a 40 caret blood red ruby. But, I was centered on my climbing harness, my foot and finger holds and anything else keeping me from plunging to an untimely death. So at first, I overlooked that little ditty.

If I had not passed directly in front of the drilled out crevice where the ruby's song was loudest, I probably would have kept moving up the slab like the thousands of other climbers that have scaled these falls before me. After all, a contoured stone plugged the small cave opening. And, it was covered with a plaster-like mixture of hardened clay and lime. Finally, the entire wall was carpeted by thick clumps of damp slippery moss that camouflaged the site so effectively that for 800 years the cache inside lay unnoticed and undisturbed.

The ruby’s song was so clear and resonant that it finally broke through my fear. The crystal called out with a tone unlike any I have heard before. But, I never dreamed I was being summoned by a legendary artifact of the Cherokee people.

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Chapter Two - Retrieving a Mystery

Even though I knew there was something amazing hidden in the sheer cliff face in front of me, I was still dangling sixty feet off the ground. And, I still felt like barfing up my breakfast. So, I did what any sane person would do in my situation. I used my climbing boot to scrape an ‘X' in the moss to mark the location of the hidden cavity. Then I got my skinny butt up Mingo Falls as quickly as I could!

When I was safely over the top, I kissed the ground, thanked God, and celebrated my safe deliverance from certain tragedy. True to my pact with the Almighty, I resisted the temptation to grab Charlie by the neck and squeeze with all my might. But, as I lay sprawled there on the summit, my anger rose to the surface when the guys began to kid me about what I believe is a completely natural instinct for self preservation.

Come on, Jeep. Don’t be a baby. It's not that bad, said Charlie. We all made it to the top and it was fun!

That's easy for you to say! I replied. But, I have a healthy respect for Gravity. If God had meant for us to climb, we would have been born Kudzu!

Charlie Sinclair is a nice guy. He is tall and good looking and probably the most popular guy in our entire middle school. And, not only is he a smooth talker, he has big green eyes and fine brown hair that girls are always running their fingers through. (I finally had to put my foot down to keep my Mom’s hands out of our Charlie’s locks.) But, at this point I did not care that he was our club president. After that climb, I was ready to start a revolution.

However, before my insurrection got started, Freddie Dunkleberger added his two cents.

Yeah, Jeep. It’s not that high, the little red head chided.

Not that high? Are you out of your mind? That fall would kill you quicker than a Great White Shark with rabies!

That fall wouldn't kill you, Shad McReynolds disagreed.

No? I asked in disbelief.

No, he said. It's the Stop that would kill you. The fall would be fun… while it lasted.

I let the subject drop.

I had only myself to blame for this climbing expedition anyway. A few months back I found a gold watch in the lining of a jacket in a thrift shop in Granite Falls. The watch belonged to a recently deceased railroad worker named Tolbert Brown. When we returned the watch to the family, Mr. Brown's grandson, Alton, who runs a camping outfitter called ExtremeClimb, offered to take us mountaineering for free.

I guess I should mention that I live in the small mountain community of Granite Falls. And, I go to Granite Falls Middle School with my friends Charlie, Thor, Bogdon, Toby, Freddie and Shad. We are the Granite Falls Rangers – a science club that solves mysteries and has adventures.

My crazy Aunt Starshine would say we ‘embrace life', while walking that fine line that boys face today. You know the one - where if you are caught having too much fun they pump you full of Ritalin?

I should also mention that I find things. And, the reason I find things because I sort of inherited the finding ‘gift’ from my grandfathers.

My Grandpa Gus was a well driller that could always find water. My Grandpa Charlie was a mining prospector that found fortunes in precious minerals and gemstones. When the two families mixed together I was born with a double shot of locating genes.

Grandpa Gus and I have a special bond. When I was small, he trained me to use my gift. And today, he never misses a chance to give me a word of encouragement or wisdom about how to survive in this crazy old world. And I am even named after him: Gustaf Philip Muldoon II.

Because Grandpa Gus lived with us for a while, everyone called me G.P. to keep the two of us straight. Everyone that is, except my little sister Jenny who was too lazy to say G. P. She called me ‘Jeepie' instead. That nickname was eventually shortened to Jeep. (Although Jenny still calls me Jeepie whenever she feels like being a butthead.)

Anyway, to sum things up: I'm Jeep Muldoon. I find things. Grandpa Gus trained me. And, my little sister Jenny is a butthead.

I don't tell many people about my gift because things can get all hinky. Either they start calling me up every time they lose their car keys – or they start acting like I am their own personal Lotto ticket and they want to mount an expedition to the Amazon to find the lost treasure of the Incas.

So, I try to keep a low profile. But, here at Mingo Falls, I located a treasure of historic importance to the Cherokee people. As much as I wanted too, there was no way to stay inconspicuous. This was way too big to hide. This was way too important to walk away from.

Anyway, after I caught my breath, I explained to the guys that hidden in the side of the cliff about twenty feet below was some sort major treasure. Knowing me and my history of locating good stuff, they did not have any problem accepting my story. But, we did have to talk Alton into rigging up Freddie, so we could lower him over the edge to explore my find.

We chose Freddie, because he is the climbing monkey of the group. He has shocking red hair and freckles and is just a smidge taller than a munchkin. And, although Freddie is overstuffed with old jokes and lame groaners, he is still the lightest of the Rangers. He is also a junior Daredevil – ‘the boy without fear.’

As soon as he was harnessed up, Freddie scampered over the side with a hammer